Back to School Brunch

I can't believe I have TWO kids going back to school this week and next!  To kick off our back to school season, the kiddos and I had a BACK TO SCHOOL BRUNCH...ice cream was requested by both of my scholors...so I said, YES!  And I showered them with some goodies to make going back to school just a little more FUN!

Ayden got a new BLUE lunchbox he'll be putting to good use this school year.  He also got Spot Goes to School (with super fun lift the flaps) and a Letter Factory DVD.  Allie is into fashion glasses and was so happy to have her SECOND pair now.  A new raincoat and some kindergarten books too.  Some brand new marks to use on homework too!

 

These two (and I guess myself, as well) are ready to take 2016-17 on!  

15 Years in Utah

Todd and I made it...to 15 YEARS of marriage.  There have been many happy and magical memories we've shared.  Lots of vacations, building our forever house, two babies, and lots and lots of fun times together.  It also wasn't easy.  At times it wasn't pleasant either.  Dealing with infertility, living apart in Boston, layoffs from jobs and multiple career changes.  Here we are...18 years after meeting in Windsor, Canada and 15 years of being married. 

Why Utah? is the question we were asked often when we (I mean, I) decided to go out west in the mountians.  We wanted to do something we could do with kids...all our vacations seem to revolve around them...Sesame Place, cruises, beaches, etc.  We wanted to do something NEW and something they wouldn't really want to do.  Park City, Utah seemed like a GREAT option.  Hiking, Alpine Slides, and romantic child-free LONG dinners together...with no curfews or bedtimes to worry about. 

I have to admit...I was VERY nervous to leave my babes at home.  I knew they were in GREAT care with Nana and Auntie Ellen (Uncle Joe too)!  We can't say THANK YOU enough for helping us out and staying with our littles while we got some very much needed alone time away from the craziness of family life. I'm not normally scared of flying, but the thought of Todd and I on a plane and our kids not on that plane...made me nervous.  I managed to make it though...and am so glad we went!

We flew in to Salt Lake City...we toured Salt Lake a bit before headed to Park City.  We climbed to a peak to over look the city....

 

 

...and we (I) had to see the famous Mormon Temple at Temple Square.  

 

A quick 45 minute drive through the mountains and we were at our resort.  It was amazing!  Nestled in the mountains, between multiple ski lifts, hiking trails and close to downtown Park City.  We were greeted with surprises right from the start...

We went hiking on day two...something neither of the kiddos would have been able to do.  It took us about 2 hours to get tot he summit at 4,000 feet elevation.  It was tough at times, but I'm so proud of US!!  The sights were AMAZING and it's something I'll never forget.  Wish we could do this more often!

 

There was lots of time for good meals, big drinks and wine tasting too! 

On day three, we played a little more...we rode the Alpine Slide down the mountain.  Todd won, of course!  This was super fun and again...something new for US!

I missed my babes, but they really didn't miss us.  They survived Mom and Dad's first trip away without them.  They had a great time getting spoiled from Nana and Auntie and all the special treatment.  Allie wanted Auntie to stay and us LEAVE when we got home!!!  It felt good to give them hugs and snuggles after not seeing them for three days.  Maybe we can do this EVERY anniversary???

15 years together...15+ more to come!

 

Fairies

Allie has been interested in fairies for a little while now.  This summer we've checked out a few of the different books from the Rainbow Magic Fairy series and Todd and I have read them aloud to Allie.  Somehow I learned about the fairy doors of Ann Arbor and thought my little fairy lover (and her little brother) would like to go on a fairy door hunt. 

Two days ago we planned to visit the Hands-On Museum with the cousins...and took a little walk around downtown searching beforehand.  With our map in hand, we found 5 fairy doors!  Ayden was just a excited as Allie see these pint sized doors...some identical to the real doors of their location. We were sure to EACH leave a penny at all the doors we came across.

The Michigan Theatre...

The Ann Arbor library (in the fairy tale section in the youth department).  We could even see inside this little fairy house!

The Ark...

 

 

Finally, Sweetwater's Café...and Found Gallery (a cute little fairy store housed all the trinkets fairy lovers had left for the fairies).  So cool!

 

 

Today, Allie came screaming out of her room when she found a fairy door...right in her own room!!!  Can you believe it?!?  It was perfectly PINK and SPARKLY!  She immediately wanted to see if there was one in Ayden's room too...

 

...and there WAS!!  But, not in mom or dad's room.  She checked!

 

 

 

Our littles are looking forward to many memories with their fairy doors.  Allie has already written a letter to the fairies hoping they will come for a visit.

Bye, Bye Binky

Ayden officially graduated from BABY today.  Operation BIG BOY is complete!  Ayden hung up his binky on the famous Binky Tree...just like his big sissy did about 4 years ago this exact week!

Both of the Hammerick babies LOVED their binkies.  I hate to admit it...but I've loved them too!  They have comforted the littles when they were sad or hurt.  They helped them settle down and stop crying, and they have given me just a little bit more sleep then I'm sure I would have gotten without those wonderful pacifiers.  Allie hung up her binky at 18 months...then we thought she would never sleep again!  Allie's sleeping habits turned HORRIBLE!  We were MISERABLE.  I still have nightmares of sleeping on her floor on a pool floaty ALL NIGHT LONG!!!  Because of that terrible experience...we let Ayden have his binky well past 18 months...we have just about doubled that number.  I knew he wasn't going to go to school with it and if he messed up his teeth...they would fall out anyways because they were baby teeth.  Ayden will turn 3 years old in less than 2 months and we felt it was about time he finally said goodbye to his besties (all 5 of them).

At the beginning of July, I gave Ayden a calendar to start counting down the days till he would make the dreaded trip to the Binky Tree.  We talked and talked about it.  We watched  and listened to all the Elmo songs about saying "bye, bye" to your binky.  I told him he would get a present when he hung up his binky.  He said, "I want to do it now!"  That was two days ago...a week before our scheduled trip to the Binky Tree! 






Our flexible selves decided today was the day.  We made a trip to the toy store and he picked out the biggest Tonka Dump Truck he could find!  After his nap, off we went.

 

 

Ayden was ready for this!  He didn't cry or complain...but he did give his binky one last suck (tear).  My little baby isn't a baby anymore.  Todd helped Ayden find a good spot to hang it...and Allie suggested right next to hers.  We "think" we found her binky from 4 years ago.

 

Bye, bye binky

Here is where Ayden;s binky will forever hang in remembrance of all the good times they had together.

When we returned home, the Binky Fairy (yep, the same one that visited Allie 4 years ago) left a little something for Ayden in exchange for the other binkies left in his bed.  A tooth fairy pillow, toothbrush and brushing book to help keep his teeth healthy now that he doesn't use a binky anymore.  She also left his a new pillow for his big boy bed (just like Allie)!

Thank you binkies for all you have done for Ayden.  He's loved you so these past 3 years.  Mom and Dad have appreciated all the extra comfort and sleep you have given our boy (and parents too!) 

Wish Granted

Another milestone met today!  A goal of Allie's...a New Year's Wish she made some 7 months ago.  A wish to learn how to ride a two-wheeler in 2016!  Today her wish was granted...her goal was met. 

Allie's always been a little timid, nervous and afraid to try riding on her own without training wheels. She has been riding a hand-me-down bike from one of my previous students.  This particular bike was converted into a balance bike in order to teach the concept of balancing before using the pedals.  Allie struggled to ride it as a balance bike because of her short little legs...they just didn't reach the ground for her to get a running start.  We added training wheels and she rode it just fine, but it wasn't teaching her how to balance.  This summer however, she was finally tall enough to use it correctly and she learned to balance!

Allie begged us to put the pedals back on.  She was determined to ride like her older friends.  Todd and I been running alongside her, holding onto her arm (just in case).  She's fallen a time or two.  But today, it just clicked!  Look at her go!

 

 

Papa Ray was over when Allie was practicing a couple days before.  He just couldn't wait to buy her a NEW big girl bike. After he saw her riding on a video, he told her to go pick out a new bike!  Allie's request...a RAINBOW bike!  Lucky for her, we found one at Toys R Us...and matching knee and elbow pads too! 

 

Thanks, Papa Ray...you sure do know how to put a smile on this little girl's face.  She loves her new bike and is getting really good at riding it. 

 



Big Boy Bed

I'm feeling a bit emotional as every last bit of baby is going bye-bye.  Against my will, Ayden's crib that once held my tiny newborn baby boy...was transitioned into a toddler bed, just the right size for my growing AJ. This was not the plan. Operation: Toddler Bed was supposed to occur AFTER the binky was hung up for good...not before. That way when Ayden woke up in the middle of the night and didn't have a binky, he would stay put...IN HIS CRIB!!  However, Ayden had other plans. 

Yesterday, I felt what I thought was Allie crawl across me early in the morning to snuggle up in my bed...until I heard the distinct sound of a binky being sucked did I realize it was AYDEN!  He escaped from his bed!!

And again this morning I opened my eyes to see my handsome boy's beautiful face only inches from mine...he escaped AGAIN!!!

Tonight was the night we veered from our summer plan to turn this babe into a big boy. The crib came down and the toddler rail went up.  He was happy as ever to have a big boy bed he could climb into and OUT of freely. 

We just hope he climbs out after his clock turns yellow!

Potty Training 201

Summer is in full swing and Ayden has some BIG plans for the summer 2016!  Before Ayden turns the big THREE, he's going to learn how to use the POT-TY!  Allie was trained just after she turned 2 (http://adventuresofallie.blogspot.com/2013/04/potty-training-101.html), but the thought of practicing the potty when school was in full swing made me nauseous.  So, we waited...and waited until summer...and it's finally here.  So, here we GO!

Ayden has had absolutely NO interest in sitting on the potty.  None at all!  He was pretty adamant that he wanted to keep wearing diapers...forever!  A week ago, the POTTY FAIRY made a visit to our home for the second time in her fairy life and left Ayden some surprises!

The Potty Fairy dropped by to leave a special surprise for Ayden in his potty! 
Lots of potty books, big boy Paw Patrol undies, Goldfish Crackers, PEZ candy and JUICE (to make Ayden go potty)!
 Ayden could also keep track of all his business on his Paw Patrol PAW-ty Chart.

The Potty Fairy also left a bunch of gifts on the counter for Ayden to receive...one for each time he went potty.

Ayden LOVED his new undies...but didn't want to take off his diaper to wear them.  After a little convincing (and bribery with some PEZ) he finally agreed, but protested the whole "change." 

Allie was SUPER excited for Ayden and not jealous of his potty loot one bit.  She was thrilled to see that the Potty Fairy left her some sweet treats too for helping her little bro...which she was very good at doing.  Allie was very encouraging and Ayden's biggest cheerleader.  She was so sweet.  What she wouldn't do for a piece of gum?!?

Ayden had ONE accident that morning...ooops!  However, after that...NONE!!  He stayed dry the rest of the day. He told me when he needed to go..."I need to go potty!"  He was thrilled to sit on his Jack Potty which talked to him and told him to turn the handle when he was done.  He earned all FIVE of his presents for the Potty Fairy that first day...five new MINI-SCOOPERS!  Way to go, Ayden!

 

 

Day TWO was about the same.  One accident first thing in the morning...then dry for the rest of the day.  He consistanly told me when he needed to go.  Ayden struggled a bit with thinking he needed to go, but then didn't.  We've had a few false alarms throughout the week...but overall, we are thrilled.  No more diapers in the Hammerick House!!  Whooo-hoo!

 

Ayden filled up each of the days on his potty chart.  He was so proud of himself that he wanted to start another chart.  It's currently hanging on the garage door with random stickers stuck to it.  Ayden is now a Paw Patrol undie wearing big boy!!  Up next this summer...the Binky Tree!