Dennis had some sort of nightmare and came to sleep with us last night. He tossed and turned and told me he dreamed that his Daddy and I kicked him out of the house. I told him we had no such plans! He slept much better, but I had his legs and head all over me all night. I overslept big time, and he's not happy that we missed church. He did enjoy going with us tonight, playing with the younger kids while we attended our small group.
He read through five lessons in his primer today and is thrilled to discover that it gets easier each time. I'm hoping he'll master it over the summer, and I also plan to teach him to tie shoes. If he learns to ride his bike sans training wheels, well, that would just be awesome as well!
He told me this morning that there was a bad smell coming from me, and I took that as license to indulge in a long bubble bath while he played. Later, as I was telling his Gran that he'd told me I was stinky, he said, "yeah, and then she took a bath for TWO WHOLE HOURS!". For the record, it was more like half an hour (the absolute longest time I could trust him to stay involved in the Transformers show he was watching).
Tonight, after he'd been asleep for an hour, we went in to check on him. As I turned to leave his bed, I heard a loud "meow" and turned back to see his eyes closed and his mouth in a big grin. He asked "why are you checking on me?". I told him we did every night. He said "well, why did you wake me up?". Oops. I assured him I didn't mean to do so! I hope he stays put tonight.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
that particular turn of phrase
Today, Dennis was very particular about what he wanted to eat. He cried when we wouldn't make biscuits for him this morning (don't feel bad for him--we made them for supper tonight). And for his afternoon snack, he asked for nuts. I managed to find a bag of trail mix and offered to pour it into a bowl so that he could pick out what he wanted. He said "no, only pour the nuts in the bowl--you need to pick out all the other stuff." I told him I'd pour it all into a bowl and he could eat the nuts. He wasn't happy. He again insisted that I do the picking. I was busy painting at the time, so I exasperatedly told him that he could pick out what he wanted. I told him "you're not a princess." Without missing a beat, he replied, "no, I'm not a princess. I'm a KING. How dare you not pick out the other stuff!". But he said this last part with a smile and happily took the bowl of trail mix.
Tonight, after reading a lesson in his primer, we talked about the antique words he was learning (lad, nag). I told him a lad was a boy and he immediately said "and a nag is a girl, right?". Laughter ensued. Then he said "oh yeah, I mean it's a horse." He might have been right the first time. The funny part was that we aren't sure if he meant to say it or not. If he didn't mean it, he DID know why it was funny.
Tonight, after reading a lesson in his primer, we talked about the antique words he was learning (lad, nag). I told him a lad was a boy and he immediately said "and a nag is a girl, right?". Laughter ensued. Then he said "oh yeah, I mean it's a horse." He might have been right the first time. The funny part was that we aren't sure if he meant to say it or not. If he didn't mean it, he DID know why it was funny.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Relay 2012
After some afternoon work in the flower garden and soon-to-be vegetable garden, we decided to go to the Relay for Life event at the park. This is the third year we've gone, and Dennis had a wonderful time (we all did). He liked visiting all the different tents and checking out the bouncy houses and hanging out at our church's tent. He made some attempts to wet some folks in our dunking booth, and he got really close but didn't quite manage it. I was very impressed with the questions he asked me about cancer today, and when it was time for the Luminaria Walk, he solemnly bowed his head during the prayer and quietly walked hand-in-hand with David and me, observing all the names on the bags. He saw the one we set out for David's dad (who would have loved Dennis) and he saw a girl that beat leukemia a couple years back as she found the luminary with her own name on it and smiled a very beautiful smile (she is only a couple years older than Dennis and I remember all the times we prayed for her at church--what a miracle!). Dennis says we should Relay every single day because "cancer is yucky and I never want to get it." He is right!
After we got home, he read to us the next lesson in his reading primer (thank you Uncle Denny!). When he finishes the book, he gets a toy of his choosing. Sometimes bribery just seems necessary! It's working, though. He was reading the words on buildings and signs as we drove through town today.
He met the principal of the elementary school that he'll be attending this fall. She was at the Relay event and she shook his hand and introduced herself. He will be going on a kindergarten tour next week with the 'graduating' preschoolers, and she told him she would see him then. He was very mature as he shook her hand and told her who he was. This growing up business is all of a sudden happening SO fast!
After we got home, he read to us the next lesson in his reading primer (thank you Uncle Denny!). When he finishes the book, he gets a toy of his choosing. Sometimes bribery just seems necessary! It's working, though. He was reading the words on buildings and signs as we drove through town today.
He met the principal of the elementary school that he'll be attending this fall. She was at the Relay event and she shook his hand and introduced herself. He will be going on a kindergarten tour next week with the 'graduating' preschoolers, and she told him she would see him then. He was very mature as he shook her hand and told her who he was. This growing up business is all of a sudden happening SO fast!
surprise illness
Thursday April 26
Dennis started throwing up just before bedtime, and it happened at intervals all night. He was still going this morning, so we stayed home from school. We spent most of the day cuddled up in our bed, and by tonight, he was feeling so much better. He's been able to eat supper and keep it down. He has been tired, of course, but by bedtime tonight he was almost back to normal. He was clingy, needing to be up against one of us all the time. But he was proud of himself for, as he said, "only throwing up in the puke bucket!". I'm just glad he's better!
Dennis started throwing up just before bedtime, and it happened at intervals all night. He was still going this morning, so we stayed home from school. We spent most of the day cuddled up in our bed, and by tonight, he was feeling so much better. He's been able to eat supper and keep it down. He has been tired, of course, but by bedtime tonight he was almost back to normal. He was clingy, needing to be up against one of us all the time. But he was proud of himself for, as he said, "only throwing up in the puke bucket!". I'm just glad he's better!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
super swimmer
Dennis finished the last swim class of his session today. He can swim the width and length of the pool. He is great at the American crawl! But he hasn't mastered treading or back-floating, so we've signed up for another swim session. He was able to get his head above water when he was treading, briefly, long enough to gasp a breath. But I want him to be able to save himself if the need arises, so we'll continue with the classes.
This morning, Dennis was scratching his foot. He told me "I have a bug bite on my thumb toe!". I love his cute turn of phrase!
This morning, Dennis was scratching his foot. He told me "I have a bug bite on my thumb toe!". I love his cute turn of phrase!
Monday, April 23, 2012
plodding along
Thanks so much to the jerk who knifed David's tire in the parking lot of his job on Friday. We were so busy that we couldn't take time to get the spare patched until today. Dennis helped him roll wheels around as we took two of them (he'd had 1 going flat already thanks to a nail in the tread) to get repaired. Add that to a swim class, a library trip, and a Taekwondo class, and we had a full day. AND, we registered him for Kindergarten before doing all that other stuff.
He can swim wonderfully. He cannot, however, tread water or float on his back, so he'll be taking a second session of swim classes to begin next week. I had hoped we'd finish up with the last class this week, but it's important that he learn to be able to breathe when he's tired of swimming!
He seems excited about school. He peeked into a few classrooms, but we weren't near the Kindergarten classes at all. Luckily, he will go on a tour next week with the other 'graduating' preschoolers. I wish I could go along, but it's a no-parent thing (at the elementary school's request, for safety reasons not wanting a large crowd of adults milling about). Oh, he's growing up! I told him today I needed to put a brick on his head and he asked me, "why in the world would you do that? It would hurt!". I explained what the phrase meant and he said "well, it still sounds ouchy." David had never heard it either and gave me that look he gives as I told him what Dennis had said. Not that a brick would keep Dennis from growing!
His reading is improving daily! We have promised to read him 2 books for every 1 he reads to us, and he was reading one from the library today. He was stumbling through a couple of tough words when he suddenly asked "how long is this book, anyway?". He finished it later tonight, wiggling the whole time I hope he can learn to read while sitting still!
He can swim wonderfully. He cannot, however, tread water or float on his back, so he'll be taking a second session of swim classes to begin next week. I had hoped we'd finish up with the last class this week, but it's important that he learn to be able to breathe when he's tired of swimming!
He seems excited about school. He peeked into a few classrooms, but we weren't near the Kindergarten classes at all. Luckily, he will go on a tour next week with the other 'graduating' preschoolers. I wish I could go along, but it's a no-parent thing (at the elementary school's request, for safety reasons not wanting a large crowd of adults milling about). Oh, he's growing up! I told him today I needed to put a brick on his head and he asked me, "why in the world would you do that? It would hurt!". I explained what the phrase meant and he said "well, it still sounds ouchy." David had never heard it either and gave me that look he gives as I told him what Dennis had said. Not that a brick would keep Dennis from growing!
His reading is improving daily! We have promised to read him 2 books for every 1 he reads to us, and he was reading one from the library today. He was stumbling through a couple of tough words when he suddenly asked "how long is this book, anyway?". He finished it later tonight, wiggling the whole time I hope he can learn to read while sitting still!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
climber
Dennis celebrated Earth Day by climbing a tree! He managed to make it a good way up in the small dogwood tree at the lake. He's very proud!
I celebrated by teaching a Sunday School lesson about God creating our world and how He wants us to take care of it. And, later, I helped plant some things!
Dennis has concluded a busy week. He went to 2 birthday parties and hung out with Uncle Denny yesterday, and today he went to church and back to the lake. After all our crazy running around for the past several days, he fell asleep before 6 pm. We let him nap, and he spent the rest of his evening lying around. Maybe we can all catch up on our rest tonight. Dennis slept in our bed last night and I don't think any of us rested well. He's talked nonstop the past few days, so much that I can't believe my ears haven't reached critical failure by now. Tonight he was in full info-mercial mode, telling me "the first toothbrush ships free!" as he brushed his teeth. This was something he made up. He also came to me earlier, very sweetly, and made a businesslike presentation of his case. "Mom," he asked, "is there anything you need help doing? I need to earn $55." I asked what he needed to purchase, and he replied "a mouth breaker." I have never heard of such and was about to tell him so when he added "it's my invention--it breaks bad guys' mouths." I wonder how he calculated his production cost to be $55.
I can't believe I'll be registering him for Kindergarten this week!
I celebrated by teaching a Sunday School lesson about God creating our world and how He wants us to take care of it. And, later, I helped plant some things!
Dennis has concluded a busy week. He went to 2 birthday parties and hung out with Uncle Denny yesterday, and today he went to church and back to the lake. After all our crazy running around for the past several days, he fell asleep before 6 pm. We let him nap, and he spent the rest of his evening lying around. Maybe we can all catch up on our rest tonight. Dennis slept in our bed last night and I don't think any of us rested well. He's talked nonstop the past few days, so much that I can't believe my ears haven't reached critical failure by now. Tonight he was in full info-mercial mode, telling me "the first toothbrush ships free!" as he brushed his teeth. This was something he made up. He also came to me earlier, very sweetly, and made a businesslike presentation of his case. "Mom," he asked, "is there anything you need help doing? I need to earn $55." I asked what he needed to purchase, and he replied "a mouth breaker." I have never heard of such and was about to tell him so when he added "it's my invention--it breaks bad guys' mouths." I wonder how he calculated his production cost to be $55.
I can't believe I'll be registering him for Kindergarten this week!
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