Just Another Day at the Park

 

 

 

 

 

This is our sweet “Mary” from the school play.

 

We have conquered sleeping through the nights and naps.  It’s now time to take on the bottle!  He loves a sippy cup for water but has to have his milk in the bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“WOW!”

Erik has uttered his third word!  “WOW!”  He is so proud and of course, so are we.  He can now say “Uh-oh”, “Mama” and “Wow”.  That about covers it all so it might be a while before we get another one. 

Tonight I took Ryan to his first play. (He still hasn’t been to a movie theater).  He sat on my lap the whole time.  I wasn’t sure if he was liking it but every once in a while I would see a smile.  He never took his eyes off the stage.  Turns out he loved it!  It was based on one of our favorite books; I must have read it a hundred times:

 

The set was done perfectly.  It looked just like the book.  It was funny and cute.  Perfect for little kids.  I think we’ll head back in the spring for another performance.

Bubbling

Gramma got us the best bubbles at Gymboree and I had them hiding in the closet. We got them out today and had lots of fun blowing and popping.

The room was dark and Erik was finally nestled in his blanket against my chest. It’s one of my favorite times of day (or night if you will). Then I heard the car door slam shut, followed by the opening and slamming shut of the back door. The sound of a herd of one 40 pound elephant raced through the living room. Ryan’s home! It was Boy’s Brigade night. He talked about it all day and spent two hours prior asking in about 10 minute intervals when they were leaving. He burst open Erik’s door, whipped on the light, and with uncontrollable joy and pride he took off his jacket and showed me (and of course Erik) his new ‘Tadpoles’ bright yellow shirt. “Wow,” I said. "That’s pretty cool, and kinda big!” “That’s okay,” he said. “I can just tuck it in!”

And sure enough!

(Boy's Brigade is similar to the Boy Scouts, but it is through our church. Instead of a cubbie, he's a tadpole!).

Back to School

Ryan is back to school this week and Erik got to start his gym class again. We also went back to Bible study today and Erik did great. It feels good to be back on a schedule, but with the new year it also feels like a turning point. Next month is our chance to go see our neighborhood Kindergarten program. Though we have been thinking about what Ryan will do next year, we are going to have to think a little lot more if we are going to do homeschooling. I decided to start doing some fun activities on a regular schedule with Ryan to see how it goes. We had a nice block of time today since Erik has started taking longer naps. On Monday I had written out all the things we were going to do for ‘school’. It was the highlight. As soon as we finished our activities Ryan asked, “Can you write a list for tomorrow?” I certainly can! Because the only thing I like more than lists is crossing things off lists! So everyday we will have a list. I have to admit that I am totally looking forward to going to the teacher store tomorrow. I love teaching supplies like most women like shoes. I would take a box of Tangrams over a pair of shoes any day! Whatever we decide I am looking forward to lots of fun with Ryan.

This is one of our favorites.

Our little hedgehog who made his way into the mitten.

Brothers!

Ryan's Debut

Ryan treated us to a couple of his show tunes...enjoy!

(The editing removes Harvey blowing his nose!)

This is Ryan's thank you card this year. I can't stop with the thumbprint art! Yes, he has to write his own thank you cards. He actually likes doing it and okay it's a little early (he did them last year too) but my kids are going to write thank yous. I haven't figured out what has happened in our society that so few people take the time to thank others. I really think it is a loss for everybody. Did you appreciate what you received? Did you get it? I read an article a few years ago by a mom who was having trouble getting her kids to sit down and write some thank yous. One day she packed the kids in the car and told them they needed to go get a gift for someone. She walked them around a store looking for the right gift. No luck. Back in the car and off to another store. Again they went up and down aisles looking for 'the gift'. Of course the kids were getting tired of it all (perfect!!). She then had to go find a card...Finally, they went home. As the kids headed off to do their thing, she called them back to help wrap the gift. Once in it's colorful paper, they signed the card and sighed with relief. But wait...it still needed brown wrapping for the post office. You guessed it! They all got back in the car and headed to the post office to mail the gift. Just what they (we) needed...to know. It's not just the gift you are thanking someone for, it's the time and thought, the enjoyment they hope you'll get when you receive their gift. It's polite and proper! So write those notes! And since I'm on a roll...RSVP means RESPOND...(in a timely manner)! Thank you! I feel better!

Erik has become attached to a couple of blankets as of this last week.  He carries them all over the house and sleeps with them.  It seems to help him go to sleep so I am totally with him on it!  He has taken a two hour, uninterrupted nap for the last five days or so!  Yippee!!

 

 

 

We finally got to the park today.  We just haven’t gotten out enough lately.  The boys loved it! 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mad Scientist

A new  year necessitated a new look!

I found this science kit at the craft store and we both had so much fun with it. 

 

  

 

The next day we put little crystals in the different colors he made and we got these big colorful ones.

Finally got Erik in his car.  It lasted for about 3 minutes!

No problem…Ryan was waiting.

Cool new toy.  The helicopter goes up about 30 feet.  Already broke the red one!

 

Not surprisingly, I couldn’t wait for a new bed.  We moved Ryan’s toddler bed out (in the living room), rearranged his room, and put the full mattress from the baby’s room on his floor.  We moved the guest bed out of the baby’s room and put the train table in there.  I couldn’t be happier with it all!  It was so great to lay in bed with Ryan and read stories.  He has the best mattress in the house now.