A City Boy No More

After spending Friday night and Saturday at the farm (Aaron's parents' place), our Alex is officially a "city boy" no more! He's by no stretch of the imagination a "country boy" ... but he's successfully beginning to shed some of the "city boy" stereotype.

He found a turtle on the road (who successfully escaped the box not once, but twice!).....
Can you find the bug on the bush? Our four year sure old can!
Next came helping Grandpa mow the lawn - his first time on a riding mower (or "little tractor" as he calls it). Usually he's terrified of loud noises - and still runs and hides from the vacuum. But because he was safe in Grandpa's strong, protective arms, he was okay with the noisy mower, and was so excited that he got to help steer it!
Then he found a little frog, and was positively convinced he needed to come home with us. One thing that I love about being at the farm in the evening this time of year is the frog chorus that practically echoes outside.
And to top it off, we decided it was time he learned what a REAL gun is. We wanted him to learn a healthy fear of the power of guns, and that though he may "play guns", he's never to touch a real one without a grown-up's permission and help. So lots of time was spent going over "gun rules" both days with him. Since he's only four, we discussed, but decided against having the gun actually kill something (like a bird). We want to teach him a healthy fear without the possible trauma of his first up-close death! Aaron grew up on a farm, and they figure he had his first gun experience at about the same age.

Friday night Grandpa helped him fire a little .22, and Alex was SO excited! Then to give Alex a healthy dose of fear, they pulled out the big 270 on Saturday. For those of you, who like me, have no idea what that size gun means - the boom was so loud that even with my fingers in my ears, they were ringing for a good 10 minutes after just one shot. He fired it into the pond so Alex could see all the waves it made. Alex was terrified and suddenly guns were much less appealing. He was actually so scared that he asked to fire the little one again, so he'd be less scared. But since he doesn't know which ones are really scary, and which ones are a little less scary, he's agreed that he'll never even touch one without a grown-up there. So, mission accomplished!Overall - Alex (and Harrison) had a BLAST at the farm - mostly playing with Grandpa while Aaron and I helped Granny with a project or two around the house!

Spring Rain

I thought I had forgotten,
But it all came back again
To-night with the first spring thunder
In a rush of rain.

I remembered a darkened doorway
Where we stood while the storm swept by,
Thunder gripping the earth
And lightning scrawled on the sky.

The passing motor busses swayed,
For the street was a river of rain,
Lashed into little golden waves
In the lamp light’s stain.

With the wild spring rain and thunder
My heart was wild and gay;
Your eyes said more to me that night
Than your lips would ever say. . . .

I thought I had forgotten,
But it all came back again
To-night with the first spring thunder
In a rush of rain.

(Sara Teasdale)

Bam - BAM - BAAMM

We have no guns in the house.
We have no toy guns in the house.

We do have two light sabers, though.

So, he plays guns at other people's houses instead.
We've taught him that you never shoot people.
We've been teaching him this for several months now.

After lunch he started playing legos.
He made an "upside down L" with legos.
He pointed the upside down L at me.

Alex: Bam - bam - BAM - BAAMM
Mommy: Are you shooting me?
Alex: No. I'm "bamming".
Mommy: Are you "bamming" me?
*silence*
Mommy: Alex?
Alex: No. I'm bamming bad guys.

Spa Night

My girlfriends are all taking turns (once a month or so) hosting 'da ladies at their house. Several months ago I blogged about the Chocolate Extravaganza at our place - and two other ladies have also taken their turns already (though I don't think I posted any of those pix). Well, last night Beth hosted Spa Night!

From the moment we walked in the door we were swept away to an exclusive members-only spa ... from the candlelight, to the soothing music, to the exquisitely delicious finger food (including Black-Eyed Susan cupcakes) and Virgin Bellinis! There were stations set up around her simply gorgeous open-concept recently-renovated twin in the heart of historic Harrisburg.

Do It Yourself Pedicure!

After a relaxing foot soak, the ladies pulled out various exfoliates, pumice stones, ped-eggs, lotions, cuticle removers, and nail polish.

Make Your Own Mask

Beth had prepared homemade masks (avocado, banana, and I'm not sure what else), and then we also used Biore nose strips. The pics of our faces covered in "glorified baby food" are embarrassing enough, that I'll spare the ladies, and not post any of the nose strip ones! I'm gonna have to get the face mask recipe (?) 'cause my face is silky smooth today!

Do It Yourself Manicure

This consisted of Mary Kay Satin Hands, a paraffin wax dip, lotions, polishes, etc. Beth even gave herself a French Manicure! By this time in the evening we were really enjoying sitting around the table and going kinda "deep" in our conversations.
It was an amazing, relaxing time. And I know we'd all like to say a HUGE "thank you, honey" for watching the kids while we had some much needed and much appreciated girl time! Beth - hats off to you - it's gonna be really tough to top your evening!

Somethin's gotta change

He's just 15 months.

I'm not "Mom," "Mama," or "Mommy".
I'm "Gee-lee-ya".

Hmmmm.

games - games - games

A few weekends ago was my mother's family's annual weekend reunion at Roxbury. It's always a time of relaxation: reading books, taking walks, over-eating, cold showers, sleeping in cabins, griping about the lack of cell phone reception, roasting s'mores over an evening campfire (always after a day-long torrential downpour!), and of course ... PLAYING GAMES!!!!

Here are some highlights from 2009.

Playgrounds and Tricycles

Harrison's first time swinging with Daddy.

Daddy's first time taking him down a slide.

Alex climbing up the jungle-jim just before
the impending storm let loose.

Friends came over for a cook-out.
They brought along a trike and
Alex had lots of fun with it!
My schmuffin can FINALLY pedal!

Art Fest 2009

Every Memorial Day weekend Harrisburg hosts Art Fest.
Every Memorial Day weekend Aaron's parents sell fudge there.
Every Memorial Day weekend the riverfront is sweltering.
Every Memorial Day weekend we stop by for a visit.

Welcome Summer

Yesterday we finally pulled out the kiddie pool.

I know it's way, way, WAY too small for Alex.
But it'll have to do for one more sumer.

Dumbo's Family

Before the doors opened for the circus, everyone was allowed to go visit the animals. Alex wasn't impressed by the white miniature horses, or by the white big horses. He wasn't impressed by the sleeping tigers, or by the white one that kept pacing back and forth.

But he WAS impressed by the elephants!

We got to watch them playing with little logs, and eating, and relieving themselves (they peed in buckets!!!), sitting on each other, and even cooling off by throwing sand on their backs.

Alex got to compare his foot with an elephant's - obviously it was fake! And he was totally grossed out when I explained that "the rock" was an elephant's tooth - yeah, the kind that was once in an elephant's mouth.

Ringling Brothers Circus

Last night we took Alex to his first circus! Harrison stayed at home with Gram, which made the evening MUCH more enjoyable for everyone concerned (including Harrison!). Alex wasn't quite sure what to expect - but quickly decided that HE LIKES THE CIRCUS!!! He just wished we brought ear plugs since it was so loud.... Alex is the perfect age for this sort of thing - he was positively mesmerized!

There were silly clowns....

... and various forms of trapeze artists ...

... and guys on stilts who could dance so much better than I could ever pretend to!

There were tigers...

... and lots of elephants...

... and even over-priced souvenirs!
Luckily it's not broken yet -
but it IS on it's second set of batteries already!

An AMAZING TIME was had by ALL!!!