Late Night Snack

We had a beautiful fall day at Adam's bike race. Gerrit enjoyed hanging out in the backpack watching all the racers. We stopped for 'lupper' on the way home around 3 30. Pizza with Dave tasted good seeing we sort of missed lunch (had snacks during the car ride).

Anyways, we emptied the car and played until bed time. We put Gerrit down at his normal bed time but he didn't seem to want to sleep. I rocked him and laid with him but he still didn't want to settle down. Finally he fell asleep for 20 min. or so. He woke up and started crying again. It dawned on us that he hadn't eaten since pizza at 3 30! So I had to quickly think of something to give him that wouldn't make too much of a mess, be quick, yet filling.

I brought him some milk and a granola bar. Nothing like eating and drinking in the dark on mom's lap after bedtime! After most of the milk was gone and 3/4 of the granola bar, he is sound asleep!

I came back to the basement and said I think he was hungry this whole time - too bad he can't tell us this stuff! Then Adam said, "come to think of it, I'm hungry too". He came back down with 2 pieces of leftover pizza and a corn muffin!

Oops. We'll chalk this one up as a reminder to never skip a meal with Gerrit!

Muscles

Last night after Gerrit was in bed, there was a knock on the door. Adam answered it and it was our next door neighbor "uncle Nikki" bring Gerrit a gift from Mrs Putney (their dog). It was a huge container of animal crackers (from Sam's club).

We often find random 'gifts' left by our door or even on our kitchen counter if the door was unlocked. Adam asked, "How can we leave even leave Z-town with great people like this?"

Nick also trimmed his walnut tree which hangs on our driveway and will pay for it to be taken down because we are getting our driveway paved in the spring. He knows the walnuts stain and doesn't want that to happen to our driveway. How sweet is that?


This morning Gerrit noticed his gift on the chair in the basement. I forgot it was there but he had this look on his face that screamed 'guilty!'

Here he is attempting to bring the container to me so I would open it and give him some:

I love the look on his face - sheer determination! He was able to pick it up but then dropped it. We have bought one of these before and had to hide it from him because when it does get lighter, he will carry it around wanting to eat some.


Its suppose to be a beautiful day (when the frost melts!) so Gerrit and I are going to Adam's race with Dave the dentist. Its not quite as far today, just northwest of the cities.

Surprise - Happy Anniversary!

When I got home today Gerrit was playing with this:

And this was inside:

And here is mom wearing it!

Adam ordered me an anniversary ring and it finally came in! I think the wait was worth it. Gerrit might have gotten a basketball hoop but I think I got the better deal, although Gerrit likes the little black box the ring came in.

A quick story: just before dinner Gerrit filled his pants. I was on the phone and managing dinner and Adam had returned home from a bike ride. When I asked if Gerrit smelled, Adam responded with "He smells like diamonds!" I think I'm going to be hearing that line for quite a while!

Little Man

Tonight we finally took the plunge - Gerrit got a real haircut! I scheduled a cut here in town (1 block from home) where our friends' boys get their hair cut.

Here is Gerrit beforehand (don't mind the snotty nose, it was wiped before we left home):

Ready to go (he liked to chew the cape!):

He sat still at the beginning:

Getting sprayed didn't bother him; he wanted to eat the spray bottle:

He didn't like having his hair cut around the ears:

Taking a quick break before the bangs:

A quick run around the shop, playing with mom's cell phone, and being given a sucker didn't keep him still enough for the bangs so mom had to step in and hold him (we gave up on the cape for him):

All done!

The finished product: our Little man!

He no longer looks like my little peanut - he now has the look of a big boy. Such a sad day.

Round 2

Gerrit made it 2 weeks before another cold got the best of him. He's back with a snotty nose. His spirits seem fine though. More of a pain for us trying to keep that nose wiped and snot off of us! Its getting to be that time of year; I'm curious to see how many colds he gets this season!

He didn't eat much for dinner which isn't unusual - his better meals are definitely breakfast and lunch. But he just had a snack - left over Belgium waffle that has been sitting on his 'food tarp' for a few days. I should see what else is down there and get it before Gerrit does! How gross; he didn't seem to mind the crunchiness because it is all gone! Guess I should take that has a hint to shake it out one of these days. It truly is amazing how much food ends up on the tarp in such a short amount of time.

New Fettish

I shouldn't be admitting this but I will because it is too funny. (Adam won't be happy about this being publicized). Anyways, Gerrit use to love to play with socks and would wear them around his neck or throw them etc. Well I think he has a new love - my underwear! After doing laundry I fold it and put it in piles in the basement to be taken up. Well, Gerrit loves to grab all the laundry and mess it up after I took the time to fold it. He now seems to pick out my underwear and wear it around his neck or whip it in the air. (No, I didn't take a picture of it!) I think it's funny - Adam doesn't. Adam would rather see Gerrit wear his around his neck then mine. When I asked Adam why - he said because he was a guy! As I write this Gerrit is playing with my laptop case and putting the strap around his neck. Maybe the kid just likes wearing things around his neck - no matter what it is.

Duluth

We had a nice short trip to Duluth. We stayed in a hotel with a pool and Gerrit and I hung out while Adam and dentist Dave raced the evening race under the lights. Gerrit and I went swimming and dined at a fine establishment next to the hotel (left w/ no car) - Country Kitchen (it really was quite disgusting but we made the best of it). The pool was nice and hot tub was even better we thought. Surprisingly Gerrit went to bed well considering we all slept in the same room. I had to sit in the dark for a few minutes but then was able to knit and watch Big 10 football quietly. Here is Gerrit's favorite part of the hotel:

We may have a safe cracker in the family!

Gerrit and I did attend the Sunday race. We stopped at friends' of friends' home who we've met through the cycling community. Gerrit and I hung out there while Adam and Dave went to the race venue early and help finish setting up the course (friend of friend put the 2 races on). Gerrit had fun chasing their dogs and the dogs had fun chasing him too. He fell asleep on the way to the race (10 min. from their home!) so he missed the 1st half of dad's race! When he woke up he enjoyed seeing the bikers and being outside.

The happy family overlooking the race and a beautiful view of Lake Superior:

The view minus the happy family.