Category: Activities

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Activities Cole Family & Friends Mothering Parenting Ryan

Good Ol’ Summertime

We are having a lot of fun around here this summer. The boys have taken to swimming, well-like fish to water.  Especially Cole.  It doesn’t matter what kind of water it is- he loves it.  From water from the hose, to the kiddie pool, to the sprinkler, to the water at the swimming pool- he is thrilled around water.

We have been trying to go swimming at least once a week.  We are pretty lucky that our town has two great kiddie pools, that we can alternate between them.  Today we took the boys to the kiddie pool in town that has a slide.  It isn’t a huge slide, but it is adequate for kids of all sizes.

I say that because Ryan wouldn’t go on it.  He didn’t want to at all. But Cole- we couldn’t keep him off of it.  Never mind that he was the only two year old going down the slide.  Never mind that all the other kids going down the slide were at least twice his age.  He was just in his own little world, and he was going down that slide as much as he wanted.

He would climb up the rock stairs, and wait his turn-just like all the other kids.  Then when it was his turn, he’d sit on the slide, and look at the water running down it.  Oblivious to the fact, that he was holding up the line. He just had a grin on his face a mile wide.  He had waited in line, and he was going to make the most of it!   He examined the stream of water coming out of a sprinkler to keep the slide wet, and had to touch it and play with the water.  No amount of coaxing from his daddy or mommy would make him hurry up.  This was his time to decide when he was ready to slide. 

And when he decided it was time to go, he let go, and swish…down the slide he went, with even a bigger smile into his daddy’s arms.  If he got water in his eyes, or in his nose, it didn’t bother him.  He would laugh, and quickly squirm out of daddy’s arms to go get in line again, and do what he just did, all over again.

Ryan was just happy to be bouncing around in the water and playing. At one point he came up to me, gave me a hug and said, “I’m having so much fun in this pool Mom.”   Another time, I was holding him in the deeper water, and he told me to take him back to shallow water, because he had a great idea.  Once we were in the shallow water, he asked me if I wanted to dance with him.  So we did a little waltz in the water. 

I had so much fun playing and watching my boys today.  They are so sweet and innocent, and watching them have fun, just made me appreciate again how fortunate we are to have them.  It doesn’t get much better than dancing in water with your four and a half-year old, or seeing pure joy and excitement in your two year-old’s face, as he experiences a water slide for the first time. 

When I was a kid, my mom used to take us swimming, but she never went swimming herself.  She said she had just as much fun, sitting on a beach blanket watching us.  I never understood that growing up- but today I did. I understand what she meant all those years ago.  As long as your kids are having fun, and enjoying themselves then you are too, and it is the most fun you will ever have.    

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Activities Cole Family & Friends Holidays Parenting Ryan

Fourth of July Festivities

We had a busy but fun Fourth of July! 

We went to a neighboring town for a parade, face painting, and music in the morning.  Ryan got his face painted with stars, and Cole wanted his arm painted instead.  There was an added bonus that there is a caboose in the town, so of course we had to walk over to see it.  Here are a few pictures of the caboose and me with the boys- you can see Ryan and Cole’s face and arm painted, and you can click on the pictures to see the images larger:

        

 It was getting hotter and hotter by the minute, and this little town didn’t have a lot of shade.  So we decided to pack it up, and head back home.  We stopped off for lunch at the boys’ favorite noodle bowl place.  The restaurant was almost empty, so we had the place to ourselves.  I guess not too many people go out to lunch on the Fourth of July.  🙂

 

 When we got home, it was perfect weather to break out a new sprinkler ring I had gotten for the boys.  It was in the high 90’s, and they had a blast running through it.  Joe turned on the hose too, and they got to run back and forth between the two.  They did this for an hour, and just loved it:

         

 After all that fun in the sun, we all decided to take a nap.  We turned on our evaporative cooler, and it was heaven- hot outside, but cool and quiet in the house.  The boys were really conked out and slept for a few hours.  Meanwhile Joe went to the store to get some salad fixings, and then I made a salad to take over to Joe’s parents house for dinner.  Joe’s two sisters were up visiting for a few days.

After dinner we had a nice time visiting, and got a special treat- Grandma and Aunt K. had made homemade vanilla ice cream in Grandma’s hand cranked ice cream maker.  Another aunt, (also an aunt K.), made two kinds of hot fudge sauce, and Ryan and Cole helped her.  They had a lot of fun “helping,” and the ice cream turned out great. 

The we all hung out, until it was time to go the fireworks show.  The boys did really well, and were so excited, they didn’t act tired at all.  I am sure the naps helped.   We got to see a really neat firework show, and there was no issue with the “boom factor” for Ryan.

Towards the end of the show, Cole started to get tired and kept saying, “home.”  It was 10 p.m. by then, and way past his bedtime.  However, the boys were so dirty we had to give them a quick shower when we got home.  We got them in their beds as soon as we could, and they literally fell asleep before their heads hit the pillow. 

It was fun having such a relaxing and laid back day.  I am glad the boys are getting older where they can stay up later (with a nap) and can start to enjoy the special occasions.  I love the Fourth of July, and I think the boys are starting to develop a liking for it too.  All day today, Ryan and Cole kept saying, “Pop!”- imitating the fireworks. 

It was a perfect holiday- fun, family, food, and fireworks!

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Activities Cole Family & Friends Mothering Ryan

Swimming Play-date

On Sunday we had a play-date with one of Ryan’s friends, “Henry,” who we first met when they were about one, in music class.  Three months before I had Cole, Henry’s family had a baby sister, “Ella.” 

Despite us never planning it, Ryan, Cole, Henry, and Ella, always ended up in the same music class, and last fall, we discovered Henry and Ryan were in the same pre-school class.  Imagine our surprise when we ran into Henry and his dad at swim lessons a few weeks ago.  Henry is in the class before Ryan, but we were really close on the boys being in that class too.  

Henry’s mom, “Jane,” works full-time, so while I met her a few times off and on over the years, usually her children were with their nanny.  Ryan just loves playing with Henry, and vice-versa.  Henry invited Ryan to his birthday party  a few months ago, and they just had a blast. 

Jane asked if Ryan was going to the pre-school over the summer, and when I told her no, we decided they have so much fun together, we had to get them together to play.  Not to mention that Cole and Ella are almost the same age too.  We decided to meet up today for a swim play-date, at one of the kiddie pools in town.

I usually am not shy about meeting people, or hanging out with people.  I have talked to Jane over the years, but not a lot.  Even at Henry’s birthday, obviously she was busy with all the party activities and guests, but we did manage to talk there more than we ever have.  I was nervous about today though, and the reason why- THE SWIM SUIT.

On Saturday night at 9 p.m., I realized I had better decide what bathing suit I was going to wear.  Last time I checked, I had four of them- no problem.  I was sure one of them would fit.  I found out that two of them I used right after I had Cole, so they were too big.  Yay- nice problem to have.  Until I tried on the other two, and realized they were too small.  Nothing like trying to talk to someone and get to know them, while you are basically in nothing more than your underwear, which is too small at that.

I debated to go too big, but they just looked awful on me.  I looked like I was pregnant, and was trying to hide my body.  Of course, I am trying to hide my body, (at least my hips) but I didn’t want to look like I was. So I opted for one, that if I lost 3 pounds, it would have been perfect.  As it was, it is a tankini, which the bottoms ended just at the top of my “mama pooch,” and the top ended right a the top of it as well.  So I had a swimsuit that highlighted what should never be highlighted, “mama tummy.”  Great.  At least the bottoms hid my hips.  I was really close to running out to see if I could get a new suit, but realized most the stores would already be closed.  I vowed to get a new suit on Monday. 

We met Henry, Jane, and Ella at the pool.  We didn’t realize the pool didn’t open when we thought it did- it opened an hour later, but there was a playground, so the kids were fine.  Once the pool opened, the boys were in heaven. They loved the shallow water, and the sprinklers that shot up out of the ground to play in.

Jane and I got some more chances to talk and to visit, but we were busy keeping an eye on our little ones.  Fortunately Ryan and Henry were tall enough to stand in the deepest part of the pool- 2 feet 8 inches, so they had a great time playing in the “deep end.” 

Ryan was so excited when he came in for a snack- he kept saying he was swimming in the deep end.  We stayed for two hours.  Jane and I decided that we must come back and bring a lunch, so the kids could play even more.  We had so much fun. 

Ella really liked Ryan.  She wanted to play with him, and sit by him.  It was really cute.  She didn’t even hardly notice Cole.  When we were leaving though, Cole gave her a hug, and she looked at him like it was the first time she saw him all day.  Maybe they are too young still to be friends, but Jane and I both agreed that our second child, just didn’t seem to get the same amount of play time with other kids, that our first child did.  So, we are hoping we can change that. 

Ryan and Cole had so much fun, Joe is going to take them back to the pool this week, while he is on vacation.

As I was driving home, I realized that I didn’t think once about my bathing suit during the morning, and no one else there cared either.  No one had a perfect body- we were all parents, having fun with our kids.  I don’t need that new suit after all. 

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Activities Cole Family & Friends Mothering Ryan

Little Boy Nirvana

The “big city” (about 50 miles away from us), has a great children’s museum- I’ve been told.  I have heard about it practically my entire life, since I have lived in the general area since I was eight.  I never went as a child.  I never took any kids there.  I never went with any of my nieces or nephews. 

Usually something like this for me, never lives up to the expectations.   It seems like these types of attractions get talked up and repeated, until they are stuff legends are made of, and they can’t possibly live up to the hype.  Nothing can really be that great.

I officially saw the legend for myself today, with the boys, and all I can say is WOW!  I’ll sit down now.  🙂 

We met up with my sister and my adorable 14-month old niece, Maelin.  The first thing the boys saw when we got into the museum was the REAL FIRE ENGINE, that the kids could play in.  It had all the controls, a horn, and the steering wheel.  What more, could two little boys who are in love with fire engines want?  Fire chief hats, and fire coats.  I think we reached little boy Nirvana today.  I could go on and on, but I think these pictures say it all: (you can click on the pictures to see them larger)

         

Despite this museum being on a few levels, and having countless activities, the boys did not want to leave the fire truck.  They had some benches and I could have brought a book, or work, and sat there all morning while they played only on the truck.  I finally convinced them we should go look at some other things, but only after promising them we would come back to the fire engine.

We went to the smaller child area, where my sister and Maelin, were playing.  Cole seemed a little overwhelmed at first (or else he was just mad he wasn’t on the fire truck anymore), but he quickly got over it and had fun playing on the padded slides, and carpet.  We ventured further back, and found a play tree house with a kitchen.  There was also a play garden, store, and food.  Here is a picture I got of the three kids together (a small miracle, considering how fast they all moved around):

We also made it to the play grocery store, critter area, (where Ryan dressed up like a squirrel), and a train room.  Did I mention little boy Nirvana?  My sister had taken Maelin back to the small kid area, and eventually Ryan had to use the bathroom.  Of course the fire truck is right by the bathroom, so as soon as they saw the fire truck again, they were hooked.  I just sat on the bench, and knew we weren’t going to see any more of the countless rooms we hadn’t made it to.

I was getting hungry, so I told the boys we would go eat our picnic lunch outside that I had packed, and then we would come back in for a while. Of course, they said they wanted to play on the fire engine after lunch.

My sister had to get going, so after our good-bye’s, we had our lunch under a tree, watching the rides from an amusement park nearby.  It was a beautiful day- not to hot, or cold.  We were getting ready to go back in, when we saw a trolley car pull up, just down the hill from us.  We weren’t quite done eating where we could take a ride, but the conductor walked up towards us to place a sign, and told us they were every half-hour.

We finished lunch, and then the boys played at the playground, which was right there until it was time for the next trolley.  We took the ride around the area, and I learned a few interesting facts about the “big city.” 

The boys were so tired after this, that it was time to go home.  Ryan asked when we could come back and get back on the fire truck, as I was putting him in his car seat.  I was able to tell him very soon, because my sister told me that she got me a season pass!  She knew someone who ended up with an extra one, and she is generously giving it to us!  That means we can come anytime we want for an entire year, for free!

We are so excited.  I just wish we were closer, but I know it is something we will really look forward to doing on the hot days of summer, and in the cool days of fall and winter.  

It isn’t every day you get to see your children so happy and care-free.  I know with that fire truck at the museum, I’ll be able to see little boy Nirvana, a lot more often.   

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Activities Cole Family & Friends Mothering Parenting Ryan

Weekends Before & After Kids Part II

(Part I, in case you missed it.)

Having kids definitely changes your weekends.  During the last four years, I can probably count on one hand the relaxing entire weekends we have had.  This past weekend was one of those. 

On Saturday, Ryan started swimming lessons.  The pool is within walking distance, so him and I walked to the pool.  He was so ready and eager to have his lessons again, and he almost put his head underwater.  Last year, after two sessions, he was not ready to put his head underwater.  What a difference a year makes.

Joe was watching Cole, and was including him on some projects he was trying to get done around the house.  Cole loves spending time with Dad, so he was having a blast, getting Dad’s one-on-one attention.

Remember the language research study Ryan is participating in? The researchers scheduled an hour observation session for Ryan, where they could asses and observe his language skills and vocabulary.  I decided to take Ryan out to lunch before hand.

We had such a fun time.  We went to a nice pizza place, and we were seated in a booth for two.  Ryan came and sat next to me, and held my arm.  We colored, talked, and Ryan got two chocolate milks- a treat for sure.  We had a great time at lunch, just sitting, coloring and talking.  I get little glimpses into Ryan’s head during rare times like this, and it is so neat.

We had a few minutes after lunch, before we had to go to the research office, and there was a toy store next door.  Ryan played with the trains, and didn’t even argue or stall when I told him it was time to go.

The research appointment proved very interesting.  I was in the room, but was asked to not cue Ryan.  So I sat and observed as the speech therapist researcher asked Ryan hundreds of questions.  She used pictures, used riddles, and just asked him other questions verbally.  I realized that Ryan knows a lot more words, ideas, and concepts than I gave him credit for.  Some of the material she was testing him on, she said was for six year olds, and he wasn’t missing any questions.  She said she had to go until he missed eight questions in a series.  He missed six and seven questions several times, but didn’t miss eight questions until we were there for an hour and a half. 

Since this is research strictly for the company’s purposes, we don’t get any official feedback, but I asked her when we were done, how Ryan’s speech in general was, and if there was anything we should be working on.  She gave me one area to work with him on, that she noticed, but other than that she said he was doing great. 

We went home, and the boys played outside, while Joe and I completed some tasks around the house.  (Some things like housework never change.) 

On Sunday, thanks to my boss, who gave me her tickets to the pro baseball team, “in the big city,” Joe and I got to go to the game, and we sat by third base, 24 rows up.  It was so much fun, and relaxing too.  Joe and I carried on some kid free conversation, for a few hours.  That hasn’t happened in quite some time.

My dad and step-mom were babysitting the boys, and after the game, we went and got some dinner.  It was almost like the BK days- we knew the boys were in good hands, and we could just relax, talk, and enjoy dinner. 

About half-way through dinner, a table came in and sat next to us. It was two families, with five small kids between them.  I found myself watching the kids.  They were having fun, even though the parents were not talking with the other parents, but to their kids. Not unusual.  I thought about how these parents probably went out BK, and sat for hours and had intellectual discussions about the world.  Now they were talking about swim lessons and summer camp, in between trying to get their kids to drink their milk.

I saw myself in them, from the outside looking in.  At one point, one of the mothers looked at Joe and I, and smiled at us.  I am sure she was thinking we were a mid-age couple (I wish I could say young couple.  🙂 )who could sit leisurely at dinner and talk- because we didn’t have kids. 

I think it is normal for parents of children to remember their BK days, and yes, sometimes long for them.  Especially when you go through the day-to-day routines, and never seem to have time for yourself anymore. 

But once you are a parent, you can’t go back, and even though a few hours at a ballgame, or a dinner out by yourself is a nice break, you don’t want to go back permanently.  Having children takes so much time, and energy away from you, but it always returns it to you a thousand times over.

A weekend all to myself is no comparison to walking to swimming lessons and talking to with my son.  Being able to sleep in as late as I want, can’t compete with him smiling at me with a chocolate milk mustache.  A quiet dinner out and a movie, doesn’t hold water to my toddler shrieking with excitement, when he sees us come home from being out, “Mama-Mommy, Daddy!”  and we are engulfed with wet, sloppy, loving kisses. 

Having children means giving up your weekends, oh-for at least eighteen years, (that isn’t even counting if you are a soccer parent-another post entirely!)  But as you give take that time away from yourself, and give it to your children-to your family- something else gets created in the process. 

There really isn’t a word to describe it, but you see it in your child’s eyes, when he waves to you from his swimming lesson.  You see it in their faces when they realize the day is Saturday, and they get to make waffles with Daddy.  You hear it in their laughs as they are playing in the park.  You feel it in their hearts, when they hug you, as they thank you for taking them out for ice cream, and one child tells you “This was the best weekend ever, Daddy and Mommy,” and the other one just smiles as wide as he can.   

You may not sleep or get to go out anymore on the weekends, but you have gained something far more important-that you never gained from weekends before kids- you have given your children your time, and in return you gained their adoration and love. 

I wouldn’t trade that for all the free weekends in the world, and I know most parents wouldn’t either, even if we are tired. 🙂