Jack-o-Lantern Trouble

Trouble has lost tooth number 5! It was quite the ordeal since it was still attached and simply bothering him. Travis wrapped dental floss around it. He freaked, but backpack grabbed it which left the tooth crookedly hanging. Then Travis popped it out. It is now peacefully resting in the "Toothless Wonder" doll's shield awaiting the tooth fairy!Trouble go brush your teeth...well, tooth...Jack-o-lantern Trouble! Just in time for Halloween!!

Mom's Night at Pre-school

Trouble did not have school today because tonight he and I went to Mothers Day at his pre-school.
The teachers had 3 craft projects set out along with play dough, the sand table, snack and all the other toys the kids play with before school starts.

First Trouble painted a gourd purple and we glued on blue squiggly eyes. He wanted a mouth, so we asked for some yarn. The teacher brought out some orange yarn. We later noticed that more than just us used the yarn.

Next Trouble used a technique called marble painting to paint his maple leaf. He put his paper leaf in a box, dabbed on different colors of paint, then put large marbles in the box. As he shifted the box the marbles made patterns in the paint. To finish it off he added a touch of glitter.

We played play dough while we waited to do the candy corn magnet. For this craft I traced around the templates onto foam and Trouble cut out the pieces, glued everything thing together, and added a magnet and eyes.

Next we had snack with our friends, Laura and her daughter Elizabeth, and played cars. I meet Trouble's friend, Brooklyn. She is a very nice girl that he likes to play with. Although, I found out that they like to hide by the little kitchen during clean-up time!! They don't make a sound so they won't be caught!!

The teacher rang her bell signaling clean-up time. We then we gathered around for rug time. For rug time they sing all kinds of songs, do the Pledge of Alliance, read a bible story, sing more songs and read other stories. That was the end of Mom's Night at Pre-school.


I have been impressed with the teachers at this school, there are two for his class of 20. They are organized, patient, creative, and full of love for the kids. On day one they told us that the kids will have so much fun that they won't even know they are learning. I felt that was important. They will have many years spent sitting behind a desk, so why start now! Why not have fun and play and just be kids.

Trouble's First Day of Pre-School

On August 31st Trouble and Travis started their first day of school. For Trouble, this is something new! For Travis, not so much...

For Trouble's first day I fixed him whatever he wanted for breakfast. He wanted pancakes, cereal and pears. This is a picture of him looking happy, not disgusted... I think he was a little nervous.
Here they are ready to leave! Travis was able to take him to school the first month because he had 9 o'clock classes. I was very thankful. Now Travis has 8 o'clock classes, which means I have the privilege of taking him with the other two in tow. I cannot complain, this is what I signed up for when I became a mommy!

Here he is outside of his school.The long walk of no return, once you start school there is no going back. Just ask Travis, AFIT will be his second Masters.Trouble has several things to do each morning before he can play. First, he has to move his 'person' from the front door to another door. This tells the teacher who's there. Then he has to hang up his book bag (which comes home with him at the end of the day). Finally, he washes his hands. (There are names on all the 'people', but I took them out.)His classroom. I believe there is 20 kids in his class and 2 teachers.On his first day he found cars and someone to play with him!! That is a great sign that he'll do just fine.

Trouble goes to school MWF 8:30am-12pm. Each day that he comes home we go through his book bag and he tells me what he did that day. Kelly sent each of the kids a large scrapbook. So I've been gluing or stapling in his papers and journaling. I tried to do the same with Travis, but his math and engineering homework isn't nearly as pretty!

A few weeks ago he went on a field trip to Krogers! I was able to go with the class. We showed up and apparently Krogers forgot about us. So the manager talks and meanders through the store with 20 4-5 year olds and 10 3 year olds. We met most of the workers, he showed us the loading dock, and we got to hang out in the meat fridge, freezing, while one of the workers ground meat (very hygienic *rolling eyes*). We can't forget the deli lady showing them how to fry chicken. We even got to go behind the bakery counter and meet the ladies who were wearing gloves and hair nets. I wonder how many little hands touched all the delicious pastries. However, at the end each kid got a sack full of goodies tied to a balloon. Yes, a balloon they had to walk back to preschool with and NOT be a distraction. It was fun :-)

Trouble also got to participate in his first Show and Tell. He was a little nervous, but his teacher said he did great! He brought Snot-nose the turtle. He sleeps with it every night. Papa had bought a collection of stuffed sea animals from The Dollar Tree. When Trouble was a baby Papa refereed to him as TurtleMonkey. After we had received the animals in the mail I gave Trouble the turtle to sleep with. A piece of thread with two knots on it was used to mark the nose on the turtle. The next day we discovered that he had pulled out the thread, thus the name Snot-nose the turtle. Since then the thread has been completely removed.

We have been very happy with Trouble's experience thus far in school. I don't feel like they are pushing him or that he is bored. They do a variety of activities such as water and sand (I think they use confetti) play, painting, cutting, gluing, etc... I asked him what his favorite thing to do was and he said outside time. Typical, only in preschool and he already loves recess the best!

There is a girl in his class from church. One day I asked him about her. And he said, "There are girls in my class!?!"

Yeah for Preschool!!

Trouble visits the dentist

Today Trouble had his first visit to the dentist. We tried to prepare him, but I think it only scared him! We went this morning and he was apprehensive. They hygienist did a wonderful job helping him feel comfortable. She cleaned his teeth, flossed, and even got a fluoride treatment. He has all 20 teeth without any sign of decay!! He got a new toothbrush, floss and a toy. He left a happy boy!

Threes company

We woke up the other morning to Backpack screaming. What's wrong little baby? Unwanted company?

Clothes Trouble

Trouble has been going through this weird clothing faze. He either changes his clothes several times throughout the day or puts on as much as he can. I don't mind either because he never actually wears anything long enough to get dirty. However, if he does get one little speck of food or something 'dirty' on him he changes right away so then the laundry increases. Here is a good picture of him wearing about 8 layers:He looked all bulked up.

Anyway, today he decided to dress Dynomite...in his clothes!! It wasn't until after I took this picture when I changed her diaper that I saw that he also put his underwear on her over her diaper. What a good big brother :-) Hee Hee she is so cute!! (she is also holding a car, just like brother)

Trouble's Joke

I think he made this one up all by himself!!

Ice Cream

Yes, it is a little cold for ice cream around here now, but I meant to post this a few months ago. It is tradition that we go the last day that Dairy Queen is open, which to us signals the beginning of winter. Anyway, I love this video of Dynomite and Trouble.

On the video notice:

1)Dynomite's look as the spoon comes across the screen

2)Then she actually goes for the spoon

3)Then looks at her ice cream like, "Hey what just happened here?!"

4) Then Trouble's smile

Crazy kids!!

So Long, Freddy

Kelly got Trouble a beta for his birthday last year and we are sorry to say that it gave up the ghost. We thought about just replacing it with a new one, but then we'd have to move with it. So instead we 'mailed' Freddy the fish to Ohio. That way he'll be there waiting for us. Trouble even got to put a stamp on his bag and put him in the mailbox. (Don't worry, it was removed before the mail carrier came.) So long Freddy! We'll see you in Ohio.

Happy Birthday, Trouble!!

We can't believe that Trouble is 4 years old. He had a Blue's Clues Birthday. He had over 4 friends: Ciera, Dakota, Edward and Tyler. They had a lot of fun just playing and hanging out together.

I made Blue's ears for the party hats.And Handy Dandy notebooks to play Blue's Clues.

Shovel and Pail came to visit. In fact, each kid that came went home with a Shovel and Pail filled with goodies for them.Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper helped make the cake and blue ice cream.

We played a rousing game of Blue's Clues. Everyone got their own notebook. We went room to room searching for clues and drew them in the notebooks.First clues was a bandanna.Second Clue was a sticker poster.Third Clue was Stickers.The solution was a game. Each kid picked out a sticker and they we're blindfolded and had to put the sticker in the correct position. It is like Pin the Tail on the Donkey.Then we had cake. I also made blue ice cream and blue Kool-aid.Its a paw print!! See how I put on only three candles... The other candles spell Happy Birthday. Trouble picked those out at the dollar store :-)
We also played Shovel, Shovel, Pail (Duck, Duck, Goose) and Slippery Soap (Hot Potato). I forgot to photograph Slippery Soap, but I did make one.

Later that night we let Trouble decide where he wanted to go for dinner. He wanted to go to McDonald's to eat, I mean, to play. It was a fun day!

Swim Lessons

The goal this summer was to get Trouble interested in swimming. When we went to Kyle and Monica's wedding in June we stayed at a hotel with a pool and Trouble had a good time. So we signed him up for lessons on base. Typically they don't let 3 year olds take outdoor lessons because they get cold. I pushed it and they let him in. However, he was freezing!! It could have been 100 degrees out and his teeth would have been chattering. Poor guy. All he really needs is some fat on them bones. And on the third day on lessons I discovered how important the draw string is on little guy swim trunks. Especially little guys with no bum. Anyway, he didn't seem too traumatized by the whole experience so I think we'll have another go this winter in an indoor pool. He had a great teacher who let him hold on to her when he started whining and on the last day of class he got to go down the big slide.

Here is Trouble holding on for warmth...

Here is Trouble kicking around...

Here is Trouble going down the slide. He was able to go down three times with his teacher. When we got home he said that he wished he had a big slide in his house to go down.

Happy Mother's Day, Except ER Trip

Seriously, what is wrong with me and holidays? You read about Easter...so let's just have a go at Mother's Day...

All started off well, we were only 5 minutes late to church. Pretty good, seeing how we didn't get up until 8:30 (church starts at 9am). Travis spoke in a branch 2 hrs. north, so he wasn't with us. From the ward we got Bath Salts and Chocolate. We (my YW) put them together at mutual on Wednesday. After Church, Trouble was being...well...trouble and he was playing the run-away-from-mom game. Finally I got him in the van and he decided to climb over the back bench seat into the way back of the van...yes very funny...ha ha...NOW get in your seat so we can go. So I get him from the back, put him back in the van and he proceeds to climb back over the seat again. But I already have a hold of his wrist as he falls over the seat, with me still holding him and pulling him toward me. He bursts out in tears. I thought he'd fallen on something in the back. So he 'seemed' okay. So I put him in his seat and I lecture him on how we get hurt when we don't do what Mommy says. We drive home and by now he's screaming in pain. Yeah, I'm starting to feel real bad...maybe I did really hurt him?!? Travis is already home, so we drive up to the hospital (yes our third ER visit in 3 years). They take an X-ray, nothing broken...thank goodness. He has the classic 'Nursemaids Elbow' basically the elbow popped out of place. The PA popped him back in place and within minutes he was fine. Apparently, it is very common so the hospital isn't reporting me to Child Services. I felt horrible, but he's fine. When we got home Travis cooked up some Balsamic Vinegar Chicken and Steak and Potato Kabobs. We had chocolate and went to bed. So despite the hour ER visit Mother's day went well. So maybe Trouble will think twice before not getting me a mother's day gift next year...bwahaha!!

Trouble...doing just fine despite his mother's abuse.

My gift, a body pillow. I think I've been taking about getting one since Trouble's prenancy, but never went and got one. Travis catches on easily and got me one for Mother's day. What a great guy!!

Corelle can be broken

Yes, I've done it again. This is my third Corelle I've broken in less than 6 months. Don't ask how, or why. Trouble sang me a song shortly after my 'incident' (he often makes up his own songs):

Breaker, Breaker

Mommy is a breaker.

That is why there is no

glass in the house.

Breaker, Breaker

Mommy is a breaker.

Because I'm a smart boy...

You gotta love smart boys! Today I thought I was SO cleaver that I was going to trick Trouble into helping me clean up. So after 'nap' (he just lays in bed for an hour or so reading or playing with a car) I came in and asked him if he wanted to help mommy. Usually he says okay because it involves cooking or playing...but today he must have known what was coming:
Trouble:But mommy I don't want to help you clean!
Me: (thinking: Who said anything about cleaning?) I didn't say I needed help cleaning.
T: But I'm a smart boy.
Me: Yes, I know you are smart. But who is going to clean up your messes?
T: Mommy!
Me: (Thinking: Yes, I guess you a smart boy.) Come on you...

What did he say?

Scene: Bedtime. Dynomite, finally sitting quiet on mom's lap, ready to read. Mom, just wanting bedtime to quickly come. Trouble, defiant and sitting on bed. Routine (when followed correctly), everyone sits quietly on chair while adults reads.
Mom: Please sit on chair so I can read.
Trouble: I want to sit here.
Mom: (reasonably) Baby is sitting on my lap, I cannot move so you can see the book too. Please just sit by me, on the chair, so we can read.
Trouble: Mom, you're not listening to me!

Scene: Mom carrying Dynomite to bathroom, while trying to urge Trouble to use the potty.
Trouble: Mom, I am mean to you because you are mean to me. And you are mean to me because I am mean to you.
Mom: We're not mean.
Trouble: See, you're not pay attention to me!!! (Then storms off)

Proud Parent Reading

When you read about child raising you have one of three initial reactions:
1) Oh, I should try that
2) Bad me...
3) Yes! I'm a good parent!!!

Today I had a rare #3 reaction! I was reading in Parents Mag about getting your 4-5 year old children ready to read. Now Trouble LOVES books. He recently started getting excited about singing The Alphabet Song and figuring what sound each letter makes. He constantly asks questions like, "What does______ start with?" and "What sound does ___ make?". He also likes to 'read' to us. His favorite is to rhyme. Sometimes he even makes up new words to rhyme with real words. Although the other day I'd asked him to rhyme fit and he said, "Tit". Oops! Well, it could have been worse!!
Anyway, all those things are ways the article suggested to get your preschoolers ready to read. And we're already doing them. Okay, so Trouble is already doing them...and many of them by his own accord.
So that is my rare parenting brag moment. It not our fault we have awesome kids :-)