The Snuggle Monster

The past few weeks, Lewis has been very into snuggling. He has been in the past, too, but it's gotten really intense lately. If we're sitting on the couch for any period of time, he will go get a blanket and insist that we're both covered up. He's started including the dogs in it, too, whether they like it or not. :) Peter is pretty ok with it, and even Hattie has been surprisingly tolerant. She and Lewis have been bonding a bit this week. :)

Some samplings over the past few weeks...he has definitely evolved:

Sans blanket, at first

Each dog under the blanket, separately

Both Dogs

Both Dogs and Dad :)

Kevin hasn't really been able to experience the Snuggle Monster until today, so I'm glad they've had some time for Lewis to show him how it's done.

When Lew decides he's finished snuggling, he will get up, turn on the light (if it's off), and rip off the blanket. He'll say, 'Time to wake up, everybody!' He's brutal! :) Just when I'm starting to relax and get comfortable, usually.

To the Zoo (On What Was Supposed to be a Warm Day)

When planning out our week last week, I could have sworn I saw that there was a high of 72 degrees on Thursday. I even thought they said that again on the news that morning, so Lewis and I went to the zoo, dressed only in light jackets. Very quickly I realized that the forecast had changed, and the high was only going to be in the 50s. That also meant the train and carousel weren't running (the train wasn't open for the season yet and the carousel apparently doesn't run until it reaches 45 degrees outside). Thankfully Lew wasn't too bummed about them being unavailable.

There's a new exhibit of giant bugs located all around the zoo. There was a family getting their pictures taken in front of this huge spider, so Lewis asked to have his taken, too. :)

Creepy and Crawly

 They use animatronics and make just enough subtle movements to be slightly creepy.

One thing we don't always do is pet the goats, but Lewis wanted to this time: 

 I wasn't fast enough to get a picture of it, but this was a few seconds after Lewis leaned down to give this goat a hug. :) 

 This one was my favorite--it was just a particularly sweet goat.

Onto Glacier Run to see the polar bear and sea lions:

 Checking out the cool old truck

 Cracking up at the sea lions

He was cackling as they swam by him and came up for air. He doesn't usually pay much attention to them, but this time they were hilarious to him.

As we were leaving, we passed by the new ropes course, which DID happen to be open. Lewis saw it and said, 'Do that!,' so I decided to let him try it since there wasn't a line. They have a high ropes course for adults and kids over 4 feet tall and a low one for those under 4 feet. Lewis got all harnessed up and walked towards the BIG stairs that lead up to the high course...one of these days, buddy! The low course was pretty simple, but Lewis seemed to be challenged enough by it and had a good time (I walked alongside him the whole time):

 Getting harnessed up

 His biggest challenge at first was figuring out how to keep that big black rope out in front of him. I helped him at first, but he got the hang of it towards the end of the time. There was a track system up above that he was connected to, so anytime he wanted to go on an obstacle, we had to move the rope into the correct slot before he could begin walking.

 Crossing a bridge

 There were some easy and some more difficult obstacles--he did fine on the bridge and the basic balance beam but didn't catch on at first to the tougher ones where he had to be more careful about where he placed his feet.

It was a chilly trip, but still fun. The following day (Friday) ended up being in the low 70s, I think, so we went to the playground that day. And yesterday was gorgeous--I got some yard work done and we had a bonfire and cooked hoboes, which is always nice. This week is supposed to be in the 40s, but Lewis and I are heading to Boise--at last check, it will be near 60 there. :) Wahoo--I'll take it!

Open Gym

The week before last, we went to open gym with Tonya and Carlton. We've found a location that isn't as busy, so that's been a nice change of pace. The past few times we've gone, Lewis has wanted to try out the balance beam, so I got a few pictures of that this time.

 Carlton had already climbed the inflatable, gone down the slide, and was catching up to Lewis who was still making his first trek up. He found a soccer ball and just wouldn't let it go, so that slowed him down on a few obstacles.

 Melting down

He was flopping around and fussing because I wouldn't get him the basketball that was two feet away. Oh, the horror...

Balance beam time:

 This one was a bit higher off the ground, and I typically hold his hand while he walks it. He very cautiously scooted his feet along, and then he wanted me to hold his hand again. The prize at the end of this one is the big foam pit--if no one is on the trapeze, he can jump off the end of the balance beam and land in the foam (which he likes to do).

 Trying out a shorter one

This one is just a few inches from the mat, and he almost made it the whole way on his own--I think he stepped off about 2/3 of the way down it.

And finally, Tonya sent me this video of Lewis and Carlton together--very funny. Make sure you can hear the music in the background because I think it adds to the funny:

The Aftermath :)

Catching Up...oops!

My goodness, I haven't posted in a while! Last week (and maybe the previous one?), Lewis didn't nap, and that's usually when I sit down to write. So far this week we are 2 for 3 on naps, so I can finally try to catch up on posting some pictures. Without further adieu:

Lewis at open gym one day

I didn't know why he was taking foam blocks out of the jumping pit, but he lined them up, pushed them around, and yelled out, 'Choo choo!' :) 

 One day, after nap (which must have been a few weeks ago now)

He grabbed his gorilla and asked me to get his dog from up in his closet (the lighter brown object that has been his prop for monthly pictures, in case you couldn't tell that it's a dog). :) He then put up the footrest, posed them just so, and asked me to take a picture.

Carlton came over to play a few weeks ago, so here's a grouping of pictures from that day:

 Both boys love their trains

While Carlton was here, Lewis' new bike helmet came in the mail (we had to order one because his head is too big for the kid-sized helmets at Target). :)

Look at that snot bubble! :) 

I put it on him, as he requested, and then he promptly wanted it off of his head, as soon as possible.

 He wasn't too happy about Carlton trying it on, either, so I put it away.

My aunt Paula and cousin Mallory came to Louisville last week to fly out for a vacation, so they parked a car at our house. Paula came bearing gifts for Lewis, some super heavy-duty construction trucks that he's been using out in the garden:

 He's been out there digging and scooping on the few warm days we've had.

One day, he started getting out trucks and cars in some sort of methodical way. I watched him sort through his bins and organize them on the coffee table, until almost the entire top was covered. I think it's safe to say that he doesn't need any more cars and trucks for the time being. :)

I have more pictures to post, but Lewis just woke up from nap so I'd better go. Until next time...

First Bonfire of the Year

The second part of our day yesterday was outdoors as well--Lewis and Kevin were playing outside in the afternoon, and Lew asked to have a fire and eat dinner outside. He didn't have to ask us twice--we're always up for a bonfire! I ran to get some supplies at the store while the boys built the fire, and we enjoyed a nice evening of sitting around the fire, roasting hot dogs, and tipping back some cold beverages.

We're in complete denial about the 'worst winter storm of the season' that is on its way today, so for now, we'll just reminisce on how great last evening was:

 Ahhhh, fire

 Lew's new wagon

 Off-roading with Dad

 Kicking his feet up to relax by the fire :)

 Trying out his new bubble leaf blower

Thanks, Gramma and Papaw! He loves it!

Taking Dad for a spin

Ha--he got out of the wagon and told Kevin to get in. He wasn't able to pull Kevin, so then he (Lewis) was going to get in WITH Kevin and wanted me to pull both of them. That didn't happen. After dinner, though, we did take him for a walk around the block in his wagon. The dogs got to come, too--it seems like it's been so long since all five of us have been able to go for a walk! It was a nice way to end a good day.

And now we wait to see how bad this winter storm actually is. Again, come on, spring!

Maple Syrup Festival

Yesterday we headed out to a maple syrup festival at LM Sugarbush, near Salem, IN. A co-worker had told me about years ago, but I just got around to looking into this year. (We happened to bump into her and her family there yesterday, too, which was a fun coincidence.) It was great--lots of things for Lewis to do, especially lots of tractors!

We knew things were going to be good as soon as we got out of the car:

 GATOR! (Lewis started yelling as we were parking)

They had a couple of them pulling hay wagons of people from the parking area up to the festival. Lewis was so excited already.

 The shuttle drop-off was right by this cool old tractor, which Lew could have sat on all morning. He said a few times, 'Go see tractor, again?'

They had a scavenger hunt for kids that we worked on as we walked around. There were vendors (candles, soap, wood crafts, honey, yarn, etc.) and some old time-y musicians playing off and on. There were some Native Americans showing how they used to make syrup, and we could have taken a modern-day tour around the farm to see how they make syrup today (but we didn't know how long it lasted and figured Lewis wouldn't do well on it). They had a couple of campfires going and an old two-person saw where you could cut your own disc of wood and have it branded with a maple leaf at one of the fires. They had an entire building of kids' activities and a small petting zoo. I think those are the highlights--oh, and a store and a building serving food. And a hayride!

They also had a few activities you had to buy tickets for. Lewis and I did the maze:

He made his way through very well! This was on the last straight away when he could see the exit. Go, buddy, go!

Lewis and Kevin did the very primitive Merry-Go-Round:

 Lew's on the far side of the pole and Kevin's on the left side of the pole

 This was him after getting hooked into his seat

He really wanted to ride it, and Kevin and I both thought it would make us puke, so we were planning to send him solo. They ended up needing one more person to ride, so Kevin was the lucky one! Hahaha. (And he did not throw up, thankfully.)

 A calm after the twist

Then they spun around again and twisted the ropes around the other way. It went on for about five minutes, I think? Maybe it wasn't that long.

 This was Lew, mid-spin

He was pushed back against his seat, looking kind of nauseous and/or terrified. I couldn't tell if he was loving it or hating it, but he said he had a good time!

Onto the kids' activity tent--they had face-painting, coloring, candle-dipping, dress-up clothes, etc., but all Lewis cared about were the tractors:

We finally pulled him away from them to check out some other games outside: 

 Here he was digging in some corn for discs of wood.

Then it was onto the tractor hayride, Lewis' favorite part of the day:  

On the ride

They took us into the woods to see where some of the trees are tapped and to one of the big containers that holds the sap as it comes in. It was really interesting to hear what goes into making the syrup, and of course Lewis thought being pulled by a tractor was just the best thing ever. :)

 Tasting his prize for completing the scavenger hunt--maple sugar cotton candy!

He didn't care for it much, but I thought it was delicious and bought some more in the store to take home.

We decided to go ahead and eat while we were there, even though the lines were very long. I waited in line while Lewis and Kevin hung out nearby:

And by hanging out, I mean getting as dirty as possible

Our shoes and jeans were already covered in hay and mud, but Lewis thought it'd be fun to roll around in pine needles, too. Shoo! One very dirty kid. I told Kevin I think he was born to live in the outdoors.

It was a really fun morning!