Beautiful Day

The sun and warmer weather has finally returned, which is nice, since it actually snowed two days earlier this week! Sawyer was still not quite himself, so I kept him home again, but this afternoon he came around a bit and I'm even hopeful he might get to go to school tomorrow (and actually enjoy his Easter party, too)!

The little guys and I took advantage of Connor's absence and did something we don't get to do often anymore - we took one of our long, winding stroller rides for miles. Mommy has certainly missed the exercise and the peace that comes from these walks. It's nice not to hear someone (ahem, Connor) complaining "Shew, I tired!" every five seconds only to get home and proceed to run around for hours without stopping. Clearly it's more about not wanting to walk than it is about being tired.

But, I digress. The little guys and I got out for a few hours to enjoy this beautiful spring day. We took Buster on his short walk first, and then we did our usual route through the neighborhood where we live and the one next to it that's still largely under construction (probably about 4 miles all told). We even stopped by our favorite field and played for a little bit. Sawyer wasn't up to much more than standing there and looking around, so we didn't stay as long as sometimes. But still, it was a nice little trip. Nice to be out of the house and away from the television, and to see how pretty it is here in the early spring.

Here's hoping your day was just as nice.

Easter Party

Aren't I handsome? That's what he seems to be asking us with that look.

Today was a special day for all the moms in Connor's preschool class - it was "Muffins for Moms" day. All of the moms got to come in and have a special breakfast and receive a special handmade gift from their child. Connor is proudly showing off his flower picture frame of himself. There was also a butterfly stenciled card with more of the same flowers and his name (sort of) written inside. He starts off well, with the "CON" part, but he writes so big that the end gets very squished and hard to read!

You might remember a similar day not too long ago for dads, where Connor made another picture frame that said "I love you to pieces" that was decorated with puzzle pieces. Have I mentioned how much we love his preschool and his teachers? We do.

Today was also the school Easter egg hunt, where the kids all brought in filled eggs that were "hidden" (aka dropped all over the floor in plain sight) in the music room. The kids had a "counting exercise" to get their eggs. My son, of course, had to return a few after all was said and done. He had more than his fair share of 14 filled eggs - he was closer to 20 before I tossed a few back on the ground. And smart little guy that he is, he was discriminating as he picked up eggs. He bypassed a whole bunch of eggs, opting for some that were slightly larger (more than half of his were this bigger size) and also for the sports themed eggs (little footballs, baseballs and soccer balls).

After school, he was in for an even bigger treat. Aunt Kelly came over to take him out for the afternoon. They're going to watch Monsters v. Aliens at the theatre, with popcorn and coke, of course (since he refused to eat any lunch for me before he left). There also was talk of picking up a late lunch / early dinner and taking it to the park for the rest of this beautiful afternoon.

It's rough being Connor, let me tell you. Rough.

A Better Day

Though still not 100 percent, the little guy is improving. He's started eating a few things - mostly fruit snacks and marshmallows - but that's better than nothing. He's actually drinking apple juice again, as opposed to just sipping it and holding the cool cup against his head. And he was even well enough to request going outside (and was even willing to swing by himself a few times in the presence of the camera)! Just look at that grin. Mommy loves it (the grin, and that he's willing to swing all by himself a little bit these days).

He's currently napping, which just goes to show that he's not totally back to himself yet. There is energy at times, but there's also still crashing. But it's a whole lot better than Monday night or even yesterday. Hopefully he'll be well enough to return to school tomorrow. When he feels well, he seems to really enjoy going.

Connor's World

After yesterday's misadventures, I'll go with something a little more fun today. My four-year old is full of lots of random thoughts and directives. And yes, he expects all of them to be followed. That's a product of being our "have suitcase, will travel" child (usually with grandparents or other people who love him and spoil him).

"I do that, when I get a lil' bigger." This is his answer to absolutely everything, especially if you tell him not now. He's decided if he's not allowed to do it when he wants to, then perhaps he must wait until he's a little older and a little bigger. Today he said it as I was driving. As in, he'd like to drive. "I do that, when I get a lil' bigger."

"Someday Grandma and Grandpa get a big house," he muses on our way home from the lake. I chuckle, because Grandma and Grandpa already have a very big house at the lake. But I also ask why, just because I'm curious where this is going. "Then they put a big houseboat in the garage." Ah, that explains it. You see, most of the boats on the lake this time of year are either fishing boats or houseboats. He'd seen a lot on his visit and thought his grandparents needed to get one. But they can't have one until they get a bigger house, so it will fit in their garage. You know, with their other boat and the cars and the truck.

"I not picking my nose!" he proclaims, completely out of no where and without being either looked at or spoken to. That would be the first sign that he is, indeed, picking at the sore he's scratched to death on the inside of his nose and now has blood running down his face.

"Hush, Louie. Hush!" he shouts. "No bark!" Clearly he listens to his mother sometimes. Because she's been saying this a lot this week, as he barks at everything and nothing and drives the neighbors crazy!

"Not today," he says, completely decided. We hear this one a lot. If he's not ready to do something, even if it was not a request, he simply says it. "Not today."

"I do it by myself!" This one is usually shouted in frustration. Whether it's trying to take his clothes off or put them on, whether he's trying to get out of the car seat and the truck, or whether he's simply working with some toys. He's very independent at times.

"You help me?" he alternately asks. He can also be very needy. If he's feeling particularly ignored (say the last few days, when little brother has been sick and pitiful), then he needs help with everything from opening the bathroom door to sitting with him while he goes potty.

So, now you know what our world sounds like these days. There are, of course, many, many more. But these are the ones we hear the most right now (and that I can think of as I type).

Just Keeps Getting Better

After a not so good day, Connor and I had a not so good evening. Tuesday is swimming lessons, so we packed his bag, loaded him into the truck and headed to the indoor pool (about 25 minutes away in a neighboring city). We signed ourselves in, went down to the locker rooms to change and waited the last five minutes on the bleachers for class to begin.

The first thing that appeared wrong was the that the kiddie pool was roped off with caution tape and completely empty. Still, we waited. There was another group of little kids in the big pool with life jackets, so I thought that would be the earlier class. And it was, but it was Level II. When their class finished (about the time ours should have started), I checked with that lifeguard. She said all Level I classes would be cancelled until the kiddie pool reopened, and someone should have called us to let us know.

Yes, that would have been nice. Especially since we'd already driven out and had gotten a little boy dressed and ready to swim. She told us we could stay and swim in the big pool if we wanted, but it was not to be. I didn't bring a swim suit, because I usually just stand on the edge of the kiddie pool and let him play on his own after the lessons. It doesn't require me to be covered in chlorine for him to have a good time. He was not having one tonight, and was quite pitiful as we went to get undressed and go back home. He stayed pitiful until he fell asleep several hours later.

Of course, this was partly our own doing. We decided to go wireless last week, meaning we cancelled our home phone which had long seemed pointless. And we've not missed it, at least not much. The only downside is that I didn't think about all the places that would only have our home phone listed, like say the swimming lessons form, and would be unable to contact us. I sent out the new contact info to friends and family, even to the school teachers, but I didn't think about swimming lessons.

It's supposed to be a simple six week class - except that it hasn't been. Spring Break was one interruption (pre-planned). One week it was cancelled because of roof repairs. And now it's cancelled for at least two weeks while they install new drain covers (a federal mandate). We've made it to three actual lessons over six whole weeks. We still have three left and who knows when those will actually happen.

So it goes.