Day 489 | Big Helper

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It's been such a crazy couple of weeks, I haven't even had time to get excited for our visitors coming tonight. Luckily, Chris handled housework along with child rearing like a champ and the house is looking pretty decent for his brother and his family. Can't wait to spend oodles of time with them!

But there were a few odd jobs that Robbe and I had to take care of today. As you can see, Robbe did most of the work while I supervised. 

Day 487 | Enough

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As if weeks of fighting summer colds and the corresponding limited sleep wasn't enough. As if dealing with a cat with a UTI wasn't enough. Today, I finally reached the enough point. 

I can barely move from some crazy back pain. Poor Chris had to stay home and manage everything related to the boys, me being sedentary, and taking care of meals. Luckily, he's amazing and did all that without complaining once. 

In hopes of a brighter tomorrow, today's photo is from our trampoline park visit a couple of weeks ago. Remember that time when I could frolick on a trampoline (not to mention just stand up successfully)? Someday, someday. 

Day 486 | Just Yelp for Help

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The shadow of one of Chase's Paw Patrol toys. Artsy, right?
If you're ever in trouble, just yelp for help!

 That's the catch phrase from Chase's newest obsession: the Paw Patrol. It's a cartoon that he has watched exactly four times. But he was hooked after the first episode (and a few books). It's a sweet show and Chase thinks it's fall-off-your-chair funny. Oh, and the main puppy is named Chase. Amazing!

So after hearing Chase repeat the slogan "...yelp for help," why did it take me three days of no naps at school to do just that? I needed the help of the Paw Patrol to incentivize (not bribe!) this much needed rest time. This morning it dawned on me how powerful this cartoon was as I told him that if he napped today at school he could watch a Paw Patrol episode (a reward usually reserved for haircut time...which makes him ask for haircuts all the time now, by the way). He immediately was on board. He was even so confident that he said he wanted to take a video of him watching the episode and send it to his dad so he could see him.

The verdict? He slept! And boy was he proud of himself, not to mention a wee bit excited to watch his show when he returned home. Incentives do work wonders, don't they? Now I just need to figure out how to keep the momentum going. I can't bribe him with a show every day, after all. I'm just hopeful that now that he's done it once, he has a better understanding of how to calm himself down quickly and check out.

In conclusion, thanks, Paw Patrol. I'll never doubt your power again.

Day 483 | Shhh...Don't Tell

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While Chase was at his second full day of school (more details below), Chris, Robbe, and I spent a lovely morning at the zoo (just don't tell Chase). We felt like part of our bodies were missing without Chase there with us but it was sure nice to let Robbe run to and fro as he pleased. He loved the quality mommy and daddy time. I think we will see his personality really shine through with all the extra attention.

Chase's first full week of school was a resounding success. He seems over the moon about all his new friends, his teachers, and all the new activities he's learning. I won't say the full days (yesterday and today) were perfect...there have been no naps, after all...but he's all smiles at the end of the day and always wants to go back. A good sign, I think!

Let's see what next week brings.

Day 481 | Meet the Teachers

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Say hello to Ms. Beatriz and Ms. Liz (oh, and the bulldog mascot)
Chase's teachers came over this afternoon for a home visit. Nicest thing ever, right? It was beyond wonderful to have the quality solo time with them and Chase was giddy to show them the house: his room, his toys, his cat.

We're feeling better and better about this new school. Think happy thoughts for a good day tomorrow. It's the first full day (8:30am-3:30pm). That means lunch and nap at school. I'm cautiously optimistic everything will go smoothly. I'll let you know.

Day 479 | First Day of PreK 3

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Chase posing with his new classroom mascot: the bulldog.
This guy started school today. And not another two hour stint this time. The real deal: five days a week, full days (except Wednesday, that's an early release day). Chase was ready for it. He was practically beaming from ear to ear the whole time. There was a brief period of anxiety when we arrived in the room for drop off and it was madness. Eighteen kids + parents + siblings = madness. There wasn't any real attention for him right away and I could tell he was yearning for someone to tell him what to do or where to go. Sounds like that was short-lived, though, because he had nothing but glowing reviews when I picked him up. And based on his narrative of the day, he's already gaining independence (He ate a whole apple...not cut up! He went potty all by himself without anyone helping with his pants or anything!), which is what we hope for him to get out of this experience.

So now, how did all this come to be after the headache of a lottery process (and don't forget how optimistic I was at the beginning!)? It was pretty uneventful, actually. Chris and I have been stalking the lottery website all summer and watching our numbers go down (and up on occasion) with every week. We felt pretty confident we would finally get in to our last pick (Bridges Public Charter School) and that's exactly what happened...two days before school started. Luckily we saw the writing on the wall and had been preparing Chase appropriately (as apparent from today's outcome). 

So, in the end, everything worked out. It always does, right? I mean, would we prefer to be making the four minute walk to the closer (more desirable) school? Yeah, no doubt. Are we still skeptical that this type of intensive schooling is the right choice for our little sweet pea? Yepper. But are we feeling confident that this is a good opportunity for him to learn and develop independent of me/us? Yes yes yes! And at the end of the day that's what we want for him. 

Day 478 | Corn and Avocado Salad

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I got inspired to make this amazing salad yesterday to go along with our burgers and boy was it worth the extra work. There was nothing about it I didn't love. Super refreshing and the perfect compliment to any summer cuisine.

And leftovers today were just as good (you never know when avocado is involved). Yummy!

*Note: the boys loved (loved!) digging through the corn bowl after I cut it off the cob. You would have thought it was a big bowl of m&m's based on their drive to consume. 

Day 477 | Fair Season

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It's Chris's favorite time of year: fair season!

We visited the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair this morning and were reminded once again what a nice little fair it is. In just three hours we managed to check the following off our list:
  • Climb-time on real tractors
  • Animal barn tours (including visiting the 2,500 pound Tank the cow again)
  • Tractor trolley rides
  • Visit to the Wisconsin Cheese Stand 
  • Tour of the 4-H exhibits
  • Chase's first carnival ride (he loved it!)
  • Observe the pig races
  • Corndog consumption (Robbe's first experience)
  • Playtime in the soybean pit
As you can tell, it was a busy fair-going experience but everyone had a blast. And we even made it home without anyone falling asleep in the car! An all around success.

Day 476 | This Guy

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Chase starts school on Monday! I'm springing it on you just like they sprung it on me yesterday. We feel really good about his new school (more details Monday) and he's crazy excited.

Because of all that, today was our last official day of solo mommy, Chase, Robbe time. Sniffle, sniffle. 

The three of us had breakfast at our favorite restaurant to celebrate and we've got lots more fun in store for the "last weekend of summer celebration". There's going to be a big hole in my day without the sweetest, funniest, low key-iest three year old around. 

Day 475 | Jumping Beans

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Robbe was feeling (and acting) like himself again after a 13 hour sleep so I made the executive decision to take advantage of two healthy babies and go to the trampoline park. Slightly crazy? Probably, but it was definitely the right choice.

We had a great time. Mostly Robbe, actually. That kid loved the wobbly feeling of walking on the trampolines and even "jumped" into the foam pit all by himself.  

Day 474 | Round Three

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Forget about winter bringing all kinds of illness to our family. Apparently the last few weeks of summer are what we need to look out for.

Round three of babies with fevers struck this morning. Robbe was sick in WI, Chase was miserable this past weekend. And now Robbe is fighting a high fever once again. Luckily there are really no other symptoms but, man, sick babies are no fun. 

And look, almost exactly one year ago we were dealing with the same thing. Bizarre, right? Hopefully this is the last of the Great Summer Fever Season around here. Think happy thoughts.