Rollerskating

Today we had one of our best mornings ever! 

I have wanted to try the Oak’s Park Skate & Play all winter.  I was a bit skeptical and scared about trying to get the little guy on rollerskates, with baby girl in tow, on my own.  Yesterday, I decided that today would be the day and sent out an e-mail to the Mommies of Friday Playgroup to let them know we would be going (this insured that there would be no backing out on my part if others are expecting us to be there).  So, I got the kids ready to go, loaded them up in the hybrid, stopped to get some mommy fuel at Starbucks and we were on our way!

Nobody was able to meet us, but we were going on our adventure anyway!  I put the kids (just in case we had to make a couple of laps around the rink without skates to warm the little guy up to the idea), the camera, the diaper bag, and the Ergo Carrier in the double BOB and we walked into the rink.  The little guy was not as enthusiastic once we got into the rink, but we got him some skates and scoped it all out.  Once he saw a couple of other preschoolers getting the skates on he warmed up to the idea. 

He  became interested in the “cubbies” and wanted to put his jacket in one, so I humored him…ends up we needed the “cubby” anyway! 

We practiced walking in the skates on the soft carpet, and then we took the BOB out onto the rink and I held the little guys hand as he skated.  I explained, as we saw other little kids fall, that it was OK to fall and all he had to do was get right back up and try again.  I decided that I should ditch the stroller and put baby girl in the carrier and walk with the little guy as he skated. 

This idea ended up being a winner!  We found a couple of balls that were painted like farm animals and this encouraged him to skate around the rink to find more!

The little guy caught on like a champ! 

After eating the snack that was provided in the rink snack bar, he was fueled up and ready to take a few more laps around the rink. 

Then Chipper, the Oaks Park mascot (who is a Squirrel), made an appearance and the little guy wanted to say hello!  A couple more laps around the rink and mommy was exhausted and ready to head home!  I finally convinced (with help from the loudspeaker that informed us that we had to get off the rink) the little guy it was time to go home. 

I am so proud of him trying something new and doing really well at it!  We’re already planning to go again next Tuesday!

A Tuesday Drive

Last Tuesday we were all feeling a little under the weather.  The little guy had a cold, baby girl was at the pediatrician’s the day before for RSV, and mommy was worn out and sick, too!  We had to get out of the house to do something, so we went for a drive. 

One of the awesome things about where we live is that it doesn’t take long to get “out into the country” and feel like you are in another world!  We drove down to Newberg through a thick fog and then up to Bald Peak (elevation: 1629 feet).  The following photos are from the top of Bald Peak!

the itsy bitsy stink bug

Some of you are familiar with the stink bug invasion of aught-nine.  Well, they keep  crawling out of the woodwork.  About once a week, I still flush a stink bug, ever so carefully, down the toilet. A couple of weeks ago, the Little Guy was screaming, “Mommy, HELP!” from his bedroom.  I thought, “Here we go.  Another excuse for me to come into his room!”  I ran up the stairs in case he really was in trouble and here is how it went:

Little Guy:  “Mommy, HELP!”

Mommy:  “What’s wrong?’

Little Guy:  “Mommy, stink bug!”

Mommy:  “Stink bug?  Where?” (I was sure he was making this up!)

Little Guy:  Points to his pillow from a safe distance across the room.

Mommy:  Walks over to the bed to investigate. 

I did not see a stink bug, but peices from his blanket that looked like they could be an imaginary stink bug.  And then I spied it!  On the corner of the pillow…A BIG FAT STINK BUG!  I freaked out in my mind and grabbed the pillow and put it on the floor, went to to bathroom (shaking the heebie-jeebies out) and grabbed some tissue, came back into the room as calmly as I could and grabbed the bug. 

Mommy:  “Say goodnight stink bug!”

Little Guy:  “Goodnight stink bug!”

I took the stink bug into the bathroom, stuck him in the toilet and flushed…lid down!  Then, I walked back into the Little Guy’s room.

Little Guy:  “Mommy sing a song.”

Mommy:  “OK, what song?”

Little Guy:  “The stink bug song.”

Stumped, this is what I came up with…

Mommy:  “The itsy bitsy sting bug…” 

You know the rest.  YUCK!!!