First Field Trip

This morning it was coming down rain. I mean really coming down, but there was not call from the school to say trip canceled. So I went ahead with my plan. Got both boys up around 8:30, fed them (well I gave them food anyway), dressed and out the door in the pouring rain by 9:10 am. Only to get drenched because T didn't run behind me. Nope he froze because the sound of the rain scared him. Had to yell twice to get him to run to the car. By then my shirt was sopping, and I still had to get him buckled & around to the other side to buckle S who had run to the car & got in as told. Picked up Amber, who had graciously agreed to chaperon to help with my sanity at 9:15. At school for photos by 9:30, whoever scheduled this trip without consulting the school calendar was insane, and I left the school at 9:50 to go home and change & gather all the gear necessary for a day in our life.

I received the following update around 3:15 today.

"The boys got back at 2:10, had some water, talked to me [my mon] a bit about the field trip, changed their clothes and are sound asleep. They had a great time. They were also very good. [YAY!]"

What they did on their trip: They took a hayride (minus hay, they sat on benches) to the apple orchard, where they were told about the apples on the farm. They got to pick and eat one apple. Then they went to the gourd field where they got to get out and pick a gourd and some indian corn. Then they went to lunch and tasted the apple juice. Then they came home.

I have it on good knowledge that T loved riding the bus. Don't know about S as he was already sleeping when the question was asked.

Edited to add: I spoke with S last night, and he loved riding on the bus. However, he was very bummed that he had to ride next to Bubba and not Tessa.

Note: Photo from a family apple picking adventure and this is cross posted on Facebook

First Day of School

Yesterday my baby became a student, and I didn't cry. Shocking I know. We got ready in our new clothes with our new backpack that included his change of clothes and a healthful snack (juice box, box of raisins & graham crackers). We had time so we went to the town hall for some momma business, and then to school to wait. We were the first to arrive for the afternoon session. The boy did well sitting with me, talking to the nurse, getting up and down for water, and just generally looked very comfortable there. The other students started to arrive and I noticed a difference. Those children staid next to their parents and were quiet, except for the couple who were crying. Mine was still doing all the moving around and when the teacher arrived was the second child to show her his new backpack and proceeded to open it to show her what he had. When the teacher asked them to get in line for class, I gave the boy a bit of a verbal push. He was first to line up next to her. When the students were all in line, she took the boy's hand and they led the class to the room. He didn't look back. He didn't wave or say good-bye. My little Mr. Independent. Now if only the little booger would tell me what he did during school.

Dichotomy

This is going to be a two parter, part philosophical and part pure cuteness.

Part 1: Dual personality

Boy 1 is destructive, mean and hurtful. He throws everything and laughs. He hits or kicks and laughs. He runs away when he is going to be in trouble and laughs. He stands in the corner and laughs. You threaten him with time in the corner or time out, and he says "we'll just see about that." He has an extremely fresh mouth.

Boy 2 is sweet as sweet can be. He helps out around the house by putting stuff away, and taking his dishes to the sink when he is done. He plays outside nicely, helps with the garden, and listens to what he is told. He gives hugs and kisses, and goes to bed with no problems. He sweetly tells his auma what he wants to say to his momma through the instant messenger even though he doesn't totally get how auma is talking to me. (Note: he said hi 20 times, happy father's day, sang me the abcd song, told me he was going outside, and then finally "I love you. see you later. good bye")


Question: Why is it that boy 1 spends all his time at my house and boy 2 makes a rare appearance? I adore boy 2. He makes me laugh and smile and feel good about this child I am raising. Boy 1 makes me wonder if I am raising a sociopath. Then I talk to my best friend who has a little boy just 2 1/2 months older than S. Through these conversations I am assured that S is perfectly normal as my god-son is acting the same way. Then again maybe we are both raising sociopaths. sigh.

Part 2: Farmer S

My son adores all things tractor and gardening. In fact at this point in his life I am pretty sure he will at least make a hobby of gardening if not a life's work. These are photos from yesterday that I feel compelled to share. A note of interest is that he got himself fully dressed yesterday morning in that auma sent him to get dressed & he picked out everything and put it on.

Haircut May 2008

Just for the fun of it. Pre-haircut snack complete with yoda sunglasses inside.


Post-haircut just chilling in the car.

My sweet boy looks so grown up.

2 and 30

According to child safety advocates and the American Academy of Pediatrics, age 2 and 30 pounds is the new 1 year and 20 pounds. Did that confuse you? In the past, the general rule was that a child should be turned forward facing when they hit one year old and reached 20 pounds. Recent research has determined that children are safer if they rear face until at least two years and 30 pounds or to the full limits of their seats (Article: Stay Rear Facing). I turned the boy around when he was 18 months and just barely over 20 pounds. A couple months later I was in a car accident that totaled my car, and required getting a new seat. I went to some knowledgeable people on babycenter for advice. When I got our new Britax Marathon a month later, I put that puppy in rear facing and that is how the boy has been until this past Sunday when he truly was to close to the top of the shell to stay that way. So at 3 years, 4 months, 3 weeks, 6 days and 30 pounds I flipped his car seat. That night as I was buckling him in he asked if I was happy that he was facing forward. I had to reply that it made me sad, because it meant that he was growing up. He patted my head in sympathy.

Last day rear facing

First official day of forward facing

Soap & Sass

Disclaimer: I am a parent who occasionally swats the hinney, puts the nose in a corner and yes will use soap.

Last week, Fric and Frac were at my mom's like usual. Unusually (at least at her house), they were using their toddler chairs as launching pads (read: jumping). She warned them three times and then took the chairs away. Fric (son) grabbed on to his and wouldn't let go. My mother suggested that he let go of the chair. He looked at her and said, "No, I suggest you let go." He was fairly promptly removed to the bathroom for one swipe of bar soap on his teeth. He really didn't like it. In fact within a couple of days, Frac (nephew) was doing or saying something that Fric thought would get him in trouble. He told Frac, "Don't sass T. You don't want that nasty, yucky soap." (story as close as possible to reality as one get when one wasn't there)

Then this past weekend, I was counting to three, which I seem to do a lot these days, and he looked at me after one and said, "Momma, I don't want you to count at me."

Not sure where I was going with this except for to vent a bit of my frustration with mr. sassy pants and his cousin. Who said three year olds were easier than two year olds? And people who have horror stories about four year olds, please don't share. I am only getting through this by thinking that things will be better when he is four. I like this fantasy world.

Inked

So after ten years of thinking on it, and two years after finding what I wanted I finally took the plunge and got inked. Arrived about ten minutes early for my appointment at the Spirit Gallery, filled out the paperwork while my artist got everything set up, and then went in to contort myself for the process that ended up taking about 30 minutes. May I say that it hurt? Goodness the outlining bit seemed to take ages, and felt like someone digging into the skin. Oh, wait they were! The shading part was a lot less painful. Would I do it again? You betcha, but not anytime soon.

Now for your viewing pleasure, some photos of the momentous event.