Halloween

Today is supposed to be just fun.

Declan went to school with his Batman mask/cape and dressed all in black as the kids were allowed to dress up. A fun day with a costume parade and treats and me getting another call from school. Declan tripped in class and hit his forehead on a shelf. Needed ice and had to wear a "I hurt my head, watch me for signs of a concussion" sticker. 

It's crazy how many bumps and bruises this kid has since tarting school.

He says he's ok and we still got him out, dressed as Darth Vader for trick or treating. Gramma and Poppa came along. Declan was so happy he was singing "I love Halloween, I love Halloween" while walking from house to house. 

I always loved Halloween and I just want the same for the little man. Glad he had a fun night.

And ate M&Ms soon as he got to sit down, out of costume and check his loot.

A Good Weekend

Saturday: Daddy/Declan Day

They got lots of errands complete and because he was such a good boy Daddy bought him a new little toy. He loves it and he's been very thankful. 

When I got home from work yesterday I noticed Declan has a poppy on his jacket. He told me he gave the money to the man to thank the soldiers who fought  for us in the wars. Then he said that "Daddy's grandpa was in the war and he was in a tank and he, Daddy? Did he hold a gun or was there a gun on the tank? Oh there were guns on the tank." Very nice that he paid attention to Daddy when he shared that story earlier in the day. He really does hear you and remembers so well.

Today Declan and I went to Walmart to get treats for Halloween. We checked out all the decorations that were left, then Declan looked at toys (we discussed in advance that there would be no new things today). After Walmart we visited the family friendly Haunted House at the Milton Mall. Turns out it was a little scarier than I was expecting. Even though I carried Declan through it he still got startled and jumped. I walked to keep myself between Declan and anybody that would jump out. Then we turn a corner and there is a women laying on a table and a man about to cut her open. I said "ok, turns out he's a little too young for all this." The man in costume says to Declan "I won't scare you." They were good and it was over quickly. When Declan told Daddy about it at home he said "There was a man dressed as a zombie and he told me he wouldn't scare me." 

Daddy: "oh ya?"

Declan: "yup and he had a chainsaw."

I think perhaps a Mommy fail?

We Made Plans

Yesterday evening Declan wanted to paint another Halloween picture. We ran out of time so I told him he could paint when I got home from work Friday. Then this morning I said "remember when I get home tonight you can paint." Declan's said "no we're going shopping so you can get me new winter boots." With that, we had a plan. 

When I got home from work the front door was open and Declan was standing there waiting for me. We were able to find some boots but only after a dance in the store, running to the front to test out the boots and me making Declan put them on and take them off himself cuz I'm not going to be helping him every day.

SUCCESS!

When we got home it was time to paint. So good when I can keep promises to the kid.

At school today he said he went down the slide on his belly (still feet first) and helped scoop out the seeds and gross yellow, orange sticky stuff from pumpkins. They're letting the seeds dry so they can count them. I'm excited for Declan's Halloween party at school Monday.

Open House

Yesterday Declan had his first field trip. The class visited Springridge Farm. He had a great time. No issues with the bus ride (except that he had to sit with two girls and he wanted to sit with Veedaant so he wasn't happy about that). At the farm he learned about how pumpkins grown and he brought home a little pumpkin pie pumpkin. Spoiler alert...it won't become a pie. There was a puppet show which starred Chickens. Declan told us there was a cowboy chicken in the middle and he said "Cock-a-doodle-doo!!" and "wakes everybody in the world up." Also the chicken puppet asked "why did the chicken cross the road?" I asked Declan "why?" and he said he doesn't remember the answer. He also said they got drunk box treats and he ate his lunch outside. Another memorable part of the day was seeing the animals. Declan's favourite was seeing the bunnies. They were all sleeping and one of them was not snuggled up in its bed but Declan said he was still sleeping and cozy.

Tonight was the Kindergarten Open House. Our chance to visit the class, meet Declan's teachers and have Declan show us around his class. When Inspoke to his teacher I asked if he was giving her any trouble. She said "well, no, not trouble" and that he's "sweet, not hitting other children or anything" but that "he makes poor decisions." The example she shared was from lunch recess today. When the bell rang for the kids to lineup to come inside Declan was off still playing on the teeder/todder. And "for a while" when he was supposed to be lined up. So he's deciding to do things he shouldn't be doing. What they do is then have him sit alone at a table without participating in the class activity for a few minutes. He doesn't like that so she's hoping this will help. Apparently he also winds up the other kids. 

Great.

On a positive we started reading Declan's 'reader' book and he follows well, recognized the repetition, could repeat what I said and point out the words. Great start. Have to do this every night. 

Oh Monday

When Daddy went to pick Declan up at school today he didn't notice him right away. Mrs Ritu told him "He's hard to see because he's in a Police uniform." Yup. Daddy didn't notice him right away because he was having fun dressed as a Policeman.

Daddy asked Declan how his day was. Declan said he had a hard time with his Apple cup today because he looked all over his lunch Box and there was no spoon. Yes I forgot. He still ate it but he said it was hard because he had to use his tongue.

And it's official. Declan now refers to Shelby as a friend at school. I've been told that Shelby and Ava laugh when he says silly things. This appears to have won him over.

When Declan and I were talking about his day he mentioned Canada's Wonderland. He wants to go back and sit in the last car of the "belly tickle ride". It's the car painted like a police car. I told Declan I'd take him back when it opens again next spring.

And lastly we got both a picture of Declan's class from last Friday's "Green shirt - Dwarfism Awareness Day" and his very first "School Picture."

Cousin Fun

Forgot to mention on Friday but at school this past Friday was Dwarfism Awareness day at Declan's school. Everyone wore green and the students were introduced to one of their schoolmates, Sana, who has Dwarfism. The custodian as Declan's school, Mrs. H even showed Declan Sana's special bathroom that the school built just for her. 

Now onto the weekend...

Saturday morning we hit to road for Canada's Wonderland. Was so excited for the little guy to see a big amusement park with proper rides and just run around with his cousin.

They started off with a train ride with Daddy before a mini yellow roller coaster with their Moms.

After that they went on The Red Baron plane ride which Declan seemed to love.

Things were going well and Declan was happy to hop on another kid ride but then we made the mistake of trying the Ghoster Coaster, a real roller coaster. He did not like it. He said it was scary and hurt his back. He added "it was not fun". This added to poor Holden crying throughout the ride and the boys were no longer interested in any rides. Everything looked scary. I feel so bad for the little man as he was having such a good time and was eager before the roller coaster. He does tell me he will be ready for it once he's ten. After a little while he agreed to one last ride, the carrousel but not without the bride of a game of ring toss. Then with the promise of a stop at Mastermind on the ride home for the boys we left Canada's Wonderland. Declan was instantly asleep on Daddy's arm as we left the parking lot. Lots of fresh air and running around got the best of him.

Saturday evening the boys continued to play well and were up late together. It was such fun that after meeting up for breakfast all together before they headed back to Ottawa Declan couldn't stop crying after saying goodbye. Once again, it's good, it means he really loved being with them but hurts the heart seeing his big genuine tears rolling down his cheeks. Poor little monkey.

Cousin Time

Declan was thrilled that his Cousin (along now with Grandma and his Aunt) were coming for a visit. Soon as Holden got here Declan wanted to show him his bedroom. The two boys got to playing right away. Declan showed Holden how he bounced on his bed, they drew on the white board, they dug out toys and ran around. Grandma brought them a Hot Wheels track to play with which entertained them for quite a while. They also played with light sabers and had some side by side video game time. It was well past bedtimes when Holden (was heading out with his Mom and Grandma to their hotel). He wanted Holden to sleep next to him. All attempts to console him by talking about how they have the entire day together tomorrow were futile. Declan just loves having Holden here.

Finally got the exhausted Muffin Man off to bed. He's sleeping soundly and hopefully building up some energy for running around tomorrow.

How 4 1/2 Year Olds Make Friends

Declan: I'm friends with Ava now too.

Me: Oh that's great.

Declan: She said "Can I be your friend?" and I said "ok."

That simple.

Oh The List of Injuries...

So cute. Declan yells at me, so excited "Mommy! Mommy! There's two Alex's. My friend (he means family) and one at school!"

Another call home from the school today. This one to tell me Declan fell and his his jaw bone on a bucket while playing outside. He cried a little but they put ice on it and he was back to playing outside.

Yes. A bucket.

He has a scrap and nothing more. Apparently they were playing "bucket ball" where they have to get the bucket in the goal. He also told me that Natasha (from a different Kindergarten class) was cheating.

And that's the 4 1/2 year old school day recap.

Weekend with his Girl

Happy kid.

We went to visit Chelsey. Headed over to the farm to pick some apples and run around in the pumpkins. 

Next, back to Chelsey's were they played with toys, kicked balls in the back yard, painted pumpkins, ate dinner, played some more, snuggled under a blanket and watched TV before heading up to bed. They kept getting up and chatting but finally the two fell sound asleep.

Then 5:30am they were wide awake. Stickers, books, giggles, videos, video games, more giggles and then they got up and went downstairs to play some more.

After waffles for breakfast they went to the park for about and hour and then it was time to head home.

An exhausted Declan whispered to me "I didn't want to leave Chelsey ever."

He napped hard when we got home but when he woke I got to cuddle my boy while the three of us watched the latest Ghostbusters movie. Declan's favourite parts were the balloon ghosts and the portal where the ghosts got sucked into.

Great weekend.

Smart Monkey

Declan draws a "T" on his white board. 

Me: Tuh Tuh Tee. What starts with T?

Declan: Tuh Tuh Tiger!

He got it!!

Then he knew Bird started with "B" and Lamb starts with "L".

It kept going. He's doing so good. I asked if he was learning this at school and he said he just knows it. We ran through a bunch of letters and he did fantastic. Very proud of my Muffin Man.

Decisions, Decisions

Daddy and Declan alone at home. Declan is laying by himself on the ottoman and Daddy is sitting in the chair.

Daddy: Do you want to come over and sit with me?

Declan: *silence*

Daddy: Do you want to come sit with me?

Declan: I'm thinking.

Time passes.

Declan raises his thumb.

Declan: Ok. You got a thumbs up.

And they sat together.

Jessica

Walked Declan to school this morning, the usual but maybe 15 minutes later than normal. This meant that Jessica was there already. When we arrived she started making a paper fan for Declan. He went to his cubby, hung up his backpack and then walked over to see her. She handed him the fan. Declan was so excited and he walked toward me to try it on me. Jessica was not impressed. She made eyes at me and stepped right up beside Declan so he'd turn to pay her attention. After that Declan just says "bye Mommy!" and starts playing with her.

It's on!! He's 4 1/2. Kids still mine. Look out Jessica.

Long Weekend

It was Thanksgiving weekend and I worked most of it. Meant little time with The Muffin Man. He had a great weekend with Daddy though.

#2

Big, big event today. For the first time ever Declan went #2 at school.

It's also the first time without a potty seat on the toilet.

And the first time without any assistance from Mommy or Daddy.

Big win for Declan Good!!

The Eviction

I love school age Declan.

Asking him what he's learned in school and he rarely says anything. Then out of the blue he's saying the days of the week. Well that was new. So, he's learning stuff!

His school art/activities are fantastic. When we got to school this morning I got to see one of their activities hanging on the classroom wall. It was about naming their favourite thing about themselves. Declan said his favourite part of himself was his eyes "because they're not blurry and he can see."

Then he brought home his Thanksgiving activity. 

While I was thrilled to see that he's thankful for me and Daddy it was surprising that in his picture he drew a "gun" in addition to drawing those things he was thankful for.

Yes he told me it was a gun. Quite casually actually.

This week we got his Halloween costume. Declan has been saying he wanted to be Darth Vader for Halloween since pretty much last Halloween. Well the costume fits and it's fantastic. He also got the red light saber. In costume he walked into the bathroom because it was dark and he could see it light up. Then he turned to me and with arm outstretched and fingers tense he pretended to use the force on me. Of course I played along because it's the best playing like you're four!

And lastly, this was a big week; Declan's toys have been moved out of the TV room and into his room. He's a big boy now and he needs his own space (and we want our own). I moved it all while he was at school so he came home to it as a surprise. Luckily it went great and Declan also loves having his things upstairs in his own room. 

Our TV room just got a lot bigger.

Fresh Pants

When I walked in the door tonight the first thing I saw was a plastic bag. In this bag was the clothes Declan was wearing when I sent him off to school this morning. My heart sank, the one thing Declan was nervous of was having an accident at school. I looked for him right away, not eating his dinner or playing with toys, I could hear the boys upstairs. Declan was in the bathroom and Daddy was outside. I whispered to Daddy "Did he have an accident?"

"No. Jessica spilled a bucket of water on him and he had to put on dry clothes."

Whew! Heart is ok.

Declan then told me about how she knocked over the water table and got them all wet. He got changed himself in the bathroom.

And it was finally Terry Fox day. The K1 class all ran around the track. 

Hang Out All Day

It's decided.

Really think the best way to spend a day off is just hanging out with the kid. Just doing four year old stuff. We both find him amusing and he's real sweet. Sitting cuddled up in the chair with me he says "I just want to go over and give Daddy a hug and kiss."

Yup that happened. It actually happens a lot. He's just very sweet.

This afternoon we had a short visit at Molly and MacGregor's (saying goodbye as they head off to New Brunswick). Watched from a distance as Chelsey and Declan took their shoes off, climbed up into the trampoline, bounced around, laughing, then climbed out, got their shoes back on and ran around. They sure are their very own little persons.

Somebody Missed Me

Declan was pretty much glued to me all day today. Right from when he got up this morning he's wanted me to play with him, watch what he's doing, tickle him and cuddle.

Not at all complaining. 

We managed to get in a needed haircut today a well.