Kindergarten:
Kindergarten is borderline obsession in my house right now. And has been for six months or so.
I hear, "Momma when can I go to kindergarten?"
And, "How big will I be in kindergarten?"
And, "When I am 5 years old, I get to go to KINDERGARTEN!"
Things didn't get much better when he spent the day with my friend Jenni and her daughter in a 1st grade classroom one day. Lord help me, I have a DORK on my hands!
On the way home today, he says, "Momma, when I am big, and in kindergarten, it will be SCARY!"
I said, "It will? Why?"
Sam: "Because I'll be bigger in the kindergarten."
Me: "Ohhhhhh..."
Sam: "I've been waiting for too long to be in kindergarten! I am waiting and waiting and waiting!"
Me: "You aren't old enough to be in kindergarten yet, honey. You can go when you are five years old."
Sidebar: This has caused him to not care at all about turning 4, except that means he is one year closer to 5 so he can go to school. Otherwise, four years old is whack.
Sam: 'When I am 5 and I go to kindergarten, I will only be a little scared."
Me: "But you will love kindergarten. I think you'll be very good at it."
Sam: "Why?"
Me: "Because you are very smart. You think about things and figure them and solve problems and that makes you smart."
Sam: "Yeah, I am smart."
Me: "Yes you are. So will you still be scared in kindergarten?"
Sam: "Yeah, but I sure can figure things out in kindergarten!"
This kid... too much cute...
Fireman Sam
During our bathtime routine, we've developed a little game where Sam puts a bucket on his head, pretends to be a firefighter, and asks me, "What's the problem?"
I then point to an arbitrary place in the shower where he squirts it with water really quickly or dumps water on it really quickly and then asks again, "What's the problem?" (He's a very efficient firefighter.)
Tonight went like this:
Sam: What's the problem?
Me: Oh I'm so glad you are hear! My house is on fire!
Sam: Splash. What's the problem?
Me: My goodness! My kitchen is on fire now!
Sam: Splash. What's the problem?
Me: My trash is on fire! Help me, please!
Sam: Splash. What's the problem?
Me: (growing weary) Someone set my dog on fire!
Sam: Splash. What's the problem?
Me: (taking a deep breath... working up a way to stump him) Fireman Sam! I'm so happy you are here! A guy came into my house and stole all of my clothes and then sold them on ebay! When he got the money he ran all the way back to the house, put the cash on the front door step, and then set it on fire!"
Sam: (blankly staring at me) (pause) Well, Momma. Then that guy went jail. (points his finger at me)
This kid... I swear...
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Unexpected Reaction to the Death of an Abuser
If you can't tell by the title, this post isn't for the faint of heart. It is not riddled with humor so I will take no offense if you don't read. In fact, I'll never know!
The Background:
I don't really hide my life and what has happened in it. However, for the sake of this post, for the protection of those it could hurt, and out of respect for all those who could be adversely affected by it, I will remain extremely vague. The fact of the matter is, the details don't matter all that much.
Before the age of fourteen, I (along with a few others) was involved in putting two grown men behind bars. On two different occasions, one unrelated to the other. And for the people who actually know what happened on both of those occasions, it sucked. Lots of things in my life during that 3-4 year time period sucked actually, those two men taking the spotlight but there were supporting actors to help along the way.
But my life didn't suck during that time either. Sure it would have been better without those people/experiences, but it was never lost on me that worse things have happened to others. And I still had a loving family, a roof over my head, and friends at school.
When we went through this (twice), it was hard. And I handled it differently than the other people involved. It is safe to say we all had a different experience with it and we all coped very differently. For instance, what the first guy did was way worse in my eyes than what the second guy did but one of the people that got to experience both with me feels exactly the opposite. It is all in how you look at it.
Once both events were behind us and we were able to move on, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still affected by it. I am today and I am knocking on the door of 30, some 16-19 years after this has all happened. It will always affect me.
I still cannot read stories of people being abused, especially sexually. I'm not the same for days.
I still have vivid bad dreams that are sometimes triggered by a simple Law and Order:SVU commercial, let alone if 20/20 comes on and is highlighting a serial rapist.
It still sometimes causes problems with Justin and I because I can't talk about anything related to this subject without crying and shutting down.
I'll never be over it is what I'm saying. And I don't know anyone who has gone through some type of abuse that does get over it, ever. You just learn to cope and adjust and deal when you are triggered. That's how it goes.
I feel like I had a pretty good system of dealing. It could be summed up in one word: Avoidance.
I don't talk about it if I don't have to and I avoid triggers. This works most of the time.
And before you tell me how unhealthy that is, please note, I have been to counseling before. It helped a little. But you just never really get over it. I compare it to people coming back from a war with PTSD. If you are extreme PTSD, while you seek counseling and you try coping mechanisms, a big piece of it is avoiding loud bangs as much as possible, you know? I wouldn't come back and go drill on an oil rig. Things happen and you learn to cope, but you also remove triggers as best you can. This is my method. (And I admire those that use this as a fuel to go out and speak about it daily and fight it every day. I just can't do it that way).
My job doesn't allow me to avoid at all costs because I work with students every day who make my story seem like a hangnail as compared to a finger being chopped off. And on those occasions I share as needed and are there for them when they have just been traumatized.
I also speak and train for sexual assault awareness and bystander training programs. I am a zombie the next day (or several days) but I get through it because it is for the greater good.
Why today?
I write this today because yesterday I was told that the second abuser passed away.
This person was someone's father. Someone's son. Someone's uncle. Someone's brother. And he died.
And here I was feeling relieved.
I realize my experiences with this would warrant me to feel relieved. But feeling relieved at the death of someone is not a character trait I'm proud of. And this has caused me some emotional stress to say the least. Other people are hurting at the loss of a loved one and here I am feeling relieved. That makes me feel like an ass!
The reason I'm having a hard time with this is not because I have some personal loss from his death. I think it is because I have carried guilt with me from such an early age. You see, he abused me first. I was his first victim. And because our experience with the first abuser was so bad and testifying in court was so horrific and because essentially nothing happened to what I term the scum of the earth (even though he was proven guilty), I remained silent. I removed myself from the situation and didn't tell. And then he took it to another level with someone I love more than myself and I've never let that go.
And then I moved away. So I didn't have to deal with accidentally running into him (or the first guy, which is more troublesome for me anyway). But she did. And I knew what it did to her. And I never really let it go that I could have stopped it from happening to her and I didn't. That was a very selfish choice and probably why I work so hard to prevent it from happening to other people through trainings and awareness. But I can never give her back what she lost. And that is a hard pill to swallow.
Moving forward:
I write this post for two reasons:
1) To help me process my feelings over the last few days. I can't think about it and not cry. The sense of relief is overwhelming. Not really for me, but for her. She is free. She never has to face him again. She never has to hold it together in public when she sees him. She doesn't have to fear his presence. That relief has had me in tears off and on for two days now and will probably continue for a while until I can get this out of my system.
2) To further raise awareness. Unless you are a victim yourself, you don't know what others are dealing with. And to be completely honest, I never even imagined what it would be like when I found out one of them had passed on. It wasn't even on my radar. So when I got the news, it was like someone punched me in the stomach. I wasn't prepared.
And it has all resurfaced in a new light.
I ask that if you know someone who has been hurt from an abuser, give them the patience and love that they need to get through it. And that you understand they will never be over it.
I ask that if you have been, are currently being, or know someone who is being abused, please come forward, no matter the perceived repercussions. I promise, not reporting and letting it happen to someone else is much worse than facing the immediate embarrassment and judgment. I'm happy to help you through the process.
turner.rikki@gmail.com
Thanks :-)
The Background:
I don't really hide my life and what has happened in it. However, for the sake of this post, for the protection of those it could hurt, and out of respect for all those who could be adversely affected by it, I will remain extremely vague. The fact of the matter is, the details don't matter all that much.
Before the age of fourteen, I (along with a few others) was involved in putting two grown men behind bars. On two different occasions, one unrelated to the other. And for the people who actually know what happened on both of those occasions, it sucked. Lots of things in my life during that 3-4 year time period sucked actually, those two men taking the spotlight but there were supporting actors to help along the way.
But my life didn't suck during that time either. Sure it would have been better without those people/experiences, but it was never lost on me that worse things have happened to others. And I still had a loving family, a roof over my head, and friends at school.
When we went through this (twice), it was hard. And I handled it differently than the other people involved. It is safe to say we all had a different experience with it and we all coped very differently. For instance, what the first guy did was way worse in my eyes than what the second guy did but one of the people that got to experience both with me feels exactly the opposite. It is all in how you look at it.
Once both events were behind us and we were able to move on, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still affected by it. I am today and I am knocking on the door of 30, some 16-19 years after this has all happened. It will always affect me.
I still cannot read stories of people being abused, especially sexually. I'm not the same for days.
I still have vivid bad dreams that are sometimes triggered by a simple Law and Order:SVU commercial, let alone if 20/20 comes on and is highlighting a serial rapist.
It still sometimes causes problems with Justin and I because I can't talk about anything related to this subject without crying and shutting down.
I'll never be over it is what I'm saying. And I don't know anyone who has gone through some type of abuse that does get over it, ever. You just learn to cope and adjust and deal when you are triggered. That's how it goes.
I feel like I had a pretty good system of dealing. It could be summed up in one word: Avoidance.
I don't talk about it if I don't have to and I avoid triggers. This works most of the time.
And before you tell me how unhealthy that is, please note, I have been to counseling before. It helped a little. But you just never really get over it. I compare it to people coming back from a war with PTSD. If you are extreme PTSD, while you seek counseling and you try coping mechanisms, a big piece of it is avoiding loud bangs as much as possible, you know? I wouldn't come back and go drill on an oil rig. Things happen and you learn to cope, but you also remove triggers as best you can. This is my method. (And I admire those that use this as a fuel to go out and speak about it daily and fight it every day. I just can't do it that way).
My job doesn't allow me to avoid at all costs because I work with students every day who make my story seem like a hangnail as compared to a finger being chopped off. And on those occasions I share as needed and are there for them when they have just been traumatized.
I also speak and train for sexual assault awareness and bystander training programs. I am a zombie the next day (or several days) but I get through it because it is for the greater good.
Why today?
I write this today because yesterday I was told that the second abuser passed away.
This person was someone's father. Someone's son. Someone's uncle. Someone's brother. And he died.
And here I was feeling relieved.
I realize my experiences with this would warrant me to feel relieved. But feeling relieved at the death of someone is not a character trait I'm proud of. And this has caused me some emotional stress to say the least. Other people are hurting at the loss of a loved one and here I am feeling relieved. That makes me feel like an ass!
The reason I'm having a hard time with this is not because I have some personal loss from his death. I think it is because I have carried guilt with me from such an early age. You see, he abused me first. I was his first victim. And because our experience with the first abuser was so bad and testifying in court was so horrific and because essentially nothing happened to what I term the scum of the earth (even though he was proven guilty), I remained silent. I removed myself from the situation and didn't tell. And then he took it to another level with someone I love more than myself and I've never let that go.
And then I moved away. So I didn't have to deal with accidentally running into him (or the first guy, which is more troublesome for me anyway). But she did. And I knew what it did to her. And I never really let it go that I could have stopped it from happening to her and I didn't. That was a very selfish choice and probably why I work so hard to prevent it from happening to other people through trainings and awareness. But I can never give her back what she lost. And that is a hard pill to swallow.
Moving forward:
I write this post for two reasons:
1) To help me process my feelings over the last few days. I can't think about it and not cry. The sense of relief is overwhelming. Not really for me, but for her. She is free. She never has to face him again. She never has to hold it together in public when she sees him. She doesn't have to fear his presence. That relief has had me in tears off and on for two days now and will probably continue for a while until I can get this out of my system.
2) To further raise awareness. Unless you are a victim yourself, you don't know what others are dealing with. And to be completely honest, I never even imagined what it would be like when I found out one of them had passed on. It wasn't even on my radar. So when I got the news, it was like someone punched me in the stomach. I wasn't prepared.
And it has all resurfaced in a new light.
I ask that if you know someone who has been hurt from an abuser, give them the patience and love that they need to get through it. And that you understand they will never be over it.
I ask that if you have been, are currently being, or know someone who is being abused, please come forward, no matter the perceived repercussions. I promise, not reporting and letting it happen to someone else is much worse than facing the immediate embarrassment and judgment. I'm happy to help you through the process.
turner.rikki@gmail.com
Thanks :-)
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Supporting Local Business
Starting about a year or so ago, when we would have departmental potlucks, one of the guys would sometimes bring these "meatrolls" from a restaurant in Benton. And the routine would go something like this...
Me: These are good. Where'd you get them?
Jeff: __________________ in Benton.
Me: Where's that at?
Jeff: Do you know where ___________ is off of Military?
Me: I know where Kroger is on Military.
Jeff: Past that. It is kind of hole in the wall but its really good.
So every once in a while when Justin and I were deciding where to eat, I'd say, "We should go to that place with the great meatrolls in Benton."
Justin: Where is that?
Me: I don't know I'll text Jeff.
Text from Jeff: ______________________
I put in all the blanks because no matter how many times I've run through this scenario (at least 4 or 5 now without ever making it), I could never remember the name of the place.
Two days ago, I finally get it and we head there. We arrived at 7:10 pm. They closed at 7 pm.
I was so close!
Yesterday we decided to try again and we made it!
Guys, I can hardly stand how cute this place is.
Me: These are good. Where'd you get them?
Jeff: __________________ in Benton.
Me: Where's that at?
Jeff: Do you know where ___________ is off of Military?
Me: I know where Kroger is on Military.
Jeff: Past that. It is kind of hole in the wall but its really good.
So every once in a while when Justin and I were deciding where to eat, I'd say, "We should go to that place with the great meatrolls in Benton."
Justin: Where is that?
Me: I don't know I'll text Jeff.
Text from Jeff: ______________________
I put in all the blanks because no matter how many times I've run through this scenario (at least 4 or 5 now without ever making it), I could never remember the name of the place.
Two days ago, I finally get it and we head there. We arrived at 7:10 pm. They closed at 7 pm.
I was so close!
Yesterday we decided to try again and we made it!
Guys, I can hardly stand how cute this place is.
.JPG) |
| It is literally just an old house. Adorable. |
There was room for about 24 people to eat at a time. Literally just 6, 4-top tables. I may be low-balling it a bit, but not my much. Super small.
There is one menu on each table (sharing is encouraged in this establishment). One counter where to place the order for your table and pay. The man that takes the orders is super friendly and answers questions very thoroughly.
He told me every menu item that had nuts in it (so I don't send my son in to an Exorcist like state), he told me every item that had milk or butter in it and I learned that their chicken strips are chicken breasts that they bread in the store and fry... no frozen junk here! He had some experience with a grandchild who has major food allergies so we was very attentive giving us advice on what to order.
Admittedly, there was a bit of a wait time from order to getting the food, but I don't think they were expecting guests to bust in at 6:30 p on a Wednesday night (hello... mid-week church break people!).
But even if you have to wait on your food for a bit, that's okay if you have kids! They have a play kitchen in the corner with play food and everything. Sam whipped us up some donuts, a hotdog, and on orange he refused to peel.
The food came and guys... the food was gone before it occurred to me to document it. Justin, Sam and I had the fried rice with meatrolls and we both ate ourselves stupid on that stuff.
This is some authentic fried rice. Delicious doesn't touch it. Think of the best Americanized fried rice. This is better. Mmmmm nommies.
Johnny got the catfish and basically licked his plate clean and Pat... well Pat always orders something she won't end up eating at the restaurant (she always eats the fries and/or salad and takes the burger home). What's funny is she tried a bit of fried rice. When Sam didn't finish his, instead of just finishing her fries, she finished his chicken fried rice and a meatroll. Literally the first time in 10 years I've seen her eat anything other than french fries or salad in a restaurant. Well done, Sullivan's. Well done.
When Sam was almost done with his, the nice lady who cooks everything came out to talk to him and asked if he wanted a bowl of watermelon.
If you offered Sam a giant lollipop or watermelon, I couldn't be certain which he would pick.
I finished off that watermelon and asked for more! The man who runs the place (I can only assume Sullivan maybe?) then brought him out two Oreo cookies. Sam thought he was swell... lol.
Seriously, I plan on becoming a regular at this place. It was so cute and peaceful. Clearly family oriented (very much a family run business, I met the husband and wife and the son that helps with everything). And some very delicious food. I hear I need to try the pad Thai next.
Join us at Sullivan's in Benton! You won't regret it!
 |
| Aren't we joyful? It is because our bellies are about to be full with chicken fried deliciousness with a side of meat! |
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Schtick My Kid Says
It is no secret that my sons says "off the wall" things from time to time.
There was that time I wanted to watch the weather and he wanted to watch cartoons so he said, "Momma, its raining, now can I watch cartoons?" It was raining. He got me there.
There was that time he told me upon getting home from Grandma's house that, "Papa chicka a bow bow'ed and Grandma backed it up."
There was that time he asked me what the condensation was on the window. Yes, there was in fact condensation on the window.
But this last few days he has said a few that I felt should be documented again. I actually uttered the words, "I can't wait to see what happens to you son... but the possibilities scare me and I hope I don't have to bail you out."
His Booty
I had to pick Sam up for swim lessons today and work was so horrendous today (I actually uttered the words, "Did today get ear marked for idiots and assholes are what?!" I normally deal with some interesting people/situations but today took the cake for most of them being shoved into one day) so I agreed to meet a coworker at Dunkin Donuts because we needed to catch up on things and they have delicious coffee there.
When I got to Susan's and since I didn't let her know I was coming early, he wasn't in his swim trunks yet.
No problem. I got them for him and told him to put them on. The conversation went as such:
Me: Here Sam. Take your shorts and undies off and put these on.
Sam: But mom, I don't want anyone to see my booty.
Me: Well we can go upstairs to the bathroom if you don't want people to see your booty.
Sam: Yeah, good idea. Cuz when they see my booty, they FIGHT over me!
I'm sorry, what?
Who fights over you, child? And what is it about your booty that they fight over? So I asked...
Me: Sam, why do they fight over your booty?
Sam: (with this blank stare of "what a stupid question") Because my booty is awesome.
Well sure. Why didn't I think of that?
Once I assured him no riot would break out in regards to his booty, he got dressed and we were on our way.
Anyone else picturing Sam in 16 years on one of these memes?
There is also a song called, "My Booty is so Luxurious." Maybe that will be the theme song to his reality show.
Water in His Ears
Onward, ho to swim lessons!
This was his 8th swim lesson and I told Daniel that we wanted to continue until we were confident he could fall in and swim to safety (as in just get to the side of the pool). Daniel expressed an interest in teaching him to float on his back so that he could at least do that until someone could get to him. Daniel's exact words were: "Anyone can float on their back!"
I should have known when he uttered those words this was not going to go well.
Sam was uninterested in learning this technique. He just wasn't going to do it.
When he got in the car, I said, "Sam, why didn't you float on your back?"
Sam: I don't like to do that. Water gets in my ears.
Me: Sam water gets in your ears when you swim and when you go under water and you do that. Why is floating on your back different?
Sam: How do I keep water out of my ears?
Me: You don't. That is part of swimming. You'll get water in your ears.
Sam: Or I could just not float on my back. That makes sense.
Well I guess that does make sense you smart butt.
There was that time I wanted to watch the weather and he wanted to watch cartoons so he said, "Momma, its raining, now can I watch cartoons?" It was raining. He got me there.
There was that time he told me upon getting home from Grandma's house that, "Papa chicka a bow bow'ed and Grandma backed it up."
There was that time he asked me what the condensation was on the window. Yes, there was in fact condensation on the window.
But this last few days he has said a few that I felt should be documented again. I actually uttered the words, "I can't wait to see what happens to you son... but the possibilities scare me and I hope I don't have to bail you out."
His Booty
I had to pick Sam up for swim lessons today and work was so horrendous today (I actually uttered the words, "Did today get ear marked for idiots and assholes are what?!" I normally deal with some interesting people/situations but today took the cake for most of them being shoved into one day) so I agreed to meet a coworker at Dunkin Donuts because we needed to catch up on things and they have delicious coffee there.
When I got to Susan's and since I didn't let her know I was coming early, he wasn't in his swim trunks yet.
No problem. I got them for him and told him to put them on. The conversation went as such:
Me: Here Sam. Take your shorts and undies off and put these on.
Sam: But mom, I don't want anyone to see my booty.
Me: Well we can go upstairs to the bathroom if you don't want people to see your booty.
Sam: Yeah, good idea. Cuz when they see my booty, they FIGHT over me!
I'm sorry, what?
Who fights over you, child? And what is it about your booty that they fight over? So I asked...
Me: Sam, why do they fight over your booty?
Sam: (with this blank stare of "what a stupid question") Because my booty is awesome.
Well sure. Why didn't I think of that?
Once I assured him no riot would break out in regards to his booty, he got dressed and we were on our way.
Anyone else picturing Sam in 16 years on one of these memes?
There is also a song called, "My Booty is so Luxurious." Maybe that will be the theme song to his reality show.
Water in His Ears
Onward, ho to swim lessons!
This was his 8th swim lesson and I told Daniel that we wanted to continue until we were confident he could fall in and swim to safety (as in just get to the side of the pool). Daniel expressed an interest in teaching him to float on his back so that he could at least do that until someone could get to him. Daniel's exact words were: "Anyone can float on their back!"
I should have known when he uttered those words this was not going to go well.
Sam was uninterested in learning this technique. He just wasn't going to do it.
When he got in the car, I said, "Sam, why didn't you float on your back?"
Sam: I don't like to do that. Water gets in my ears.
Me: Sam water gets in your ears when you swim and when you go under water and you do that. Why is floating on your back different?
Sam: How do I keep water out of my ears?
Me: You don't. That is part of swimming. You'll get water in your ears.
Sam: Or I could just not float on my back. That makes sense.
Well I guess that does make sense you smart butt.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
A list of some Sam-firsts...
I am WAY behind on blogging so I'm combining what could be several posts into one... highlighting some "firsts" of Sam's...
Swimming
As you all know, we have invested in swim lessons for Sam. With his Papa having a pool there are too many opportunities for him to fall in the pool and not know how to save himself.
This kid has just taken off in the water. You remember my post about his first swim lesson? (If not, find it here for Take 1 & 2 and here for Take 3 (I skipped takes 4-6). But I wasn't exactly hopeful after that fiasco. Now... well... he is jumping off the diving board. This is the first time he did that. Listen hard for me to have a little flip out about it.
Oh... did I mention, he also swims?! Watch...
First Dentist Appointment:
We decided to take him for his first dentist appointment on the 28th. To say I was a bit nervous about it would be an understatement.
1) He had just acted like a little TURD the weekend before at the thought of me leaving him. I was under the impression we were having our teeth cleaned at the same time so I could just see the tantrum about to take place.
2) Strangers were going to be sticking random objects in his mouth and well... do you blame him for freaking out?
As per usual, he proved me completely wrong. Why do I continue to guess how my son will act? I will never get it right.
He did fantastic! He counted his teeth, and played with the toys, and opened his mouth really big for the hygienist and the dentist... he did great. They talked about how wonderful he was and how most three year olds don't do that well at all... Ahhhhh redemption from the previous weekend!
So we now have swimming, haircuts, and dentists under our belt. We are going to continue the swim lessons until we are confident if he fell in he could get himself out. We are almost there but not quite.
I couldn't be more proud of my son though. Selling him to gypsies or not, he is pretty cool cat.
Swimming
 |
| He can stand in the shallow end. Stand. Hello new levels of anxiety! |
.JPG) |
| He loves the pool so we get in as much time as we can to practice. |
.JPG) |
| This is us celebrating that he JUMPED OFF THE DIVING BOARD! Now he wants to do it all the time. Sidenote: I have to catch him b/c I'm the only one that can handle the pressure of catching a three year old off the diving board. Translation: The lady with the aversion to getting her face wet gets splattered no less than 15 times right in the face with water every time we go swimming. Ugh. |
Oh... did I mention, he also swims?! Watch...
Also, my son now quotes the Godfather. Watch...
Yes, he is saying, "Say hello to my little friend!"
.JPG) |
| Action shot! He's a bird! He's a plane! He's... way too young to be doing this! |
His first little boy haircut:
Preface: I have never in my life experienced my son to act the way he acted at this last trip to visit my family. I think it was a mixture of a lot of things: lack of sleep, daddy out of town, this unnatural, paralyzing fear that I'm going to leave him... but let's just say this. Had there been a Gypsy family on the side of the road looking to buy a little boy on the way home, I might have sold him. But they would have brought him back.
While at my mom's house, we decided Sam needed a haircut and they talked me into a little boy haircut. Up until this point we have just used scissors. We never used the trimmer for the back and sides. Today was the day...
.JPG) |
| Apparently hair is the source of all of his happiness. |
.JPG) |
| And I'm evil for stealing it. |
 |
| Isn't he a joy? |
 |
| Cute right? |
First Dentist Appointment:
We decided to take him for his first dentist appointment on the 28th. To say I was a bit nervous about it would be an understatement.
1) He had just acted like a little TURD the weekend before at the thought of me leaving him. I was under the impression we were having our teeth cleaned at the same time so I could just see the tantrum about to take place.
2) Strangers were going to be sticking random objects in his mouth and well... do you blame him for freaking out?
As per usual, he proved me completely wrong. Why do I continue to guess how my son will act? I will never get it right.
He did fantastic! He counted his teeth, and played with the toys, and opened his mouth really big for the hygienist and the dentist... he did great. They talked about how wonderful he was and how most three year olds don't do that well at all... Ahhhhh redemption from the previous weekend!
 |
| No cavities! |
I couldn't be more proud of my son though. Selling him to gypsies or not, he is pretty cool cat.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Our St. Louis Pay-Cation
According to Sam, we went on a "paycation" to St. Louis. If only someone paid us to go...
We have never really gone on a family vacation together (a short trip to Oklahoma City doesn't count) so we decided since I needed to get out of town and Justin was going out of town for two weeks we should celebrate by going to St. Louis.
We thought this was perfect because it is fairly close, it has lots of kid friendly things to do, and a lot of it is CHEAP (holla atcha girl!).
First stop: St. Louis Zoo:
 |
| Once he figured out this snake wasn't real, he was all about it. |
 |
| There was a baby elephant that was super cute. |
 |
| Cute little monkey that stared pretty intently at us. Good thing it was a monkey or it would have been awkward. |
 |
| Sam thought this was the best seat in the house. |
 |
| Don't these penguins look regal?! Their hot natured buddies outside smelled like butt though. True story. |
 |
| Sam really liked the penguins. He said they swam like he does. :-) |
 |
| Sea lions are my favorite. They swim while balancing a ball on their nose. And they expect treats in return. I heart them. |
 |
| She is on her garsh-darn flippers... amazing! |
Next stop: City Museum!
.JPG) |
| He does this everywhere. Every. Where. This is in line for the ferris wheel. |
.JPG) |
| He was being so sweet! He kept hugging me really tight like this. Precious! |
.JPG) |
| Family ferris wheel time! Sam is a bit cautious here. |
.JPG) |
| He ended up liking it a lot, despite what it seems like in this picture. |
.JPG) |
| He could have stayed at this exhibit where you build roads and play with cars all day if we would have let him. I was so bored I couldn't stand it. |
.JPG) |
| He also really like this station where you threw coal in and got power for so many seconds. This was pretty cool and cute. |
Last stop: Fitz Soda Factory
.JPG) |
| He chose root beer. He was not disappointed. |
.JPG) |
| I can't even handle his cuteness right here. He was so excited to watch the bottling of the root beer. |
We had a lot of fun and I'd like to say more about it but right now he is demanding to sit in my lap for family movie time and well... that trumps catching up on blogging.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)