A little about doctors

Jeffrey has a boo-boo on his foot. Nothing major really. He just scraped the top of his toe. He came downstairs to show me his boo-boo. I offered to give it a kiss and even a boo-boo strip (Band-aid). I was clearly informed that wasn't necessary.

"Dr. Seuss will take care of it mom."

"Really, Dr. Seuss?"

"Yep"

"So...Dr. Seuss is going to fix you toe. You don't want a boo-boo strip?"

"Yeah he's gonna fix it ...... like Bob. Bob can fix anything."

"Bob?"

"You know mom....can he fix it..yes he can. Builder Bob" (Bob the Builder, a character the kids really don't watch or know very well, but clearly know enough that Bob fixes things. Generally he fixes buildings, or machines or plumbing. Not usually toes.)

So Dr. Seuss and Bob the Builder are all that's required to take care of a boo-boo. No mommy necessary apparently.

More Graduating

Erin's pre-school had a graduation last Friday. The kids all wore tie-dyed shirts they had helped make. They also had little graduation hats. The teacher played Pomp and Circumstance while they all walked in. The presentation was a month-by-month review of the school year through song. Erin was in December and sang the "Christmas All Around" song from their Christmas program.

They asked each of the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up before the program. As they were dismissed to their parents the teacher shared each child's aspirations. There were several firefighters and policemen, a couple of animal helpers, one who wanted to be a mommy, an astronaut, a princess....and Erin's response...... A butterfly. That's right, my daughter wants to grow up to be a butterfly. I'm hoping she changes her mind before she tries to spin her own chrysalis from the bedroom ceiling.

Afterwards Erin took one last swing on the swings with her friend Abbey. We're hoping Erin and Abbey end up going to the same school, but Abbey lives right on the line between 2 school districts and mom still wasn't sure which one she'll go to. When it was time to go, we went into town and celebrated her "graduation" with lunch at the Chinese buffet....mmmmm

Erin really loved being at pre-school. She made some really good friends and learned so much. I took her in for kindergarten registration today and the screener said Erin's certainly ready for school. Erin quite agrees. I get the "how many more sleeps" until Kindergarten question daily. I try to tell her it's more than she can count, but that doesn't work anymore. Maybe in July I'll make a little paper chain so she can tear links off to see exactly how many sleeps left.

Until then we're going to keep busy here. Both kids are going to a week-long mornings camp at the pre-school. Then there's swimming lessons and tumbling camp. Don't forget a week at the beach, some trips to DC, camping in the mountains and a long weekend away with mommy and daddy. I'm afraid August 20th (first day of school) will be here much to soon.

Saying one last goodbye to a super teacher

A Weekend of Celebrations

We visited New York this past weekend to see Uncle Jonathan graduate from college, and to celebrate the birthdays with Grandma and Grandpa W. and Aunt Katie, Uncle Bill and baby Will. It was a great weekend - even if the weather didn't really cooperate.

Erin was very excited to be at Uncle Jon's graduation. It was a long long affair (as most graduations are). She did a great job sitting and listening (and playing, coloring, singing quietly lol). Jeffrey didn't do so well with the cramped quarters so he and daddy took off and sneaked back in every once in a while. The did manage to get the best view of Uncle Jonathan walking across the stage to get his diploma though. Sadly they didn't have a camera on them. It meant so much to Uncle Jon to know that we were there supporting him. We did get a great chance to see him walking by, getting ready to receive his diploma. After graduation we took a few pictures, something we don't always take time to do in mommy's family.

The next day (after spending the rest of the afternoon moving Jon out of his room) daddy's family came down to visit and celebrate birthdays. Originally we had hoped to meet at a park outside, but it was rainy and cold....so we took over the indoor pool (fall-back plan so everyone was prepared) and had a blast. The kids swam with everyone for close to 2 hours and had an absolute blast. Then we celebrated with some cupcakes and nibbles and of course presents.

Erin is still obsessed with her baby cousin Will. She kept her eyes on him most of the day. Any time he was fussy she'd run over to him and rub the top of his head. She did get a chance to hold him too....both of them more comfortable with it than in February.

We finished the afternoon going out to dinner all together. We headed to a local brew pub and everyone found something good to eat.

Both kids were very excited to spend some quality time with Noni, Grandpa, Oma and Uncle Jon at the hotel. Noni and Oma graciously offered to let the kids sleep with them and give mommy and daddy a few quiet nights to sleep. Uncle Jonathan added his assistance with taking care of the kiddos too. When it came time to say goodbye and start home 2 overtired kiddos were totally in tears. Erin didn't want her booster seat moved back into the Intrepid and Jeffrey didn't understand why Uncle Jonathan wasn't riding with him any more. And although the kids were completely burned out and totally overtired it was a wonderful weekend.

Greetings

Jeffrey has certainly developed into a social butterfly. He has absolutely no fear of adults or strangers at all (which is actually somewhat disconcerting). He has a regular friend at the grocery store (one of the managers I think) that he runs up to every time we see him. He also greets every person he sees. People at the store, neighbors in their yards, friends at church, pretty much everyone. Maybe my 4 summers greeting people at the Disney store got into my genes somehow and turned Jeffrey into a greeter.

So this morning we are heading out for a day at the gym and errands. As we are working on getting into the car I hear Jeffrey begin his usual pattern.

"Hello, What's your name?" "I'm Jeffrey."

I look around to see if there's a neighbor working in the yard or someone jogging on the road. No one catches my eye.

"Who are you talking to bud?"

"I'm not bud, I'm Jeffrey" (another one of his phases, can't call him anything but his name otherwise he gets slightly offended or upset)

"Ahhh. OK. Sorry Jeffrey. Who are you talking to?"

"The clouds." Said very matter of factly. "They're not talking though. Hi clouds. I'm Jeffrey"

So there he was. Standing in the middle of the driveway looking up at the sky having a quite lovely conversation with the clouds. He wasn't in the least bit concerned or disturbed that they weren't responding. I guess he just took it as part of being a cloud.

Ahhh for the days when life was so simple it was important to make sure we greeted the clouds.

Mother's Day and Happy Birthday

We had a wonderful shared Mother's Day and birthday on Sunday. Erin made a special gift for me at school. She kept it hidden in her room for 5 days before giving it to me on Sunday. It came with a card she made herself and had written on the inside (with spelling help) "Mom I Love You". The gift was 2 terra cotta pots painted and stacked inside each other with a spacer so they make a wind chime. It was the sweetest Mother's Day present. Then the kids also picked me out a new Wii game and some nice wine.


Erin was very excited to tell everyone at Church that it was her birthday...and I mean everyone. Once we got home it was all about opening her presents -- lots of books and games, a cool caterpillar house and a new camera. She also got some little "workbooks" which she has already almost completed on her own. She really loves them. Guess I'll have to look for some more.

The afternoon was spent playing Wii with mommy and daddy. We tried her new Playground game, did some Kart racing. It was really nice just to relax and have some fun time just the 4 of us after the super busy weeks we'd been having.

Since it was also Mother's Day I slyly suggested we go to a Japanese steakhouse for dinner (before Erin could ask for Red Robin). Both kids love the food and Erin really loves the show they put on. Jeff still gets a little iffy about the "fire" but was 10 times better this time than when we last went at Christmas. So all day Erin walked around talking about going to dinner at the "fire place with the rice." It was worth it. The food was great, kids well behaved and Erin even got a birthday cake brought out and all the people at our table helped sing her happy birthday.


So all in all we had quite a special day on Sunday. My little girl sure is growing up.

Happy Brithday Erin Wynne

Happy Birthday Sweet Erin.

May 11, 2003

May 11, 2008
Oh what a year we've had. So many firsts. First day at school (preschool). First time as a flower girl. First time swimming on her own (with floaties). First time staying with Noni & Grandpa while Mommy & Daddy went on vacation. First big girl Birthday Party.

Erin has really blossomed this year. She's made some special friends at school and at the plays. She LOVES being at school still. I've watched her get more and more interested in learning her letters, shapes, writing so many words, even beginning to read. She talks all the time about her friends and what they all shared or played at school. She also LOVES being outside, getting in the dirt, making up stories and games with a stick and a rock. I am amazed every day by the things she does or says, or the simple "I Love You Mom".

Movie: Annie (on the Incredibles)
Song: Hard Knock Life (detect a theme?)
Book: Pinkalicious
Toy: Been playing a lot with her Little Pets and having tea parties.
Game: Wii bowling, boxing, baseball. And now Mario Kart Racing.
TV Show: Good Eats (on the Food Network)
Food: Olives and cheese or soup.
Drink: Lemonade
Dinner: Tacos at home (I think she says she doesn't know) or "Rice at the Fire Place" (Japanese steakhouse restaurants).

OK...here's the Montage. Grandma, Noni....get your tissues out (this is also a little long, about 8 minutes).

The Birthday Party

This is the first year I've done a real "kids" birthday party for Erin. Since she has been in school she's been invited to several parties and had a blast at each of them. So when April came around Erin was determined to have "all her school friends" at her Birthday Party.



I rented out the shelter at our local park and we invited all her school friends and then some friends from Annie as well as a few family friends. We went all out and planned some games (a Pinata and Pin the Tail on the Donkey), put together goodie bags, had bubbles and cake and fruit. I planned the time for being right after soccer. That worked and it didn't. We held it in the same park as the soccer fields, but it rained for 2 days before and everything on the fields was really muddy. So Tom had to take Erin and Jeff home to get her cleaned up and changed and fed between the end of soccer and the party. They gave him a bit of a hard time and Erin was slightly late to her own Birthday Party.



The first thing all the kiddos wanted to do was play on the playground. This was a great way for some of the kids and parents to get to know each other. They all had a blast on the playground -- climbing, swinging, sliding. They played there for almost an hour and then Tom got the games set up. Erin has been super excited about her Pinata (or Fiesta as she calls it). We got one shaped like a soccer ball and she helped fill it with candy. This was some powerful pinata. It took each kiddo two rounds of whacking to get it open - some of them throwing some powerful blows. Even Jeffrey got his turn to hit it -something he rarely gets encouraged to do.



After that we played a rousing game of pin the tail on the donkey followed by cake. Erin picked out a chocolate cake with red roses from the grocery store. I asked the lady at the bakery to write "Happy Birthday Erin" on it and when she gave it to me it looked like a 5th grader had done it. So I vamped and added some of Erin's Little Pets to the mix and ended up with a darned cute cake. And the best thing of all...the whole thing got eaten and none had to come back home!!!!!



We finished the party by opening presents and thanking every one with big hugs. Then daddy put on a juggling show much to the delight of the party goers. We all know daddy can certainly be a ham and the kids thought he was just the funniest thing. We've certainly got a special daddy hanging around here.



After that, the party broke out. Erin handed out her party bottles filled with a bouncy ball, some bubbles, a popping toy, candy, stickers and a pencil. She was so very very proud of them, and all the kids thought they were super cool.



So here's the picture overload. I can't believe my baby girl is almost 5. She looked like such a big girl today running and playing with all her friends. I'm getting just a little teary thinking how proud of her I am at becoming such a beautiful young girl.

After Putting Together all Her Goodie Bottles

Playing With Her Friend Abbey At the Playground

Climbing the Wrong Way Up the Big Slide - Only Gets Away With That When Mommy's Taking Pictures

Telling Daddy How Old She Is and How Many Swings At the Pinata She Should Get

Swinging Away

Birthday Girl With Her Doctored Cake

Digging Into Those Presents With A Little Help From Her Friends

Annie

So this past weekend was the production of Annie. Boy was Erin excited about it. She absolutely LOVED being in the show. It was extra cool because in one scene I got to play Erin's mommy so was on stage right with her. It took a little practice for her to behave well with mommy on stage, but we got it down. She was a little girl that Annie meets on the street after running away from the orphanage. Then she got to be in a radio show scene. She had 3 songs that they got to sing....Dumb Dog (her personal favorite), Tomorrow, and Fully Dressed. She was sad at first that she wouldn't get to sing Hard Knock Life, but maybe next time we do Annie.

We had 4 shows over the weekend and by Saturday evening everyone was getting pooped. The two sweeties playing my kids on stage, actually sat down and refused to get up. I eventually prodded them up and they sang loud enough to be heard but not with their usual gusto. As you'll see in the video, Erin's a screamer. She screams all the songs. No one can complain that they can't hear her. It actually makes me snicker to hear it.

I'm so glad that Erin really enjoys the plays. She's starting to make a few friends and certainly LOVES being on stage once the curtain goes up (not a big fan of the rehearsals). So here are a few pictures. It's really hard to get pictures while she's on stage so this is the best I've got. And one from backstage with mommy. She got to wear her pretty green Christmas dress too and was very excited about that.

A Few Pictures From Yesterday

Jeffrey had a great day yesterday. This was the first year he was really aware that it was his birthday... although to him that meant presents and cake. Not sure he really gets the point behind everything.

We went to the gym in the morning where he told all the "teachers" it was his birthday and that he was 3 years old. He picked out his own cake at the grocery store - blue icing with balloons and wanted some fried chicken for lunch. After lunch we had quiet time until daddy got home (that's when I wrapped all his presents).

Tom got home about 3:00. I'd told Jeffrey that he couldn't open his presents until daddy got home. The second Tom walked in the door, he started ripping the paper off. It was hilarious. He had everything opened in less than 5 minutes. Right now the big hit seems to be the Mac Truck (from Cars) that his Noni and Grandpa got him. But everything's gotten some attention.

We went for a walk after opening presents since it was a gorgeous day out. Jeffrey insisted on wearing his Crocs and wiped out on the dirt road. He skinned his knee and scraped his elbow - poor kiddo. Still he had fun. Dinner consisted of Mac & Cheese from a box, hot dogs and broccoli - all at Jeffrey's request. Then he got to dig into his cake. He even got a special phone call from Grandma right when we were singing him Happy Birthday so she got to sing along.

Mommy had rehearsal last night so the kids and daddy went to hang out at a friends house with a bunch of friends. We expected to celebrate Jeffrey's birthday with them. On the way into town Jeffrey fell asleep in the car. I moved him inside where he proceeded to sleep until 11 PM, much to the chagrin of his sister who wanted more cake. She even tried poking and tickling him but he refused to get up. I guess the busy day (and previous weekend) just tuckered him out.

So here are a few pictures of the Birthday Boy from yesterday.

Happy Birthday Jeffrey Anderson

From this......

. . . to this.

I can't believe it's been 3 years. And some days I can't believe it's been ONLY 3 years. How time flies, and how much my little man has grown this past year. He went from a little toddler who babbled and tried to sing songs, couldn't stand story time and tripped over his own toes more often than not to a little man who loves to sing and dance, lives for story time and going to mommy's gym and well...still trips over his own toes a lot, but he can do a darned good somersault.

We don't go to the Dr's until next week so I don't have "stats" for everyone but lets just say tall and tough. I understand now why people think he and Erin are twins because when standing together they really do look it.

He's grown and changed so much. He LOVES reading and story time right now, is a total water baby and is even starting to make some friends at gymnastics and at mommy's gym. He can still be quite a handful especially when he doesn't get his way. But the ability to talk about things has helped with that a ton. So rather than just throw himself down on the ground and scream every time, now it's only 7 our of 10 times he doesn't get what he wants.

Here's a list of his favorite things right now:

Movie: The Incredibles

Song: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Book: This changes from week to week depending on what we bring back from the library. Generally there's a truck involved.

Toy: Anything with wheels. Even better if it's Lightning McQueen.

Game: Mouse Trap (thanks Noni)

TV Show: Either Little Einsteins or Dora.....or the Food Network.

Food: Bread...can he put away some bread.

Drink: Lemonade

Dinner: Pasta, although he asked for Mac & Cheese and hot dogs and broccoli for dinner tonight.

And here's what some of you have been waiting for....Jeffrey's 3rd Birthday Montage.