We Like to Camp, Camp, Camp

We survived our first camping trip with RTR. The four of us spent two days at Lake Wenatchee State Park. It was a lot of fun, once we got past making do because of the things we forgot (pump for air mattress, coffee cups, dish cloths, garbage bags). And we are feeling pretty smug about camping in the rain. The water resistant canopy we bought at GI Joe's was one of the best camping investments we've made. I highly recommend getting one-- not only good for shade, but keeping the rain off your picnic table too. While the first night was pretty rainy, RTR fared really well, going to bed pretty easily and sleeping through the night. It probably helped that he didn't get a good nap on Sunday. Monday night was a different story. He woke up around 1AM crying. He didn't appreciate our efforts to warm him up, our thinking that he was cold. So we then tried some milk. A couple of sips, but then, no dice, more crying. One of us jumped up and grabbed a banana out of the cooler. Ahhh. Much better. RTR snuggled in to the nook of Tyler's arm and chowed down. He reminded me of a baby gorilla at the zoo, all content just eating a delicious banana. But an entire banana was not enough. So Tyler grabbed a granola bar (!) for RTR to gnaw on. We lived dangerously, with RTR using his nine or so teeth to power through a small chunk of granola bar. Yikes. So it goes with those second borns, doing things you'd have never done with the first baby. Sorry for the long line of pictures, I don't know how to group them together through the blogger software.

It Just Goes to Show You...

When it comes to kindergarten, it's no cake walk. It turns out that thought I had about the kindergarten teacher (see previous post), was right. It's the same teacher, she just changed her name. And not just her last name, her first name as well. Strikes me as strange. According to the school office, the teacher got married a few years back and decided to now change her name. I understand changing the last name, but the first name too? Makes me think something else is up. I think Tonya Harding's ex-husband petitioned to change his name from Jeff Gilooly to Jeff Smith, to escape his criminal notariety. Of course, if memory serves, many of the Jeff Smiths of the world protested his name change. Ahhhh, what's a mother to do?

It All Started in Kindergarten

Kindergarten has turned out to be stressful-- for me. We've spent months trying to figure out which school would be the best for CSR. Darn the school district for giving us choices! It all started when a parent (and former teacher) told me about her experiences with the kindergarten teacher at our neighborhood school. It was not positive. Next came two more parents (and teachers) who also added their knowledge of this person. Again, not positive-- one going to far as to say "that as a parent in good conscience, she could never put her child in that teacher's class."

I had already been looking at the school district's alternative school as another choice. But by the time I made up my mind, there was a waiting list. Applied anyway. In the end, maybe all this work and stress and talk didn't matter. Today a letter arrived from our neighborhood school for kindergartners... and it's signed by a completely different teacher than the one I had been worried about. Of course, in the back of my mind, I'm wondering, did that teacher get married or something and change her name? Here's to the first day of school...where ever we end up.

Photographer In Training?

Another sign that we're raising an electronic generation-- CSR's obsession with the camera. He will take it, go off and in just a few minutes will have taken dozens of pictures. He's also somehow changed a setting on the camera that has reduced the number of pictures you can have on the memory stick. So usually before I can take any pictures, I have to go through and delete CSR's work. Thank goodness it is digital and not film. Some of the pictures are quite interesting, so I don't have the heart to delete all of them. Mostly the unflattering ones of myself or the blurriest ones. Here are some that he's taken.

Is Summer Over Yet?

You know, sometimes with your spouse there are times you realize there is such a thing as too much togetherness. Well, I think the same goes for children. Since I couldn't convice CSR to sign up for a day camp or even a class, we've spent A LOT of time together this summer. I think it must be getting to me because this week, I haven't been the best parent I could be. It amazes (and frustrates) me that we meet up with preschool friends at the park and what does CSR do? He either hangs on me, insists I play with him or goes off by himself-- and doesn't play with the other kids, which was the main reason for us to go to the park. What is it with that? I figured he'd be going nuts to see his school friends and have some time away from me. Maybe I'm too popular for my own good? Of course if CSR isn't on my case, he's pestering RTR. I can't tell if CSR is purposely playing rough with the baby or is oblivious, although I suspect it's the former. We thought we were pretty lucky when RTR was born that CSR didn't really act out like some kids do when a baby arrives. But now, I think it was just delayed-- especially now that RTR is mobile and is demanding in his own way for attention. A year ago, you could put RTR in the Bjorn and go. Now, not so much. Maybe that's what CSR is realizing. Three can be a crowd when it comes to the freedoms of going and doing whenever where ever.

More on Grandma's Visit

I just got home today from taking my 99 year old grandma to my aunt's house in Vancouver, WA. Grandma's visit was going great until last Friday. While finishing up her shower, she fell-- pretty much a free fall from standing to the hard ceramic tile floor. Oh my gosh, I don't think I've ever been so scared. I was standing right there too to help her with her shower. I had to call 911 and since I left the house phone outside, I used my cell phone, which was thankfully in my pocket. The dispatcher sent medics... but it seemed like they took forever, while my poor disoriented grandma just wanted to get up off the floor. I tried not to panic and remain calm for not only my sake but for grandma's and CSR's as well (the baby was napping). The paramedics came in and were able to get her up off the floor. They took her to the hospital to get checked out (they were so wonderful to grandma, CSR and me, I am DEFINITELY supporting the EMS levy). I was left to figure out what to do with the boys. I couldn't get a hold of Tyler. But my friend Suzanne called in the middle of the chaos and said she'd be right over to pick up the boys. But CSR refused to get in her car and was throwing a MAJOR tantrum. Mortifying. Fortunately, T. pulled up and took over with the kids. I rushed to the hospital. She was being x-rayed when I got there. A nurse wanted grandma's medical history-- which turns out to be very minimal-- I guess that's why she's made it to 99. Doctor said her CT scan showed no problems inside her noggin but she dislocated her shoulder and that he would reset it once the anesthesiologist got there. She had to be sedated with some funky drug that would essentially make her forget about the reset-- which is a good thing because it was quite something to watch. I had to turn away, it got to be too much. Doctor said it was a 1 in 50,000 case in difficulty in getting her arm back into its place. After another x-ray and getting fitted with a sling, they let us go home-- at 8:45pm, about five hours after the fall. Grandma kept asking me what happened to her. I am so grateful that it didn't turn out any more serious. As the week went on, grandma seemed more and more like herself. The fall left her with a black, swollen eye too but she wouldn't let me take a picture of it. I told her it looked like she got in a street fight. When she laughed at that, I relaxed-- just a little.