Baseball, Parent Orientation, Guy's Mini Vacation

Nico and I had a weekend on our own last weekend! I sent Guy away on a vacation of sorts so he could have some time to just rest. We found a cool Airbnb cottage on a cattle ranch in Ola, Idaho about an hour north of here. He stayed 2 nights and came back Sunday.

I... ahem... spoiled Nico while Guy was gone. I told him it was an every-once-in-a-while thing, so he understood it wasn't becoming the normal.

Friday night we stopped by Chipotle for dinner after stopping by a toy store and getting him some "Mad Matter", which is a really cool sand-clay substance. After he was in his pajamas that night, I took him on a surprise trip to Blue Cow Frozen Yogurt. Watch the related video at the end of the blog! Saturday morning we went to Dick's Sporting Goods to buy some things for baseball. A helmet, a backpack that holds a bat, some batting gloves, and a new pair of cleats since he has already outgrown the ones from spring time.

After Dick's Sporting Goods, since we were right next to the mall we decided to go there! We had to wait in the parking lot for 10 minutes before they opened. We first hit See's Candies, then Jake's Dry Dock. Chocolate and a stuffed animal. He spent his own money on something too.

I made pizza that night and we watched "Bolt", it's a cute animated movie.

Guy came home Sunday but had to head to the church shortly after because Sunday night was Worship Night and there was lots of prep to do. It was a great evening. Nico came with us and all the kids were able to go in the back and watch a movie while the adults did the worship thing.

Monday was the first day of baseball practice! I only snapped one picture, and it wasn't really very interesting. It looks like he's holding his backpack but it's actually hanging on the fence next to him.

Yep. I'll be sure to grab a few better ones next time!

His team is much younger than him this time, but his coach is really good. He is really teaching technique and working on specific rules and expectations. He had two practices this past week and in the coming weeks there are no more practices, only games!

Tonight was Parent Orientation at Nico's school. Allicia and I walked over there together. I got to meet his teacher and learn about some of the things they'll be doing this year. He really loves school.

While I was at the orientation, Guy took Nico and Evelyn with him to band practice. They played in the kids room while Guy ran sound, and I picked them up after orientation was over. 

We are going to sign Nico and Guy up for this robotics camp on Saturdays in September and October. We were waiting until we got the baseball schedule before deciding, since in the Spring he had games every Saturday. He was so excited about this camp that he said that if he had games on Saturdays he really didn't have to go them... ha ha... I'm so glad he's going to be able to do this camp! I told him that Guy built a robot in college that was controlled by sensors. 

Nico's surprise trip to Blue Cow!

GG, Treasure Hunt, First Day of School!

Last Friday we visited GG and Aunt Pat. A great visit as always. They told us about the trip they're going on soon, they are excited!

We also went to Walmart on Friday to buy Nico's school supplies, and also a rug and reading pillow for under his bed.

He chose black. I wanted to buy him a first-day-of-school outfit but Walmart doesn't have a great selection so we skipped it. We also got him a hair cut! Friday for lunch we visited Grandma and stayed for a few hours. It was a fun day!

On Saturday we woke up super early so we could be at a garage sale right when it opened at 7:30. They were selling Nintendo 64 games for $1 each. By the time we got there (at 7:25) they were already gone! doh! Nico had brought some of his money to buy games with. Instead, he bought some lizard goggles. Totally worth the trip. You can see behind yourself! He wore them the whole way home.

Saturday night we watched the animated movie Coco while eating pizza.

Sunday was the last day before school started which means we did our yearly TREASURE HUNT!!

Allicia came up with the bulk of the clues, I wanted to make sure that each kiddo had clues that they would be able to figure out themselves, that were specific to them. It turned out really well. While the grown ups hid the clues we put the kiddos downstairs in front of some cartoons. Then, it began!  Watch the video at the end of the blog to see clips from it.

The boys hanging out while the kids ran around

After they found the treasure, eating their candy and hanging out.

Putting together legos side by side

 Then of course the next day was school! Nico woke up early and was dressed and ready to go by 6:30AM. He put his backpack on and laid down on the couch: "I'm just going to lay here until school starts."

Other things he told me that morning: He wants to live in Japan because they don't have summer vacation. And also "I feel like I'm going to throw up." hehe... I asked him if he wanted to stay home from school and he said "NO!"

Here are Evelyn and Nico on their first day of school. 2nd grade for Evelyn, 3rd grade for Nico. I walked with them to school this first day.

Nico in his classroom with his desk behind him.

As soon as he got home from school he opened his backpack and took his homework out. He had to read through the classroom morning and afternoon procedures three times. He has had to do that every day this week. Tonight his homework was to wash his feet. He he.

He has had a good week at school so far. Last night he told us that he was feeling something in his heart (I like the way he put that), about how there are kids on the playground that are mean and that he's afraid they're going to start bullying him. Everything else he's told us about school has been great. His library day is Thursday. We've been praying with him about the possible bullies.

Today he had a dentist appointment. No cavities! A few months ago he did chip one of his front bottom teeth. Guy and him were rough housing and I think Guy's elbow somehow ended up on Nico's mouth and his tooth got chipped. The dentist recommended waiting to see how the teeth grow in before they try to patch it up. There is no pain or sensitivity, otherwise they'd do it now. The dentist said that boys tend to get banged up a bit in their youth.

Evelyn came over for dinner tonight. They put together legos at the table before dinner.

Other photos from this week...

Playing The Cure

Eating cheese and reading DogMan before bed.

Now it's time for the video!! Enjoy!

Brianna and Grandma Camp

The super-secret craft we did last week was for Grandpa Russell's birthday! We made him some coasters from clay. We rolled them out, cookie cuttered them and baked them, then painted the sides of them and glazed the tops. We had enough clay to make some for ourselves, too! Unfortunately we have found that the glazed tops tend to stick to hot cups, so I've been turning mine over.

On Friday Nico and I took our friend Brianna to lunch for her birthday, at Red Robin. Nico got a gluten free kids hamburger (perfect size). He reeeally loved it. She brought him a gift for his birthday - the game CLUE! After Red Robin we went over to my parents' house for a bit and then headed home.

Saturday we went to one garage sale together and then Guy went on his own for a few hours. Nico and I hung out at home, it was a relaxing day.

On Sunday Brianna came over and hung out with us for a while. We played a game of Clue, Brianna won!

Monday was the start of the last Grandma Camp of the summer! I dropped Nico off early Monday morning and received him back this afternoon. One of their first activities was Box City, where they used boxes to create a city. Bruce and Nico actually built a robot costume! Nico was then able to attempt to break into Lexie and Rory's box BANK that they built.

Then there was Papa Time, where they built a treehouse (in loose terms), what I think they did is attach boards onto the tree so they'd have a place to sit up there! Super cool!

They also had a hula-hoop contest where they had to see if they could hula-hoop for 3 straight minutes. Bruce and Nico won. 

Twice through the week Nico face-timed Guy and I in the evening before he was heading to bed. That was really neat.

Last night Nico lost a tooth while at their house, my mom sent me this story this morning:

It was evening time, we were all comfortably sitting in our chair of choice, jammies on, pillows and blankies around us and the kids waiting to hear a story from one of the books I had written.  These are special fun times  with my grandchildren because they can relate to the people in my stories, their parents!  As I was half way through one of the stories, Nico raises his hand.  I continue reading a bit and then stop in mid story and ask Nico if his question can wait.  He informs me with a calm, “no, I just pulled my tooth out” and with a raise of his other hand he showed everyone his bloody hand with a small tooth in it!   I sat my book down, jumped into action and escorted him to the bathroom where we cleaned him up and had him rinse well.  He was quite proud of the fact he had pulled it out, and even more excited that he could leave it under his pillow.  I suggested he take it home so he could show his parents and leave it under his pillow at home.  He was quite adamant that he leaves it at our house as he had heard about how leaving a tooth at our house under his pillow will bring him $20.  Bruce and Lexie confirmed that.  I decided to stop my story I was reading and offer up a story not written in my book about how one of their parents (can’t remember which one) after losing a tooth, had put it under their pillow at night.    I then went on to explain that in the middle of the night I had forgotten that they had placed it under their pillow and so got up to pull some money from my purse. But before I could finish the story on how I accidently pulled a $20 bill from my wallet instead of a $1 bill, my storytelling came to a staggering stop!  Across the room, snuggled in her chair, happily listening to my story, Lexie jolted upright, looked at me with shockingly big eyes and exclaimed, “You gave them money, I thought it was the Tooth Fairy?”  My gut tightened and my heart sank with the realization that I had just revealed the Tooth Fairies identity.  But it didn’t stop at that!  As the others were chiming in that parents were indeed the Tooth Fairy they began to offer other revelations which sent me into a quick motion of shaking my head at them to please don’t say anything further.  But Lexie is a clever girl and the revelation of who the Tooth Fairy was gave way to her conclusive mind and she looked at me and said, “My friends told me that parents are the Tooth Fairy, but I didn’t believe them until now.  So that means that Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny”, and then looking at me with eyes that gave a complete and desperate look of “tell me it’s not so” in a question like manner…exclaimed:” my parents are also, SANTA CLAUS???!!!”   

Oh, the agony of watching a child’s balloon pop as the truth sinks in.  I let her cry.  The cousin’s tried to console.  Through her sobbing tears she said, “that means that everyone that we can’t see is not for real”!  I finished our stories early and I got the cousins to bed and then went out to do some comforting of Lexie. She was sitting in Papa’s chair, cuddled with her favorite stuffed animals and a blankie around her.  She was in shock.  I had her come sit on my lap.  She apologized.  I asked her why she was apologizing.  She said, “because I’m feeling sad about this and I shouldn’t”.  I responded, “yes, you should!!!  I felt sad when I found out!  You can cry all you want.” So, she cried some more.  After a while we talked about the happy parts of Christmas.  We talked about how St. Nicholas was a real person and he had a big and generous heart and that is where the Santa Claus story began.  I then said, do you know there is someone else that you can’t see, but is real?  She asked who.  I told her, Jesus.  She smiled and sighed a happy sigh. We finished with a prayer and silly song and she was soon on her way to a happy dream land.

Today before Grandma dropped Nico off here, they went swimming!

Guy and I watched The Last Jedi on Tuesday night, that was a really good movie! Nico face-timed us during the movie. It was an entertaining intermission. Brianna and I were able to go see Christopher Robin in the theaters on Monday. Cute movie! 

School starts next Monday... eek! Can't believe it's here already!

Here's a video of Lexie teaching Nico how to play soccer.

Reunion, Bowling, and Camping in the Backyard!

Last Friday was my 20 year High School reunion. I took Nico over to Papa and Grandma's house so he could stay the night, and Guy and I headed over to the reunion. It was great to see a few close High School buddies.

Saturday morning, Guy picked Nico up from the Grandparents' house because I was participating in Allicia's sister's baby shower back at the house, in fact, I was doing henna there! It was a fun morning. I hadn't done henna in a very long while, but I practiced the week before and I think I remembered all the important stuff :)

I was able to hand out a few packages of henna powder to two different girls who were interested in trying henna. I have a bunch of the stuff in my freezer, you see! I certainly will not get around to using it all!

Anyway, Guy and Nico headed to Guy's work picnic. Nico made a friend and him and his friend fished in the lake and jumped in the bouncy house all morning. They returned around 2PM. Pizza that night, of course, and my turn to choose the movie, and animated movie called Mary and the Witch's Flower. Very cute. The last part of the movie the girl yells joyfully, "WE DON'T NEED MAGIC!" and I guess that was the moral of the story :)

Sunday after church we invited Avery over. He heard about last Thursday, about how Evelyn came over and got to watch shows with Nico. So we invited him over for an hour or so, and him and Nico watched videos of people playing video games. Mario, and Geometry Dash. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement!

Sunday evening we ate dinner outside. Then Guy and Nico hung out there for a little while reading Amphigory Also by Edward Gorey.

Monday after dinner we did a very special super secret craft. I'll tell you more about it next week! ;)

The next day, Guy texted me and said we needed to do family crafts more often. It really was a lot of fun. I agree.

Wednesday we were invited to go bowling with Allicia and kids, with Jeff's mom at the BSU SUB building. Since she is an employee there, we got to bowl free! This was the first time Nico ever bowled. He did really well.

That night, Nico and Evelyn camped out in the backyard inside a tent. Nico was up past 11pm! They spent the evening reading books and playing games in there. He kept running inside for more books. He let Evelyn read the first Captain Underpants book, which she finished, and Nico finished the rest of his Squish books.

That's about it for this week! Check out Nico's bowling moves in the video below!

8th Birthday!

Friday the whole crew of us (Us and the Grandparents Russell) went to the Art Museum. We passed through the Rose Garden on the way there.

Nico was drawn to art that had shapes and numbers in it. When we found the kids exploration area, he tried out all the toys and built a symmetrical shape on the wall.

Afterward we went to the Boise Fry Company for lunch and then walked over to the library, then headed on home.

Grandma and Nico went outside and had boat races in the water.

Saturday, we split forces, the Grandparents with Nico and Guy went to the Saturday Market, I picked up the cakes and got some last minute things for the party. On their way home they stopped by a shop to pick up some stuff so Grandpa could improve our table a bit.

He used markers and then later some leather dye to fill in the rough spots on the table. Then he polished it. Verrrrry impressive.

It's like a brand new table!

Grandpa brought us this tiny build-it-yourself arcade game. So stinkin' cute and it plays lots of games. 

Saturday afternoon we went to Blue Cow Frozen Yogurt. We saw a sign for an open house and decided to follow it on the way home! We toured a house across from Municipal Park. It was very nice.

Before bed on Saturday night I set up the table with presents for Nico.

One of his gifts from us was a monthly subscription to "Little Passports", he will receive a new box with stuff about the United States in it every month for 6 months. This first box contained a US Map and a field journal, plus some other stuff.

We celebrated Nico's birthday at Smoky Mountain Pizza. Check out the video at the end of the blog to see some of the highlights!

Waiting for friends and family to arrive!

His super-cute hug of the pink elephant GG made for him

Playing tag

 Playing Ball

When we got home he went straight to work playing with Kanoodle. Consistently this has been the game he keeps coming back to after playing other games. He loves it!

On Monday, Nico and Grandma Russell and I joined Allicia and kids at the Natatorium to swim. I forgot my phone so I have no evidence that this happened, but it did! :) They have a nice kiddie pool there, big, only gets up to maybe 1 1/2 feet perhaps? It was a bit warmer in there than the big pool, so Nico lasted much longer swimming this time! It was also over 100 degrees that day, so I think that helped too ;) He did spend some time in the big pool, but most was in the kiddie. 

We ordered Chipotle for dinner that night! Yum!

Tuesday morning we said Goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma Russell. We had a blast with them here and are looking forward to their return at Christmas!

We packed Nico up shortly after and I drove him over to Papa and Grandma Salisbury's house for another Grandma Camp! I received some pictures and video throughout, here is Nico riding the zip line at Urban Air! (Also check out the video at the end of the blog!)

Playing Scrambled States of America

While Nico was gone, I worked hard to sort through his toys and clear out the area underneath his bed so we could set up a little play area. I boxed up 3 boxes of toys for the storage unit. Guy sawed one of our cube shelves in half, giving us two 2x3 cube shelves, one for either side of the area. We also purchased LED lights to hang under there so he can see what he's doing.

I picked him up from Grandma Camp this afternoon, he showed me his new light-up shoes! They even came with a charger!!

When we got home I showed him his new play area and he was happy about it. Evelyn came over for dinner tonight and I let them eat under his bed while watching funny shows. Then tonight instead of reading in bed, he went under his bed and played. He spread out his US Map for a bit, then discovered some other toys and played with quite a few of them. He did keep bonking his head. And after a particularly hard bonk he whimpered and said "Mommy WHY did you put this play area under my bed?? WHY didn't you put it somewhere else?!?!??!"

When he was done playing he unplugged his LED lights and crawled into his bed.

Goodnight! But first watch this video!