Tunnel town

About three years ago Mike and I came across these Cranium Super Fort sets at WalMart being clearanced out for like $7 each. We bought three sets. Plus the sports center one. For our then 2- or 3-year-old. (Sadly, I can’t say we’ve learned our lesson about buying stupid/too many toys.) We took them home, opened two sets, built something for Nick and then packed them away, never to be seen again. Until this week. I was cleaning out the storage room behind our house and came across the bags/boxes of tubes and connectors. Perfect. Now, the boys would likely enjoy something that let them build and use their imaginations. Don’t mind that it was three years later.

And they did have fun. The tubes and connectors made forts and rocket ships and this …

whatever it is.

Unfortunately, the tubes quickly turned into weapons and the boys broke a couple of the orange ones (which have plastic rods inside to stabilize the structure). Their roughhousing also caused the magnet to fall off the end of at least one and sent me into a tizzy. I can’t have magnets (even very weak ones) chilling on the floor where Ben can find them. So, the tubes are back in their bags and waiting for me to take pictures of them to sell on Facebook or at the next garage sale. At least they were cheap.

Sick day

Today was supposed to be a nice and relaxing day with my middle man. It has instead turned into a sick day with all three of my children. Ben is really sick, except for the snot pouring from his nose and the drool pooling on his shirt. Nick has a nasty runny nose (blaming it on a cold and allergy combo) that has manifested into pinkeye. Either that or he was kissing his classmate with pinkeye on the playground this week. And Zander, who did so wonderful yesterday, woke up with a 103.1 temperature and the chills. I gave him some tylenol and laid with him in my bed fro about 30 minutes before calling the doctor at 5:30 a.m. Thankfully the ENT was actually on call, though he told me nothing. Basically he said it’s very unlikely that Zander has an infection from the surgery so it must be something else presenting itself at a really bad time. I gave him some ibuprofen about 6 and by 8 or so the fever had come down to about 100.5. It stayed there much of the day.

The fever meant Zander once again got babied and Nick got mad. So during naptime I tried to do a “special art project” with him so he didn’t feel so left out. We started with this fun milk, dish soap and food coloring “experiment” I found on a blog I follow.

It started with about an inch of milk in the bottom of a baking dish. Then we put three drops of food coloring in the milk.

I put one drop of dish soap in the pink/purple dot and it went crazy. I have a video, but I am already so far behind we are sticking with just pictures here today. Pretty cool, huh? 

Nick wanted to try it so I let him put some more food coloring in and try the soap again.

I don’t know if he put in too much soap or if it just didn’t want to work because we only have skim milk in the house (from what I understand it works better with a more fatty milk) but the second set of colors just kind of sat there.

So, it was on to other things. I found a roll of brown craft paper in the garage recently and figured Nick could paint on that. He was happy as a clam with new papers, old paints and new painting tools. And when Zander woke up Nick had just finished so Zander got to paint a little too.

Tubes in, adenoids out

We had really hoped to skip the whole tubes in the ears thing with Zander, but back in December we received a letter in the mail telling us he had failed his hearing test. We took him to our pediatrician and he said there was most definitely fluid in his ears, but no infection. We waited two weeks to see if the fluid was part of a lingering cold, but when we went back it was still there. So, it was off to the same ENT who has put tubes in Nick’s ears twice.  Unfortunately our first appointment was canceled and we couldn’t get back in again until early this month. Thankfully they were able to schedule surgery rather quickly and at 8:30 this morning we checked into the outpatient surgery lobby.

By this time I had been panicking for about 12 hours, not because my baby was going into surgery, I was OK with that after doing it twice before, but because he has been very clingy lately and I thought the idea of not eating or drinking anything until 10 a.m. would send him over the edge. It sure would have me. But he was awesome. There was one little lip quiver early on and then nothing until just a few minutes before surgery when he talked about being hungry. Even then, it was more of a statement than anything.

We were able to keep him busy admiring his goofy dress hospital pjs which were just a touch too small.

And he had free reign in the playroom. Granted there wasn’t a lot to do, but Zander is the little boy who can make something out of nothing. He mostly vacuumed and made us some breakfast.

Then we headed back to the room so he could play on the iPad.

And work in his new workbook. I made him put on the fireman cap because it is just so stinkin’ cute. He was laughing and making silly faces and just being a good kid. And this was at about 10 a.m. when he should have been in surgery already.

After surgery, which always goes so fast, we hung out in the recovery room for about an hour. He slept on my chest for a good portion of it and I relished those few minutes of snuggly quiet. They are few and far between with my kids. He did an awesome job not messing with his IV after about the first three minutes and then sucked down a whole glass of juice and asked for more. YEAH!! That meant we got to go home. And as promised he got ice cream (and trying to be a somewhat good mom I also gave him noodles) for dinner. That was his special treat for doing so freaking awesome all day! Too bad Nick was a little upset he still had to eat a regular dinner.

But, a last minute offer of ice cream (after the rest of his dinner was gone) got me on his good side again.

And this one always loves me, no matter what food I put on his plate.

Nom! Nom!

Apparently we don’t feed Ben enough. He’s taken to munching on his toes between meals. How is this even possible with that Buddha belly he has?

Whatcha’ lookin’ at?

You’ve never seen a baby with nothin’ but a diaper on before?

My little monkey

That’s what Ben looks like when he walks. Mike was the one who first noticed it and now it is all I can think about when I see him. He doesn’t walk with his arms out to the side for balance the are always up, and when you see his wobbly walk it only adds to the monkey look. Only without all the hair. For now.

A sweet treat

Ben got to taste his first ice cream cone last night. I have to qualify this because it was not the first time he’s had ice cream. I do believe Mike gave him a few bites of ice cream during one of our lunch trips to Pizza Ranch. But, it was his first ice cream on a cone (read: not controlled bites on a spoon). His first impression was questionable.

But, when Mike put the cone in front of him for a second bite he went back for another taste.

With only slightly better results.

After that it was pretty much smooth sailing, unless he got too big of a bite, then he gave a pretty sour look. Yet he always went back for more.

And these are just because he’s so cute I couldn’t not share them with the five people who read my blog world.

You say it’s your birthday

We celebrated Zander’s fourth birthday this weekend but I couldn’t let the special day go by without some kind of treat. Unfortunately, my work schedule is still as crazy as ever and I did not get home until pretty late again tonight. So, instead of a special dinner or homemade treat we hit up our favorite ice cream shop. Actually, it’s the only one we can visit because of Nick’s allergy and even then I am probably pushing it. Anywho … I’m just happy for our abnormally warm spring which allowed for an outside ice cream treat as we learned very quickly that the kids are no better at eating cones than they were last summer.

The kids were super excited for the treat even though they had no idea where we were going. All they knew is I promised them they would enjoy it and they got to go in their pajamas (they’d already had baths and I didn’t feel like changing them again, besides, it made it a little more fun).

Nick guessed we were getting ice cream about a block from the shop. Thankfully, that was a good enough surprise to keep them excited. See, Zander was happy.

 

And then this happened.

That’s Zander’s cone, well, part of it anyway. He was messing around on the bike racks near our table, fell and dropped his cone. He was fine but his cone did not survive. Thankfully, I was able to save the day. Instead of buying another cone I just passed him mine.

All better. Nick was enjoying his cone, too. One would think by six he would be able to eat a cone without losing half of it down his chin and shirt but that just wasn’t happening.

Zander is not any better. I think he had more ice cream on his shirt and the ground than in his belly.

This is technically one of the worst pictures of the night, but I still love it!

And these too.

Look at Benny’s face. He’s cracking me up.

He got to try his first cone, too. I think he liked it, but more on that later.

Then tragedy struck again. Zander lost his second cone of the night.

Then Nick stepped in to save the day. He played the role of the awesome big brother (it doesn’t happen often) and gave the last of his cone to Zander. Why can’t he always be this sweet?

So thankfully the night ended on a high note and we all went home happy!

Happy {early} birthday Zander!

We celebrated Zander’s fourth birthday this weekend the same way we’ve celebrated every one of my boys’ birthdays --- with a very small gathering of family. This year Zander choses a Thomas/Chuggington train “theme.” I use the word theme lightly because the only thing I ever do for these parties is decorate a cake, buy some wrapping paper, get a balloon bouquet and hang a banner from the window. And even that is pushing it some most years.

But, Zander doesn’t seem to mind. We started with a few snacks and then got to the presents. Zander, the one who should have been most excited to open gifts, was slowly snacking away while Nick was chomping at the bit to see what Zander got that he could steal. There were a lot of great things, but it was this inconspicuous blue bag that got the biggest reaction.

Nick knows there is something good inside. You can see it in his smile. There was a paper organizer (the blue folder on top there). There were envelopes. Yes, envelopes. And that look on Nick’s face --- it’s one of disappointment, not because it was only envelopes, but because it was envelopes.

But the piece de resistance was the three rolls of tape. Yes, tape. The boys have almost used all of their Christmas tape so Zander was really excited to replenish the supply. Nick can only hope that he will share. That’s Zander screaming “TAPE.” I’m not joking. It’s on video and if I had more time I would upload it because I doubt those who weren’t at my house that day would believe me.

And this is him jumping up and down about the tape.

Oh, and there were other presents, too. But nothing could compare to the tape, scissors, envelopes and index cards from Mema. Just ask Zander, he’ll tell ya.

After he opens his presents he went around and gave everyone hugs. They were all cute, but I especially liked this one with his Grandpa and Ben squished in the middle.

Then it was time for cake brownies. My kids don’t really like cake and since I have to make it I don’t mind. I’d rather eat brownies anyway. So, Zander chose Thomas at the party store, but I think it was only because they didn’t have any Chuggington, so when I went to decorate his cake I bought some Chuggington trains for the top (his favorites are on top – Frostini and Action Chugger).

Then we hung out for a few minutes.

Doesn’t he look excited to get his picture taken?

And headed outside so Zander could try out his new rollerblades. 

I also learned (after 32 years) just how redneck my family really is. Apparently my family finds amusement in casting a fishing pole into a bucket.

And then tossing cans into one, too.

The scary part is that it has already rubbed off on Nick. He’s the one that asked to toss the cans into a bucket. They did it one time at my parents’ house or the river or something and he just thought it was such fun. Thankfully they switched to hockey after just a few minutes. I didn’t want the neighbors to start wondering.