Relaxing Around the Campfire

This past weekend was a good one. The weather was perfect for being outdoors, so we took full advantage--we went for a couple of walks, to the farmer's market, to Huber's for some early fall fun, and had a campfire. On our fire, we cooked hoboes, corn on the cob (from the farmer's market--was SO good), and cherry pies (and we warmed a loaf of bread). We enjoyed sitting around the fire after Lewis went to bed, eating (and drinking) under the stars. Although our road gets a lot of traffic/noise, there were still quite a few bug sounds I could hear--I was surprised. It's pretty sad how rarely we sit outside and/or slow down to enjoy such things any more. (Note to self--do that more often.) 

Lewis certainly didn't have to be told twice how to relax around the fire, as you will see:

Watching our food cook

You snooze, you lose, Dad!

He kept stealing Kevin's seat.

Taking it easy.

Maxing and relaxing.

Playground (Er, Sprayground)

We headed out to the new playground way out on the east side of town today. The last time we went, I planned on being in the sprayground part of it (and decked Lewis out in a swim diaper and swimtrunks) and all he wanted to do was go to the playground part. This time, I left him in normal clothes with plans to just stay at the playground, and, OF COURSE, he was all about the spray part. Of course. :) Thankfully I did have a towel in the back of my car for such occasions, so all was well. And Lewis had a blast.

First, the playground:

 

 

 

 Ding! Ding! Dong!

These bells make really loud noises when you flip the levers.

And the sprayground:

Ahhh!

 

 Had almost the whole place to ourselves!

 Buddying up with an older boy

They were waiting for the water to come back on.

 So much fun.

 Doubly awesome, it is a construction site, so we got to see a few dump trucks, excavators, etc. while we were there.

Ball Pit

I'd seen a picture of a ball pit on Pinterest made from a (now under-utilized) Pack-n-Play. When I spotted a bag of play balls at Goodwill the other day, I decided to give it a shot. So glad I did! The 250+ balls don't amount to much in the P-n-P, but maybe we can continue to add more as we find them. So far, Lewis thinks it's great! He likes to get in and move them around. When he's done with that, he throws balls all over the basement. He was fairly good at helping put the balls back in the P-n-P when we were done playing.

 So fun! 

 'Der!'

('Ball!')

Spreading the love... 

I would like OUT!

 Oh, wait--I know how to do that!

Wild

 Man

 Lew!

Thankfully the P-n-P is closer to the ground, so he can safely climb out without taking a tumble. He can't climb back in yet, so we still have to help him do that.

Labor Day Weekend or Shopping, Playing, and Watching Football!

We had a fun Labor Day weekend. Saturday morning, we went couch shopping and ended up buying a couch (didn't really plan to that morning). We'd gone mid-week last week when Kevin was off and had an idea of what we were looking for, and we liked the store we visited Saturday, so we decided to take the plunge. It won't arrive for 6-8 weeks, still, so we have some time to wait for it. Kevin keeps pausing to visualize it in our living room (and having the hole-y/faded/stained couch and chair gone). I really like the sectional we ended up choosing!

After couch shopping, we stopped at the Unique Thrift Store, which we always drive by on the way to Kevin's parents' house, but I'd never been before. Holy moley, they had a ton of stuff! We were short on time (I'm sure Kevin was glad) before lunch/nap, so I didn't get to fully explore the place. Lewis and I will have to go back sometime. We did find Hot Wheels, and given Lewis' love of all things cars and trucks, we decided to buy some for him. BIG fan.

 Vroom, Vroom!

Saturday afternoon/evening, Kevin had a fantasy football draft and Lewis and I headed over to Kate's parents' house for an end-of-the-summer pool party (though it was rainy, we did get to swim for a half hour or so). We had a very nice time (and I definitely want/need a screened-in porch at my next house so I can sit outside and talk and eat even when it's raining, preferably surrounded by woods).

Sunday morning, we decided to head to McDonald's to check out the PlayPlace (was still threatening to rain).

 This was what Lewis did as Kevin was showering.

Which, by the way, he has started doing at bedtime now when Kevin is reading to him. Even though he's back in his crib, I think he's traumatized about being behind a closed door. So sad. :(

Anyway, onto the PlayPlace:

 You have to wear socks to play, and we had no socks with us, so we had to buy them at the counter (only $1, so not bad). Next time, self, bring socks.

 I see you, Dad!

Lew was a bit hesitant to climb up the structure, for good reason, so Kevin went up with him. Once you get inside, there is a system of tubes to crawl through high above. It was a bit bigger/scarier than we thought, so we probably won't go back until he's older. It was still fun, and now we know the situation.

At least they had a familiar slide to get back down to the ground!

And finally, yesterday was the UL/UK football game, so we made some appetizers for the big game. Lewis really liked the barbeque chicken pizza pinwheels! He picked one up and just started taking bites off of it.

 Yum! And go Cards!

Don't mind the sharp object in his left hand--it's a cheese spreader. Not scary sharp, though it looks like he is ready to jab someone if they try to take his pinwheel. :)

 He was eating tortilla chips, which he has had before, and he just walked over and dipped a chip into the queso, which he has NOT had before. I guess he liked it--he didn't get a lot on the chip, which is probably good since it was a little spicy.

 What happened to your head, Lewis?!

And, finally, playing with the remote during a commercial break:

 

 

A Visit from Gramma and Playing in the Basement

My mom came down for a night last week. She helped me set up our TV up high on this bookshelf I bought at the Salvation Army (and spray painted white). Lewis had a habit of climbing up on our old entertainment center and shaking our TV (and laughing), so something had to change. This is working out so far!

 Just need to fill that bottom shelf with Lewis-friendly things.

Mom drove the Bug down, and Lewis loved playing in it. Next time we'll have to take him for a real ride in it, instead of just riding up the driveway with Gramma.

 

 Hold on tight!

Some playing-in-the basement pictures:

 Fun car toy I found at Goodwill

 Lewis 'reading' to Kevin

LOVES the tractor. :)

 'DER!'

Giant boy, sitting on the train track 

Laying in the teepee 

And whee!!!

No Nap for Me (Apparently)

So much for a nap (for me) during the UL/UK football game...

 

 

 

 

Like, 'Wake up and play with me!'

And, Nevermind

Thankfully the crib goes back together as easily as we took it apart--we made the decision tonight to go back to the full crib set-up. 

After him waking up this morning at 6:30am, not napping at naptime (for the 3rd day), crashing for about 30 minutes in the car while we were couch shopping, and then not falling asleep at bedtime tonight, we decided he is way too overtired and too young to be going through this.

Tonight, we put him to bed a little after 6:30pm since he's been SO tired all day, but we could hear him up and around, saw him poking his hand under the door, and then finally discovered that he'd puked by the door. I gave him a bath while Kevin reassembled the crib, and we are currently (at 8:30pm) still waiting for him to fall asleep. He is a hot mess!

I finally went down this evening to retrieve our favorite sleep book (The SleepEasy Solution) to see what they suggest--they recommend making the transition closer to 3 years old which is so far off from 18 1/2 months. So for now, we've put the pillows on the floor around his crib, have him back in a sleep sack, and will hope for the best. He's only ever climbed out in the morning when he's ready to get up (while we're still asleep and haven't heard him yet), so I wonder if he will maybe eventually be able to climb out safely?? I'm not sure what we're doing yet, but we are NOT doing the toddler bed for now.

I mean, really:

Saddest thing.