Hair Bands

Tomorrow we head out for a week at the beach. Everything (well everything that I haven't forgotten:-) is packed and ready to go. PJ has been busy downloading tunes and creating playlists for our listening pleasure. I am currently listening to 80's Hair Band Ballads-- and could not be happier. I LOVE 80's Hair Bands- Patrick-not so much. I guess he really loves me, because now he has 70 plus songs on his Rhapsody player hat he'll never listen to.

Thanks Babe!

WHY?

We have reached the point (the point that all parents dread at some time or another)- the seemingly endless question of "WHY?"

"WHY is it storming Mommy?"

I answer with a short explaination about the clouds filling with too much water etc.

"But WHY do the clouds fill with water?"

again a short explaination form me.

"WHY?"

after several back and forth questions and answers I finally have to say-

"WHY do you think it's raining Gilbert?"

I want to give him the answers, but at some point enough is enough.

Triathlon 2010- Completed

Only a week late in posting. I completed my 2nd Triathlon and while I improved upon my time from 4 years ago, I was hoping for a better finish. This time around I just felt better and I had hoped that my time would refelect this. I improved in my transitions the most and the run by 2+ minutes. I could not have dome it with out my greatest supporters Little Man and his Dad

We were on site by 6am so G and PJ went for bagels while I got my stuff into the transition area. As you can see Gilbert was sure to get his carbs in before the big race!!The actual order is SWIM, BIKE, RUN the photos are a bit out of order, but you get the idea.

Sunday

After a very early morning round of golf, I sat back to watch the US Open. Eyes shut quickly and I was rewarded with a nice afternoon nap. Notice the remote!

Saturday...continued

Now it was really hot in the afternoon, so we went to Pulaski Park and partook in its splash park. The water was quite refreshing (code for freakin' cold!), but G didn't seem to mind.











He is continually becoming more comfortable in the water. From the weekends in the pool at our gym to the weekly splash park outing with school, he is simpatico with H2O!

Saturday

A warm day, we headed outside early. First stop, the local farmer's market. Still early in the season, the number of booths were slim, but we still found some good food. It was just nice to be out and support our local farmers!

Father's Day...Weekend

What a great weekend! I spent time with family, was able to check out for a few hours, and all with fantastic weather.

The weekend kicked off with, well, a party! Not for me, of course, but what is becoming the weekend ritual of attending a party for one of Gilbert's classmates.

Back at our favorite hangout, Pump It Up, it was just G and me. What a blast!

This was a first to have a night party and after awhile, Gilbert was clearly done and ready for dinner and cake. He just walked over to the bench on the wall and sat quietly waiting for the play time to end and the food to begin!

Barber Shop

I take Gilbert to the same shop for his haircut. He is smitten for all the ladies that own and work at the barber shop. Lexi cuts his hair and he LOVES her!

Of course, all the ladies love him too and this time around Lexi messed with his hair. Not a fan of the fauxhawk, but he didn't seem to mind!

Stuntman or Human Rotisserie?

You be the judge!

Kristen's Big Race

Kristen is racing in a triathlon this weekend! She did her first a few years ago and on Sunday she returns into the fray. I'm extremely proud of her for getting back on the proverbial horse!

Good luck Kristen!

Cute?- Yes, but are they Practical?

Gilbert LOVES his rain boots and would prefer to wear them everyday to school. Today was no exception and because it was raining cats and dogs I let him wear them.

Here comes my question:

At what age will he be able to walk/run in them without falling?

We barely got out of the condo before he fell and then wanted to be carried the rest of the way to the car. So there I was lugging G, my bag for work , an umbrella, and my coffee. Then halfway through the garage the boots fell off his feet- it was at this point that I had to laugh and give G a big ol' kiss

I am sure we were quite a sight!

A Moment in Time

This is a photo of me and my dearest friend Mindi from the summer of 1978. Over the Memorial Day holiday we snapped this photo of our boys on a similar stoop at Mindi's home in Indiana. I hope that our boys will forge a lasting friendship with one another just like Mindi and I did so many years ago.

Guest Blogger Alert

PJ is swamped with work lately so I thought I'd take a stab at this blogging thing, of course just as I have started typing Little Man is up from his nap EARLY- and not happy about it.

To Be Continued...

Note: not a photo of Gs current mood.

Indy 500 Parade

We hit the road to see friends in Indy for the holiday weekend. One of the big events was attending the Indianapolis 500 parade. A first for Gilbert, we were not sure how he would react, but being a laid back little guy, he loved it!

As floats came by he would just stare wide-eyed.

He clapped the entire time and when the Purdue Boilermaker train came by he was incredibly excited.

Biking

Kristen cleaned up her bike and has started to ride in preparation for her upcoming triathlon. Gilbert has decided to train as well. He particularly likes to wear Kristen's helmet. The scary part is the helmet fits both of them!

We couldn't get the helmet off him either! He wants to wear it all the time!

Bathtub Runway

Gilbert needed a place for his airplane to land. Problem solved!

I'm So Glad

Enough said.

Al Fresco

Kristen spent last night cleaning the balcony. Quite dirty from city life, we want to spend more time outside eating and being in the nice weather.

Well, the next moring Little Man and Kristen ate breakfast al fresco! He loved it!

Art Day at School

Friday Gilbert's school had an art show. Each classroom displayed work the kids have been doing lately. For the parents it was an opportunity to tour the school. Lots of fun!







For the kids it was an opportunity to be, well, kids! As we toured room to room, Little Man and his classmates seemed to end up in the same places at the same time and were happy little sprites running around. A true joy to watch!

Can't and Don't

Gilbert's two favorite words (after 'train engineer'). He is in that phase of wanting to establish his independence (like school doesn't do that enough for him already!) and control over decision making.

Now when we asking him to do anything his immediate response is, "I don't want to do that," or "I can't do that." The 'can't' drives me bonkers. I loathe that word. Don't even know what it means.

We've learned, though, to ask him to do something by going opposite so he feels as if he's making a decision yet we don't banter back and forth. Kristen still battles with him a bit, but I've mastered the Machiavellian approach to getting him to do what I need/want him to do.

Time for shoes? "Gilbert, please put on your sandals."

"I don't want to put on my sandals."

"Okay, then how about your shoes?"

"Okay." Mission accomplished!

As for the 'can't', that is a bit tricky and we have to work with him to show that yes, indeed, can can do it.

Compound these situations with 2 1/2 year old whining, and ARRGGGH!

This morning I called him out on it. He was whining wanting breakfast and just being a grumper (imagine that; the result of him wanting to wake up at 5:30!). I put him on our bed and told him to stay until he stopped whining. A few minutes later he called down and said, "I'm not whining anymore." And then crawled off. A small victory, but sometimes it is just tiring!

Stunt Man

Gilbert is enjoying being more physical. On a lazy weekend morning, he decided to work on his flips.

The Weekend

Kristen's mom was in for the weekend as they celebrated her birthday (and with Kristen's coming up on the 18th). That meant Gilbert got to enjoy cake!



Kristen and her mom then met a friend and enjoyed a dinner out. On Sunday, the three headed to the Field Museum for the Mammoth exhibit. They had a good time and Little Man ended up with a large stuffed Wolly Mammoth animal!

A Moment on Television...

You must be thinking all Gilbert does is watch television! The last few posts involve him staring at the tele. We do not believe in television for him and in fact he's lucky to see a 1/2 of it a week. But more recently, he's seen more. Is this the natural evolution of kids and the boob tube?

So far, we have limited him to stuff with a purpose... the shows that I mentioned before that are about trains, helicopters, etc. and the occasional 'treat' such as a Neftlix Thomas the Train.

And then we do leave on golf and he can watch the Bears during Football season. His interest is not in watching television, but watching something specific on the television. The goal is to keep it that way. Fingers crossed!

National Train Day

Saturday was National Train Day. Festivities took place in a few cities around the US, but Chicago was one of the main locations. I stumbled upon this kernel of knowledge by accident, but with a train lovin son, what a great way to burn a few hours!

We didn't tell Little Man about the event, rather just explained we were going to a new train station. That was all he needed to hear. He insisted on wearing his Thomas the Train shirt and Metra hat. Sidenote, ask him who he is and the response is, without exception, a "train engineer."

The event was fun and crowded! We didn't stay long, but the impact was dellible! Gilbert loved it all. We even snuck onto a freight engine (the line for the official tour trains was too long!).

Happy Mothers's Day!

I think these pictures sum up the great day Kristen had today!

Even as Little Man offers up a smooch to his mommy, he's looking out the corner of his eye as a Metra train was going by!

Winding down on Sunday, we were watching the episode on trains we recorded on the History Channel's Modern Marvels. Good snuggles! About the show, I highly recommend it. We've seen ships, helicopters, boats, and more. Actually good learning tools and enough information to keep us informed. Before this picture Gilbert was sitting up on his knees yelling, "Rail Yard." "Diesel engine." "Boxcar." YELLING! It was hysterical!