Virgin Voyage

Yesterday we FINALLY took the new bike trailer for a spin.  We'd been hoping to acquire a decent trailer for our new city locale and I happened upon this one on clearance right when we moved in.  A week later I saw it had been marked down nearly 50% more so it became of my best purchases of the year and made the decision of brand and new vs. used an easy one.
We got it put together and attached it a few weeks ago and have been hoping to make a trial run to Ben's preschool as I'm hoping to ride him to school frequently while the weather holds.  Despite having it on our official plan for many weekends, we finally made the trek on a whim yesterday.
Overall the trip was quite successful.  The best route remains debatable but thankfully there is a lot of bike path between here and Ben's school.  There is one challenging street crossing that I need to find a solution to as I fear I may never make it across during rush hour.
Ben LOVED the ride and his special helmet.  It was no surprise his favorite part was the big bumps and sidewalk drops.
As Ben has no school the next two Tuesdays, we will get in a couple more practice runs during rush hour.  I am thinking I can make the trip in about 25mins once I get the route straight.  The best part will be that I've gotten an hour ride in by the time I get home. :)  The real challenge I've made for myself is to stop at the grocery store on the way back and use the trailer to transport a weeks worth of groceries home.  That's when I'll know I've really come into my own as a city-dwelling, green goddess, domestic diva!  Did I mention Cherry Creek Mall is on the way home, too? ssshhhh! Ryan might not have noticed ;)-

our chariot :)

I'm glad Ben was so proud of his helmet.  He seemed to love that mama had one too.

fALL fUN ON THE fARM

Last weekend our little family trekked to Nebraska for a long list of fun.  We left Saturday and drove to Lincoln for dinner with Brian and Angela, dear friends from Wichita.  Brian ran the Omaha marathon Sunday morning with a great time.  It was a wonderful and bittersweet dinner but our friends assured us they would be out to visit as soon as the mountains have snow.
Sunday we drove to the tiny metropolis of Wood River.  We actually drove to the childhood home and farm of another dear friend who was stateside for a wedding.  You regular readers will know Cadyn as one of Ben's first and best buddies in Wichita.  She and her mom, dad, and new brother Tegan came from Canada for her auntie's wedding. We took advantage of their proximity for a visit and to meet new baby Tegan.  Ben got to ride a horse!! and see cows and tractors and all things fun and farm.  There were also other "big boys" to chase around and observe.  We made three visits to the farm over two days and were spoiled time and again with delicious food and amazing company.  
We also made the trek to take advantage of an amazing photographer who lives and works in Wood River.  I was made aware of her gorgeous work through friend Tisha and had been wanting an excuse to make the trip.  Someone of her skill level would easily cost twice as much in the big city and farmland at sunset offers settings you just can't find in Colorado.
After one last romp on the farm Monday morning and an amazing lasagna lunch, we headed home to our pups and our lives-work and laundry and dirty floors and preschool the day-to-day chaos we love. :)

moooooo!

daily baths would be a must if we lived on a farm

 

Ben and Cadyn's cousin Carson

happy, smiley Teegs!

Ben wanted to hold hands.......

beautiful Cadyn :)

"wait! Don't have any fun without me!'

big and lil C

lots of fun with Dada

vroom! vroom!

separation anxiety & silence

Well today it came to pass.  I did somehow think we might be lucky enough to avoid separation anxiety all together.  Silly me! This morning Ben was excited about his backpack and lunch box and unusual before school bath (it was picture day), but his excitement waned quickly.  I started to lead him down the front steps once and then he ran back and gripped the bars of the storm door crying, "home! HOme! HOme!"  My heart broke then but I swallowed the lump and started getting way too excited about his school and friends and teachers.  I read to him through his mirror all the way to school and taking his book with him seemed like it might help but the tears started before we hit the classroom door.  I sat with him for a moment and encouraged him to read but things didn't improve.  I lead him to a table with his teacher and friends and assured him that I loved him and would be back soon.  Whew! It was rough and heartbreaking and I was sure the tears would not stop quickly this day.  
The couple of hours before pickup flew by with grocery shopping, unpacking and cleaning to keep me busy.  It was on the trip back to school that I finally lost it.  A couple of red lights and a VERY slow elderly driver in front of me put me over the edge.  I was crying and yelling to the other drivers about not understanding, "that my baby needs me and this is an emergency-get out of my way!!"  Ben was happy as a clam when I picked him up and had had a very full day.  He was the star of pictures and all the teachers commented on how he knew just what to do :).

 

Ms. Danae also mentioned Ben isn't using any words at school :(.  This threw my heart right back in the ringer.  We talked about the 30ish or so words he does have and also that some are not enunciated very clearly.  I mentioned that his Dr. was not concerned and she said she wasn't either-yet.  As there are two holidays coming up, we decided we would talk again about it at conferences in early November.  She and Ms. Julie also welcomed any ideas I might have about getting him to talk more.  I have since brainstormed that maybe I will make a list of words he does know so they can encourage his use of those as well as of the signs he uses.  I will certainly report on whether that helps.

I did mention to the teachers that we had had a quick and fun family vacation this weekend and that perhaps not having a quiet Monday at home had thrown Ben off a bit.  They agreed that might be the case as this new anxiety after the start of the year is not as common.

As for me, I'll post about our fun mini-vaca tomorrow.  I sorted through pictures of the wonderful friends we saw that live much too far away, and that plus our morning has put me on emotional overload.

incidents and accidents

Yesterday at preschool, Ben received his first incident report (insert shudders and cries of horror here.)  I walked in with some gifts for his teachers you can read about here, and Ms. Danae walked up quickly and nervously and said something "very sad happened today."  My first instinct was to look at Ben for any blood or missing eyes and then I thought, Oh no! he bit someone, even though he never has.  Well, much ado was made over a barely visible scratch Ben got when he refused to relinquish a toy his friend wanted.  In fact, try as I might, I cannot get a picture that actually shows the scratch on his left cheek.  The teachers were very relived that I wasn't upset and assured me they are working on using words and not claws.  Meanwhile I'm thinking, you don't have to talk to me about using words.  Have you noticed your victim doesn't have many? I reassured the poor nervous souls that I was not upset in the least and that I understood their following of necessary protocol with the ridiculous written report. :) If only this were the last.................

you brush your teeth-gschusch, gschusch, gschusch, gschusch, gschusch, gschusch, gschusch, gschusch, gschusch.

Inside was no place for a photo shoot but I did snap one as we left :)

Benjamin had his first visit to the dentist today.  Although denti$ts with tell you all kiddos should have their first visit at 1, our Dr. did not recommend it until age 2.  The office was great with a very fun play area that would have been more fun without repeated hits in the face from another little girl :(.   My sweet boy just tried to hug her every time she hit him or threw a toy in his face.  We obviously have some self defense to work on!

The visit started with teeth brushing at the sink that was a little different than we do at home.  I did get some great pointers from the hygienist though, on how to improve and areas to focus on.  Though the exam was BEYOND difficult, the Dr. said his teeth look great and that there don't appear to be any enamel or development problems.  She also explained how molars work and that they actually push up through a bit and then go back down.  This would explain the night we thought Ben was possessed. 

I did forget to ask her about whether the lesser of two evils is Jelly's tail or the binky but just decided we will just be done with the bink by our next visit in 6 months. Although there is no cleaning yet, I do think it will be very necessary to keep up the visits and ease Ben into the big stuff that will be here before he knows it :).

back-to-school night

On Wednesday night Ryan and I attended Back-to-School night at Ben's school.  The night began in the JCC theater where all the teachers were introduced and the school's mission and latest educational philosophies were shared.  It was refreshing to me how open and welcoming they were to families of non-Jewish faiths and also how their Jewish journey for the children is focused on questioning everything while respecting our environment and treating others with love.  Question everything?
Religious debate is not for this blog- but wow!

After a little speech from the parent involvement committee, we were directed to the classrooms for discussions and introductions.  Ben's teachers have a whole other set of students on M/W/F but the teachers had a great activity for separating the parents so we could chat with parents in our own children's classes.  We all painted fall scenes on plexiglass to be hung in the big windows that overlook the garden.  The teachers said that between the big trees and nesting swallows, the kiddos spend a lot of time focused on what it going on outside.

There was not a lot of individual time with the teachers, but Ben's teacher Ms. Danae stated that Ben just makes them laugh and brightens their days.  She also said he is quite mischievous and tries to repeatedly test them and climb on things.  She said that when they "redirect" (their philosophy frowns on "no,") him, he tilts his head and smiles in his little impossible-to-resist flirt.  She said she has already had to walk away from him and hide her laugh.  I told her that we welcomed a more firm "redirection" where necessary and that he had been attempting manipulation for quite a while.  

Other parents stated that they looked forward to seeing Ben's big smile and a kiddo that wasn't crying.  I will say though that Thursday brought lots of tears for Ben both at drop-off and pick-up.  I think a pending bout of sniffles, not enough sleep, and a babysitter the night before all contributed.
Two other parents with very little newborns commented on how much Ben loves their babies and how gentle and sweet he is to them. :) I also told them to feel free and ask him to keep his kissies to himself.  They both said they let him "do his thing" as an example to the siblings for gentleness.

Although there are lots of different families and situations, a couple of chats made me once again overwhelmingly thankful for the time I get to spend with Ben.  Several families in the room have two working parents and are working to balance nannies and other day care so their children can be at the JCC for these few hours a week.  I do not take for granted the blessing it is to stay home with Ben right now.

Our next big school night is conferences in November.  I am impressed with the communication of the teachers so far and look forward to working together on our goals for Ben until then.

ABC's, 123'S and QT

Ben will have been in preschool for a month on Tuesday.  Today, despite getting up WAY too early and being WAY over-tired, be was happily saying "hawah, num, num num" (challah) all the way home.  This was his class's second time baking and I'm looking very forward to his helping me in the kitchen soon on one of his holidays.
Ben has made some awesome strides since starting school but they don't all come from or end in the classroom.  As I'd hoped, the nearly seven hours I get each week sans Ben allow me to get a lot accomplished.  For now there are still unpacking tasks and lots of errands but every non-educational and non kid-friendly task I get accomplished while he is at school mean more kid-focused and educational time with him.  I even find myself eagerly willing to drop what I'm doing when his attention turns to wanting mine because I know there is kid-free time just around the corner.  
I'm still very eager to pick him up on school days and there are moments when I miss him more than I like, but the increase in quality and focus and mindfulness of our time together is a bonus that can't be measured in preschool tuition :).

he was this tired before school :(

 

Thanks to Jill and Grandpa for this adorable school outfit combo :)

Benjamin's Backyard Bug Bash and BBQ

 

Because of our travel schedule in early August and the weddings later in the month, we had to delay Ben's big birthday party a few weeks beyond his birthdate.  It worked out great because we still only had 3 weeks to get our house in order for what we were expecting would be about 35 guests.  As we scheduled the party over Labor Day weekend, we expected lots of friends and family to have other plans.  There were several last minute yet very welcome additions and we had a great day of celebrating with nearly 60 people!
Rain had stayed out of the forecast until the very last minute (I would have cancelled had the chances been above 60% as our little house just cannot accommodate that many people.)  We had a downed power line before the party even began and despite that and several bouts with rain, a Ben awakened an hour early, and a protein snack caught by the dogs (and later released), the party was great fun.
I was very thankful for all the help with Ben as it's hard to entertain that many people and keep track of your kiddo.  Friends, aunts and grandparents all were SO helpful in keeping an eye on him.
Activities included a bug hunt in the sandbox, two swimming pools, a small bounce house (thanks to the Lineberrys) and a Grow-a-Bug station that never got used.  I also had thought a movie in the basement would be great for kiddos who might need a break and A Bug's Life was a lifesaver when the rain came.

Food included the usual chips/dip/salsa, potato salad from MeeMee, pesto pasta salad from Amy, baked beans, burgers/dogs/brats, veggie crudites from Nana, and ants on a log and grape caterpillars.  Special thanks to Tante and Amy for their work on the bug snacks.

Our kabobs were even cuter with 3 different colors of caterpillars

My biggest failure of the day came in the photo taking department.  I was just too busy entertaining and enjoying friends who I hadn't seen in awhile and even some who happened to be visiting from Wichita.  I was again thankful to Tante for taking control of the camera for a bit. 
 Although this was also an excuse for a bit of a house-warming, we are hopeful Ben might choose the Zoo or some other venue and smaller guest list in the future.  If we do attempt a party of this size at home again, I learned to have someone on Ben duty from the outset, carry my camera with me at all times, and as usual, make a LOT less food :).
In the end I do believe a great time was had by all and although it was stressful, Ryan and I were very thankful to have had the push to get the house into some semblance of order so quickly.

bugs were EVERYWHERE!

Ian and Liam loved the pool

bouncy house with neighbor Joe

Auntie Christy, Uncle Dave and Cousin Ian

out-of-focus fun

Ryan manned the grill

not many were as excited to receive Ben's kissies as he was to give them

old pals 

you can watch Ben and Riley dance here

Riley was very sweet to Anna

The Johnson family from Wichita

 

Grow-A-Bug never hatched but was the little capsules that grow into large, sponge-shaped bugs

the Wilson boys found almost every (hundreds) bug

bug jar favors :)

the aftermath the morning after

 

just a boy and his bug........