In one week...

We will go from this...

To this!

Did I mention we're ready to move?

A fast learner

Have I mentioned Nile is technically inclined? This is Nate's Leapster. In the last few minutes, Nile has figured out how to turn it on, get into the drawing game, and draw pictures.

Luckily, today Nate actually gave him permission to use it, too!

Brewery tours

The best thing about touring a brewery? The sample room, of course!
(it's soda, people, so don't freak out!)

Future engineer

We are on a family overnight trip to Wisconsin with Tom's family and
the boys. We arrived at the hotel in New Glarus a little while ago
after a fun afternoon in Monroe touring a brewery.

Less than five minutes in the hotel room and Nile has already turned
on the speakerphone, the clock radio, and turned off the A/C. Then he
was down on the floor starting on the old baseboard heater before we
stopped him.

I guess I should prepare myself for 16 more years of tinkering!

Nate running the Bark in the Park

Here is Nate running in Tudi's Bark in the Park.

racing the numbers

Yesterday we let both boys run in the kids' race at Tudi's Bark in the Park, a race that I helped organize. Since I was working, I didn't get any photos or videos of the race, but I know Tom did. I may share them later.

Anyway, they must have enjoyed it, because they spent a half hour this morning running races around the yard. Each race had a number. I kid you not. First, they ran the "number 2" race. Then they would start the "number 5" race, or the "number 7" race, or maybe the "number 11." I never did figure out the difference between any of them.

On your mark...get set...

Go!

I have to admit I really enjoyed watching them run.

froggy

Today the boys were playing outside and had emptied the toy box. They found a new friend inside.

Tired boy

A three hour drive home from Adventureland last week, after riding
rides for 4 hours? Nate hardly slept.

Three hours fishing with Daddy? Nate is sound asleep on a 20 minute
drive to Gramma's house.

well, at least it smells good...

You know that saying that you know there's a problem when the kids are too quiet?

Today I had to take a call from work, so I asked Nate and Nile to play quietly for a few minutes. 5 minutes later, I get off the phone and the two boys are quietly playing in Nate's room. I call out to Nate from the kitchen and tell him thank you for playing quietly.

A minute or so later I hear this tapping noise. Odd, but not unusual. Nate likes to "fix" things with his play hammer, so I assumed he was repairing a truck or something.

Next thing I know, Nate comes in to talk to me. "Mom, I have something to show you! All my toys are going to smell great!"

My first thought? "Oh, no...what did you do?"

We had moved an odor absorber into his room (because it smelled like a dead mouse - the joys of living in an old farmhouse). "No way," I thought, "No way did he get that stuff out."

"Nate, did you open the air freshener?"

"No..."

"Nate, are you sure? Show me what you did."

"I don't want to."

"Nate, you're not in trouble. Just show me."

"Okay."

Somehow he had turned the odor absorber upside down and gotten the gel inside to break into tiny pieces, then he had covered all his toys with the stuff. This stuff is the consistency of deodorant, so when trying to clean it off, it smashes down and smears all over. Luckily it does vacuum up fairly well...

Here is a small sampling of what his room looked like.

"See, Mom? Now they smell great!"

The source.

I'll give him credit for TRYING to clean...

nightswimming

This morning I went in to wake Nate. He was still asleep at 6:20, probably because he had been up until 9 pm the night before, not my choice, but I digress.

He woke up so happy, and so glad to see me. It was such a wonderful moment, as he realized I was sitting there and his face broke into a smile.

As I got his clothes out for him to wear today, he told me, "Mommy, did you know you can solve problems in your dreams?"

I said "Really? Did you solve a problem in your dreams last night?"

Nate: "Yep, I sure did!"

I couldn't get him to tell me what problem he had been working on all night.

We have had some issues with swimming the last few days. Nate has been terrified of the pool, crying and refusing to get in. Add to this that we started swim lessons this week, and so this crying and fighting has occurred in a very public setting. We have been very frustrated. Monday was the worst, then on Tuesday I was able to convince him to get in, but sat on the edge of the pool and basically worked alone with him (he would not interact with the teachers or his class). Since we had made progress, I was hoping that by the end of the week he'd be back playing in the pool like he had last year.

Today Tom took Nate to his friend Andrew's birthday party at a small pool in East Moline and worked with him, they had a great time. So I was optimistic for swim lessons, even though Nate was exhausted, hadn't eaten any dinner, and should have been a terror.

Skip forward to tonight's swim lessons. To my amazement, Nate got in the pool and did EVERYTHING the class did. He listened to the teachers, and I was able to sit several feet away in a pool chair and watch the class. He was a totally different child from the last two nights of swim lessons. I was so happy and excited for him.

Tom and I were both so proud of him, and how well he did. He was pretty proud of himself too, practically dancing out of the pool.

Nate: "My brain was telling me that swimming was scary, but now I decided that I am going to LIKE swimming! I solved the problem!"

Me (as a light goes off in my head): "Nate, was the problem you solved in your dreams about swimming?"

Nate: "Yep!"

This was the problem he solved in his sleep last night.

excuses

Earlier today we are playing at the park when Nile stops halfway down the spiral slide and calls me over.

Nile: "Did I burp or toot?"
Me: "What?"
Nile: "Did I burp or toot?"
Me: (trying not to laugh) "Well, which end did it come out of?"
Nile: "My bottom!"
Me: "Then you tooted."
Nile: "Excuse me Mommy!"

At least he's polite...

crazy morning silliness

Nile woke up incredibly happy this morning. Here's a glimpse of how most of the morning went. Thank goodness the farmhouse has a large open kitchen!

Solar System

When Tom and I were in Seattle, we found a solar system puzzle we had been wanting to get Nate. He's really interested in the solar system. Here he is just after putting it together for the first time, telling me what all the planets are.