Popcorn and a Movie

My baby is growing up.  Harrison is fascinating me in so many ways lately.  He does amazing things like putting on his own coat, setting the table, wiping his own butt, the list could go on and on.  But it really all hit me on Friday at the movie theatre.  

Harrison has never been to a movie before.  We try not to watch too much TV and I have always thought why waste the money.  Well, he has been seeing commercials (cause we don't let them watch to much TV!) for Madagascar 2 the past couple of weeks and decided it was time to go to the movies!

And it was great.  We were in a bit of a hurry to get to the movie because I wanted to go Friday night as Chris was going to be gone on Saturday (big win for the Skwakeyes, you know).  So there were a couple of different options, but the one I wanted was at 5:55 pm.  This meant that we had to leave AS SOON as Chris got home from work to make it in time.  Well, I don't go to movies all that often and I did seem to forget that there would be 30 minutes of previews.  30 minutes!!!  Anyway, Harrison was so excited about his 'kids pack.'  It was a little box with popcorn, a small soda and some fruit snacks.  He got up on his seat and I didn't hear another word from (except for 'Please open these fruits snacks') until the movie was over.   And this was not from lack of trying on my part.  I kept trying to get him to laugh or tell me what he thought about this part of the movie, but he wanted nothing to do with it.  It was like he was in a trance.  After the movie was over I asked if he liked it and he said yes and I asked if he thought the theatre was cool and he said yes and then he said "And that TV is even bigger than ours!"  

On the way home I asked him about the movie and he told me the parts that he liked and he explained why Marty the Zebra was upset so I knew he had comprehended the whole thing.  He even laughed while telling me what parts he thought were the funniest (those wiley penguins!).  I knew he had a good time even if he didn't show it during the movie.

Anyway, as I was watching the movie and watching Harrison all sorts of emotions came flooding over me.  Here was this little boy doing such a big boy thing.  He was so grown up.  Quietly eating his popcorn, taking a sip of his soda and then putting it back.  Wasn't he just a baby?  Wasn't I just holding him in my arms, keeping him in bed with me cause I didn't want to ever be separated from him?  And here he is at the movies!!!  I know what you are thinking.  The next thing I know he will be at the movies with a different girl.  Well, let me tell you.  That ain't going to happen!

Pretty Fly for a White Guy

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago and my in-laws, Greg and Pam came up to Des Moines to take us out to dinner (among other things like bringing me my new hutch!).  We went to the Latin King over on the east side.  I had never been to the Latin King, but I had always wanted to.  My dad had talked it up ever since he had eaten there back in his days on the school board.  I had also heard fabulous things from locals.  We were not disappointed.  The ambiance was great, the service was great and the meal was to die for!  I had the Filet Marsala and it was excellent.  I had never had a beef marsala dish before so I was looking forward to it.  Typically marsala dishes are chicken.  This marsala also turned out to be tomato based which was unusual but wonderful.  I ate almost all of it.  And I might have eaten it all if Pam hadn't kept giving me bites of her Steak Duburgo.  And boy was that wonderful!  Both her and Chris had that and Greg had the Stuffed Pork Chop that he said was awesome.  And can you believe that both my children acted like little gentlemen?!  Usually Bennett is a nightmare at restaurants.  There were a couple of times when I thought he might lose it but we always found ways to keep him happy.  Thank goodness!

Oh and dessert... Tira-Mi-Su!!!!!!!!!  Mmmmmmmm  

It comes in 3's

My Uncle Bob died last week.  He had suffered from diabetes most of his adult life and had exposure to Agent Orange while in Vietnam during the war.  Uncle Bob was an interesting man.  He was always smiling and laughing when we were around and his characteristic pony tail always made my grandma want to run and get the scissors.  His diabetes made him very sick and even more so since he was not good at regulating his food intake.  Both my mom and my Aunt Karen made trips to Vancouver, WA to help Uncle Bob and I do believe they helped.  Uncle Bob passed away in his sleep, in his bed, under a warm blanket.  I can't think of a better way to go.

Miles has salmonella.  I won't go into huge details about this but he was hospitalized over night on Friday and they think is worst day was Thursday.  Horrible stomach cramps and VERY tired.  They don't know where he got salmonella but if I had anything to do with it I will be mortified.  Watching a 9 month old grab at their stomach and then cry is heart-wrenching and nothing that I want to go through again.  And I am only the baby-sitter!  Regardless, Miles is feeling much better but may have symptoms for up to a month.   

My grandfather is in the hospital recovering from surgery that repaired scar tissue build up in his upper intestine.  This was from radiation treatment for prostate cancer about 5 years ago.  Very strange how something that was diagnosed, treated and recovered from can come back  to haunt you.  He is in a lot of pain and will be in the hospital for almost a week.  My mom went up to Charles City last night to be there when he got out of surgery.  We are all hoping for a speedy recovery.

So - it comes in 3's.  What that means for everyone around me is that you are now in the clear.  I am done with illness and drama for a little while.  I am going back to boring news like PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!!!

First Field Trip

October 23

Harrison's class went on a field trip today.  They are studying pumpkins this week so they went to Iowa Orchard.  They have a very large apple orchard as well as a large pumpkin patch.  It was freezing the day we went and it was also raining.  Luckily there was just enough space inside that all the kids could sit down and listen to the woman talk.  She was quite a woman.  I am sure the kids didn't notice, but she kept telling the parents what to do.  And it wasn't like she was mean or anything, she was just direct.  "Hey.  You.  Pick up that bag of apples.  See, children, those are red apples..."  It was very amusing.

Harrison and his class had a good time and even got apple cider to drink before they went home.  The horrible thing for all of us was that the ovens were right behind the woman that was talking and the employees kept bringing out fresh apple pies from the oven.  Cruel, very cruel.  (I would have bought one (crumb topping, Mmmmm) but they were $15.00 a pie!)

One year

Sunday, October 19

When we got to my parents house my dad was raking the lawn.  I was excited because last year at this time James and Harrison played in the leaves at my parents house and I knew they would have so much fun doing it again.  And you would be amazed what will turn up while you are raking your lawn.  Just ask Nathan.  Wallet's do magically reappear.  Anyway, the boys had a great time.  They chased everyone with leaves, got buried by leaves, and threw leaves on the parts of the lawn that were just raked by Grandpa and then laugh, laugh, laugh as Grandpa got 'so mad.'

October 19, 2007

October 19, 2008

Can you believe the difference a year makes.  Bennett and Kaitlyn were being propped up by leaves and a hidden pumpkin for those pictures!  Now Bennett's mowing the leaves.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the pie.  And it was a good pie.  But you would think that Harrison had just been given a free trip to the moon.  He was so excited about that apple pie.  And we had to have it before quiet time.  What a goof.  He kept saying 'Mmmmm, piiiiiiie.'

Pumpkin carving was the last great task for the day.  I don't know how I got stuck gutting and carving the pumpkin, but I did.  We purposely didn't do this on Saturday so that the dad's would have to do it on Sunday.  Hmmmm...

This picture isn't great.  James was not sad like this picture suggests.  Or maybe he was.  We had been trying for a while to get them all to smile and look at the camera at the same time.  Aren't they used to us taking photos of them yet?!!!

Get Your Ya-Ya's Out

Bennett continues to be a man of few words.  He has his standard Dada and duck and that is what he wants to stick with right now.  He did teach Will to say all done and/or all gone.  Will was already kind of saying these things but he took on Bennett's version of ga gon or ga don (the 'n' sound is usually not heard very well).  There is a difference but it is subtle and mostly it just comes out ga gon.  Will taught Bennett the sign for more so we have that communication A LOT!

I was so looking forward to when he would run to me saying Mama, Mama just like he does to his dad when Chris gets home from work.  Well, I am still looking forward to it.  He doesn't run to me when I get home from whatever errand I have just run and more importantly, when he does want me for something, he pats me on the leg and calls me Ya-Ya.  We are still working out why this is.  I can't recall that Chris calls me 'Hey, you' (which is what it sometimes sounds like) or that we have a copy of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood laying around that he could read so your guess is as good as mine at the moment.

Bennett just isn't a linguist like his brother.  Some would say that Harrison is too busy speaking for Bennett but I can't think that is the case in this instance.  If Bennett is tired of Harrison talking he just screams at the top of his lungs.  It makes for a very noisy dinner time.

Turn off the TV

So, I was sitting in the office, minding my own business when Harrison walks in.  Now, I should preface all of this with the fact that it was quiet time.  Everyone was sleeping.  So, when Harrison walked in I was a little startled.  He doesn't usually sleep, but he usually stays in  his room more than 10 minutes.

Anyway, Harrison looks at me and says:

"Mom, this girl on TV just lied!  And she was a grown up!  It's not ok to lie."

I am speechless.  Not only is he up, but he is watching Days of our Lives.  Next he says:

"Mom, why do you have to go to the doctor when you are going to have a baby?"

"Why do you ask?"  I say.

"Well, the girl on TV is at the doctor and she is going to have a baby.  And damn-it, the dad is not there!  Whoever that is!"

It might be time to get him implanted with that microchip now.

Payton

Our cat is a funny cat, like most.  She does what she wants and will not cater to anyone.  Especially the kids.  Bennett loves her.  Absolutely loves her.  He loves all cats.  When we were in Florida in June he would manhandle Roscoe, Nathan and Meredith's cat, and Roscoe would pretty much take it.  Eventually he would get tired of it and bite Bennett, but Bennett didn't mind.  He would just start petting and pawing at him.

Well, imagine Bennett's delight when we came home from Night Eyes and Payton was in his bed.  He just couldn't get enough of her and for once she didn't mind, that much.

Return of the face

Bennett has decided to practice his smiling again.  Can someone please tell him the natural, unforced smiles are much better?!!!

Another day on the farm

Off we went to Center Grove Orchard again yesterday.  The lighting wasn't always the best, but here are some pictures from our trip!

This was a favorite part of the day.  We went to see the goats after the tractor rides and James said "Oh, but I want to go back to the tractor!"  But then he heard he big bad wolf was coming...

Harrison, James and Bennett were the 3 little pigs and I was the big bag wolf.  We went from house to house and they would scream "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!"  I t was way too cute.  This was them being scared in the brick house.

This is the big bad wolf having the tables turned!

The wagon ride was fun.  We had to peel the kids out of the corn pit to get onto the wagon, but other than that Bennett vroomed like a car and James held on tight because of the bumps!

I thought the jumping pillow would work out really nice.  A flat, cushy surface to fall down on.  And it would have been nice if some bigger people hadn't gotten on.  I think there was a little too much air bouncing for James and Bennett.  I barely got off the thing because they were glued to me!  Harrison on the other hand...

Nathan and James leave tomorrow.   We are going to Ames again today.  I wonder how I can fit James under my shirt when we leave...