Month: June 2011

Dreams Are In There

Thing 3 has a new sleeping arrangement following a dream episode last week. He woke up screaming one night, terrified of bumble bees. He spent the remainder of that night in our bed. Which means we got even less sleep than normal with his squirming and kicking.

The next night the dreams came again, and this time he spent the remainder of the night on the floor in our room. At least we all could get a decent night sleep that way.

The next night, before bed, I had a long conversation with Thing 3 to try to ease his fears. I explained that dreams are not real, like watching TV. The way to stop a dream is to just wake up because then it’s gone. And I told him about the “magic” toys in his room that will protect him from dreams, something that worked well with Thing 2.

He wasn’t really buying it. Instead I got a barrage of questions as only Thing 3 can unleash. What are dreams? Where are they during the day? Why do dreams come when I sleep? Do you have dreams? How about animals?

The questioning went on like this for a good 10 minutes. Then he decided he couldn’t sleep in his room because dreams are hiding there, so he found a spot in the hallway just outside his doorway. He has been sleeping in this spot for a week now.

20110626-092028.jpg

Gifts For Other Peoples Kids

There are some toys you never get for your own kids, but they make great gifts for other people’s kids.

For example take this birthday present Thing 2 received from Suburban Aunt and Uncle. We’ve seen commercials for the Super Soaker on TV and usually hear comments like “that’s awesome!”.

20110618-050453.jpg

Not so awesome when I got blasted in the face when i wasn’t looking.

Happy Four Years Old

Today Thing 3 turns four years old!

People usually say on their kids birthday how they remember like it was yesterday when they were born, and they can’t believe how fast the time has gone. Well, for me, the last four years have been a blur but I wouldn’t say they have gone by fast. Thing 3 has certainly had many memorable moments.

Like the one in this picture. We were watching Thing 2’s t-ball game and Thing 3 needed to go potty. The week before, he needed to go at a little league game so I let him use nature’s bathroom and pee on a tree. At first he didn’t want to, but then it become the funniest thing ever.

So now when he needs to go and he’s outside, he just drops his drawers and finds a tree. Even if we are in a busy public area. Like the zoo. Or in a parking lot.

20110607-050010.jpg

Happy Birthday Thing 3! You are a true original. Don’t ever conform to be like the masses.

The Understudy

It’s a rite of passage. The Kindergarten play. This time, it was Thing 2’s turn. The production this year was the Three Little Pigs as an opera.

Kindergarten Play

Thing 2 didn’t want to do any solo parts, so he chose to be one of the pigs in the background chorus. He performed well, but as you can see in this video, he looked like he was longing for more as he watches his friend The Wolf perform the starring role.

The kindergarten class does a repeat performance the next day, this time for the other kids in the pre-school with no parents there. I guess Thing 2 felt more comfortable because we received a call 45 minutes before showtime from the school, to let us know that the kid who played The Wolf didn’t come to school that day, and Thing 2 would be taking his place!

Well, of course we raced to the school to see it in person. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it. This was one of those proud parenting moments you don’t forget. And luckily I also had the video camera handy.

He entered in The Wolf costume, looking a little nervous but excited. He waited patiently for his time to come then he did his stuff. Finally, he takes a bow and walks off the stage with his leading ladies on his way to super stardom. Watch out Brad Pitt, here comes Thing 2.