Garage sale steal!!

If you recall that I mentioned earlier that daddy went fishing while we went to the Egg Hunt. Well, on his way home he happened to pass a garage sale and stopped in to see if they had any outdoor toys that would be suitable for our little man. The owners drove a hard bargain, but we came home from the farm to find this new car sitting in the driveway. Daddy stole it for a buck! That's it, everyone....ONE DOLLAR!! What a deal! Gavin loves it. We were outside ALL afternoon today. Luckily the wind and chill that came through today happened while he was napping. What a perfect day!

 Beep, Beep!

 He hasn't mastered how to get out of it gracefully yet. He opens the door and, oh, how should I put this, falls onto the ground and crawls out. Then stand up and smiles in accomplishment!

 Later guys, I'm out-a-here!

Easter fun at the Country Lane Tree Farm!

We beat the rain and wind and had a busy morning at the Country Lane Tree Farm in Genoa. Gavin and I went and met our buddies Nessa and Pressly while daddy went fishing. We had to park down the street and hike it up to the farm so it's a good thing I keep an umbrella stroller in the backseat just in case! Today was Easter Egg Hunt Hayride day!

"Welcome to Country Lane Tree Farm"....said the goose. The goose actually walked right up to us to say hello up close and personal.

As soon as we arrived inside Gavin got to pet a baby goat. He/she was really soft. Gavin grabbed him just like he does Jazzy and pulled him in close!

Next we jumped on the hayride to head out to the Easter Egg Patch! This is as close to the Easter Bunny as we dared to go and get a picture. Someone didn't feel social with the furry character. We attempted to sit near him on the ride, but someone wasn't having it. Maybe next year. This year we are going to be happy with a wave :)

Recovering from the Easter Bunny fear. It's ok, we are now sitting at the front of the wagon and will be first to get off to search for eggs! I'm always thinking.....

Gavin was an EXCELLENT egg finder and collector! All children were allowed to collect 6 eggs to take back to the farm and exchange them for candy and prizes. Gavin found waaaaaaay more than 6, but he threw most of them back down anyway.

"Mom, it's EMPTY!"

Hanging out with Pressly and Reed while we wait for the wagon to come back to get us.

I think Gavin may have a crush...he shared his eggs with Miss Pressly :)

Yay for the Easter Egg Hunt!

Moooooo, says the cow that Gavin got to pet. So did mommy! I couldn't resist!

 These fellas weren't in the mood to be social this afternoon. So we just watched them with curiousity.

After a lunch of hotdogs and chips, we headed into the hay maze. Gavin loved it at first, but soon grew tired and frustrated. Walking on hay is tough for little legs.

We ended our morning on the playground because he also wanted nothing to do with going to visit baby chicks and other animals to pet. Hopefully next time. This kid is too busy to want to sit still!

I think this farm better stick to the barnyard animals because this fish Gavin is riding is scary. They must have found this guy in the river.

"Give me back that Filet-O-Fish.

Give me that fish.

Give me back that Filet-O-Fish.

Give me tha fish.

What if it were you hanging up on this wall?

If it were you in that sandwich you wouldn't be laughing at allllll."

Mmmm, tastes like chicken!

First Haircut

At long last I have given in to the first haircut. Guess what? It wasn't so bad!! He still has curls!! Yay!

The haircut itself lasted approx five minutes. Cathy was amazing! Hopefully she doesn't retire too soon because we like her and hope Gavin returns to Village Squire for a few more cuts in the future.  I must admit that I was sad on the way there....I imagined the curls disappearing, a tantrum beyond belief, screaming, tears, what have you. I packed a snack pack of pretzels, fruit loops and a sippy cup and of course, one of his "silkies" for the extravaganza. He needed none of them. Cathy had pretzel rods available...Gavin's favorite, and then tis the season..frosted Easter cookies! With sprinkles!! What tot wouldn't take time-out from crying to indulge in a sweet treat :) Needless to say, the haircut was successful minus a few alligator tears there in the beginning. I feel that it was just him being in an unfamiliar place that startled him. Other than being up on the chair, he was happy as a squirrel! The best part for me...he still has curls!! There isn't much to say about a first haircut because it's simply that...the cutting of hair. Gavin survived, as did I.

p.s. He didn't really cry that much. I'm back in action with my picture taking and snapped a shot every thirty seconds! Grandpa took just as many as he is the master photographer!!

18 Months!!

Gavin is 18 months old today!! Where does the time go?! Some days feel as if they will never end...then before you know it, another month has disappeared. It is one crazy magic act. This week Gavin moved up to his new room at daycare. He is officially a toddler!! However, I think he began this stage long ago.

I have been fortunate to have spent some extra time with him over the last two months. I think I would have missed him grow up a bunch had I not. He is growing by leaps and bounds. It seems as if it were just yesterday he was wiggling across the floor...and now he is RUNNING! He has also become more affectionate lately. Here is a BIG hug for you! :)

Believe it or not, I have become awful at the picture taking the last two weeks. I blame it on adjusting to the new hours, routines, and training for my new job. Give us another week and I'm sure we will be back on track with hundreds a week! We have established a good routine at night. After dinner, we have a bath, books and then bed. He more often than not, will pick up his blankie, sit in my lap and say "night night" by 8 o'clock. The earlier hours make us all ready for a bed a wee bit earlier.

Any new interests?

Playing outside, running, jumping, dancing, and climbing!

You even spell the word o-u-t-s-i-d-e, and he is off getting his coat on. I'm so happy Spring has arrived and we can spend more time outside and travel to parks and other adventures!

He now sits at the table like a big boy, with a booster seat, of course. Farewell highchair. He even climbs in it himself! As for eating habits, he has become a very "picky" eater. However, leave him at the table long enough and he will eat what's in front of him. I've learned to accept that on the days that he doesn't, he is not going to starve.

If you recall a picture from a post or two ago when we went to the part, you'll also recall how he leans his head forward when starting to run. Not sure if he thinks this gives him the momentum he needs to go forward or run faster, but I love watching him do it. What I find absolutely hilarious is when he "jumps." I put that in quotes because what he is actually doing is bending his knees and bouncing. He kind of goes into a squat and then pops up over and over again. He is so funny! I love it!

What's he saying?

Momma, dadda, ball, book, dog, down, night-night, more, all done, hi, bye, bath, uh-oh, hat and boo!

Boo is his latest fascination. It started the other day when I was changing him and he pulled a blanket up over his head. I pretended not to see him and in a sing-song voice asked "Where's Gavin?" The next thing I knew, he pushed the blanket down and yelled Boo! I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Now he does it all the time.

Any bad habits?

Well....... we have begun the use of time-outs. There are times when it is obvious he is testing us to the limit. He knows when he shouldn't do something because right before he is about to do it he looks back at you to 1) see if you're watching and 2) waiting for you to say "no." There are other times, let's say for instance he is playing on the fireplace and tapping on the glass, and I tell him no....he looks back at me, turns around and taps it just one more time. Ah why, Gavin?? I'm not loving the little tests, nor am I enjoying the time outs. (time-outs consist of 1-2 minutes in his crib without any blankets or toys and the door shut) I come back in after 1-2 minutes with a smile and tell him again why he is in there, we get a hug and then go back to playing or eating, etc. Throwing food has become an obsession as well. I've decided that if he wants to throw food at Grandpa's house it's fair game. Grandpa throws back....hahaha. Green beans were raining in the kitchen this past Sunday with Grandpa. Food, however, will not fly at home. Nor will dog food. Patience, Patience, Patience! As my mom says, "Pay now, or pay later." I choose now. I repeat this to myself every tantrum as he throws himself onto the floor screaming. I choose now, I choose now, I choose now.

Tomorrow is my little boy's first haircut. I think I might cry. I know it's time. His curls are cute right after a bath and when it's sprinkling out and we run to the car, but in the morning, it's one hot mess! I told myself I was ready. I gave in to daddy saying it's past time. But now that's it's scheduled....I'm sad :(

Stay tuned to see how this spectacular event turns out.

March Madness at home!

This is the first year in I don't even know how many, that I have not paid any attention to basketball. Why you ask?? Because 1) I no longer work at the bar and forced to see it on every TV screen, and 2) I didn't have the pleasure of completing a bracket to where I could win anything. I stress pleasure because I don't know a thing about basketball or teams and always filled them out based on colors, mascots, places I've heard of, or know someone from that area. I think my former boss just wanted my money, but it was always a conversation starter with my patrons that would get me to participate. I always was a contender to win the whole thing too....but never did. I came in second once or twice and I was happy with that. It was, after all, just for fun.

So this year, I felt the need to get some basketball going in my house. I just don't think it would be March without some hoops. So Tim went out and picked up this neat hoop from Fisher Price. It has the "cheating" rim on it right now, but it just pops off to become a normal hoop. It also has 4 height adjustments up to 4 feet. Perfect for a toddler and into the preschool years. Even better, it can be used indoors and out. The ball that came with it was great....however, it only lasted about an hour before the dogs wanted to play too. Bye bye ball. So we now use whatever ball we have close by to play. It's the concept of the game anyway.

We started with the lowest height, but realized quickly that it was too easy and had to go up to the second level. Now he has to at least raise his arms to get the ball in!

 Slam Dunk!

 It's great when he makes a basket! He gets excited and we all clap and cheer. Sometimes he even does a little "dance." :)