Snow Day

So Christmas morning dawned with fresh fallen snow. The first white christmas in many years according to the adults in attendance. A gift to all and a chance for August and Grafton to enjoy a little snow play. Carlos, Neva, Arlene, Currie, Grafton, & August had an enjoyable game of Snow! Picture snow ball fight lite for the younger set. It was work to get the enough snow to form a ball since the temperatures were climbing into the 40's.

Wednesday the Mason Wehby's took a walk to the Commons, to enjoy some gift certificates to the Thirsty Mind Coffee shop. August got to wear his brand new fancy brown wool coat that he and Mama found in a second hand store in Austin last year.

Once everyone was properly caffeinated and snacked, we headed over to MHC for a fun filled walk. We discovered many patches of Christmas snow lingering on the north sides of campus buildings.  We played hide and seek, chase, and of course Snow!
(August is getting better at hide and seek, but Mama is still the champion!)

But the best snow was yet to come. It began to fall around 8 PM last night. And it made for a slow and slippery commute home for Mama at 10:30PM. 20 mph the whole way home.

But this morning the depth was at least 4 inches in the back yard, so after a hearty breakfast we donned snow pants and coats into the freezing rain to enjoy the snow. We stomped and made tracks. We unburied the trashcans and put them in the garage. We made a snow man. Mama made a snow angel. August and Papa used beach toys to make a snow castle. But the cold of the freezing rain began to penetrate our many layers. So we cleared off the car so Mama can go to work in a couple of hours. Then headed inside to get warm.

Just a big boy now...kind a

Well the big boy bed is here. August is smitten. At first site he insisted on playing " go to bed" with Papa. Then later I asked him on the phone how he liked his bed and he said "It is beautiful. Mama"

We were delighted when he slept til 8 the next morning. Apparently this new big boy bed sleeps like a charm.

Also on the big boy front, he seems to be heading in the direction of potty training again. We have seen a definite upswing in voluntary trips to the bathroom.

Then today I offered him a chance to wear his Thomas the Tank Engine underwear. First he said no and put them back on the dresser. Then he changed his mind and put them on. The he looked at me and said, " I wear underwears. I don't wear diapers anymore." He watched TV, rode in car on the way to the store, then back home, and all through dinner. So tomorrow there is hope that we will see a continued determination.

Yet in little-man land, he has been wearing a pair of green bunny ears with googly eyes for 2 days. He says they are his sunglasses. He wore them to the library and to the playground were they remained on his head the entire time. Then all morning today when we were at the grocery store they remained faithfully on his head. So with dinosaur by his side and bunny ears on his head he ventures out into this wild world as a big boy.

Little August's stories

• One night at dinner, August leaned forward over his plate to meet the fork instread of trying to get the fork across the great gap between the table and his wildly weaving body. We have been working with him on the technique due to the vast quantities of food that end up in his lap  and floor. So I praised him to reinforc his behavior by saying, "Now that is using your head! Leaning over your plate to put the fork in your mouth."  When he finished chewing, he looked at me and said, "and my neck too, Mama" while pointing at himself.

Reporting from school:

•  August had been mildly reluctant about his transition to preschool. But the morning of his first full day in preschool he looked at me while we put his jacket on and said, "I'm a Preschooler now Mama." I don't remember what brought on the exchange but was fun to hear.

• A few days ago, August climbed into bed with me in the morning. I asked him how school was the day before and he reported, "I had fun. I played on the play ground, eat my lunch, take my nap, waked up, play and Papa picked me up" So I asked him who he played with on the playground. "I play with Sadie & Rusty & Tege' (Tay-gay)." Did you play with Grafton? I asked. "No Mama, Grafton went to the library"

Jurassic Park on College Street

Well it seems that Dinosaur is here to stay. For those of you who don't know, Dinosaur is August's imaginary friend. He mostly make appearances when mischief is afoot, occasionally to be sent to time out by Sir August himself.

We have been forced to ban Dinosaur from the kitchen due to his wild antics that result in spills. Tonight, Dinosaur made an appearance at dinner spilling August's milk. The conversation went something like this....

A: Dinosaur! You spill my milk. Get your hand out of my mouf dinosaur!!!! Bad Dinosaur go to the hall and sit by the slippers!!!! You not supposed to be in the kitchen any more! (Enraged Shrieking)

Me: Thank you for reminding Dinosaur not to be in the kitchen. But lets just remind him and yell at him. It can be hard to remember all the rules.

A: But Mama, Dinosaur put his hand in my mouf and spilled my milk all over my loungy pants (full of indignation)

Me: well use your napkin to clean up the spill and try again to have some milk.

August complied but continued to mutter about dinosaur for a few minutes and admonished him twice more over the meal.

I occasionally mention that dinosaur needs to settle down or remove himself from the kitchen or maybe go have some quiet time in August's room. Each and every time August responds "Dinosaur isn't here, Mama" with boredom and scorn in his voice. But he seems destined to return.

So we will enjoy the dinosaur while he is here and try to use him as a teaching tool and as a glimpse into the mind of our small human. I think we might need to take Dinosaur to see some foot prints of its fellow kind. I see a field trip in our nearish future.

Oh and Dinosaur has become a source of entertainment at work, a coworker of mine started blaming dinosaur for loosing her list last night....