Family Fuller

Uncle Fletcher came to visit last Thursday and the boys had a great time (us too).  Colin must have asked me every couple hours the entire week before how long it was going to be until Fletcher got to Seattle.  Colin had lots of plans, most of which involved getting to eat food in the living room while watching baseball.  He planned on putting out chips, Skittles, and either penne or bow tie pasta (he couldn’t decide).

On Friday while Chuck was at work we entertained Fletcher, or really I should say he entertained the boys.  We went to Colin’s swim lessons and then to get Fletcher his monster meatball sub.  That night we got a baby sitter and went out to Ray’s Cafe right on the water.  It wasn’t the nicest night, but the food was fantastic.  I can’t wait to go there again.

Saturday, we got a big breakfast and then Chuck and Fletcher took Colin and Holden over to the baseball field and ran them ragged, hitting and running the bases. At the same time I had to go register for my triathlon.  I expected it to take about 2 hours, but 4 hours and many, many long lines later I finally got home and decided I needed to carbo load a bit so we went out to eat at Snappy Dragon – yum, yum.

Since the upcoming Tuesday was also Fletcher’s birthday the boys wanted to make him a cake (with lots of sprinkles).  So after stuffing ourselves at Snappy we came home to have some cake.

Later Chuck and Fletcher went out to get some drinks and I turned in early since I had to be up at 5:30 the next morning to race. Then Holden decided to wake up at 11:30 and 12:30 (Chuck wasn’t home yet) so I got up with Holden – who wasn’t sick or anything, just woke up and cried.  At that point I was quite mad, at Holden and Chuck who got home shortly thereafter.  At this point it is 1:30 and by now I can’t sleep at all because I am so mad.  At 3 AM Holden woke up again (I was still awake) then he woke up again at 3:45 when I finally brought him into bed with me.  I finally fell asleep at 4:30 AM, only to have to get up an hour later to go and race in a triathlon.  Let’s just say I was not very happy with Chuck or anybody at 6 AM when I decided I was still going to go and do it.

I ended up getting to the start about 3 minutes before my wave started.  I was exhausted but I did it anyway and well by my own standards.  18 minute swim, 10 minute transition (I wasn’t trying very hard), 42 minute bike ride, 2 minute transition and then a 34 minute run (which is good for me because I had yet to actually run 3 miles in training – I am an awful runner). 1:48 minutes all in all.  Thankfully by then Chuck had apologized many times and I had worked out all my frustrations so I was happy.

We drove home, I slept for about an hour and then we took the bus down to the Mariners vs. Yankees game.  It was a beautiful day, we had great seats, cold beers and the boys were happy.  They both stayed in their seats from the 4th inning (we got there late) until the end of the game.  Then they went down and got to run the bases on the field.  The bus ride home was not so smooth, we waited well over an hour for a bus and we were all pretty tired by then.

The next day Chuck had to go back to work and Fletcher played his 25th game of Sequence with Colin.  The there was some Lego construction and other games when I finally convinced them we should go do something.  We went to the Ballard Locks to see the salmon fish ladder but there were hardly any fish in it.  Colin had swimming lessons right after that and then we took Fletcher to the airport.  Colin asked him right away when he was going to come back…they had a great time.

Moving In Together 

Last week we made the move – we put Colin and Holden in the same bedroom.  It just kind of happened.  We only have two fans and it was really hot so I suggested Colin go sleep in Holden’s room.  He did, and did so again the next night.  Then we went camping over the weekend and of course they were together in the tent (not sleeping .  When we got home we really moved his bed in there and this week I finished up moving all of his things in to Holden’s room and all the baby stuff out of Holdens room (which is kind of sad for me.)

It has been going pretty well all said.  I do feel kind of bad for Colin because he can easily be asleep by 7:30 or 8 most nights, but Holden is all over him trying to get him to play.  Holden still takes a nap, but now he is up really late because of it, therefore so is Colin.  Holden is close to dropping his nap all together but he is just a wreck by 4 if he doesn’t take one.

I do like how there room is setup and it is nice to have them both in there together because they really like each other.  It is also great because now we have a whole other room.  We are going to move the computer upstairs and now we have an actual room for our guests to sleep in!  It is great.

Swimming Lessons 

In other news, the boys have started swimming lessons this week.  They go every day for a 1/2 hour at an outdoor pool up the road.  They are both in the same class, very beginner, because Colin won’t stick his head in the water and Holden is only 2, although he is crazy in the water. 

Well the very first day, and everyday until today Holden refused to get in the pool.  I would sit by the side with him and he would cry and not want to get in.  Colin on the other hand, was great.  Jumping in, talking to the teachers, hanging on the side, kicking and today he stuck his whole head in the water.  He was really proud of himself and even said “I wish my cousin Jacqueline could see me, she would be so proud of me.  I wish Grandpa (John Deere) was here so he could see me put my head under and I can’t wait to tell dad.”

Today, the whole class went to a different part of the pool instead of the steps and right after they left Holden jumped in and started swimming all over the place.  Hanging on the side, putting his head under…so hopefully he will be more into it next week.

The funny thing is that Colin is in a class with all 2 year olds and they pretty much don’t speak.  Colin more than makes up for it and just never stops talking…sometimes I wonder if the teachers like it or want him to settle down a bit

Reading

Colin has really been impressing me with his reading.  Now each day I have him read one book to me.  So far he has fully read “Coral Reef” and “Rivers” all by himself.  Here is a passage from Coral Reefs that he read:

A coral is a group of animals.  The animals are called polyps.  Some corals look like plants.  Some look like fingers or brains.

It is great to hear him read.  Plus his drawing has all of a sudden just taken off, much more realistic.  He sets up these very elaborate train tracks which are huge and all connected. 

The one bad thing is that he doesn’t listen and has started to realize he can lie.  I have tried to emphasize that if he lies I can’t trust him and I can’t let him do things by himself.  Hopefully that will work.