Ottawa in March

Dave's paternal grandmother (aka Nana) lives in Ottawa. We were supposed to go to Ottawa around Christmas time, but an ice-storm kept us from making the drive. We said then that we would try again during spring break, since it had been about 18 months since our last visit. The unfortunate loss of my father-in-law in February only solidified our tenative plans.

Despite being there for emotional support to our grieving Nana, we had a nice time. The boys really brightened her week! They gave numerous kisses and hugs on demand!

Zack-isms with a few of Aaron-isms!!

"Daddy, you're wrong. I'm correct all the time."



"I love to help you clean." Unfortunately, he'll either use half a tub of baby wipes or half a bottle of 409 to do it!



"Mommy, I love you longer than forever!!"

"Mommy, (big sigh) I just love you!"

"Old MacDonald had a poop, eee, eih, eee, eih, stink!" He's been big into the potty talk lately!

"Aaron's a stinky poop tush!"

Aaronisms

"You're a good daddy" he says as he's patting dave's head!

"Mommy, poopies coming!!" (we're working on potty-training!)

Fun in the snow!

Zachary was sooo exited to see all the snow we got the other day (about 16".) He started charting about sledding and making a snow man and eating snow (I think he picked this up at school.) Then I realized that his sled is in the shed....hmmm.

Dave got dressed to go out and shovel the snow. Zack wanted to help so bad...SOOOOO bad. But Dave kept telling him no. He was bawling!!!!

Dave had cleared a path to the shed and dug out the door so we could get the sled out. So yesterday, he took the boys sledding. Zack had soo much fun....Aaron not so much. Dave took the Flip with him outside to capture Aaron's joy.

Sleep buddies!

So tonight, Aaron put himself to bed. He went up stairs and crawled right into bed...with Zachary!! This is sooo cute to me and shows how much Aaron loves his big brother!

Super Dog!!

Aaron's been having fun with capes lately. He puts on bibs backwards and runs around saying "Super Aaron to the rescue!!" Last night the dog was chasing Aaron around while he had on a cape, so I gave the dog a cape too! The boys thought this was the funniest thing...the dog not so much. It lasted about 10 minutes though!

Daddy's Birthday

Sunday was Dave's birthday. In the morning, the boys helped me make waffles. Zack did a great job whisking the batter while Aaron added the flour!

So I let the boys help me make Dave's birthday cake too! This time they kept fighting over who got to add what ingredients, so I had to finish it by myself.

Dave decided for his birthday we would all go bowling (after the cake came out of the oven.) Zack was so excited about going bowling, I think he had his coat and shoes on well before the cake was done.

Finally bowling and pizza!

Dave showing off his skills (hahaha, good thing the bumpers were up!)

It took Aaron until about the 7th frame to let go of me and bowl on his own. (He still refused to put on the bowling shoes though.)

escava!!

So as I'm sitting here checking email and headlines, I hear Aaron behind me playing. He singing "escava! escava. Escavaaaaa!!!" (For those who dont' know escava means dig in spanish.) After a few minutes, I turn around just to see what he's doing. He's sitting on his knees in front of the dog's food bowl (which I just filled) 'digging' the dog food with a toy tea cup! He's pouring it onto the floor, where the dog is waiting patiently to eat the food that hits the floor.

the nightly plea...

"mommy, I want you to sleep with me." This used to be Zack's line as I put him to bed. Since we moved Aaron into his big-boy-bed, he has since adopted it too. Now, I (or Dave) put Zack to bed. He asks if I can sleep with him, usually I lie there with him for about 10 minutes. If he's feeling chatty or restless, I leave sooner.
The first few nights Aaron slept in his bed, I laid with him to ensure that he STAYED in his bed. The first night I woke up at 3 am as Aaron was climbing into my bed! The second night, I was woken up by Aaron crying in the hallway at 2 am. The third night he started down the stairs at 3 am and I think got scared or couldnt see in the dark and just started crying. I brought him into bed with me both times.
Aaron now asks me to sleep with him as I'm putting him to bed (after he protests first.) I have to lay there with him until he falls asleep or else he jumps up and heads for the door! I didn't think Aaron was ready for a bed yet, but his father insisted because other people thought he was ready.

Tids bits of happenings

Lots of little things have marked the past few weeks. Dave took Zack to his first Penn State game this past Saturday. Penn State played E. Illinois so Dave got two tickets pretty easily and relatively cheap. I tried to get Dave to take the camera to take some pictures, but he refused. He did take some pictures with his phone though. I wish I could get them online somehow. (Sorry, no blackberry or iPhone in this house.) Zack loved the game and proclaimed that next week Aaron gets to go too!

Zack also enjoyed his first movie-theather movie. The movie "Up" was playing at the dollar theater this week, so I took Zack to see it. Overall I think he enjoyed it. I thought the movie was a little too "grown-up-ish" for a 4 year old. The funniest parts of the movie I'm sure were over his head and there were some scary parts too. We stopped off for some ice cream afterwards, so he anything scary was erased!

Zack had his first "show and tell" day at pre-school. Whoever brings in a toy for show and tell also gets to be circle-kid for the day. Circle-kid gets to place today's number (date) on the calendar, tell the class the weather for the day and place the appropriate weather sticker on the board. Zack loved being circle -kid. He now plays school at home and I got to be circle kid!!!

Aaron's favorite activity is to take all the pillows and blankets off my bed and to throw them on the floor at the bottom of the bed. He then climbs up on the bed, jumps a few times and then leaps off the bed into the pile of pillows. He's been doing this ever since I took him to Nittany Gymnastics, where they have a giant foam pit for kids to jump into. We haven't been back since that one visit because of illness or other schedule conflicts, but I think this is a sign that Aaron wants to go back!

Bee Sting

So as I type this Aaron is sleeping off the pain of a yellow jacket sting to his nose. I feel responsible for this sting because I did something to sort of provoke the bee. I was digging a hole to plant something, when I discovered a nest in the ground near the foundation. There were few bees coming and going so I was trying to just ignore them. Aaron came over and sat in the hole I was digging (shoe-less...errr!)
I think the bees were trying to determine if Aaron was a threat as they kept buzzing around him. Aaron got out of the whole and went back to filling his shoes with rocks. So I continued digging. Now a bee came really close to me. I couldn't see it, but could hear the buzzing right near my ear. Its really hard trying not to let your kids see you freak out over a bee buzzing near your ear!! Anyway, I went back to digging. When I had a shovel full of dirt, I threw it over the hole where bees were coming in and out. As I was doing this, Aaron went and sat back in the hole. Well, I guess the dirt pissed off one of the bees. It flew straight to Aaron and landed on his nose. Aaron immediately took his hands to his nose and began rubbing it. It probably took a good 4-5 seconds before the bee stung him and flew away. I felt SOOOOOOO bad. I still do.
I scooped up Aaron and we came inside. My first thought was "I hope he's not allergic to bee stings!!" So we sat on the stairs for about 30 seconds and I just watch him for swelling or hives. Thankfully nothing came. Since he was covered in dirt, I took him up to his room to change him.
After he had a clean diaper and clothes on we just cuddled until the crying stopped. As we were cuddling I was googling these stupid bees. Aaron eventually feel asleep on my shoulder. After about 15 minutes, I laid him down in his crib. His little nose is a little swollen around the sting site, but other than that he seems to be ok.
Then I came back down stairs to see a mole run across my kitchen floor!!!! Damn it I thought that thing was gone!!!!!

An interview with Zack

Something like this has gone around Facebook. It's raining this morning and Zack wanted to use the computer, so instead I asked him these questions. The answers to the questions are Zack's verbatum. I think after a while Zack was just giving silly answers just to make me laugh, it was still fun though!


1. What is something mom always says to you?
clean up
2. What makes Mom happy?
when i buckle myself
3. What makes Mom sad?
When Aaron and me be bad together
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
"the yogurt one in the banana."
5.What was your mom like as a child?
me
6. How old is your mom?
33
7. How tall is your mom?
33....(me laughing).....How tall are you mommy?
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
play the computer
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
cry (I think he may have thought I asked what HE does when mommy's not around!)
10. What is your Mom very good at?
playing computer
11. If Mom became famous what would it be for?
Mickey
... I rephrased the question: If I went on TV, what do you think I'd be doing.
dancing
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Not good at taking paper off that one (he points to the printer.)
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Use the computer
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
macaroni and cheese
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
she gives me a hug....and a kiss too (then we had a hug and kiss!)
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
a mommy
17. What do you and your mom do together?
play on the computer (notice a theme here...he wants to play on the computer.)
18. How are you and your mom the same?
whatever...
19. How are you and your mom different?
to get different, you just click on the button. Let me show you... (he reached for the mouse.)
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
says i love this much up to the sky! (we had another hug!!!)

Aaron goes to the dentist

Today was Aaron's first visit to the dentist. Zachary went to the dentist too, but he's an old pro at this by now. Zack went first to 'show' Aaron how its done. I was really impressed with Zack. He sat in the dentist chair and as soon as the hygentist reclined the chair he propped his mouth open nice and big!! The last time Zack went to the dentist (his first time) he had 4 cavities!!!! He was sent to a pediatric specialist for the fillings. I learned today that the specialist only filled 3 of the 4 cavities. The dentist was asking me why they only filled 3 of them. I had no idea. I thought they were all done. So Zack has no NEW cavities, but the last one still needs to be filled.
The fact that Zack had 4 cavities led me to schedule Aaron an appointment with the dentist. The pediatrician said kids don't need to go until age 3, but given Zack's record, I wanted to get Aaron in earlier.

When it came to Aaron's turn, he climbed right up on the chair. The hygentist played around with him a little, let him touch and play with the tool and he seemed ok. He looked like someone who's been going to the dentist for a long time...a little tense, stoic and unsure of what the dr. would say!

Aaron opened his mouth when the hygentist (named Eren) asked, but he kept closing and biting down on the instruments as soon as she put them in his mouth. She was able to clean the front teeth, then Aaron had enough and climbed out of the chair. She said for a 1 yr old he did great!!
Aaron wasnt as cooperative for the dentist, he giggled and grinned at him, but wouldn't open up.

So we left with new Diego toothbrushes, spongebob toothpaste and stickers. The boys were as happy as could be then! We'll see how it goes in 6 months!!
(I keep forgetting to take my camera!!!)

Missing Bubie!

The last couple of days Zack has been playing a little game. He says he's gonna go on an airplane and go see Bubie (in Miami Beach.) Sometimes he takes Aaron with him, sometimes Aaron doesn't want to go on the imaginary airplane, yet he makes it to pretend miami beach!
But Zack has been pretending to be either visiting or playing with his Bubie alot lately. I think he really you Bubie!!!!!!
...on a side but relatd note: this morning, Zack and Aaron were playing and decided to "take a bus" to see Bubie. The bus was the dog's crate. Well, they locked themselved inside!! One second they're playing laughing and giggling, then next its paniced cries!!

Anti-Social

Everyday that Zack goes to preschool, we receive a daily report. There's always an extra note at the bottom to personalize it to each child. Zack has received "Zachary did very well writing his name today." and "Zachary was very excited to eat his Spongebob yogurt."
Today we received a message that said, "Zachary worked very hard to put puzzles pieces together today. However, we've noticed that he interact or play much with the other kids. We're going to work on his social skills this year." hmmmmmm.
Does this sound like anyone I'm married to??? (I really am afraid of Zack picking up on (or rather, inheriting) Dave's less than stellar traits.)
In Zack's defense, he was very upset when I dropped him off at school this morning. Today was the first time he cried, he was almost histerical. When he's like this, he does tend to be more introverted. On the other hand, Zack has proclaimed that he doesn't like people looking at him. (except mommy and daddy.) Some days he picks up friends like a magnet, others he just wants to do his own thing. (I'm a little annoyed at how the teachers handled, rather didn't handle, this situation too! I won't get into it, but they definately made me late to class when I was looking at being 10 minutes early upon arrival to the school.)
I think today he probably just wanted to do his own thing. I also do not think that the teachers really encourage peer-peer play. They have circle time and activity "stations". Except for the play kitchen "station", all the other are really solo activities...like the computer games, coloring/drawing, writing center, book/library station.
We'll see how "social" Zack is on Wednesday!

Jumping

Its seems like such a minor acomplishment to others, but to me, when my children learn how to jump, its just as big as walking! Ok, maybe not quite, but its up there! I was trying to teach Zack how to jump from the time he was about 14 months old. He didn't get airborn until about 21 months though. I chalked that up to him being a chubby baby; he had a lot of weight to lift! lol.
Aaron made his first two-footed jump today on his bed...and it was a BIG jump! He jumped about 18 inches forward!!! All day now he's jumping around like a frog! He crouches down in a froggies position and leaps forward. I told he looks like a froggy and now he's ribbiting too! Oh, and Aaron is currently 22 months, so maybe Zack wasn't so far behind.

The maiden voyage

On Sunday, we finally went and got the bicycle that we told Zack he was getting for his birthday. Dave put it together and away they went! Zack road around on the basketball court near our house for a little bit. Then Dave took him over to Tudek Park, where they have alot of walking trails.

...now that's where he always wants to go to ride his bike! (thanks dave!)

Aaron without Zack

Zack has been in preschool for a week now (3 days per week) and I think Aaron enjoys having mommy all to himself, yet he definately misses his big brother. Almost always, the first thing out of Aaron's mouth in the morning is "Zack??" And most mornings, Zack is still sleeping, but lately I have to say "Zack is at school." I think it takes Aaron a few minutes to take this in, but then realizes he can now play with all of Zack's toys without having to fight over them. And he can drag mommy around wherever, whenever he wants now.
Yet when its time to go pick up Zack from school, Aaron's the one that dragging me out the door. "Come on! Zack! school!" he says to me.

First Day of Pre-school

Today was Zack's first day of preschool!! I would have photos however the airline had only delivered 2 out of our 3 bags when I left this morning...and of course, my camera was in the missing bag. Thankfully, the luggage was here when I got back home after class.

Zack's first day of pre-school started much better than his first day of daycare 3 years ago! His first day 3 years ago was filled with screams, tears and alot of kicking. (This routine continued until I took him out of daycare after Aaron was born!)

This time around Zack was just a little shy, but warmed up really quickly. When I came to pick him up after lunch, the teachers said he fit right in and had a great day!

Its funny, he just turned 4 two days ago, yet he's about an inch or two taller than most of the other kids in his class.

We stopped at the park after I picked up Zack; Aaron was asking to go to the park. There was only one other mom at the park when we got there. She had two little girls, one was 5 and the other was around 12 months old. Zack and the 5 year were instant friends. I thought for sure the girl was going to give Zack a hug when she came over to say goodbye. I hope we see them at the park again. Next time, I'm gonna get the mom's number. These two were so cute together.

Frustrated Aaron!

I havent't gotten the look of frustration on camera yet, but its already a classic look for Aaron. I really started noticing him having a fit, screaming in a high-pitched voice "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" and stiffening up his muscles about a week ago. I've taken note though that 9 times out of 10 its directed at Zack!!
Aaron will be playing contently and Zack will just walk. Aaron clenches his fists, tightens his jaw and screaches "NOOOO!" until Zack leaves.
We started teasing Zack saying that only he can make Aaron so angry he goes like this....and we mimic Aaron. Zack thinks its histerical.
Poor Aaron though. He'll get his repreave from Zack later this month when Zack starts preschool.

Shadow

Our Shadow kitty has been sick for a while now, he has several big malignant tumors on his tummy. I first noticed the lumps back in March. I think it was April by the time we were given a diagnosis (they had to do a biopsy.) The vet gave him a few weeks to months to live. We were given the option to put him on a steroid to help reduce the size of the tumor and make him more comfortable. We did and we noticed an improvement in him almost right away. We were hiding the pills in kitty treats, which he gobbled right down.
Then about 7 weeks ago we ntoiced he wasnt eating much of his kitty food and he wasn't eating the treats, with or without the pills. He stopped grooming himself and once he urinated in the spot he was sleeping. Just by chance, this same week, our dog Brandi was due for her shots. So when Dave took the dog into the vet's office, he mentioned to her about Shadow. She recommended that we give him a shot of the steroid (which lasts 30 days) and see how he does after that.
He improved a little bit. We switched him to all wet kitty food. I think the dry stuff is just too hard for him to eat anymore. But he still isn't eating much. Our once 16 lb obese cat is down to 9 lbs!!!!! He has a hard time walking. He tried to rub up against my leg the other while I was preparing his food and he fell over!!
We're supposed to go out of town in a few weeks and the dilema of what to do with Shadow came up. We felt we couldn't just leave him here alone. (Normally we'd ask someone to come in every other day and check on the cat and give him fresh water and food.) We could kennel him at the Vet's office....So Dave consulted with the vet and she said that we should put him down before we leave town. :(

We have a date and time set to euthanize our dear Shadow.

We're estimating that he is about 14 or 15 years old. We don't know for certain as he was a lovable stray found in Dave's parents yard that we adopted. He's been a wonderful cat. With the exception of destroying Dave's couch, we could have asked for a better pet.
Now our dog on the other hand.............