Construction Vehicles

One of the main roads by our house has undergone repaving recently. For two weeks the road was all chopped up and bumpy. Every day we drove down this road on our way to Kelly's Declan would ask about what they were doing and why it was so bumpy.

Yesterday morning they started laying down the new asphalt and the entire length of the street was lined with dump trucks or other construction vehicles.

"Declan, look. They're putting the new road down."

"Ooooooo. There's so many construction vehicles. Do you want to know what I know of construction vehicles?"

"Sure."

"Ok. So the dump truck has lots of dirt in it and it dumps it in a hole and then you cover it up. The steam roller makes the road all sticky. Does it make it sticky?"

"Well it makes the road nice and flat and yes it can be sticky."

"Ok so the steam roller makes it sticky. Then there's the road cleaning truck with the brushes."

"The road sweeper."

"Ya. A road sweeper. It brushes up the road so it can be made new."

"Sure. Ok."

"And there's a Crane. The crane moves big heavy things like pipes."

"That's right."

"On Peppa Pig Mr. Bull can move pipes without a crane."

Cute.

His Poem

It's been a couple weeks now that Declan has requested his bedtime stories be a few poems from his book: Where the Sidewalk Ends. This evening after some poems and after Daddy and then I said our goodnight to Declan he wanted to tell me his poem. Now I don't have it word for word but essentially this as it:

"My belly button is not all the way in, it's kind of out. It's there and then it came out, out and it went up on the ceiling and then it made all my toys alive."

Love this kid. The jury's out on the poem.

Brave Big Step

Day trip!

Joined Chelsey, Abi, Sophia and Auntie Daniella at the Beach in Port Stanley for the day. Soon as we got to the beach Declan wanted sunscreen (burn the kid once...) and he was ready to get in the sand. Told him I wanted to put his swim trunks on and he said he wasn't going in the water.

I made him out them in anyway.

He got to playing in the sand right away but it was such a hot day. I had to get in the water even just my feet to cool off a little. Declan wanted to see what it was like too but just his feet.

"I JUST WANT TO TRY A LITTLE!" 

The response when I suggested he come in further.

Slowly I managed to coax him out. Promised I'd hold onto him. Wrapped around my waist he enjoyed the warm waves splashing his feet and legs. I got a few scratches on my shoulders but worth it to get him brave enough to let me get him down standing in the water. The waves were big though so I had to lift him up often so he wouldn't get knocked over and under.

Got out briefly to have a snack and then he wanted back in. This time I made him wear his life jacket (make my job easier). He was scared I'd let him go because he had it on but soon he realized how great it was and there were a ton of laughs while we played in the waves. 

We even went back in the water for a third time before a rain cloud ended our four hours at the beach. I'm so excited he had so much fun. He didn't want to get out and he peed in the water. Yup. Take that Lake Erie. 

From the Mouth of a Four Year Old

Kids.

They say things that make you say "Awwww" and then they say things that make you say "ahhhhhh".

I reached over and ran my fingers through Declan's hair. "Your hairs so soft buddy."

"Like Chelsey."

"Chelsey has soft hair?"

"When I lean in and put my head on her, her hair is soft."

Awwwww.

Told Declan I just needed a minute to put my bra on.

"Why do you like to wear bras?"

"It's not so much like, I just need one."

"I like bras."

"You do?"

"Yup."

"And why is that?"

"I just think they look cool."

Ahhhhhhh

Ready to Listen

When getting ready for our day this morning, at some point, Declan handed me his phone and I put it in my bag and took it to work. When I realized I gave Daddy the heads up right away because Declan would normally want to play some games at some point between his getting home and my getting home. On the drive home from Kelly's Daddy told Declan that I'd accidentally brought it with me to work. Declan's reply was "I bet Mommys at work saying 'Ooooops'."

It was kind of like that.

This evening Declan wanted me to play with him in his room. While I was waiting for him upstairs Daddy told him to pick out the toys he wanted to bring to bed since he'd be having his bath soon so no need to be going back downstairs later. Declan just wasn't listening and I could hear there was some discussing going on downstairs. Next Declan was making his way up the stairs yelling back to Daddy saying "Don't tell Mommy! Don't tell Mommy that! Daddy don't tell Mommy!" I was sitting on the floor in his room waiting for him and he's still yelling down to Daddy 'not to tell me' when he walks in, stops, looks at me and then turns around and runs downstairs saying "Ok, I'm ready to listen now Daddy, I'm ready to listen now." Funny little character.

Music Man

Almost forgot to share Declan's excitement from this past Saturday. Daddy put a little portable stereo in Declan's room so he could play his own music. He said he'd like to listen to music when he falls asleep. We are ok with Naptime music but not for bedtime just yet. 

And what is Declan hoping to play on his machine? He'd like the Beatles. 

Great taste little man.

Camping Weekend

Saturday to Monday-had our first real (not in our friends backyard) camping trip with Declan. Saturday when we arrived at the campsite we were lucky that camp was already completely set as Chelsey's family arrived the day before. Kids were pretty happy to play together. Mud and sticks make pretty great toys when you are four. 

It was great disconnecting from normal life and just hanging out. Even 2 1/2 hours of torrential rain didn't get anybody down. Kids hung out for a while in the tent before joining the rest of us in the dining tent. 

Relaxing vacation weekend will have to become a frequent summer activity.