We are Back!

I am back to blogging! I took a hiatus from blogging for two reasons, time and direction. After Ben was born I just didn't have the time to keep up with my hobbies. I barely had time to take care of myself! After feeding, diapering, trying to keep a house in order and also taking care of the needs of a five year old a comfy bed looked better than Blogger!

Ben is in a routine for now and things have settled down a bit. He is now scooting and finds everything quite interesting. Thanks to his precocious nature my frenemy the outlook covers are back. He weighs over 20lbs and much to the dismay of Quincy, he matches him in height and weight (it's a fair match now!).

Grant is now in Kindergarten and loving every minute of it! His summer was filled with golf, basketball, park play and swimming. He finally passed to level 2! It only took 5 sessions and approximately 50 lessons! After his busy summer I was physically ready for him to start school, just not emotionally. I wiped away tears (mine) as we said goodbye for the day. He did great, me not so much! That day little things made me tear up: making his bed, walking by the doughnut holes in the bakery, his jacket hanging on the hook. I have since sucked it up and realised that I have to let him grow and let us both enjoy this new adventure called school.

Life has settled down a bit and I am back to blogging. What type of blog I am still puzzled about. Should it be a journal type blog? I am not that interesting so that option is out. I have two growing boys, well three if you count the dog so maybe a mommy blog? Snore fest. Who would want to read a blog entirely dedicated to my boys? I love them and find them highly entertaining but not everyone feels the same way. Then again it's my blog and I will do what I want! Somedays (ok weeks may go by without a post, who are we kidding?) you will see an update about the boys, maybe you will see me rant about the punk who cut me off in traffic or maybe I will write about a memory. Whatever it ends up to be it all makes up the happiness we have here on Harrison Street.

Happy to Be Home!

We made a trek up to Zippel Bay Resort to spend a few days with Mark's family. It's a nice resort with all the amenities a person would need for a fishing trip. The accommodations were roomy, at least the log cabin we stayed in was.

The only complaints I had were the mosquitoes, the biting flies on the lake and the stuff laying on the countertops and the floor of the cabin which was a little much for a neat freak, type A personality like myself to take. When things are messy it makes me tired, crabby and uneasy.

Mark and I realised two things. One: We are not lake resort people, we are Sandals Resort people. Two: I desperately need a vacation without children ASAP!

Grant was a pill the entire time! Mark tried to take him swimming, but he didn't like to get wet (takes after his mother). Apparently the potty training is working too well. When his trunks were wet he thought he had to take them off. We then let him swim in his swim diapers. Those also got wet and he wanted those off. Tired of the struggle we went back to the log cabin. The second day we woke up the mosquitoes in the cabin were awful! Grant tried to go potty, but they swarmed around his penis and this freaked him out the entire trip and wouldn't use the potty the rest of the time we were there. This place really isn't for young children since it is by the water. Grant liked to run around the floating gazebo which was wet in an area with no fencing for two feet. That thing was a drowning accident waiting to happen!

Grant did like two things at the resort: Skipping rocks and his two little buddies he named Darell. The Darell's were two boys between the ages of 5-7 whom he met while playing in the floating gazebo. I don't know what there real names were but to Grant they were named Darrel.

We did enjoy the boat ride Paul took us on. It was Grant's first ride on grandpa's boat. We also enjoyed the two walleye feast dinners while we were there. We both caught up on some reading and sleep while we were there.

Going away make you appreciate what you have in your own home when you return!

Apointment From Hell

On Friday Grant had his 3yr check up. Unfortunately he was ill and had a low grade temperature so it wasn't a complete check-up. Grant actually picked a perfect time to be ill. He developed a fever the afternoon before his visit so I wasn't to worried since we would be seeing his doctor the next day.

Grant knew where he was at the minute we hit the parking lot and didn't want to get out of the car. I persuaded him by telling him that Dr. M would give him a book at his check up (he always does). He was OK with that. We stood in line waiting to check in, Grant starts getting a little nervous. We go upstairs and he checks out the play area a bit before his name is called. Grant than proceeds to tell me that it is my check-up, not his!

We finally sit down in the examining room where he continues to freak out. I tell the nurse about his fever. She checks it, it's only 99 degrees! It probably came down because of the Advil. He doesn't want to step on the scale or be measured. He is usually very good at his check-ups so this is surprising. He has calmed down now and Dr. M comes in. He realises he forgot Grant's book and comes back (thank God!)He examines and talks to Grant, who warms up to Dr. M.

Results of his check-up: He is impressed with him! This guy never gives compliments unless they are deserving of them. Did I mention he was Mark's pediatrician? I think he is using Mark as a bench Mark for Grant. He asked Grant "if he was speaking complete sentences like his daddy at his age". Complete yes. Do I understand what he is talking about all the time? No. We didn't get his weight or his height but according to Dr. M he looks to be above average in height. Gee I wonder where he gets that from? So what has Grant accomplished in a year? Knows his upper and lowercase letters, knows the sounds of almost all the letters (thanks J for the Leap Frog video), recognises a few words, counts up to 30 and also can read 2 digit numbers. He also knows his full name and the street he lives on.

Dr. M also examined him for his fever. It's just a virus a lot of his patients have come in with in the past few days. Prescribed him a fever reducer, cool treats, lots of rest, liquids and luke warm baths.

Future Banker

Since it has been raining or cold this week we were forced to stay in side tonight and not have out usual family walk or park time. What did we do? As some of you may know Grant has an obsession with Mark's place of employment. He points out all the bank locations around town, gets excited over the commercials & loves the paraphernalia Mark brings home. This week I had to coax him into his carseat by letting him "read" the bank flyer that was left in the car. Tonight it was no surprised when I asked him if he wanted to watch the last of Mark's training videos that he said yes. It was like I said he could watch Alvin and the Chipmunks and eat all the ice cream he wanted! Mark killed two birds with one stone. Spend time with his family and getting caught up on his training videos. Not having watched training videos in three years,I also joined in on the fun. I have to say it was like watching the Dharma Initiative videos from Lost.
Needless to say after the video Grant decided to play banker. He grabbed a pen and paper (that was his brochure) and began telling me about the different checking accounts the bank offers. He needs to watch the customer service part of the video again, when his phone rang he proceeded to have a chat with Cookie Monster and Elmo. I guess mommy is not his #1 customer.

Excuse Me, Please and Thank-you

Grant was complimented on his manners a few days ago. I guess we are doing something right in his transition to a pre schooler. How did he get to be so polite? For one thing I never let a toddler tell me what to do. He learned the sign for please when he was very young. Anytime he wanted something he had to say please. When he received the item he would have to say thank-you. He also learned by watching us saying please and thank-you to others. He learned excuse me probably from shopping with us and trying to get around people. Sometimes it's extremely difficult getting around places with a stroller, especially walking in back of people who don't have a clue where they are going. Excuse me is a nice way of saying in that situation get out of the way! Grant is super polite he even says "excuse me" when trying to go down the stairs when Quincy is blocking them. It's true what they say "practice what you preach". Children are always learning from you, I am always reminded to be a good example for him. Now if I could get his little buddy from calling me "hey you" or "hey you, I want some milk".