The kind of company

Callen: Mom are we going to vacuum today?

Me: Well, we probably should.

Callen: Okay, I will be your little piggy then.

Me: Why do I need a little piggy to vacuum?

Callen: To keep you company.

Where does he come up with this stuff?  His imagination is always, always going and dreaming up things. 

On the way home today...

Callen: Mom have you ever eaten a fish?  A live one?

Me: No, I haven't.

Callen: We should try that because they are really hoppy!

Still a little bit baby

Ginki I think is sucessfully gone.  I keep having dreams that I find binkis hidden in strange places, like in the grass, under some junk in the car, under the couch (which did actually happen).  So I think I have a bit of anxiety about losing this battle we've been able to fight so well. 

I will allow Claysen to keep his blanket (mmmm) and bird (kaw-kaw) as long as he wants.  He can pack that those things around til he's 80 if he wants.  I am not goint to make that a battle.  It keeps him a little bit baby, I may be doing that for me, but that is okay.

Ginki flew out the window!

Monday morning as I am driving the boys to meet my Mom, Claysen threw his binki in the front seat of the car.  If he gives it up before we separate for the day I don't give it back to him to take to daycare.  I left it in the car and let Mom know.  At nap time he was asking for his Ginki.  Mom told him that when he threw it it went out the window of the car and was gone.  I decided to run with this story.  At bedtime he wanted it, but we stuck to the story and he went to bed beautifully.  He woke up and was upset a couple times in the night.  Tuesday's nap time was a bit hard but he slept with out one.  Tuesday night he asked for it but slept all night.  Wednesday he asked for it at nap, but wasn't upset that he couldn't have it.  Wednesday night he didn't ask for it at all.  We have been waiting for the meltdown to come, but it hasn't.  Why didn't we take it away sooner?  Why do we let fear dictate what we do?  Rusty is the one who caves first, just to you all know.  I had my doubts about taking it away but this seems to be working so far.  Knock on wood, cross your fingers, whatever just pray and hope we are successful!

Finally Five

Callen turned 5 on 4/9, Friday.  We kinda stretched out his birthday a bit and I think he was royally confused.  We took him to dinner @ Red Robin Thursday night so he could enjoy their crazy singing and ice cream and balloons.  Friday he woke up with a huge smile on his face.  I told him "happy birthday!" and he politely said "Thank you."  He asked me all day when his birthday started.  I tried to explain that it started this morning and was his birthday all day.  We went with his cousin to the movie, "How to Train your Dragon" in the afternoon and his Papa Fred came around dinner time.  During the movie he asked if we could get this movie.  I told him we would have to wait and see.  When we got out of the theater he asked where we go to get the movie to take home.  I had to laugh.  This is only his third time at the movie theater.  Again he was asking on the way home when his birthday started.  He got a cool new tackle box with fishing goodies and candy inside from Papa Fred.  Saturday he woke up and again was asking when his birthday started.  I again tried to explain why we chose to have the party on Saturday the 10th instead of Friday, but he still asked when it started.  I finally just caved and told him 4 o'clock! 

He was given some great things.  We had a dinosaur theme so gifts sort of followed that.  He got some great super soakers, dinosaurs, leapster dino game, books, waterpiller sprinkler, superman cape, money and a snowcone maker.  All of which he loves.  We will have to wait for warmer weather to use the waterpiller sprinkler and super soakers, but for now the super soakers are still being used just dry.

When he blew out his candles he threw his hands in the air and shouted, "I'm finally five!"  Poor confused child.  I am glad he is finally 5 though.

Claysen also loves the superman cape.

After presents, dinner and cake Callen and all the kids went outside for a dinosaur dig.  I put 16 little plastic dinosaurs in the sandbox for the kids to dig up.  They all thought it was great, even my 10 year old nephew.  He was so polite and asked where to put Callen's dinosaurs when he finished digging.  I told him they were his and he could take them home.  "Oh!" he said, surprised.

The party and weekend long birthday went well, everyone was happy and no meltdowns!  Next year there will be less confusion, his birthday will be on a Saturday!

Turning 5!!!

I can't belive my baby is turing 5 next week.  As a mother I don't think I notice how much he as changed in the last year but when I look back at his 4 year old pictures he still has a bit of that baby/toddler look to him.  He is a full blown big boy now.  He got his glasses about a month ago and he does great with them.  They have a scratch already and we have adjusted them 2x and need to go again, but I am not going to complain about that, he hasn't broken them!  Will we be the lucky ones that don't have to buy 15 pairs of glasses the first year?  I sure hope so.   

This first picture is my favorite of these four.  I can't wait to see the rest.

Just for old time's sake here are a few of my guy growing up!

First picture, just less than an hour old.

Ten days old

First Birthday Bash!

That is lipstick on his face.  He had gotten into my purse when I wasn't looking!

Using his new fishing pole for the first time.

My grandfather built his excavator for my brother and I when we were little.  Now Callen is getting a chance to use it.  We hope to make a copy so both my nephew and Callen will have one.

Happy Birthday Callen !  I love you very much!