Good Morning All.
Well, Caleb is adjusting well to preschool. They gave him the best thing possible, in his mind, a little handheld sized plastic toy. He's always been into the small hand sized toys that he can glean onto and form an attachment to... and carry everywhere. It's like he wants to carry around his conversation pieces. Well, this time it was a little "baby" dinosaur that came in a little egg. They learned about dinosaurs this week, and now he is suppose to take care of it, feed it and put it back in the egg for sleeping.
He is having a good time at preschool and every day he rewards me is a run into my arms and a "Mommy, I missed you!" That's reason enough to go to school, forget the other reasons of learning and being around other kids!
He is also doing great at his Awana. He has already earned 2 patches! He was very excited and could hardly wait for me to get them sewn on. Yes, I had a true "mom" moment as I sat down in the evening and sewed his patches on his vest. He's very proud of himself, and I'm glad that he earned them so soon because he was starting to get sad that he hadn't gotten any yet. But he is working hard for them. This last week he learned 3 verses! This week we are going to try for the same number. His Awana book has become our devotion book right before bed. He wants a book read to him to postpone bedtime, and I want him to focus on something... it works.
Caleb, being a true boy is hyper focused on the most funny thing in the world... poop. Since I dont' want to be a mom that that is all they can talk.... I'll just apologize now if at any point I'm speaking to one of you and he grabs the phone and discusses it, in any form... his favorite is "pickled pig ___". I think you would have to ask him or his daddy where he got that from.
Caleb has also come up with some pretty crazy things to say lately. Like Tigger telling him that when Tigger barks he is talking and that the last time Tigger talked Tigger said Caleb was stinky and had to take a shower (and thus I was intruded upon while I was showering.) The other thing Caleb had to say as he bounced on the couch "Stop smelling my bum Tigger, it's not food".
Caleb was one lucky boy yesterday. He got to meet Grammy Dahl and ride a pony... and see Tessa. Caleb, I'm sorry to say, was more interested in the Pony than seeing his cousin. I guess that would make sense in boy world, perhaps it would make sense in a horse-crazy little girl's mind too.
We are all just about recovered from being sick. I started it last Thursday and finally am feeling nearly over it all. Joshy is the last hold out, still having a runny nose. We were going to drive up and visit Great Grandpa Severson, but I decided that we shouldn't risk giving my 93 year old grandpa the flu.
Well, the day that I told Caleb was going to come, has arrived. Joshy has learned to fight back. He has learned how to push and kick and take toys away and give back what he is dealt. He is not quick strong or agile enough to keep his balance all the time, but he tries. Caleb got whacked with a toy in the nose because he tried to take it from Joshy. And then Caleb pushed Joshy very hard and he went down with his mouth open and bit his lip and caused a gusher. He's ok, but they are getting really rough with each other. The best solution I've come up with is Divide and Conquer. I don't like this in principle, we should all learn social skills and getting along... but as a frustrated mommy of two boys who don't stop when asked... it works. The irony is that I just finished a scrapbook page of them holding hands as they were walking in the neighborhood...
Spring is here and I can hardly wait for all the activities that will now be possible to keep the boys busy! We've already done a couple bike rides/walks/strollering this week. It's great. Joshy LOVES the outside, I need the exercise and Caleb burns off some energy while biking. The best of all worlds! Bring on the spring and summer.
Well, spring has brought a bunch of home projects too. So I'm off to do those. See you soon.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Joshy....
has learned to do sommersaults all by himself! We've been working with him for a little while, but now he had decided that he can do them by himself. It's great to see another step in the growth and learning process.
Caleb is on his fifth day of preschool. He is really starting to enjoy it and talk about what he is going to show and tell them. He talks about what he does. And I like coming to pick him up and seeing him so involved with his activity and playing that he doesn't even notice me. That means that he is happy with where he is and not hung up on where his parents are; a sign of independence. He's got lots of papers coming home and I'm not sure whether I should be keeping them all or not. I guess that I'll just have to decided whether he'd like to see it when he is my age or not. His one complaint about preschool is that some little boy is always on the computer and is hogging it. But, like a truly interferring mother with good intentions, I spoke to the teacher. Regardless, he's a very blessed little boy. We had to get a new home computer, and we have given him our old one. We cleared off a bunch of the programs and despite it's kicking up a bunch of errors, it still plays all of his Cd-rom games. So he can play and learn all he wants, and he can't mess up our main computer. It's great, and it's a stand alone, no internet drone, set up in the living room. I had to take the jumpy house out of the living room to make room, at least there was room with some changes.
He's also doing Great at Awana Cubbies. It is his Wednesday night class. He went and remembered who his teachers were, he ran right up and took Miss Kay's hand and went off to play games with the class. A way smoother drop off than the very first time he went. And when I arrived to pick him up, he was playing duck-duck-goose and sitting in the middle of the circle with another boy working on a puzzle. He didn't even know that I was there. THEN, the teacher surprised me with the face that Caleb had learned his verses. Of course we had been working on it for a while with him, but I didn't think that it had sunk in enough for him to say it to his teacher. But sure enough, he did. This earned him a vest to begin earning patches and jewels upon. Caleb strutted around like a proud little guy with his new vest on. He gets a book tomorrow night to begin working out of and learning even more. He's doing great. I have found that turning the verses into a song or jive sinks it into his mind alot faster. He starts dancing and doing a jig. I think he might be ready for tomorrow night already.
Caleb is starting to say things like "some boys" or "some babies". He uses it in the context of his actions being normal or he his behaving normal. "Some boys" pee like a man. "Some boys" use diapers. etc. He is hilarious. How am I suppose to say, Yes some boys do, but you are tooo big for pull-ups. Or yes, some boys do pee like a man, but we shouldn't be making fun any other boy who doesn't. It's just funny to see that he already wants to know that he inherently fits into the "normal" world; like he is seeking validation. I think that now he is around a bunch of new boys, he wants to know that he is just like them or that he are just like him. Ahh, the peer pressure and peer comparison begins...
Well, that's all I have time for right now. I have to get ready to pick Caleb up from preschool.
More when I have a chance.
has learned to do sommersaults all by himself! We've been working with him for a little while, but now he had decided that he can do them by himself. It's great to see another step in the growth and learning process.
Caleb is on his fifth day of preschool. He is really starting to enjoy it and talk about what he is going to show and tell them. He talks about what he does. And I like coming to pick him up and seeing him so involved with his activity and playing that he doesn't even notice me. That means that he is happy with where he is and not hung up on where his parents are; a sign of independence. He's got lots of papers coming home and I'm not sure whether I should be keeping them all or not. I guess that I'll just have to decided whether he'd like to see it when he is my age or not. His one complaint about preschool is that some little boy is always on the computer and is hogging it. But, like a truly interferring mother with good intentions, I spoke to the teacher. Regardless, he's a very blessed little boy. We had to get a new home computer, and we have given him our old one. We cleared off a bunch of the programs and despite it's kicking up a bunch of errors, it still plays all of his Cd-rom games. So he can play and learn all he wants, and he can't mess up our main computer. It's great, and it's a stand alone, no internet drone, set up in the living room. I had to take the jumpy house out of the living room to make room, at least there was room with some changes.
He's also doing Great at Awana Cubbies. It is his Wednesday night class. He went and remembered who his teachers were, he ran right up and took Miss Kay's hand and went off to play games with the class. A way smoother drop off than the very first time he went. And when I arrived to pick him up, he was playing duck-duck-goose and sitting in the middle of the circle with another boy working on a puzzle. He didn't even know that I was there. THEN, the teacher surprised me with the face that Caleb had learned his verses. Of course we had been working on it for a while with him, but I didn't think that it had sunk in enough for him to say it to his teacher. But sure enough, he did. This earned him a vest to begin earning patches and jewels upon. Caleb strutted around like a proud little guy with his new vest on. He gets a book tomorrow night to begin working out of and learning even more. He's doing great. I have found that turning the verses into a song or jive sinks it into his mind alot faster. He starts dancing and doing a jig. I think he might be ready for tomorrow night already.
Caleb is starting to say things like "some boys" or "some babies". He uses it in the context of his actions being normal or he his behaving normal. "Some boys" pee like a man. "Some boys" use diapers. etc. He is hilarious. How am I suppose to say, Yes some boys do, but you are tooo big for pull-ups. Or yes, some boys do pee like a man, but we shouldn't be making fun any other boy who doesn't. It's just funny to see that he already wants to know that he inherently fits into the "normal" world; like he is seeking validation. I think that now he is around a bunch of new boys, he wants to know that he is just like them or that he are just like him. Ahh, the peer pressure and peer comparison begins...
Well, that's all I have time for right now. I have to get ready to pick Caleb up from preschool.
More when I have a chance.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Hello Again. It's been way way too long since my last post.
Although there are never the perfect excuses for why I haven't gotten around to updating this site, I do have a few reasons. The biggest has been that the my computer crashed and wouldn't let me access this site. It was only last week that I got a new computer.
So let's catch up a bit. We went and then returned from California. It was a nice trip. Joshy remembered where the toilet bowl brush, the back reaching shower brush and the swiffer was kept. We had to hide them from the first hour we arrived in the house. We all kept very busy. We visited a place called Scandia, where we played miniature golf and rode the miniature race cars. Caleb really enjoyed this, except he was a little sad that he didn't get to do the driving. But he liked being along for th ride. We also visited a place called Funderland. It is a small version of an amusement park. Small scale rollercoasters, spinning tea cups, a carousel and others. Caleb was very lucky to have a mommy that goes on all these rides with him. He had a great time. The ride he had the most fun on and rode the most was the carousel. It could have been that he got to ride the carousel himself that he liked it so much. Following Funderland, Caleb got to ride a real pony. Of course there were the visits to the McDonald's play areas. Caleb and Josh really had a great time in the hot tub each night. Josh screamed for 15 minutes between the time he saw the hot tub and the time we were all changed and getting into the hot tub. He is a real water enthusiaist. Caleb had to show off to Grandma Bishop about how he can go underwater and hold his breath.
It was a great visit. The one draw back was the 4 HOUR delay in the flight out of Sacramento. It was 4 hours right during nap time, and it was a very long stressful time with tired children. Caleb did make a friend with another little boy and they passed the time in as much laughing mischief as possible.
So what else has been happening...
Well, We have signed Caleb up for preschool. His first day of school was cancelled because of snow, so his actual first day was this week. He was excited about it right up until the time he had to join the kids and I had to leave. He is shy when it comes to the kids and making friends, but this is the reason that we decided to put him in preschool in the first place. I was told that about 20 minutes after I left, he perked up and started to participate. He played mostly with the other boys in his group, which I am told is normal. It suprises me a little because in other circumstances, like at the park, Caleb normally attachs himself to girls. But I am relieved that he is associating with boys, he needs to be around peers. By the second day of school, Caleb was telling me that he could go and do this himself and that I should stay with Jockey. He was excited with the idea of having show and tell; Caleb took silly putty to show off. He was excited, but he came home telling me it wasn't "cool". Ahh, the peer opinion influence begins. I tried to explain to Caleb that he can like something and it doesn't matter what others think. Caleb did tell me he helped some girl out of the loft. Sometimes Caleb remembers all of his activities, and other times he says he doesn't remember anything. It depends on his mood.
So on the other note. Tuesday was Caleb's first day at preschool, and therefore it was Joshy's first time to go to Library Toddler time. I think that he had a good time. He was on the young side of the group. He was very wiggly and only occassionally did he pay attention. He was most interested in sucking and chewing on his name tag. But I observed one very important point. Joshy had NO sense of personal space. He would touch other girls, boys, and lean on other moms. He didn't really care. I think it's because he has learned physical contact from Caleb is a constant... And now he pets the pretty curly red hair of some girl, and the pretty pink tights of another girl. It's funny. I think that Joshy will do better, he just have to be in that environment more and more. I look forward to the opportunities.
We have kept up with Playgroup, although there is only one other family that comes anymore. I guess that it is a good thing that Caleb is starting up preschool.
We have not yet been back to Awana. But I have hope for the next weeks. I forgot one week, snow cancelled it another, the school district winter break cancelled another day, and then we visited Papa Bill this Wednesday. So next Wednesday it is an absolute must in my mind. Caleb cried the night I admitted that I forgot. So I know that it means something to him.
Joshy has started to sign several words in the last 4-5 weeks. He started in California and just gotten better and better. He signs more and please all the time. His generally communication has stepped up too. Of course his little fits and squeals of protest have also gotten infused with a whole lot of attitude. He'll toss his pacifier in a huge huff of protest and wait to see what I do. He's testing.
Caleb's also testing with his attitudes, arguments, complaining and disobedience. I was talking with Mike about having to crack down in the discipline area. Caleb over heard this and started yelling: "I don't want crack, no me want crack". It was hilarious. It was quite true though, he needs to have the discipline snugged up because I think it's out of control to have him pee on daddy or rub his bum on mom, or the constant antagonizing of Joshy. Or any number of the other things that I could mention. We're working on it, that's all I can say.
Until he's better, I have been extremely reluctant to take the boys anywhere. They like to tag team me and put on a circus. I tried to hold Joshy, as he screamed to get put down in the library, and all the time Caleb was literally climbing the shelves and putting the book ends into his mouth. Circus, crazy, misguided, circus. Makes me go crazy on the stress-o-meter.
Mike and the boys went to Grammy and Papa Dah's house a couple weekend ago. Per Papa, there were times that they still felt short handed in managing the boys. They had a good time going to the Zoo. Joshy saw some of he animals before everyone else. Caleb was excited to see the hippos out of the water playing.
So I have been keeping busy with the boys but also with work. I've been also working. Side jobs, varied projects. But that is another reason that things have been crazy. I'll try to get some pictures posted here soon. I am still getting familarized with the new computer and where all the files are to be accessed. And I'll be making a more concerted effort to keep posting every few days. Hope to see you again here soon.
Although there are never the perfect excuses for why I haven't gotten around to updating this site, I do have a few reasons. The biggest has been that the my computer crashed and wouldn't let me access this site. It was only last week that I got a new computer.
So let's catch up a bit. We went and then returned from California. It was a nice trip. Joshy remembered where the toilet bowl brush, the back reaching shower brush and the swiffer was kept. We had to hide them from the first hour we arrived in the house. We all kept very busy. We visited a place called Scandia, where we played miniature golf and rode the miniature race cars. Caleb really enjoyed this, except he was a little sad that he didn't get to do the driving. But he liked being along for th ride. We also visited a place called Funderland. It is a small version of an amusement park. Small scale rollercoasters, spinning tea cups, a carousel and others. Caleb was very lucky to have a mommy that goes on all these rides with him. He had a great time. The ride he had the most fun on and rode the most was the carousel. It could have been that he got to ride the carousel himself that he liked it so much. Following Funderland, Caleb got to ride a real pony. Of course there were the visits to the McDonald's play areas. Caleb and Josh really had a great time in the hot tub each night. Josh screamed for 15 minutes between the time he saw the hot tub and the time we were all changed and getting into the hot tub. He is a real water enthusiaist. Caleb had to show off to Grandma Bishop about how he can go underwater and hold his breath.
It was a great visit. The one draw back was the 4 HOUR delay in the flight out of Sacramento. It was 4 hours right during nap time, and it was a very long stressful time with tired children. Caleb did make a friend with another little boy and they passed the time in as much laughing mischief as possible.
So what else has been happening...
Well, We have signed Caleb up for preschool. His first day of school was cancelled because of snow, so his actual first day was this week. He was excited about it right up until the time he had to join the kids and I had to leave. He is shy when it comes to the kids and making friends, but this is the reason that we decided to put him in preschool in the first place. I was told that about 20 minutes after I left, he perked up and started to participate. He played mostly with the other boys in his group, which I am told is normal. It suprises me a little because in other circumstances, like at the park, Caleb normally attachs himself to girls. But I am relieved that he is associating with boys, he needs to be around peers. By the second day of school, Caleb was telling me that he could go and do this himself and that I should stay with Jockey. He was excited with the idea of having show and tell; Caleb took silly putty to show off. He was excited, but he came home telling me it wasn't "cool". Ahh, the peer opinion influence begins. I tried to explain to Caleb that he can like something and it doesn't matter what others think. Caleb did tell me he helped some girl out of the loft. Sometimes Caleb remembers all of his activities, and other times he says he doesn't remember anything. It depends on his mood.
So on the other note. Tuesday was Caleb's first day at preschool, and therefore it was Joshy's first time to go to Library Toddler time. I think that he had a good time. He was on the young side of the group. He was very wiggly and only occassionally did he pay attention. He was most interested in sucking and chewing on his name tag. But I observed one very important point. Joshy had NO sense of personal space. He would touch other girls, boys, and lean on other moms. He didn't really care. I think it's because he has learned physical contact from Caleb is a constant... And now he pets the pretty curly red hair of some girl, and the pretty pink tights of another girl. It's funny. I think that Joshy will do better, he just have to be in that environment more and more. I look forward to the opportunities.
We have kept up with Playgroup, although there is only one other family that comes anymore. I guess that it is a good thing that Caleb is starting up preschool.
We have not yet been back to Awana. But I have hope for the next weeks. I forgot one week, snow cancelled it another, the school district winter break cancelled another day, and then we visited Papa Bill this Wednesday. So next Wednesday it is an absolute must in my mind. Caleb cried the night I admitted that I forgot. So I know that it means something to him.
Joshy has started to sign several words in the last 4-5 weeks. He started in California and just gotten better and better. He signs more and please all the time. His generally communication has stepped up too. Of course his little fits and squeals of protest have also gotten infused with a whole lot of attitude. He'll toss his pacifier in a huge huff of protest and wait to see what I do. He's testing.
Caleb's also testing with his attitudes, arguments, complaining and disobedience. I was talking with Mike about having to crack down in the discipline area. Caleb over heard this and started yelling: "I don't want crack, no me want crack". It was hilarious. It was quite true though, he needs to have the discipline snugged up because I think it's out of control to have him pee on daddy or rub his bum on mom, or the constant antagonizing of Joshy. Or any number of the other things that I could mention. We're working on it, that's all I can say.
Until he's better, I have been extremely reluctant to take the boys anywhere. They like to tag team me and put on a circus. I tried to hold Joshy, as he screamed to get put down in the library, and all the time Caleb was literally climbing the shelves and putting the book ends into his mouth. Circus, crazy, misguided, circus. Makes me go crazy on the stress-o-meter.
Mike and the boys went to Grammy and Papa Dah's house a couple weekend ago. Per Papa, there were times that they still felt short handed in managing the boys. They had a good time going to the Zoo. Joshy saw some of he animals before everyone else. Caleb was excited to see the hippos out of the water playing.
So I have been keeping busy with the boys but also with work. I've been also working. Side jobs, varied projects. But that is another reason that things have been crazy. I'll try to get some pictures posted here soon. I am still getting familarized with the new computer and where all the files are to be accessed. And I'll be making a more concerted effort to keep posting every few days. Hope to see you again here soon.
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