This is how we roll

Trying to maneuver that thing through a crowded grocery store is not fun by the way.  Which is why I try to roll solo when doing the grocery shopping.

See ya

I think I mentioned this awhile back, but the daycare at our YMCA allows you to actually leave the building for a couple of hours if you choose.  Since I work out in the mornings before Braedon is usually up I thought it would be nice to take advantage of the daycare every once in awhile so that I could either run errands or just sit back with a coffee and catch up on some magazine reading.  Well, you see Braedon is turning into a very shy boy.  Actually he has always been on the shy side, but it is getting worse.  I have no idea where he gets that from either.  He usually starts the lip quiver before we even enter the daycare room and is in full on tears just seconds after entering.

The daycare rules state that if your child doesn’t calm down and stop crying after 15 minutes then they will either come find you or call you and tell you to come and get your kid.  This happens to me 99% of the time.  Yesterday when I dropped him off I got a phone call exactly 15 minutes later.  This time was a little different though.  You see Braedon wasn’t just crying, he was trying to get the heck out of there.  The daycare ladies said that after I left they tried to sit him down at the snack table with his snack cup and drink.  This usually buys me at least 10 extra minutes.  Not this time.  He wanted nothing to do with his snack cup.  Instead he hopped off his chair, walked across the room and hauled my big diaper bag over to where he was sitting, loaded up his snack cup and sippy cup, tried to put the bag over his shoulder and drug it back across the room to the door and tried to leave.  I guess he did this numerous times.  So when I got the phone call it wasn’t just that Braedon was “having a tough time,” which is what they usually say, it was, “Braedon keeps trying to leave.”

I have to admit, hearing this story made me laugh, but on the other hand it is quite frustrating and I was hoping he wouldn’t get this shy gene.  I struggled a great deal with this same thing growing up and going through school and I wished that none of my kids would go through the same thing.  I would love for them to be the outgoing ones who found it easy to meet new people and make new friends.  Even though he is still young and things can change, I see so much of myself in him.  

Switching subjects, we will be heading back home to Seattle for Christmas break on Monday December 13th!!!  We are very excited and looking forward to the break….and for us the break will start AFTER the 10 hour travel day with a 1 year old.

Boy vs. pumpkin

Boy:

Pumpkin:

Who won?  Place your vote now.

After a grueling battle that lasted about 36 seconds, the war zone looked like this…

Pumpkin:

Boy:

Considering boy is wearing pumpkins face, my vote goes to the boy.

I’ve got a story for you

Once upon a time there was a superman who had some really cool powers.

He was able to make himself invisible with his pie hole plug. This was very important because without it superman would cry and cry when people really needed him to save the day. Once plugged, he was ready to spread his cape and fly.

However, he did come across a few obstacles, such as this cute little lion that planted himself in the direct path of flight…

and a cute fairy princess that made him look the other way in complete shyness.

But he did what any super hero would do. He asked them both to lunch to try and befriend them.

But not together of course.

After his double lunch date and a full belly of super foods, he was ready to take on the world.

With the day saved and a beautiful masterpiece in hand, superman decided to give the flying thing a rest and took off on his horse into the noon sunlight.

The end.

Playing in the leaves

When the leaves started falling I was very quick to show Braedon how much fun it is to run through piles of them and throw them in the air. Now every time we go for our walk he will throw piles of leaves, and dirt, on his head. I finally remembered to bring my camera out today to catch some of the fall fun.

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While playing in the leaves, something caught his attention.

Uh, Braedon, come back…

He booked it when he saw the motorcycle. He’s got some speed too. I had to bust into a power walk.

I stole his binky for pictures.

What do you think he wants?

He might be the only kid in high school with a binky.

And we're off again.

He was on a mission…

to greet his Peyton dog.

Pumpkin Carving and Campfires

First off, if it is a fire in your backyard is it still a campfire?

The annual pumpkin carving took place yesterday and we both choose easier objects to carve than in previous years (2 hours of carving ends up with a sore wrist for a while).  Braedon carved a “B” and I carved a ghost/graveyard scene.

 

A few days back I decided that we needed to bust out our fire bowl, bbq, and every chair in our house for a fun get together with friends.  Braedon was all for hanging out in the backyard and he decided to pick his seat before anyone else had a chance to claim it.

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The problem was that our friends were a bit later than expected and Braedon ended up going to bed before anyone arrived but not before he informed us that the BBQ and fire bowl were both “ot” several times.  One of the highlights of the meal were the shish kabobs Lacie and I made (think chicken, zucchini, squash, onions, and grape tomatoes all marinated in a tangy/spicy marinade and BBQ’d over charcoal…delicious) which made it okay that people were a bit late because that meant more of those for us!  A bit after Baeo went down our friends started arriving and bringing additional wonderful food (homemade bread, chicken sausage, local wine, chips, potato salad, etc).

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One of the most surprising aspects of the evening was that the Queen radio station on Pandora plays a lot of songs that we all know and have grown to love…check it out.  Our only regret is in not having used the fire bowl until now!

Bounce bounce

Yesterday I took Braedon to a bounce house in the local mall. We have been there a couple of times now and I can’t say I am getting my moneys worth quite yet. He will play for about 15 to 20 minutes and then spend the rest of the time trying to escape into the mall. Specifically he is after these:

The jeep, tow truck, and train that they have in the center of the mall. They wiggle and jiggle around when you put a few quarters in them. So far they cost me nothing as Braedon is totally content just sitting in them and pretending to drive. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him and saves me a load of quarters. I eventually have to peel him away after about 20 to 30 minutes, which usually involves an arched back and screaming on Baeo’s part.

Back to the bounce house.

It actually is really big and has a lot of cool things to climb on, through, and slide down.

You better believe that dog got some hugs.

Now for the move of the day.

With a good running start, he’s going for it….

and he cleared it!