Spring is Here, Hopefully

Well, I think that spring is finally here, but I'm not counting on it since we had snow just a few weeks ago. However, we have spent the last few days out in our back yard trying to get things under control and put together a swing set for Malcolm and friends. It's been a chore and we're not done, but there is progress and it will be so cool when it is done. Since we couldn't use the slide for sliding yet, I laid it down on the ground and filled it with water. It's one of the slides with a few bumps in it and so the water pooled in certain areas. Malcolm had a blast. He was so tired when we came in, that as I was changing his soaking wet clothes, he insisted on putting on jammies at 12:15 in the afternoon. Needless to say, after a short lunch, he was ready for nap.

Henry and Malcolm have been enjoying the sand box that we now have in the back yard and "helping" with the construction of the swing set. That usually means swinging small hammers and measuring stuff and climbing in and out of the pieces of wood that are now together and resemble a tower. It's been a fun project. I think everyone has helped in some way. Traci, Steve and Tom have all done their part, and Thor and Molly have also done their part of laying in the sun close by and saying hi when the spirit moved them. I'll get pictures up soon, but for now, I just wanted to let you in on our goings on this weekend. Once it's up and working, friends and family will be invited over the break it in. Next outdoor project, a deck. Next indoor project, continuing to paint and take down the old shower so that room can become a guest room/office space for Shannon. Wish us luck in all this!

Making the World a Better Place

Well, as you can see, the boys out at Shari's are defending their fortress and are doing a great job. None shall pass without having to deal with the lightsaber brigade! Who are these fearless boys saving the world from evil? From left to right, Conrad the Conquerer, Riley the Righter of Wrongs, Henry the Yellow Hornet, Malcolm the Magnificent. Obviously they are having a great time.

Not only do they defend the Nelson's Lair, they also make it a sweet place to be as they assist in making all sorts of goodies and then testing them to make sure they are good enough to eat. What a service to the community.

Terribly Behind

Once again, I find myself terribly behind in my blogging. Could it be that I now officially have two year old? Yes, that's right. Malcolm is now two, and here a picture from his party. (That's Emeilia behind the balloon!) We had a great day playing at the Children's Museum, eating cake and running around.

Could I be behind because we've been shoveling out from all the snow that we've gotten? Yes, we got a total of about 1.5 feet and the doggies have created paths to get through the back yard. Luckily the snow is in the process of melting, so now there are lots of puddles for Malcolm to play in and he's riding his bike outside once again. We also played outside yesterday in the puddles as you see in the last picture. By the time we went inside, he was soaked from the waist down and could only be tempted inside by the promise of cookies - I mean, who cares about dry clothes when there are killer puddles to play in?

Life here is good. It is so wonderful to SEE spring coming again - we never really saw any seasons in California. We have plants peaking through the snow, we have sun, finally and some students on campus are even wearing shorts even though it's only in the 40's and 50's.

Malcolm is growing so rapidly and asserting himself in many ways - as 2 year olds do. It's so amazing to watch him grow up and figure stuff out on his own and be able to do things that he couldn't before. Like he has the Charlie Brown puzzle that my sister, Traci, gave him when he was born. He's always been able to take it apart, but never been able to put it back together by himself. Now, he can and he exclaims every time that he does it, "I did, it, I did!" Gotta love the enthusiasm of a small child.

He's also really into reading books now - with us and by himself. He loves making Play Doh snakes and turtles and smashing the doh between his hands. He's also starting to really use the potty about 2-3 times a day and he's very proud of himself when he does it - cheering himself on and clapping for himself the whole time.

He is also coming out of his shell around people that he doesn't know very well. He'll at least say hello and thank you to people when we are out and about. He also asks for some of the students from St. Francis House by name, wondering where they are when he comes to see me at work. He's growing and growing out of shoes, out of shoes, and into a new little man.

Santa

We have discovered that Malcolm doesn't like Santa - at least not those people dressed up like Santa. Pictures, displays on lawns, etc. that is fine, but a man dressed up like Santa - stay away! He's also not sure about wearing a santa hat. So, the other day at day care, Shari was able to get these pics that I had to share with you all. He's not sure about the hat, and I'm sure that he's wearing it because the other boys are.

By the way, the jacket he's wearing is his airplane jacket or as he says, "aplane" jacket. He loves it, because he loves to look at the airplanes on the patches. This is a gift from my dad, the retired pilot. Finally, my dad has boys who are interested in his stuff!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Funny Story

So, the other day, Malcolm is "helping me get ready" in the morning. He and I are in the bedroom where he is sorting through the books on my nightstand. He comes across one with a picture of the Dalai Lama on the front of it. I ask him, "Who's that" and he says "Uncle Ik." (Which means he thinks it's his uncle Erik who has blond hair and a gotee.) I said, "Nooo. That's the Dalai Lama" and because he has visited with llamas on a farm, he says, "Come here llama" and proceeds to make smooching noises which is how he calls the llamas to him. Funny on many levels. I wonder what goes through his mind!

Lots Going On!

Sorry for the lack of posting for a while. Life has gotten busy and I just can't seem to catch up. I suppose we are all there this time of the year.

Malcolm now loves riding bikes - the "big bikes" with training wheels. (picture from left to right is Riley, Malcolm and Henry) He loves it because his cousin, Henry and his friend, Riley, love it. That's sort of how things go right now. If the kids around him are doing it, he wants to do it. Bikes, climbing, jumping, peeing on the potty - you name it, he wants to do it even if he's not really big enough for it.

He also loves his "airplane jacket" that is a little version of the flight jacket one would wear. My dad just got him another one because the one he has is too small. He loves making airplane noises and actually just noises in general. Dinosaurs say "raaaar", Zebra's say "cracka lackkin" (from Madagascar), skunks say "Fire in the Hole" (from Over the Hedge), Penquins say, "Smile and wave boys" (from Madagascar). As you can tell he's really into animal movies - actually just three - Madagascar, Curious George and Over the Hedge. He also is beginning to love Bob the Builder.

He wants to be outside more than weather will let him right now, but he also loves the snow. He doesn't last very long in the snow, but he has fun while out there. He hates his mittens, but he will wear a hat.

Life here is good for all of us and we are adapting nicely to the colder weather.

Of Firetrucks and Llamas

Shari, our child care person, is so wonderful. She regularly takes "her boys" out on adventures. Yesterday's adventure was to see Llamas and then on to see Firetrucks! Could a boy ask for anything more?

Last night Malcolm kept asking where his Llamas were as we were playing with his other plastic farm animals. He kept asking for the "lellow llama" and the "bwown llama." Guess we'll have to update the farm animals!

Today, they are off to the Madison zoo, which is an awesome FREE zoo that Malcolm loves. There are giraffes, polar bears, all kinds of moneys and primates, seals, brown bears, kangaroos, and more. Check it out at http://www.vilaszoo.org/. I wonder which animals he'll be asking for tonight...

Happy Halloween!

Malcolm had quite the Halloween. While he was a day care, went trick-or-treating with Henry and Riley at a nursing home that Shari's grandmother is in. They had a great time. You will notice that Malcolm is in an m&m costume. Not only are those his initials, but he would not wear any of the costumes we tried, so we had to trick him - he had not idea he was dressed up. As you can see, Riley, the Lion and Henry, the dinosaur are in full costume and loving it.

After day care, they came home, played and then Lilly, our baby sitter, came over and they didn't go to bed until 10:30! (We had gone to the Bob Dylan concert, which was great!) Both Henry and Malcolm loved Lilly and wanted to go play with her this morning.

Life is good here. It's cold outside, but it feels good.

Happy All Saints' Day.

Henry and Malcolm

Since moving to Madison, Henry, Malcolm's cousin, and Malcolm spend lots of time together and I just wanted to share a few pictures out of many with everyone.

Here's a cart race down the hallway with the help of our dogs, Thor and Molly. And, Tom with the boys and Thor in the backyard. They are taking a break after pulling weeds!

Trip to Washington

(I figured that since I'm behind, it wouldn't hurt to catch up a bit more.) We went to Lummi Island in Washington for a friend's wedding and then went to see my sister Kenleigh and her husband. Erik and their new little boy, Cole. We had a great time there. We went to the zoo where Malcolm saw lots of animals and fell in love with Zeebees (Zebras), Gaffs (Giraffes) and Hippos. We also hung out on the beaches, saw "big, big boats" (in Malcolm's words) in the ocean, went to the dog park and on walks, went to the fair where he got to pet some animals in their petting zoo. He loved it - running from one animal to another. He was convinced that a sheep was a cow, however, since it had a spot.and more! Malcolm loved his Aunt Kenkee and his Uncle Ik and Baby Cooole, and their dogs Coop! and Duddee. We are hoping to see them all again soon.