{quick camp post}

I don't have a lot of time to write tonight, but I thought I'd upload a few pictures from camp. Gerard is really having fun and learning stuff too! Today they "pollinated" flowers by stepping in pollen (paint) with their bare feet and walking from flower to flower, dropping off their pollen. They went on a bug hunt, played "Bee, Bee, Grasshopper" (duck, duck, goose), and made spider prints with their hands (although those looked more like Rorschach Inkblots to me!)

{pop quiz}

Gerard is loving camp. I don't think I mentioned it in previous posts, but he's going to camp at the [insert city name here] Nature Center. This week's theme is BUGS. They do crafts, take hikes, and learn about bugs (obviously). Yesterday they went to the butterfly house. On Monday they saw bumble bees in their hives (behind glass) making honey. Today they learned about ants. It's really cute and very well run. And I love the way he smells when I pick him up -- a sweet perfume of bug spray, sunscreen and sweat. Makes me think of my old camp days!

This morning, however, I was unprepared for the pop quiz that Gerard gave me while we were driving to camp. Almost as soon as he was buckled in, the onslaught began...

Is that the garbage truck or the recycling truck?



Do we recycle?



What is recycling?



How does the plastic bag become something else?



Really? Daddy's mill recycles paper?



What is pulp?


Eewwww. Isn't pulp in orange juice? I like apple juice.


Are we almost there yet?


Why is it so foggy?


What is fog?


The sun burns it off?

Does it hurt?

Where does it go?

How can you see in the fog?

Why is it foggy here but not there?

How are clouds made?
Are we there yet?
What does that sign say?
Are we here?
Can I unbuckle?
I see my counselors, can I go now?
Bye, Mom!
Whew.




My turn:

Morgan, stay awake. Do you see the trees?


Morgan, stay awake! Where's your nose?


Morgan, stay awake!! Do you like this song?


Don't fall asleep. Can you clap your hands?


Don't fall asleep! Can you see me in the mirror?


Don't fall asleep!! Morgan! Morgan? Morgan?


Damn.

* * * * * * *

Holy crap!! Could you hear that thunder where you are? Not surprisingly we're apparently having another storm, so I better shut down the computer. Crazy weather!!!!

{out of the mouths of babes}

Lately Gerard has two speeds: light-speed and asleep. He runs around the house like a caged hamster -- I think he's bored this summer with the crazy weather we've been having. I also think he has finally realized that he has to share the spotlight with Morgan and that she is here to stay. He's usually a great big brother, but sometimes he can be a pain in the ass.

He's really only a pain when he's tired or bored (or on days that end in -y). But when he's happy, he's hysterical and really keeps us laughing. Here are some "Gerard-isms":

• When I peeked in his room the other night to see if he was sleeping, he immediately sat up and said "Mama, come in! Please do!"
  
  
• HIM: "Look, Mommy! A baby-legs spider!"
  ME: "A what spider?"
  HIM: "A baby-legs spider!"
  ME: "What is a baby-legs spider?"
  HIM: "You know. Not a daddy-long legs. Not a mommy-legs. A baby-legs!"
  
  
• While little Gerard was rocking out in the backseat of the minivan, doin' his air-guitar and air-drums, big Gerard asked him if he'd like to listen to some music. His response: "No thanks. I'm making my own. But thanks for asking, though."
  
  
• We were reading a comic book last night that used the phrase "give me a hand". Gerard wasn't familiar with this phrase so he asked me what it meant and I told him. Today, when I asked him to clean up his toys in the living room, he said with a smirk "Could you give me a hand, please?" I know he was being a smart ass, but at least he's learning!
  
  

And here's what Morgan has been up to:


• She runs. Everywhere.
  
  
• She is a daredevil. Stand on the rocking chair? No problem. Charge up the stairs? Piece of cake. Give Mommy a heart attack? All in a day's work.
  
  
• She still wakes up much earlier than we'd like (can you say 5 AM?) but she's getting a little better at playing in her crib before and after she naps. She usually has her aquarium playing and her glow-worm glowing/singing while throwing all blankets/pacifiers/dolls out of her crib. I love listening to her on her monitor.
  
  
• She finally appreciates books. In fact, if it were up to her, we'd be reading to her all day long. Her favorites are the "lift-the-flap" books, Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You?, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Goodnight Moon. I've even started sneaking into her room after she's fallen asleep to put some books in her crib. That way she'll have something to do when she wakes up at 5 AM. I'll let you know when that starts working.
  

And just to update you all on the house progress, the roof is done and they're working on the drywall. The carpet guy is coming to measure tomorrow. Maybe we'll have our bedroom back before Gerard graduates from high school afterall!

{sonic}

I almost forgot the best part of the amusement park....

When we first walked in, we saw an assortment of carnival-type games where you can win a variety of prizes, all valued at 35 cents even though it'll cost you 20 dollars to play. Gerard instantly saw the booth with SONIC THE HEDGEHOG prizes. We promised him we'd play the game before we left.

True to our word, we played the game on our way out, and believe it or not I won! Yes, I was able to shoot the water at the little target faster than anyone else. Add that to my resume.

Gerard hasn't stopped carrying around his new Sonic the Hedgehog stuffed animal. He comes in the car with us. He sleeps in Gerard's bed. He sits with us at meals. Gerard wants him to take a bath, but I'm afraid one drop of water and he'll just fall apart.

Big Gerard then won a stuffed lion for Morgan so she wouldn't feel left out. Honestly, I think she'd be just as happy playing with an empty cardboard box. I guess it's the thought that counts.

{fun}

We decided to leave the house today since the roofer was going to be working (he's not quite done, in case you were wondering) and go to an amusement park/waterpark that is about 1 1/2 hours away. We all had a really nice day. The kids fell asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows (I was surprised they lasted the drive home) and big Gerard fell asleep soon after.

Little Gerard is not much of a daredevil when it comes to rides. The word wimpy comes to mind. I love him, but come on! Even the teacups are a bit too much. Surprisingly, we did manage to find quite a few rides that were up his alley. You know the type -- the ones that start off really slow and build up to slow? Yeah, those.

The waterpark is a different story altogether. He loves the wave pool and the slides and all the little pools with their squirty things and fountains. Morgan loved the pools too, and was especially fond of the big bucket that filled slowly and then dumped on our heads. She couldn't get enough of that one. Well, until she had had enough of everything and finally fell asleep in the stoller.

I didn't bring my camera, so we did buy that cheesy picture they take of you when you walk into the park:




I'm worn out myself right about now, so I better hit the hay. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

{i'm a believer!}

The roofer is coming! The roofer is coming! The roofer is coming! He was originally supposed to come tomorrow but then decided he couldn't squeeze us in until NEXT Monday (not 3 days Monday. TEN days Monday). BUT, our contractor called tonight and the roofer is, in fact, coming tomorrow!

And we picked out carpet tonight.

And we tested out some new mattresses.

And we picked out the paint color for the bedroom.

We're rolling now!

Oh, and big Gerard wanted me to point out that little Gerard was wearing his Yankees jersey in the pictures from the previous post even though you couldn't see it. Here's a picture:

{supposed to}

Our bedroom is still bare. The drywall work was supposed to start this week and the roofer was supposed to be here this weekend. Supposed to.

The drywall was rescheduled to be delivered this morning. It's 4:00 and they just left.

Those of you who've dealt with contractors are probably wondering how I could be so naive. Oh well. Live and learn.

The drywall is now supposed to be put up on Monday. Supposed to. I'm still a believer, although I'm not gonna hold my breath!

In the meantime, we had our kitchen cabinets refaced. He was supposed to come a few days after the storm last month, but we opted to wait until things quieted down around here. They installed them this week and we love it. Here are some after pictures (I can't seem to find any before pictures at the moment):






And here are a few cute ones of our little Yankee fans. So far I haven't been able to sneak any Mets clothes into the house even though this is supposed to be an equal-opportunity household!