Fun in the Sun

Last weekend we took the kids to the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg.  It is a historic (very large) home that was donated by a (very weathly) woman.  The kids absolutely loved it.  Mom and Dad liked it too.  We went Saturday morning and figured we would spend an hour or so there.  They have organic gardens, a little house for the kids with a table and chairs, a climbing area, a musical area, a slab that the kids painted on with water, an outdoor pond with fish and tadpoles and lily pads, a geodesic dome with an indoor pond and huge fish that the kids could feed and lots of plants, bee hives and a little building that explains bees, a pottery building, and a library.  The kids did not want to leave, so we told them we would come back another time.  The next morning Mackenzie was asking to go back, so we did, with Grandma and Grandpa this time.  Most of the activities are outside and it was a beautiful weekend to spend outside.  Mackenzie's favorite part was the Fairyland.  They have a small space where they have fairy houses and fairy statues, etc.  So on Sunday we went to Lowe's for some fencing to keep the rabbits out of our garden and we got some stuff so that Mackenzie could build her own Fairyland.  So Grandma and Grandpa now have a fairy yard in their backyard.  Also, the rabbits will have to find another buffet because our garden is now heavily fortified. 

For Memorial Day weekend we are headed to "Gradma Kaffy" and "Papa Mike's" (as Isaac says) house and cabin to hopefully enjoy some more sunshine and play in the water.

Too Affectionate

So at home we are having some trouble with Mackenzie hitting and having a potty mouth.  Both have pushed me over the edge the last few weeks.  So when the teacher approached me after school today the alarms in my head were going off that it was becoming an issue at school as well. So when the teacher informed me, "We are having a problem with Mackenzie . . ." I was trying to determine which would be worse that she was hitting or that she was calling people "Poopy" and then whatever word came into her head, or telling the other kids that she hates them.  I was not expecting "she is hugging and kissing the other kids too much."  The teacher then went on to tell me that it was okay for her to hug and kiss her teachers but that I needed to work with her to get her to stop hugging and kissing the other kids.  So, in my head, I gave a great sigh and to the teacher I told her I would talk to Mackenzie.  Personally, I felt like this is something the teachers should be able to work with Mackenzie with on their own, but oh well.  Mackenzie heard the whole conversation between the teacher and I.  So when we got in the car and I mentioned to her that the other kids may not like hugs and kisses and maybe she should save them for her family she said, "I know Mom.  I will just hug and kiss my teachers at school."  Problem solved. 

Now if only I could find such a simple solution to the language problem at home.  She actually voluntarily put soap on her toothbrush tonight and washed her mouth out with soap.  Later she said a naughty word and informed me that she must not have washed all of the bad words out of her mouth.  Evidently washing her mouth out with soap is not the answer.

On a happier side of the fence, this morning was the first morning when Isaac said "Good bye, Mom" and let me walk out of this daycare not feeling like the worse mom in the world.  He actually opened the door for me, gave me a hug and kiss, said "Good bye, Mom" and closed the door.  Yippee!  Now I can concentrate on feeling like the worse mom in the world when Mackenzie hits me.

Ladies Man

For those of you that know Isaac, you know that this is not a typical expression for him.  He is usually a pretty smiley kid.  We went to get photos taken at Portrait Innovations, which we usually love.  However, it seems they were a bit overbooked Saturday morning when we went.  In the past when we have gotten photos taken there we had a photographer and a helper.  This time we had only a photographer and unfortunately the photographer was a man.  I think he was also fairly new, but I don't know that for certain.  Anyway, we have always had female photographers before and Isaac has always been full of charm.  This time Isaac looked at the man very suspiciously the entire time and we had a terrible time trying to get him to crack a smile.  Mackenzie on the other hand had a ball posing for pictures.

Isaac has been trying to use the potty for a while now.  He actually started before we left Chicago then stopped for a while and now has gained some interest again.  He seems to be most interested in it when we are in public places though.  Tonight we met Grandma for dinner at Frickers (the kids like getting hot dogs there) and the first thing Isaac did was run into the bathroom (he remembered where it was from the last visit) to sit on the toilet.  Oh the joys and the germs of motherhood.