Category: Activities

My New “Do”

Before having children, I was devoted to getting my haircut every two months. Even if I didn’t want to take any length off, I would at least have the ends trimmed out, and my hair thinned out.

That’s right-thinned out. I have very thick, curly hair. My siblings used to call me “hair helmet” when we were growing up, because it was curly, thick, frizzy, and I had a ton of it.

I realized a week ago, that it has almost been a year since I have had my hair cut. A YEAR….gasp. The last time was last July, right after Cole had been born, and my sister was visiting me from out of town. She offered to stay with the boys, so I could go get it cut, and I took her up on it.

Needless to say, I needed a haircut desperately. I have been reliving my “hair helmet” days. I think I have beat my old record and have worn my hair in a ponytail for probably three months straight now- it is the only thing I can do with it, when it gets this way, so it isn’t totally frizzy and out of control.

It is funny how something that was SO important to me before having kids, now barely registers on the scale. In fact, if I didn’t have a family wedding coming up, with several parties, in the next few weeks, where I actually have to stop and figure out what I am going to wear, and then-oh-yeah- what am I going to do with my hair? pops into my brain, I probably wouldn’t have thought of it.

I guess when the only people who see me day in and day out, is a three-and-a-half-year old, and a one-year-old- who hug me and kiss me all day, no matter what I look like, how my hair is cut, doesn’t matter that much to me anymore. That being said, I do want to look nice at these family events and am glad that I finally got it cut. My neck feels about 5 pounds lighter, and my head feels a lot cooler, without all that extra hair hanging around. No more ponytails for a while!

Here is a picture of me the night before I got it cut- no make-up on, and in my tie-dye shirt that I bought at the little studio where we took Ryan and his cousins to make their shirts at: (please don’t laugh too hard) 🙂

Here is a picture of me from yesterday, at my future sister-in-law’s bridal shower, and I am holding my niece. I’d like to point out that actually have dress on, AND make-up:

I was feeling very nice, and pretty, on my way out the door to the shower yesterday, and then Ryan saw me. Here is how that went:

RYAN: Mommy, why are you dressed like that?

ME: I’m going to a bridal shower for Aunt Kat.

RYAN: Why are you wearing this for the shower? (walks over to me and touches my dress) What is THIS? (scrunches up his nose, like I am wearing a burlap sack or something)

ME: This is a dress honey; Mommy wears a dress, for special occasions.

RYAN: What are those things on your shoes?

ME: Those are called high heels.

RYAN: I don’t like those…where are your flip-flops?

ME: These are nice shoes to go with the dress.

RYAN: I don’t like the dress…where are your shorts?

SIGH…. obviously my son doesn’t see me dressed up very often. He’ll be in for a surprise when he sees me in the dress I bought for the wedding. It is probably one of the nicest dresses I have bought in recent years.

But I have to admit, it did feel nice to get dressed up, even though it was a very hot, day- about 100 degrees, and it was lovely to go to a nice tea, and eat little finger foods, and not have to worry about cutting up someone’s food, or making sure they didn’t break a tea-cup or a dish, or answer “Mommy Why?” questions all afternoon, or try to soothe a crying baby. When my niece started to cry, I got to hand her back to her mother, and that was a switch- usually I am on the receiving end of a crying baby. Most of all, I enjoyed talking to other adults and having uninterrupted conversation for 2 whole hours!

Maybe I need to get out of the house more, but darn-it- I’d have to get my hair cut on a regular basis then.

Activities Cole Family & Friends Ryan

“Mommy, I’m a Swimmer!”

We are going to my grandmother’s beach house for vacation in August, and we decided to enroll Ryan in swim lessons. He enjoys himself when we go swimming as a family, and I really want him to be comfortable in the water, and learn how to swim, since we will probably be taking our vacation at my grandmother’s every year.

So on Monday, Ryan started his first ever swim lessons. After a rough start the first day, he proclaimed the above statement to me today, as he finished his class.

The pool where the lessons are held, is an indoor one- I figured that would be better for the first time, than having Ryan get cold if the weather was cool at an outdoor one. We started on Monday, and he was really tired, from having spent Sunday night with his cousins.

The pool has bleachers upstairs, enclosed in glass for the parents to sit, and then the instructors come in, gather their students, and walk them down to the pool. On Monday, Ryan would have none of that. He INSISTED that I hold his hand, and walk him down to the pool. This really was his first time doing an activity where I was not to be right there, so of course I did this.

Once we got down to the pool, he started to cry and did not want to go near the water. His instructor,a girl about 17, was really nice and sweet, and tried to get him to go in the water, but he already had his mind made up. I managed to get him to at least sit on the side of the pool with his legs in the water, watching his class, but if I backed away to the wall, he started to cry again, and stand up. I’d be lying if I said, he did not throw a fit. He did.

So, I thought this was going to be a fun two-weeks. I figured he was tired, but was wondering if he was scared to go in. After the class was over on Monday, I took him home, and told him he had to go in the water on Tuesday, and he needed to listen to his teacher. I told him we would go get a smoothie (his favorite treat) if he did. Hey, bribing always works with this kid. Joe also talked to him before bed, and reassured him, his swimming lessons would be fun.

So on Tuesday, he still wanted me to walk down with him, and wait by wall, poolside. He went in the water, but still looked a little nervous, but he started participating in the activities, and when he was done that day, he was so proud of himself and said, “I didn’t cry!” We couldn’t get to the smoothie shop fast enough.

On Wednesday, I told him he could walk down with his teacher, Emily, and I would walk behind them. So he held Emily’s hand all the way down. I followed him, and of course, he looked back every two seconds to make sure I was there. I stopped following him, once he reached the pool, and sat on some steps, farther away from the pool. Ryan would look up every now and then from the pool and wave at me, but he clearly was becoming more comfortable.

On Thursday, I stayed in the bleachers, and he held Emily’s hand as he walked to the pool. He looked up at me once, while he was in class and waved.

Today, he just grabbed on to Emily’s hand, and had no problem what-so-ever. When it was time for them to go in the pool, Ryan led the ‘pack’ of kids, down the ramp into the water.

All week he has been learning to jump around in the water, put his chin, and the side of his face in the water, jumping in, and Emily will hold each child on their back, and let them feel what floating is like. He has done all of that since Tuesday, and I think he really has fun.

Today, as he walked back into the room after class, he saw me sitting and ran up to me and said, “Mommy, I’m a swimmer,” his little face bursting with pride.

I was so happy for him to- it is really neat to see him be proud of something he is learning, and realizing he can do things away from me and have fun.

I also am so grateful to Joe’s parents…they watched Cole every day this week, even with him not feeling well. It helped so much, that I could be there for Ryan, and not have to spit my attention between him and Cole. They may come one day next week, and watch Ryan swim. Cole also bonded very well with Grandma- when we pulled up to their house everyday, he just started smiling, and flapping his hands.

We may go swimming on Sunday, so he can show Joe everything he has learned. We have four classes next week, and then we take a break for two weeks, and then he will start another nine classes at the next level in July, ending right before our trip.

He has been so excited to go to Great Grandma Mimi’s house, and I know he will have more fun in the water, being “a swimmer”.

Activities Cole Family & Friends Ryan

The Cousins

Last week, we went to my sister-in-law’s town, about 50 miles away for a visit. She has three children (ages 10, 8, & 6), who obviously are Ryan and Cole’s cousins.

Ryan adores his older cousins. He was so excited to go see “the cousins,” as he calls them. We had plans to go make tie-die shirts, at a small craft shop, a few miles away from my SIL’s house.

It was really fun- I actually learned how to make three different patterns. I helped Ryan with his shirt, and made one for Cole too. He sat in his stroller the entire time, looking out the door, eating crackers, and watching the cars go by. It only took about half an hour for us to make 5 shirts,(with no mess to clean up-benefit of doing a project like this at a craft studio), and they turned out great, if I do say so myself.

On Saturday, “the cousins,” came up to Joe’s parents house for the weekend, and Ryan played his little heart out. He had so much fun, he is completely and utterly exhausted, but I think he had the best few days ever.

His 8-year-old-cousin (a boy), had an air powered rocket blaster, that you could pump up with air, and then a rocket would shoot up in the air. Ryan played with that constantly. He begged us to go to the grocery store and get one for him. He calls it the “rocket ship.” If only our yard was bigger, I would have something that would occupy him for probably 6 hours at a time. But the rocket shoots so high up, it would be on the roof, or about 3 yards over, with the first launch. We are considering getting him one though, to keep at his grandparents house, that he can play with when he is over there. Talk about a 3-year old boy heaven!

Cole was even interested in the rocket, and would try to pump the pump. As soon as Ryan saw him doing that, he said, “No Cole, this is the big boy toy.” He was so proud of himself that he could operate this rocket, like his older cousin!

Sunday, they went swimming with Joe, and their uncle, and Ryan’s aunt (the cousins mom) bought Ryan his first squirt gun, so he could join in the water gun fights. I think Dad had more fun playing with it though- 🙂 Ryan got to spend the night last night with everyone at Grandma’s.

Finally tonight, before “the cousins” left, we got some pictures of everyone in their tie-dye shirts. It didn’t occur to me to get one of Cole and Ryan together, and Cole would barely stay still longer than a second, so I feel fortunate to have gotten two shots, with everyone in them. Here are some pictures- (you can double click on them to see them bigger)

Ryan getting ready to dye his shirt

Cole goofing around w/ a funny pair of glasses at his cousins’ house

As we got ready to go, it started pouring rain. Ryan’s cousin had just given him this raincoat, boots, and umbrella. Perfect timing- they had to go out and play in the rain

Cole in his tie-dye shirt

A group shot of Ryan with his cousins (I wasn’t sure how their mother would feel about having their pictures on the blog, so I blacked out their faces, but at least you can see the colorful shirts.)

The cousins return back up to Grandma’s in mid-July for another weekend. I am sure Ryan will be counting down the weeks.

Activities Cole Ryan

Fun Day

The boys and I had a fun day today. The weather was very nice, so I packed a picnic lunch and we went on a 3 mile walk by a park and a lake.

Ryan was SO excited to go- picnics are one of his favorite things right now. He helped me make peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, and made sure I cut the crusts off his. 🙂 He reminded me to bring some bunny crackers (Annie’s white cheddar crackers), and to bring lots of apples.

Yesterday I found a really neat popsicle mold at Bed Bath & Beyond. It holds 4 popsicles, but there is a little built in straw in each one, so when the popsicle starts to melt- as it always does with a three-year old, instead of it dripping down his arms, and legs, he can suck the juice out of the popsicle holder with the straw. Before we left for the picnic / walk, we made a batch of popsicles with strawberry-lemonade.

After we got done eating, we walked over to a pond, and Ryan had a blast throwing rocks in, and Cole did great, standing up, holding the stroller, and watching his big brother. When it was time to go, I put Cole back in the stroller, and we chased Ryan. Cole *loved* it. He was laughing and shrieking with delight. As we were walking back, Ryan started singing a song from a book we have, “The Train They Call the City of New Orleans,” at the top of his lungs. Everyone we passed by on the trail back, smiled at him.

When we got home, Cole had crashed out, and I was able to move him from his car seat to the floor in the living room, and he stayed asleep. First time that has ever happened. I cleaned up our stuff, and then moved Cole to his crib, and got Ryan down for a nap.

I had a massage therapy appointment this afternoon, so I went to that, as soon as Joe got home. Then he had one, so I made the boys dinner, and then Joe got home.

I am dismayed to discover that I have a very stubborn milk blister that seemed to get worse this afternoon. I have had it for two weeks now, and can’t get it to go away. It hurt a lot and was starting to swell, so after dinner, I soaked it with some Epsom salt, and pumped.

Cole saw me pumping and got ‘jealous’ of the breast pump. He kept trying to pull it away, and then he started crying-little monkey! I ended up just nursing him more- baby is usually more effective than a pump anyway- and he seemed happy to get some extra nursing time in. I am going to have to be more diligent on soaking and pumping / nursing this blister, and will probably go see the doctor next week if it doesn’t clear up. I had a BAD case of mastitis in January, and don’t want to another case.

Ryan came in from outside, and we broke open a popsicle. He looked like he had never had anything quite so good before. He started licking his lips, and he savored every lick. He really wanted to use the straw, but kept running off to play. Finally, before bed, enough of the juice melted and he got to use the straw. He said, “that is really neat, mommy.”

Tomorrow morning, I am off to a free skin cancer check, a local dermatologist is having. I haven’t been to a dermatologitst in about 2 years, and have a few freckles that have been changing, and need to get them looked at. I hope I like a doctor there, and can find a new dermatologist I can see more regularly.

Then we are going to look at a few houses, and see if they look as nice inside as they do from the outside…:-)

We don’t have anything planned so far, for Sunday, so hopefully we will just be able to get a few things done around the house, play, and relax.

Activities Cole Family & Friends Ryan

First Summer BBQ

My dad and his wife, J. (technically my step-mom, but I don’t think of her as that, since they got married after I was already on my own), have a beautiful back-yard, and are very gracious and generous about hosting parties, BBQ’s, family dinners, engagement parties, baby showers, baby welcoming parties, and so on.

Yesterday they hosted the first BBQ of the summer for our family, which included my siblings, cousins, uncle, step-sister, and her husband. We had a lot of fun, and the weather was perfect. Their yard faces west, so sometimes when the sun is shining, it can get really hot, but yesterday there were clouds all afternoon and evening.

Ryan and Cole did great- Ryan was so busy running around and playing ball, frisbee and soccer, with his uncle and second cousins, that he barely even ate. He developed a “crush” on my cousin, E., who just turned 12. He was at her side all night, holding her hand, and basically looking at her with puppy dog eyes. Cole did very well too. He is comfortable with my dad, so he let him hold him for a while, and they played. Joe held Cole too, and he also sat in the grass and entertained himself with rocks in J.’s garden. This was the first bigger family event since Cole has been born, where if I didn’t hold him the entire time, he cried. So that was a nice change!

Even though this was a BBQ, I brought along a cake for Cole, so we could have an informal celebration of his first birthday that will be this week.

It was a chocolate Oreo Cookie cake. I cut a slice for him, and he was a little hesitant to eat it, but once he got started, there was no stopping him. He wasn’t content with just eating the cake that was in his bowl, he had to reach out, and start scooping hand-fulls of cake from the entire cake. He did his first cake proud.

Unfortunately, our camera ran out of memory, but we got some shots of him covered in cake, and icing, on my sister’s camera, and I’ll post them as soon as I get them from her. Joe taped him on our camcorder though, so I am glad we’ll have that to look back on. However, here are some other pictures of the BBQ.

Cole enjoying his dinner

Having fun playing with his foot

Me, with my darling boys 🙂

The B-Day Boy, checking out his cake (in the background, you can see my step-mom holding Maelin)

We all had a wonderful time, and a big thank you to my dad, J., and my sister for organizing the whole thing. Can’t wait for the next bash.