Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Fun in the Sun
We had a fun day today. The first thing Stian did after having breakfast was head down to Napa with Daddy. Stian loves going to Napa, which is good, because I hate going to Napa, so it's nice Kris has someone to go with him. One of the things on Kris's to-do list for the weekend is to change the oil in both of the cars. So off they went.
Shortly after they got home we turned around and headed out again. This time to the farmers' market. Stian seems to enjoy the farmers' market - it must be all the activity. Then we wandered over to the courthouse. Stian likes the fountain over there and this weekend happens to be the "Round the Square Art Festival" - so there was much going on. He got to play by the fountain and run up and down the little hill and just wander around and be goofy. We even bought him a bowl of strawberries and ice cream, which he thuroughly enjoyed, though he had to share it with Daddy who ate most of the ice cream.
Then on the way home we decided to stop by campus. There is a big fountain right behind my building on campus that people like to play in. Stian wasn't so sure about playing in it, though he did like watching a couple of other kids who were playing in it. I told him we could go back tomorrow in his swim suit and he could play in it if he wanted to. We didn't have the camera with us, but we did have my phone, which took decent pictures. I also got a little video, I'll see if I can get that to upload later.
We also stopped by Ace Hardware, another of Stian's favorite stores, to pick up some potting soil.
After that we came home, had lunch and took a nap. But when he got up from a nap we spent the rest of the afternoon - several hours - playing in his swimming pool and playing with the hose and a squirt bottle. I also managed to finally get some flowers planted and Kris ran off to Menards to buy some wood for another project on his to do list for the weekend: build a headboard for my bed (we'll see how much Kris is actually able to get done on his to do list, it's rather long).
Stian also had his first experience with a popsicle and he was sold. He had watched me make them the other night - mostly blended up strawberries and bluebeberries and a little bit of yogurt. He loved it!
We capped off the evening by going out to the Mexican place for dinner which he also enjoyed. He really likes their cheese enchilladas. They also have a fountain in the middle of the restaurant that he likes to look at. That's three fountains in one day, it must have been a good day!
Shortly after they got home we turned around and headed out again. This time to the farmers' market. Stian seems to enjoy the farmers' market - it must be all the activity. Then we wandered over to the courthouse. Stian likes the fountain over there and this weekend happens to be the "Round the Square Art Festival" - so there was much going on. He got to play by the fountain and run up and down the little hill and just wander around and be goofy. We even bought him a bowl of strawberries and ice cream, which he thuroughly enjoyed, though he had to share it with Daddy who ate most of the ice cream.
Then on the way home we decided to stop by campus. There is a big fountain right behind my building on campus that people like to play in. Stian wasn't so sure about playing in it, though he did like watching a couple of other kids who were playing in it. I told him we could go back tomorrow in his swim suit and he could play in it if he wanted to. We didn't have the camera with us, but we did have my phone, which took decent pictures. I also got a little video, I'll see if I can get that to upload later.
We also stopped by Ace Hardware, another of Stian's favorite stores, to pick up some potting soil.
After that we came home, had lunch and took a nap. But when he got up from a nap we spent the rest of the afternoon - several hours - playing in his swimming pool and playing with the hose and a squirt bottle. I also managed to finally get some flowers planted and Kris ran off to Menards to buy some wood for another project on his to do list for the weekend: build a headboard for my bed (we'll see how much Kris is actually able to get done on his to do list, it's rather long).
Stian also had his first experience with a popsicle and he was sold. He had watched me make them the other night - mostly blended up strawberries and bluebeberries and a little bit of yogurt. He loved it!
We capped off the evening by going out to the Mexican place for dinner which he also enjoyed. He really likes their cheese enchilladas. They also have a fountain in the middle of the restaurant that he likes to look at. That's three fountains in one day, it must have been a good day!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sentences
By the way, it says in his parent-teacher conferences write up that he speaks in 4-6 word sentences, but he can speak in much longer sentences than that. An example of a sentence he said to me yesterday that made me laugh:
"When I am a Mommy I will wear earrings and sleep in a Mommy bed."
It's probably a good thing Kris and I don't get too worked up about gender issues with Stian. In fact, I like hearing him say things like this because it means he hasn't had what it means to be a boy in our culture drilled into his head quite so thuroughly yet. Even though he does love all modes of trasportation and getting dirty, gender is still fluid for him, which I like. I'd like it if it stayed that way, and he felt comfortable expressing himself both in traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine ways. But I'm sure it won't. Our society does a pretty good job of making it clear to little boys about how they must act.
But the point of this post is his sentences. He can speak in quite complicated sentences, more so than the write-up suggests.
"When I am a Mommy I will wear earrings and sleep in a Mommy bed."
It's probably a good thing Kris and I don't get too worked up about gender issues with Stian. In fact, I like hearing him say things like this because it means he hasn't had what it means to be a boy in our culture drilled into his head quite so thuroughly yet. Even though he does love all modes of trasportation and getting dirty, gender is still fluid for him, which I like. I'd like it if it stayed that way, and he felt comfortable expressing himself both in traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine ways. But I'm sure it won't. Our society does a pretty good job of making it clear to little boys about how they must act.
But the point of this post is his sentences. He can speak in quite complicated sentences, more so than the write-up suggests.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Parent-Teacher Conferences
We had parent-teacher conferences for Stian again yesterday. It's interesting to hear how he is doing in school. We talk with his teachers everyday when we pick him up or drop him off, but this gives us a little more detail. We sat and chatted with one of his teachers for about a half an hour. She told us Stian is doing really well in school, he is starting to play more with the other kids, and that he's so much fun to have in class.
She also gave us something she had written up about his development:
Physical Development
Fine Motor Skills: Stian enjoys coloring with crayons and markers. He can easily fill and dump containers, put objects through an opening and can string large beads. He does a great job using his spoon during meal times. Stian is showing interest in using scissors and picking items up with tongs.
Gross motor skills: Stian loves to ride the tricycle with the pedals. He is constantly practicing balancing on one foot and asking others if they can do it too. He can catch a ball most of the time and throws it back using an underhand throw. He can walk backwards and kick a ball without losing his balance.
Social/Emotional Development
Stian is always showing affection by giving hugs or wanting to sit on someone’s lap. He is beginning to show interest in playing with a group of children, but still prefers to play by himself. He can take his paint shirt off and put his coat on by himself, but still asks for help when it comes to his clothes if they need changed.
Language and Literacy
Receptive Language Skills: Stian loves to listen to stories and is fascinated by words. He follows directions fairly well, and is always taking in what he has seen, heard, or been told to do.
Expressive Language Skills: Stian is above average when it comes to his expressive language skills. He uses adjectives, speaks in 4-6 word sentences, understands opposites, and can tell you what happened during the day or over the weekend. It is so much fun to listen to him tell stories of have a conversation with him. You never know what he will say next.
Intellectual Development
Stian really enjoys dancing to music. This is usually the time we see him interact most with other children. He can discriminate sizes, name objects in a picture, and can complete 3-5 piece puzzles. Stian is starting to show interest in investigating by touch and playing in the sensory table more often.
She also gave us something she had written up about his development:
Physical Development
Fine Motor Skills: Stian enjoys coloring with crayons and markers. He can easily fill and dump containers, put objects through an opening and can string large beads. He does a great job using his spoon during meal times. Stian is showing interest in using scissors and picking items up with tongs.
Gross motor skills: Stian loves to ride the tricycle with the pedals. He is constantly practicing balancing on one foot and asking others if they can do it too. He can catch a ball most of the time and throws it back using an underhand throw. He can walk backwards and kick a ball without losing his balance.
Social/Emotional Development
Stian is always showing affection by giving hugs or wanting to sit on someone’s lap. He is beginning to show interest in playing with a group of children, but still prefers to play by himself. He can take his paint shirt off and put his coat on by himself, but still asks for help when it comes to his clothes if they need changed.
Language and Literacy
Receptive Language Skills: Stian loves to listen to stories and is fascinated by words. He follows directions fairly well, and is always taking in what he has seen, heard, or been told to do.
Expressive Language Skills: Stian is above average when it comes to his expressive language skills. He uses adjectives, speaks in 4-6 word sentences, understands opposites, and can tell you what happened during the day or over the weekend. It is so much fun to listen to him tell stories of have a conversation with him. You never know what he will say next.
Intellectual Development
Stian really enjoys dancing to music. This is usually the time we see him interact most with other children. He can discriminate sizes, name objects in a picture, and can complete 3-5 piece puzzles. Stian is starting to show interest in investigating by touch and playing in the sensory table more often.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Hot!
The sun finally came out yesterday and it was hot! I set up Stian's old splash pool in the morning, but once we got it all set up it seemed ridiculously small. So later in the morning when Kris and Stian went to Menards they picked up a little bit bigger one. After nap time Stian went out and jumped in.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Puddles
There's not much point to rainboots when you sit down in a puddle or a bin full of water and the water fills up inside them.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Fun in the Rain
We had a light rain last night, but Stian wanted to go out and investigate the large pile of mulch we had delivered and Kris wanted to get started spreading the large pile of mulch. So out they went. Stian thought the mulch was quite funny and quite fun to climb on. (the pictures aren't very good, for some reason they kept getting overexposed)
A little while later I went out to pick some rhubarb to make muffins. I was behind the garage and couldn't see what he was doing, but he was talking to me - chatting away about the mulch and his stick. One of the things he said to me was "I'm giving my shoes a bath, Mommy." But I was only half paying attention to him. He told me a couple of times he was giving his shoes a bath, and I just kept picking rhubrarb. I probably should have realized what he was up to, but didn't. Sure enough, he was standing in a bin of about 5 inches of water - with his shoes on, because I hadn't put his rainboots on him before he went out.
He was quite wet and quite filthy after these little adventures.
Then Kris came in to collect the garbage in the house, because it was garbage night, and on his way in he asked Stian if he'd take out the garbage in the garbage can in the garage. I'm not really sure if Kris thought he would actually do it, but he did. He took the can out to the curb. Actually, he took it all the way to the mailbox, because that's where he thought it should go. So I guess he has real "chores" now.
Kris dumped him in the bath after that - he was kind of a mess!
A little while later I went out to pick some rhubarb to make muffins. I was behind the garage and couldn't see what he was doing, but he was talking to me - chatting away about the mulch and his stick. One of the things he said to me was "I'm giving my shoes a bath, Mommy." But I was only half paying attention to him. He told me a couple of times he was giving his shoes a bath, and I just kept picking rhubrarb. I probably should have realized what he was up to, but didn't. Sure enough, he was standing in a bin of about 5 inches of water - with his shoes on, because I hadn't put his rainboots on him before he went out.
He was quite wet and quite filthy after these little adventures.
Then Kris came in to collect the garbage in the house, because it was garbage night, and on his way in he asked Stian if he'd take out the garbage in the garbage can in the garage. I'm not really sure if Kris thought he would actually do it, but he did. He took the can out to the curb. Actually, he took it all the way to the mailbox, because that's where he thought it should go. So I guess he has real "chores" now.
Kris dumped him in the bath after that - he was kind of a mess!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Big Boy Bike
On Wednesday, as soon as we got out of the car from returning from school, Stian marched into the garage and pulled out Nate's old bike, climbed on and off he went. He hadn't shown much interest in this bike for awhile because it was too big for him, he couldn't reach the pedals. But for some reason on Wednesday he decided to give it another shot, and sure enough, he can now reach the pedals. He's having much fun on the bike. That night he rode it all the way to the front of our road and back - which is over a mile. He refers to it as his "big boy bike". He's awfully lucky to have all of these different bikes to try out!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Mother's Day
We had a really nice Mother's Day yesterday. We went to Chicago with our friends Kevin and Dawn and their daughter Quinn. We went to the aquarium, then to a yummy noodle place for lunch, and then to Ikea to pick up a few things. It was a long day for Stian, but he had lots of fun and held it together remarkably well for not getting much of a nap or other rest during the day.
And while we brought our very nice camera with us, we managed to leave it in the car. So Kris did take some pictures with his iphone, but the quality was not very good, especially inside the aquarium where it is quite dark. But at least we have a few pictures from the day.
So if you ask Stian what he did at the aquarium, here is the order he would tell you:
1) He played with a helicopter and the propellers spun. This was a little toy in one of the gift shops. He loved it. He keeps talking about it. I probably would have bought it for him though it was a little pricey, and frankly I was annoyed with the aquarium for having all of these little gift shops everywhere because it was always a battle to get Stian away from them again.
2) He played in a submarine! They have an area especially for kids with lots of fun stuff for them to look at and touch and play with. Stian loved the submarine. He was in there for probably 30 minutes. All of these buttons and levers and knobs and wheels to play with! It was a big hit with all the kids. One mother standing next to me said to her kid "All right, let's go look at some fish! You know the reason we came!" Then she turned to me and said, "he's been in there for an hour, I kid you not!" And Stian would have stayed in there longer too but we eventually dragged him away.
3) He paddled a boat! This was also a big hit with the kids who were sort of taking turns and sort of fighting over it. Stian loved it and had to take several turns in it.
4) Notice the lack of any mention of water creatures of any sort? At this point though he would probably tell you about the beluga whales he saw underwater and the sealion and he'd demonstrate the sound it made for you: "Arr! Arr!" Although you can't actually see the sea lion in this picture, that's what we are standing in front of. This is also right by the whales that he liked.
Then after we were done we went outside - it was a beautiful day, cool, but very pretty. After some pictures we headed over to the noodle place by the University of Illinois Chicago.
And then to Ikea. We were looking for a couple of things, including a "big boy bed" for Stian. Unfortunately they were sold out of the one I was thinking of getting him. They had another really neat one we almost bought him, but we ended up not getting it for him because it was more money than we had been planning on spending. But I kind of think we'll end up going back up there to get him that one. We don't have any pictures of it, but it's quite cool. It's hard to explain, but when the kid gets older you can flip it over and then they sleep sort of like on an upper bunk - but they are only about 4 feet off the ground, and then you get this cool space underneith it. Stian thought it was super cool to play in it. That's probably another thing he would tell you about his day yesterday - playing in the bed with the roof! He commented last night before going to bed how his bed was a convertible - it didn't have a roof.
And while we brought our very nice camera with us, we managed to leave it in the car. So Kris did take some pictures with his iphone, but the quality was not very good, especially inside the aquarium where it is quite dark. But at least we have a few pictures from the day.
So if you ask Stian what he did at the aquarium, here is the order he would tell you:
1) He played with a helicopter and the propellers spun. This was a little toy in one of the gift shops. He loved it. He keeps talking about it. I probably would have bought it for him though it was a little pricey, and frankly I was annoyed with the aquarium for having all of these little gift shops everywhere because it was always a battle to get Stian away from them again.
2) He played in a submarine! They have an area especially for kids with lots of fun stuff for them to look at and touch and play with. Stian loved the submarine. He was in there for probably 30 minutes. All of these buttons and levers and knobs and wheels to play with! It was a big hit with all the kids. One mother standing next to me said to her kid "All right, let's go look at some fish! You know the reason we came!" Then she turned to me and said, "he's been in there for an hour, I kid you not!" And Stian would have stayed in there longer too but we eventually dragged him away.
3) He paddled a boat! This was also a big hit with the kids who were sort of taking turns and sort of fighting over it. Stian loved it and had to take several turns in it.
4) Notice the lack of any mention of water creatures of any sort? At this point though he would probably tell you about the beluga whales he saw underwater and the sealion and he'd demonstrate the sound it made for you: "Arr! Arr!" Although you can't actually see the sea lion in this picture, that's what we are standing in front of. This is also right by the whales that he liked.
Then after we were done we went outside - it was a beautiful day, cool, but very pretty. After some pictures we headed over to the noodle place by the University of Illinois Chicago.
And then to Ikea. We were looking for a couple of things, including a "big boy bed" for Stian. Unfortunately they were sold out of the one I was thinking of getting him. They had another really neat one we almost bought him, but we ended up not getting it for him because it was more money than we had been planning on spending. But I kind of think we'll end up going back up there to get him that one. We don't have any pictures of it, but it's quite cool. It's hard to explain, but when the kid gets older you can flip it over and then they sleep sort of like on an upper bunk - but they are only about 4 feet off the ground, and then you get this cool space underneith it. Stian thought it was super cool to play in it. That's probably another thing he would tell you about his day yesterday - playing in the bed with the roof! He commented last night before going to bed how his bed was a convertible - it didn't have a roof.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
School Pictures
We just got Stian's spring school pictures back. I think they turned out really well. We didn't end up buying any from the fall round because they were so awful -the poses were dumb, the background was dumb, they were all fuzzy and softened - I was not happy. So I was really happy with how these turned out.
Don't worry grandmas - we have a couple of 5x7s with your names on them. You too Auntie Karin or Uncle Wayne, if you want 'em.
I should add that I am especially happy with them considering the circumstances under which they were taken. Stian had just gotten to school after a doctor's appointment, and he doesn't like getting to school late - it throws off his schedule. We had come in the door and found his class all in their coats holding onto the rope getting ready to go for a walk. So they tell us to quick run back and get his picture taken and then get his coat on, they'll wait for him. Stian was not happy. He doesn't like being thrown into things like that. But he was a trooper. At least for the picture. He had a huge meltdown right after the pictures about going for a walk with his class and me leaving to go to work.
Don't worry grandmas - we have a couple of 5x7s with your names on them. You too Auntie Karin or Uncle Wayne, if you want 'em.
I should add that I am especially happy with them considering the circumstances under which they were taken. Stian had just gotten to school after a doctor's appointment, and he doesn't like getting to school late - it throws off his schedule. We had come in the door and found his class all in their coats holding onto the rope getting ready to go for a walk. So they tell us to quick run back and get his picture taken and then get his coat on, they'll wait for him. Stian was not happy. He doesn't like being thrown into things like that. But he was a trooper. At least for the picture. He had a huge meltdown right after the pictures about going for a walk with his class and me leaving to go to work.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Saturday Morning
We had a really nice Saturday morning. First we went out to breakfast, then downtown to the farmers' market. It was the first market of the season, there wasn't too much there, but we got some lettuce and some eggs and Stian enjoyed walking around looking at stuff. We stopped on the way back to the car to take a picture of him on the old newspaper building.
Then we headed to Columbian Park to play on the playground and go to the free zoo.
The zoo has just opened up for the season. They have some new exhibits this year that are quite neat - including one where you can get up close and personal with wallabies. Stian thought that was pretty cool.
Stian liked the alligator statue.
But his favorite thing at the zoo was the tractor, of course, just like last summer.
He liked the petting zoo better this year and actually went up to the goats on his own, which surprised me. But he saw other kids doing it so I think that made him more brave.
Then we headed to Columbian Park to play on the playground and go to the free zoo.
The zoo has just opened up for the season. They have some new exhibits this year that are quite neat - including one where you can get up close and personal with wallabies. Stian thought that was pretty cool.
Stian liked the alligator statue.
But his favorite thing at the zoo was the tractor, of course, just like last summer.
He liked the petting zoo better this year and actually went up to the goats on his own, which surprised me. But he saw other kids doing it so I think that made him more brave.
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