A Weekend With Grandma And Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa are on their way back to NY with their RV.  They've been away for over 70 days.  We were very lucky to have them stop by VA on their way home and spend the weekend with us.  They parked the RV at a nearby campground.  They spent the days here with us at the house and headed back to the RV to spend the nights.  Unfortunately for them we've had a cold spell (even had some snow) this weekend.  Spring is definitely on hold here in VA.

They arrived on Friday and we all hung out at the house.  Tom cooked dinner and then we played some cards as a family.  Saturday AM was the kids' first soccer game.  It was a whopping 36 degrees out.  Everyone played hard in the cold, and Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed being able to watch both kids play.

Brrrrrr

That afternoon we went over to the campground to check out the RV.  The kids took turns sitting in Grandpa's driving seat and exploring the rest of the camper.  Then we took advantage of a "jumping pillow" at the campground.  Kind of like a big open moon bounce.  Even Tom and I joined in the fun (until daddy took too big a bounce near Jeffrey and knocked him down).  On the way back to the house we stopped at a winery and enjoyed a tasting.  That night we had dinner at a local hibachi restaurant.

Ready To Drive

Love You Grandpa

Love You Grandma

Family Bounce

On Sunday we hung low at the house.  Grandma and Erin played pets in Erin's room and Jeffrey and Grandpa watched some basketball.  We headed into town for an early dinner before Tom, Erin and I had to take off for rehearsal.  Grandma and Grandpa took Jeff back home so Grandpa could watch the B-ball game.  We got home in time for some good-nights.  Poor Erin always gets so upset whenever any special visitors leave.  She cried herself to sleep that night, knowing that Grandma and Grandpa would not be there in the morning.

I got a cute surprise when I opened Jeffrey's backpack yesterday.  Jeff had written his journal about the weekend.  "My grandma came to my house for two days.  We played cards for a game."  And he drew a picture of he and Grandma playing cards.

So glad they were able to stop by for a few days.  Hope to see them again soon.

Bye Bye Thumbkin

July 2003

This is my little baby girl only 6 weeks or so old.  Yep, she was an early thumb sucker.  And continued this until just after New Years.

2006

May 2009

December 31, 2010

We've been trying to curb this action for a while.  Mostly because her permanent teeth are definitely coming in.  Also, some kids have been making some fun of her (mostly behind her back).  We knew it was going to be a project.  She's tried before, but we never get far. Band-aids only worked for a day or so.   Thumb stuff on nails didn't work.  Hot sauce?  She just asked for more ;)

In September, I started a chore chart for the kids, and we've had great progress with it.  So I wondered if we could use something similar with her for her thumb.  She got to choose out a calendar and set up her "reward chart" for not sucking.  It started off with 6 special bags sitting on the piano.  Each day she didn't suck her thumb, she got to open a bag.  It worked great, the perfect starting point.  She could see that there was definitely something (dollar aisle stuff from Target) waiting for her.

Her second reward was after 1 consecutive week of not sucking -- pizza and movie night.  Her choice of toppings and movie.  Next in line was 15 days (starting back at zero) and she could go to the local kids salon and get a manicure.  Well, today we went to Snip-its and got her manicure.  And she got to brag to all the ladies there why she was getting her nails done.  So proud.  As are mommy and daddy.

This really seems to be working.  I haven't caught her sucking her thumb in quite a while.  Not even in the car or watching TV.  Way to go Boo!!!  One more month and she'll get a new DS game.  Hey, whatever works!!