Winter, Winter Go Away

I have the winter blahs. Yesterday was just a tease. Today it is snowing again :-( Snow is fine in winter, but it's March! I know it's not technically spring, but it's close enough that it shouldn't be snowing. Not only is it snowing, but wind gusts are blowing so hard it's flying sideways. It's also a wet snow-the kind where you need an umbrella or you will get as soaked as if it was raining. And since it's blowing sideways you need some sort of super umbrella that doesn't turn inside out and is big enough to shield your entire body. It is COLD and windy and yucky. I was planning on going to the store, but I'm not going out in this wet wintry mess with a toddler. It's too hard to push a cart, hold a toddler(who doesn't want to be held) and an umbrella over both your heads at the same time. Not to mention that I do not have the aforementioned super umbrella. Sorry honey, you're just going to have to wait for those yogurts. Let's let the pizza delivery guy deal with this yuckiness ;-) Actually, I think I might make some chili, Jay style-meat, beans and tomato sauce. Otherwise I'd have to go to the store and get celery and I think we've already established that that's not gonna happen!

Pictorial update:
When I started this post this is what it looked like outside. All the snow from the previous storms had melted and there was wet snow falling, but showing no signs of sticking. I took this picture when there was no wind so you can see the snow.
10:22 snowing

This is 25 minutes later...
10:47 blowing sideways and sticking! 

You can barely see the big fat snowflakes because they are blowing almost sideways. They blew even more sideways than that! With all the snow and wind it looks like thick fog out. Icky...I want to be in Florida with Erin:-(

Spring, Spring, Spring!

The weather is beautiful today! I took Ryan to the playground. I wanted to call Erin and see if she and Ben wanted to come, but she is in Florida :-( Ryan and I had a good time anyway, well mostly. Ryan climbed around some and went down the slide. We walked around and he watched all the other kids playing. He played in the sand box for a little while.
little climber


All of that was fun, but apparently his favorite thing is the swing. Does this look like the face of a child who loves the swing?
I love to swing?

It doesn't to me either, but he threw a fit when I took him out. What's up with that?! I always pitied those mother's who had the screaming children. I just knew my kids were going to be better behaved than that. I guess I got what was coming to me because he threw two full on fits when I took him out of the swing. The first time we went over to the side and settled down a bit and then we went back to playing. The second time I was taking him out to leave and he thrashed around and screamed all the way to the car. It was not pretty. There were tons of other children there and not one other child was throwing a fit. I was so embarrassed. I stood my ground though and didn't let him get his way. This is one strong willed child. He comes by that honestly. His father and I are both pretty strong willed people. Poor kid didn't have a shot at not getting that gene. Oh well, I guess we will have ourselves a few battles of will, but hopefully we will all be better for the trials we face with one another.
In case you were wondering...We got home and Ryan was happy as a clam. He had a little snack and then went down easily for his nap. It was almost as if the tantrum never happened. It's comforting to know that he doesn't hold it against me.
I'll leave you with one of the only pictures I could get with him smiling in the swing. Most of them he just looks kind of blank. He really did like the swings though. He kept running back to them every chance he got. I am glad that he was able to enjoy some of the other things at the playground though. He really did have a fun time.
swing

Sunday Walk

Jay's sister, Elizabee, took this picture when they went on a walk yesterday. I was still at church volunteering in the toddler room. It looks like they had a nice walk. I just love the expression on his face. For more pictures check out my album links in the side bar.
on a walk

Elizabee and John stayed for lunch and then they had to go home and do some school work. Boy am I glad I'm not a teacher. I think the teachers actually have more homework than the students.
The rest of the day was just a quiet Sunday at home. Sometimes it feels good to do nothing!

Surfing Monkeys and Other Fun Stuff

I bought new socks this week. I'm very excited about my new socks. Perhaps a little disproportionately excited. I got two pairs of monkey socks, one pair of frog socks and one striped pair. I like fun socks. I like that when I look at my feet it makes me smile. It's just a little extra cheer in my day. These are my surfing monkey socks. I thought about flipping the picture upside down so you could see the monkeys right side up, but then I decided that would look strange. I hope you enjoy looking at my monkey socks as much as I do :-)
surfing monkeys


Here is something else that always puts a smile on my face and in my heart.
fun times

I love to watch Jay play with Ryan. It's fun to watch them both laugh and enjoy each other. I love the little squeals of delight when Ryan is getting chased by the tickle monster or when he gets caught. The innocence, the joy and the love are all so evident when the tickling and laughter breaks into hugs and kisses. It's wonderful to watch the man you love love your child so much.
It's funny how when they grow older it's not quite the same. I can still see glimpses of the innocence in Zach sometimes. He still likes the tickle games occasionally, but he is much more into building toys and board games now. It is cool to see Jay teaching Zach about how things work, how to build tanks and strategies for winning checkers. It is great, but it just doesn't have the pure joy that a tickle game has. I love how the father-son relationship has evolved.
I wonder what it will be like when they hit the teen years. I think I will just try to think about now instead of worrying about 6 years from now. I'll drive myself crazy!

Speaking of growing up...
Zach had his first sleep over last night. The Kids Club at our church had a "kids night out" where they stay at the church over night. I think Zach was a little overwhelmed at first. I didn't know what to do. I just encouraged him to find someone he knew and told him that he would make some new friends when they break into small groups. He said he was a little scared at first, but that he had a really fun time. I'm sure he made some friends before too long. It seems like it was a fun time. I think he will want to go next time.

Self Cleaning Model

So I set Ryan up with a sandwich at his little table. He was happily eating, so I left the room for a second. When I came back the plate was gone. I looked all over the dining room for it. It wasn't there. Then it struck me. I looked in the sink and low and behold there was his plate! How great is that?! He put his own plate in the sink! No one taught him that is where dirty dishes go, but I guess he figured it out. This kid is incredible! Now if he could only teach his father ;-) j/k love you hon!