Saturday was a fun and full day. We celebrated Grandma Salisbury's birthday at Smokey Mountain Pizza. Our private gathering room has its own door to the parking lot, so I took a video of the kids after they ran out to greet Grandma and Papa when they arrived. Watch the video and beware when Nico starts running back toward me, WHACK! Yeouch!! The video is at the bottom of the blog post!
Happy Birthday (today!) To Grandma Salisbury!
Straight from the party, Guy drove Nico over to JUMP (Jack's Urban Meeting Place) for a Chess tournament/party. They went a little early because JUMP has a slide from the 5th floor of the parking garage that goes all the way down to the ground and Nico wanted to try it. But it was closed! Instead, they climbed on the jungle gym until the party started.
This afternoon I received this email from his chess coach:
We already signed him up for next year chess.
Saturday night we rented Mary Poppins Returns from RedBox, it was my choice. We all loved it. After the movie was over, Nico asked, "I want to watch ALL the Mary Poppins movies, are there any more?" Nope, shucks!
There was one evening this week (I think Sunday night) when Nico was very sad. We had said no to something he wanted. So here is Guy snuggling him on the couch. Guy sang to him the song he used to sing to him several years ago when we lived on Krall st. "The sun is sinking in the west...." Nico remembered the song and started crying. It was a very sweet moment. I'm surprised Nico remembered the song! When Guy put him into bed, he whimpered in his bed and started crying again and said "Daddy I want to spend more time with you." So Guy got up into Nico's bed and they hung out for a while.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, swimming nights, if we get to the Y a little early, Nico is able to play in the kiddie pool. Here's a shot of those shenanigans.
I love the Y swimming lessons. There are 4 life guards on duty. And, the air is very warm, not just the water, which means Nico doesn't get cold and shivery! He's able to make it through the entire 30 minute lesson. I am hooked and will probably never go back to lessons at the Natatorium.
Tuesday night at Cub Scouts, the Birds of Prey were there!
Cub Scouts snack.
Nico has been on a nacho kick lately. He made these by himself.
Nico's friends across the street are moving in June, and I chatted with their mom about it and asked if she'd be willing to share their landlord's phone number with us so we could potentially move in after they move out. If across the street doesn't work out, we plan to move somewhere else THIS SUMMER! The time has come! We would love to stay in this area so we are hoping for the house across the street. We are super excited and being very dreamy about it. We are working hard to make it work!
This week was Nico's first standardized testing day for 3rd grade. It was a math test today. 1-2 hour tests, about 7 tests total in the next few weeks. We ordered him a vibrating wrist band that vibrates every 5 minutes to help keep him on task. I am looking forward to hearing from his teacher how it works for him at school. It will arrive on Saturday!
On Friday Grandma Russell walked with me and the kiddos to drop them off at Chess class. Avery was able to come with us because it was sibling day at chess!
Grandma was able to see the library at Nico's school and also his classroom and where he sat.
Guy and Grandpa and Grandma were able to experience the paella at the Basque Market in Boise for lunch. They make a huge batch and when it's gone, it's gone. They got their tickets ahead of time and it sold out fast.
Nico had an early release that afternoon and we headed over to the Botanical Garden. Check out the video at the end of this entry to see snippets of Nico's Spring break, including some from the Botanical Garden!
On Saturday we went to Birds of Prey. We listened to a talk about the birds at the center, and then walked around the building to see all the interesting bird facts.
Afterward we went to Jimmy John's for lunch
From there, the Grandparents Russell took Nico and Guy to visit Aunt Ruthie and GG and Aunt Pat. I headed home to bake some bread, cookies, and meatloaf.
Saturday night was pizza night, we ordered in from Smoky Mountain Pizza, and we watched Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole on the TV downstairs while we ate pizza. Jeff and Allicia and their crew had gone out of town for the weekend, so we were able to use the downstairs area for a movie!
Sunday was church, and then a visit to the Library for a talk about birds in Boise and how to recognize them. Each time the speaker came to a new slide with a new bird, she would ask if anyone knew what it was. Nico was in the back with us and so she would rarely see Nico as he raised his hand to answer. Such a good student to raise his hand! Grandma told him that he could blurt the answer, and so he waited patiently for the turn of each slide, and then would blurt out the bird.
Afterward, he told Grandma he wanted to check out a story book with birds in it, and our Grandma Librarian was on the case and found the exact kind of thing he wanted. It was amazing, I'm not sure how she did it.
She found this one, along with some Bird and Squirrel graphic novels and a few others. Perfect options for Nico.
Nico and I read this one before bed tonight, the whole thing. It was a cute story.
Sunday night, Guy and I attended Bible Study like usual but Nico stayed home with the Grandparents. He was able to take a bath upstairs, and then Grandma read him books before bed. After Guy and I got home, him and Grandma and I went downstairs to watch an episode of Father Brown on Netflix. Totally worth staying up late for!
Monday morning, Nico and Grandpa Russell and I went to an art store in downtown Boise to get some art supplies. Idaho Blueprint and Supply. Quite a nice selection!
We came back home for a bit and then headed out for more adventures. We first went to the downtown library to check out a few more books, then to the Discovery Center. We ran into friends from church there, Nico's friends Lazarus, Leona, and Matthias.
From there went to the Boise Fry Company to eat some lunch!
Nico loved the food there! Afterward we went to the MK Nature Center.
From there we came home, and spent the rest of the evening relaxing. Grandpa and Grandma left the next morning. It was such a fun time having them here for a few days, we will see them again in June when we visit Arlington!!
Tuesday mid-morning another batch of fun started for Nico. Grandma Camp! I dropped him off Tuesday and picked him up this afternoon (Thursday) before dinner.
On Wednesday Grandma sent me these pictures with this note:
"Nico discovered the girls were wearing "fake" glasses and wanted a pair! So while we were in the mall I sat outside Claire's and the girls took Nico into the store to fit and find him a pair that looked good on him. It was adorable to watch them trying them on him and commenting their opinion. In the end this is what he chose!"
This evening at dinner he told us all about the mystery of the printer that kept printing without anyone initiating it. He told us how on Tuesday night it printed "Shouldn't you be in bed?", and then another one on Wednesday with a symbol from Watcher in the Woods (scary movie), and then another note in the DVD case of the movie.
Other things that happened while at Grandma camp: Smores, Pizza, Easter egg hunt, Jump Time. They even met some new friends. A family friend, Robin, came over with her 4 grandchildren to participate in coloring egg cartons and then of course the egg hunt. They also played games with a parachute, one in particular where they bring the parachute up and then all go inside (see video) to have a "government meeting". They spend the time in their meeting saying "You're guilty!" and voting people out. It's hilarious. I witnessed them playing this game when I came to pick Nico up this afternoon.
Government meeting time!
Robin reading a book to the kiddos.
Ready to decorate their egg cartons.
Grandma sent me this picture this morning:
And then tonight before his shower he told me his tummy didn't feel very good, and I asked when it started and he said that he felt sick this morning like he was going to throw up (picture him pretending to throw up), so "I did iPad and drank milk" and that made him feel better. Before dinner he was whining of a hurt tummy and said "I feel like I'm going to throw up some day." he he. But then when he saw what I had made for dinner - TOAST on white bread, he said "Ok I'll eat". I had also made spaghetti and salad but he was only interested in the toast.
Evelyn was over for dinner as well. After dinner they did art using the new supplies. Evelyn was in heaven.
I gave Nico a little back massage with some essential oils before bed. I hope he feels better tomorrow! I didn't send his supplements with him to Grandma Camp. Perhaps I should have! They are good for tummies.
