Smart Fellers

Emmit has been sleeping in a big bed for probably 6+ weeks. We always are amazed at how we can put him in bed and he stays there! It would be so easy for him to climb out of bad via the back (he has the low head/foot board bunk).  He has started to get out of bed in the morning once we acknowledge him. He even turns off his humidifier! Last night everything changed - he figured out he could get out of bed. So bed time that started at 7 didn't really happen until 9! He walked downstairs with his blanket as if he did nothing wrong. Finally after the 3rd try (we were a bit distracted by the basketball game we were watching on TV), he stayed in his room. I sat on the floor and held the door shut so when he would try and get out, he couldn't. I wasn't sure where he actually fell asleep but thought it was in his bed based on the noise I heard. I didn't dare check once he stopped crying for fear of waking him up. When I went to bed, I peeked in and saw he was laying in his bed! Bed time should be eventful until we get a lock on his door too!

While watching the MSU vs MN game last night Adam asked Gerrit who he was routing for and this was the conversation between them:

Gerrit: Gophers!

Adam: What? Opa is going to be disappointed in you!

Gerrit: But dad, we LIVE in Minnesota, shouldn't we route for them? Opa is the one that lives in MI!

In Due Time...

One thing I noticed teaching at the high school is that I was asked more times about my Valentine's plans than I was about my winter vacation plans. Something about the 'romatic' idea of love is huge for high school girls. When I told them I didn't have plans - I have 2 kids at home, they seemed bummed and wondered if the romance was gone (without really asking if it was gone). It made me think about the whole day and if I was bummed that we didn't have plans and the answer is no. 

Having these 2 boys makes us happy and we talk about how big they are getting and how time flies by. I think we will have plenty of Valentine's days when the boys won't be with us or won't want to be with us. For now, I will take our 'romantic' dinner of take out for mom/dad and corn dogs for the boys - flying corn dog and all!

Big Boy Haircut = Big Kid

I guess when Emmit looked at himself in the mirror he saw a 'big kid' looking back at him....When we came back from getting hair cuts, the boys played outside seeing it was so nice. Emmit went right for the scooter. He was determined to ride the thing but couldn't keep his balance.

He tried hard and was busy with it for quite a while before he finally gave up. 

Nothing Stops Him

Yes, Gerrit had to have a tooth pulled. He enjoys showing others now that he's out of the dentist chair! He didn't do too bad considering it was his first time to the dentist. Lucky for us, his dentist is is god father, so he was very patient with him. I stayed in the waiting room, knitting and wishing time would pass faster than it did so Gerrit could be done. In the end, Gerrit still talks to Dave and did not hold a grudge about the whole experience. We head back in a few weeks for cleanings - that should be interesting!

I asked if he wanted a special tooth fairy pillow to put his tooth in and of course he did. Of all the fabric scraps I have, he chose this:

Go figure! I was a bit bummed because the white tooth didn't show up as well as I would've liked had we used other fabric. But, he likes it so I'll live with it. He has yet to put his tooth in it for the tooth fair, Martha. He took the tooth to preschool and said he still needs to show it to Luke and Paul before surrendering it to Martha.  The pillow is ready whenever he is!

Saturday was all about basketball. Gerrit had his own game going on in the basement. He put his jersey and shorts on and even threw the ball up to himself for the 'tip off'. Its amazing how he always wins in these games too. I guess he is REALLY good???

It wouldn't be a real basketball game without time outs and half time:

He insisted on having his water in the gatorade bottle like he sees on TV. 

He cracks me up - he loves going to the high school games and will even watch a little and ask who is winning. When he's not watching the games, he's busy playing with his friend Tate from preschool - his dad is the varsity coach. I don't mind taking him because I talk to Tate's mom and get to watch the game too. Emmit even went one night when it was just me at home - yes, I took both boys to a basketball game! He did great, partly because he was entertained by Tate's little brother who is about his age too. 

I think Gerrit's favorite part of the game is the end - he gets to go on the court and shoot hoops with Tate!

No More Babies

Today was Emmit's first official hair cut. I can't believe I waited this long, but I didn't want to get those great curls cut off. Gerrit had his at 18 months!

Who would've thought that in February, the boys would be able to ride their bikes to get a hair cut:

Adam had a church meeting so I had Luke come along in case I was needed to help Emmit, he would take the pictures. Luke has his hair cut by the same woman so he knows right where the suckers are:

Emmit enjoyed trying to take it from him! How about that long hair in back???

Emmit wouldn't sit on the booster, even after Gerrit had his hair cut and showed him what to do. So I held him on my lap - my children like to make things difficult for me!

He sat very still and did a great job for her. She worked fast but I think Emmit cooperated better than Gerrit did at his first haircut.

Gerrit didn't get bored waiting for Emmit....he enjoyed posing for the camera:

Gerrit still refuses the clippers so Tara thought we should start Emmit off right and get him use to it! She only needed it a little bit by each ear but at least he knows the noise and sensation. After she was done, Gerrit said he'd let her use them next time (I doubt it!).

And of course, where else do you put your sucker when its time to ride the bike home?

Not the best photo of the new cut, but the best I could do:

We are Blest:

1. For knowing a great dentist who was willing to stay after hours to check Gerrit's tooth out. It is confirmed he has a cavity. After much debate and me refusing to make him come in on Sat. to fix the problem, we will be returning on Friday (only after I convinced him that I do get paid if I take a day off).

2. For have a responsible 6th grader at our disposal for picking up our kids. I called Luke 10 min. before Emmit needed to be picked up and had him watch Emmit so Adam and I could go with Gerrit to the dentist - we weren't sure how Gerrit was going to handle the dentist (even though the dentist is his God father!).

3. For knowing a laid back family doc in town who is always willing to look at our kids! Gerrit complained about his ear hurting at preschool today. We initially thought the pain was the tooth but had him checked for an ear infection, just in case. Sure enough - his ear is 'pink'. Because Gerrit responded to over the counter pain meds, we are monitoring him tonight and John will do a 'house call' tomorrow night and check on his ear again. I think I'll have Emmit's checked too, just in case.

4. For Emmit to be seated in just the right spot at the table tonight during dinner that when he threw up, most of it landed on the table and chair and very little on the rug (we hadn't put the drop cloth back down after house cleaning on Monday). 

5. For a wonderful substitute teacher that is able to fill in for me the next 2 days as I deal with a potential flu-like kid (or a kid who just coughed too hard his dinner came up), potential ear infected kid and a kid who needs some dental work!

**It truly does take a village to raise a family! And we are blest by our 'village' of Zumbrota friends!**