Friday, April 30, 2010

John and the Magician

John was invited to join the preschoolers of Mt. Zion for a magic show.  I knew he would like this and was telling him all about magic shows.  I wanted him to get excited so I reminded him of the Wiggles episode where Greg did a magic show.  This got John excited, but for all the wrong reasons.  When he got to the show he kept asking the magician where Anthony, Greg, Jeff and Murray were (the Wiggles guys).  When John finally stopped asking and watched, he had a great time.

The kids waving hello with their feet.

The kids waving hello with their belly buttons.  To which John said, "I'm told I don't have a belly button."

Showing them they all have a magic wand...their finger.  We'll see how far John's magic wand takes him.

John's favorite part was when the big magic wand kept falling apart.

All the kids loved when the big magic wand fell apart.

Yep, if two kids aren't bad enough, try getting 10 kids to look at the camera at the same time.  This is as good as it gets folks.  

The kids all had a great time.  On the way home John just started laughing.  When I asked him what he was laughing about, he told he was just thinking about the magic guy.  So cute.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Tales of John

I haven't written a 'Tales of John' in quite a while.  I should keep a running note on all the things he says and does, but sometimes I just forget.  Here are a few things from the last couple of weeks.

A few weeks ago, we had some friends over for a BBQ.  John was very excited to have all of his friends at his house.  There were 12 kids all running around here.  There was a lot of laughing, playing, screaming and crying.  There is NO WAY I could handle having 12 kids.  So here's to Hans' Uncle Rolf and Aunt Dort who have 12 kids and have managed to keep their sanity.  Okay, back to John.  Earlier in the day I bought cookies for the kids to have after dinner.  John was very excited to break out the cookies and quickly reminded me that they were ready.  Most of the kids were playing downstairs so I told him to tell them the cookies were on the table when the kids were ready.  But then John said, "I want to take them downstairs Mom.  I want to pass them out.  I want to be the guy that everybody likes."  Oh, John.  Where do you learn these things?

John went with me to Gus's one year doctors appointment.  Gus needed shots, of course. I knew Gus would be none the wiser, but John sure knew what was going on.  During the administration of the shots John kept shouting at the nurses to "Stop hurting my brother!".  Then after the nurses were done and leaving, John ran over to Gus, gave him a big hug and kiss and then said, "Shame on you for hurting my brother."  As cute as that was, we had to have a little talk about how shots hurt, but are helpful and, most importantly, you don't talk to adults that way.

Yesterday, Hans discovered that M&M's came out with a new combination: Dark chocolate with peanuts.  So he bought a big bag of them...of course.  John discovered the M&M's this morning and asked if he could have a couple.  I said that was fine.  When I came out to help him get a couple this is what I found.
He had helped himself to a whole bowl.  He seemed genuinely confused when I took them away.  I told him he could have two and took the rest out of the bowl.  While John was crying to me that two just wasn't enough, Gus came up to him and took the two M&M's out of his bowl and ate them.  I had to laugh a little.  John will learn not to complain until after eating the M&M's from now on.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Sprinkler Fun...Well, Maybe Just Sprinklers

We had a rather warm day last week and I decided to get out a sprinkler that a lady in our church gave John for his birthday.  We had been working out in the yard all day, and some sprinkler time seemed to be just what the boys needed.
John was very hesitant about the water.  I find this funny because he loved the sprinklers at my parent's house last summer.

While John held back, August walked right up in the line of fire.

Then he got really upset with the sprinkler sprayed him.  He just stood there screaming, all while he kept getting wet.

We finally rescued him, but it was pretty funny.

Then John decided to be brave...

and take advantage of his new found courage.

But Hans got his revenge.



Overall John had a good time.  The jury is still out on Gus.

Monday, April 26, 2010

The Moby Wrap

It is simply amazing the new baby things that bombard the market on a daily basis.  I remember when I was looking for a car seat/stroller combo and I knew exactly what I wanted.  But what I wanted wasn't available.  I wanted a classic, elegant black and white design.  Now all I see are black and white designs, but it would be foolish of me to buy a new car seat/stroller combo.  Don't think I haven't thought about it. A lot.

However, there are smaller things that come out all the time that I didn't even know I wanted or needed.  Those are the things I find justified in buying with each kid.  With John and Gus I had a Hotsling.
This was not the sling that was part of the recall.  I love this sling.  It got me through many a tough day with John.  The problem with this sling is that my babies are so big that they outgrow the sling part before they are old enough to use it as a hip sling.  So, through a friend, I found out about the Moby Wrap.  While my mother in-law was in town we found a cute little boutique that sold the Moby Wrap and she bought one for me.  I laughed as I opened the booklet to see that it was for children 0-35 pounds.  35 pounds!  That is heavier than John, so I decided to give it a try with both boys.
Gus didn't want to give up the root beer bottle he found.  I have to say, he is pretty happy and I feel he is very secure.  So far, this is great for my back and I feel like I could carry him all day like this...he wishes.

And since it goes up to 35 pounds...
here's John.
He actually loved this.  I won't carry him around in this, although I think it is doable.  I will, however, threaten to carry him around in this if he starts wandering too far when we are out and about.

So, you really can use the Moby Wrap up to 35 pounds.  Although, I'm sure the company never intended for you to carry around a 3 1/2 year old.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Easter

Yes, Easter was weeks ago and I'm just now writing about the day's events.

It is customary at Mt. Calvary that the men of the congregation prepare and serve breakfast before the Divine Service.  It was great to see all of these guys cooking, working and bonding.
I asked the men who prepared the breakfast to get together for a picture.  John told all of them to "chop, chop" and even though he didn't lift a finger to help, decided he needed to be in the picture.


Hans decided to contribute to the breakfast this year by making pancakes and scotch eggs.  For those of you who don't know what scotch eggs are, let me inform you of the delicious, artery clogging dish.  They are simply hard boiled eggs, wrapped in sausage, breaded and then deep fried.  They are very good and were scarfed down by everyone in attendance.
Gus loved his scotch egg.

 John and his friend Molly.  Every Sunday John asks if Molly can come home with us.

Gus made himself at home amidst the pile of electronics.

These were my attempts at taking a nice Easter picture of my boys.
"Mom, he's a little close"
"Sometimes I just don't know what to do with you."
"Right now, I'm just going to ignore you."
"Alright Mom, I've had enough.  Get me off this chair."

We also had a memorial service for one of our beloved members on Easter Sunday.  The church was filled with past members who cared for and loved Ruby.  Hans had a beautiful sermon and members, past and present, were ever grateful for the wonderful words they heard.  It was nice to see the church so full  and alive.

Friday, April 23, 2010

A week with Grandma and Grandpa Fiene

On Easter afternoon Hans' parents came to visit.  We were all excited to see them.  John jumped right in telling them all about Thomas the Train and all the trains he wanted.  It didn't take him long to start begging his grandparents to watch some Thomas DVD or a Wiggles DVD.  Beware.  If you come to our house you will be watching these.  This is John's way of bonding with his beloved guests.

Grandpa reading Pinocchio to John and Gus.

On Monday, while Hans was in bed with some sort of stomach bug, the rest of us went to the zoo.

We just had to take a picture with the elephants.


Playing the drums with Grandpa


Grandma took John on the carousel.  John ended up riding another animal since the giraffe didn't go up and down.

When we got back home, John decided to snuggle with his dad.
The rest of the week was a lot of fun.  We went to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, played with the boys and enjoyed each others company.



Monday, April 19, 2010

Estes Park and the Rocky Mountian National Park

When Hans' parents came to visit they treated us to a cute cabin in Estes Park, complete with a hot tub.  We had a great time and John really enjoyed taking his "hot, hot, hot baths".
John made himself right at home.
Gus couldn't believe someone would actually leave a TV and DVD player/VCR at his level.  He felt he had to explore.  We felt justified in always having the TV and media units up high.
It snowed when we first got there.  It was weird snow.  Snow that looked like Styrofoam balls.
After the snow stopped we decided to walk around downtown Estes Park.


Gus with Grandma and Grandpa

After the walk downtown it was time to hit the hot tub.  Again, John loved taking his "hot, hot, hot baths".

Gus didn't mind watching from the window...at first.

The next morning we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was beautiful.