Ryan can ride the bus!

Ryan's teacher told Ian this morning that we needed to work on potty training him as he can't go on the field trips in the summer if he is not potty trained.  So, we relayed the message to Ryan.  We had to explain that going on a field trip would mean that he would get to ride a bus. 

We got him to sit on the potty tonight by reminding him that his teacher said he needed to use the potty.  So, he sat in the bathroom with the door closed.  Pretty soon after he came running out saying "Now I can ride on the bus!" 

If only it were that easy. 

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Ryan turned three yesterday.  Unfortunately (or perhaps we should say typical for Ryan) he started off the day okay, but just got grumpier as the day progressed.  I am not sure if he would say is was a happy day! 

Michael's Latest

Michael has a loose tooth!  Yesterday morning he told me his tooth was loose.  I took a look and it is loose.  One of the bottom front ones.  He told me it had been hurting "for like 2 to 3, no, 6 days".   So, now we are just waiting for it to fall out.   He does have a dentist appointment on Thursday.

This past Monday evening, he found where I was hiding the Christmas presents.  My quick cover was that the army guys are for Jake (a lie) and the monster trucks are for Ryan's birthday (the truth).  He didn't mention anything else, so I am hoping he didn't really notice everything else.   He doesn't know that he uncovered my hiding place.  However, the presents have all been moved now.  

I usually set his alarm when he takes a nap so he doesn't sleep too long.  Today, I set it and it went off, but he never came downstairs.  I went up a few minutes later - the alarm was off and he was still sleeping.  He confirmed that he still wanted to sleep so he just turned it off.  We'll see if he remembers this when he is still awake at 10 PM this evening and has to get up at 6:30 AM tomorrow!  

End of Summer and Back to School

Ryan saw his first movie, Planes, on August 25th.  He seemed to like it.  Michael; however, was very upset when the lead character got sabotaged by the bad guys.  He looked at me and said (as he was fighting back the tears): "I did NOT want to see this movie and I am NOT watching it at home."  Although, now two weeks later, he says he will watch it.  

We made a trip to Erie Labor Day weekend.  Made it to the beach, zoo, and waldameer.  Ryan enjoyed dragging himself in the sand at the beach and going in the water.   We also were able to fit in some bowling games on a rainy afternoon.  

We survived our first week of Kindergarten and Extended Day.  Michael transitioned to a new school with new kids and a new routine.   So far he seems to be okay with it all.  Just a little tired by the end of the day.   Ian has a new route to work as he has to do to separate drop offs, so he is getting up a little earlier these days.  I have a new routine at the end of the day as I have to be sure to leave by a certain time as I have to pick Michael up at 3:30.  And let's not forget Ryan, he has moved to a new room - the two year old room with Ms. Ikeva.  He seems to really like his new room as he keeps telling us "I go to new room." 

A random note on Michael.  When he wants to remember something for the next day he says it aloud to himself.   Tonight as I was walking out of his room, he told me that he was going to say something to himself.  So, I was still listening and I heard him say "I have to remember to make a box for my magazines tomorrow." 

Day 6

Finally on the last day of vacation, everyone slept until 8 AM! After eating breakfast and packing up we headed to Bronners.  We looked at Chirstmas ornaments and decorations for two hours.  The boys enjoyed Christmas cookies (frosted sugar cookies) in the snack shop.  We had lunch at McDonalds and began the six hour drive home.  We had to stop three times for bathroom breaks, but we got home around 7:30. Our vacation is over.

Day 5

Of course we were up at 7 AM again. It was our last day at the Great Wolf Lodge, so after packing the car we went to water park at 9:30 AM. We stayed for a little over two hours. We did the water slides, crossed the lily pads (well some of us fell in), and stood under the giant water bucket. Ian and Michale went on a double tube down one water slide, when Ian lifted Michael out of the tube at the end of the ride, Ian tunred to let Michael out, but his weight caused him to go backwards, the tube flipped over the both of them and Ian's glasses fell off! Fortunately they both were okay and the lifeguard knew where the glasses were.   We ate lunch at the Grand Traverse Pie Company - well, Ryan didn't eat he fell asleep on the floor. The rest of us enjoyed lunch and dessert (pie and a cookie). We drove three hours to Frankenmuth - three of us slept most of the way.  We walked around Frankenmuth and got stuck in a major rainstorm. Finally the rain let up and we did some more shopping and ate a chicken dinner at Zhenders. It was a late bedtime again.

Day 4

Today (after our usual 7 AM wake up) we did the Wolf walk (with Wiley the Wolf) through the lobby and made origami wolves.  Then we drove back to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and rode our bikes to the small village of Glen Haven.  We saw several old rescue boats, a former coast guard station, a blacksmith, and a general store.  The blacksmith made Michael a little hook to take home.  We had a picnic lunch by Lake Michigan.  Michael and a seagull battled - Michael would try to chase him away but he would keep coming back.  Ryan decided he wanted to go into the lake, so we let them both walk in the water a little past their ankles.  They both had fun throwing rocks into the water.  The water was remarkably  clear.  Of course, the morning plans took longer than expected so Ryan fell asleep on the return bike ride and car ride.  We decided to stop at Moomers for ice cream and then a winery to sample some local wines.  When we returned to the hotel.  We did bowling at the Ten Paw Lanes and painted banks at the Cub Club.  We ate dinner at the Camp Critter restaurant in the hotel.  Afterwards, I went shopping and Ian took the boys to the arcade and story time - this night with Oliver the raccoon.