I guess at daycare Connor and his good buddy Dominick have been "picking" at each other lately. They truly love each other so much, but Mary said that they bicker and are mean to each other sometimes. It's funny because Connor will always be thinking about Dominick in the morning when he picks out something to bring - does he have one for Dominick, will Dominick like it, etc...? Mary said she thinks the fighting is about Hailey sometimes. (If you remember the post about Connor wanting to buy a princess movie in case Hailey comes over - that Hailey) Are they really fighting over a girl already? I think a lot of it is just the age and testing the waters on things. Connor goes to school 3 of the 5 mornings and comes back to Mary's while all of his buddies are having their school with Mary. I think it sometimes bothers him that he's not included, but he's the one that gets to go to preschool. Anywho, yesterday at lunch I guess Dominick leaned over to tell Hailey something and Connor started to kick Dominick in the butt (Connor has some thing about hitting and kicking butts right now). Mary asked him why he did it and he said he didn't know why. At daycare the rule is "don't do something if you don't know why you're doing it", so he had to stand in the corner for a little while and think about why he did it. He didn't have an answer for her all day. I asked Connor about it in the van on the way home and he told me "People just don't know why they do stuff sometimes, mom." We read our books before bed and Matt tucked the boys in. I went to go check on them a little while later and Connor asked me if I knew what our new rule was. I told him I didn't, so he proceeded to tell me that daddy and him talked about if Mary tells us that he was naughty during the day (and it didn't count for little things) then we wouldn't get to read a book or watch a show before bedtime that night (Connor loves his stories, so that would definitely make him sad). I said "Oh, ok, and what do you think about that?" He replied "I think it's very fair mommy!" Glad he thinks our rules are fair. ;)
I forgot to write earlier that on the way to an auction this weekend (family neighbors when we used to live on Butternut Street until I was in 9th grade) Connor decided he wanted to say the alphabet backwards. We did, and I am embarrassed to say he did awesome and it seemed easier for him than it was for me.
Random thought - but it's been consuming a lot of my time at night lately. In the last couple of months friends have passed on some caringbridge sites ....and I am in awe of these families' strength, faith, love, and determination. I am drawn to checking them daily. Their stories bring tears and smiles and constantly make me think about my faith, my life, my boys, and my family. It reiterates every day for me the fact that it's important to be thankful for what I have, to take in and cherish the moments and small things, to make sure the people that I care for and love know it, and that when I think things are bad, there is always someone going through something worse than I am. My worries and stresses are minuscule compared to these stories. Here are a few of the sites if you would like to check in on these little angels and keep their families in your prayers. These people are amazing and going through so much, it makes me wish I could save the world.
Madelaine http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/madelainestoen
Ella Hope http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ellahope
Lauryn http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/laurynfreundl
Miley http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mileyahrens
~Five Guys and Two Gals~
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
The Joys of having all Boys
1) We have enough trains and train tracks, cars, and trucks to fill a real truck. I get to have them spread out all over my floors constantly. Lots of toe stubbing and stepping on wheels going on at our house. Lots of "beep - beep, vroom - vroom, choo -choo, and
watch out buddy" going on. Why we feel like we need to clean it up every night I'm not sure, maybe it makes me feel like I have some control over all of the chaos. However, it's all (if not more of it) right back out on the floor the next morning! I know many of you can relate!
watch out buddy" going on. Why we feel like we need to clean it up every night I'm not sure, maybe it makes me feel like I have some control over all of the chaos. However, it's all (if not more of it) right back out on the floor the next morning! I know many of you can relate!
2.) We can all take a bath together and not have to worry about having any talks about "body parts" that aren't in the tub! For now at least.......! Lots of splashing and laughing going on in that tub.
3.) We get to read lovely gross books about bugs. We've been doing a page a night in this book. It's like an I Spy book sort of, but extremely difficult. Matt and I joke about our eyes going "buggy" with it. Connor loves these type of books.
4.) I have a house full of balls. HA - I just realized how funny that sounded, but is true! Connor and Jacob love bouncing around on these Spiderman bouncy balls. We have so many basketballs, footballs, baseballs, and balls from Gopher, we don't even know what to do with them all. Dolls? Princesses? What are they? I know what Spiderman, Dinosaurs, Batman, and Captain America are though!
These are some of the joys of having all boys! Gotta love it. I am already envisioning our life when the boys are older - the grocery bill, the loads of dirty and smelly laundry and uniforms, and the burping and everything else that comes with being around boys. ;)
Connor went on a field trip to the fire station on Friday for school. He was so excited about it. They've been talking about fires and tornadoes and Connor comes home all excited about it. He showed us how to "stop, drop, and roll" and told us how important it is to get outside. Thursday night he came out of bed because of the thunder and asked a million questions about tornadoes -if one was coming, if they were real, how we stay safe, and on and on.
Connor's newest joke: What is louder than a dinosaur? Two dinosaurs. He says he made it up himself, but who knows.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Happy Birthday Daddy!
Matt finally caught up to his old woman and turned 30 yesterday! (April 23rd) Connor was determined to buy him a football (even though we have a few already - I convinced him to buy the cheaper one) so that they could play catch together. They were outside throwing it around already last night.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Treasures
For having no plans originally this weekend, we were very busy.
Saturday we had Connor's swimming lessons and then went to the Huskies baseball game. Uncle Mattey coaches and Connor is really getting into baseball (learning and yelling foul ball, cackling the batter, etc...). However, he still loves going to the park a little more, there's no flinching when I ask if he wants to go play. Sunday we went to church, to a pancake breakfast, to the OHS carnival, and then played outside with the neighborhood kids. The boys had fun at the carnival and won lots of lovely TREASURES that might accidentally disappear one of these nights soon. We already have a treasure (A.K.A junk) drawer that is overflowing with things with no where else to go. I try to throw them out every once in awhile, but wouldn't you know it's always the McDonald's toy that I threw out that someone is looking for. We came home today with cans of pop (which they thought was the coolest because we hardly ever drink pop around our house - and to add to it grandpa won them a 2 liter playing bingo), lovely bugs that stick to the wall when thrown, suckers, pencils, frisbees, pencil toppers, and these lovely kazoo lips and glasses that you see in the picture. They kept the boys entertained for a good 30 minutes.
Saturday we had Connor's swimming lessons and then went to the Huskies baseball game. Uncle Mattey coaches and Connor is really getting into baseball (learning and yelling foul ball, cackling the batter, etc...). However, he still loves going to the park a little more, there's no flinching when I ask if he wants to go play. Sunday we went to church, to a pancake breakfast, to the OHS carnival, and then played outside with the neighborhood kids. The boys had fun at the carnival and won lots of lovely TREASURES that might accidentally disappear one of these nights soon. We already have a treasure (A.K.A junk) drawer that is overflowing with things with no where else to go. I try to throw them out every once in awhile, but wouldn't you know it's always the McDonald's toy that I threw out that someone is looking for. We came home today with cans of pop (which they thought was the coolest because we hardly ever drink pop around our house - and to add to it grandpa won them a 2 liter playing bingo), lovely bugs that stick to the wall when thrown, suckers, pencils, frisbees, pencil toppers, and these lovely kazoo lips and glasses that you see in the picture. They kept the boys entertained for a good 30 minutes.
There was one of those jumping castles at the carnival and the boys used many of their tickets for it. Jacob was one of the smallest, but held his own. He just flopped around, or more like got flopped around, doing belly flops, trying to get his little legs to jump and stay steady. It was hilarious. When we got home and played outside the boys jumped on the neighbors' trampoline and they were all laughing at Jacob just getting flopped around. They were all concerned and worried about him, yelling at the other kids to be careful. I just sat there laughing thinking to myself that Jacob loves it. They must think I'm an awful mom because they were following him around everywhere - up the ladder, down the slide, climbing into the trampoline, and I just let him do his thing (obviously keeping an eye on him). They don't know Jacob too well yet! ;) His no fear is a little scary.
Friday, April 18, 2008
One, Two, Three Strikes and we're out of there....
Well, we tried swimming lessons with Jacob one more time last night. I took him this time because Matt was up in the cities. We got into the water at least (with lots of Nooooooooo's still) but the screaming came right away. Not wanting to force him and not wanting to make the others in the pool listen to his screaming anymore, we got out, changed, and headed home. What a little stinker, and needless to say we are done with this session. Park and Rec made some good money off of us! It was sooooo not what we expected with him. Oh well, time will tell and he'll let us know when he's ready. Like everything else with him! I'm sure he'll be jumping and splashing away all summer long.
Connor had pajama day at school today. He was so excited. They ate breakfast there, did activities with their teddy bears, and had a blast. I know I love it when we have pajama dress up day here at school! Nothing better than waking up and being able to walk right out the door (with a little freshening up of course)!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Happy 1st birthday Nolan!
Happy Birthday Noleyman!
We love you!!
Nolan turned one yesterday. We now have no more babies in the Ginskey household. It makes me sad... we'll have to get working on that one! ;)
Connor did great again at swimming lessons on Saturday. It's such a relief. Matt took him this time and on the way home they were playing what we call "I'm thinking about" (like I spy, but you give clues about the thing you're thinking about and the others guess). Connor's first clue for Matt was that it's something that girls wear. Matt started guessing dresses, skirts, a princess crown.... and Connor said no to all of them. Connor then gave Matt another clue that it goes around their back. Can you guess it? Matt thought he knew, but was fishing for Connor to give more information and tell him what it was. Connor said he didn't know what it was actually called and sort of pulled the collar of his shirt down to show some of his chest and told Matt that it also goes across here (his hand moving across his chest area). He asked Matt what it was called and Matt asked if he was talking about a bra. Connor said I think so. Matt then went into the whole a bra is sort of like underwear talk and that it's private stuff that we don't really talk about or show. Too funny - I'm glad Matt got to take him to lessons this time!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Swimming lessons update....Strike Two
So Jacob had swimming lessons again tonight. We tried a few "interventions" if you may, to improve on things from last time. He came to Connor's swimming lessons with me last Saturday to watch the "big boys and girls", we've been talking about swimming and baths and oh boy how fun it is, and we tried eating something before his lessons tonight (they're at 5:30 and thought that maybe last time he just needed some fuel in him). I was worried that he wouldn't even want to put on his swimming trunks at Mary's, but he was fine with that. We get to the pool and he's in a great mood, saying hi to everyone and watching the group before him. Connor, Nolan, and I go around the corner to watch through the window and I hear "Nooooo", "Noooo", and more "Noooo" coming from the hallway. I walk back around the corner and the other parents and kids are smiling and laughing because here's Jacob walking up the stairs in his swimming trunks in the opposite direction of the pool telling Matt "Noooooooo...". When it was time to go in Matt scooped him up and walked into the pool area. He started crying right away and Matt didn't even try to go in the pool. They came out of the pool area and Jacob comes running up to me to give me a big hug. We start talking to him trying to get him to go back in and he starts with his Noooo again. I wish I had a video tape of him saying no, because it's hilarious how he's saying it. He says it like a parent would say it to a child when asked to do or get something more than once. He cuts us off during our sentence and the No drags on. We would hardly get our sentence out - "Jakey, should we go ......Noooooo.....swimming in the pool?". "Jakey, watch them, they're getting their....Nooooooooooo...hair wet, and their belly's.......Noooooo......wet". He's not throwing a fit really, he's stubbornly as calm as can be if that makes any sense. That's kind of what makes it so funny. That and the fact that this is the Jacob that has no fear or inhibitions, and loves to push the limits. We decided to just leave. We have now struck out two times. Not sure if there will be a third, again, I will keep you posted.
We are taking the MCA's next week in school and we're trying to do whatever we can to get the students motivated and pumped up for them. We're trying to let them know that we're all about their success and cheering for them to do well. We decided on the theme "Rockin' with the MCA's" for the week and have had some activities going on - we've played 50's music at the end of every day this week, we're having a Sock Hop tomorrow, and on Monday we're getting up in front of them and singing the song "Don't Worry, Test Happy" to the the tune of "Don't Worry, Be Happy". We all have shirts that say that with a big yellow smiley face on them. Hey, whatever works! Anyways, I was trying to get an outfit ready for tomorrow to wear for the 50's theme and get some music for the Sock Hop. As Nate was helping me make a CD I was just thinking about how many of the kids don't even know what the music or what that time period was like? We had to talk about it in my class as to what they could wear for dress up day. It'll be interesting to see what the music will be like when Connor, Jacob, and Nolan (and all of your kids) get to be that age....they'll really have no clue about any of the great music from the 50's - 70's (not that I have any actual experience with it either and I know I'm not that old, but my brothers and I grew up with it with mom and dad).
We are taking the MCA's next week in school and we're trying to do whatever we can to get the students motivated and pumped up for them. We're trying to let them know that we're all about their success and cheering for them to do well. We decided on the theme "Rockin' with the MCA's" for the week and have had some activities going on - we've played 50's music at the end of every day this week, we're having a Sock Hop tomorrow, and on Monday we're getting up in front of them and singing the song "Don't Worry, Test Happy" to the the tune of "Don't Worry, Be Happy". We all have shirts that say that with a big yellow smiley face on them. Hey, whatever works! Anyways, I was trying to get an outfit ready for tomorrow to wear for the 50's theme and get some music for the Sock Hop. As Nate was helping me make a CD I was just thinking about how many of the kids don't even know what the music or what that time period was like? We had to talk about it in my class as to what they could wear for dress up day. It'll be interesting to see what the music will be like when Connor, Jacob, and Nolan (and all of your kids) get to be that age....they'll really have no clue about any of the great music from the 50's - 70's (not that I have any actual experience with it either and I know I'm not that old, but my brothers and I grew up with it with mom and dad).
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Like Mother and Father, Like Son
Connor made a list this morning of things he had to do and then checked them off as he did them. (Matt and I have a million different lists going; things to do, house projects, groceries needed, wish lists, songs to put on a CD, etc...) Here is Connor's list: 1. Mow mommy's lawn (Jacob got a bubble blowing mower for his birthday from Nana and Connor was pretending that the carpet in the house was grass), 2. Clean the beds, 3. Feed the cats with daddy, 4. Go to swimming lessons, 5. Go to Hailey's birthday party. He wrote it all by himself and was able to check them all off. Isn't he a little young to be making lists?
Matt, Connor, Jacob, and I went to Horton Hears a Who Friday night. Connor and I have been reading the pop up book we have of it for awhile now and he was so excited to go. This was Jacob's first movie at the theatre. We went to the 5:00 showing thinking it wouldn't be so busy.
He made it through about 3/4's of the movie and then had enough. He walked up and down the aisle, went up and down the same two steps, played with my keychain flashlight, and finished off the bag of popcorn. All in all it was a pretty successful first trip to the movie theatre. Connor's first movie was Curious George. I was pregnant with Jacob at the time.
The boys started swimming lessons this week. I need to give you a little background. When Connor took them last year at the AmericInn, the water was pretty cold. He was not excited about it and we had to bribe him a lot. It was hard for him to stay in the pool the whole half an hour, even with Matt in there holding him, telling him good job, almost done, almost done, almost done. He always looked purple and like he was in misery. Jacob on the other hand loves water, splashes in the tub, and was a maniac at the water park awhile back (in a previous blog). Jacob's lesson was Thursday night and we were thinking there would be no problem, piece of cake, he would have a blast. How wrong we were! Jacob wouldn't even sit down on the edge with Matt and get his legs wet. He cried and cried and walked away. When the kids and parents got into the pool, he wanted nothing to do with it. Matt even tried to just carry him in the pool with no choice, and he screamed. Out of the half an hour lesson, Jacob was in the pool for about 20 seconds. We were so surprised. We'll let you know how next Thursday goes. Connor's was this morning and he was in the pool without a parent for the first time. We were a little nervous and I couldn't wait to see how it went. I was definitely expecting a few small tears, shaking, and not wanting to do it. How wrong I was again! He did awesome! I was so proud of him. He got right into the pool with no hesitation what so ever, went under the water (we can hardly get him to do that in the bathtub) everytime his teacher asked him to, jumped into the pool and swam to the edge- twice!, actually looked like he was enjoying himself, and even gave me the thumbs up about 15 times (It was cute -he must have known I was nervous for him and needed reassurance that he was ok). On our way back to the van, he actually told me that I was "so wrong", about him being a little scared. I'm not writing this because I think he's a super swimmer because many of your kids love the water and have been jumping in since they were 1 and crawling. I'm writing it because just when you think you know your kids, they pull something like this on you! We were wrong with both of them!
Matt, Connor, Jacob, and I went to Horton Hears a Who Friday night. Connor and I have been reading the pop up book we have of it for awhile now and he was so excited to go. This was Jacob's first movie at the theatre. We went to the 5:00 showing thinking it wouldn't be so busy.
He made it through about 3/4's of the movie and then had enough. He walked up and down the aisle, went up and down the same two steps, played with my keychain flashlight, and finished off the bag of popcorn. All in all it was a pretty successful first trip to the movie theatre. Connor's first movie was Curious George. I was pregnant with Jacob at the time.
The boys started swimming lessons this week. I need to give you a little background. When Connor took them last year at the AmericInn, the water was pretty cold. He was not excited about it and we had to bribe him a lot. It was hard for him to stay in the pool the whole half an hour, even with Matt in there holding him, telling him good job, almost done, almost done, almost done. He always looked purple and like he was in misery. Jacob on the other hand loves water, splashes in the tub, and was a maniac at the water park awhile back (in a previous blog). Jacob's lesson was Thursday night and we were thinking there would be no problem, piece of cake, he would have a blast. How wrong we were! Jacob wouldn't even sit down on the edge with Matt and get his legs wet. He cried and cried and walked away. When the kids and parents got into the pool, he wanted nothing to do with it. Matt even tried to just carry him in the pool with no choice, and he screamed. Out of the half an hour lesson, Jacob was in the pool for about 20 seconds. We were so surprised. We'll let you know how next Thursday goes. Connor's was this morning and he was in the pool without a parent for the first time. We were a little nervous and I couldn't wait to see how it went. I was definitely expecting a few small tears, shaking, and not wanting to do it. How wrong I was again! He did awesome! I was so proud of him. He got right into the pool with no hesitation what so ever, went under the water (we can hardly get him to do that in the bathtub) everytime his teacher asked him to, jumped into the pool and swam to the edge- twice!, actually looked like he was enjoying himself, and even gave me the thumbs up about 15 times (It was cute -he must have known I was nervous for him and needed reassurance that he was ok). On our way back to the van, he actually told me that I was "so wrong", about him being a little scared. I'm not writing this because I think he's a super swimmer because many of your kids love the water and have been jumping in since they were 1 and crawling. I'm writing it because just when you think you know your kids, they pull something like this on you! We were wrong with both of them!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Random Thoughts by Connor.....
1. Out of the blue, "Mom, I bet the Easter Bunny and Santa stay up really late because they have to go to all of the houses that aren't in this land of Owatonna. They have so many presents to make, eggs to make, and candy to make."
2. "Is there a 'g' in the word neighbor?" Daddy responds, "Yeah there is!", as Matt and I look at each other wondering where this is going.... it's always a mystery with this kid! "That's strange because there is no "g" sound in the word", Connor says and to which Matt replies, "The 'g' is silent." "What does a silent letter mean?".
We then got interrupted by the carpet spot cleaner because Jacob threw up from getting so worked up because he didn't want his pj's on, didn't want to go to bed, and wanted to stay playing in the bathroom sink. We are definitely going through the "terrible twos" with him and I think it's so interesting for us because we never had an ounce of it with Connor, he skipped over that completely. We are getting pay back with Jacob! However, he isn't always terrible. I think his is called the "Jekyll and Hyde twos". He can be so sweet and lovey, make us laugh uncontrollably, has the best smile and faces, and gives great hugs and kisses. It is an interesting time.
2. "Is there a 'g' in the word neighbor?" Daddy responds, "Yeah there is!", as Matt and I look at each other wondering where this is going.... it's always a mystery with this kid! "That's strange because there is no "g" sound in the word", Connor says and to which Matt replies, "The 'g' is silent." "What does a silent letter mean?".
We then got interrupted by the carpet spot cleaner because Jacob threw up from getting so worked up because he didn't want his pj's on, didn't want to go to bed, and wanted to stay playing in the bathroom sink. We are definitely going through the "terrible twos" with him and I think it's so interesting for us because we never had an ounce of it with Connor, he skipped over that completely. We are getting pay back with Jacob! However, he isn't always terrible. I think his is called the "Jekyll and Hyde twos". He can be so sweet and lovey, make us laugh uncontrollably, has the best smile and faces, and gives great hugs and kisses. It is an interesting time.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April Fool's
Happy April Fool's day
I thought about sending out an April Fool's email that said we were pregnant again....(but that might not be too hard for some to believe.....!) We're not, don't worry! I sure would love to see some of your faces though!
The snow we got yesterday was definately an April Fool's gift.
Or...finding Connor's colored Easter eggs that we made this year, NEXT Easter would definately be an April Fool's joke. A gross and smelly one at that. I was making egg salad this morning using the eggs we colored and when Connor finally realized what I was doing he got all teary eyed. "Mom, where are my favorite eggs that I colored? What are you doing to them?" I told him I was making egg salad. "But, those were my favorite eggs and I worked so hard on them." as tears are coming down his face. I had to explain to him how we can't keep them like that for very long because they get gross and icky, but we'll do more next year. "Not for another whole year? That's a really long time". Not sure what he thought we would do with them for a whole year, especially since they've just been in the fridge since then anyways and he probably had forgotten all about them. He finally got preoccupied with something else and the egg salad sure was good for lunch!
I thought about sending out an April Fool's email that said we were pregnant again....(but that might not be too hard for some to believe.....!) We're not, don't worry! I sure would love to see some of your faces though!
The snow we got yesterday was definately an April Fool's gift.
Or...finding Connor's colored Easter eggs that we made this year, NEXT Easter would definately be an April Fool's joke. A gross and smelly one at that. I was making egg salad this morning using the eggs we colored and when Connor finally realized what I was doing he got all teary eyed. "Mom, where are my favorite eggs that I colored? What are you doing to them?" I told him I was making egg salad. "But, those were my favorite eggs and I worked so hard on them." as tears are coming down his face. I had to explain to him how we can't keep them like that for very long because they get gross and icky, but we'll do more next year. "Not for another whole year? That's a really long time". Not sure what he thought we would do with them for a whole year, especially since they've just been in the fridge since then anyways and he probably had forgotten all about them. He finally got preoccupied with something else and the egg salad sure was good for lunch!
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