A Day at the Park with Friends

Summer is definitely here. The Book Club boys are all out of school, and we had time to squeeze in one last play date before our second member relocates to the Virginia. We decided to meet at a local city park by the lake for some play time, some catching up and a picnic lunch!

The boys (as well as younger siblings, one brother for T and one sister for C) had a big time. They chased each other all over the playground, went down slides and on swings, and had a great time just being outside. The parents had a chance to visit and get out of the house, too!

We stopped midway through for a picnic lunch on blankets under a big shade tree, where everyone munched and enjoyed some down time from the warm day.

It was a perfect afternoon. We missed our fourth book club family, the one who's already relocated to Colorado, but they were with us in spirit.

Photos from the day are here.

Weekend Getaway

The Hotel, originally uploaded by cheryl.

My friend Katy and I had a great weekend away. Mother nature didn't exactly cooperate, but we still got to take in lots of different (mostly indoor) sights, especially the local craftsmen galleries, and we even managed to sneak in a little walking trip across the local college campus after one of the rains. We also had several great meals at local restaurants, including dinner at the famous hotel restaurant. And most important, we got a little time away and a little adult interaction for a change. Good company and good times.

More photos are here.

Another Day, Another Park

One Last Thing, originally uploaded by cheryl.

It's a hard life, but someone has to live it. That's Connor's motto.

Today we stopped in to see a friend who's about to move across the country, to drop off a CD of photos from our Book Club for Boys adventures. Our founding member is the one moving, and though we're sorry to see them go, we wanted to wish them well on their new adventure.

After that, we still had some time to kill before little brothers got out of school. So we stopped in to a city park we've only drove past before. Connor had a lot of fun exploring a new place with different play sets than the park we typically visit. And yes, that's three different times to the park this week, if you're counting.

We also stopped out for lunch (twice in one week, I know, we're slipping) and made a stop at the library. You see, we host the Book Club next week. Mommy needs to get her act together for the theme and the activities.

And that was our afternoon out. More Mommy & Me time. All too soon my big boy is going to be in school all day long, so we're trying to make the most of it this Spring while we still have the chance. Just a few more weeks until summer, and then Connor is going to have to share Mommy & Me time with his brothers!

A Beautiful Day

Whee!, originally uploaded by cheryl.

It most likely won't last, but we've had a couple of really beautiful spring-like days in our part of the world this week. Today Connor and I made the most of it while his brothers were in school.

First, we ran one errand for Daddy to the post office (tax time, of course). Then we stopped for an early lunch (chicken fingers, of course). And then we made our way to the park.

It was beautiful. Warm sunshine. Lots of kids to play with (and moms to talk to). A fun spring day to enjoy being outside.

We even spent a big part of the afternoon in our back yard, playing on our play sets. Aunt Kelly stopped over to visit after everyone was home from school, so all of us went outside for even more outside fun! Swinging. Sliding. Playing ball.

But the night didn't end there. Tonight was also Book Club night. And we were treated to not only a great lesson on dinosaurs (Connor has apparently picked up a lot from the PBS Dinosaur Train, because he was spouting off information I'd never heard of before), but also lots of fun treats and snacks. We even left with some Girl Scout cookies, because the host family has a big sister who's in a troop.

A long, but also beautiful, day.

Snow Days

Another snow day means another day trapped inside our house. And while that shouldn't be such a bad thing, it's getting old. I am not a winter person. I am so over snow and rain and cold. If we can't get outside to walk or play or even to drive, then the walls start to close in and the boys and I all go a little crazy.

The original plan for today was to drop the twins off at school, and then Connor and I would run some errands and do our weekly lunch out. None of that happened. We stayed home. And therefore watched a little more television than I'd like and spent a little too much time screaming at each other.

We tried to address valentines, which are due by Friday in two of the three classes, but that didn't work out too well either. Connor was too busy watching television to pay attention and kept spelling his own name wrong. And the twins kept trying to steal the suckers that I was attaching to each valentine. I also feel like I should be doing valentines for the third class, but I don't have a name list and I don't know everyone in that class. Hopefully I haven't missed it somewhere along the way, because I don't know that I could take getting a list the night before they're due.

The end of the day brought a little break, for two of us anyway. This month's Book Club was scheduled for tonight, and after a few phone calls and e-mails to discuss driving conditions and logistics, we decided to go ahead. The boys had a blast. Connor was a bit keyed up, having been trapped in the house a lot recently, but they did pretty well for the planned activities of the evening and really enjoyed the free play time afterward. The moms (and host dad) did, too.

A good way to end a very long snow day.Of course, the bad news is that school has already been canceled for tomorrow, too. So here we go again ...

The Good & The Bad

The holidays are here. Part of me loves them, and another part of me hates them. Strong words, I know, but completely true. The holidays tend to be busy, stressful and pretty chaotic. None of those things are good for small children, especially our particular children. Order and routine mean more in our household than most, and this time of year just turns it all upside down.

Take last night, for example. Connor was not having a particularly good night when it came to listening or to behaving appropriately. It was really frustrating, having to constantly remind him of what he was supposed to be doing. The list is long . . . not talking while others were talking, not playing while we were listening to the story, using our inside voice while playing at the library, saying "please" and "thank you," sharing with others, and answering people when they asked questions of him. He had a lot of transgressions last night, as you can see. The other three boys were models of good behavior. They each had their little moments of maybe talking out of turn or needing help sharing, but on the whole, they were well behaved. My son, not so much.

Part of me really wanted to just pick him up and take him home. It's what he needed. But another part of me didn't want him to miss out on the last Book Club meeting of the year, especially the holiday one. And I didn't want to miss it either. It's a fun group of moms and kids, and we only get together about once a month. It's one of the special things Connor and I do together, so it's important. But his behavior was awful last night.

We had a pretty quiet ride home. He kept trying to talk and joke at first, but I didn't respond. I was thinking. Simmering, actually, because I was still disappointed in his behavior and trying to figure out what was going on. He's usually better behaved, especially on our one-on-one adventures.

And that's when it hit me, driving home in total silence. The kid was chattering, or trying to until I gave him "the look," just as he always does when he's trying not to fall asleep. He was exhausted and fighting every minute of it.

It started Thursday on Thanksgiving, with our twelve-hour day that included nearly five hours of driving and trips to two different unfamiliar places with lots of strange (at least to the kids) people and food. The very next day we packed up and headed to the lake for an overnight visit that included another two-hour drive each way, not to mention non-stop running and playing with his cousins who were also down visiting. Sugary drinks and sweets fueled the early mornings and late nights. And again on Sunday we traveled, spending almost three hours in the car to drive up and back to visit an old college friend and her little boy who live in another city. That's a lot to pack into four days.

The "normal" school week hasn't fared much better. He went to school early Monday, still dragging from the weekend, only to be picked up and taken out for lunch and some Christmas shopping. A few hours of play time at home and then it was off to birthday dinner in a nearby city with Grammy, Pappy and Grandma JoAnn. Tuesday morning included a play date with his best buddy from preschool, and then today has been school followed by lunch with Mommy and Daddy (a rare treat).

No wonder he isn't behaving very well. There's the excitement of Christmas and Santa, which means more to him this year than any of the previous ones. And there's so much going and going that he's not getting much down time. And, truth be told, he's really not getting nearly enough sleep either, between early morning wake-up calls (Sawyer and school days) and late-night bedtimes (traveling, celebrations and get-togethers). He is exhausted.

So, while I was not at all satisfied with his behavior last night, I do see where part of it is coming from. It hit me as we were driving home in relative silence for a change. And it helped me calm down enough to talk to him in the car before we went inside last night. We talked about all ways his behavior had fallen short, and how going to do fun things was a privilege that you get for being a "good boy" who is polite and who behaves the way he is supposed to behave. There were lots of tearful "Yes, M'ams" and "No, M'ams." And there was even a big hug to remind him that even when you're disappointed in the behavior, you still love the big boy.

And now Mommy has to work on her part. I have to remember to balance the fun things with the down time that the boys really need, especially this busy time of year. And I also have to be willing to follow through. Next time we're out, and the behavior continues to be unacceptable, we make our apologies and we go home. Even if that means I have to give up something I want to be doing, too.

Book Club for Boys!

Tonight was our last Book Club for Boys meeting of the year, and it was a modified version. We met at a local library for story time and a tour by the librarian. The boys also got a chance to browse books, especially the pop-up ones on the tables, and to play with the assorted items in the children's area.

As an aside, Connor and I may have found a new library branch. Ours is close and convenient, but this one is much larger and has much more for him to do (on our Mommy & Me days out). Plus we'll be closer to different restaurants for lunch!

But, back to the Book Club. Each boy had been asked to bring two books, one wrapped for a book exchange with the other members and one unwrapped as a donation to the library. Our goal was to encourage reading with the boys and also to show them that sharing with others is a good thing to do during the holidays and throughout the year.

So, at the end of the tour, the boys gave the librarian the unwrapped books from their home collection, so that other children could enjoy it for a long time to come. And then we headed back to the house of the club organizer for the holiday party and the other part of our book exchange.

It was a fun night. The boys got to play and we got a chance to talk over some great food. Connor could have been a bit better behaved (more on that later), but all in all, it was a good night and a fun way to begin the holiday season!

Book Club for Boys!

Tonight was our night to host the Book Club for Boys! One of our boys was out sick, and that wasn't fun for him (or his family) or for us, but we forged ahead with just three.

Josh was nice enough to take the twins out for a few hours (they did dinner at Steak & Shake, which was impressive in my book) and then quickly fell asleep in the truck while Daddy went to check on one of his houses under construction.

Our Book Club night involved a Curious George book, some crafts, a little scissors and glue, some cookies and drinks, and lots and lots of stickers! We learned about the seasons, including which months make up which season. We also made calendar pages for the last three months of the year, mostly with stickers. And we ate chocolate chip cookies shaped like leaves and snowmen!



And, of course, we also played. Well, the moms talked, but the boys played.



And played and played. I think we managed to wear all three of them out. Hopefully they'll still be willing to get up for school in the morning!

Book Club for Boys!

Like everything lately, Connor was in a hurry to leave last night for our "Book Club for Boys" meeting. Unfortunately for him, a storm was rolling in about the time we needed to leave. We opted to wait it out for a little bit, much to his displeasure. But we were treated with this amazing view on our drive out into the country, where his friend who was hosting lives.

Last night's theme was children's literary classics. Our host had three books picked out, but we only managed to get through two of them. Little boys tend to have short attention spans, especially around other little boys and the need to play with all those new toys in an unfamiliar house!

Our first book was The Gingerbread Man, which I hadn't read in ages and I'm pretty sure Connor had never read before. It went over extremely well, especially since it ended with our snack of the evening - homemade gingerbread cookies topped with sugar!

The second book was The Three Billy Goats Gruff which we had checked out recently from the library. I read it to the twins a few times, but Connor missed out because it was while he was away at the beach with Grandma and Grandpa. So this one was new to him, too. At the end, the host handed out little hand-held masks for each of the boys so we could recreate the story. One got to be the mean, old troll. The other three boys were the Billy Goats Gruff trying to pass him on the bridge. Two out of four played their part well. The other two, Connor included, were too bashful to play.

And after that the boys went upstairs to play while the mothers had a chance to plan some of the next meetings and to just talk. Connor and I love going to these meetings - they're educational and fun. And a tasty treat is usually involved, too, though I missed out on my part of that last night. You see, the host sent some of the extra cookies home with us at the end of the night, and Connor offered to hold ours while we drove. Guess who ate both of the cookies on the way home.

"You can have a different one later," he told me, already munching on my gingerbread man.

I probably should have seen that coming, huh?

Book Club for Boys!

Last night was our second book club meeting. After our busy day, we were running a few minutes late, but we eventually made it. Connor couldn't wait, he talked about it all afternoon and all the way there in the truck.

And, per usual, Connor was shy at first. He always hides behind my back and wants to sit on my lap to start the meeting. It must be something about the small group setting, because that definitely was not an issue yesterday morning at the birthday party. Or maybe being inside in a quieter, more controlled environment is more intimidating. Regardless, he eventually found himself and started moving around with ease.

This week was about the five senses (how appropriate, since a recent post mentioned how Sawyer very much processes the world this way). Connor participated in the story time, answering questions the host asked of the boys about things that they can see, hear, taste, touch and smell. He even talked so much I had to ask him to let the others have a turn, which is what we see at home but not often what others see away from home. He went through the activity with minimal redirection (the new and unfamiliar toys were calling to him). He liked sticking his hands into a covered box and trying to identify the objects by touch, especially the Hot Wheels car. He also liked tasting foods with a blindfold (a cleverly covered pair of children's sunglasses). It was a fun and interesting concept, which means one of the other mothers and I have big shoes to fill as our turn to host comes around!

And after the scheduled part of the meeting was over (the story and the following activity), the boys just spent an hour or so playing together. Connor and the other kids were especially fond of the GeoTrax train set. Luckily, there were four remote controlled trains to go around. And the moms, and the host dad, sat around the dining room table just talking. We threw out a few suggestions for future meetings, some options for meet-ups in between the actual book club meetings, and also just talked about some parenting issues in general. It was a fun way for the kids (and the parents) to spend the evening.

For me, it was especially nice to have some of that Connor and Mommy time again. We haven't had much of that since school ended in early June, so it was nice to just have one child out on an adventure for a change. We even took advantage of the moment and stopped at the local library on our way home (very appropriate, I thought, on our way home from the book club meeting). Poor Connor has been rereading his collection this summer, because that's another place we haven't visited much. I have yet to be brave enough to take all three boys there. Mostly because the little guys are still rough even on the board books we own, so I can't imagine how they would do with library books as far as the eye could see. Nope, not yet.

And that was the end of our very fun, but also very long, day.

"My Friends"

Yesterday was a first for us. Connor was invited to his first ever birthday party by one of his friends from school. It was one of the little boys who's also in our "Book Club for Boys," so it's someone he knows and feels pretty comfortable around. And, most important, his little brothers were invited, too.

So I took all three of the boys to a their first birthday party. By myself. It was an adventure.

Connor's friend lives out in the county, in a pretty rural area with fields and forests all around. They even have bunnies and goats and chickens, which was definitely something new for my boys. The party was centered outside around a picnic table, with a barn and the animals on one side and a beautiful hillside on the other.

It was a perfect children's party. There was pizza and breadsticks and juice boxes for lunch, with cupcakes and ice cream for dessert. There was a fun game of treasure hunt, which was the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme version of pin-the-tail on the donkey. And there was a candy-filled pinata hanging from a nearby tree. There were even two child-sized wheel barrows filled with water balloons and a friendly water fight.

Connor spent the day in awe, running from one activity to the next and following around "my friends" every chance he got. He was hot and sweaty and exhausted when it was all over, but he also had one of the biggest smiles you have ever seen spread across his face. I tell myself that was because he enjoyed the party and his friends so much, not just the giant bag of candy he had scored from the pinata break.

And then there were the twins. They were there, but not really there. From the moment we stepped out of the truck they spied a little spot over the hill where the family had some playground equipment - a small swing set, a climbing dome, and finally, a trampoline. It was old-school, the kind with no safety net or padding over the springs. And it was a magnet for every single child there.

The twins made a beeline for it the second they saw it. They both climbed right up the ladder of the little slide (positioned next to it as a way to get on) and took off. They bounced for about 99 percent of the time we were there. They took a few breaks here and there to check out an activity or two that was going on, but mostly to come up for another juice box. I'm pretty sure they had at least four. Each.

For Sawyer, you could see it on his face. It was one of those sensory things that makes his face light up. He loved every second of it. He bounced, by himself and with others. He sometimes just sat or even lay down in the middle while everyone else's movements bounced him. He was in heaven. And he cried, pretty hard, when it was time to leave.

Xander also enjoyed it. He bounced and bounced and bounced. I was actually a little concerned he might bounce himself over the hill, but he didn't. I forget how agile he is for his age, that he has really good coordination and knows his limits pretty well. He didn't have a single problem. Unless you count being stung by a bee and screaming like a banshee. But it was short-lived and the sting was very minor. He just didn't think much of it at the time.

Connor, like his brothers, also liked the trampoline. He followed them down in the beginning and hopped right on. He also hopped right over to the edge and got his leg caught between the spring and frame, and was suspended in mid-air for a few uncomfortable seconds screaming. He wasn't hurt, of course, just scared. There wasn't even a scratch or red mark on him. So he was more careful after that, and usually only came back if his friends were down there, too. Mostly, he was immersed in the actual party.

Our first birthday party was a successful trip. I was so impressed with the family who put it on. All outside, all fun and exciting for the kids. And such a beautiful place to have the party (and live, really). And I survived taking all three of them somewhere without any major incidents. We even managed to get the two little guys to potty outside for the first time, and do so successfully!

So, even though it would have been nice if the little guys had been more interested in the party and the other kids, it was still a good day. Connor had fun with his friends. The twins found something to occupy them so that I could spend as much time watching Connor and enjoying the party as I did taking care of them.

It was just another step out into the world, learning to take all three of them places by myself and managing three unique sets of needs at the exact same time. Scary at times, but a lot more fun than always staying home!

The Day That Was

It started early, of course. Josh got the boys up when he left around 7 a.m. I came down an hour or so later, after having chased Sawyer off the steps three different times, finally putting him back in his room.

You see, the twins have broken down our last child safety defense in the last few weeks. The baby gates are merely stepping stones into the places that were once off limits. So now they love to play inside the office and especially on the steps. So after catching Sawyer there the third time in less than 20 minutes while I was trying to catch that last hour of sleep, I simply put him back in his room, which he cannot get out of on his own. Clearly he wanted to be upstairs, right? That's what I thought.

At some point we got the phone call with details about Connor's first ever birthday party to attend. Ours had gotten lost in the mail and we weren't sure what time or where, we just knew it was sometime Tuesday afternoon. It was at 11:30, yesterday morning! We had two hours to get everyone dressed, fed and there (about 20 minutes away).

We also still needed the birthday boy's present. You see, I had planned on getting that Monday night. I was going to take Connor out after Josh got home from work, because he loves those kinds of trips and I had to work both nights this weekend. But one of the girls I work with called Sunday night and wanted to trade nights, so I ended up working Monday night, too. That left Tuesday morning, the day of the party. Which was, of course, before I knew the party actually was that morning!

So we had breakfast, got everyone dressed and presentable, made our final potty and were on our way. I took all of them into the store. Without the stroller. That was an adventure, let me tell you. They loved the toy section and kept trying to persuade me we needed even more balls to play with. I declined. We picked what I hope was a fun toy for the birthday boy and were on our way again. We caught up with and followed two other moms out to the party, just in time.

We spent a few hours at the party. Then we came back to the house and got the little guys some lunch, since they were not interested in a normal kid fare from the party. Then we went out on the deck for a few hours in the pool, hoping the water would wash off some of the dirt and grime from the two-hour outdoor party.

Then we came inside to clean up. Connor and I needed showers before our second event of the day, the second meeting of the "Book Club for Boys." Then we fixed everyone dinner. And we changed Connor's clothes again, because he dropped his dinner raviolis all down the front of his clean shirt. And then we called Daddy, who had forgotten that he was keeping the twins while we went to the book club meeting. He made it home, and we quickly took off. We got there about five minutes late, but we made it.

We spent a few hours at the book club, enjoying the meeting and the company. And then we made our way home well past Connor's usual bed time. Especially when Mommy realized the library was still open and we could swing in there. We hadn't been since school was out back in May, because I am still not quite brave enough to take all three boys there by myself (and the stroller will not fit).

After picking out our books and looking at the flip-up books he loves for a while, we eventually made it home and got Connor cleaned up once again and ready for bed. And we, of course, picked the longest library book he got (yet another Curious George) and had to read that before bed time. I left his room around 10 p.m.

And then I fell into bed shortly thereafter.

Busy. Fun. Exhausting. And that is the day that was.

Book Club for Boys (& Brothers & Sisters)!

Earlier this summer, just before school let out, I mentioned that Connor joined a "Book Club for Boys" playgroup started by the mother of one of his classmates. The "book club" meetings are only about once a month because they involve some planning and preparation, but many of the members have been meeting just about every week for a simple get together at a park or other location to "play" together.

For a variety of reasons - mostly weather, a few logistical (that fun three-to-one ratio) and also Connor's extensive travel schedule - we've not made it to any since the first meeting. Sometimes I wonder how much of that is my own fear, that whole logistical thing, in taking three boys out by myself. I know other people do it, and I know other mothers are generally glad to help wrangle extra children on these events, but it's still hard. I'm not one who likes to ask for, much less expect, help. And my children require a different kind of help, at least one of them. So that makes it twice as hard.

But, my issues aside, I was determined we would go. It's the first time everyone has been home and healthy for one of the events in weeks, and I know Connor has been missing his friends. So, we got up a little early (for us anyway), packed the cooler and the truck, and headed out. We were headed to a local park on the other side of town, albeit 30 minutes after the others had surely already arrived. Morning people, we are not.

This particular park is nice, and we've been out there before, but mostly to watch cousins Austin and Kyndal play baseball and t-ball. This was our first trip with just the boys to the playground, and they had a great time. Connor especially liked seeing his friends for the first time in a while, even if he was a bit bashful at the beginning and the end of the day. And at four and a half, he's pretty trustworthy and self-sufficient, so I could concentrate on keeping tabs on the little guys and talking with the other moms in between reconnaissance missions. Sawyer and Xander were a bit all over the place, but that's to be expected. And I did have to wrangle Sawyer away from a few picnic tables with food and drinks (and people trying to enjoy them in peace), but all in all, they did well.

We ended the day at the food court at the nearby mall. And just so you can get the full picture, there were three adults and seven children ages 18 months to six years. We were like rows of soldiers walking in, as one of the kids put it.

That was a first for me, taking three little kids into a crowded place with no restraints during a busy lunch time. It went as well as could be expected. The two little ones were not much on the food (it wasn't McDonald's, so that pretty much says it all), but did snack and drink a little. Connor did wonderful, but he's used to eating out and loves almost all places (today's choice was Chick-fil-a). Sawyer did a lot of hopping and dancing and entertaining nearby diners, but wasn't too loud or too distracting (I hope). Xander was tired and a bit fussy toward the end, but also not bad. It was a good first time out, and now maybe Mommy will be brave enough to try it again.

And, I've saved the best for last. Our two potty training twins did all of this in big boy underwear without a single incident! We had two potty sessions at the public restroom at the park (always fun), and we washed hands inside the mall. We made it home clean and dry!

We're starting to do a few trips like this, here and there, and always where we know bathrooms will be nearby. But, Mommy also keeps hand towels in the bottom of the twins' car seats, just in case. Those car seat covers are not fun to pull off, even though they are washable. We also keep an extra set of clothes in the back for each twin, along with the still-there emergency diaper bag. And we even pack along the extra, full-size little potty, just in case the bathrooms aren't nearby!

Yeah, Mommy has a few issues. We know.

Book Club for Boys!

Just before preschool ended for the summer, the mother of one of Connor's classmates sent around an e-mail about starting a book club for boys. Though I've never been one to join much (three boys, one mother issue), it sounded like fun. I knew that Connor would enjoy seeing his friends from school over the summer, and it would be something fun to break up our days at home (siblings are also welcome, if we can't work out other arrangements, so that helps).

The idea is to have a fun play date that also incorporates learning through books and projects. His friend's mom was nice enough to host the first one, to give us an idea of what to plan when our turn comes around. Today's theme was space, which included rocket ships and astronauts and moon rocks! And also some random playing at the end of the day!



The last three. Connor and two of the boys, getting ready to play a fun game of "Elefun," where the blower pushes out butterflies for everyone to catch.



The GeoTrax. A very fun toy that Connor had never seen or played with before. He's in the back, operating the train with the remote control. Two other friends are also there, in addition to a little brother who was along for the day.



The host (wearing his space suit, which the other boys were too bashful to attempt today) and one of the other little boys.



Group shot. This one includes everyone, if you count Connor's reflection in the mirror to the left. He couldn't be torn away from the GeoTrax train!



Craft time. The boys, with the help of their friend's mother, were using coffee filters and food coloring to create earth images, which they later glued on black construction paper. We have ours up on the refrigerator gallery!

A fun day with friends. Connor had a great time, even if he was a little bashful at first (as always). He was excited when I told him that's where we were going while brothers' were at school. And he was really excited when I told him we would do it again in a few weeks, and that we would even have one at our house sometime this summer!