Back to Brown

So we just got back to Idaho from our wonderful trip to Washington.
Buddy had an amazing time playing with his Vancouver & Seattle cousins. He is going to be so sad and bored tomorrow when it's back to me & him.
John went to a Primus concert with his brother and had a blast. Although I have to laugh. Two days later he can't walk without a limp because of all the jumping/moshing they did. Nathan even had a moment there where he lost his shoe.
Skeletor (yes the unborn child has a nickname of a cartoon villian -but the pictures of him look just like his namesake) is moving around a whole bunch. He really liked the hot chocolate I had a couple of hours ago but I don't think he likes the laptop on my lap right now.
Buddy was sick and barely got over it right before we left. Now he has a cold again - ah, fall/winter has begun for my little terrible two. And he screamed for all but 30 minutes from Brigham City clear to our house. I was irritated but more worried about what I'm going to do when I have two screaming boys in the back seat come February. I guess that's what headphones are for.
I'll try to post some pictures later. It was amazingly green and lush. But I realized why on the first day in Seattle where I don't think I've ever driven in such rain. I guess no place it perfect.

Introduction to Parents as Teachers Program

Thursday was our first day at school - in the Parents as Teachers Program. I first heard about this program at play group. The host mom was lucky enough to sign up four years ago right after her first son was born. So every month she has a teacher from this program come to her house and spend an hour with her sons. Since the wait list has become so long, they have adjusted the program a little bit and anyone can bring their child (under kindergarten age) to the local elementary on the first Thursday of the month to attend an open house of sorts any time from 9-2.
I got directions off of the Internet for H. high school (when I meant to get it for H. elementary). I think it's because I've had H high school on my mind because of the Pepsi Refresh Everything contest which I've been voting for our high school to get a new computer lab. Anyway - in looking for H. elementary with H. high school directions - obviously I needed to call my GPS - John & then my mom.
Finally got there - 30 minutes AFTER I planned on being there. Buddy was getting tired & hungry. But we had a good time.
This month was practicing on motor skills. He hammered golf tees into a piece of styrofoam (and then tried to eat a tiny piece of styrofoam). Then he had his first experience with play doh. Again he tried to eat a piece - then made "staas" (stars) with the cookie cutter. Meanwhile, I got a bunch of pamphlets with activities we can do together and how I can help him develop his vocabulary better. Since it was our first time we got a book that we get to keep - I chose a cloth book with Jungle animals - insert elephant sound here :) By then all the other kids had left & Buddy had found a ball (and was ready to leave with it). Every month we also get to check out a bag of books - and these books are in great condition. Unlike the library ones - you can hardly tell these have been read. We are still on the waiting list and with three years to go - maybe we'll make it to personal visits (if more funding doesn't get cut).
Anyway, it was a good experience. I think next time we'll have an early nap and go in the afternoon and I'll know how to get there - so it will be less stressful. I encourage everyone that has little ones to check the Parents as Teachers program out in your area - every little bit helps when it comes to teaching our kids.

Talking in his sleep

Buddy's nightime friends include: his blanket, a bottle (with water in it), one of his stuffed animals, and a matchbox car or a hand sized ball. It's just easier to get him to sleep if he has all of these things and if he spends a while playing withe the car or ball then we usually don't care (less than an hour or we go in & take it away). Well tonight it was a ball - a little practice golfball (the kind that look like mini wuffle balls - with a bunch of holes in them. I got those to replace the golf balls he had in SL because our wood floors weren't as fond of them as he was (they are the perfect size for his hand). We went to go tuck him in before going to bed & as usual we found him in an awkward position (how he falls asleep with his head against the wood rails I"ll never know). John picked him up, flipped him over, and the ball came loose. How did we know the ball came loose? Because Buddy said "Baa Ball" (for some reason he calls all balls basket or "baa" balls). It took all the control we had to keep our giggles quiet enough not to wake him.
Maybe you had to be there.... but it was cute.

Church---- GO!

One of Buddy's new games is to get by our door & yell "Go!" He then runs from the front door to our dining room and you're supposed to join him for the next "GO" which is from the dining room back to the door.
Uncle Mikey introduced him to another version the other day outside on our porch. Buddy thought that was the best - being outside & the GO game. (Even though Mike just started it to stay warm in the freezing temperature).
Well today the speaker was talking about service and she said "just GO and do it." Out of everything to actually listen to, Buddy heard that. He proceeded to say (in his always loud voice) "GO! GO! Go go go go go go). Luckily he didn't get mad that he had to sit on John's lap.

But that is the message for today: Go! Go! Go!

Raptor-fish and cupcakes

Once upon a time in a far away land lived a little Raptor whom everybody loved (even when he screeched and bit). One day the raptor transformed into a raptor fish. Previous to this day he had always enjoyed his bath time thoroughly but today was the day that he would really get to experience water.

So the raptor and his (some times raptor) parents went over to Cousin Kristi's. At cousin Kristi's, the raptor got a little distracted from his mission because of Sophie the dog. Raptor thought it was so fun to chase Sophie and get loves. He didn't give loves (like he normally did to his "puppy") instead he decided that the choke hold was a better move to conquer the pup. After his mom saw this - she de

cided it was time to give Sophie a break and head for the pool

.

So Raptor got on special big boy diapers and his new suit (after being reluctantly dragged to the bathroom) and they headed to the pool.

Once in the pool, Raptor met a new friend - Madilyn. She was a bit

older and liked to sit calmly in the pool with her mom. Rap

tor decided that she was using this big bathtub all wrong. He decided that he would show her how to splash and swim and chase the ball. He loved this water. It tasted a little funny and hurt his eyes a bit, but in this water - Mom & Dad could come in with him. Once he decided that this was his new favorite place - he would "chase" Mom or Dad and kick around and play "motor boat".

It was very fun.

But soon the fun ended - the sunscreen was getting washed off. Mom & Dad didn't know that water repellent and water proof were two different things. Raptor was turning pink and rubbing his eyes (this could also be due to the fact that it was nap time). So they got out of the big tub, went back to Sophie's house, changed, p

layed more with Sophie, and drove home.

After a half hour nap, Raptor woke up and was surprised to see his friend S.D. visiting. Raptor decided that it had been too long since they had played together and S.D. had

probably forgotten how loud Raptor could screech. So Raptor spent the next hour or so screeching and getting into trouble.

Then it was time for the ward BBQ. S.D. & Raptor got in their strollers and went over to the church. There was all kinds of yummy food but Raptor only wanted Cheetos and hot dog bun pieces. S.D. was a good eater and spent a long time eating all the food that Mom had cut up for the two of the boys.

After a couple forced bites of yucky "big boy food", Raptor realized that there was nothing else on the table he wanted to eat. He decided that he would go exploring to the "big kids". They were playing with water! Two big Tupperware had been filled with water and water toys. Raptor was SO excited! He decided that the big kids weren't splashing enough, so he showed them what the water was really for. Then the big kids went over to a tray where bubbles were. Raptor wanted to play too. But he got confused and thought that you use your hands to splash in the bubbles to make more. And then when that didn't wor

k, he tried to blow bubbles in the bubble solution. Dad caught him doing this and said "no no no." All the fun was gone. :(

Raptor was sad for a minute.

But then he realized that the water Tupperware/buckets were still there and he could still splash in them. He got soaking wet.

Finally his tummy started to grumble and unfortunately he threw up in one of the buckets. Dad had to throw that water out.

Minutes later there was a dessert auction for the young women in the ward. Mom & Dad won some awesome cupcakes that were made in ice cream cones and had awesome sticky green frosting with sprinkles. While Mom was trying to pass some out (and bribe the young men to be good), Raptor decided it was his turn. He stuck his hand into the frosting and then into his mouth. Then he got some frosting and put it in his hair. So Mom was balancing Raptor and this cupcake sheet while Raptor was showing Mom what the cupcakes were for.

Then they sat next to S.D. and each of the boys got a ice cream cone-shaped-cupcake. Neither wanted to hold the cone for themselves nor eat anything but the frosting. When Raptor's frosting ran out, he decided he would help S.D. eat his. Mom did not like this idea and said "no no no". Raptor got mad. (and we all know what happens when Raptor gets mad)..... SCREECH SCREECH. Everyone in the ward thought Raptor looked really cute covered in frosting and cupcake.

Mom ended up with cupcake all over her shirt and Dad got some on his too.

Needless to say, when they got home Raptor got another chance to "swim" in his bathtub before his nighttime routine.

The End

When it rains, it pours....

I love summer rain showers. To me there is nothing better than the smell of the earth cooling off after a warm day or the smell of wet sage brush (John can't smell either - he thinks it just smells like wet dog everywhere).
The last three days we have had it rain on and off.
Last night Buddy and I got caught in a storm while driving home (the whole 3 blocks) from the church. It was pouring so hard - I was amazed that much could come down all at once. So we ran from our car to the apartment. Buddy was breathing really fast and a little freaked out. "Mom, why are we taking a shower: with our clothes on, outside, and in cold water. I'm confused."
Once in our apartment, we were soaked. But he looked so cute (I'll upload pics later). Then I opened the windows and helped him climb up on the top of the futon and he watched in fascination as it continued to pour (with thunder and lightening) for over 5 minutes. He loved it! He was banging on the screen and then he would look at me for reassurance, just darling.
Needless to say with all the emotional raining that I have been feeling in my life, running 10 feet in the rain did my heart good. :)

Tonight Buddy ate his first food - rice cereal.  Of course he loved it when John fed him the best.  

We love his laugh!