Micah has been out of town for work a lot lately. So in an effort to “male bond”, he and Scout went on a father and son’s camping trip. For some added pleasure, they invited Jim Zimm to go along with Ezra. There are SO MANY things I could write about, but I will just touch on the best things.
#1 — Jim had never been camping, and didn’t know what you “do” when you go camping. I don’t know why I find him SO hilarious, but I do. I mean…..what 32 year old man has never been camping? Well, to Micah and my delight, he accepted the invitation. And in the end, Miss Zimm confirmed that Jim liked it. Miracles do not cease!
#2 — I talked to Micah twice in the late evening, and once in the morning. On the other hand, Miss Zimm and Jim were texting all night long. Was it that they missed eachother? Who knows, but I happened to go to dinner with Miss Zimm, and we were cracking up at the constant K.I.Ting. Better yet was the context that was exchanged. My favorite was, “Micah keeps telling me that we are going to have Brauts for our midnight snack. I keep telling him, ‘cool man’. I don’t even know what Brauts are.”
#3 — I love that I have people confirming to me what I already know. Like that Micah likes to take everything but the kitchen sink when he goes camping. Talk about being prepared. Micah has everything for anything that might come up. It is fun to go with him, because it is kind of like luxury camping. Jim reported back to Adrienne that Micah had everything. So true!
#4 — I am happy to report that Scout and Ezra are starting to become friends instead of foes. They had a few rough patches along the way, but the camping brought them together. Micah said they were happy the whole time, and were nonstop until around midnight.
#5 — Poor John didn’t have quite the great experience. Next time John….next time!
#6 — Scout was FILTHY….and I mean FILTHY when he came home. But not to worry, Skilly took one look and took over. Including a huge bubble bath, a bazillion bandaids, and even a foot massage for the Clifford Touch.
I am headed out on our annual sister and kids trip tomorrow morning. Before getting to all of the stuff that has to be done before a trip, I went on a date with my husband. We had a nice dinner, and headed home for a long night of packing. BUT WAIT!!! Why is all of my stuff, Navy’s stuff AND Scout’s stuff all packed and ready to go. Only because I have the niece of all nieces who is the ultimate! Not only did she pack, but Navy has a bracelet and bow for every outfit. She has a little bag of Cheerios, her baby food, her rice cereal and her formula for each day….labeled. Scout has his stroller, sharky, church outfit and a cute outfit for every day. My makeup was packed, my outfits and famous white church skirt are packed, and even my bras are packed. Talk about impressive. And to top it all off, each of us has a suitcase and a car bag. Our outfits for the drive are laid out. Both kids are equipped with a pluggy and blanket and toys. All I have to say is that…..my kids better not get used to this. They are literally not going to want for anything! Way to go Skills! You are the B-E-S-T!
Look — even down to the water bottles that will be “perfectly warm from the car for Navy’s bottles”. Are you jealous yet? I am….of those legs!
Skylar got Navy ready. Apparently, my one bracelet is so last year. Four glittery numbers is the new “black”.
I was telling Skylar that you haven’t had a donut until you have had them fresh at the crack of dawn. She asked me when that was, and I told her it was the second the shop opens….at 4:30 am. Unknowingly to me, she arranged a sleepover and all plans were made. The next morning, we were up at 4:30 trying fresh donuts. We all agreed….they are definitely best when they are fresh. And first place goes to glaze raised — obviously!
How can a girl be so lucky to have a perfect preschool teacher. Scout has become very good at sitting and listening to Miss Clifford’s lessons for a few hours each morning. They are total buddies, and both love preschool. She loves to teach someone human (as versus stuffed animals), and he loves the lessons, homework, snack time, spirit days, free play, nature hunts, setting up class, swimming, singing time, charts with stickers, reading time and especially the field trips. But do you want to know what has been my favorite part of preschool………it just happened this morning.
To set the scene, today was “wear a sports jersey to school day.” Hence, the Ireland soccer outfit and ponytail in his hair. About ten minutes after school started, Miss Clifford was running frantically into every bathroom looking for Scout’s big boy potty seat cover and stool while hollering, “Scout has the poopsie doops!”. I didn’t get too antsy, because he hasn’t even gone potty on the toilet.
About five minutes later, Skylar came screaming up the stairs the Scout “did it” and was a big boy! I was skeptical, but she was as right as right can be! He was balancing on the edge of the toilet (they didn’t find his seat in time), and was so proud of himself. When I asked how he did it, he clenched his fists and grunted and then said,” and it just camed out”. Afterward, we had a huge celebration by calling daddy and B (who made me buy the potty seat). He was then promised every treat under the sun, inclusive of a donut and ice cream cone, a three little piggies book (his latest obsession), and some gum.
Way to go Miss Clifford! You certainly earn your $25 fee. (And no……you may not up your price to $50 for the summer like you want. I have a signed contract. Stinks for you!)
Skylar wasn’t about to let me skimp on Freckle Face’s funeral, so she took charge. (Plus, she was teaching Scout about the letter F in preschool, so Freckle Face the Fish’s Funeral was perfect alliteration for the day.)
Here are the programs:
Then I spoke.
Then we all stood by the toilet and sang a song as we flushed him out to sea.
Farewell Freckle Face.
For the first time in months…..Scout has cried his way out of nursery. He wasn’t crying because he didn’t like it, or he was scared, or anything else of the sort. He was crying because he was well aware of the fact that his tears could send him into B’s class, or even to Nonnie in primary. I have tried to get him over the hump for months, and nothing was doing the trick. But this week, something clicked, and I am thrilled! It was one of three things that did the trick. First off, there was a boy who was crying pretty good. I asked Scout if he wanted to be big like the rest of the kids, or little like him (the boy who was crying). He really observed, and I think was weighing the options — look like a fool and hang out with the older kids in primary, or forego the big kids and be tough. Then I told him that I was going to let him have his latest obsession with him during nursery — his chapstick. Finally, I told him that I was going to leave my bag in nursery to ensure him that I was going to come back. Whatever it was….it worked! Hallelujiah! I had my most relaxing week of church in months. And let’s be honest, I know it was because he wanted to be big and didn’t want to cry like a baby. (I know the other mother, and she was gracious enough to allow me to throw her usually nursery-perfect child under the bus as a teaching moment for my guy.) I am crossing my fingers for next week.
Scout was so excited to bring home his first pet ever.
Meet his goldfish named Freckle Face, that he won at the fair.
Three days later.
(Possibly due to malnourishment, unless potato chips are nourishing)……….
Funeral Arrangements:
Funeral will be held at Daddy’s toilet on Sunday afternoon.
Once a year is all I allow myself…..but I look forward to it like a real holiday. I am talking about the one day a year, I put every fear of fried food aside, and go for it. And I mean REALLY go for it. So in a nutshell….the food was a hit. And of course we tried everything, because I have become the aunt who buys every single nasty thing at the fair, so we can all sample them. My best advice is to get the baked potato, deep fried Reese’s Whip candy bar and fried artichoke hearts, and stay very far away from the chocolate covered bacon!
Scout is at the best age for the fair. He is totally fascinated by it all, and just stares in awe all day long. He is especially amazed by his ultra talented mom who can beat everyone in the games, and win the ugliest and biggest stuffed animals. Her biggest win this year was a HUGE “Clifford the Big Red Dog” that we gifted to Miss Clifford as a teacher appreciation gift. But the joke was on us because Miss Clifford decided to have her dog stay in the classroom instead of at Miss Clifford’s house.
Here is Scout hugging his new piggy and “little” red dog. (As opposed to Clifford the “big” red dog.)
First ride of the day….the ferris wheel. More importantly, it was Icka’s first ride ever — so exciting!
Sister of the year — Megan, and the always good sport/trooper, Nonnie! Oh yeah…..and Sweets!
How nasty does the chocolate covered bacon look! Scout kind of liked it, and I wasn’t opposed to the combination. It was the 1/2 inch thick chocolate that turned me off.
Belly was helping Scout throw balls at a game. Too fun!
I assume that the more swollen and dirty my feet are by the end…..the better the day was.
I knew she had it in her, but it wasn’t until she was tempted with Smarties that she got her rear in gear. This girl learned how to roll over, sit up, and crawl all within about two weeks of each other. Impressive, but even more impressive is that she is crawling a whopping 4 months ahead of Scout! I am thinking that she might be the athletic female of the family. So in honor of both of my children’s strengths, I am helping them answer the question they will inevitably get hundresd of times in the future. When asked “what will you be when you grow up?”, Scout is learning how to say “plastic surgeon”. With Icka’s new found athleticism and determination, I am working with her on saying, “an NFL kicker”.
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