My Grandpa Fulton

Tonight Hagen and I went to my Mom's house. Ryan and my Dad were traveling so we thought we would make some Tuna Casserole (total comfort food) and just veg.

It obviously happened for a reason as we never really do things like this.

I was making dinner and ran out to my car real quick and came back and Mom was sitting on the chair and said, "He's gone...".

My Grandpa has been in poor health for awhile now. He has gotten to the point that his skin is so thin that it can not even uphold the stitches to keep a feeding tube in. It came out for the final time on Monday. We thought we had around 10 days (remembering how much time we had with other loved ones that have passed). He was so weak that it was only 2...

I remember so many great things about my Grandpa. He was a Man's Man...hard working...not afraid to get dirty... When my Grandma passed away about 6 years ago I think a piece of my Grandpa died with her. He just was never the same. Within the past couple of years it was almost like he was trying to die...I like to think it is because he was dying of a broken heart and he just couldn't wait to be reunited with his love.

Mom and I told old stories about Grandpa, cried, discussed some important things, etc. all over a couple of glasses of wine. I miss the old Grandpa that I remember...I miss him alot. He was not the same person and I am happy that he is with Grandma. It is so much harder for those left behind.

Here's to you Grandpa...love you so much!
Carrie

Big boy bed!

Tonight is Hagen's first night in his twin bed. He was so excited! I was freaking out because I got a bed rail at Target...just one. I got it to work, but was worried about the gap between his bed and the wall...it was about a 6 inch gap and my string bean of a kid could slip in that hole never to be found again! I got a BRILLIANT idea. You know those thick bumper pads for cribs? Those big round ones? The ones that I spent a small fortune on even though people were telling me you won't use them because they are unsafe? The ones I actually never did use? Well, they just happen to match perfectly and fit right into the hole! Problem solved. AND it matches his bed too! SCORE! We kept with the cowboy print in his room...love it...it's kinda old school cowboy.

I have some arranging to do of the stuff that is on his walls still.

I attached three pictures...I don't know how to organize them. The first one is the first night he spent in his crib, the second one is the first night he spent in his toddler bed, and then the third is the one from tonight...first night in a big bed! Go Hagen!!

Sweet Dreams,

Mama

The Little Gym

Hagen's little buddy in his class, Stone, has been going to little gym for awhile. He loves it so we decided to put Hagen in it as well! It's a parent/tot class so either Ryan or myself participate with him. I was the chosen one for the 1st time since Ryan had to pack to go out of town AND take down Hagen's toddler bed to prepare for the delivery of his twin bed.

Hagen was SO excited...he wasn't sure what he was excited about but I told him we are going on a special outing to the gym!

We go in and take our shoes off and Hagen's socks. Holy toenails batman! WHY haven't I noticed that my sons toenails were that long?! It was embarrassing but not as embarrassed as it would have been if I had to take my socks off. I still have a few specs of my summer polish on...I like to watch it disappear when my toenails grow...so it is on the very tips of my nails! Awesome...

So we go in and start the 45 experience. Hagen was dancing, running, hopping, and having a great time. Stone...not so much. He was so tired and a bit crabby...we are all entitled to have our day of crankiness.

Hagen did the balance beam and was gripping it with his toes...so cute. He did barrel rolls, jump and land on your feet, trotting, parachute, etc. It was so fun! What is sad is that Mama was out of breath running in a circle during the "warm-up" exercise. We are talking about 1 minute and I was jogging...and out of breath...how pathetic!

So the obnoxiously long toenails? Yep, one got bent back and was bleeding underneath a bit. He didn't seem to notice, but I did and felt so bad!

There was a little girl in the class that was about 1 1/2 and a new walker...she was ADORABLE! You know my feelings towards babies and wanting another. I could not take my eyes off of her! So much so that when I was supposed to be spotting my son while he was hanging from the monkey bar I wasn't paying attention and he fell off. No harm...he bounced back up and did it again. I felt really cool...and of course there were others there to "judge" me with their stares.

I think this is the type of exercise that is right up my alley! I may be really good at little gym!

Tata,
Carrie

My kid is a weirdo...

Hagen...you seem to shock us every now and again, but today you have really outdone yourself!

When I picked you up from school today I asked "how was your day? What did you do?" You answered with "nothing".

This is what you always say...but I know better. Ms. Wikita (his new teacher that I am not too sure about) said that he was quite the character today. At circle time today it was express yourself! It is when each child can go up in front of the class when their name is called and dance, sing, whatever they want!

My child had on a puma tracksuit and I debated this morning whether or not to put a t-shirt on underneath because he gets pretty hot. I decided not to...mistake.

It was Hagen's turn. So he gets up, unzips his jacket, takes it off and starts dancing. Hagen...they are going to think your Mama (or Daddy) is a stripper! I am the farthest thing from a stripper...no dance skills...if you see me dancing it means I have been drinking enough to kill an elephant.

Hagen's new favorite song is from the Old Navy commercial. It goes like this:
1..2..3..4..
Not gonna wear it anymore
I love my comfy sweater, I love my comfy sweater
How cute are these boots, how cute are these boots
Forget those pearly dresses, forget those pearly dresses
and talk to the boot!

Yes, my SON loves that song. Ryan and I like to think that he just likes the little girls dancing in it?! Maybe? Yes, that has to be it.

So if that doesn't make my son out to be a weirdo then how about this...he loves spinach salad! Ryan and I usually have a spinach salad with our dinner. Hagen has raw carrot sticks and ranch, Edamame, canned green beans, or something like that. But a few nights ago Hagen wanted some of Ryan's spinach. He ate most of it! Tonight I made Hagen his own salad in his own bowl. He loved it! He didn't love the cucumber that I snuck in it, but ate the majority of it. I think it is mainly the Lite Italian dressing on it. So proud.

2 more nite nites in his toddler bed and he will then be sleeping in his new twin bed! Ahh...can't wait...

One more thing...so sad...took off the childproof locks on our cabinets in the kitchen. We never really needed them as he rarely got in them if at all. We never had to put a baby gate on the stairs either! Wasn't interested.

Off to watch The Bachelor!!

Tata,
Carrie

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday! He is 61 today. We were planning on having a family dinner, but he had to go out on a well yesterday so we celebrated without him. Happy Birthday Dad! You are the best ever and I am so proud of you! Cheers to many more!

I will now change the subject and quote the movie Ice Age when the dinosaur says "My stomach HATTTEEEEESSSS me!". I have had a steady diet of sugar and cream cheese for a few weeks now and I have GOT to stop! My stomach is so messed up...I'm dying...it is miserable.

Tonight I am throwing away any dip, leftovers, cookies, chocolate, etc that is left in the fridge. I've had enough...I'm so sick of it all!

Hagen has become Mr. Sensitive. He gets his feeling hurt so bad! If he does something and we tell him it is not right or to stop he pouts and starts hitting himself. It isn't like a bratty pout...it is more like a "you really hurt my feelings" pout. We can totally tell a difference. Tonight while we were at Adam's house for dinner he was playing with a dinosaur flashlight and he whipped around fast and bonked Noah in the head. Noah stood there still for a minute and then realized that it did indeed hurt and started crying. Hagen was just standing there looking at him and then started crying too. He felt bad...I could tell. I was telling him that it was an accident and we needed to say sorry. He didn't want to...but then he just changed his mind, hugged Noah and said sorry. Atta Boy Hagen.

Boring post...sorry...

Tata,
Carrie

Why haven't we done this more often or at all?

My brother and sister in law live about 2 miles from us. They have a little boy Noah that is 1 year younger and Hagen and Noah play so well together!

We have never babysat for each other! Why? Mainly because we are both so boring...we don't get out much...it's not in the budget, but mainly because we are homebodies.

Today I was talking with Ryan and we decided that we would offer to watch Noah for a few hours so that they could go to a movie they have been wanting to see.

They brought Noah over around 4:30 and Hagen was still napping. I will tell you that it is the HAPPIEST Hagen has woken up from a nap in a long time! He is a grump at first when he wakes up...takes after Mama for sure. He had the BIGGEST smile on his face when he came downstairs! They played trucks, played in the backyard, played guitar, danced, ate dinner, took a bath, and ran them selves ragged by the time Adam and Rebecca came to get him at 8:00.

We had a blast and honestly, it was nice to have a playmate for Hagen over to entertain him. I sat back and waited for the optimal photo op and just enjoyed watching them have a good time.

Hagen was a bit bossy at times and we often heard "No sir Noah...that's not good".

At dinner Ryan wanted me to take a picture of Noah with a beer by his plate. I was not aware of the beer being OPEN until Noah grabbed it for a drink. It spilled down his shirt. "Adam, sorry about the smell of stale beer on your kids shirt...we weren't watching them and they got in the fridge. We'll watch better next time!"

During bath time it was another story. They were splashing up a storm! I tried to settle it down but soon gave up. Noah is on Antibiotics and it messes with his stomach if you know what I mean. I had put a yellow and red color tablet in the water so it looked a bit orange. BAD MOVE.

Ryan and I were bathing the kids and letting them play and then Ryan noticed little bits in the water...not much but we knew right away what it was...reah! Ugh! GROSS!!

Ryan hopped in the shower and I threw both boys in with him. It was hilarious watching him try to juggle 2 slippery toddlers in our small shower.

So again to Adam: If your kid gets parvo it is from his own body...or hand/foot/mouth...or fecal poisoning...your kids fault.

They paid us with a piece of red velvet cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. That's all I needed...and a good photo which you can see I got.

Nite nite,

Carrie

Getting things back to normal around here!

It is time to get this house back to order! I don't really have all THAT much to decorate with so it doesn't take me too long to take it down. Hagen has been asking "are you taking down the holidays?" or "Are you cleaning the holidays?" and "Where the holidays go?".

Ryan was taking down the lights outside and Hagen was helping (that means he was standing on the cast iron chair on our porch ringing the door bell over and over and over. Lovely. The funny thing is that when Hagen and Ryan are doing work outside the first thing Hagen does is get Ryan a beer and get himself a water or a juice box. Even if they just let Dapper out real quick and are coming right back in Hagen goes to get their refreshments!

Speaking of refreshments, Hagen and his ladies that we hung out for New Year's Eve were enjoying some Sparking Cider. It was funny to hear all the kids ask for more BEER. They thought it was beer. How white trash can we get! Hagen...just like his Mama.

If Dapper doesn't stop licking my carpet I'm going to poke him in the eyeball. I'm not sure if there is some leftover Christmas goodness in the carpet or what but he is DRIVING ME NUTS. Yesterday Hagen said, "Dapper Doo...stop licking the carpick!"

One last thing...Hagen is officially moving out of his toddler bed on Wednesday. Yesterday Papa met me to pick out his bed. I'm kinda sad that he is moving up, but so excited too! I got some vintage cowboy sheets when he was less than a year old because I LOVED them. So for his bed I got a black bed, a trundle that is like a drawer, and a nightstand. I found a fleecy red blanket for his bed and ordered a darker denim comforter thing...but it isn't as thick as a comforter...more like a coverlet.

It will be so cute and I will post a picture of his first night in his big bed! He has been in his toddler bed for about a year and still doesn't get out of it. He just yells and screams for us to come save him. I'm shocked that he doesn't get out...he's a pretty smart little boy and I am kinda worried that he hasn't figured this one out yet.

I promise, ONE more thing...Hagen and his whining is just about to do me in. I've had it. BUT, we have found a trick. He goes to the "crying or whining room" and is free to come out whenever he is done! If he is crying or whining we say, "go to the CW room and just come out when you are ready to not C or W anymore!" He trots off to our bedroom and comes trotting back out withing a minute or so. He has spent alot of time in there lately. I swear he sounds like a little girl the way he whines!

We are off to a great start here in the Darney Hizzy...nice to have such a long weekend with New Year's Day being on a Friday!

Tata,
Carrie