Weekly Top Ten - March 2, 2014

1. Ian began tennis lessons after school. There are 20 kids in his group (17 boys, 3 girls!) and they meet in the school gym for an hour each week. We signed up a month ago, and as the start date drew near, Ian fretted that he hadn't had a chance to practice before the first lesson. He's competitive, and learning a new skill isn't yet as satisfying to him as already being the most fabulous at something. Fortunately, all the kids in his group are true beginners. Now I am in search of a tiny 21" racket, and a place to practice that isn't covered in 3 feet of snow.

2. On Monday afternoon Scott heard he needed to go to England on business. On Tuesday the tickets were booked, and he left Wednesday morning. I actually prefer his trips to come on suddenly -- then I only have to get through the days he is actually gone, not 2 weeks of anxiety about the upcoming trip PLUS the days he is actually gone.

3. Since Scott's didn't have to be at the airport until 10:30, we spent Wednesday morning taking a drive to our favorite beach, Middle Cove. I had never seen it covered in snow before, plus we wanted to see if the giant sheets of ice were still hanging from the cliffs (they weren't). It was a beautiful sunny day, though just below freezing. We had some time to spare so we made a quick stop at Target for some baby wipes. Then I dropped Scott at the airport. Generally Scott takes a taxi or drives himself, so it was fun to see him off at the airport for a change.

From lookout near Outercove Rd.

4. Joseph is learning to tell time and add 4 digit numbers at school this week. He is also doing something called "story alphabet", which is essentially writing a few sentences about something that interests him and then drawing a picture to go with it. (It's nice when the Montessori terms actually describe what's going on. For example I still don't know what "pink tower" has to do with math.)

5. This week I began bringing Calder in with me when I would tuck Joseph in at night. Those two boys already have a really special relationship, and Calder just melts into Joseph when they are snuggled up in Joseph's bed. Joseph will usually sing a few songs to Calder, and then list off all the words that Calder has "said" that day. (Calder's grunts and coo's really do sound like words sometimes!)

6. Friday was Ian's last day of afterschool basketball. It was co-ed, kindergarten through grade 3, and Ian has been attending once a week since October. The kids and I love watching from the stage while munching on snacks, and I've really enjoyed chatting with the other parents. It was always the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Plus, Ian loves basketball (it's his second favorite behind football) We'll miss it!

7. Helen was waaaaaaay overdue for immunizations (her last ones were done in Texas when she was 6 months old!) I use the excuse that it's all a bit different here in Newfoundland, but really, it never should have taken me this long to figure out how to get Helen in). Fortunately Calder is already in the system because he was born here, so Helen was invited to tag along for some "needles" too. The night before the appointment the Public Health Nurse called to say that Ian and Joseph were actually due for a few each (because this province has different timelines and requirements than Texas) and she asked me to bring them along too. 

To start with, the weather was atrocious that morning. The roads had not been plowed yet, they were really slushy, and it was still dumping snow. (Ultimately we got a foot of snow that morning). We slipped and slid our way to the clinic, armed with a bag of toys the boys had packed, along with a purse full of lollipops. I was so afraid this wasn't going to go well! 

Ian repeatedly offered Joseph the "privilege" of going first, but ultimately he put on a brave face and hardly flinched for his single shot. Joseph kept nervously leaping from my lap when it was his turn, but pulled himself together and got through his three shots (barely). Helen completely lost her mind. Oh how I miss the swift hands of our nurses in Texas! They'd line up the bandaids and needles, and stick, stick, stick, then apply all three bandaids in one fluid motion. Done in 15 seconds or less. Sure the baby would cry, but it was as if they hardly knew what they were even protesting, it was all over so fast. But this! I had to resist the urge to take the next dang needle and just get on with it myself! 

Then Calder had his 2 month Well-Check. She commented that she could hear Calder breathing even over the racket the other kids were making. It's true! He still sounds terrible most days. She also noted that the creases in Calders thighs don't match up between his right and left legs. Apparently they are supposed to be symmetrical, and can indicate hip displaysia when they don't match up. Fortunately Calder has an appointment with a pediatrician next week (an "urgent" appointment for his breathing which was scheduled back in late December.) 

I loved that the Public Health Nurse sent us home with a diaper bag, a sensory blanket, and two boarbooks for Cal. Apparently these type of gifts are presented at each Well-check for the first year. 

Afterwards, we slipped and slid all the way to the boy's schools, where we were stuck behind a plow for 20 minutes, a half-block from Ian's school. I never should have sent the boys to class because by the time I picked them up they were sore, really grouchy, and long overdue for some Tylenol. All three big kids cried and carried on for 2 straight hours when we got home from picking them up. It's hard when there aren't enough arms, hands and laps to provide the comfort that's needed. Especially since poor Calder awoke during all this, and he was obviously in the worst pain of all. He hadn't had any Tylenol that day, and he cried out in pain off and on and whimpered in his sleep for the 30 minutes it took for his tiny dose of Tylenol to kick in. It was a pretty lousy afternoon, and ended with the kids eating chicken nuggets at 7:30 pm before being tossed into bed way past bedtime. Fortunately most of the days Scott was gone went far better than that one.  

8. The Primary hosted a sledding party on Saturday, which the primary kids had earned over the previous months through reverence, etc. I was dreading taking Calder out to the sledding hill in Bowering Park, especially since Scott wasn't going to be there to help. I was relieved when my counselor Krista called to tell me Saturday morning that it was then -22 windchill and that we ought to postpone the activity. I would have preferred not to be the one to make the call, but in the end felt good about the decision to play indoor games at the church and then go ahead with the pizza and root beer floats we had planned. The kids were all disappointed that we didn't go sledding, but I think they still had a good time. 

9. The kids were so happy to wake up to their Daddy on Sunday! Scott brought the kids each a bag of gummy candies, most of which Helen would later steal and eat while the boys were at school...! Scott brought me a watch that I've worn every day since! Business trips aren't alllll bad.