Teigue's Creations

Back in December Teigue started making little buildings for our house elf Ollio. They were built just in case Ollio got so tired after a day of watching Teigue and Stella that he couldn't fly back to the North Pole. The buildings in the beginning were decent for a novice builder such as Teigue- basically blocks piled as high as Teigue could reach. As each day passed he got more elaborate in his designs and started adding accesories and pictures. One building even had loads of furniture from Stella's doll house. This was so Ollio had a place to sit, go to the bathroom, sleep. Each night Teigue had to make a new house, and each morning he was so excited when he discovered a sign that Ollio had spent the night.

In March we started talking to the kids about St. Paddy's Day. We talked about how a stinky leprechaun may come to the house and play some tricks on us. We told them how leprechauns are very sneaky but can be trapped. If you trap them, we told them, those leprechauns had to give you three wishes in return for their freedom. The thought we were crazy until they woke up one morning and discovered all of Teigue's pictures were upside down. Stinky leprechaun! Fueled by the thought of a world made of candy, a pot of gold and the ability to turn anything into candy, the kids got to work on some traps.

The building is always Teigue's job, Stella is in charge of supplies. She gets the blocks that Teigue wants, he places them every so carefully where he wants them. The buildings usually have the gold (some pyrite we bought at Yosemite last year) hidden deep within. The hope was that the leprechaun would get so excited by the gold that he wouldn't realize that the roof was made of paper or the wood doors would close (with Teigue's help) and he would be trapped! Again, a new one was built every night, but now the designs became more elaborate.

It is pretty amazing seeing what comes out of his imagination. One even had a space for Teigue's feet (2nd one down) so he could blast off with the leprechaun- since we do not want that leprechaun to get away! We need a world full of candy trees and chocolate rivers! Teigue is so bent on trapping one that he continues to make a trap every night, just in case. 

 

Free Wheeling

I think I was 5 or 6 the first time I rode a bike without training wheels. I remember the day perfectly- it was a hot summer day and I was on my brother's bike. We were at Westchester Hills and Kevin was running behind me on the tennis courts helping make my bike steady. He must have run behind me for miles that day- but as a big brother, that was his job. Finally after mile 10 or so, I got it. I steady myself and figured out how to keep myself from falling and I was free. Free of training wheels. Free to ride around the complex. Free to crash every day and get monster scrapes on the side of my leg that I still have the scars from today. It didn't matter how many times I fell, or almost got hit by a car- yeah, I was kind of accident prone as a kid- learning how to ride a bike with only two wheels was one of the most wonderful experiences of my childhood. 

A couple weeks ago I took Teigue to a park not far from here to hopefully learn how to ride his bike without the trainers. We have been talking about it for a while but my little safety captain just wasn't ready. He liked the safety that those extra two wheels gave him. He was content. Then he saw his best friend Avery riding without trainers. We took them off shortly there after. 

On the day that we went I was certain that Teigue was going to be like me and take 10 miles before he figured out the balance aspect. I was mistaken. He literally took 30 seconds to get it. He was free! Then he promptly crashed into a pole and fell off his bike. Yes- he is like me! But he got it- that day I ran behind him just at take off. He couldn't figure the whole pushing with his feet until he got enough speed built up to ride on his own. We actually has quite a few take offs that day because after the pole incident he was fall off his bike anytime anything remotely came in his path- benches, people, small sticks. He was so afraid that he was going to crash again that he would just ride into the grass and fall off. So, I ran after him again and again and again. Today, that changed. Mr. Fox is now 100% free of training wheels- and he is very proud that he is only 5 and can do it. Ask him. He'll tell you.

Ick.

We have been hit hard this week by some sort of evil virus. Fever, aches, exhaustion- you name it, we have it. This week I am thankful for red, white and blue popsicles (nothing makes you feel better than a Firecracker popsicle), a TV in our bedroom with loads of DVR'd shows and lemonade. I am also thankful for a little puppy dog that isn't complaining that he isn't going to the dog park every day, or getting the amount of attention he usually gets. Instead he is just content to lay next to a very sick little boy and make sure his favorite person in the world gets better quick. 

SeaWorld

For a few months now the kids have been begging me to take them to SeaWorld. Although I like SeaWorld and we always have a fun time whenever we go, I think I just got burned out from going all the time. One can only say no so many times until the kids really start whining, so we headed on out to visit us some Shamu.

When we got there we discovred that Shamu Stadium was closed- which bummed us all out because the kids are finally old enough that they actually wanted to go see a show and actually sit through it (or so they said). Thankfully SeaWorld has loads of fun things to do other than watch Shamu, like feeding some bat rays. Ick.

I think another reason why I have been hesitant to go to SeaWorld is that it can get pretty crowded- which makes me nervous when I go by myself. My kids listen really well and usually stay with me, but they are kids- and there is this giant play structure called the Bay Of Play there. It really is the Bay of Freaking Out for me since the kids can run in all sorts of directions and get away from me if I'm not right on top of them. So we usually avoid it. I make some kind of excuse as to why it's closed, or take their mind off it with some other activity. Unfortunately for me, I think they have caught on to my trickery and don't believe me anymore. Then phew for me, SeaWorld was empty and Brady was with us so we headed on over. 

You know what? I discovered that my kids are old enough to go ahead just a little bit because they wait and listen- even if they just want to run run run around.

We also discovered that Stella is a bigger girl herself on this adventure. For the first time she actually touched Zoe and Elmo instead of waving at them from the safety of my arms. It was a big day for everyone!