Yesterday was Logan's day with Mom. I call it our date. He got to pick where we would have lunch and once I let him know it was not limited to our usual fare of fast-food, he settled on Sizzler. He loves shrimp and they have a great kid's meal with shrimp. When we walked in, I was pretty sure we were the only ones under about 70 in the place. I guess there is a rush at 11:30 but not from our age group.
He picked a booth - one of the largest ones in the place even though there were just the two of us. Then he wanted to sit together on one side of the table. Once I told him that he would have more room to spread out his food, he switched sides. Not the smartest on my part. I should have taken advantage of snuggling him in tight. I'll learn.
The food came and we dove in. While we were eating we talked about school starting and who he did and didn't want in his class next year. When I finished and he was mid-way through his meal, I began telling him the story of his birth. He actually hung on my every word which doesn't happen that often! We finished and left to go school shopping.
It didn't take long to get the school supplies and things at Wal-Mart, that is until he was choosing which t-shirt he wanted. He made me laugh. It had to be just so. A cool shirt that was totally boy that all his friends would like. Finally, after much deliberation and searching, he settled on a BRIGHT orange "Master Yoda" shirt that also glows in the dark. I guess he isn't as old as he would like to to believe! :) The glow in the dark feature was the winning point.
All in all we had a great day together. I really would like to do these more often. Maybe a day during Christmas to shop individually. I wasn't sure how much Logan really enjoyed himself until Gary told me late last night that he talked about it several times throughout the evening while I was at Bunko. Next week is Ethan's day and, like most things with Ethan, it should be an adventure!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tom's Grandma Vacation and Dylan's Tricks
Tom left yesterday for Grandma Larson's for about a week. I don't know what I'll do while he's gone. He is like my right-hand-man! He takes care of the dogs in the morning, usually gets Dylan out of his crib when he wakes up to play with him, is Ethan's big buddy, and my main babysitter when I run a quick errand. I know he will have a great time. They've already gone to Kennecott Copper Mine Visitor Center and today he is spending the day with Aunt Amy (thanks Amy!) while Grandma is at work. I find myself looking around because I'm missing one of the boys. Ethan woke up and immediately went looking for Tom all over the house. We miss him but are happy that he gets to have this special time just for him.
Dylan has learned a new trick as well. He can now go down the stairs in addition to going up them. He has been playing me for a while I think. When he doesn't think I am looking, he turns around and very carefully scoots down the stairs. If he catches me watching him, he'll stop and scurry back up as quickly as he can. He is so funny that way. He'll walk for anyone but me too! New tricks every day around here.
Dylan has learned a new trick as well. He can now go down the stairs in addition to going up them. He has been playing me for a while I think. When he doesn't think I am looking, he turns around and very carefully scoots down the stairs. If he catches me watching him, he'll stop and scurry back up as quickly as he can. He is so funny that way. He'll walk for anyone but me too! New tricks every day around here.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Conversation with a 3-year-old
Ethan: See that spider on the ceiling, Mom?
Me: Yes but it's small so we won't really worry about it.
Ethan: Spiders hatch from eggs.
Me: (Pulling my jaw off the ground.) Who taught you that? How do you know?
Ethan: No one. I just know.
Three-year-olds!
Me: Yes but it's small so we won't really worry about it.
Ethan: Spiders hatch from eggs.
Me: (Pulling my jaw off the ground.) Who taught you that? How do you know?
Ethan: No one. I just know.
Three-year-olds!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Accident vs. On Purpose
Yesterday, right before church, Tom and Ethan were over playing with our neighbors dog. They were on vacation and we were dog sitting for a couple of days and the boys love spending time with their dog throughout the day. Anyway, after playing for a little while, Logan comes in to tell me that Ethan broke the neighbors window. Logan wasn't even suppose to be out there so I asked him how he knew and what he was talking about. Well, long story short, Ethan threw a HUGE rock down in their window well and broke a large hole out of the first pane of their window. I know we are lucky something like this hasn't already happened with four boys but it doesn't make the walk of shame to the neighbors door later that day any less painful!
When I asked Ethan what he was doing, he said,"It was an accident." This is his new motto for everything he does and I had had it.
I told him,"When you pick up a rock and throw it at a window and then the window breaks, it wasn't an accident."
He looked up at me with his big blue eyes and said, "I did it on purpose?"
It was then that I realized he didn't know the difference between accident and purpose!
One coloring book page and apology later, we are now waiting for the bill. Thank goodness our neighbors were very forgiving and quite gracious with the news. I am grateful every day that they moved in next door!
When I asked Ethan what he was doing, he said,"It was an accident." This is his new motto for everything he does and I had had it.
I told him,"When you pick up a rock and throw it at a window and then the window breaks, it wasn't an accident."
He looked up at me with his big blue eyes and said, "I did it on purpose?"
It was then that I realized he didn't know the difference between accident and purpose!
One coloring book page and apology later, we are now waiting for the bill. Thank goodness our neighbors were very forgiving and quite gracious with the news. I am grateful every day that they moved in next door!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Smoke, Fire Retardant, Helicopters, and Air Tankers
This morning was suppose to be the start of "play all day day" but Gary got a call out on a fire in Arbon Valley and headed out about 9:00. The boys were BUMMED until we decided to go see some of the action. One quick stop at McDonalds and we too were on our way.
The first stop was at the Tanker Base out at the airport. Gary assured me that no one would come and kick us out of the parking lot. We got quite a few strange looks when we just pulled up next to the fence and watched for about an hour. There were two large tankers flying as well as two smaller crop-duster size airplanes dumping water and fire retardant on the fire. Since the fire was so close to the base, the turn around time was pretty quick and there always seemed to be a plane landing or refilling or taking off. One of the tanker pilots even waved at the boys as he was taxing up to refill. We were close enough he could see them all waving from inside the car.
Next stop was the fire. We didn't actually get up to see flames before we were stopped by the trusty Fort Hall Police road block, but we were close enough to watch the two helicopters dip their buckets into a stream and fill up before heading back to the fire line. The boys loved it.
Even though it isn't a replacement for a day of fun with Dad, they do enjoy seeing what he does. In their eyes, it's all very glamorous and exciting. We don't tell them about the hours spent waiting for the fire to get to the spot they are protecting or the days in the truck driving from fire to fire. Let them think it is all helicopters, air tankers, fire engines, and bulldozers. That's what little boys love!
The first stop was at the Tanker Base out at the airport. Gary assured me that no one would come and kick us out of the parking lot. We got quite a few strange looks when we just pulled up next to the fence and watched for about an hour. There were two large tankers flying as well as two smaller crop-duster size airplanes dumping water and fire retardant on the fire. Since the fire was so close to the base, the turn around time was pretty quick and there always seemed to be a plane landing or refilling or taking off. One of the tanker pilots even waved at the boys as he was taxing up to refill. We were close enough he could see them all waving from inside the car.
Next stop was the fire. We didn't actually get up to see flames before we were stopped by the trusty Fort Hall Police road block, but we were close enough to watch the two helicopters dip their buckets into a stream and fill up before heading back to the fire line. The boys loved it.
Even though it isn't a replacement for a day of fun with Dad, they do enjoy seeing what he does. In their eyes, it's all very glamorous and exciting. We don't tell them about the hours spent waiting for the fire to get to the spot they are protecting or the days in the truck driving from fire to fire. Let them think it is all helicopters, air tankers, fire engines, and bulldozers. That's what little boys love!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Can Anyone Smell Bacon?
Yesterday we spent the 24th of July holiday in Preston/Weston/Dayton with family for a fun-filled morning. Weston puts on a parade and carnival in their city park and it is full of good old-fashioned fun. The kids played carnival games where everyone gets a prize, jumped in the bounce house, and had a great day with their cousins. I love small town parties like this because they get to do things that don't happen in the bigger cities.
One such thing was a candy drop. A guy flies around in his glider (think parachute with seat and motor) and all the kids RUN to the baseball field. After circling once to get the kids ready, he flies back and starts dropping hundreds of pounds of candy onto the field and surrounding area. The kids all do the "candy scramble" to see how much they can rake in and have a blast.
The other event that was a highlight was the pig chase. They sell tickets and divide in two groups: eight and under and nine and older. Then two men carry out a pig that isn't really all that big and grease it down with Crisco and then pour - and I mean pour - vegetable oil over the pig. On "go" the kids all run for the poor unsuspecting pig as fast as they could. By this time Ethan is already twenty feet behind with the other three-year-olds and I'm sure he's thinking that it is just a race. Logan didn't want to chase the pig at all so he is on the bleachers watching.
Tom, on the other hand, is out in front, running for all he's worth. About 90 seconds into the chase, Tom makes his move and DIVES for this pig. The crowd all gasps with hope for this little man and then the pig wiggles free from his grasp and the whole crowd sighs for him. It was almost his!
They keep chasing and the pig somehow gets out of the baseball field even with the dad's guarding the entrance and races into the crowd and playground with about 50 kids hot on his tail. Finally a girl catches him and Tom is right behind her to help her hold him down. After he got away from Tom, he knew how slippery he was and didn't want him to get loose again! I was proud of him for being so close to victory for his very first pig chase. He was covered in grease but his smile was worth any laundry. I'm sure Brandon and Sunnie were slightly relieved that he didn't catch the pig since it would have to live at their house.
When Gary asked Tom what he would have done with it if he had caught the pig, Tom responded, "Kill it and eat it when it got bigger." I guess the boy understands where his food comes from.
One such thing was a candy drop. A guy flies around in his glider (think parachute with seat and motor) and all the kids RUN to the baseball field. After circling once to get the kids ready, he flies back and starts dropping hundreds of pounds of candy onto the field and surrounding area. The kids all do the "candy scramble" to see how much they can rake in and have a blast.
The other event that was a highlight was the pig chase. They sell tickets and divide in two groups: eight and under and nine and older. Then two men carry out a pig that isn't really all that big and grease it down with Crisco and then pour - and I mean pour - vegetable oil over the pig. On "go" the kids all run for the poor unsuspecting pig as fast as they could. By this time Ethan is already twenty feet behind with the other three-year-olds and I'm sure he's thinking that it is just a race. Logan didn't want to chase the pig at all so he is on the bleachers watching.
Tom, on the other hand, is out in front, running for all he's worth. About 90 seconds into the chase, Tom makes his move and DIVES for this pig. The crowd all gasps with hope for this little man and then the pig wiggles free from his grasp and the whole crowd sighs for him. It was almost his!
They keep chasing and the pig somehow gets out of the baseball field even with the dad's guarding the entrance and races into the crowd and playground with about 50 kids hot on his tail. Finally a girl catches him and Tom is right behind her to help her hold him down. After he got away from Tom, he knew how slippery he was and didn't want him to get loose again! I was proud of him for being so close to victory for his very first pig chase. He was covered in grease but his smile was worth any laundry. I'm sure Brandon and Sunnie were slightly relieved that he didn't catch the pig since it would have to live at their house.
When Gary asked Tom what he would have done with it if he had caught the pig, Tom responded, "Kill it and eat it when it got bigger." I guess the boy understands where his food comes from.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
(Big) Boys and Their Toys
I don't think boys of any age outgrow their love of toys, big or small. From toy guns to real guns and toy cars to real ones. The sizes and prices seem to increase with their ages but the genuine joy in their faces stays the same and I am a complete sucker for the genuine joy. Gary mentioned earlier in the summer that he wanted to get a motorcycle - price of gas.......miserable miles per gallon with the truck........save us money......pay for itself in a matter of months.......You get the picture.
Well, yesterday the bike came home and all I could think about was the pure joy in his face. It was like a window into his fondest childhood memories. Even with all the practicality of the purchase, deep down it was about the boyish joy pouring from him that made it an easy sell for me. He already had the coolest job ever according to our boys and now adding a motorcycle to the mix has bumped him up several notches on the "cool meter." Some things mom's just can't compete with! I love him so much though and it makes me so happy to have him so happy.
Well, yesterday the bike came home and all I could think about was the pure joy in his face. It was like a window into his fondest childhood memories. Even with all the practicality of the purchase, deep down it was about the boyish joy pouring from him that made it an easy sell for me. He already had the coolest job ever according to our boys and now adding a motorcycle to the mix has bumped him up several notches on the "cool meter." Some things mom's just can't compete with! I love him so much though and it makes me so happy to have him so happy.
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