During the week of Valentine's Day the boys' school has what they call VIP Night. It's a time for someone who doesn't normally get to see the school and possibly help out during class to get a taste for what goes on. With us having both of the boys there, Kevin couldn't be in both classrooms at once so I went with Louie and he, with Benny.
It was a lot of fun. Although I drop off and pick up Louie every day, my only chance thus far to be in the classroom was snowed out and I don't know if I'll be able to get back in there before his birthday party.
Most of the VIPs were daddies, but there was another mother, a few grandmas and and Uncle Jerry. It's neat to see these kids in action whom Louie talks about all the time.
In Benny's room, it sounded like things went pretty much the same. The kids had to introduce who their VIP was and one little girl announced that she brought her "Aunt Foo Foo." Apparently that got a few laughs. Nothing like coming to terms with the fact that not every family has nicknames for their loved ones. This coming from someone who knows this all too well...
We played mainly with the classroom's animal set, which included farm, jungle and forest animals. Louie also wanted to do a Valentine counting game and then we played with the pink play dough with heart cookie cutters.
After the VIP Night was over we met up with Daddy and Benny and headed to Graeter's! Daddy and Louie started the tradition last year and who was I to break tradition?? If you happen to stop by the treatery any time soon, please get a scoop of ice cream on top of a Snyder's pretzel cone--it is great!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Let's all go to the zoo, zoo, zoo...
Our wonderful friends, Owen, Eli, and Amanda were able to meet us at the zoo after school yesterday, as they too wanted to take advantage of the spring-like weather. Again, it wasn't as warm as we would have liked, but we were able to be outside!
We met in the Childrens' Zoo where the boys ran around until the peacocks started terrorizing them. The birds didn't hurt the boys, but it is pretty freaky when this large animals come up within a foot of you. I've heard they're mean birds, but they luckily didn't show this side of their personality. It probably didn't help that we were eating lunch right in front of them.
An interesting discovery at the polar bear exhibit: Michael Phelps and Polar Bears are related.
(I tried to upload pictures making this startling revelation, but for whatever reason the computer doesn't want to cooperate.)
Amanda's post on this is much, much better, and it has pictures!
We met in the Childrens' Zoo where the boys ran around until the peacocks started terrorizing them. The birds didn't hurt the boys, but it is pretty freaky when this large animals come up within a foot of you. I've heard they're mean birds, but they luckily didn't show this side of their personality. It probably didn't help that we were eating lunch right in front of them.
An interesting discovery at the polar bear exhibit: Michael Phelps and Polar Bears are related.
(I tried to upload pictures making this startling revelation, but for whatever reason the computer doesn't want to cooperate.)
Amanda's post on this is much, much better, and it has pictures!
Name Calling...er...Writing
Benny is learning to write his name and it's been a struggle. It's almost like the muscles in his hands don't want to cooperate. A pen looks awkward in his little paw.
So when he brought home a paper that his teacher made his name into a connect-the-dots and he traced over it, it was a big deal and everyone cheered on Benny.
Well, Lou did at first. Then he said, "Benny, is your named spelled "B-E-N-upside-down-U-L-L?"
That set Mr. Ben off, "It's NOT an upside-down-U!! Mom! Tell Lou it's not!"
He works so hard, and I felt bad for him, but really, it's something he's got to get used to. Siblings truly enjoy ribbing each other. He'll be fine.
So when he brought home a paper that his teacher made his name into a connect-the-dots and he traced over it, it was a big deal and everyone cheered on Benny.
Well, Lou did at first. Then he said, "Benny, is your named spelled "B-E-N-upside-down-U-L-L?"
That set Mr. Ben off, "It's NOT an upside-down-U!! Mom! Tell Lou it's not!"
He works so hard, and I felt bad for him, but really, it's something he's got to get used to. Siblings truly enjoy ribbing each other. He'll be fine.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Begging for Spring
Yesterday I saw that Monday was going to be nice and warm, so of course I wanted to take advantage of it. I guess I failed to realize that "nice" started at about noon and we went to the zoo at 10am.
The boys had hats and gloves and jackets on over sweatshirts. They claimed they were "toasty" and didn't want to wear the gloves or hats. As time went on it did start to warm up a bit and little by little they started shedding.
There was a fairly good crowd there today, so I wasn't the only person forcing their kids to be outside. The zoo is under a great deal of construction though, so the pathways have lots of mud and gravel, and trucks as well as backhoes come out of no where. We had to be careful.
To fight some of the chill (Charlie shed his gloves in the van and refused to wear mine) and the backhoes, we went into the manatee house. In less than five seconds Lou pretty much ruined my day. The last couple times we were in there, the manatees were not. We were pleasantly surprised to see them both out when we got there. "Slip" and "Lil' Joe," as they're known, were lying down on the floor of the tank. It seemed pretty odd since usually they're doing this fancy underwater ballet when we see them.
Lou asked what was going on and I said that maybe they were resting. His response was, "Like what you do, Mommy." Ugh. So, not only am I lazy and lie around all the time, but I'm as big as a manatee! Yes, I will admit that last night I spent a good portion of the evening resting and reading. I've been really tired lately and had a enormous headache that could only be cured by going to bed and reading...far away from screaming munchkins.
I am a manatee.
Don't think I'll be posting any pictures of myself until after the baby's born. WAY after the baby's born.
By the way, I couldn't tell the boys what the manatees were actually doing. The warm weather we're having isn't the only sign that spring is on its way. There's a good chance there's going to be some lil' manatees running around the zoo soon...
The boys had hats and gloves and jackets on over sweatshirts. They claimed they were "toasty" and didn't want to wear the gloves or hats. As time went on it did start to warm up a bit and little by little they started shedding.
There was a fairly good crowd there today, so I wasn't the only person forcing their kids to be outside. The zoo is under a great deal of construction though, so the pathways have lots of mud and gravel, and trucks as well as backhoes come out of no where. We had to be careful.
To fight some of the chill (Charlie shed his gloves in the van and refused to wear mine) and the backhoes, we went into the manatee house. In less than five seconds Lou pretty much ruined my day. The last couple times we were in there, the manatees were not. We were pleasantly surprised to see them both out when we got there. "Slip" and "Lil' Joe," as they're known, were lying down on the floor of the tank. It seemed pretty odd since usually they're doing this fancy underwater ballet when we see them.
Lou asked what was going on and I said that maybe they were resting. His response was, "Like what you do, Mommy." Ugh. So, not only am I lazy and lie around all the time, but I'm as big as a manatee! Yes, I will admit that last night I spent a good portion of the evening resting and reading. I've been really tired lately and had a enormous headache that could only be cured by going to bed and reading...far away from screaming munchkins.
I am a manatee.
Don't think I'll be posting any pictures of myself until after the baby's born. WAY after the baby's born.
By the way, I couldn't tell the boys what the manatees were actually doing. The warm weather we're having isn't the only sign that spring is on its way. There's a good chance there's going to be some lil' manatees running around the zoo soon...
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Fear Comes True
I'm not much a fan of the '80s. I realize that the 1980s were a good portion of my childhood, but I was more of a '70s person, as far as music goes.
So if I'm listening to the radio for music I'll most often listen to the "Classic Rock" station. In the last year or so these stations have been including '80s hair bands in their definition of "Classic Rock." I cannot tell you how much this disgusts me.
What may be worse is that after a great song by Led Zeppelin, a hair band song is played and all three boys are rockin' out, bobbing their heads to the music. Ugh. Nothing could be worse. Maybe if I make an effort to display my dismay they'll stop. Because they're still at that age where they want to appease me.
Later that day we were watching an episode of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and Charlie was bobbing his head to the show's theme. Maybe I shouldn't worry about it.
So if I'm listening to the radio for music I'll most often listen to the "Classic Rock" station. In the last year or so these stations have been including '80s hair bands in their definition of "Classic Rock." I cannot tell you how much this disgusts me.
What may be worse is that after a great song by Led Zeppelin, a hair band song is played and all three boys are rockin' out, bobbing their heads to the music. Ugh. Nothing could be worse. Maybe if I make an effort to display my dismay they'll stop. Because they're still at that age where they want to appease me.
Later that day we were watching an episode of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and Charlie was bobbing his head to the show's theme. Maybe I shouldn't worry about it.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Charlie's List
- Ma
- Da
- Ball
- Wow
- Oww
- Hole
- Uh-oh
- SpongeBob (or something close)
- Bowl
- m'n'm
- Kakkk
- Kekkk
The more people I talk to say that either their child or a child they know didn't talk until 2 1/2 or 3, but when they did they. did. not. stop. So, I'm not going to worry too much about it. Our house is loud enough without some jabberjaws adding to it ;) (Did anyone else watch the Hanna-Barbara shows on USA Network in the '80s?)
Monday, February 2, 2009
Cleveland Trip
Awake at 7:30am, they came down the steps with their favorite stuffed animal (for the moment) and their blankies and announced they were ready to go to Aunt Cassie and Uncle Paul's.I told them that we're going to leave at lunchtime. Every half hour after that they asked if it was time to go yet. They were very excited for the weekend.
Fortunately, the trip there went quickly. It is unbelievable how much snow they get! The entire weekend the boys begged to go outside and I think that even if it was possible, we would have lost Charlie, there was just that much snow. Below is a picture of the lake, but I don't think it shows it well enough. I didn't realize that the shallow parts freeze. I just figured it was like the ocean and with the waves crashing all the time it didn't allow for it to harden. Let's just say I'm glad I don't know from personal experience! Boy, it's cold!
It was a fun trip. Grandma & Grandpa R. were there with Great-Grandpa M. Aunt Erin & Uncle Joe drove with Aunt Joanie & Josh. The house was packed and we had a great time.
The boys love to climb on top of Daddy and their uncles' shoulders. This time it turned into a game of "chicken."
Aunt Cassie and Uncle Paul are incredible cooks and so we are treated to great meals during our stay. Even the dinosaurs got to join in.
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