Too many eggs in one basket

So, it has been quite a while. Busy with school + not having internet = a temporary cessation of blogging. But, even though I am still very busy with school (my busiest quarter yet), I now have internet (thanks to my droid phone). I am just blogging something short because I still have many eggs in my basket to tend to today. TGIF though! In the last few months, nothing much has happened with us parents. Mike went on a camping/canoeing trip for 5 days and it was very much needed. He works so hard and his body always aches and he is always tired, so this was a well deserved break for him. He is the #1 contractor in his company and he has the highest seniority above all of the other contractors. He has also earned his ranking and seniority. I am proud of him for being such a wonderful provider. He might not want to get up every morning and do his work, but he does. He isn't lazy, doesn't expect things to be handed to him, realizes that you don't always get to do your dream job; sometimes you have to work towards it, and he always gives his clients respect and a kind face (also why he gets more compliments from clients than anyone else.) I am a proud wife. I have been doing the mom and housewife thing. Nothing new with me. I did get to watch my best friend Daniele graduate with her Master's Degree in Athletic Training from SEC. I'm a proud friend as well. Other than that, my hair is longer, I'm tanner (thank you southern sun), taking Kinesiology and Pathology in school, planning Royal's 2nd birthday party, and enjoying the day with him. Speaking of the buddy; he is still the most beautiful child in this world. He has an infectious laugh, big blue eyes, a personality like the sun (bright and warm), he loves to tell people "HI" and"bye-bye" and then blow a kiss. He says Mom, Dada, NOOOO!, loves Curious George, he loves getting books and sitting in my or Michael's lap and look at the pictures, he most favorite book is Harry the Dirty Dog, and wants to read it every night before bed. He listens to the Queen Rockabye baby cd when he sleeps, loves taking of his diaper and streaking through the house, he has giant feet, loves the water, and his hair is getting long. He tans like Me and Michael (must be the Native American coming through from both sides), if you ask him what a dog says he will bark, and what a cat says, he will meow, he is the best sleeper (from 8pm-8am.) ...I know, I would be jealous if I were you too. ha. Royal also seems to be a natural leader. He has 3 and 4 year old wanting to follow him on the play ground and do whatever he does. Maybe because he is fearless and does things on the jungle gyms that the other kids his age can't, and that most 5 years old can do. I have other mom's asking me how old he is all the time because he can climb anything and slide down the highest slide without help and can do so many things that their kid can't do. They are always surprised, and I just  laugh and say, "Yeah, he has always been that way." "He's a little monkey," or "He's my speed racer." He is also a fast runner....I know this because I actually have broken a sweat chasing him across a soccer field before. He loves heavy machinery (gators, backhoes, lawn mowers) and any kind of vehicle. He will climb in the driver seat and act like he is driving, and turn up the radio, head bang to the music (yes, I said head bang). He also loves airplanes and can hear one coming before I even do, and start pointing at the sky and looking for it to fly over. It's in the genes though. My dad is a pilot, I grew up on an airstrip, and pretty much all of the family friends are pilots as well. So it's only natural I guess. He loves to dance, can keep a beat to whatever song is on, he really likes headbanging to 70's and 80's rock, and probably he most favorite song on pop radio right now is Ima Be, by Blackeyed Peas. Oh and he adores balloons right now! That's about all for now. Time to tend to those eggs.

Where?

I haven't stopped blogging, I just haven't had internet. But, I will be back. ;)

Play Dough

This morning I made Royal some play dough. It turned out really well. This was the recipe I used. 

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup salt
• 1/4 tsp of lemon juice 
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tbsp oil
• Food coloring (I used blue, for boy of course)

Combine flour and salt in a saucepan. Mix liquids and gradually stir them into the dry ingredients. When the mixture is smooth, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until a ball forms. Remove from heat and knead until smooth. Store in a zip-loc bag.

Royal had fun with it, and of course he had to taste it. This is the face that ensued. I got curious and tasted it....disgusting. It has 1/2 cup of salt in it. That's enough to kill a horse. Ughhh.

 Anyway, he even treated his new toy to a free ride down the slide and bounced with it on the trampoline. He then started throwing it and rolling it on the floor and he even came over to me and put it in my hand and get me to throw it for him. I never knew play dough could get this interesting. It made a good amount, so I just gave him a little and put the rest in a ziplock bag.

The boys

Go read some books

Today, Royal and I went to the local Library and got a library card. I decided that since he likes looking at books so much that we should expand his horizons in the literary area. Also, the idea of him listening to books on cd and checking out learning videos was very appealing to me. So, we got Berenstain Bear's on cd for the car, and two videos; the Beatrix Potter classics and, Old McDonald's Farm.

 I think this is a place we will be going on the regular. He had so much fun playing with all of the toys in the children's area and of course running up and down the aisle's of books. 

You're how tall?

Before Royal was born, when Michael and I still lived in Savannah, I pretty much lived at Target. One afternoon as I waddled around, I came across this picture frame/measuring stick to keep up with your child's height as they grow. It was on clearance for $12, originally $30. It went perfectly with his little jungle animal theme, so I bought it. I haven't put pictures in it yet, but I'm doing that next. Then as he grows to the height that corresponds with the picture frame, I'll change the picture out. That way you can see what he looks like at that height and age. He hasn't been tall enough to measure him yet, but recently he is tall enough so he is just under the bottom of the frame. So, I put it up yesterday, and moved the two measurements that I had marked on the door frame of the kitchen, to the door frame outside of our bedroom. In 2 months he grew from 30" to 30" and 11/16th's. Almost 2 inches. That just seems too much. I don't want him growing that fast, but since he is going to anyway, I'm glad I get to keep track of him.

You make me feel like dancing

Early learning

I have spent all afternoon cutting out and laminating flash cards. I want to start teaching Royal his alphabet, numbers, colors, animals, and shapes. I just went online and searched for free printable flashcards, and there are so many ones to choose from. I have some other ones, but my mom thought the pictures would be great to use for her art class, so I let her take them to make copies of. But I got these done and this is the finished product. I bought this clear keeper to hold all of the flashcards for about 2 bucks. I can't wait to get started teaching him all of these things, and watch his sweet little mind absorb it all. He is such a smart boy. : )

I nose where it is!

Royal knows where his tummy is, and this week he learned where his nose is. You can ask him, "where's your nose?", and he will point to his nose. But then, he started doing this. 

He is definitely all boy. 

Something doesn't fit right

And I think it's Royal. He has this idea that he can ride anything with wheels, regardless of the size of it. This Fall I found him in the living room riding around on the his dump truck. He actually took the dump part off so it was just the wheels and base of the truck and then proceeded to ride around the house, pushing his way across the floor. 
The other day, Michael and Royal were having some father/son time, and when I got home, Michael showed me pictures of him trying to ride his latest wheels. This tiny cardinal. He is determined to try and ride the tiniest things, as if he fits. He is such a funny boy.