Ovid's Birthday Party

We had a really fun weekend, even if it started kinda sketchy.  Nico and I went to Toys R Us on Friday night to get a birthday gift for his BFF Ovid.  I explained to Nico that the purpose of the trip was to get a gift for Ovid and Nico was all about finding gifts that Ovid would like (these also coincidentally ended up being gifts that Nico wanted :)  Including a police office dress-up set that he is going to ask Santa for.  I thought we might get out of there somewhat unscathed when Nico became convinced that he needed some ice cream.  Cue meltdown.

We got home and to bed, and Nico woke up fresh as daisies on Saturday morning.  We got to the birthday party (being held at Tallahassee Museum) and all was right with the world.  In fact, we even got Nico to sit for an impromptu potrait (for Christmas cards).

Between this pic and the one from the Greek Fest, I have two- count them TWO options for Christmas card photos.  Shimmy.

Tallahassee Museum has some awesome features, including a play ground, and ropes courses (which we didnt do).  We also got to walk around and see, a tiger, some bear, some dear, a tiger and a gator.  On the playground is a rock wall, which Nico did.


Saturday included long naps for all of us and a grocery run.

When we woke up on Sunday, Nico helped me make breakfast for us, and then make a pecan pie (for a work Thanksgiving Lunch thing).  Dave got a workout in and when he got home, I ran out for a quick workout, shoe shopping for Nico and hot yoga.  In all, it was a pretty great weekend.

Boom like a hotdog!

We had a super fun weekend.  We went out to Pensacola and Panama City to play soccer.  We played in Pensacola on Friday night and Panama City on Saturday.  Nico was a peach.  Dave and Nico stopped at the beach on the way back into town.  He collected a bunch of shells.  I believe there are Christmas ornaments in order.

Last night the girls were off, so we had a nice night at home.  Dave started a fire in the fire place and Nico and I layed on a pallet of blankets in front of the fireplace to read books.  He is starting to say some really funny things, like, "Boom like a ________________!"  The first time he said it, he said, "Boom, like a hotdog!"  He is also continuing to parrot the things I say to him, like, "I can't wait to get just a little nibble of that hair!!" or "I'm gonna get just a little nibble of those ears!"  

We think he might be going through a growth spurt.  He has been hungrier lately, more inclined to eat different things.  Still wont knowingly touch a vegetable mind you.  But he loves the crap out of some veggie burgers!

He's also starting to listen to the news with us.  During Hurricane Sandy, he was pretty aware that there was a big hurricane on its way to New York and was worried that Uncle JJ might have to leave.

Since Christmas is one of my three favorite holidays (in order of favor: Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving), I am starting some traditions with him this year.  Like, this year we are going to have an Advent calendar (for the first time), only its going to be in the form of Christmas books- I am going to wrap them up and he will have a new Christmas book to read every night.  Which is fantastic- since we haven't bought him books in a while.  We are also going to do a big push to get rid of a bunch of Nico's old toys.  He has a ton of toys he doesnt really play with anymore, and its time.  So that is going to be part of our Thanksgiving/Christmas festivities.  

Amazing weekend

This was one crazy, fun weekend.  It started on Friday night when we went to the fair.  We met up with Ovid and his parents to do fair stuff.  Turns out someone is a Cautious Charlie at the fair (Nico).  He just about had a heart attack on the fire truck ride.  And wanted basically no part of any rides.  He was all about the bounce houses, the giant slides, etc.  But no part of rides.  $15 on an unlimited ride bracelet well spent?  No.  Not at all.  Maybe this is a good thing.  Maybe he isn't a dare devil and I will therefore never have to worry about him doing the stupid shit that teenagers do when they think they will live forever.  YOLO!!

One of the funniest things from the fair was when we were walking through the Animal Barn... this is not the petting barn where animals are chilling out waiting for you to bring them noms.  This is where goats are being kept prior to their exhibition.  So there are people walking around feeding, watering, and moving goats.  We were in this one aisle where people were moving baby goats from one stall to another when Nico runs down the aisle underneath this older guy who is trying to move a baby goat, which are like squirming puppies.  He accidentally dropped a baby goat on Nico.  It was hilarious!!  

When we got home someone was a real beast... but I guess that is what we get for keeping the kid out till almost 11.  

Saturday we started off with a game at Godby, which we won (ugly).  Then, I went to get my massage (a birthday gift from Nico) and headed back to the house to scoop up Dave and Nico to go to the Greek Festival. we ran into several of Nico's friends, including Ovid and Avery (from his old school) and Ady (from his new school).  

Isn't he a good dancer? 

Going from the picture below, it looks like I might have another wiseguy on my hands.  The only thing that isnt happening in this picture is Nico pointing in the sky at an airplane, like Uncle JJ.  

Sunday morning we went out to The Egg restaurant (formerly Another Broken Egg).  It was delicious and Nico was a gem.  I hate to say anything about this, because I feel like I am jinxing myself, but he has been really good the last two times we have taken him out to dinner.  Maybe we are ready turn the corner and start going to restaurants as a family again?

After brunch, we took the dogs to Puppies in the pool.  It's pretty awesome- we've been going for 4 years now.  The dogs absolutely love it.  If you remember, the weekend before they shut down Trousdale to clean it, they open it up to dogs.  And the dogs love it.



It plum wears them out. Nico seems to really like it too.  Its fun seeing all the dogs that look like Drake and Gordon.  :)

Happy Halloween!

Halloween ended up being pretty fun.  I had an epic win yesterday, when I swung into Walmart on the way down to the county for practice.  I found firefighter boots to complete Nico's outfit.  Seriously.  How adorable!!  Can't you just eat him up?

He was pretty excited about putting the costume on.  He loves the suspender/bib part of the pants.  Thinks it's pretty funny.  We went to the Lafayette Park area of town, where they close off streets and people take Halloween WAY too seriously.  Lots of houses decorated and people having parties.  I am not sure, but I think the neighborhood must have some sort of contest on decorating the outside of one's house because there were lots of houses with elaborate decorations.  Which is awesome.

Next year, Dave and I must acquire a wagon for next year.  One, so that when nico gets tire of walking, we can stick him in there.  But also, so that we can have a cooler full of adult beverages.  Not that this is the point of Halloween.  We did one street and Nico was pretty much done.

And speaking of which, someone is not really good at Halloween.  He goes up to houses and is so shy- he wont say "trick or treat".  At the end, we got him to say "Thank you."  But someone is going to have to step up his game.  I guess that is okay.  The world is full of kids who have no problem going up to adults and saying, "Give me some candy!"  I guess its not the worst thing if Nico is a bit shy.  We tried to meet Nico's friend Ovid, but I was not really clear on where they were, and they were on the way out as we were getting there.  :(

They are setting the fair up this week, and we have a date with the fish game.  Following the debacle with the "Skill/Crane" game at the Golden Corral in Taylor County, I promised Nico that when the fair comes to town, we'd go try to win a goldfish.  Yeah, want an exercise in difficulty?  Try to explain why you don't always win in those skill games?  To a three year old who is in phase 2 of a five phase melt down.  Not nearly as easy as you think.

In any case, in our house, the fair is kinda a big deal.  Street food, games, petting barn? How much fun can one have in 2 hours?  Exactly!! Friday night is Family Fun night and we are going to meet Ovid.  Hopefully they will have some fun together!!