Larks and Golf tourney

We kicked off the weekend by sending Ainsley to Grandma's house! We had big plans and I'm not saying that Angry Ainsley would have weighed us down but we had things to do and limited time/ability/attention spans to do it! 

It was a weird weather week - we've had rain/downpours/thunder storms (much to G's concern) often this summer. Overall it's been very temperate and pleasant - probably the best I can remember in a long time. We also showed the kids how to pick and harvest the peas. I attempted to trellis them this year... my trellises were too short. Try again next year. 

Saturday night we had Lark tickets... now Matt and I have had some lengthy conversations... he thought we should get a family package but I was concerned that it may be too much for attention spans. I would hate to invest the money and leave totally irritated after 2 innings because they're BORED (their words, not mine). We had a friends give us 4 tickets... so it worked out perfectly. We did stay the entire game but they aren't quite ready. G tried for a bit and Eleanor was just their to wolf down popcorn... like her life depended on it. We'll try again in 2 years. 

Sunday was the parent child alternating shot golf tournament. I was expecting a fun filled day of swings and tries... I underestimated the amount of dads at said event that appeared to be trying out for the PGA tour. Matt paired with Eleanor, I paired with Grady. I was happy with how they played and I was 50% on my own game. However due to waiting for the "pros" to launch onto the greens from their child's tee shot it was a lot of waiting around for greens to clear. I was sad that the kids were frustrated and antsy and I was frustrated and exasperated. G had a few good drives at the end and Eleanor had a few chips. I was proud of my husband that he realized it wasn't about his game but getting them to take shots, get contact, and advance the ball. G could tell that I was tense so there he would tell me that he loved me and pet my arm... bless him for understanding me and trying. 

Later that afternoon Eleanor had her BFF's birthday party at raging rivers - she had a ball and it made my heart happy to see. 

In other news, Ains has been working on a few projects at school. She was 
very excited to show me her flamingo. As we approach the fall, I'm nervous about her being alone at preschool and do not want to revert to the separation anxiety we overcame from the daycare closures. 

Also... if you happen to run into Matt, ask him about his cooler... he just got... which he informs me will be a benefit to the whole family... and also help us make trips to Trader Joe's.... I'm going to hold him to it... all of it. 

Teeth, sports update, weekend action, dry lawn

Summer is flying. Meanwhile Eleanor and I've both settled sunburns and been covered in bug bites. She has her mother's skin and even now I'm typing with an ice pack on a pack of welts that I gleaned from the weekend. 

It was a busy weekend - we are working to pack as much in as we can while the days have been pleasant and the sun is shining. Grady is winding down on golf and finished his last session tonight. He's been a wonderful surprise to watch play sports this summer. He's excited to play baseball... it was a building year for sure. There are moments when I can feel him getting it - the throwing, the catching, the batting - even the base running. But then there are times when I can tell he's all arms and legs and it's still development. When he played outfield there's a spot he would park himself in between 1st and 2nd and wait for his moment to shine/aka wait for the ball to come to him. I liked watching baseball - he had some really good boys on his team and

always was excited to go play. Golf also made him happy. This past weekend, upon his request we also went to the tennis courts to play a bit - he was so interested and wanted to swing and play but the hand-eye coordination is still a work in progress but he was a fantastic ball boy.

Eleanor and I had a big conversation about finishing things that we start and giving it our all when it comes to tennis - this past week was an improvement on her participation but we will not be doing day sports next summer.

E also a big week dental wise. She had a loose tooth on Monday that she
pulled out herself on Tuesday. And why stop there... she also ripped out the other front one the same day. Much to her dismay, she did not get $20 for both teeth from the tooth fairy. He, err... I mean she, was generous enough with $5.50. 

Matt also had a rough weekend when he realized that the cord he cut during landscaping project was not the deck lines that Amanda was excited about and he didn't want... instead it was his sprinkler lines. We only caught it after a month of non-watering and disappointment in the lawn conditions. Unfortunately, he didn't remember where the end he cut "exactly" was so it required some exploratory work. The good news - he did find the ends and managed to salvage the lines and he's back up and running... the bad news - all the new grass that he did get to grow is back to mud. 

The bad news doesn't stop there.. Matt was a two time loser in the badmitton off that we had in the backyard. Occasionally, we had a kid play with us and whoever scored the point got to have the interested kid stay/move to their side of the court. They were interested and tried and maybe we'll have more of backyard brawls but I'm the current undefeated champ. We did have to get official and measure the court out. The part that killed me in all honesty was E decided to be the sports announcer! Announcing the scores and providing color commentary to the action.

We had guests over for a well cooked smoked brisket too with some seasoned rice - and cleaned house. By the way, school shopping is done and 1/2 the garden veggies are too - E and I picked all the radishes and harvested a portion of beans. We also closed out the weekend with dinner with mom and dad who popped due to a rain shower. 

MJR: So Grady, what do you like better - golf or baseball?
GRR: Golf - baseball has a lot of running.

Lola gets booted out early sunday morning from main bedroom.
Lola begins crying sporadically to demonstrate her displeasure on the other side of the door. 
After awhile, door knob turns and Ainsley's arm becomes visible
Ains: Lola wanted in.
Ains shuts door. 
Lola begins crying inside the room to announce her presence. 

Kid Interest, Outside Play Yard

The weather has been amazing. The kids aren't hardly even wearing coats for the fall. They are playing outside and it's been so nice. They have been playing in their house and their new sandbox. We took one of the garden beds and dumped their sandbox into it. We had the cute little box that I had been given from Kerri at Commerce and it was fine. For one child. The problem when you have more than one is that you can either have kids in the box or sand in the box. Not both. HOWEVER, when you look at the garden bed that produced only one flower bloom and one pepper it was determined that there could be a better purpose at play. Right now, I venture to say there's too much dirt and it's easily coming out as they play but I guess we've been there before. The other thing that makes me smile is E pulling Ains around on Buckey, the horse that was given to me when I was 2 or so. I've looked at Buckey a few times and wondered if his time was up but haven't brought myself to the point of getting rid of him. He's had some wild rides. 

Here's where the kids are at personally for interests:

Ains: Babies. Everything with babies. She rocks them, she shushes them, she carries them, she puts them in blankies, she pulls them out of blankies. She will feed them and also push them around in their stroller. And if her rotten siblings wouldn't take away a baby OR the blankie that she deems important to wrap them in, life would be fine. It's when they don't that the anger BOILS out of that sweet tiny child, who has been wearing size three diapers for approx a year now. 

E: Cutting and gluing. The girl goes through glue sticks like a crack whore on a labor day weekend. Everything needs to be cut and when it's cut it must be glued and we can't ration our glue - noooooo, the more the merrier and if you don't lather it she seems to think there's no chance of things sticking. But things stick - to each other, to my socks, to my counter. There is stick and tiny scrapes of paper, that are sticky, everywhere. 

G: Tools. He loves his tools and fixing things. And it's sweet. That is so sweet but nothing is broken. So there is he with his screw driver and his pliers and wants to fix and use them but now they appear to me more like weapons. He works at his tool bench constantly banging away. At NOTH-ing. Just hammering to use his hammer. I love that he's excited and interested and I gave him some scrap metal to have a change of subject but I feel like creating a project for his father just so he can help. 

Ains also has developed a solid grasp of "nuh-uh" which is the verbal grunts for no and is dabbling in the head nod. I always thought Grady did this adorably and she gives him a run for his money with the head nod. The negative grunts are only half amusing as her resistance can be painful sometimes. 

Upon being home and getting dinner ready one night with Matt, I looked out the window and saw this... this may be the most beautiful thing I've seen... top 10 for sure. They started doing it each night with an apple. Snacking and chatting and laying together. And my world stops each time they do it.

Father's Day, Radish Removal, High Chair Eradication

It was Father's Day weekend. My children may never realize how lucky they are. Their father is so involved in all pieces of their life. He is the constant in our tumultuous waters. He kisses boo boos. He snuggles, he sings, he carries them, throws them in the air, tickles, changes diapers, makes sippy cups. I watch him and may laugh that they own him but his whole heart is in fatherhood. To the father of my children - thank you for you. You prompt me to be a good mama and when I'm struggling you are there so I can walk away to regroup. I know we prompt that right now it isn't about us.. it's about them and I'm glad that we are strong enough in the "us" to understand this is short term out of necessity.


Father's Day was a bit of a clustery mess because it snuck up on me... which is weird to say because it was late in the month and we had extra time to prepare but in a COVID world I have been a bit distracted and I hate going to stores and shopping. For breakfast we had bacon pancakes - something simple but fun. Matt appreciated it.. I'm not sure those other people did. Lunch was lowkey and Matt made a pork loin with my sides for supper. The highlight of his day was probably golfing though. We decided when you are 4, you get to go with Dad golfing on the golf course. So he and E went with a 1:14 tee time. It was hot but I guess the two of them had fun. She did take a divot off the first tee box BUT what do you expect - tiger woods?

Well, we had a first harvest from the garden - radishes. G would eat them and just laugh. E had one bite and determined it was a "no thank you" from there out and Ains had a bite put promptly spit them on the ground and cleaned her tongue off. Matt was happy with what he had. We potted them and put them in the front of the house this year. I think if we would have had some seed consistency we would have had an even better run but the people we live with can't leave a pot of dirt alone.

Another Friday with no daycare - it was my turn. We did a few things but their highlight was painting in the backyard. I will admit I feel like it was one of my moments of brilliance. I gave them sponge brushes and washable paint and the bigs went to town. E was very conscious in the creation of her house complete with grass. G was a bit more abstract but I believe when it was all said and done he informed me it was house as well. Ains was mad as she wanted to handle the paint and suck on the brush and those behaviors were kinda against the rules. It's rough to be an Ainsey somedays.

After a month of her getting mad and yelling at us in her highchair, we decided to move Ains into the bumbo and put her at the table. It was like night and day difference. The only thing is now that she knows what she wants and what she doesn't want. AND if Matt has the item she wants on her plate, she will take her fork and bang his plate (or even grab item) until she gets it. BUT she is quiet and happy.

Night before Father's Day...MJR giving ARR a bath.
ALR to Bigs: Okay....tomorrow is Father's Day, we have a few presents to give Dad. 
Shows presents to them.
ALR: I think we should hide them.
EER: Yes, let's hide them in my kitchen
EER puts her present in the freezer of her kitchen.
GRR opens up the oven (which has a glass front).
ALR: Why don't we hide it in a different place so Dad has to look?
GRR's and ARR's presents get hide. 
ALR: Now, it's a secret. We can't tell Dad. He will look for them tomorrow.
EER goes upstairs promptly to tell MJR that they hid presents for him.
Next Day.
ALR: Okay, should we have Dad find his presents?
Bigs sit on couch.
EER: We hid presents for you Dad!
GRR: In the kitchen.

Memorial Weekend, Potting, Puppy, Pencils

Memorial Weekend - the weather was standard... beautiful two days out of three with a solid soaker. Monday was probably my favorite day as we started out with swanky breakfast including breakfast sausage loaf with Prince Charles Egg Bake. Afterward, we loaded up the bikes and headed to the capitol. In Bismarck, three days of the year the Optimist Club lines the roadway with flags, we thought the kids would enjoy the view. It was a cool morning but they loved walking the loop and gliding down the paths. They liked the statues and the view and listened so well in the adventure. I'm hoping out summer is filled with more of those little excursions.

The other activities of the weekend included potting plants and then if you're Ainsley, depotting them. Eleanor has always had an interest in gardening - watching things pop from the ground or bush up so it's fun to see her light up as she's excited about the carrots poke up, or smell the basil and sage, and her interest in the flowers is exciting. Grady was excited to help too but Ainsley was no help at all as she just wanted to redig the holes and pull the plants.

Matt, Eleanor, and I all were able to get haircuts on Friday. E was excited to see Candy and have her give her some curls in her hair. She couldn't help put keep looking at the hair on the floor and how it was looking. Her and I also went out together later the afternoon to grab up a few plants and get a few groceries. She listened well, wore her mask well, and kept close as we did shopping. It's much easier taking on our and it was nice to spending time one on one.

She's been working hard in her "directions" books. She has preschool activity books that we go over the instructions and she gets to work with her brand new Elsa and Anna pencils. She does pretty well and is excited about the progress and completion. We even did some cut and paste sheets that she rocked out. It's hard to believe that she's grown so much and will even be in preschool this fall.

 

Grady has been loving playing dress up lately - he's taken to the police outfit - working on the buttons, wearing the hat - his other favorite is the firefighter. Ains has been getting along pretty well, she's in the walk to walk stage. She's starting to come down the stairs herself, she's pointing and using her words adding some regular sounds in her lexicon. We are hearing more "uh-oh" and on walks I'm pretty sure I see that pointing finger and her version of "puppy."

EER and ALR playing catch a bit.
After ALR being headhunted the third time with multiple reprimands: "No, if you are going to play with mean with me, I don't want to play."
EER walks over to MJR
EER: Dad, have some fun.
EER throws ball at him.

Airport, Screening, Putting things away

We are falling into a rhythm with fall - E is in the preschool class at daycare so she's been going places, learning things, and really blossoming. Each week they have a letter that all their activities center around. This week it was A... and they capped the week off with a field trip to the airport! Nothing like bringing your Dad for show and share!

Ains is on the verge of thinking of crawling.. She gets to rocking and she'll get to reaching but just can't seem to get all the momentum going in one direction. E and G are still big fans of hers but I'm assuming as the winds shift and the crawling happens, they'll get mad that she's in their business.

We had the Right track screenings with G and Ains this past weekend. I was worried that E would be upset because usually Wendy always comes to play with her, but she has aged out of the program. She handled it well and let her sibling be the center of attention for a bit... we did distract her with some Peppa but we'll take what we can get. Both are doing really well with development. I was actually a bit surprised because I feel that as we've put more on our plate that all of them are getting the short end of the stick but Grady is getting 3 and 4 word sentences, using silverware, drinking from an open cup, problem solving, listening to directions. Ains is responding to social situations, understanding tone, pinching, grasping, and interested in rocking and crawling... all our good. So maybe wolves wouldn't do as good of a job!

Last weekend, Matt, Grady, and I started working to put away the garden things... this week we did a bit more with E.

EER: Mommy! WHO took our tomatoes??
ALR: We had to take them down and start putting the garden away, it's getting cold out.
EER: Can we go get a few green beans?
ALR: Oh no, honey, they are done and gone too.
EER: All of it???
ALR: I'm sorry, we'll haftah plant again next summer.
EER: that's forever