In the air

Today was the first official day of our Italian vacation. We dropped the boys off at my parent house early this morning. Many tears were shed (mostly by me) and then headed back to our place where Marius (Mike's dad) was waiting to pick us up for the drive to Cedar Rapids.

Our flights were all on time (holy crap) and fairly uneventful. However I had to embarrass Mike at least twice by pulling out my camera to take a picture of the food. Don't know why I did it, but at the time I was still in the document each part of this journey mode. Although I never took any pictures in the airport (I'm guessing because our layovers were only long enough to get to the next gate, take a bathroom break and board the next plane).

So, here is our first vacation meal. The green beans were served cold. The chicken was OK (but overpowered by the awful smell of the salmon meal that was also served). The potatoes were edible, but barely. The dessert was OK, but not great. And the bread was wonderful, of course.



Then at breakfast, I had to pull out the camera again. But, Mike wouldn't let me use the flash and the plane was pretty dark since it was only like 4 a.m. outside. So, here is our first meal in foreign airspace. It sucked. And was no indication of the wonderful breakfast delicacies that were to come our way for the next 9 days. The pastry had a nasty peach jelly inside and the thing on the right was some weird egg sandwich that Mike refused to even open.

Swim lessons: Take 3

This kid is crazy in the water. He will jump of the side of the pool over and over again and then get mad when we have to do the real lesson. I'm going to have to watch him at the pool this summer.

Happy Birthday Zander!

I felt so guilty about Zander's birthday party this year. He turned 2 on Saturday and we left Sunday for 10 days in Italy. I was so busy preparing for the trip I hardly spent any time on his celebration. But he didn't seem to mind!! Thankfully he is still young enough not to really understand or expect much on this day. And my guilty conscious will just have to make it up to him next year.

His birthday cupcakes were my one attempt at effort this year.


He wasn't so worried about cute, he was just hungry. (See my dad's hand? I think he was trying to recreate Zander's first birthday)



I found this recipe in Family Fun magazine and thought at least it would look like I tried. And can I just say that making rainbow cupcakes is a lot harder and more time-consuming than it looks. But, aren't they cute?


But, who really cares about cupcakes when there are presents to be played with. Obviously the bike was the big hit of the day.


Um, I think I'm going to have trouble on my hands with this one!


Everyone was fascinated by the dinosaur. He talks, walks and scares the crap out of little kids. Best part (at least for this frugal momma) he was only $10 (regularly about $60).






Zander also loved the big ball Mema and Papa brought over for him!


And no family function would be complete without Zander trying to swipe someone's cell phone. Ashley has finally wised up though. She made him sit on her lap to play. I'm pretty sure she was tired of paying for the phone calls to Australia.

These feet

Zander's legs and feet have given me fits since he was born. I don't know if he was really squished up in my belly or what, but he came out with the most bowed legs and pigeon toes I have ever seen. The doctor has repeatedly told me the bowing will go away, and it has somewhat. But, his little feet have yet to turn straight. Drives me nuts. And I feel bad for him because when he gets to running really fast his toes and shoes get in the way. However, the peditrician did tell me that some of the fastest runners are pigeon toed. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Still hanging on

We thought the warm weather would finally melt all the snow. We were wrong. There was one tiny little patch of snow where Mike had pushed off the piles from the roof. It was in a mostly shady part of the yard and it just didn't want to melt. So, Zander decided to do a little shoveling.


And kicking.


And throwing. I'm pretty sure some of that ended up on his head.


Then he tried to escape through the bushes to our neighbor's yard. Maybe he thought there was more snow over there?

At the doctor

Since Zander didn't need any shots this time around (we managed to sneak them in with his flu shot) I was given the OK to bring him in for the 2-year well baby check a little early. Big surprise, he's doing just fine. Growing like a weed (though not as fast as his brother was at that age) and progressing right on target.

As for these pics ... well, I love our pediatrician, but so does everyone else. So he is always busy. And always running behind. And doctor's offices are full of fun things to explore --- except they aren't supposed to. So, I busted out the camera to keep the boys occupied. I swear, Zander could look at the screen for hours pointing to himself and Nick and anyone else that I happened to take a picture of. Nick would rather just take the picture.

Can you see Nick singing back there?



Doesn't he look like he was waiting so patiently for the doctor? Believe me, it didn't last.

Frisbee

He's not very good, but he tries.

So close to spring

Over the course of about 4 days the piles of snow in our yard and street melted, leaving behind a mushy, muddy mess. While it kind of icks me out, it didn't even phase the boys. Thankfully, they were kind enough to listen to their mother and stay mostly on the driveway and in the street, which was sandy and dirty, but not muddy.

It's hockey time in Party Town!

Mike and I used to go to hockey games all the time. Since having kids our opportunities have been limited. Just this year Mike started taking Nick once in a blue moon. The games start at 7:05, just minutes before our kids' bedtime. Nick usually comes home completely beat and overtired, but he loves almost every minute of it. Our other reason for not going is cost. Tickets are nearly $15 each and for a family of four, that can get pricey, especially when you don't even know how long the youngest one will last. So, when a co-worker offered up a set of 4 free vouchers for a Black Hawks game I jumped at the chance.

We grabbed a quick bite to eat before the game and headed over. It was all old hat for Nick -- he told me he got to give the tickets to the boy or girl who was taking them -- but Zander was just in amazement at all the people. He grinned and clapped and cheered with the best of them when the team skated out for their warm-up and then happily people-watched once they left the ice.

Mike and Nick went over to talk with Mike's friend Felix (the one who let Nick see the zamboni)and were still there when the lights went down for the team introductions. Zander went nuts! It was so much fun to watch this game through his eyes. The amazement in everything made it all new for me to see, too. The only thing I don't think I saw, any of the game. I was too busy watching him have fun.


Of course, when Nick got back, he demanded control of the cowbell, which Zander gladly relinquished. Nick has been enough times he even knew when to ring the bell and how to do it in beat along with the music (I guess all those Kindermusic lessons finally paid off).


Unfortunately, Nick also has his father's competitive spirit, except instead of getting mad when something doesn't go his way he doesn't get mad, he gets sad.


Zander spotted Tommy Hawk during the first period. The giant skating bird wandering the seats kept his attention for at least 10 minutes. He smiled and pointed and yelled for him --- until Tommy came to say hi to us. Then, the best I could get was a high five. Neither one of my kids wanted anything to do with him. But, as soon as he was gone Zander spent the next 5 minutes following him again.


Just when the boys started getting antsy the period ended and their favorite part of the game took the ice: the zamboni. Thankfully our seats were in the third row and they could easily walk down to the boards to get a closer look.


And of course, I had to get a picture with my baby to commemorate his first game.


Little did I know Nick would get bored in the third period and want to take a series of his own pictures. First it was just Zander.


Then it was just me.


And finally, one of both of us. Not too bad for a 4-year-old.

Swim lessons: Take 2

Week two was a definite improvement over week 1. I took Zander to his morning lesson and he did amazing. If I had to hazard a guess, he is going to be my fish.



Last week I was scared to put him all the way under (mostly because I don't like going under without plugging my nose), but this week I forced myself to put him under and he didn't seem to mind. In fact, when I asked if he wanted to do it again he said "yes." The biggest problem was he doesn't understand "Close your mouth." I'm pretty sure he ingested quite a bit of pool water. But, he seems none worse for the wear. The 25 minute lesson (and maybe the extra pool water in his belly) did a number on him though. I found him passed out in his bedroom about 20 minutes after we got home.



And wow, what a turnaround Nick did from last week. Even without the nap he did great during his lesson and when we were ready to head home (the point of last week's major meltdown). It might have helped that I bribed him with a Black Hawks hockey game that night if he was good (hey, the tickets were free so it's not like I was out anything one way or the other). This week I sat near the edge of the pool (last week Mike had to get in) and watched and encouraged from the sidelines. He tried to make himself do everything the teacher asked, but couldn't bring himself to go under water (again, I can't blame the kid). This was as good as it got:



His only other moment of hesitation was when the teacher helped them all back float around the pool. Nick does not do well with strangets (which can be good), but I talked him through it (gently encouraging him to just try it once) and he did, with only a few lip quivers. When she came around the second time he went right to her, no problems. I was so proud.

Book fair

Mike watched the boys Friday night while I worked. While Nick worked on some stuff in the living room Nick destroyed his room set up a book fair in his room. Mike said Nick asked him to come back to work the cash register so he could buy some books. When Mike gave him the total Nick said he didn't have cash and handed over a fake credit card from the mail and said "Debit card." What have I done?

It's a party

At least that's what Nick told me. I had the day off Friday (worked a night shift), so the boys stayed in their PJs and played around the house all morning. Nick's imagination has really taken off lately (I really want to get one of his made-up songs on video, but he is so shy). Today he used his blanket as a tablecloth and set up for a party in the living room. I was asked to join him, though brother was not invited. He didn't seem to notice.

Would you like an egg on your burger? I'm sure it's a delicacy in some country.

You ready to eat, Mom?

Nope, not yet? OK, I'll just sit here and pout.

Dig in. Look how big my burger is.