Hoping for an Indian Summer

Well Mark is back to school, but the kids and I are still enjoying summer. We are holding out for a beautiful Indian summer. Today was perfect- it was warm but we had the beach completely to ourselves. We didn't go in the water much beyond our toes, but that isn't so unusual, we are after all, in Maine. Here are a couple of pictures I've fiddled with from our awesome day.

Bellbutt

When I was in Italy Kaden had no choice but to stop nursing. My plan had been his second birthday, but then the trip to Italy was just a couple weeks later, so it made sense to me. He's done really well. Only twice in the first couple days after I was back did he ask to nurse. He still loves to cuddle though, in fact the one thing that I really disliked about nursing him was that he would dig around in my belly button while nursing, and lucky for me- he can still do that! When he's tired or hurt or when I first get home from work- any time he needs a little extra Mommy snuggles, he lifts my shirt up and say, "Mommy...Mommy, bellbutt." Then he sticks his finger in my belly button. Some kids find comfort in stuffed animals or blankets or pacifiers, their thumbs... no Kaden's security thing is his mother's belly button. I really hope he out grows this before he's old enough to be made fun of.

Good Idea

Yesterday Mackinna declared proudly, "That was a good think I had in my head!" I asked her if she meant idea, and she said, "yeah, but a good think is another way to say it."
I love it- both the phrase and her confidence to make such a proclamation.

Elmo undies!

Look at that little bum! I just want to pinch it!

Its been 7 months

...Since Kaden first started using the potty in the mornings.  Things continued along with maybe 2 potty uses per day for quite some time, with the occasional 3 x days.  Well the past couple of days he's been a potty champ.  I think we have had a huge break through.  On Saturday at the Highland games he told me he had to go potty.  I told him to try to hold it while we located the porta potties.  We talked about what  big boy he was, while we walked what seemed like miles to the closest bathrooms, and sure enough when we got there he went!  So not only did he go in a porta potty, but he told me and then waited kind of a long time!  Then yesterday we only used only ONE pull up all day long.  (He did have one little accident on the beach- in his bathing suit, but I'm not counting it.)  One pull up all day is incredible!  We would have worn it to bed, except it was pretty tattered and torn by that point in the night.  We are almost out of diapers and when I was at BJs yesterday I decided I wasn't buying anymore.  I think we'll switch to pull ups all the time now.  He wakes up dry 90% of the time in the morning and at nap- so I don't think we even need them for that.  The pull up can handle it!  And if he's only going to use one or two a day, I don't care that they are way more expensive than the diapers!  Yeah Kaden!  What a big boy!

The Real Three Billy Goats Gruff...

Here it is the long awaited Three Billy Goats Gruff performance from Mackinna's theater summer camp. As you can see from the end of the last video, Kaden was really proud of his sister, as was her father! Great job Mackinna, your on your way to Hollywoood...

Billy Goats Gruff at Home Rehersal

Today was the final day of rehearsal before the big show. Mackinna was asked by her teachers to practice her troll role at home this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow. Grandma got to be the goats and I'm not sure what Kaden was but he was involved.

Kaden Still Misses Mommy!

Christine has been gone for 5 days now and Kaden is still asking for her every time he sees an airplane in the sky, at nap time and bed time. Today we took him to the park on the Eastern Prom while Mackinna was at Theater Camp and he took some time during his horse ride to say hi to mommy. He has also become quite the avid runner, he wants to run everywhere. I think he gets that from watching his mom and his big sister, they have been training hard for all of their summer road races. I'm not sure he will be able to contain his excitement when Christine comes home, I may have to post a hello video from their reunion on Saturday.


Kaden's horse ride...


Kaden running away...


Kaden running back...

More From Theater Camp

Today was paint your face like your favorite farm animal day at theater camp. I am not sure where there's a farm with a tiger on it but as you can see in the picture Mackinna had her face painted like a tiger. She said earlier in the day her favorite farm animal was a hen, I guess a tiger is a close second for her.
With Christine being out of town I do my best to find out from a very tight lipped Mackinna what happened at camp each day so I can share with Christine. Today when I picked her up her teacher said "Great job with the ending today Mackinna". As we walked down the hall I asked Mackinna what she did so well during rehearsal. She told me she couldn't tell me because she would ruin the show. So not to keep everyone in suspense but the show details will have to wait until Friday when we all get to see the production of Billy Goats Gruff!

Billy Goats Gruff Theater Camp

This morning Mackinna started her first theater camp at the Children's Museum of Maine. The theater group will be performing Billy Goats Gruff at the end of the week for parents and family members to watch in the theater at the museum.
Mackinna was so excited for her camp today. We really talked it up last night and again this morning, so much so that Mackinna needed to pack her own snack bag the night before including an ice pack to keep her juice box cold. She was such a big girl she even borrowed Christine's LL Bean tote bag instead of taking her backpack.
I have to admit, even though we put a lot of time building up camp, I was nervous about the drop off. Mackinna and change go together like oil and water. I couldn't believe what happened when I brought her in to the museum lobby. The director looked right at Mackinna and said, welcome to theater camp whats your name, to which Mackinna proudly replied, "Mackinna". That was the first time I have ever heard Mackinna introduce herself to a total stranger. She went on to be the first to speak up about where the grocery store was located within the museum and helped lead the theater crew there to play.
I was so proud of her today! Mackinna is at best reserved in a new crowd of people and a little socially awkward but I think she found her home within the theater crowd. She lit up being there today and even took some time to perform with her brother and a new friend on the museum stage following camp. I hope the rest of the week goes as well as today.


Kaden and Mackinna in their first play together... Notice the wizard hat for Kaden and the troll production by Mackinna.


Mackinna and her new friend perform the Three Little Pigs, Kaden is on the lights and sound effects...


Mackinna and Kaden on their way to Theater Camp...


Mackinna and her friend performing the three little pigs...


Kaden on the lights and sound effects...

A few movies from days 2 and 3...

Kaden driving Mackinna's boat while she was napping shhh...


Mackinna and Kaden running around the beach at smallpoint...

Theater Camp!

While I am in Italy Mackinna will be busy with her own excitement. Tomorrow she starts theater camp and the Children's Museum. She got this email with their agenda for the week. How much fun will she have?

Dear Billie Goats:

Are you ready for 3 Billie Goats Gruff Theatre Camp? I sure am, and I’m looking forward to meeting each one of you! We have a busy week ahead of us. It’s hard to put on a play in just one week!

On Monday we need to spend a lot of time getting to know each other. In theatre when you share the stage with someone, you have to know and trust them. Learning someone’s name is the first step! We will also spend some time making our special Billie Goat horns!

Tuesday is exaggeration day. Our story has 3 Billie Goats: one is big, the next is bigger, the final goat is the biggest of them all! What other words can we compare?

On Wednesday we will work on animal movements, and learn how to hop like Billie goats. We will also paint our faces like our favorite farm animals!

On Thursday we need to spend some time thinking about the troll. What’s his story anyway? Why does he want to eat the Billie Goats? We will learn a new troll language, and we will build a troll of our own!

Finally, Friday is our big performance day! We will be performing our play in the Dress Up Theatre, at 11:00. Please invite your friends and family!

This will be a wild, unforgettable theatre experience, and I can’t wait to meet each of you!

See you Monday, August 10^th, at 9:00 am!

Your Director,

Reba

P.S. Snack time is everyday at 10:15. Don’t forget to bring a snack to eat!

Days 2 and 3 An Overnighter on Mackinna's Boat with Grandpa

We got up at 6:00 yesterday morning and started packing for our overnight trip. We had a great time. The kids took turns driving the boat, we had macaroni and cheese for dinner, went to the beach on the dingy and explored the fort, spent the night in the Basin, and went for a ride to Snow Island this morning and saw Bampy and his crew on their way to Cundy's harbor to play for the day.


Mackinna taking a nap in her bedroom...


The water was a bit to cold...


Mackinna was in charge of the dingy, she is pulling it up the beach...


Kaden and daddy in the fort on the beach by Mackinna...


Mackinna and Kaden getting ready to go ashore...


Kaden smiling for the camera...

Christine in Italy Day #1

Today's theme was, where's mommy? It's funny how kids just know when leaving the house is different... Mackinna seems to understand what is going on, she still misses mommy but knows that she is on a plane with Grandma on her way to Italy. She has no earthly idea where Italy is but knows mommy and grandma are on their way. Kaden on the other hand has been asking for his mommy all day as if he knows she is not coming home for a while. Everytime he saw an airplane today he would look at me and ask "Mommy?" I would tell him not that one, always reassuring him he was right, mommy was indeed on an airplane to which his reply was "me, mommy's bap (lap)". Christine's lap is where Kaden has flown his entire life, so I guess in his mind he assumes if he were able to be with mommy on the plane her lap is where he should be.
Other than the planes in the sky today and Kaden wanting to be with his mommy everytime he saw one things went really well. We went to look at a sailboat, which Kaden assumes will be his since Mackinna already has her boat that Grandpa drives. I took the kids out to dinner at a new McDonalds with a stellar play ground. We topped the night off with some desert and 5 innings of scoreless baseball at the seadogs game. So day one wasn't so bad, I'll see how the night goes I think 5 a.m. is where Kaden will really miss mommy, we'll see. Updates tomorrow.

Storyland 2009 continued

Here are some photos- in reverse order of course...

Tired after a long couple of days

Out cold on the drive home

Mackinna and Cinderella!!

We took this same picture last year- I'll have to do it every year now

On a safari

They are sad because they are in jail

Puppy Kaden

Butterfly Mackinna

Kaden loved this ride!

She was an excellent driver

Mackinna wouldn't do the log flume because she didn't want get wet- but Kaden and I did

Peek a boo

The kids by the fire pit at the hotel

Daddy & Kaden in the hotel kiddie pool

Kaden drove the swan boat for a little while- but then he declared "DONE" so we went back to the dock.

Soliders

I love Kaden's face in this one

Mackinna LOVING the ball pit!

Storyland 2009

Again this year we did our now 3rd annual 2 day trip to Storyland. We started day one with lunch and a little swimming at Echo Lake.

Ahh... flexibility