Back yard play

Remember WAY back 2 weeks when it was SUPER warm?  Before it snowed...twice....I think it hit 67 degrees that ONE DAY!!!  Well, we took advantage and spent that evening outside.   While we were out, the neighbors next to us came over to introduce themselves.  They have a little boy that is 2 1/2.  Benjamin and "N" had a great time playing as we chatted and got to know one another.  These boys are going to have a lot of fun together!

I imagine that this summer we will be spending most of our time out in our new back yard as Ben asks to go out there EVERY-SINGLE-DAY...whether it's snowing or not.  On these not-so-nice days that we've been having Ben and I go out and visit Dad while he's grilling and examine the plantlife that is emerging.  So far, everything is PERFECT!!  There are a couple plant beds that each have different specie of day lillies that need next to no care but provide nice color, a few planter boxes that where I can plant tomatoes and veggies, one has a strawberry patch that has already come to life!!  Ben will LOVE that!!  There is a Clematis that I am very excited about.  I hope it's as beautiful as the one at my mom's old house. 

We have a couple of things that we want to add but there should not be a whole lot for us to do except ENJOY!!

Ben loving his apple while he plays



Who knew it could be that fun pretending to roll down a hill? 
He'd walk up the hill a few steps, sit down and then lay down!  HA!
The getting up prooved to be more than frustrating for him
but of course did a billion more times and got the hang of it.



 

Ready!



Set!



GO!!!!





All this playing and running wears a kid out!!



Oh....the poor Cozy Coup

  

You've heard of cow tipping, right?   According to wikipedia cow tipping or cow pushing is the purported activity of sneaking up on a sleeping, upright cow and pushing it over for fun.

Well, at our house, our little maniac has started a fun game of Cozy Coup tipping.  This is where said crazy red headed child drives his beloved cozy coup all through the back yard to it's perfect resting destination and proceeds to push it over and scream "uhhh ohhhh".  Like it's some big surprise that it's going to tip over.  And yes...the "uhhhh ohhhh" never decreases in volume even after the 178th tip....in the same afternoon.



Cozy Coup Tipping is hard work!



Keep eating your spinach, Popeye, and you'll be able to move mountains!

Train-tastic!!





My little not even 2 year old lines up his trains in a row on the floor, on the table, on the edge of the couch, he gets eye level and observes and analyzes each and every train.  He pulls them forward and pushes them back.  He lines them up single file, diagonal and straight across.  He studies their faces and turns each wheel.  He's something else! 

Where does he get this from??

If you were to ask my mom...she would say ME! YIKES!! 

Houston we are going to be in trouble if that is the case ;o)

I tried to capture him when he had his cheek on the floor checking out his trains.....

  

 

But that didn't happen....

 

He was far too interested in my camera after that.

so begins.....

  

my weaving....

...and dodging....

...to capture....THIS!!!!

Guess what???

We have been NUK free for a WHOLE week!!! 

I have had this bug up my butt about ridding Benjamin of his NUK for about 6 weeks now.  Pretty much when since he started asking for it all-the-time!!  It was not like it was an appendage to him - I swear ;o)  We really only gave it to him for naps, in the car and bed time.  And.....of course, there would be the rare (uh huh) occasion that we'd be out and he'd be throwing a fit and we'd pop it in his mouth to quiet him down (I am going to miss this).  We...ok I... have been talking to Ben about giving his NUK to the babies and he's a big boy and the poor kids...and on and on...well finally the day came and it went down like this. 
Friday night - Adios NUK.  He went to bed WAY past his bed time, fussed but was not crazy, he just had a hard time settling himself.  It was about 1/2 hour before he was quiet.
Saturday afternoon nap:  15 minutes or so to settle and fall asleep
Saturday night:  again about 15 minutes or so to settle and fall asleep
Sunday afternoon nap - 2 hours to settle!!  BAD!!  Almost gave in but didn't.  Went up there and told him that Grandma was NOT going to come over for dinner if he didn't sleep.  Then I turned on the music box (should have thought about that 2 hours ago!!).  Slept for 2 hours!!  YES!!

Ever since - naps or night time - there has been no problems!

Don't get me wrong, everything has NOT been peachy.   Our BIGGEST challenge has been the car.  EVERY-SINGLE-TIME he asks - sometimes SCREAMS - for his NUK.  I tell him that his NUK is all gone, he crabs for a minute - sometimes 2 and I give him a toy to hold/play with.  That seems to be doing the trick.  I just need to make sure that I have something in my purse or vehicle at all times.

Going up north for a 3 hour car trip should be very interesting.....we'll cross that bridge in a few weeks.

Birthdays and kisses

It's true.  I am 33.  Where has the time gone?  As I reflect on the last year, I am absolutely amazed at what has become of my life.  I am so BLESSED!  My baby is no longer a baby.  He has grown into this little boy that can tell you what letter is on the flash card and words that start what that letter!  He knows words like clock and points to it without being prompted, he just wants me to know that he knows what that is.  When we're outside, he points out all the birds and the airplanes.  When we're driving he points out all the trucks, "oooh a truuuuck".  When there is a semi or a BIG truck, he says "WHOA a TRUUUUUCK".   When the Aflac commercial comes on TV he says "Duck" and when the milk commercial comes on he says "Cow" and "Moooo"!  And whenever we see a baby, he says "BABY" (and not quietly--ever)!  I am truely AMAZED!!

I can tell when it's time for the weekend to come because it's harder and harder for him to say "bye bye" to me when I drop him off at Grandma Day Care.  Usually, it's 2 kisses and a hug but by Thursday and Friday it's a half a dozen or more.  Not that I mind them (I live for them).  And I know that when I leave, Grandma picks up where I left off and he gets at least a million more.  I can't imagine what it would be like to have to drop him off a "regular" day care.  We are SO fortunate.

Today, especially, I am missing my dad.  Everytime I rebuild the train track I think of him and how he would have had this elaborate track made up with different tiers and hand made trees, tunnels, risers and probably even trains.  That's the kind of Grandpa I think that he would have been to my son.  I think he would be proud.  I hope he would be proud. 

I look forward to see what my 33rd year brings.

March 24

I know, I know, what fun is a blog entry without pics??  Well, we are going to have to survive for a little while.  My camera is being a P-I-T-A!  The battery says it charged but won't turn on.  Is the problem with the camera or the battery??  The internet says....it's the battery.  So I ordered a new battery and am waiting for it to arrive. 

What's new at the Matson house?  Ah...not much.....we thawed out for a week or so, even got out Ben's new bike.  I LOVE it!!! And more importantly SO DOES BEN!!!  He can steer (with some help from my handy dandy handle that also controls the wheel!) and he can peddle or put his feet on the rests.  Right now he does one of each.  It's pretty darn cute if I might say so myself.  Now all we need is for this new batch of snow and ice to melt so that we can get out there again. 

Tueday was Chad's birthday.  I was trying to teach Ben to say "Happy Birthday".
He'd scream "HAAPPPPP!!" and then clap.  Again, pretty darn cute.  I sure wish I had a camera to take a picture or video of it......arghhhh...
 
What's new with Ben?
He is talking up a storm!   Every truck we pass he says "truck".  We have a horse picture on our wall and he points and says "hoas" (yes...no r").  He is currently infatuated with the cover of Toy Story 3.  He points to the dinosaur and roars "saur".  He's still a little confused with Mom and Dad.  Most of the time he calls me Dad.  That's ok.  He'll figure it out.  Still, his most favorite toy in the world is Thomas the Train.  He has 4 different size Thomas'.  The largest one is a stuffed Thomas(which he sleeps with every night), the next smaller one is Shake and Go Thomas, the next is a just a plastic Thomas and the smallest is the Thomas that goes on the wooden train track table.  He lined them all up in a Row across the front of the couch.  Examining each one, pointing and babbling something.  Then he'd move them to a single file line on the floor.  He'd lay his face on the floor and again check each one out.  Then he'd get bored, grab the smallest Thomas and go play with his train table.  I don't know what we'd do without Thomas. 
 

What a way to start March

It has been a long, LONG 2 weeks.  After we all were bitten by the stomach flu in one way or another (or both at the same time in some cases), Ben came down with Croup and the rest of us landed with a nasty cold.  Thank goodness Ben's seal barking stopped within 24 hours of starting the steroid but it sure was scary to listen to him breath.  Fastforward through all the gorry details, FINALLY, we are all on the mend (crossing fingers).  Ben seems to have his energy and his appetite back.  YAY!!!  Although I have enjoyed all the cuddling time spent in the evenings, I love to watch him run around and listen to his squeals and giggles but there is nothing better then seeing the smile and joy on his face.