FORE!!!

Sean had his first golf lesson today... and loved it!   The group was a little larger than usual... not sure what happened, but it was great to see 19 young kids enjoying a new sport.   The golf pro handle the kids wonderfully, keeping them active and engaged the whole time.   

I was amazed to see the sets of clubs the little guys, and girls had.  I thought Sean's set was cool, but these were something else.  Bags with pop out stands and backpack style straps, gloves the whole nine yards.   Silly me had originally thought that Sean might be one of the only ones with his own clubs!!  Didn't matter anyway, they won't be using their own clubs until Friday.  Up until then, they will be using plastic clubs and tennis balls... much safer!   

When we first got there, I alerted the pro to the fact that Sean has right handed clubs, and a strong left handed grip.   He tried to correct Sean's grip several times with no luck.  Tomorrow, he will switch Sean to left handed clubs.  Seems he is like Mommy and Uncle BJ, a righty who does plays sports as a lefty.

After a snack we made our way to the parking lot.  Sean said to me "Mommy why are we leaving?  I don't want to go yet!"  I was so glad that he enjoyed his first day.  

Group meeting.   Talking golf course etiquette.

Waiting for his turn to putt.

Chipping.

Getting instructions before using the driver.

Teeing it up.  Check out the grip.

Trying to change it up.

Sticking close to the pro as the group heads in for snacks.

High tops are the next best thing to golf shoes!

Good Help Isn't So Hard to Find After All!!

As I mentioned before, we just finished doing some landscaping in our backyard.  Sean was very excited to see them again.  Last year he was allowed to help when they did the front, so naturally he was hoping this would be the case again.   Jeremy (the head guy, who took a liking to him last year) wasn't working our job this time... so Sean somewhat shyly asked the new guys if he could help.  Fortunately, they didn't mind at all.  In fact they were happy to give Sean jobs, and enjoyed chatting with him and watching him run off to find his tools whenever they got something new out.   They even had him take plants from the truck to the backyard using his gator!!  Of course, not one to be left out these days, Ryan joined in the fun when he got up from his nap.  As soon as he sees Sean doing something he shouts "My too Mommy, my too!!"

Sean standing by the "Big Noisy Truck"

Sean riding up the lift to dump his wheelbarrow.  Ryan had a chance to do this too, but nervous Mommy was too busy holding his hand to take a picture. 

The boys heading back for another load of river rock.

Sean dumping his load right where he was asked to.

Ryan heading to dump his load, under Daddy's watchful eye.

Time to fill up again.

Are we ever going to get through all of this?

THE LANDSCAPING IS DONE!

The landscapers were here yesterday to put the finishing touches on the landscaping.  Thanks to Sean and Ryan's help (see next post) everything looks just the way we hoped it would.   Enjoy the view... we are. 

The extra bit of rock behind the shed is Stanley's new potty.  We sodded the area he had destroyed (from peeing) and created this new alternative.  So far so good, he is responding to the praise (and treats... just like Ryan and his M&M's) and is heading to this area on his own, more often than not!

Sean the Landscaper

We are in the middle of a landscaping project in our backyard (around the deck) and Sean LOVES to be the landscapers helper (what you thought I was doing it myself???!!!).   We are very fortunate to have a crew of guys working here who don't mid having a 4 1/2 year old follow them around.  I think they got a kick out of him and all his tools.  They pulled out a wheelbarrow, Sean pull out a wheelbarrow.  They used a spade, Sean had a spade.   They used a rake, Sean got his rake.   Since they were here last summer, they have acquired a new truck.  It has a lift on the back.  After they filled Sean's wheelbarrow with sod, they let him ride up the lift to dump his load in the truck... you can imagine his excitement.  He calls it the "Big Noisy Truck".   So, now his gator has been renamed... you got it... The Big Noisy Truck.  His imaginative play now has him as the leader of a landscaping crew.  Here is a picture of his truck... fully loaded and one of him hard at work.

Notice the broom.  The guys working here are very good at cleaning up after themselves.  Sean 

got this broom off its hanger in the garage himself and went out to help!

My New Office!!

For about a week now, I have been busy working, moving and setting up my new office.  That meant moving all of the storage stuff that was in the upstairs room to the basement and moving all of my office stuff up to the top floor.  It was a big job, lots of sorting, pitching and organizing, but I love how it came out.  I've actually gotten back to work on some scrapbook pages.    Here's a 360 view of my new office.

YEAH, It Finally Worked!!!

I have no idea what I did differently... but enjoy this short clip that Tony took of Ryan and I at swimming last night.  

Ryan took to it like... well... a duck to water!  All those weeks watching Sean at his lessons seems to have paid off.  He let me lead him on his front and back.  He kicked, and he jumped.  By the end he refused to kick because he wanted to jump more.  He also repeated over and over.. "Mommy let go...Mommy let go!"   Enjoy the video. I'll do more, now that I know it works.

CHOO CHOO PRESCHOOL

This past week, Sean attended Choo Choo Preschool at the local museum, every morning from 9-11.  He loved it!   They must have worked them a lot too, because he was exhausted every evening.  The first few days, dropping him off was difficult.  Not because he didn't want to go, but because little brother DID want to go!  Ryan threw himself in the gravel, in the rain, the first day.  The second day he cried for 15 minutes while we drove to the gym.  Finally, he got used to the idea of not staying... that is not to say that he liked it though!   Sean would share stories each day of what they learned and where they went.  Now he is excited for his next adventure... Prairie Preschool starts on Monday.  Last weeks group (in Prairie Preschool) appeared to be mostly girls... we'll see if any other boys join this week.

Sean in front of the old railroad station in Railroad Town (1898)

Sean standing on the back of the caboose that served as his classroom.

Sean and his teacher, Miss Martha.  All of the teachers and helpers dress in period costume.

The view of Railroad Town.

Ryan in the waiting room at the railroad station.  Looking for his train perhaps.

Looking at Railroad Town from the railroad station.  The white building is the school house

which will serve as Sean's classroom for Prairie Preschool.  A few doors to the right is Henry Fonda's Homestead.

WILD WEATHER

We've been experiencing some wild weather here lately.  From tornado warnings, to golf ball sized hail...  Tonight Sean's swimming lesson was cut short due to lightning.  Yes it is indoors, but policy is to close the pool.  By the time we got home all was clear and sunny... but look what we found on our back deck!!!

SEAN'S TOWING SERVICE

Still hard at work.  No job too big or too small!!

SPRINKLER FUN!!

The other day, it was almost 90 degrees outside.  So, Sean thought it would be a good idea to get the sprinkler out.   Great fun for the kids, I'm not sure how much the lawn enjoyed it after all the rain we have had lately...     Anyway, it was great entertainment to watch them.  Sean is much braver than he used to be so he enjoyed showing me his tricks.   Ryan would run up and get wet yelling "Mommy wawa, wawa Mommy!" until he worked up the nerve to jump over the sprinkler when he ran around the yard, his arm cocked yelling "Ya Ryan, Ya Ryan!"  Too funny.