23 posts tagged “weekend”
T was invited to a couple of birthday parties recently. He has a great time at parties so if we aren't doing anything in particular we always go. However, it feels at times that we are spending a lot on birthday gifts. Especially since T hasn't received any in return, not having had parties with kids the last two years. Maybe it is just my inner miser coming out.
Anyway Saturday was a party for his classmate Jake (4) and Jake's 13 month younger brother Luke(ie). Three weeks ago T and I went to the bookstore to get a gift for Jake and one for Zora, whose birthday party was right after Thanksgiving. Feeling miserly I decided that we didn't need to get Luke a gift since Luke would probably have friends from his class at the party. We spent $16 on a really fun book called Harry and Horsie. Of course after leaving the bookstore I felt guilty and kept questioning my reasoning of not getting something for Luke. I posted to my mom's group about birthday etiquette and everyone thought in my shoes they'd get something for both boys.
This past January we went to parties for two of T's classmates where I bought books and made a little puppets to go along with the book (here is the Grumpy Bird). So I decided if I ended up with the time I'd make puppets for the boys to go along with the book. Saturday morning T and I got busy. Or, I got busy and T helped for the first 20 minutes or so, then went on to play other things. At first he was quite upset that the rocket I made didn't match his vision of a sleeker looking vehicle, but later, while I worked on Horsie, he rocketed it around the house. I decided then these might work out as gifts. Although there are 'issues' on both puppets I am happy with how they came out.
As mentioned the book is a lot of fun. The story is sweet, the illustration fantastic - like old comics. I posted photos of the puppets to my mom's group and one mom replied this is a favorite book of her three year old. I think if I got it for T it would become a favorite of his as well. He enjoyed the story in the bookstore as well as when I pulled it out to make the puppets. Very cool about it, proceeds help other children through the child developed Free The Children.
Photos will come later, but T had a blast at the party. It was at a toddler 'gym' that had trampolines and a ball pool. T LOVED the ball pool.
We didn't get a three year four month photo, but you can enjoy the ones below. Saturday we went to the zoo, Sunday we went to a parade. Fun inbetween as well.
While T napped Sunday I started doing a little yard work. The day was gorgeous and it was great to get out in it. I first worked on cleaning up the street in front of the yard. I hoped it would be quick, but ... so we are having a hard time growing grass and not weeds in the yard. Guess where grass is growing? Yes, grass is growing in some really fertile soil in the small area in the street just next to the curb! I had a devil of a time pulling grass roots up and then throwing tons of night crawlers and other worms from the street and into the yard.
When T woke, he and B got to work replacing our mailbox post. The old one had rotted below the soil. They dug, pulled, poured cement, and put in the new post. It looks really nice except for the exposed earth that had been miscellaneous plantings previously. At one point I asked if they had thought to save the lilly bulbs. B had not ('what do you think?' he asked.) A little later T came running over to me, "Mommy, I saved this for you!" and he handed me half a small bulb. He was very happy.
The last couple of weekends B has been working on stripping the deck of the 'wonder paint' we put on seven and nine (?) years ago. It's a bear of a job and one that a couple of professionals declined. After a ton of research and trying a couple different methods and products, B made some great progress and got it to a place where we can live it.
Sunday afternoon T and I went to the Botanical Garden. A fun afternoon.
photos to come
