Star Wars Birthday Party

After much preparation and anticipation, we celebrated Ramsey's THIRD birthday on Sunday.  It was a fun Star Wars themed party (could it have been anything else at this stage of the game?!?).  :-)

The lucky little birthday boy had a table-full of wonderful gifts.  He was excited to open them.  He had found a few of them early and thought he might get away with peeking.  Nope!  :-)

 Ramsey was so thrilled that many of his family could come.   We were missing a few key people, but they were there with us in spirit (love you guys!).  

Cousin Isaac came to celebrate....

 And Uncle Troy....

And Bumpa....

And Nana Vicki....

And Nana Karen ("two Nanas", as Ramsey excitedly noted)...

And, of course Connor, Daddy, and me.

Everyone pigged out on pulled pork sandwiches ("Bantha Burgers"), chips ("Princess Lays") and dip ("Dip Fortuna"), punch ("Yoda Soda"), crudites ("Dippin' Droids"), homemade Star Wars-shaped peanut butter cups ("Vader snacks"), etc.  Isaac noted that the Star Wars food puns were "bad".  Ha!!  Yes, they kind of were.  :-)   But, they were fun. 

 Ramsey received a lot of super cool presents; a BB8 bicycle helmet (so cute!!), Dino Trucks toys, wooden toy cars on a trailer with a cool crane, Kylo Ren bubbles, a spinning top, funny potty books (how apropos!), learning activity books and puzzles, musical instruments, a fuzzy monster bowling set, a Star Wars sleeping bag, Star Wars play figures, Star Wars tennis shoes, a big BB8 sipper, BB8 wall art, a nice chunk of cash to put into his savings account, and more.

Here, he loved the helmet, but wasn't so sure about it being strapped to his head! ha!  He'll get used to it.

  Here's Ramsey, trying out his new saxophone!

and trumpet!

 and checking out some of his new Star Wars dudes.

 After present-opening, it was time to sing to the birthday boy and eat white cake with a buttercream and raspberry coulee layer. 

This was my first attempt to make a fondant-topped cake.  Ramsey loves BB8, so that was my cake challenge.  It was quite a process and I learned a lot (thank goodness for my hours of 'experience' through watching Food Network cake shows!).  I drew BB8's details on with a food-safe dye pen and then painted the colorful accents with food paint.  It was a fun creative project!

  

 Ramsey doesn't always like people singing (oddly, since he's fine with music on TV!), but he did well and only covered his eyes a little bit.  :-)

 Time to blow out the candle!  He needed a tiny bit of help.  :-)

Happy Birthday, sweet Doodlebug!

And thanks to everyone who made it to his party and a big hugs to all who weren't able to make it.  Love you all!

Ramsey's First Day of Preschool

We awoke an hour earlier than we normally do to get Ramsey ready for his first day of preschool.  I was excited.  He was excited.   Donned in his R2-D2 shirt, storm trooper hoodie, and a little bit of gel in his hair (gotta look good for the new little ladies, ya know), he was ready.

Of course, I took lots of pictures before I put Ramsey's coat on and he and left with Daddy for his new adventure.

I was "good".   Ramsey was going to preschool and I was excited for him to learn new things and meet some friends.   Yup, I was good.  Truly... fine.  :-)  That is, until the minute Eric walked out the door, carrying him away to the truck.   Ramsey was grinning from ear to ear and waving at me, saying "Bye bye, Mommy, bye bye!"
Then, I lost it... just a little bit.    So bittersweet.

I thought Ramsey would do fine being "left" at preschool.   Eric wasn't so sure and joked (ok, so it was only sort of a joke) that we'd be getting a phone call within the hour for us to come pick up our child.

Eric had butt-dialed me by mistake, so when the drop-off was made, I heard it!  :-)   Ramsey was good.   I heard "Bye bye, Daddy, bye bye!" and that was that.  Eric called me to confirm the news.  :-)

Doodlebug had a great day!  Mom and I picked him up (Mom wanted to see the facility) and he was happy.  He has talked about going back to school constantly ever since.  And, he's been talking about going on the field trip to the fire station non-stop.  He has to wait a few more days.   Day 1: Success!

Happy Birthday, Doodlebug!

Three Years Old?  Unbelievable, isn't it?!?

Since his birthday fell on a Tuesday this year, his actual birthday was quite low key.  Nana Karen, Ramsey, and I ran a few errands in the afternoon.  Ramsey and Connor played "scare and laugh" (until Ramsey got the hiccups) and then we sat together and chowed down on one of Ramsey's favorite suppers (wiener wraps with mac and cheese - so NOT nutritional, I know!).

We let him open one of his presents before his party on Sunday.

We gave him a new BB8 Droid backpack (complete with flashing lights when his tummy is pressed).  He will need this on Thursday; his first day of preschool!

This weekend, we'll have a birthday party, with much of the family coming!

Notables for Ramsey:

Favorites:

Foods: Peanut butter, donut holes, chicken Alfredo pizza, anything BREAD-related (such a little carb freak!), french fries, grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup, wiener wraps with mac n cheese, fruit/veggie "on-the-go" packs (mango-banana-kale and pumpkin-mango are currently his favorites), Oreos, Star Wars graham cookies, yogurt.

Activities:  Ice-fishing in the "Star Wars Fort", playing outside, hiding under pillows, RUNNING, counting.

TV Shows: Paw Patrol, Lego Star Wars, Annoying Orange (*sigh* - Don't ask!).

Movies:  Star Wars Episode III, Wreck-It Ralph

Toys: Star Wars figures, Legos, Play Doh, his Kindle (s)

Books: "Goodnight Forest Friends", "The Cat in the Hat", Dr Suess Medley book.

Music:  Ramsey loves music (but he doesn't like anyone else singing - most of the time!).  He still adores barbershop and AC/DC's "Thunderstruck", Star Wars parodies on YouTube (during the last few months, he's really started singing and humming).

Stats:

Height: 36"

Weight: 29.5 lbs.

"Bye Bye Amy" :-(

"Amy's home!", my little 3-year-old exclaimed early Monday afternoon when his dear friend walked through our front door.

Well, it was a bittersweet afternoon.  Today was Amy's last day to come to the house for Ramsey's speech therapy.   Last Friday (I was gone on a business trip), it was Karen's last day for his occupational therapy.   Their individual assistance towards Ramsey's educational path will cease because he will turn three years old on the 24th.  From there, he will transition into the public school's preschool education system.

Amy's been with us for well over a year (she's family!) and Karen's been coming since September (we barely had time to break her in!).  It was really hard to say goodbye!

When Amy was here, Ramsey was very energetic and happy!  It was sad for me,  thinking this would be "the end" after this session.   Here they are for a big hug (geez, getting all vaklemp thinking about it now).   Ramsey's goodbyes to Amy were nonchalant, as if she'd be back next week.   I know he'll be sad too though, when he asks about her in the near future, but then is reminded that her sessions here are complete.

"Bye bye Amy!", Ramsey said with a big hug, a waving arm, and a cheerful grin.

We were very blessed to have the two special ladies in our lives.  Another chapter has closed and another will start.

Ramsey's new journey is that he will be starting preschool soon (two days after his birthday).  He'll be attending the program two days a week.   We know it will be a terrific experience for him.  And, he will get to make friends!  We are so thankful for that and can't wait for fun new stories from school

Winter FUNderland

Living on the lake has a few advantages in the chilly months.   When it's not too cold and blistery or windy, it's certainly a winter wonderland.

The boys have been out ice fishing and sledding quite a bit lately.  It's nice that the guys can just walk a few steps to their activity destination.

Riggs is a fan of sledding.  Er, make that nipping at the sled while Connor proceeds to blast downhill!  I don't praise our steep hill too often (man, it's a rough workout on the quads and hamstrings!!), but in the winter, it is the perfect sledding hill.  Connor and Riggs spent a ton of time marching up the hill, then quickly speeding down it, over and over again.   The pair have such a fun time!  (And, apparently 10 times more stamina than I could fathom!)

 I pulled Ramsey down the hill in his toddler sled (he was a little unsure of that this year, but I still got some laughs), but wasn't too interested in continuing.  We tromped through the snow over to the "Star Wars Fort" (aka ice-fishing shack).  He seems to find ice fishing an activity to be treasured.

Checking out minnows is especially fun as well.

He's been telling everyone he sees that he's been ice fishing.  Pretty exciting stuff, I guess.  :-)  

Pillow Fightin' Fun

A typical evening in our home; a toddler and a teenager, duking it out with pillows.   

....My sweet little treasures!  :-) 

A Day With Daddy

Eric had MLK Day off from work, so Ramsey got to spend the whole day with Daddy, playing away.  From my office downstairs, I could hear the giggles and play.  It went on for a few hours!  When I was able to break away for lunch, here's what I found:

That day, they had gotten out every single Star Wars character that Ramsey had and played "battles" with them on the kitchen table.

  They also watched some Lego Star Wars and a Star Wars movie.  ....pretty darn good day, having "guy time"!

2016: A Year in Review... of a Toddler's Words & Actions

Toddlers are ever-changing and evolving... evolving into the little people that will someday rule the world!   As we try to parent Ramsey to become an empathetic and sweet, confident, courageous, and courteous young man, sometimes we scratch our head at the things that this child does!

Ramsey's speech has blossomed this year, especially over the past few months.  We do have many good chuckles.  The darndest things come out of his mouth - some, I will NOT mention on this post!  :-)

Precursor/Preface:  If you don't give a rip about other people's kid's weird little stories (many are "had-to-be-there moments"), you might want to stop reading and save your time!  :-)   I'm adding these little stories and notables for when I print this blog out at the end of the year.  It is our scrapbook and our yearly memories.

That said, I've often said, "Oh I wish I would have written that down", in regards to funny things Connor has said in the past (Ex: Age 6 or so, he said, "I want to be a black football player when I grow up!" - actually referring to wearing black uniforms, like the Raiders - ha!).  Well, I have one more chance to do it with Ramsey, so I've tried to write little things down here and there.  I have missed a ton, but I'm trying.

Ok, so, here goes... here's my list of notable accomplishments by Ramsey.  Or, "Things I Never Thought I would Say... Until I Had a Toddler":

* Spring 2016 - While changing Ramsey's diaper, I actually uttered the words: "Ramsey, take that tauntaun off of your pee pee!!!" (It's odd how fascinated toddlers are with 'certain things'.  Oye!!!)
For those of you who may not remember what a tauntaun is, it is a fictional animal from Star Wars that lives on Planet Hoth.  Ramsey has a small tauntaun action figure/toy that he plays with.

* June 4, 2016 - "Ramsey, quit licking that rabbit's butt!!!"

~ Bumpa had carved (and painted) Ramsey a 4" rabbit for Christmas the previous year.  He likes to play with it.  And, apparently he liked licking it.

* October 1, 2016... "The frog incident".  *sigh*  

Picture a day like this (this wasn't the actual day):  The five of us were outside, hanging out in the yard, swinging on the new play set, running up and down the hill, playing fetch with the dog.  

Connor is frog-hunting and he finds some down by the lake.  He excitedly brings one up to the yard for his little brother to see.  Fun!

He carefully places the frog in the grass and calls, "Ramsey, come look at this baby frog that I found!"  (yes, it was a baby!).  Ramsey hurries over to get a glimpse of the dear sweet slimy little fella.  He looks at it, he looks up at us... then, he brings his foot up....  in slow-motion, we're all gasping and thinking "Nooooooooooooooooo!!!".  With that, he brings his foot down swiftly and forcefully.  STOMP!  Nailed it.

We couldn't believe our eyes.  What just happened?  How did his little size 6 toddler foot actually connect to the exact spot where this tiny little froggy was, without it escaping?   Our mouths agape... a "holy [curse word]" may have escaped our (er my?) lips. Shock... dismay!  The baby frog... was no more.  :-(    Ramsey looked up at us and smiled, then ran away.  Still shocked, we weren't sure whether to remain completely appalled or to start laughing in disbelief.  So, we did both (feeling guilty for the laughs of course).    We knew if we scolded Ramsey and told him that he just killed a baby frog, he would start crying, inconsolably (he's a softie and doesn't want to hurt anyone/anything), then probably try to kiss the deceased amphibian.  

Eric thinks this was the result of the earlier "inside frog incident", when the frog got away in the house... and I went berzerk (the darn thing was LOOSE - and I really don't care for frogs).   It scared Ramsey and I think I may have scarred him.  Ugh!   

Knowing Ramsey, stomping Baby Kermit wasn't an act to be contemptuous.  And, he didn't understand what he had just done.   But, he was back to business, playing.  RIP, Froggy.  The End.  

* September & October 2016 - Just a notable and a RELIEF... Ramsey is FINALLY starting to sleep through the night!  And, get this, he lets me read our books, say our prayers and goodnights and still leave when he's awake.  Hallelujah, Mom will now get sleep... and get back into her own (bed most of the time).  :-)

*  October 2016 -  We thought Ramsey was very smart and clever when he could count to 10 by the time he was 2 1/2 (by this time, he is starting to talk -much of it can be understood, so that helped!).  But, he learned to count to 20 also by October.  There were many mornings when we would hear him in his bedroom (via the video/audio monitor)... counting to 20.  And, then he'd start counting backwards from 20!   That's how you wake up in the morning?   Counting?  Ok, maybe the kid will be a mathematician?  He surely wouldn't be taking after ME, if that is the case.

*  October 29th, 2016 - Ramsey's first #1 in the potty chair.   We're just dabbling at this point... he's acting kind of ready (he's no longer screaming bloody murder at the thought of sitting on the plastic throne).   As rewards for his potties in the chair, he receives little Star Wars Galactic Hero figures.  It seems to be a decent motivation.  

*  November 2, 2016 - First #2 in the potty chair.  This is all very interesting to you all, isn't it?   It's my notables and see the notations in the "preface" please.    :-)    hehe

We aren't trying to train super hard at this point, but will now start!

*  November 2016.  Ramsey's favorite game as of late is Scribblenauts.  In this game, you try to pass levels by typing in things that will help you get through to the next level.  Example:  "Help Maxwell get to the other side of the lava pit".   In this level, you have to give him different kinds of bridges using adjectives (heavy metal bridge - that won't dissipate with the ferocious wind, a long bridge that will reach the other side, a cold fireproof bridge that will enable Maxwell to walk over a fire pit) so he can make it past each obstacle to get to his reward (a gold star).   He's known his numbers, letters, and shapes for a year, but we're astounded how this child recognized words and can remember what he needs and wants for each level.  And, how he can get them (type them) himself!  Crazy!   Ramsey, you're a smart little cookie.

* December 2016 - Ramsey's speech therapist, Amy, says he's doing great and is pretty much caught up to where he should be.  He still needs to improve on articulation.  Amy's help for the past 15 months has been very instrumental in his progression, as well as the expectations we should have for him.  

* December 2106 - At night, before Ramsey goes to bed (and sometimes on the weekends, during the day), Daddy and Ramsey sit together in Dad's chair and watch Star Wars videos on YouTube (videos, with people singing parodies - some are really rather good!).  Ramsey is so cute and starts to sing along to the songs.  His "firsts" for actually singing.   I can't seem to get good video footage of this.  When I start recording, he clams up!  Rats!

* December 24, 2016 - Ramsey's new favorite sentence:  "I will fight you!" (referring to the cardboard wrapping paper batons, being used as light sabers.   Hiiiii-yaaaaaaaaa!   As his therapists and others say, "he's all boy!".

* December 2016 - Due to the need to obtain a black hole on one of his levels in his Scribblenauts game, he loves to run around say "black hole" (guess it's his new favorite thing).  The black hole looks like a swirling vortex on his game.  When he flushes the toilet, he says "black hole... flush it down!". I guess that's what the escaping water looks like to him.  Hmm, pretty sharp.   Good associating!   The flip side of this is that when he says "black hole", it comes out sounding more like "butt"... and then ya know, "hole".   Connor finds this oh-so-amusing and has taught him to say "HI, BLACK HOLE".  You get the picture and see why this might become an issue in public.  Eh... older brother!!!!  C'mon man!  :-)  

This little character says so many crazy and funny things and is constantly making us roll with silly things that he does.  What a special charming time for this sweet little boy.   

A Happy Family Christmas in January

Our Christmas with Eric's side of the family proved to be another nice weekend.  The weather, though quite cold, was rather cooperative (no blizzard or horrible winds!).   The trip got pushed back a week this year; Connor had surgery (for a deviated septum) and hadn't fully recuperated in time for the original trip.

We were all excited to go to Nana and Bumpa's house.  We hadn't seen the crew for quite some time, so having this get-together was cherished time spent.

The kids wasted no time getting rambunctious; Ramsey grabbed a tupperware top (his gun) and Connor, Sadie, and Isaac were his victims, falling to the floor.

However, Connor and the cousins did get their "revenge".

After we pigged out on pizza, cookies, bars, peppermint bark, and crutites with dip, we headed downstairs to open Christmas gifts.

Isaac was giving Cousin Connor a big ol' hug.  Of course, I was late to catch the sweetness of the act.  By the time I was able to snap a pic, Isaac had caught on and didn't think a picture of him hugging his cousin would be very cool.  :-)

Ramsey was excited to open his presents this year.  The rest of us overgrown children were near-giddy as well!

Connor and Sadie were teasing Isaac at one point.  Isaac has some pretty good expressions.  It was all in good fun and they all were laughing.  

After present-opening was over, we enjoyed a huge delicious home-cooked meal of oyster stew, ham, cheesy potatoes, and tons of extras.  Nana spent a lot of time creating a special meal for everyone.

This year, Sadie and Isaac spent the night at Nana and Bumpa's, so the kids all played into the evening.

In the morning, we'd discovered that Sadie allowed a little bed partner- Riggs!  I guess he'd be a rather large bed partner!

I'm not sure if Riggs was supposed to be on the sofa bed or not (my guess is probably not!), but he certainly was spoiled that night, loving every minute of it, no doubt.

And, of course, after the kids were up dressed, I had to get the annual Christmas  picture of the cousins.  It never ceases to amaze me how much the kids have grown!  

And, we had to get a snap of the fam too.  :-)  Tradition, ya know!