Tantrums, Elephants and Alligators

What a weekend it has been!!

Saturday was filled with tears, timeouts, more tears, more timeouts and me saying "Keith, please take him somewhere - anywhere" through MY tears! Andrew was a PILL. I'm not sure if that is the right word or a strong enough word. It started Friday night when, at Chuck3Cheese he chose to throw himself on the floor because he didn't want to leave. I calmly picked him up, took him to the bathroom while he was screaming and then out to the car - still screaming. He went right to bed and the Saturday morning started out okay and then came mid-morning.

We made a parenting 101 mistake - doing something on Friday night. While Friday's are "celebratory" nights for those of us working, they are still run-of-the-mill nights for a little boy who had a busy day at daycare! Chuck3Cheese was overstimulation for a completely exhausted boy. So, we've learned our lesson which is part of it, right? Saturday morning was probably a carry over of Friday night. I was just talking to my dad and he had a good point - we need to just hang out at home instead of always "doing". We can still exhaust him and get out all of his energy without going places. Such a smart dad I have! :-)

So, we'll try that next weekend... but this weekend, despite the tantrums, we had so much fun. My friend, Margaret, got Andrew tickets to the circus for his birthday! He had a great time - loved the elephants especially when they sat on each other! Silly elephants! :-) Here is a pre-circus picture with Aunt Mandy and his "magic elephant wand" and a post-circus picture with Mommy.


After the circus, we went to the county fair for a bit. It was the last weekend in town. Andrew loved the fair. Loved the rides and getting to pet the cows and the goats! He was such a good boy while we were out and about - good listening and in a great mood which was such a pleasant change from the beginning of the day. He rode on an alligator and a monkey, a helicopter and a caterpillar! Doesn't get much better than that, does it?







We came home to Papa and Uncle Rob working on the playset out back! Keith bought this for Andrew about a week after we got home and it's been in boxes since. We've just been so darn busy - no time to put it together! This weekend Keith and Rob busted it out! It just needs the finishing touches! Andrew will definitely be loving this for years to come!


( I know this isn't Andrew, but it was just such a cute picture of Angel - couldn't resist!)

After working on the playset was bathtime, dinner time and then bedtime! Apparently somewhere in there Andrew decided it was tool-time! Nice outfit, huh? This picture is totally going into the "Embarrass Andrew Later in Life" folder which is kept especially for the senior yearbook ads, girlfriends, his wedding and his own kids! :-) (someday far, far away of course!)


After a busy weekend, we finally got the boy to sleep with his special blanket that Florida Grandma made him. He loves to snuggle with it - especially when he cons dad into sleeping in our bed every once in a while!

So... in summary it was a busy weekend - too busy. Sunday we went to church. Alex's mom's family had the organs at church restored in her memory. Andrew was great - well behaved, patient and a charmer. Alex did well too. As much as it was probably a sad reminder for him and a chance to miss his mom he seemed to be in good spirits. Of course, all of the high school girls that flocked to him the second he walked into church may have been why! :-)

I've learned some lessons this weekend - less is more and know that it's okay to admit you need a break and a good cry (another post on this later in the week). It was also a good reminder that we HAVE only been home for 2 months and as much as it feels like it's been forever, we're all still in a learning process and will ultimately figure out what makes each other tick.

Hope everyone has a great week!
Becky