Weekend Fun

This past weekend, we didn't have a lot on the calendar to do. We did have a date night for Saturday night which was wonderful. We actually did dinner AND a movie. It was wonderful! But the weather was just stunning for the Columbus holiday long weekend. We were in the high 70's with no humidity. It was nice to be able to wear tank tops and shorts one last time.

We contemplated going to the Fryeburg Fair on Sunday but was told due to the rain earlier in the week, it was packed, hot and over priced. We tossed some ideas around about what we could do that would be a fraction of the cost. This is what we decided to do:





On our way over to the playground, Eli taught us how to chase squirrels!




After playing on the playground, we picked up some yummy goodies at The Cookie Jar. We continued to go down Route 77 to Fort Williams.



I would say it was a success!!!


Tell me, what do you and your family do for frugal fun?!! Write a blog about it and link it up below!

Apple Picking

Nothing says autumn like a trip to the apple orchard. It was also a very warm, humid day. This orchard serves warm, homemade donuts that are just divine! All of us gobbled them right up- an apple cider donut, blueberry donut, and pumpkin donut. My favorite was the blueberry! I must add that all of these were made with ingredients found right on the farm! Yes-folks, we are still able to pick blueberries in September because we have had a warmer end to summer.

My Eighteen Month Old (Sort of)

I say sort of because I in just a few days, Eli will be 19 months old. I feel as though our lives are happening at lightening speed.

Elijah is a funny little boy. He gets into what we call "Crazy mode" where he starts running around and screaming and laughing incredibly hard. It is quite hilarious. He also tends to make these throat noises that I just can't explain.



He is taking after his daddy and his brother with his passion about books. He will turn himself around, back his rear up into you, plop himself down and proclaim his version of the word, "Read." It is absolutely wonderful. One day he was so insistent about reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear that it really sounded like he was saying it really fast. Who knows- maybe he was?!

Look, Daddy, Look!

Sentences are getting stronger!

Aiden is asking more and expressing more. He actually is telling us when he is hungry now. He is engaging us in discussion. Yesterday, when I asked him how his day at school was, he responded, "Good." He now says, "TV Please, I think!" "YAY!"

Now, he is staring to say things that we can't decide where he is going. It is fun to try to figure it out. It is exciting because it means his language is growing, and he is willing to risk and try.

My three and a half year old is now talking like a two to two and a half year old. It feels good!

Way to go little man!!!

What a Difference One Day and Prayer Makes

If only you could hear how happy and excited and thankful I am as I type this!!!!

I got a call today from Aiden's school. They want to have him there for five days a week- not three. They also now have a morning spot, so we can put him in that slot. AND- Speech Therapy is starting on Monday. AND- we have requested for a driver so that my mom (his daycare) doesn't have to do it. AND- he is also getting an OT evaluation as well!

THIS IS HUGE!!! I am so thankful for all of it. He needs it, his memere needs it, his brother needs it and his mommy and daddy need it. His behavior and delays affect all of us. This will also mean that Eli will get one-on-one with his memere and will also get fewer pushes and hits. It also means that Eli will have a more consistent nap time schedule. It also means that Aiden can still get a nap in the afternoon and not be so exhausted which just leads to more fighting, etc. It is so HUGE!!!

I am anxious to go to the school at the end of the month so that we can start to implement the behavior modifications they have been using with him at home so that we are all on the same page.

PHEW!

The weight is lifting people...it is lifting!!!

Maybe The Problem is Me?

Today I am linking up with Shell over at




Even though Aiden has developmental delays, and now that I have two children, I am struggling even more. Monkey see- monkey do. Eli is climbing, so Aiden (the older one) now climbs. Eli doesn't respond to behavior modification. Aiden never did either.

We took a road trip this weekend. A short road trip (meaning two days) of 11 hours in the car. It was fine going out. I packed plenty of books and toys and special treats. The ride back was hell. Aiden had to poop and wouldn't poop on a toilet or in a diaper. (He is 3.5 years old and is terrified of pooping and we can't potty train him or night train him.) Daddy accidentally shut Aiden's finger in the door. So for most of the ride back, Aiden screamed about a throbbing finger or a sore bum.

We got to our event. It was not what we expected but that was okay. But our children can't follow a path and follow others. It turned into a chasing event. It was an art show that took place in a cow field (100+ acres). There was music. Do you think my kids could run and play and dance? No, my kids climbed the car that was in the field and couldn't leave it alone. My kids can't play with toys- they destroy- they didn't want to run through the sprinkler- my oldest screamed as if the thing was trying to murder him. Even after being redirected from things multiple times- they go back. They don't want to play- they want to do the opposite of everything. We were on them constantly- no stop.

Where did we go wrong as parents? I admit- I am so jealous of the parents that have kids that play and respond to redirection. (I spent three days of removing my son off the radiator at our house and giving him a toy and saying no- he never stopped after doing this more than 20+ times a day.) I am fearful of what could be with my 17 month old who isn't taking redirection. Are we on the same path with him as we are with Aiden?

Aiden proceeded to run out of his memere's house and run down the street in the road with 35- 55 mile an hour cars sped past him. Aiden couldn't wait his turn to ride the tractor and burned him thumb.

Please excuse all these rambles but my mind is in a fury. I am starting to feel as though nothing about my life with kids is normal and wondering if it was genetic code or something that we just don't have to make it as parents.

My Boys

Let me introduce you:

This is Aiden. He is 3 and some months. He can be hilarious, trying, testing, and sweet. He makes me tired and then makes me laugh the next minute.



This is Elijah. We tend to call him Eli. He is almost a year and a half. He is a big boy with a huge dare factor. He is the child that will be having me go to the ER every other week. He has the best belly laugh. He is a horrible sleeper too!



This is Russ. On Tuesday, we will be celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary. We have officially been together for 15. He is a funny man---he can be just as trying but he is my guy. I love him to pieces. He and I work well together.



And lastly, in my house of boys, my two dogs: Tugs and Tanner. Tugs is a sweet thing that has to pee every two hours, and Tanner is timid and sweet and is built like a camel. Russ' favorite is Tugs, and he doesn't understand Tanner. I love both of them equally but for different reasons. Tugs is my teddy bear- literally. Tanner- he is just so sweet.