It's a Good Thing I Looked Down

At 3 am this morning I happened to wake up for a moment, and noticed that our bedroom door was open and the hall light was on. This is a tell-tale sign that Ben's out of bed, and usually he can be found sitting outside the door peeking in, or standing by my head waiting for me to wake up and see him. But this time I didn't see him in the doorway or by the bed. I sat up to investigate and started to get out of bed. It's a good thing I looked down first, because Ben was sprawled flat on his back on the floor right next to the bed, fast asleep. I am not sure how long he was there, or why he came downstairs in the first place -- I stood him up and asked him what he was doing there, and he mumbled something incoherent about the cat. When I asked him about it again this morning, he didn't seem to remember why he'd gotten up either, or how long he'd been sleeping on the floor. He just told me that when I woke him up he thought he was sleeping in his bed, and then he thought he must have fallen out of bed, and then he realized he was in my room. But he shed no further light on what he'd been doing there in the first place.

Water-Logged

I'd been planning to re-introduce Becca to the splash park at the JCC today, but then I realized that it was closed for Shavuot. So instead I took the kids to Latta Park, which has a little sprayground next to the playground. I had never been there before but (of course) I used the GPS and got there no problem despite the fact that it was in a part of town that I can never seem to get in and out of without getting lost... at least, pre-GPS anyway. Anyway, it is actually pretty close by (right next to the hospital where Joel works), and a very cute little park. Rebecca loved the sprayground, which raised my hopes that maybe she's starting to like the water again. After the kids were finished getting totally soaked, they played on the playground for a while. I changed Rebecca into a dry diaper and clothes but let Ben drip-dry in his suit. It was a fun morning. Next time, we'll pack a picnic lunch.

Say Cheese

I snapped a few pictures of Rebecca this afternoon and she looked at me and said "CHEESE!" (Which is particularly funny to me because I never tell her to say cheese when I take her picture).

All the Way From Alabama to Wyoming...

With my apologies to West Virginia... but who really needs it anyway?

Graduation Drama

Tonight was Ben's preschool graduation ceremony. By way of a bit of background to this story, I asked Ben several weeks ago during a conversation about graduation, did he get to wear a cap and gown to graduation? He answered me yes. I know, never take the word of a four year old... when will I learn this lesson? So fast forward to tonight. Ben needed to be back at school at 6:30 to line up for graduation, so I picked him up a little after 5 and met Joel and his parents for dinner nearby the preschool. I didn't want to drive all the way home and back, since that would barely leave any time for dinner.

After dinner Ben and I pull into the parking lot of the preschool at precisely 6:30, and Ben says, "Did you forget I was supposed to wear my fancy clothes?"

"WHAT?" I said. "I thought you were wearing a cap and gown!" Not only was Ben not wearing his "fancy clothes", but since we just got back from vacation yesterday today was a big laundry day. I pretty much had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for Ben's clothes this morning -- he was wearing gym shorts, a t shirt, and (ironically) loafers (which he insisted on putting on this morning instead of his sneakers). All around me, parents were walking their decked-out kids into the school. Some were wearing ties. I even saw one kid wearing a blazer.

I ran Ben up to his classroom and asked his teacher if there was time for me to run home for a change of clothes for him. "Not really," she said apologetically. "But don't worry, he'll be fine." (With a look that said WHAT KIND OF MOTHER BRINGS THEIR KID TO GRADUATION WEARING GYM SHORTS???)

Fine? FINE? My kid was about to be in the FRONT ROW on stage, wearing GYM SHORTS! I kissed Ben goodbye and called Joel frantically on his cell phone. He was as thoroughly aghast as I was. He insisted he could drive home and get a change of clothes. I insisted he wouldn't have time. He won the argument and sped home, breaking the speed limit by about 30 miles per hour.

And thus it was that Joel and his mom, armed with a change of clothes, accosted Ben from the line of graduates waiting outside the auditorium, buttoned a shirt on over his t shirt, and stripped him of his gym shorts. They shoved him into his khakis in the middle of the hallway and put him back in his place in line. (The loafers he was already wearing worked nicely with the outfit). With five minutes to spare, even.

Here are a couple pictures of Ben, front and center, not wearing gym shorts (THANK GOD). Joel was manning the video camera, so I'll try to edit some video tomorrow. Congratulations, Ben!

Just One More

We left the beach this afternoon and headed home, but not after one last romp in the surf. The fact that it was windy and rainy did not keep the boys from enjoying themselves. Ben was very upset that we couldn't stay longer, and sad to have to say goodbye to cousin Charlie! Rebecca, on the other hand, was very happy to bid farewell to the beach ("bye bye wah-duh!")

Boogie Boys

Alligator Adventure

Yes Joel, He Did Go in the Water

"My son?" Joel asked dubiously when I told him how much Ben was enjoying the beach. "He went in the water? How far?" ("About as far as you'd go," was my answer).

Proof that Ben went in the water... although yes, his just-turned-3 cousin was braver:

Looking Pathetic

Rebecca did quite a bit of this today, unfortunately.

I Think You're Supposed to be in the Water

Good form though, Ben!

From Ocean Isle Day 2

Love and Hate

I pretty much spent the whole day trying to get Ben off the beach, and trying to get Rebecca on the beach. Sitting on a towel and playing with a bucket of water didn't go so far today as it did yesterday, so Becca spent much of her time at the beach whimpering and whining. I even put up the beach tent, but she wanted nothing to do with it.

Ben wanted nothing to do with the beach tent either, but that was because he was having too much fun running around in the surf. As if having his cousin Charlie to play with wasn't enough fun, by one of those it's-a-small-world-isn't-it coincidences Ben's friend Maya and her family were vacationing at Ocean Isle this weekend also. So Ben had plenty of surf-side companionship.

After dinner tonight we took a walk to the ice cream parlor down the street, and after she realized we weren't taking her back to the beach, she was very happy. (Before she realized it she was crying "No- no wah-duh! No-no wah-duh!")

I am going to steal some pictures from Abby's camera in a little bit and post a slide show. Her camera is much better than mine!

THE WAVES ARE CHASING US!

(I stole a picture from Abby's blog).

Wah-Duh

(As Becca calls it). We can see the ocean from the kitchen of our beach house (can you see it in this picture?). The house is nice, 5 bedrooms and well-stocked with supplies. And since I brought the entire contents of my house with me it seems, it is super-well-stocked now.

The three and a half hour drive went pretty smoothly, and the kids only got a little antsy towards the end. Abby, Mike and Charlie arrived shortly after we did, and we ventured down to the beach. The boys had a blast running around in the surf, and Becca was happy to sit on a beach towel and play with a bucket of water. (She was not loving the sand AT ALL. Maybe she'll do better tomorrow). Of course I forgot to bring my camera down to the beach the first time, but I'll remember tomorrow.

After dinner Mike hooked up the Game Cube that we found downstairs, and introduced Ben to Sonic the Hedgehog. Safe to say Ben's having a pretty fun vacation so far. The beach and video games, what could be better.

More pictures tomorrow, I promise!

Peek-a-boo

I picked up a little beach tent today for the kids to use at the beach this weekend in case some of them (read: my children) are not so thrilled with the sun and sand. Here they are testing it out after dinner tonight... it seemed to meet with their approval. If it doesn't prove useful at the beach, I am sure it will provide for lots of entertainment around the house, anyway!

It Just Might Be Disastrous

As I've previously mentioned, the week after next we'll be vacationing in Puerto Rico with friends. This coming weekend (memorial day) we'll put the kids' beach tolerance to the test at Ocean Isle Beach (here in NC), where we'll be from Saturday until Tuesday evening. ("We" refers to the kids and I, Joel's parents, and my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. Joel unfortunately has to work over Memorial Day weekend, so he's getting left at home).

Ben has never been a huge beach fan, seeming ambivalent about both sand and water, but he showed progress last summer so I am hoping he'll enjoy himself on both of our upcoming beach trips. Becca enjoyed the beach last summer (when we could just plop her on a towel and let her play in the sand). Now that she's mobile, I am afraid she'll hate the sand, being totally unused to walking on it. And, thanks to her newfound terror of the bathtub -- yes the bathtub terror saga continues -- I am afraid she'll hate both pool and ocean as well.

So... as the title of the post suggests... it just might be disastrous... But I am so excited!

Unprepared

I convinced Joel to come with me and the kids on an ill-fated trip to Charlotte's annual Asian Festival, about 45 minutes away at Lake Norman. When we arrived, we discovered that we needed to park down the street from the entrance to the park where the festival was being held, and ride a shuttle into the park. The shuttle was actually a big tour bus, which both the kids thoroughly enjoyed riding. Neither one of them has ever been on a bus before, so it was a novel experience.

We arrived at the festival grounds, and since it was around lunch time we bought some food from one of the concessions and settled down at a picnic area right by the water to eat and watch the dragon boat races. All went well for a while -- Rebecca enjoyed watching the boats and the water from her stroller, and after Ben ate we allowed him to take off his shoes and wade in the lake with some other children.

And then the heavens opened up, and a torrential downpour began. As the title of this post suggests, I was entirely unprepared for the possibility of rain, having not brought rain gear or umbrellas. We sheltered under a canopy with some other festival-goers, most of whom had umbrellas (which fact Joel pointed out to me numerous times as in, everyone else brought an umbrella, why didn't we?) But our meager shelter was no match for the pouring rain, and by the end of the downpour we all looked like we'd taken a fully-clothed swim in the lake. We seriously would not have been any wetter if we had.

Poor Becca was bawling, but Ben was pretty stoic. After that we decided we'd had enough, and we squelched back to wait for the shuttle (along with half the rest of the people there). Back at the car I changed Rebecca into a dry diaper and a semi-dry t shirt, but I didn't have a change of clothes -- or even a towel -- for anyone else. We cranked up the heat and the seat warmers and had a soggy drive home.

It was a memorable afternoon, just not in the way I originally had envisioned.

Look! They Have Heads!

Bubble Trouble

Rebecca's relationship with bubbles has taken an unfortunate turn for the worse. About a week ago I squeezed a little extra shampoo into her bath to make a few bubbles which I (mistakenly) thought she would enjoy, because she enjoys waving a bubble wand around outside and trying to make bubbles even though she can't manage it and just ends up spilling the soap and licking the bubble wand and then cries when I take them both away from her.

Anyway, where was I? Extra bubbles in the tub. She hated it. She got some bubbles on her hand, and freaked out, as though the bubbles were some flesh-eating bacteria nibbling away at her chubby fingers. She screamed until I took her out of the bath and wiped all the soap off.

Fast forward to her next bath. She was fine until the shampoo bottle was produced. As soon as I began to lather her up, she started screaming bloody murder.

Next two baths -- started screaming as soon as it became apparent that I was getting ready to turn on the faucet and put her in the tub, and didn't stop until she was out of the tub, dried, diapered, and snuggling her bunnies.

Tonight the trauma of it was so exhausting for her that after I had her in her pjs she lay limply in my arms with her head on my shoulder, murmering "Bubble... bubble..." forlornly to herself.

"Do you like bubbles?" I asked, stroking her damp hair.

"NO!"

Epiphany

BEN (holding up a piece of chicken): Does chicken come from an animal?

ME: It's a chicken.

BEN: No, I don't mean what is it, I mean what animal is it!

ME: It's a chicken. (In response to his blank stare I elaborate with some chicken noises).

BEN: OOOOHHHHHHH!! So THAT'S why they call it chicken!

Becca's New Seat

I was tired of Rebecca's high chair -- taking up so much space in the kitchen, getting food stuck in unreachable crevices, etc -- so I donated it to Amvets earlier this week along with numerous other items she doesn't use any more (bouncy seats, jumperoo, infant carrier, stroller etc). To replace her high chair I got her this seat, which clamps onto the table top. At first I was a bit worried about having her just sort of hanging there in mid-air, so I slid a dining chair underneath it. I soon discovered why the seat's instruction manual says not to do that -- she put her feet down on the chair, stood up, and started jumping up and down! So we took the chair away again so that she has no leverage to push herself up and she stays put much better. I simply check to make sure the seat is secure before putting her in it -- and it's stayed rock-solid so far despite her tendency to bounce and rock. She seems to enjoy being closer to the center of action at mealtimes. And I enjoy being able to mop under her chair without having to move a high chair out of the way.

Belated

Happy mother's day everyone! Pretend I posted this three days ago. My in-laws brought over some lovely roses. They are giving me a sinus headache right now but aren't they pretty??? Thank you to all of you who emailed or texted or Facebooked me with mother's day wishes...
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Babies in my Basket

Again. I wonder if it is the same Mama Bird as last year? And I wonder if that egg in there is going to hatch or if it was a dud?

The Countdown Begins...

Three weeks from now we will be here...

Projects

We finished a huge garage-cleaning out project today, and what do you know -- we do have a two car garage! (Today was the first day we have EVER been able to fit two cars in the garage...)

And this next one is a little masterpiece I like to call "Committed to Painting the Kitchen":

Ben Goes to Kindergarten

For an hour, that is.

Tonight was "Beginner's Night" at Ben's future elementary school -- an introduction to the school for parents and rising kindergarteners. Ben was clearly anxious as we arrived despite the fact that four of his friends were there also. He knew he was going to be required to separate from me and go to one of the classrooms, so as one of the staff approached to take him from me, he wrapped his arms around my waist and prepared to dig his heels in.

And then the woman said, "Hi there, Ben. We have baby ducks. Would you like to see them?" And Ben nodded hesitantly, looked at me, looked at her, looked back at me... and she led him off to see the baby ducks (and then to his classroom).

After the program for the parents finished, I found Ben in his classroom. He seemed a little shell-shocked, but quickly filled me in on his two favorite aspects of kindergarten: the ducks (which he showed me, in a little pond in the school's courtyard) and the computers in the classroom. Kindergarten, thankfully, seems to have met with his approval -- at least so far.

I Should Have Knocked on Wood

Yesterday morning before work I stopped at the grocery store* and one of the ladies who works there asked how the kids were and was everyone healthy? I replied that everyone was fine - for once! Of course, when Ben got home from school last night I could tell he was in a downward spiral which culminated this morning in chocolate-milk-vomit. (Too much information?) So after we dropped Rebecca off at day care we stopped at the grocery store** and picked up some gatorade and ginger ale and chicken noodle soup.

When someone inquires after your children's health and you say they're fine, always knock on wood, people...


*Actually Starbucks, but I'm calling it the grocery store in case Joel reads this, since I am supposed to be cutting back on my Starbucks consumption.

**The actual grocery store, this time.

Painted, Finally!

Yesterday morning Jose the Painter showed up with the right color paint, and a truck and ladders and a crew and everything and we finally got our cedar painted!!! I was holding out for some sunshine before posting a picture, but as soon as the crew finished up yesterday the clouds rolled in and it's been dreary and raining off and on ever since. So I finally gave up. Here's a picture of the newly-painted house in the drizzle:

I did not manage to take a before picture unfortunately, but here is a picture of the house shortly before we bought it (this was the picture that the previous owners took for the listing. You can see that the cedar is stained a dark brown color and if you look closely you can see it was starting to fade in places even two years ago when this picture was taken. So two years later the stain was worn away in many places thanks to the sun exposure we get. The new stain we chose is a solid stain (versus semi-transparent) so it should protect better against the sun. We also had our shutters and front door painted black (they were green previously)

Before (way before):

Beach Fest

This morning we took the kids to Beach Fest in the neighboring town of Matthews. There were rides, games, a haunted house that Ben set one foot inside and promptly turned around and came back out, beach volleyball, sand sculptures, miniature golf, and lots of junk food. Rebecca was content to observe from her stroller the entire time while snacking on dry cereal and pretzels, which allowed Joel plenty of time to give Ben some mini golf instruction.