October 19, 2009

• What do marshmallows, fire & pirates have in common?

  Derek, visiting Grandpa Faron (you should just hear him say that!  So clearly and sweetly – I just melt.) & Grandma.  (He’s stopped calling me Silly ‘Ma.  I’m just “Grandma.”)

  We had such a good weekend, and I think they all did, too.  Here are a few photos of the various ways we kept a 2 year old happy on a rainy, cold weekend.

  Both boys were a bit tired on Friday night after a day of travel and visiting with Grammy & Pappy Regel.  Even happy, love-everyone, Jared, didn’t much care for time with Grandma.  So we got them off to sleep (my part was to go to my own bed so they could settle the babies, Faron having gone to bed before they arrived.) And I was wise enough to not bother them with photos then, either. So my first quality time with either boy was Saturday morning.  Jared came in to snuggle and I got a couple of cute pics. Here’s my favorite:

  

  He was pulling himself up to stand on the bed, using my bed jacket for hand holds.  That happy, excited look is pretty much standard for him these days.  He’s so thrilled to be standing (sometimes for a few seconds without holding on to anything – not bad for nearly 7 months!) and getting around with his “wounded soldier” crawl.  I have a bit of video I’ll upload tomorrow. 

  And Derek came in to share his Apple Jacks with me.  Here he is eating his cereal like a puppy dog:

  

  These next few are just fun pics of the kids interacting with their dad, mostly.  He’s such a good daddy and they adore him. 

  Jared’s really starting to enjoy being tossed up in the air and such.

  

  Oops – shoulda fixed that red-eye.  Oh well. He’s still gorgeous!

  And here’s daddy with both boys – I can’t remember if they were looking at a book or playing with the ever-frustrating-to-Derek “Bop-it game,” that’s been around since Jason was still in high school. 

  

  Around mid-morning, Amy & Derek made marshmallow Krispie treats, but for some reason, that photo didn’t load.  I’ll have to re-try that one. 

  Bud & Shirley (Grammy & Pappy) came up for lunch and to watch Derek (and Pappy helped) do his first Jack o lantern.  Amy bought a couple of carving sets, which included safety knives and goop-scoopers.  Derek was great at giving both pumpkins pockmarks, and with Pappy’s help, did quite well at cutting the rest. 

  

  Jared doesn’t look too sure about things, does he? 

  

  Derek didn’t MIND the goopy stuff, but he doesn’t look exactly sure about it, either, does he?  Love those eyes!

  

  And here’s Derek’s Pirate Pumpkin Head.  This is a real pumpkin, but Amy’s planing to pick up one of those foam carving pumpkins they have at the craft stores now, to put these pieces in.  Very cute. 

  

  The first pumpkin carved, and standing with his garden-mate, the Pirate. 

  Back when we were planning to do some kind of a hay ride for the kids, before the weather messed us up, I’d ordered a Fisher Price Pumpkin Hayride toy – a tractor with two farmers (both female, but despite Amy’s best efforts, I refused to bite, except to say these two were sisters.   Came with a wagon with a pumpkin at the back where the top comes up and a black cat peeks out, and a spinning thing for the farmer/driver of the wagon.  Well, the silly thing hadn’t come as of Friday, so I was left hoping that it’d arrive while Derek was here on Saturday, and, it did!  Derek was asleep when our “Femailman” came, but woke up to enjoy a snack and a surprise.  Pappy and Mommy settled in on the floor to play with it. 

  

  I love this photo, though, of Jared standing at the coffee table, just itching to get down there with them!

  

  The left-over poker chips from Jason’s & Tiana’s wedding are great toys for both kids.  Derek built towers, and Jared tried to see how many he could stuff in his mouth at once.  Actually, in the above photo, I think that Amy was spinning chips for Derek.  Jared kept banging chips on the table, and even got one to spin himself.  He looked so fascinated and happy.  It’s a shame he couldn’t manage to do it again. 

  Jason & Tiana stopped in before everyone but Jared and I went down to the Korean church for one of their bi-annual dinners.  Tiana & Derek had great fun with the plastic box from the Pumpkin Head pieces.  Here’s Derek with the bottom smooshed down over his face:

  

  Tiana made do with the flat lid for on top of her head.  Wasn’t quite the same.

  When everyone else left for the dinner, Jared snuggled up on my chest as I lay in the recliner and we two had a lovely nap.  After they came back it was dark, and Grandpa found candles for the pumpkins and they lit them and put them out on the porch, but facing the house, so Derek could enjoy them.

  

  The two little tea lights they used lasted for at least 2 hours.  Derek kept stopping his play and running over to the French doors to look at his pumpkins again.  It was a fun thing to do. 

  We were all in bed and the boys were sound asleep before 9:30 – a rarity for the night-owl Derek!   I was even able to sleep a solid 5 hours that night.  I have a few more photos and a couple of short videos to share from Sunday – hopefully I’ll do that tomorrow. 

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  • 10:12 pm
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