Let the Spirit of Christmas Shine

Every year after Thanksgiving Dave, Evan and I head to 900 North Michigan Shops to see Santa.

This year Evan asked Santa for a train and a pirate ship.  Santa asked him how old he is and if he has been good this year.   Evan must have gotten cold feet because he said he was three at first.   Santa asked him if he was really three and E answered with two years old while holding his three fingers up.  Santa told Evan to reach into his bag and E pulled out a white polar bear.

After our Santa visit we went on a carriage ride.  This was Evan's first time.  He LOVED it!  
The weather was perfect and the lights were beautiful.  

E was all smiles!

We are so excited to see what the holiday season brings our way!

Thanksgiving,2011

Alex, Madison, Mara, Lily, Thea, Evan, & Anya

Halloween.2011

Lamb's Farm

Dave, Evan, and I went to Lamb's Farm on Saturday.  What a fun and relaxing day!   

It was very windy and cool...the perfect fall day.  

E got a laugh from the sheep.  He especially thought it was funny when they baa'd and made funny noises.  He kept asking "what's that noise?".   

He liked the petting the goats, but really liked petting the sheep's fluffy wool the most.

Apparently the sheep really liked E too.  One sheep tried eating his jacket while Evan was brushing him.  Luckily Dave saw and pulled Evan away before taking off with a piece of E's clothing.

E wasn't too sure of the big cow we saw.  I don't blame him.  

The cow was double the size of a normal cow.

Evan tried climbing the hay barrels but they weren't sturdy enough to hold him.

A classic ride & one of Evan's favorites...the carousel.

Evan wanted to ride not one...

but two times so Dave and I each got a turn to ride with him.  We also went on a train ride but 

my train ride pictures didn't turn out.   It was a cute Halloween decorated ride.   There were

clowns, skeletons, werewolfs, vampires, pumpkins, ghosts... it was very creative.

Evan tried mini golf (this was his second time) and thought the main rule involved picking up your ball after your first swing and bringing the ball to the hole before putting it in the hole.   Nice try E!   Too bad Mommy and Daddy know the rules of mini golf so next year you will not be getting that one by us!

E also liked putting the ball in the tunnel (see under  the lamb and goat) and trying to get it out with his golf club.   He tried this after Dave had to get a ball out of another tunnel at an earlier hole.   

We sure were tired from our afternoon visit as you can see in Evan's face.  

I tried to get him to smile but he was done.   Bye Lamb's Farm!!!!

Goebberts Pumpkin Farm 2011

E decides that it's time to use the potty

I can't believe it!   Today E peed and pooped in his little potty!   He started the desire to go to the bathroom on our toilet.   But naturally our toilet seat is too big for E's little behind so we brought out his little toilet.  This morning he said to me "mommy, I have to go pee pee."  I said okay and he walked to the bathroom, pulled down his pants, took off his diaper and sat on the potty.   He proceeded to tell me to close the door.  About 2 minutes later I heard him say "pee pee" and I walk in the bathroom to see and low and behold there was pee.   I could contain my excitement that I screamed "Yay Evan!  I am SO proud of you!  You went pee pee on the potty!"  He jumped up and ran into my arms and squeezed me.   I kept telling him he is such a big boy and I am so happy for him.   He was so happy too!     Later this afternoon after we ran a few errands, E played for a few minutes and then told me that he had to go to the potty.   I told him to go and let me know if he needed any help.   Five minutes later I hear him say "poo poo mommy" and I walk into the bathroom doubting there would be any poop and sure enough, there it was sitting at the bottom of his little potty.   What a proud day!   Now to see if he can do it all day.  Now there's a challenge!!!

Apple Holler.September.2011

Dave, Evan and I had a relaxing Saturday afternoon at Apple Holler picking apples.   Evan ate about half a dozen apples but who's counting!  We rode a hay wagon ride to the apple picking fields.  E enjoyed the ride and got a kick out of picking the apples off the tree.  I really think he liked being to eat them right away, the best.  He probably would have eaten every apple we picked if we let him.   

You'll see most of the pictures are of him eating an apple.   

 At first Evan wanted to pick the apples up off the ground but once we told him a handful of times that the apples on the ground our yucky, he can pick the apples off the tree, he was sold and went on to happily pick, and of course eat, the apples.

E did a great job picking the apples that were at his height.   He learned how to twist the apples off the tree if he couldn't pull the apples right off.  By the end of our apple picking day, 

E learned how to pick the apples that were on the tree and not rotten.   

After picking about 2 dozen apples we took a short train ride around the apple orchard.

E LOVES trains so this was also his favorite part.  He's still eating...

 While we waited for the hay wagon ride to pick us up from the apple picking farm, 

we sat among some hay barrels and ate more apples.   

I tried getting E to pose and smile for me and here are some of the shots he gave me.

He still has an apple in his hand.  Lucky for my scrapbook

one of the pics won't have him eating an apple.

  This is my favorite... a complete 'E' funny face.

 Evan and Daddy

 Riding the tractor back to the Apple Holler Market and Farm.

This picture captures everything that encompasses being a child.

life.innocence.peace.happiness.carefree.

We had a wonderful relaxing day at apple picking at Apple Holler.
Looking forward to next year.

30 month Wellness Check

Evan had his 30 month wellness check a couple weeks ago.    His weight stayed the same at 31 pounds, he grew an inch and is in the 75th percentile for his age overall.   He did not like getting checked by the nurse nor the doctor.   He was brave and still survived it!   He is a healthy boy the doctor said.   Maybe our next visit at 3 years old will be a happy visit for Evan.

First Week Down

We survived my first week back to work!   Boy was it a week!   I can't believe how fast it went but how exhausted I felt after all said and done.   I have a great group of students this year!   We have a new department chair so things are a bit all over the place.   I am hopeful that all will settle and we all will feel at ease with the new leadership soon.   Not totally a fan of getting up early early again but who can complain when they are home by 11:30am and have the rest of the day to spend with their little one.

E did pretty well without having me take him to preschool in the morning.   He only bit one of his peers and they called me on my first day back.   We had a meeting on Tuesday.  I was nervous going into it and felt as if I was the one in trouble.   Needless to say, I was very impressed with how collaborative they were and their idea to use a sticker reward system with Evan.   I also made two picture cards that remind E to not bite and use words.   So far both have worked for the week.  I am hoping it continues to work.   His biting isn't malicious it's a means of communication for him. They said he is such a friendly and loving child who they adore.   He gives hugs all the time, shares, helps, asks for his needs/wants, participates, cleans up after himself and is overall a great kid.   So hopefully this sticker and reminder system works and he gets over the biting phase ASAP!  

E has been having some sleeping issues again.  He woke early this week a couple nights in a row with the start of his cold.  Very typical of Evan when he is getting sick.  After the two nights of interrupted sleep he started sleeping through the night but waking at 5am.   Ugh.   Not good.    On Monday, Wednesday and Friday E doesn't get to take a nap until 1pm.   Again I am hoping that he can get back on track now that we have transitioned to our school year schedule.   Only time will tell...

The Power of Determination

This morning my little sister achieved her goal of running the rock and roll half marathon.   I was amazed at her persistent hard work and dedication in the months leading up to the run.  Despite some set backs she had while training, she stayed committed and determined.  Today she ran/walked the 13.1 miles by fighting through her pain and believing in herself.   She never gave up.  She showed me that although she was thrown an unwanted situation in her life, Fibromyalgia, she still could face her fear while she achieved the goal she set out to meet.  I admired her self determination and perseverance in accomplishing one of the biggest challenges in her life.  I am SO PROUD of you Callie!!!    

E's First Day at Chalk Preschool

Today was Evan's first day of preschool!!   Where have the last 2 years gone?   It's hard to believe that he will be at school amongst his friends and teachers without any family or friends caring for him.  This was his first time and boy did he know it.   The last 2 weeks Dave and I have been talking to E about what to expect, that Daddy and Mommy cannot go with him to school and that we will be dropping him off.   E would, in his own words, repeat what we were saying and seemed quite happy about it.   Well...this morning he was not so happy.   He was fussing and whining for a good portion of the morning, particularly when I told him I wanted to take some pictures of him on his first day of school.   There may be no smile before going to school but he sure was all smiles afterwards.

As we made our way outside, E became reluctant to take pictures.  The reality of going to school had sunk in.

After I persuaded him that we needed to take some pictures for his grandparents, he moved to the far end of our yard, stood straight faced, and willing.  Phew!

(the monkey E has in his hands is his favorite zoo animal which 

was his assignment/to share with the class)

We dropped Evan off in the 'Blue Room' with his teachers, Miss Agnes, Miss Megan, and his classmates.  As soon as we set foot in the classroom E didn't waste any time making himself comfortable.   He jumped right.   He ran over to the classroom's play kitchen to check it out and also looked and touched a few small toys sitting on one of the classroom's tables.  When it was time for Dave and I to say goodbye, E hesitated to stop mid play and give Dave and I a hug/kiss and say goodbye.  

I'll be honest, I think I was more nervous about E's first day than Evan.   I didn't cry, and I thought I would, I just worried that he cry the whole time or worse, bite another child.  Despite my fears, I was hopeful he would enjoy his time there, make friends, respect his teachers, and cooperate.  Luckily I received no calls.   What a relief!   Even more of a relief was when Dave and I went to pick E up.  We were so eager to hear how he did at his first day that we practically ran into the school.    As soon as we arrived we were greeted (as we usually are) by the director.   She instantly told us how great he did.  All smiles and beaming with happiness, we walked back to his classroom and took a peak.  Before Evan saw us we saw E sitting on a small couch.   His teacher was reading a story.   Of course, in true E fashion, Evan wasn't just sitting on the couch, he was wiggling around like a wiggly little worm.  Although he was quiet and listening as he observed those around him.   As soon as Dave and I walked in and E saw us, smiled and ran up to us to give us a huge bear hug.   He couldn't get his words out fast enough.   We could tell he had so much to tell us.  The first thing he said was "jump house".   Chalk preschool is attached to Pump It Up so day for a half hour his class goes to play.   We knew that would steal his heart and be his most favorite activity of the day.   Boy were we right!  After E filled us in on his day (well the jump house part)  Miss Agnes told us that E did a great job.  She was pleased with how social he is.   No surprises there ;0)   She also gave us a run down of what they did and how great he did.  Dave and I couldn't have been any more proud of Evan.  He did SO well and liked it SO much that he didn't want to leave.   We are hoping Evan is looking forward to the year that lies ahead as much as we are.

Way to Go Evan!!!

Grand Geneva

Dave, Evan and I took a 2 day vacation to Timber Ridge Lodge at Grand Geneva.   So much FUN!!!   Dave and I hadn't been to a water park in years and this was Evan's first time.   We hadn't been at the water park for more than two hours and boy were we exhausted!   We were so amazed at how brave E was going down the water slides, jumping in the pool, and running in an out of the water.   He was a little fish!!   Overall, it was the perfect little get away before school starts and 

one we'll remember always.