That's What He Said

Me: Ares, be careful, the wood is slippery when it's wet. 

Ares: Well duh! 

Ares is at Subway with Grandma Venus

Ares:  I want what she's having -  but with jalapenos. 

Ares: When Aunt Leah broke her finger, did she do it on daddy's belt? 

(It was a month ago during tough mudder where Adam took his belt off and held on to one side while others grabbed on to it and he pulled them up the half pipe.  Leah thought she broke her finger when the belt started to twist around her hand.  It had not been mentioned since that day.)  

Me: Good memory kid. 

Ares: Yeah.  I know. 

Me: Ares, do you want to join a walking club with Eve?

Ares:  Yeessss!!!! I do I do!  When?!? Now?!?!

Aunt Kassi:  Who's Eve?

Ares: Just my girlfriend!  *as he's turning cartwheels in the room*

Ares *every night as we tuck him in*:  Will you give me a hug and kiss when you come up for bed? 

If the windows are down in the car, his window must be ALL the way down.  There's no partial down-ivity.  hehe.  

Today, while eating dinner: 

Ares: I love my brother - when is he coming out? 

Me: Seven weeks.

Ares: *gasp* I can count the days!  I'm going to love him.  

Mohican Camping Trip

I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day Weekend.   I always wonder why the day is celebrated on a Monday every year. I think if it were celebrated like July 4th, people would be more apt to actually sit back and think of what the Holiday is really there for.  That being said, here's our weekend, that was probably not what the Holiday was made for.

We went camping this weekend at Mohican Wilderness.  One of the best campgrounds for families.  We had a ton of fun, and met a lot of new friends (through Ares' classmate Eve).  I felt like I was on vacation.  It was really, really nice, although REALLY REALLY COLD at night.  Like, in a tent, the first night was literally 34* out, the second night was in the low 40's, much better. 

I slept like crap the first night, I was SO SO SO worried about Ares being cold.  We put him in bed after he fell asleep in my lap while sitting around the fire.  It was late late late, so we dressed him warm, tucked him into two sleeping bags, and prayed he'd stay warm.  He didn't move the entire night.

Ares and Eve got along superbly. In fact, they were kind of inseparable.   I probably took 40 pictures of the two of them together.  They acted like an old married couple.  She bossed him around, he took it with a smile and a small grumble here and there, but no arguments at all.

Here they were swinging in the hammock.  She went to Jupiter, he, to Mars. 
They decided on different planets because they couldn't agree on what the aliens looked like. Hers looked like trees that ate meat, his looked like Zombies that ate plants. 

Chilling out after the ice cream truck came by.

She finished her ice cream first, and insisted on him sharing his ice cream on an
every-other-bite-basis.  He was such a good sport about it.  It really made me proud.
I probably wouldn't have been so nice.

There were two other four year olds there (all born within a couple of months of each other) and there wasn't a single fight the entire weekend.  It was amazing, and it helped make the weekend so enjoyable.  They ran around like crazy, which scared us when we had a fire going, but was great every other time.  I can't believe Jamie managed to get a picture of them all together.  Carter was taking a nap, so he missed the single photo session.

Billy (4), Addison (2), Ares (4), Veronica (2), Eve (4), James (4)
Not pictured: Carter (2)

We had a lot of family time too.  Sunday morning, Adam ran while Ares and I played story time.  I start a story and leave blanks for him to fill in.  We did this for over 15 minutes and had a great time.  He even wanted to play the game the next day too.  After that, I forced him to take a shower with daddy.  Big. Mistake.  The kid was exhausted and we should have just put him down for a nap.  He cried and whined for about an hour, Adam said that people in the showers probably thought that he was being molested he cried for the ENTIRE shower. We took him back to the tent and he slept for A LONG time. 

Dinner was especially good that day too.  Adam cooked corn on the cob (which he had soaked in salt water for two days) and steak/mushrooms.  YUM!  Ares had two pieces of corn (anyone surprised?) and a good amount of steak before he had his ice cream. 


An odd way of eating corn, but he finishes it all.

Everyone enjoyed the new marshmallow roasting sticks (especially the kids, who were actually allowed to roast their own, since the stick was so long).  The first night Ares fell asleep on my lap, it was wonderful, the second night, he begged me to take him back to the tent so he can go to sleep.  I did, and after asking him 3 or 4 times if he was warm (Mom! I'm fine, why do you keep asking me that?!) we slept great.  Adam stayed back with everyone else that evening to drink and tell stories. I think he really enjoyed himself.


Some bonding time.

 Before we left on the last day (Monday) we took a walk across the suspension bridge.  It was coldish and rainy outside. 

I have to say, it was a pretty amazing weekend.  Granted, I am nearly 9 months pregnant, but aside from a first night of uncomfortable-ness and not drinking, I felt like I was on vacation (oh, and a few leg cramps at night, eeeks).  Would we go again?  Absolutely!! Hopefully we're invited again!

Grandma and Papa's

Ares had been back with me, after staying Wednesday and Thursday at my parents' house for less than an hour and he'd called me 'grandma' three times.   He had fun with them.  Wednesday was the Indians game.  He said he didn't have fun 'because the Tigers won.' but I know he did.  I've seen the pictures.  Apparently, this kid learns quickly that if you stand up and wave your hand, the vendors will come over to you.  He got cotton candy, mostly because the vendor had already turned around and started walking towards them when my parents noticed that Ares was waving him down.  Smart kid - apparently he likes cotton candy now, he never used to. haha.  This cracks me up, I can just imagine him doing this, lol.

This is the only picture my mom sent me from the game.

Thursday, they took him to see Iron Man 3.  I think the last few movies (like, 5!!) that Adam and I have seen have all been cartoons with Ares, and my parents take him to see Iron Man.  I'd be lying if I said we weren't jealous.  Anyhow, he talked for 20 minutes on the way home about how he liked Pepper and the bad guy with the fire on his arms.  He loved the movie, better than #2 apparently, but still likes the Hulk the best, so he dressed like the Hulk as we hit two grocery stores to prepare for this weekend's camping trip.  This kid is a riot. I am so bummed I left my phone at home while shopping, so I didn't get any photos of Ares as Hulk.  Yes, sometimes he growled at other patrons, it made me laugh.  He even let the Aldi's cashier put the mask on. =)

Some You Know, Some You Don't

Me: Ares, when we get home, can you empty the dishwasher for me?
 Ares: Yes, because I'm sexy and I know it! *grin*

Me: Ares, which animals did you like best at the zoo?
Ares: The maningoes, because they're pink and pink is my favorite color! (flamingos)

We think Ares is also allergic to pistachios and bees.  Yay.  He was stung on Thursday, but didn't know it.  My parents told him he got pinched by the chair he was getting out of.  He started getting a rash and hives after the sting. 

I can't wait until this G*d D****d triathlon is over - or ready for Adam to get another job.  He's wringing me dry, and doesn't seem to answer questions about what he's buying anymore (I see the almost daily PayPal charges).  I just wish I weren't so conscious of money, because I'd love to just spend as I please because 'I "need" it'. 18 days left.  My pocketbook is looking forward to NO MORE RACES THIS YEAR.  Wahoo!!  Seriously, I'm putting my foot down.   Does anyone need a wetsuit or a unitard or a triathlon bike or random parts of other bikes?  He's doing a good job at selling other things for a loss.  Oh yeah, NOW he needs new running shoes.  (OK, so he probably does need those, but the other purchases are so ridiculous, I'm ready to say 'no'!) I'm done ranting.  Promise - for now.  I don't promise anything while I'm sitting there for 7 hours in the sun, swatting mosquitoes, 9 months pregnant waiting for him to finish.

Today, as we were eating cereal at the island, Ares exclaims: Isn't this so good?!?!!  The little things that make kids so excited are awesome.  It was nice to have some 'us' time this morning.  When I kissed him goodbye, he lifted my shirt and kissed my belly 7 or 8 times.  I think now that he's felt Atlas move, he's starting to get excited about the baby.

He woke up saying "Go Indians!  Go Indians! Go Indians!"  I think he's really looking forward to the Indians game tonight.  Grandma Venus and Papa are taking him.  Of course, there's a 70% chance of rain.  It hasn't rained all Spring yet, (even though they keep saying it's going to), but with those terrible thunderstorms and tornadoes that the central US just had, I'm sure the 70% chance of rain will happen tonight.  Hopefully they can get some of the game in before they're soaked, they have bleacher seats. 

Family Fun Weekend

Yeaaahh, so we didn't get much of what we wanted to do done this weekend. Grocery shopping - nope, 4 coats of poly - we got one! Laundry, well, we started it, that's something.  What we did do:

Friday - Book club.  Oh, how I loooove book club.  Even if we read crappy books, it's a nice time to get together with other women that I really enjoy conversing with.  Most I'm just starting to get to know, but it's still a lot of fun.  Adam and Ben got Ares and Eve together, not so successful this time.  Ares was sick, like, either had the flu for two hours or got an allergic reaction to something, puked 5 different times (multiple times each incident) got some rashes all over his body, and then was fine after I gave him benedryl at 1AM.  My kid is amazing, he can make it to the bathroom when he's sick.  Thank goodness for that, or Adam would have had a VERY rough evening while I was gone. 

Saturday was BEAUTIFUL!  Not only a capital "B", but the whole word deserves caps lock.  mid 80's, perfect to go out and, what did we do?  I have no idea.  *seriously, 5 minutes later, I finally remembered Saturday*.  We went garage sale-ing, then played outside, took naps, and then went to Jeep Topless night down in Uniontown, followed by dinner at the Drive In Swensons where we ate with the top off the Jeep.  It was an awesome family day.

All Ares wants to do is sit on top of the Jeep. 
He got to for about an hour altogether this day.

Ares and Daddy watching the Jeeps go up the ramp.

Ares' 2nd favorite Jeep, the Cookie Monster Jeep.

Watching more Jeeps go up the ramp.

Sunday was Justice's wedding shower.  I went for a couple of hours, and MELTED in the 85* weather.  Fortunately, I got home and it was nap time.  Adam and Ares put together a few herb gardens together, and then had Subway Eat Fresh for lunch, so they were a happy couple. 

After nap time, we went outside and played, put a coat of poly on the table/bar and then came in for dinner.  Adam ran out to pick up some supplies while I cut Ares' hair, and then let him run through the sprinkler system for a half hour or so before we ate outside on the patio.

Another PERFECT family weekend.  I'm starting to love these, although, I know something will have to change when we add another little boy to the picture.   Less relaxing, more action packed.  Fortunately, Ares is a daddy's boy now, unless he's just woken up, so he may not need as much mommy attention as he used to.

MIA

Sorry I've been MIA.  Work has been crazy, but I cannot complain.  On Mother's Day, two- TWO - 2 of my sorority sisters found out that their 7 year olds had cancer.  Two, in the same day.  I don't know many details for one, but the other one has a very aggressive stage IV Wilms Cancer (anaplastic).  She's a beautiful young girl who is scared into horrible panic attacks right now.  I cannot imagine what that family is feeling.  I just have to be reminded that my problems are first-world-problems, that there's people out there - people that I know-  that have it much worse.   So please, if you pray, pray for these two families.

Here's a picture of 7 year old Harper while in the hospital.

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a very nice (read: dull) weekend.  You can probably stop reading now.  I would. Ares and I got to hang out a lot together (Ares calls it a 'Mommy day' when it's just the two of us)- and got to spend a lot of time with my mom.  Ares' Mommy days typically mean not getting out of our PJ's until the afternoon, but I had A LOT of errands to run this weekend, so he had to deal with that. 

He got new shoes.  The selection at Burlington wasn't that great and the prices were terrible - but he found a simple pair of gray with flourescent green that he absolutely LOVED.  They don't glow, they don't light up, there's no characters on them, nothing.  It's probably for that reason that they were only $11.  Score!  Finally, Ares, you rock when picking out shoes.  He's asked them if he can keep them on every time he comes into the house. 

Last weekend, the errands we ran he wore his Captain America costume.  On Saturday, he wore his Batman shirt and Batman cape, and on Sunday, he wore his green paper mask over his eyes.   At the grocery stores (we went to two) he would only answer to"Food Man" and would not allow me to touch the food, elsewhere, he was"Silly Man".  Have I mentioned that this super hero phase is fun?  I love it - it's awesome.  Hopefully he's not in this phase when he's a teenager, but for now, it's super-adorable.

Mom and I scrapbooked for a few hours Saturday night, it was AWESOME! It's been so long, I got some pages done for Atlas' scrapbook and helped mom out with some things. Go us!  I used my Silhouette Cameo for a TON of things - and I L-O-V-E- love that machine.  I'm probably going to need a new blade/cutting mat soon though =/.   At least they're pretty inexpensive.

Sunday morning was a nice brunch with the Schmidt family, followed by naps and watching the Indians win (in extra innings) against the Tigers to tie for first place in the division (of course, it's only May! haha).  Adam had originally told me he'd leave Cinci around 4 and take me out to dinner that night, but I assumed he'd not get out of there until 2 - which was correct, as their "brunch" turned into "late lunch", which I expected, so we just had a nice dinner at home, and then Ares got his bath and to bed on time. 

I had tried to hang up the curtains in Atlas' room by myself on Saturday, but I didn't have the strength to put the screws into the studs with the drill over my head, but I had all the materials and all of the measurements done, so Adam did it very quickly when he got home.  Go us - one of my 3,452 projects done.  Actually, I did the hard part of some of Katie's wedding shower present, now I just need to find some nice B&W photos of them and I'm completely done.

The purple numbers will be black vinyl and the colored photos will be in B&W- and be of them. 
I am pretty proud with how this turned out, I'll be doing more of these if I can find fancy frames for cheap.

Sunburn Mania!

This past weekend was quite awesome, the weather was amazing, and we didn't really have any plans, aside from a picnic at Ben/Sabine and Eve's house (Ares' girlfriend, apparently).  The kids were good, Ares had a few freakouts about bees and monsters, but they behaved (until 1AM, when we decided it was time to leave, and Ares didn't want to).

We went to the West Side Market on Saturday and just as I thought - Ares loved it.  He wanted to eat, buy, try every single vegetable or fruit there.  We got him a plum to eat while we were there, plus a chocolate mint oreo and we tried popcorn.  I got a caramel apple for later and some lemons and kiwi's.  Mom bought bread and strawberries.  The strawberries were molded before the end of the day, my kiwis were soft before the end of the day.  That sucks. Never going back to that vendor. 

After the market, we spent the day staining the table (haven't poly'd it yet though) and taught Ares how to ride a two wheeled bike.  It took about 5 tries, if that.  He did awesome, only fell a couple of times (mostly because he'd put his feet down as soon as he got worried he'd fall.  I wish we had more straight sidewalks than what we have around our house.  He turned pretty successfully one time, but as soon as he turned, the only place for him to go was the flower garden, so he fell so he wouldn't squish the flowers (nice kid).    I have video, not sure how to post though. =(  Check Facebook!   No pictures of course. 

Sunday we were outside all day.  Adam ran and biked, I sat outside with Ares and my mom.  Then we came home, and sat outside while talking to the neighbors.  We're both burned - very burned.  I have the fun sock/capri burn line, plus face, chest and arms.  Adam has a VERY funny unitard burn lines, legs and his back looks like he sported a women's bathingsuit.  I took a picture of that too, but it's only on Facebook.  I'm bad.  

Oh Allergy Fun - short rant.

Ares: "Mommy, I can't open my eyes again.  Why wouldn't daddy help me?"
Me: *Picture a cartoon character with steam coming out of their ears.* 
--I didn't answer, because I had none-- 

It's Not Flogging Molly, but 'Oh Mr Sun' is Fun Too!

Yesterday was Ares' Spring concert.  Again, they put all 4 boys together.  This time, it was a good thing.  They (well, all but Lukas, he's not a group activity type) all participated, danced, sang, and had a good time.  Ares decided before the show that he wanted to wear that hat.  We had to change his pants to match. 

Ares, Davis, Colt, Lukas

 This is their favorite song.  'Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, Please come out to play" it's a fun song.   It's my favorite song too.  I'm glad Ares decided he would actually sing, as he told me before the concert that he was only going to sing "Rebels of the Sacred Heart" and nothing else.







After the concert they got cookies.

 

Grandma Venus and Papa Keith came to watch him and take videos. 
He wanted nothing to do with me or Adam once he saw them.

 

I did get a picture with him before he ran off though. 

He did think one song was boring, (and everyone in the audience agreed), but he showed it by sitting on the step while everyone else stood and sang.  It was quite funny.  He told me before (and after) the show that he didn't like that song, that it was boring.