Embracing my inner child

These pictures really bring me back to my childhood. When my best friends and I would swing at the playground in front of our neighborhood pool. You could find us there, playing, just about any day of the week. And just as I loved the playground in my neighborhood, my kids also love theirs. Asking to go to the park or playground pretty much on a daily basis. The catch 22 is that most of the play equipment in our local parks and neighborhood tot lots, burn to the touch from the hot summer sun.

Not on this day though. This particular day was a gorgeous, breezy day. We had just finished a round of tennis, and the kids convinced us to let them play on the playground, while Fred went to Walgreens to rent a movie from Redbox.

Sophie was busy climbing, sliding, and running around as Mason and I enjoyed the swings. Each of us on our own swing, facing opposite sides, and high-fiving each other as we passed. We smiled and giggled, showing off our cool moves to Fred upon his return, who shook his head at us, the disbelief that he could be related to these two crazies emblazoned on his face.

Mason had hopped off to run around at one point while I continued to swing. Upon his return he asked if I was swinging high, and was it scary. I knew he wanted to go really high, but I also knew he was scared. "Do you want to do something really fun?" I asked. He nodded in agreement, so I sat him on my lap and away we swung. Higher and higher we went. The wind blowing across our faces, the smiles and giggles infectious. It was the most fun I've had in a really long time. Swinging with Mason. Laughing. Really, really laughing. It brought back so many memories. My best friends and I sitting on the same swing together, face to face. We called it the "spider" back then. Do kids even do that anymore? Swing spider style? Well, even if they don't, Mason loved it and asks to go back to the park everyday just so we can do it again. Fred, of course, finds the two of us so ridiculous in all our childhood fun.

Oh yes, my dear boy, I do see us coming back to swing like this again, and again, and again. If only to embarrass the hell out of Daddy.

Collectors.

These past few weeks, I have really been thinking about the kind of stories and moments that I want to remember. Each day conversations happen, new games get made up, something extraordinary occurs, or it's just simply our same old mundane routine. The kids develop quirks, which quickly change as fast as they came, and its all these things the kids do now, that I take for granted. I always think that either I'll remember these things down the road, or no one will care about this after the moment has passed. But, I find myself turing to Fred and saying things like, what was that little thing Mason used to say/do when he was this age (referring to Sophie being 2)? Or, oh my gosh what was it that the kids were doing the other day that had us all in tears from laughing so hard? And I can't remember. It made me realize those seemingly ordinary things, the moments that happen in the background and are often overlooked, are the moments we reach for many years from now.

I couldn't tell you how it started, but that's not an important part of the story anyway. Mason and Sophie, like so many kids, enjoy crawling on the floors and hiding in the clothes racks while I shop at Target. Normally this drives me nuts, and I can be heard through gritted teeth telling them to, GET UP. However, these days I let them have their fun--within reason. All this crawling on the floor and diving in and out of those clothes racks actually holds a purpose. You see, they are finding tick tocks. Say what?! Yeah, that's what I said when I started to notice my kids leaving the store with these colored plastic things in hand, and asked what they were. Tick tocks are really those plastic size markers that top the hangers at Target. Seriously, if you look hard enough you can find at least 3 or 4 of these things just lying around.

I overheard them one day in the dressing room discussing how many tick tocks they had found that day, which colors and letters, and then announcing they needed to collect one of each. Above is a sampling from that day (they had 6 if I recall) with a few more that were already laying around the house. In fact, it has been nice to hear Mason say things like, "Mom, you look at the shirts and I'll search for tick tocks for Sophie." She's the one who really likes to collect these, carrying them around everywhere. Even now, she is staring at the picture as I write this post, smile on her face, pointing, "tick tocks. My tick tocks. My pink. Yay!" Funny, isn't it, how the simplest things are the stuff they enjoy the most?

I know this story will get forgotten over the years. They will stop collecting tick tocks, and even forget themselves why they called them that in the first place. Our lives will go on, they will develop other quirks and hobbies, and new stories will be written. It is then--months, days, even years from now--that I will be glad I documented this story and all the other moments of our lives that instinctively get overlooked.

Though, I might still find myself asking, why do you guys call them ticks tocks? No, seriously, why? It's killing me not knowing.

The training wheels are off

When we first got Mason his 16" inch bike because he was seriously outgrowing his 12", it was a struggle, and hit my fear nerve trying to get him to ride on both training wheels. He tended to favor one training wheel over the other and I was certain he was going to bite it when he sped through the turns on our cul-de-sac. So much, that my body would temporary seize in fear each time.

This was only back in April or May. So when Fred and Mason came running in the door this morning insisting they had a surprise, Mason was riding without training wheels, I was shocked. You mean the training wheels are off the bike? Oh, yes they were indeed.

Doesn't he just look so cool?

Occasionally, he'd fall down. But he'd get right back up.

but not before Sophie ran to his side to see if he was o.k.

Right now this is our fourth time outside to ride bikes. Clearly he is proud of himself, as he should be. Taking the training wheels off is a big step, and at only four years old no less. He never fails to amaze me. His courage and determination alone are inspiration for my own life.

As I sit here watching him, picking up speed with each passing lap around the cul-de-sac, maneuvering turns with precision, it is hard to believe that just a short week ago he was practicing how to just balance on the bike. Now he looks as if he's been riding this way for years, instead of 5 hours. Our neighbors son, who is around 7 years, sees Mason and joins him. They ride together in a, we're part of the same club, sort of silence. Then,"I really like your bike." "Yeah, it's Transformers." "I know, and your helmet is Bumblebee." "He's my favorite Transformer." "Mine too." "Really?" And their off again, riding side by side. He looks so different on two wheels.

I still cannot believe my four year old is riding his bike without training wheels and doing such an awesome job! I am beyond proud. Practically speechless. It is odd for a four year old to have mastered riding a bike without training wheels already, isn't it?

It must be the energon seeping into his veins.

Project Big Girl

Recently Fred did some handy work for my parents, so we all found ourselves hanging out at Grandma and Pop-Pop's for the day. Train tracks were built, cars were raced and when it came time for Sophie's nap she decided she didn't want to go in the pack n' play. I thought, well great. Where can I put her to sleep? Enter the trundle bed from my childhood bedroom. It is low to the ground and where Mason usually sleeps when he is visiting. Sophie was more than excited, to say the least, but I was nervous as to how it would turn out.

Surprisingly, she did really well. After some coaxing and instructing to, not jump on the bed, she eventually calmed down from all the excitement (this was her first time actually being allowed to sleep in a non confining bed), and fell asleep. She stayed asleep for about two hours without even falling off (seeing as my parents don't have any safety bed rails). It was this that encouraged me to decide that now was the time to say good-bye to the nursery.

So the next day, while Mason had his Grandma Sunday and Sophie was busy playing downstairs, I dismantled the crib and set up her big girl bed.

It was a long time coming. Sophie has shown interest in Mason's bed since January. Running into his room, jumping on his bed, pretending to fall asleep and looking so happy while he looks at me in frustration to, get her out of my room. In honesty, I have wanted to transition her since she turned two. Now that she is almost 27 months and has proven she can sleep in a big girl bed, there were no more excuses.

Her reaction to the crib being gone was priceless. She spent the rest of the time hanging in her new room with me, making it difficult to put things together because she wanted to touch and explore and jump on things. It was all so new and exciting and so freaking awesome for her.

Months ago, while having dinner at the home of a dear childhood friend, we ended up in their basement going through piles of clothes their girls no longer fit into, picking things out for Sophie. In the process, we got on the topic of toddler beds and left that evening with not only a bag of clothes but a cute white metal toddler bed as well. I am so very grateful for their ability and generosity in helping us out.

It sat in our guest bedroom until this day. Putting it together, I was a bit concerned that it didn't include bed rails like the one we got for Mason. However, since she did so well with the trundle bed at my parents, I thought we'd try it without them for her nap.

Doesn't she look so cute, and so not a baby, fast asleep in that bed? I had to peek on her just to make sure she was doing o.k., and she looked so peaceful and adorable so, I grabbed my camera. She did really well for the whole two hours in bed. Then I heard her wake up and...BOOM! Followed by screams and tears. Yeah, o.k., we need a bed rail. I remembered we had some handed down to us from family, so I dragged them out of storage and began to put them together until we realized they were longer than the bed itself. Uh...

That night I took a last minute trip to Target to see if I could find a bed rail that would work. I thought I found success. Unfortunately, when we put it on, we found out that there was only a 5 inch gap for Sophie to climb into bed. It made do for the night, but I knew it had to change for the long term. I mean, come on, seriously? A five inch gap to squeeze into bed? She's only going to grow bigger and quite honestly it seems like she's still in a crib. What was the point in putting her in a toddler bed then? I was frustrated. Torn between decisions, I called my friend and inquired upon what they used. The next day, I drove to her house and picked up the bed rail they used. It is 5 inches shorter so that gives her 10 inches of space now to climb into bed. Not as much space as Mason, but much better than before. Also, these bed rails were meant for a twin bed with box spring so I had to rig it to fit the toddler bed. My friend said they just zip tied theirs to the bed. I might have gone a bit overboard with the zip ties, but I can tell you, that sucker ain't going anywhere.

Here is an overall look at her new setup.

Since moving into this house, I have always felt the nursery room was small. Not big enough for an older kids bedroom. Now that the crib is gone, the room feels so much bigger. I moved the glider and ottoman out and into the guest bedroom, turned the book shelf on it's side for easier access at toddler height, and kept the starlight rug and changing table where they were for now.

Mason had a clear theme in his room; Cars. Everything matched perfectly, from the wall color to the bed and bedding, to the hamper, valance and border. Sophie doesn't have a clear theme. The walls are still the yellow and green with the half torn border that fit the starlight/nursery rhyme nursery theme. It's been hard to plan her theme, because she really isn't into one main thing like Mason. Yeah she LOVES TinkerBell but she also likes the Princesses, Cars, owls and deer, Thomas, Dora, Strawberry Shortcake...the list goes on.

Over the last year I have been creating and bringing things in, here and there, that she has shown interest in as she has grown. The bedding is from her first birthday. Woodland theme, with pillow and lamp and valance to match. The pinks and greens from the bedding go well with the current paint color in the room. She still has the butterfly mobile I made her a year ago. After she ripped it down a few weeks ago, I rehung it over her current bed at a height she can't reach. I fixed the butterfly collage and placed that on the bookshelf next to the vintage birdcage I picked up at Home Goods and was used for her second birthday. It still houses TinkerBell, hanging from some fishing line. I also utilized the two garlands from her party, the pictures from all the TinkerBell movies and the vintage scrap fabric. I plan to get wooden letters to spell her name and hang them above the fabric garland. Also from her second birthday party, I hung a second butterfly-TinkerBell mobile in the corner. It hangs over a big Birdcage we scored free from our neighbor when she moved out. The vintage Cinderella Poster we bought when I was pregnant with Sophie still hangs on the wall. It's a bit eclectic but I think it all works.

Of course Mason, not wanting to be left out, asked to have his room rearranged.

I moved his bed and bookcase to a different wall, so now we don't get woken up by his kicking the wall in his sleep anymore. His toy chest now sits at the foot of his bed and I moved the Cars table from downstairs, that went with his room in a box, into his bedroom. Now he can do school stuff and be creative in here. Hoping it will encourage him to spend more time in his room, playing on his own. At the same time, I decided to move the Lego table into Sophie's room along with the Mega Blox Legos and her talking tea set. The idea, to make it more fun for her to play in her room as well. It makes sense to utilize the space in their bedrooms and keep less toys downstairs to be thrown all over the floor.

This was a huge step for all of us. It was huge for Fred and I to trust that Sophie would stay in her bed all night and not randomly come walking out and accidentally fall down the stairs. It was huge for Sophie to be given the trust and freedom, so huge she hasn't quite accepted that concept yet. We still have to go and get her out of her room in the morning and after naps as she won't come out on her own. It has equally been huge for Mason to share the big kid role.

It's been almost a whole week with this new arrangement and all I can say is this. I love having her in a big girl room, and even after many months of knowing this day would come, I am finding it heartbreaking to admit that my baby girl is no longer a baby. Though, I have a feeling this realization was not so hard for her.

Healing

....................................

Mason, being on the verge of getting better, needed to be fever free for 24 hours before going anywhere. So Sophie spent the day with Grandma instead. Her first "Grandma Saturday/Sunday." She wasn't sure what to think of her leaving instead of her big brother. Though the smile on her face as she waved saying, "bye-bye mama," from the car told me this was just what she needed.

Understandably he was disappointed to be missing out on his Grandma time.

To help him heal from the past week, I put up a fort in our family room for us to play and sit under.

We watched Kung Fu Panda till Grandma and Sophie returned home. Who would have thought a few blankets, chairs and couches could be so much fun? We decided to keep it up the next few days, that is at least till Daddy gets home. In the meantime we get to enjoy our little haven of childhood.

Linking up at

a hoose

There is an episode of Max and Ruby that came on recently and since we have the brilliant invention of DVR (though it's beginning to be on my list but that is a different story) we get to watch this particular episode anytime we want. In Mason's world this means just about every morning.

This particular episode is called Duck Duck Goose. A fun, energetic game. And if you had a childhood, I'm sure you played it at least once. I have a feeling this game will be seen being played at our house this spring and summer. It's just a hunch but, knowing my son loves to run and his favorite game of late is to chase him or us around the house, it gets pretty tiring fast. But hey I can log it into my chart on Wii fit so I suppose it's a win-win. Seeing as you chase someone around in a circle until either you tag the Duck or sit down, Duck Duck Goose is sure to be a hit with him and me (I admit it was one of my faves growing up).

Anyway. So why am I going on and on about a childhood game and what does this have to do with Max and Ruby? Well only that they play the game on the show and Mason LOVES to watch it. And well when asking for the episode this morning, it was so damn cute, he says, "Mommy I want to watch the hoose episode." Huh the what? And he looks at me all like, Come on Mom get with it. And says, Oh you know, the one where Max runs around and says Duck. Duck. A Hoose. Ha, ha, ha. Right. Of course. Silly me. I knew that. ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Sometimes he just spits out the funniest things and I can't help but be that Mom, the one who loves the way he mispronounces things. Though in reality I should be correcting him since he will be going to preschool in the fall. The BIG BOY he is. But for now I'm going to indulge myself in him still being my funny little baby boy.

A new skill

Recently Mason got his first bike. A Radio Flyer tricycle he picked out himself.

Every time we went to Babies R Us he would drag me to the section with the bikes and have me watch as he tried so hard to ride. On our last trip Mason surprised me with his ability to get around the store pretty good on his own. So I gave in and bought it. The smile on his face said it all. That and the fact that as we left the store he refused to let go or get off the bike in order to load it into the car.

Being told he had to wear a helmet, which he was annoyingly unhappy about, in order to ride the bike outside; he mostly rides inside the house. Though after much insistence and pleading o my part he reluctantly picked out a Thomas helmet which I find adorably cute on him.

Around and around the main living area, through the dining room, kitchen and hallway; Mason rides his bike every day. This learned skill has greatly improved in just the three short weeks of owning his new bike. He now peddles like a champ, no longer needing that helpful push. He has also improved on his steering and maneuvers corners like he's on rails. He tells me he is going to the grocery store to get me vitamins or some other item of interest at the moment. He can be often heard yelling from a distance "which way now, mom?" To which I reply, "left" or "right" or "straight." And is sometimes overheard questioning where to park.

This reminds me of my childhood. Summers spent riding our Schwinns around the neighborhood armed with maps our Dad drew up consisting of places of importance, such as the grocery store, post office and of course our apartments (various storm drains on the culdesac) because in our imaginary play we were always adults. We'd play away the afternoon running "errands" from a list our Mom created. Such imagination and creativity we had as children. Something I fear is lost on this generation, so used to electronically overloaded toys and DVR capability.

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