All Growed Up

Man, my baby went to pr-K and came home a big boy! I really didnt feel like it was going to effect me at all this whole pre-k thing, mainly because he has been in daycare all his life and pre-K is in the same school. But I tell you what, seeing him come out of school with his little book bag on I realized it is a big deal. Pretty soon he will be riding a bus and then he will be driving and dating and then moving out and leaving me. (sob)

It is amazing how his entire attitude has changed, he got in the car and said "Mom, you know how there are Pre-K friends? Well now I am a Pre-K friend" He is excited to go to school and I am hoping this newness dosent wear off any time soon! He is really loving his teachers, I think he has finally gotten to the point where he can say Mrs. Wiener with out totally losing it. I am really excited for what this school year has in store, he will be working on reading and writing among other things. In this first week they worked on learning telephone numbers, he called me. And then he called John, and Gigi and Poppy and Jenny and Nathan and me again. LOL

I guess I have to face the fact he is growing up very quickly but I still have 1 year until Kindergarten.

My very own FORT...

Well, it has never really been a big deal to have a play set in the yard. We go to the park all the time, and a lot of the kids in the n-hood have one so I really didnt see the big deal about having one, until now!

Johnny is getting to an age where I can let him play outside by himself, while I cook dinner - if the windows are open and he is singing a song loud enough for me to hear the entire time. Just kidding, but not really. LOL

So I started my hunt for a cheap play set, which are hard to come by. After stalking craigslist I found one that looked pretty good all it needed was a little TLC and a couple swings- we picked it up for 100 bucks! And let me tell you ever since that little fort was put in our backyard Johnny has been hiding out in it. He has big plans for it too, he can keep all his weapon sticks there, and have a weapons store. He can hide out and camp out, eat lunches up there, defend the house from bad guys and aliens and it can be his ninja hide out - really the possibilities are endless.

Such a great father and son project! So they first started with sanding the wood which Johnny was able to do all by himself. Then they had to get the lumber to re build the base. The two of them worked on this every evening using every bit of daylight they could. Coming inside dirty and smelling like boys! When it was ready to be erect John put it up while Johnny held the base, adjusting it as needed.

While the boys were busy building the swing set I was accessorising it! Now Johnny has never been a big fan of swinging, he prefers to jump off them or see how long he can spin around in one. So with that in mind I thought a punching bag would be better use of the swing area. I also got him a trapeze bar because he is part monkey, and a telescope simply because every fort needs a telescope. Johnny was pretty excited with my selections.

And drum roll please .... the finished product

Old Skool

In this digital and high tec world we are living in its no surprise the toys that are out now are unlike any I have seen. And believe me Johnny is always begging for the latest and greatest. But I have realized lately that what he find the most joy in playing with are the simple, old skool toys.

He went to a birthday part and in the favor bag got a whoopee cushion, why I have not thought to buy my son this I have no idea. It was the HARDEST I have ever seen him laugh in my life. He has tried to make everyone sit on that thing, even Hickup. Johnny has been working on his techniques and sneaky skills to make it more effective - but it was great pure fun and laughter for hours.

We just got a great deal on a swingset / fort for the backyard and now that he has a fort he needs a way of communication between up top and below. So we got some cans and made walkie talkies. Another great success, fun project for Johnny and I am once again a cool mom. He is so cute and truly believes the rope between the cans is transmitting directly to my ear, he kept whispering the top secrete messages to me and then after he thought about it for a second he screamed into the can. Of cores I played along, dropping the can and holding my ear, he thinks he is sooo funny.

So along with collecting as many sticks I can find for his 5th birthday (yes I said 5th - tear) I am on the lookout for more blast from the past toys- if you have any suggestions let me know!