Video Montage of 2010 - 2011 preschool class

Not sure if this will work...I hope it does.  Can you find PJ in here?  I supplied all the Halloween and outdoor photos.

Field trip to the Zoo

PJ's preschool had a field trip to the zoo on May 31.  We took the bus there and got to wander around looking at everything for about 4 hours.  It was nice and sunny and thankfully only about 20C.  He didn't want to get on the bus, but we did manage to get him on without a meltdown.  He had fun on the bus since it was only a short ride to the zoo.

The school had little nylon vests (purple) for them to wear, as well as little beige hats.  PJ typically will NOT wear a hat...but surprisingly, he kept it on and when he did take it off, I would just ask him to put it on and he cooperated - who is this child?!  He was going to fuss about the vest, but thankfully, he didn't.

Yes, looks like he's choking his friend Zach - but he was just repeating back how Zach had greeted him - BOYS!

They are going to be doing alot of changes at the zoo so the normal entrance was closed and the make-shift one was pretty small - but the 2 large bus loads of us managed to get in fairly quickly.  We kept with our classroom for most of the trip.  We were walking toward the elephant area when someone noticed that they were taking Lucy (the elephant) on a walk so we got to see her en route.  PJ enjoyed looking at her as well as looking at a wolf and some owls.

We got all the way to the pony-ride area and all but maybe 2 or 3 of the kid wanted these rides.  Thankfully there was some picnic tables and shade because there were no trees in this area.  PJ didn't want a ride, but was happy to watch the other kids and to look at the tiny ponies.  It was taking so long (and we were really doing nothing) that I decided PJ and I would wander back and look at something else.

We went to the pavilion where they have a bunch of different monkeys.  Some were the size of my palm and they were so cute to watch.  PJ also liked to see the seal & sea lion in their pools.  There were snakes in this area, but I managed to look the other way and keep PJ moving.

We met up with our class again at this building and then followed them to a shady place for lunch.  I had been lugging around a backpack full of sunscreen, water bottles, tub of strawberries, tub of blueberries, sandwiches, cookies...maybe even the kitchen sink (that's what it felt like).  It seemed that we had a pretty short stop for lunch and off we went.  They all lined up for the train ride.  PJ liked to watch the train, but had no interest in getting on it for a ride - too bad, it was pretty tame.

We wandered around and found the little merry-go-round.  He liked to watch the other kids on it, but had no interest in getting on it.  It had a very small diameter and the adults were getting dizzy on it - the kids kept on going on several turns on it though.

A few of his classmates took a ride and then some of us went to the petting zoo area.  PJ wasn't too impressed except for looking at a rabbit.  We spent some time watching the lemurs - they were very active, so that was fun. 

Everyone was tired by the time we headed for the bus - even PJ!  Normally when we leave school, he wants to play in the park for about 1/2 hr - after this trip - he marched straight to the van!

PJ 's 5th birthday party

I don't think I've ever posted birthday photos for PJ before...hmm. Well, here are some from his 5th b-day party.

All the kids played nicely in the bonus room without any supervision - WOW - pretty good for 3, 5-yr olds; 1, 4-yr old & 1, 3-yr old!

 

 

We had chicken fingers, fries and pulled beef on a bun for lunch and then birthday cupcakes.

 

 

PJ got alot of fabulous gifts - thanks everyone!

 

The next day, he enjoyed all the balloons - even if all the helium was gone.

 

My baby is FIVE

How is it possible that 5 years have passed so quickly?!  It just seems like yesterday I was waddling around with a huge belly and now he's 5 years old and going to be in kindergarten in the fall.

Happy Birthday my beautiful boy!

Eggshells

Please don't read this if you don't want to hear me bitch and complain.

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PJ may be allergic to eggs BUT he sure has me walking on eggshells all the time.

He is pretty stuck in his routines which means that I'm stuck in them too.  I'm expected to follow the routines even if he changes them in his mind.  When the expectations are not met, I get a lovely tantruming child that doesn't have enough words to communicate to me what the problem is, so the tantrum continues.  Until I can figure out what part of the routine that's in his head that I missed, and then do it, the tantrum will never stop.

Tonight we had one of those, the problem with this one was that just as I had figured out what was missing and was in the middle of fixing it, GJA decided to do something that irritated PJ...which put a break into the routine I was trying to fix...and the tantrum started up again.  

Eventually I was able to calm the kid down by finishing whatever it was that he felt needed to be done (or re-done, several times, in my opinion).  I was spent and angry.  GJA knew that doing that one act was going to get PJ off again...but he did it anyway and acted like he didn't know it would cause a problem....and then had the gall to laugh about it.  I had to put myself in a time out before I lashed out at the 2 of them.  I wished I had a dog so that there would be a house for these 2 to be sent to.

How short is YOUR leash?  Mine feels really really short.

Juggling the rigid routines of these two boys takes all my energy.  Little wonder I feel tired, irritable, useless and isolated all the time.  

Survived!

The playdate - potluck lunch is over and it was great fun!

My feet are killing me from all the standing. I think the kids all had a great time & the food was very yummy! I even managed to do some tidying up in our bedroom so one of the infants could have a good nap in our room away from the 11 mobile kids! PJ spent most of the time hugging all the kids...some were very tired of it by the end of the event.

They even got to go outside for a bit, even though the grass was quite wet in a few places (and PJ managed to get into the house with muddy shoes and stomped on the carpet).

I'll post photos once my computer cooperates...and now I'm off to enjoy a rum and diet coke - yum!

AARGH

Great...so it rained all day yesterday...and its supposed to be WORSE today! Great...now the 11 mobile kids won't be going outside tomorrow.

AARRGHH!!!

Play date

On Wednesday, I'm having a bunch of the mom's from our mom group over for a potluck-lunch play date to visit with one of the moms that moved away a few years ago & is in town for a vacation.

The forecast is for sun on Wednesday...but its supposed to rain for the next 2 days. I really hope we don't get alot of rain because we need the kids to be in the backyard on the play set...since there will be 7 (4-ish yr olds), 2 (3-ish yr olds), 2 (2-ish yr olds) & 2 infants...and there maybe more. Count them folks...that's 11 mobile kids...they need to go outside.

The good thing is that maybe I'll be able to visit with the moms because PJ won't be able to escape from the house or the backyard. When we go anywhere else, I spend the entire time keeping PJ from leaving whatever building/place we are. Buildings are better than outdoors though...there would only be a few exits...out in a park...he can run in any direction at any time...it takes at least 2 people to contain him in a park.

Day 3 & 4 of playset building

At the end of day 3, the slide was up and the base had been anchored into the ground. We took some of the day to go and look at options to go under the thing for safety, as well as get some more bolts to help anchor into the ground (the instructions said to take out some bolts and re-install them....we decided to just get new bolts & install on other sides of 4x4 posts to save time.

He marched up to the stairs, like he knew it was there and the first few times down the slide, he went feet first on his tummy...odd. My father got him to go on his bum but kept his hands on the soles of his shoes so he wouldn't go down too fast the 1st few times. He was having such fun, that when Dad asked if he wanted to do down by himself, he said YES...and he's been enjoying it on his own ever since.

At the end of day 4 (which was only 1 hr of time) - we had the swings & rope up...we want to get a tire swing too, just haven't had time to purchase it. We still have to get the rocks on the rock climbing wall (by rope) then we're done.

GJA tried to get him onto the swing & trapeze....he's not ready for those yet...but he will. I took a swing on the swing and it can hold my weight...so that's good - it did say good to 350 lbs. There's a little wee picnic bench area under the tower - he enjoyed that. You could put sand in the base of the tower for a sandbox...but it would be pretty hard to cover (aka keep the cats out)...so we'll just leave it alone - sand-free.

GJA had some fun on the slide - PJ still talks about Dad being on the slide. I went down it too.

I think PJ will like this trapeze thing when he figures it out...I might not like him hanging like that...but by then, we'll have something underneath to protect him in case he falls.

So - just about done!

Hopefully solving the playground race

PJ likes playgrounds and slides, but what he likes the best, is running away & watching me chase him. I can understand its a fun game...but when it involves him running towards busy streets or somewhere I can't see him...it gets really old, really fast (that and I get really stiff).

SO, we have purchased a play set for the backyard - this is what it will kind of look like (we aren't putting in the red 2-seater swing thing...we're putting in a trapeze bar instead.

My brother was in town after participating in a 1/2 ironman in Calgary on the weekend that we just happen to purchase this set. It was great timing because he & my father came over and the 3 of us started assembling it while Mom watched PJ.

Stay tuned for photos of the construction. After all this...I hope he likes it...and at least he'll be kept safe in the backyard.

Pity Party for One

Stop reading now if you don't want to read my pity party about nothing except that I'm feeling sorry for myself about nothing because I really have nothing to complain about.

Birthday parties are stressful because I never know if PJ is going to freak out and cry/scream wanting to leave or if he's going to run around and be a nuisance. Today's event, he was a nuisance. He didn't want to participate with the other kids in the gymnastics stuff...he just ran around in circles. All the other parents were able to stand still (relatively) and at least have some conversations with each other. I was barely able to say HI to anyone because I have to follow PJ or he'll run out of the building.

Party eating time is also stressful because he only eats a limited amount of types of food which I don't expect to be at the parties as its not their responsibility to deal with my picky child. I did bring something for him to eat, but he would only sit for maybe 2 minutes (just long enough to drink a juice box and a couple of crackers). Then he ran up and down the hall, returning to the party room long enough to turn off the lights. It must have happened 50 times - I'm so embarrassed but he just won't listen to anyone (especially me) and it became a game.

The other thing is that not only won't he participate with the other 4 yr olds, he won't sit still...all the other kids went into the party room and sat nicely and ate their lunch and continued to sit for the gift opening and then cake...not PJ...we were doing laps up and down the hall.

Anyway, I'm feeling sorry for myself because PJ is so active and uncooperative. I couldn't believe how many of the moms said...wow, he must keep you busy....or...my 3 kids combined aren't as active as he is.

These functions remind me that he's so far behind all the other kids his age and that I can't take him to places because he spends the entire time trying to escape and its so frustrating and not worth the effort that the poor little guy will be stuck at the house all summer because its just too much work to do anything else with him....which makes me sad that he can't have the same experiences as the other kids his age.

sniffle sniffle pity party for one - I feel like such a dork being upset about things like this when he's perfectly healthy (with some issues)

Planning PJ's birthday party

So, I've decided on a "Wiggles" theme this year because he's decided that he loves to watch the TV show every day at 1:30. There isn't alot of stuff to get for this theme in town (there used to be, but not alot any more). I found alot on eBay and on their website (even scrapbook paper, which I AM going to purchase)...but I haven't progressed far enough to purchase anything.

Anyhow, I've been looking around the Internet to see if there's a file I could use to cut out some of the characters on my Cricut. A very nice lady made some files for me to be used on a software packaged called SCAL (sure cuts a lot)...which I have, but I haven't tried and the files are complicated (just because I don't know what I'm doing). SO...I looked at some of the stuff I had and found a cute dinosaur that looks alot like Dorothy the Dinosaur. All I had to do was find a hat and add some dots so that she's green with yellow spots.

See...isn't she cute?! I just cut her out this afternoon and had to share! I just need something for the eyes and its pretty good (for home made).  The hat and dinosaur are from the Paper Doll Dress-up Cricut cartridge & the circles are from the George Cricut cartridge.  I cut the dinosaur without dots on yellow, then again in green WITH the dots. and glued them together.  I did it all on my gypsy so I could have more than 1 dinosaur per piece of paper.