Category: Family news/Updates

Last night we had our first parent-teacher meeting.  Unfortunately, Dave couldn’t attend, but honestly we were thinking that it was going to be a quick conversation and then we’d be on our way home.  I mean, Noomi is a baby and Ajax is four.  Well, it was a real parent-teacher meeting, I even had to sit in the little chair.

Ajax’s teacher, Ms. Megan, had wonderful things to say about him.  She said he was a pleasure to have in her class.  He was an excellent helper and has really opened up.  She felt that he has wonderful leadership qualities.  She said that he was on target, hitting all his developmental milestones and that the few outbursts or tantrums are completely within the realm of normal for his age.  We discussed his writing and she showed me some of his artwork and progress on writing his name.  She said that if she orally spells out a word for him, he can write it perfect.  But if she writes it and asks him to look at and then write it, the letters get inverted.  She said that this happens, kind of like you’re seeing things in a mirror.  I explained that I see the same thing at home.

Noomi’s teacher, Ms. Toria, also had wonderful things to say about her, though really she is now spending her days in the toddler room, not the baby room.  The teacher said that Noomi hit all the milestones, was walking, well adjusted and happy.  I asked if she was concerned given Noomi’s lack of vocabulary and she said not at all.  Noomi is a second child and it’s normal for the second child to talk a little later.  I guess that makes sense as Ajax’ is constantly talking.

Overall, I felt both meetings went well, both kids had glowing reviews.  We also received our first snow yesterday.  Looks like we’ll be putting winter coats on over Halloween costumes.

A teacher at school put Noomi’s hair in a pony tail! I was so surprised when I picked her up.

This weekend was highly productive in our household.   I’m still patting myself on the back.

Saturday we spent the morning cleaning the house and then transitioned outside.  Dave cut the grass and changed the battery in the Torrent, while Ajax pulled weeds and Noomi climbed on and off bike.   Dave also took Ajax to Target where he picked out a pack of Halloween hotwheel cars, using his very own money he earned from chores.  Noomi is now taking several steps unaided, but isn’t very steady or confident yet.  Soon.  It has to be soon, because once she starts walking I’m sure she’ll return to her wonderful sleep routine of actually sleeping through the night.  It’s been at least a month now and both kids have had restless nights.  Dave swears that I was up with Noomi last night at midnight, but I have absolutely no memory of this.  Saturday night we had friends over for dinner, so the kids got to bed a little late.

On Sunday Ajax and I worked in the kitchen making applesauce and canning it.  Ajax pulled up a chair to the sink and washed all the apples for me.  He then helped me put them through the strainer.  He was a great help.  It turned out to be a very rainy and cool day, so we stayed indoors, worked in the kitchen and watched movies.  It was lovely.

Lately whenever it seems I leave to go grocery shopping Ajax asks if I can bring him back matchbox cars.  I tell him no, but if he wants he can save his money and buy his own.  So of course he wanted to know how he can earn money.  After much discussion here is how Dave and I have handled the money issue.   Ajax has family chores which he does because he is in the family – pick up his toys, put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket, set the table, and clear his place when he’s done eating.  On Sunday if he wants to earn money he can do four chores – vacuum, dust, sweep, and swiffer the floor.  He earns $0.25 per job for a total of $1.00 a week.  This Sunday after doing his jobs, he took the broom and started sweeping the walls.  He said they need doing and could he earn another $.25 for the job.  I told him no, lol.

Today when I picked him up from school he showed me two books and a pen he wanted at the Book Fair which is visiting their school this week.   We looked at the prices together and I said tonight we’ll count your money and see how much you have in your “spend” bag (his money is divided between – spending, saving and giving).  When we counted his money we talked about what he could afford.  We also pointed out that if he bought the books/pen he would not have any money for matchbox cars.  After careful thought and consideration Ajax declared that he didn’t want the books or pen, that he would save his money for the cars he really wanted.  We said ok and pointed out that Christmas was around the corner and that if he wanted the books he could always ask Santa for them.  He seemed happy with this.

Fall has made it to Michigan.  It seems overnight the weather has turned and now we need the heavy down blanket at night.  This morning Ajax was complaining that he didn’t want to get out of bed because he was just too cold.  I explained that if he slept in his pajamas he wouldn’t be so cold.

On Saturday my parents were kind enough to babysit while Dave and I had an appointment in South Lyon with a financial planner.  Ajax reported that he dug the biggest hole ever and that he has plans to help grandpa dig a pond with the big tractor.  My mom said that she was bribing Noomi to walk between two chairs by placing a cookie on one kitchen chair and seeing if she would go from one chair to another, each time moving them apart just a tiny bit more.  Noomi still isn’t walking, but goodness has her temper shown itself.  We need to watch her because she’s in the angry head butting phase.  Last night Dave said she got mad and head butted her crib, hurting her head and crying more.    After our meeting we stopped in Howell and picked up some warm clothes for the kiddos.  Noomi is into 24-month clothes (soon 2T) and Ajax is now out of the T clothes and I had to buy him big boy clothes (though he’s still an extra small).   Overall, a good day.

On Sunday we loaded up the kids and went out to lunch on our way to the apple orchard in Haslett.  We brought the wagon and the kids loved riding in it along the trial to the orchard.  We picked a solid bushel of apples (total of $24!) and next weekend we plan on making a ton of apple sauce and canning it.   Both  kids did well picking apples, though Noomi kept taking apples out of the bag, putting little bit marks in them and then putting them back.   We also made tasty whole wheat peanut butter muffins and Ajax said they were wonderful.

I think she got mad because we moved the bag of apples away from her.

I can’t believe summer is almost over, where does the time go?  We’ve already started discussing Halloween costumes.  Ajax said he wanted to be an astronaut, though to be fair, he’s only saying that because a little boy in his class is saying that as well.  He previously wanted to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.  I’ll ask him again next week and who knows what he’ll say.

This past weekend was fairly quiet, we took a drive to Williamston to explore and visit friends.  We still think it is the cutest town and hope we can find a place there in the spring (though we are currently on the lookout in case we find a place to move early).  On Sunday we bummed around.  Noomi and I went grocery shopping and Ajax and Dave stayed home doing guy things.   Both kids have seemed off lately and incredibly tired, they just can’t seem to get back on schedule or catch up on their sleep.

Noomi is still refusing to walk, though we have seen her take a step or two unassisted and have seen her stand solo.  So, again, we all know she can walk, she just isn’t quite sure of it yet.  Though at this point she gets very frustrated if she is walking holding your hand and you let go for one reason or another, she immediately drops to the ground (very dramatic like), throws both arms out and lays her head on the ground while crying.   She is also headbutting when she gets mad or annoyed.

Ajax is doing well at school and still enjoying it greatly.  A few of his friends have moved into kindergarten, so that has opened the conversation up about him entering school.   He has been focusing more and more on “work” and works on his farm, harvesting, and fixing his tractors.  He’s a busy kid.

I feel like I am starting “school” tomorrow.  I have been on vacation now and off from work for over one week.   I feel so relaxed; it’s wonderful.   I kept the kids home with me this past week and we had so much fun.

We went visiting a friend in Birmingham.  She has a son who is 1 1/2 and the three kids played so well together.  Ajax did great with the two little kids and took turns giving them rides in the push cars.  We of course listened to his playlist of country music on the drive and even Noomi seemed to enjoy it.

We also took a drive up to DeWitt and found a local farm where I bought fresh maple syrup and raspberries.  We also had homemade doughnuts, which the kids loved and looked at all the tractors and farm equipment.  We also found a nice little park and played for a bit and both kids zonked out on the drive home.

We also took a trip down to Brooklyn to visit with my family, which was very nice and relaxing.  Grandpa and Ajax went fishing/swimming, and Noomi, Grandma and I went shopping.

We also bummed around the house, played outside and made homemade apple pie and chocolate chip cookies.   As it was also my birthday (hello 32) Dave bought me a Sander’s Bumpy Cake which was incredible and a reminder of my childhood.  I can remember going to Livonia mall when I was young and getting ice cream at the Sander’s store.  Sitting on bar stools they would give you water in little paper funnels held by metal bases.   I also remember that the counter you sat at had two levels and it seemed the lower level was just right for little kids, while the adults used the top counter.  I wonder why they had two counters?

We went visiting my Grandpa Nader in Dearborn and it was so nice seeing my aunts and uncles as we hadn’t been in town for a while.  I must admit though I did not miss the traffic.  Traffic is not as bad out here in Lansing and that is a good thing.

Overall, it was a wonderful mini vacation and I truly feel like a little kid having to go back to school tomorrow.  Ajax was also not thrilled when I reminded him that tomorrow he goes back to school as well, lol.  I also have a feeling that Noomi is going to walk tomorrow at school.  She has not been sleeping well at night and has been getting up once or twice a night all week now.  We think it means a major breakthrough is right about to happen and we’re hoping it’s walking.  Currently, she just wants to walk around holding your hand and will not let go.  Sure for 5 or 10 minutes it’s fine, but after 30 minutes? an hour?  Your back really starts to hurt.

Ok, here is a more recent update from this past weekend.

The first 1/2 of my trial is underway and tough mudder is next weekend.  I must admit I’ve been so preoccupied with the trial that the mudder has not really entered my mind.  I’m sure that will change when I’m up to my knees in mud wishing I’d put more training time in.   Dave and Ajax are going as well as spectators and I think they will have a ton of fun.  Ajax doesn’t really understand where we’re going, though I’ve shown him photos and videos, he keeps asking if he can stay at grandma and grandpas with Noomi.

This past weekend was very quiet.  Ajax went to visit my parents in Brooklyn on Friday.  Apparently they did a ton of tractor work, removed several trees and branches, played with the animals, went for a boat ride and did a little fishing and swimming and then to top it off had pizza and roasted marshmallows over an open fire.  As you can imagine Ajax didn’t really want to come home (not that I blame him) and was so upset and tired on Saturday when grandpa brought him home that he told me that he wanted to live with grandma and grandpa.  I told him that daddy and I would miss him too too much.  He then said that we could get a new kid and he’d go live with them.  Thanks Ajax.

Noomi seemed a bit concerned over the lack of her brother.  When Dave and I picked her up from school on Friday she immediately looked over at Ajax’s empty car seat and asked “Ajax?”  We went to seven stores on Friday looking for baby shoes, but no luck. Where on earth do people in Lansing do their shopping?  It’s maddening.

On Saturday, we bummed around did a little grocery shopping and while Noomi napped Dave and I did some quick freezer cooking and got 6 meals in the freezer and 2 meals of cooked ground beef with onions.

On Sunday, Noomi and I headed into Warren for a baby shower.  We stopped in Howell on our way there to buy some new shoes.  While pulling into the mall, I told Noomi we were going to get new shoes and she immediately lifted her foot, pointed to her shoe and said Shoe?! (though to be far it doesn’t really sound like “shoe” it sounds like a not so nice word that starts with “s”).   This little girl LOVES shoes.  I let her pick out her own shoes and she was quite happy.  When we got to the shower she was so well behaved.  She ate well and walked constantly, smiling and waving at people.   While we were gone, Dave and Ajax went hiking at their favorite Dragon Park.  Ajax told me before they left that he keeps all his dragons there.   Afterwards, he said they didn’t find any dragons this time, but they saw signs of dragons.  I guess after hiking they hit up McDonalds and Ajax was so tired it took him 45 minutes to eat lunch and when they got him he took a 2 hour nap.

A certain grandma is supposed to be sending me photos of Ajax’s adventure weekend!

I just had to sprint upstairs (time 8:15 pm) and calm a crying and upset Ajax who was insisting there was a ghost under his bed.  I gave him a hug, dried his cheeks and together we checked under his bed.  No ghosts but several tractors.   I then had to position his dragon next to him to protect him through the night.  He said his dragon comes to life at night and breaths fire.   He also said that his moose also comes to life at night and turns into a real moose who throws all ghosts out the window.

On another funny note, Ajax loves all songs having to do with tractors.  That of course limits the pool to country songs.  Lately his favorite song has been “John Deere Green.”  Here is how Ajax sings it – John Deere Green!  Biddy Bo Bow Sher-lise!  In a hot summer….  This morning Dave and I finally located this elusive song – it goes – John Deere Green – Billy Bob loves Sherlise…  How cute is that?  We plan on putting together a play list of songs for him… a country playlist.

When I picked up Noomi from daycare the teacher was saying that she knows there’s trouble when its silent.   When you don’t hear her.  Today during a quiet period Noomi rearranged the cribs, one of which had a sleeping toddler in it.  Apparently she pushed it about 3 feet against the wall.   She will be a danger when she starts walking.  Right now she is still holding onto your hands, but she is picking up the pace and speeds all around the place while yelling.  She is also now saying – cup, “what’s that?”, tractor and Ajax brother!  It’s darn cute.