Toy Craziness!

Today my co-worker, Jason, held a "Toy  Giveaway" in the parking lot before work.  I had his daughter, Athena, in my class last year and have his son, Aldie, this year.  He said that Athena and Aldie specifically wanted Cruz to have all of their Little People Toys.  Honestly, we hit the MOTHER-LOAD!  We only have the Race Track and the Bus.  We pass all of the neat sets every time we go shopping.  Never in a million years would I have thought we would be proud owners of this many!  

We also were given a nice foam booster, a bike helmet, and some other odds and ends.  We are so fortunate to have been given these wonderful toys!  I just had to take a few pictures of all the craziness! 

Oh, and go figure, I spent a good chunk of time cleaning things and tidying the guest room yesterday.  I guess it was meant to be!  We needed all this space!

This picture does not do the size of this giant box justice!

 

Hand Prints!

For Christmas, Kathy bought Cruz a set of five Hand Print Tins.  There is one for each of the first five years.  We are a little behind, so I decided today was the day we were going to do it.  Cruz was very interested in doing it and was very cooperative.  I wish we could say the plaster was as cooperative.  It hardened in a very quick and weird way.  Ben tried his best mixing it, but we could barely get an actual impression.  We did the best we could!  Here is hoping next year's turns out better!

Oh, that face!

Here's how it turned out!  It looks the slightest bit better in person.

A Little Sunday Morning Mischief

There is no leaving this toddler alone any longer than 10 seconds!  He was literally unattended for less than 2 minutes.  

Yesterday, he "found" his shampoo bottle and pumped shampoo all over the hallway floor and was smearing his hands around in it.  Luckily that was on Ben's watch while I was grocery shopping.  Ben was too overwhelmed to take a picture.  Today's was on my watch.  I just love that expression on his little face!  So innocent!

Radio Flyer Walk

Last night, it stormed like crazy!  The thunder was so loud, the lightning so bright, and the wind was blowing the rain in weird patterns.  Ben and I got up at 4am to look out the window.  It was crazy.  Luckily, Cruz slept through the whole thing, but poor Bridgette was a basket-case.  

The best part was that after I finished grocery shopping, we took a nice walk with his Radio Flyer Tricycle.  It was only 78 degrees out...which it unbelievable because it was 112 the other day.  We all enjoyed getting out together, and the Radio Flyer is perfect for taking a stroll.  Cruz loved steering, even though he had no idea he was driving like a maniac.  We can't wait till it really cools down so this can be a daily activity!

Peanut Butter!

We FINALLY tried peanut butter!  Cruz loved it, and thank goodness his throat did not close up.  We are so relieved.  I am now excited to have another "go to" for meals and snacks.  He sure enjoyed it on his waffle this morning.  He just sat there like a little chipmunk stuffing his face.  It was not fast like a chipmunk, but more of a slow "chew and stuff."  It was hilarious!

New Jammies

Davi bought Cruz some new footed pajamas.  He was showing one of them off this morning.  They have nice rubber soles, so running around is not a problem.  They fit perfect!  I gotta get these footed pajamas in while he still does not care what he wears!  They are just too darn cute!  Oh, and for some odd reason, Ben even got him to pause and smile!  Bonus!

Hat on Broom

Cruz very much liked having his hat sit on the top of his broom.  Our sitter, Brittney, said he was insistent yesterday evening that his hat remain on there while he ran around the house.  I just had to snap a few photos as proof.  

"Exhausted from Daycare," face....

A Weeknight Out!

This evening Brittney, our sitter, came and Ben and I had an exciting night out.  We left the house around 4:30pm and headed over to Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino.  We gambled a bit, had a fancy dinner at Schula's Steakhouse, then saw the Barenaked Ladies in Concert.  No money was won, but the food was amazing!  We were the youngest people at the concert, but loved all of their new music.  We can't wait to buy the latest CD!  We did not get home until 11:15pm, but it was well worth it.  We proved that we are still young and can still go out on a work night.

While we were gone, we got a text from Brittney saying that Bridget had scratched Cruz on the face.  He did not cry, but it sure looked pretty bad from the text.  Luckily, she let us know it looked better by bedtime.  We are not worried about it anymore.  But, when we got home, she also mentioned that Bridgette also put a hole in her leggings!  We were so embarrassed.  Bridgette will be working on an apology letter this weekend!

Here is the picture Brittney texted.  Poor Boy!

Goodbye Baby Shoes!

Sadly, Cruz wore his baby shoes for the last time today.  His feet have grown so fast!  We bought these shoes at Stride Rite this summer in Michigan and were smart enough to buy the next size up as well.  Goodbye, "Early Walkers," Hello, "Off and Running!" Cruz broke-in his new shoes this evening.  They are very different than his first.  They have a really hard sole, and they do not come up as far in the back.  I just had to take some pictures to commemorate these special first shoes!

So small!

Crazy Hair!

Here is the latest Alfalfa Sprout!  I can't believe how long it is.

On the subject of hair, Cruz is getting mistaken repeatedly for a girl.  It has happened the last two times we have gone out to eat.  We went to Famous Dave's on Friday and the waiter and 2 separate elderly couples referred to him as a girl.  Now, I get the elderly people maybe thinking he was a girl, but our waiter was some young guy.  

To give the elderly folks credit, they were coming over to comment on how well-behaved he was and how they had enjoyed watching him while they ate; so that was nice.  But, he was dressed in blue, and I did kindly slip in that "She" was in fact a "He."  We are definitely not ready to cut it, but know the remarks will be more frequent the longer we wait..but those curls are just so irresistible!

Fun at Barb and Steve's

Today we went over to Barb and Steve's to meet Julie's girls and swim and play!  It sure was a great day!  Cruz surprised all of us and was a little fish in the pool.  He had a wonderful time, no crying at all.  He kicked his legs a bit, floated on his back, and loved jumping off the step toward me.  We got lots of great video as proof to my mom and grandma that he, in fact, does like the water.  

It was so wonderful meeting Hailey and Brianna.  It was a long overdue meeting and visit.  Barb made a wonderful dinner, and we enjoyed great company!  The only thing missing was Nana!  Wish you could have been there to visit!  Thanks to Steve for taking all the pictures.  Next time we will have to get some of all the kids together!  I can't believe we did not take more!  We had our camera and everything!

A House Built for Two

Bridgette was waiting patiently in her cage for her Peanut Butter Kong because we were leaving the house for Barb's.  Cruz decided he was going to get in with her and keep her company.  These two are so cute together!

"What are you doing in here, kid?"

"After You....."

Bridgette made it to safety!

Spoons and Legos

Cruz is now interested in holding his own spoon.  He does not always make it into his mouth, but he loves being a big boy!

Here is Bridget's latest Lego Creation!  She rivals the Blind Painting Dachshund! 

Isn't she perfect?

First Day In the Toddler Room!

So Cruz started in the Toddler Room today.  He did so well at drop off!  He did not cry at all.  He was so interested in the kids and the toys, he did not even notice that I left.  I am so happy he was comfortable there, and also that I did not cry when I left.  He had a good day and even slept during nap time.  It was not the whole 2 hours, but he'll get adjusted by next week.  

They had SpaghettiOs, green beans, and peaches for lunch.  He was not interested in any of that, but sure loved the chocolate chip cookies at Snack Time!  I wonder how he will do trying all these new foods at Daycare?  We will see!  

His favorite part of the day was playing outside, which was something the baby room did not do a lot of last year.  Good day overall!  We will be back next week!

Checking everything out.

Found a new toy!

Happy Guy!

Watching him through the 2 way mirror after I left...

When I picked him up, he was happy and dressed as a firefighter!

Busy Man!

Last Day of Swim

Today was our last day of swim lessons.  Cruz was the only one that came today, so Miss Kasie's two year old son, Cameron, swam with us too.  I took these pictures just before class started.  He was listening to and watching the other kids leaving from the previous class.  

He was happy and calm until the teacher took him.  I got some videos of him working with the teacher.  Watching them broke my mom and grandma's heart because he was crying the whole time.  I am used to it.  He did however stop screaming for a minute when he noticed the water fountain on the other side of the pool.  It was hilarious!  Then, he started back up.  He was definitely faking some of that fuss.  

Hopefully we will get a chance to have more experiences in the pool to see how he fares without the teacher there.  He works with me just fine.  

I can't believe I start back with Teacher In-Service Monday!  I am excited because tomorrow Cruz is headed to his first day of Daycare, and I am getting an oil change, a pedicure, and having lunch and going shopping with my friend, Cori!  One more last bit of summer fun!

Last minute read before leaving....

Super interested in the big kids..

If looks could kill--Holding the "Sharks."

Thinking about the big lesson to come!