homecoming parade #1

We headed out to see the homecoming parade- not the one for our local high school, but for the school that Jas attended.  I have attended this parade for years.  Bug did not remember going to the parade 2 years ago (last year's parade was rained out0, and he was not happy about going.  He wanted to sleep- based on our conversation this evening before bed.

 But while at the parade, he sure enjoyed getting the candy and he made sure he ate enough of it in the car on the way home.

Now if you go back to this post- you can see the "floats" from our local high school - they are pathetic compared to the ones that this school makes- these are real homecoming floats.

waiting for the parade to start

  too loud with all the fire trucks leading the parade.

love and hugs,
Deb

playing and potatoes

We had some more play time tonight.  First- without pictures- we had some time with the girls across the street.  I have pretty much have had it with them though.  I called to see if they could come over and play in the backyard with Bug while I worked on harvesting potatoes (more on that later in the post).  Their mom said they could come over - no indication of a time limit or anything.  The girls came over and as they came in the door, they announced that they could only stay for 30 minutes and then they proceeded to ask me every 2 minutes if their 30 minutes was up.  They ended up leaving after 20 minutes and I was left with a very angry Bug.

And to be honest, I was right there with him in terms of being upset.  I am looking for advice on what to do because I am so tired of watching my Bug be so excited to have friends over and then watching his heart break because  the girls leave early.  But I also don't want to limit his playmates and I want to teach him to speak up.  I think I am going to have go talk to their mom and explain that we need some ground rules- I check with her on amount of time the girls are allowed to stay and then I will set the timer so they know when to leave.  I can not think of anything else to do.

As Bug was upset, he choose to take out his anger on me, which led to to me sending him to put his jammies on because he was going to bed (this is at 5:15 pm).  There was a knock at the door and MA from 2 doors down was there- he wanted to play.  Bug likes to play with MA and I had talked to his mom earlier in the afternoon and told her we would be home and they could just stop down when they got home from the store.

Bug raced to change back into his clothes and we headed out to play.

 The boys had a great time playing- they played in front, riding scooters and the moto and then we headed to our back yard and the boys played until 7 pm.  The boys never stopped running around.  MA's mom and I sat and talked while we watched the boys.  I think that is part of the difference between the girls and MA- the girls' mother never comes outside and sits to talk, she just sends them out the door. And these are 4 and 5 year olds.  Whereas MA's mom is always out with him and even ME's (the girl across the street) mother comes out to sit and talk. 





As I stated earlier in this post- I harvested our potatoes today.  This about 4 gallons of potatoes- I used a 5 gallon bucket to haul them into the house. We planted 3 types of potatoes this year- but it looks like just the red potatoes  really did well.  After harvesting  the potatoes, I moved the garden bed closer into the yard in anticipation of planting 3-4 apple trees along the fence where the vegetable garden beds are located.  I have 4 more beds to move.  I am very excited about the trees.

love and hugs,
Deb

Playdate at the park

We headed out to the park this evening to spend some time with a friend that we have been trying to meet up with for months.  Our schedules never worked out and then the heat and humidity hit over the summer.  finally, a nice evening and schedules that matched up.  We have gone from 90-95 F each day with 90% humidity to days with a high of 65-70 F and no humidity.  Literally overnight the weather has changed.  The weather announcer on the news said it best last night " we never have gradual transitions from season to season".  That is us- it was summer last week and this week it is fall.

So back to our play date- some swinging with T

Some flying due to a big Momma push (I ran under his swing so he was really high)

  And finally- the pictures of him going down the pole.  He did this in the Spring, but I did not have my camera.  Finally the pictures of the big boy sliding down the pole- just like a fireman, he would tell you.

Some hanging around.  he can hang there for a long time.

And the best part of hanging around- dropping to the ground.  he loved this part.

It was cool enough by the time we left that I put his hoodie on him.  He was loving the time at the park. 

I am loving the fact that he falls asleep in under 5 minutes due to the activity.  Tomorrow night we are playing in the yard- my plan is to dig up the potatoes while Bug plays with the girls from across the street.  We'll see how that goes.

Which brings up an issue- the girls E and E are adopted too.  Yesterday, their mom and I talked while the kids played. I mentioned that bug knows his adoption story (age appropriate details) - including that he has a birth mother, a foster family that dearly loves him and a forever family (me).  The mom indicate that her oldest knows she is adopted, but does not know about her birth mother, or even that she has a birth mother.  Which just seems odd to me.  how can you have a discussion about adoption with your child who was adopted if you don't share the entire triad of the adoption.  Her comment was that she was waiting for her daughters to ask about.  UMMMMM- your oldest is 5, how would she know to ask about it if you don't put the context out there?  And the younger sister knows nothing.  It was just odd- really odd.  She even sent the oldest back downstairs when she came up to hang out with us - as a way to prevent her from hearing the conversation.  I offered to bring over some books for her to read on this subject so she can open the conversation with her daughters.  She was shocked that Bug has pictures of his birth mother with him (DNA test picture, his foster mother, Mireya with him and me with him all hanging in his room and in his life book.  I guess I have never come face to face with such an attitude- at least I don't think I have.  I found it extremely odd because her attitude is so opposite from my attitude. I will share my books with her and maybe she will open the conversation with her daughters or maybe not.

Love and hugs,
Deb

Skating- a school outing- updated

I thought I had pictures of Bug from last year skating around- when Nina was here, but I can not find them on my computer.   

UPDATED: - I found them.  I forgot the first time Bug went skating was for M's birthday party.

 So nothing to compare to from last year- except in my mind.   Bug's school had an outing tonight- a welcome to school/party thing.  It was as the skating rink.  Bug said he wanted to go, so off we went.

he was very excited to skate and did fantastically. He skated for 1.5 hours with a 10 minute break. He was smiling, most of the time, and he was getting it.  I think a few  more times and I might be able to skate beside him without actually having to hold his hand.

We did the hokey-pokey and Bug was loving the yelling and the motions. Here he is shaking his booty and yelling.

yes, those are chipmunk cheeks- filled with pretzel.  he did not eat dinner and then wanted a snack- so I bought him a pretzel at the rink.  He wolfed it down.   I think he might like this skating thing. maybe we can try it again in a few months.

Love and hugs,

Deb

Playing with hermano- a trip to the farm- YEAHHHHHHHH

We headed over to Hermano's last night.  It was a great time.  We were able to give Hermano his birthday present since we missed the party last week due to illness (really a reaction to the antibiotic that Bug was put on for his sinus infection).

The boys- little and big - had some fun playtime.

And there was some serious loving and fighting over the kitten.

A good evening indeed!!!!!

Love and hugs,
Deb