School update

I really hate that Bugs school starts at 8:30am so I have to drop him off in the gym for breakfast.

He really hates it too.

He has stopped the crying but is continuing with the clinging.

He just wraps his arms around me and whispers "Not yet momma, stay a little bit longer"

So everyday I sit a little longer until he's comfortable.

Then I haul ass home so I can start work on time.

Bah!

If I could just drop him off in his classroom I know it wouldn't be like this.

Then Wednesday night he comes home with a note that says

"Reminder there is no Kindergarten on Friday"

Whaaaaat???

So far this month this is the third regular day they didn't have kindergarten.

Just when I thought I was cutting daycare cost in half, it's more like just a quarter savings and a hell of a lot more stress!

Trying something new

IMG_3411 copy
Originally uploaded by autumnsbug

I'm trying something new by posting from flickr.
You see I received the most awesome birthday gift from my dad.
Can you tell what it is from this picture?
My dad spoiled me with a Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens!
I have taken many pictures with it but this was one of my favorites. It's SOC and when I took it I fell in love with this lens.
I am having issues with getting the focus just right though.
Now I feel like I need to get a little more serious with this photography hobby.
I need to live up to my cameras potential.
Scary!

Ok I just looked and I don't like how Flickr posted it at all.... crap.

An equation

Husbands cell phone goes swimming = New cell phone for me

Cool!!!!

Husband forgot to take his cell phone out of his pocket before jumping in our pool on Sunday. This time the phone didn't recover and neither did any of the 200 numbers he had stored in it.
Yes you read that correct, this is the second time the phone took a dip.
No he didn't learn to write his numbers down after the first time.
The first time it went into the washing machine.
Lucky for me, my line was up for a free upgrade.
Now we do the phone switch and he gets stuck with my old one.

My crappy morning

For days I have explained the new school routine to Bug. Knowing that change in routine could cause a meltdown of disastrous proportions; I try to ease the pain by talking about it a lot.
This week we had to change the school routine by having Bug eat breakfast at school.
This means we leave the house earlier in order for me to get back home to start work on time.
We pulled into school a few minutes before they opened the doors.
As soon as I turned off the car Bug said " We have to go back home now"
I responded with "What? Why?"
Bug said " I have to poop, we have to go home."
I stammered " Are you sure? Can't you just go here at school?"
Bug shaking his head.. "Noooo mom I have to go home!"
Many options are racing through my head at this point.
Be firm and make him march in there and poop in the school bathroom.
Race home and be late to start work, but it would be OK because I would just work late tonight.
Then I thought, if I do that I am just giving in to him. He needs to get over this phobia!
Then I thought of my little boy, crying and holding in his poop because he refused to go. Only to have an accident later in the day... at school.
I turned the car back on and drove home.
10 miles round trip and we were back at school. Everything was OK until we reached his classroom. His teacher told us that every Monday the kids all start out in the gym.
As I walked him down to the gym he started to tear up. I tried to get his mind off of the sudden change, " Oh I don't know where the gym is, can you show me Bug?"
He took one look in the gym, with the chaos of kids yelling and playing. He grabbed onto me and burst into tears. He would not let me go.
I stood there trying to figure out what to do. Finally I peaked back into the gym and saw a friend of his that goes to his daycare. He was there with his mom.
Hallelujah!!!
We made our way over and when Bug saw his friend there he stopped crying. Still upset but not as bad, he gave me a hug, told me goodbye and let me go.
I got in my car and cried the whole way home.
God I hope tomorrow is better.

Mutton Bustin'

You will get the reason for the title by the end of this post, I promise. One of our favorite late Summer activities is going to our state fair. Usually we end up going on the hottest day and get super cranky by mid afternoon. This year the weather was perfect, mid seventies, partly sunny. We arrived around 11am and stood in a long line to buy ride bracelets for my husband and Bug. I am not a ride person. I can't stomach whirling, twirling, bumping and jumping. But the husband and Bug love a thrill and were excited to start.



He insisted on doing the boring canoe ride too, dancing in the boat to the silly music that played in the background.


Then he spotted some blow up plastic guitars and NEEDED one. So he "won" one on a kiddy game.


After we worked up an appetite at the carnival portion, we made our way to lunch. Then on to the animal pens to see tiny horses, pigs, cows, sheep and goats. On our way out of the animal pens we grabbed some ice cream and heard a bunch of commotion. We sat down and watched as little kids rode sheep like buckin broncos. They asked if any other kids wanted to try. We asked Bug if he wanted to try. He said " Not yet, I'm eating my ice cream." He was calm about it, watching the other kids ride and fall. When he was done with his ice cream cone he proclaimed that he was ready. He got his helmet on. They asked him his name and where he was from, then they asked him to name his sheep. He christened him "Lightning".


They put him in the shoot and off he went! With a little help from two teens, one holding the sheep's head and one hanging on to the back of Bugs shirt.





He stayed on for a long time. Once he was off the crowd was cheering and he gave them a big wave. They presented him with a blue ribbon that proclaimed him "Mutton Bustin' Champion". He is so proud of that ribbon. Then we watched Chinese acrobats, walked through the garden and photography exhibits. By that time we were beat and started walking out.
Earlier in the day we talked about the "sky lift" that runs the length of the fair grounds. None of us had taken it before and we wanted to ride it some day.
It's just like a ski lift, you ride in little benches over the tents and people below. As we were almost walking out Bug said "Are we forgetting something?" and pointed to the sky lift. We couldn't not do it then and I'm glad we did. A birds eye view of the fair is a fun sight.


As the sun went down, we left the fair for another year.

The Kindergartener

Bug started Kindergarten yesterday and he was so excited about it.

On the drive there we had this conversation.

Bug: Momma, I can't wave bye to you out the window at this school.

Me: Oh?

Bug: Yea, they don't have as many windows. But it will be OK Mom.

If anyone remembers, Bug has a set routine at daycare drop off. If he doesn't get to wave at me as I walk to my car, he has a melt down. I wasn't surprised that his little brain was already trying to figure out our new routine.

As I settled him in, I asked him if he was ready for me to leave. He nodded, gave me a hug and with a huge smile said "Bye mom, I love you."

I walked to my car, closed the door and started crying. I cried the whole way home.

When I picked him up from daycare he told me all about his new school. He was happy and excited to get to ride the big bus. I was so happy to see him and told him how proud I was of him. I must have been laying it on a little too thick because he then said to me "How long are you going to be happy for me?"

Your whole life my sweets, for your whole life.

Vacation fun

I had the last week off of work and didn't find any time to blog. It was a fun filled week and I have many pictures to share.

It started with my birthday. I asked my dad if we could take his kayaks somewhere for the day. My dad suggested a high mountain lake that doesn't allow motorized boats. We had a small hike into it and it was worth the walk.

The weather was gorgeous and the water was crystal clear.

My dad wanted to show us the other side of the lake, where the water turns a Caribbean blue green and there are two small islands. Bug wanted to ride with Papa so I got to take his dog Hannah with me. She was not the ideal passenger!

When we returned it was time to practice some fishing.

We didn't get a single bite, despite fish jumping just feet off shore. After giving up on fishing, Bug and grandpa played some hide and seek.

Then we had to rescue Hannah from a would be dog napper... seriously what is wrong with people?

The huckleberries where in full swing so Bug loaded up with as many as he could eat.

Then Bug asked for one last row before the trip back home.

I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.