One Room Down!

I think this is going to be the summer for before & after pics. Let's see how far our home has come along since we moved in almost a year ago. First room up: the dining room!

Before:

After:

We still need some curtains, a table runner, and something to put in that vase... but I'd say it's pretty darn close to being done!

Next up: The living room. Stay tuned!

Let the Painting Begin!

Yesterday I started my big summer project of painting the house. First room up: Dining Room.

Don't you hate it when you run out of paint this close to finishing?!?

I'll post before/after pictures when it's finished!

Our Little Superhero

Does this tune ring a bell?

Need a refresher? Click here!

(And yes, that was his attempt at flight!)

A New Method

First of all, the answer to last night's question of how many times we put Chase back in bed:

29.

But at least those 29 times were all before we went to bed! Thankfully he did not pull an all-nighter like he had the night before. Phew!

So nap time today was another adventure. I chased him around for about 3 1/2 hours. I will admit I was not as calm, cool and collected this time around... which is probably why he thought it was so fun. Lord help me, I tried. I really did. But the last time he walked out that door I snapped. I picked him up, grabbed his pillow and blanket and put him in time-out (which is a playpen we have set up in the spare bedroom). I walked away and he flipped out. I had no idea what my plan was, but I decided to figure it out after his 2 minute time-out allowance was up. In two minutes it was silent. I went up there and found this:


Hmmmmmm.... A new tactic? We'll see how tonight goes first. Wish us luck!

Open Doors

Well, he finally figured it out. Chase can open doors on his own now. And that's all fine... except when it comes to bed time. Keeping him in his room was beginning to be a challenge. So I asked my mom what she used to do with us and she said to just pick him up... no eye contact, no communication whatsoever... and carry him back to bed. She said eventually he would get tired of it. So we tried that last night. Three times was all it took. I looked at Brian and said, "I can't believe it was that easy!"

I spoke too soon.

At midnight something startled me awake and I heard a HOWL in my ear. I opened my eyes and Chase was staring me right in the face, screaming. Talk about a scene from a horror movie! I can honestly say it may have been the most freaked out I have ever felt.

Wait, scratch that. It doesn't beat the time an unexpected, uninvited guest decided it would be a good idea to scratch on my bedroom window in the middle of the night in high school. But I digress.

Anyway, I swear all my hair stood up on end. I carried him back up to bed but after that I couldn't sleep. Every little sound I heard made me jump.

Chase came back downstairs every half hour from midnight to 2:30am.

God help me if I have to do that again tonight. I have already put him back in bed seven times. I am getting quite the workout walking up and down the stairs! The last time I started making him hike the stairs instead of carrying him. Maybe all that work will make him think twice the next time he wants to sneak out!

Oh, lord.... There's the squeak of his door again. This makes eight!

OK, I just returned and I didn't even get my butt in the chair again before I heard the door creak. Nine! Let's make a contest out of my misery. How many times will Brian and I take Chase back to bed tonight? I will report back tomorrow. The winner gets.... I don't know.... The satisfaction of knowing they are probably sleeping better than we are.

Ten!

A Birthday Swim

I celebrated my 32nd birthday in the pool with Chase today. It was our third day of "Mommy and Me" swim lessons. Brian was there to take some photos, which didn't turn out great with the lighting in the place. But I'll share a couple anyway.

When we first get in the pool we're supposed to pour water all over the kids to get them all wet. Not Chase's favorite part. In this photo it looks like I'm pouring water over his head with a vengance. I promise I wasn't mad at him! I was probably saying a prayer he wouldn't throw a temper tantrum.

To be fair, I always let him get me back:

Here's a photo of him concentrating on his kicks:

And this is his favorite thing to do.... Throw a ball and swim to go get it:

Now today was a special day because it was the first time we dunked them under the water. I had no idea how this was going to go so I asked Brian to get a video of it. OK, wait.... Let me revise that statement. I was almost positive Chase would come back up with crazed vengance and curse me for trying to drown him... so I asked Brian to get it on video for the sole purpose of posting a funny video on the blog tonight.

Am I so wrong for hoping my son's torture would make for some good entertainment?

Anyway, I won't tell you what happened. You can see for yourself:

OK, so it isn't as entertaining as I thought it would be. But I am glad. I promise I'm not disappointed my kid wasn't traumatized!

Then some of the kids started jumping off the side of the pool into the water. I was sure my scaredy-cat kid (I say that with the deepest affection) wouldn't want any part of that, but I was mistaken! Ah, the power of peer pressure.

We did that for the rest of the class. He just couldn't get enough of it!

Anyway, when we got home I got to open my presents and eat cake (Chase's favorite part)! Brian and Chase spoiled me, as usual (good boys)!

Since we couldn't really work a date night around Chase's swim lesson, Brian and I are going to do something fun for my birthday when we're both off on Friday. I see DSW in my future!

(I'm not sure that's Brian's idea of "something fun for my birthday," but it is my day!)

It's Summer!

So I guess summer doesn't officially begin for a couple more weeks, according to the calendar. But my summer starts now, because I am done teaching for the year! I am so excited to have a couple months off I can't even begin to describe it. After all the work I have done this year, I feel like I have earned this break!

We started the summer with a good old fashioned run through the sprinklers today. We got wet!


Chase helped Brian water the trees:

And then he learned a cool new trick:

Chase just had to try it....


He did get better....

Happy Summer!

There are more photos in our Photo Album if you're interested!