So Many Things

So many things happened in the last month, this is going to be a long post. At the end of February Thad took the kids to their first ever fishing derby. It's a Bulkeley right of passage; one that the kids enjoy and the dads endure. They practiced casting in the backyard for a week before the event, and spent three hours casting, but not catching, during the derby. It was a damp cold morning but they both had a great time.

We had a few warm days in February and the kids decided they wanted to camp in the back yard. I tried to tell them it wasn't that warm yet, but they begged. So we let them and they froze all night long. Peter did not sleep out there, but enjoyed playing in the tent until bedtime.

The kids participate in their first piano recital two weeks ago and did a great job. Sammy was so nervous, and you couldn't hardly hear him when he had to introduce himself. He was the youngest student, but played his song perfectly. Andi helped to organize the recital and played perfectly as well.
Sammy and I were able to go to Mother Son Bingo at the school that same weekend. The school does a big father daughter dance, and decided a few years ago that the moms and sons needed an activity too, so we went and had dinner and played Bingo and took a bad Selfie.

Sam was pretty irked about not winning any of the rounds, but was pacified when he saw the giant pixie sticks and candy bags that all the boys got to take home. He was also set on staying up later than Andi and kept asking me if it was past 8:00 yet.
Sammy has been cracking us up with his relationship drama at school. He asked me a few weeks ago if he had to stay with Ella all the time because they are going to get married. When I asked for clarification he said, "Ella says we have to play together all the time at recess because we are getting married. But I want to ride the bikes and she wants to play on the monkey bars and she pulls me out of line!" Thad told him to get used to it. I told him he didn't have to do what she wanted every recess.
Later in the week I found a picture she had colored for him in his backpack. I asked him about it and he said, "Mom, she just keeps giving me stuff because she wants me to write her a letter back."  So I told him he could color her a picture. So he grabbed his hot wheel coloring book and colored a car in pink and purple. He was pretty proud of himself for using "girl colors."
Peter decided two weeks ago that he was done being in a crib. He kept jumping out, and rather than wait for him to break an appendage doing that, we took the side down and put up the toddler bed rail. And turned his door knob around so that we can lock him in at night. It's been a rough transition, and most days nap time is spent destroying his room, but it's still quiet time for me downstairs.
Between that and the upcoming cul-de-sac yard sale I've been moving things around and changing the kids rooms. I'm still waiting on Thad to build Peters twin bed, but I've almost finished his quilt. And I refinished a desk and chair for Andi's room. The desk has been sitting in my room holding Thad's clothes piles since we built the big desk in the office, and I finally realized it would work in Andi's room.

I've made a new bulletin board, and have a bookcase to refinish, and then the wall color to change, and her big girl room update will be complete.
Peter gave us a scare this weekend. I went to pick Andi up for a birthday party and Peter saw me leave. He tried to follow and got out the front door. By the time Thad realized he was gone and caught up to him he was out to the main road outside our development. Luckily the old man who lives on the corner saw Peter and stopped him. Peter just has no fear of anything. That came in handy today when we took him to the dentist for the first time. He did great and was totally cooperative. Sunday's are getting a little better. This picture was taken a few weeks ago, but we haven't had to take one since.

He's talking so much now. He thinks that if he says "thank you Momma" he can grab whatever he wants and run. And he's constantly telling the kids to "shush" when they are talking and not listening to him. He loves smoothies, and would live on them if I let him. And there is just no keeping up with him.