The Shark and The Pirate

The shark, the pirate, and their mom made their way to the Johnson Street Businesses Halloween Extravaganza. This was the perfect Halloween Trick or Treat experience as it was held in the daylight on one block of Johnson St. and not at 7 pm, in the dark and cold. We were on the same path as a very scary Grim Reaper who had the ability to make Quinn scream inside every store. Quinn has a difficult time with what is real and what is not. He also had a hard time with all of the masked monsters coming to our door. I suspect he is watching too much Scooby Doo with his brother and his imagination runs wild with thoughts of monsters.

Starting them early

Quinn, Zoee and Xavier are lined up at various gambling machines at Lures n' Beer or Lured Away or something like that, a bar in Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin. We were celebrating Martin's 38th birthday. When we arrived Xavier exclaimed, "This is perfect grandma. This is beautiful." The bar/restaurant was full of smoke and scantily clad ladies on the screens of the gambling machines. I spent a fair amount of time in these sorts of establishments growing up, and I survived. This is small town life and also not unlike what I saw in several European countries. Kids go where their parents go. We had a good night and ended up seeing a bunch of my cousins show up with their children. :)

Quinn Deere

Quinn asked that I put this one on the 'puter.' Quinn and John Deere are tight.

Soccer Star

This is Xavier in the middle of a fast-paced preschool soccer game. Notice he is just standing there. We got plenty of the just-standing-there shots. During all games he was either too tired to kick the ball, needed a hug, or was thinking about watching Scooby-Doo. Once he was even able to get his shirt stuck over his head mid-game. Now soccer is over and he is involved in something much less competitive--yoga. At first he didn't want to try yoga because he thought it was girly(I don't know how he picks up these things) then I talked him into it because Grant (a boy) was also planning on taking it. After his first class I asked him if he did downward dog, child's pose, etc. and he said yes but he also did a stinky butt pose. Hmm haven't heard of this pose.

Oops this one is newborn Xav

I can't believe I posted Quinn's newborn photo as Xav's newborn photo. You'd think a mother would be able to differentiate between her boys. Apparently not and this photo still looks like Xavier today, a little puffy with a strawberry on his eye and above his lips but still Xav. Quinn's newborn photo, however, doesn't look like him at all.

Happy Birthday Xavier!! (two days ago)

In case you don't know there are some big changes at 4 years of age. For one, no more naps! Blankie and Beary were sent home from daycare and a daily statement is made about not needing a nap. Instead it is worktime at Miniapple International Montessori. Yesterday I found Xavier crushing crackers for the bird/squirrel feeder. Other days they trace in their number workbooks, work their art projects, cut pickles and eggs, and do bead counting. Previously he spent his afternoon snoozing away unproductively on a cot with several other 3 year olds.

In addition, there is no need for caregivers to wipe a 4 year old's butt after going to the bathroom. This was an announcement on the morning of the 4th birthday. Hopefully there is also a dutiful washing of the hands.

Xavier has come a long way in 4 years. He is starting to calm down and learning to handle his energy a little more constructively (and so are we). We are going to try to set up an obstacle course in our backyard for him next summer--climbing wall, running between tires, ropes course etc. He continues to be very creative and inventive. He is headed to become my little traveler. He is already talking about an upcoming trip to Africa to see hippos. He loves to look at the map and for some reason seems focused on getting to Siberia. I am planning a career for him in medicine where he will spend some time with Doctors Without Borders. So far he thinks this is a great idea and I am sure he will continue to think his mother is all knowing.