A true man...

Today Zane was frustrated with me because of something I told him he couldn't do. Of course he thought it was a great idea and was quite put out that his mother didn't see it the same way. And then my little man made me laugh because instead of throwing the tantrum I thought was coming, he grabbed his golf bag, stalked towards the door and told me he was going golfing. I was talking to mom on the phone at the time and cracked "he's a true man. Throws a fit and goes golfing". We both thought it was pretty funny!

Beach Bums

Ok, so blogger isn't letting me move these pictures under my post...weird! Oh well. Here's the 3 in the tub....And Brock eating cereal for the first time....

A picnic with friend 2 doors down.....

A break from playing!

Beach Bums.

That's what we've been all week long. Living in a tourist lake town definitely has it's advantages!
I baked on Monday but other than that my early mornings have been spent packing a picnic lunch and all the paraphernalia that one needs for 3 kids at the lake and then we make our trek down to the lake to meet up with our friends. It's great. I push Brock in the stroller and balance the boogie "surf" boards on top of the stroller and the rest fits in the wagon that Zane pulls. Our little procession can make it to our spot in about 15 minutes. Not bad. Once there Zane and Rhett play hard and have a great time with friends. And Brock and I hang out on the grass out of the sand and visit with the other moms. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours and when it starts getting too crowded we pack up and head home. No obligation to spend the whole day there because we live here. Yep, it's great. Oh, and I have to add that Rhett is venturing into the lake this year! Last year he wouldn't go near it and this year he just walked in one day like it was no big deal. What a kid!

Yesterday I did venture out to another lake. I've heard great things about Gull Lake, just past Bently so we headed out. We were supposed to meet up with some other friends but we didn't see them when we got there and they didn't see us. So, I was alone at this HUGE beach with 3 kids. Stressful! There is a playground right on the beach and Rhett wanted to spend all his time there. The water is super shallow and really warm and Zane wanted to spend all his time there or building sand castles with random children he met at the park or in the water. And Brock needed to stay in the shade of the umbrella. It was interesting. Especially when he did a face plant right into the sand. Poor baby was so not impressed! After 3 hours I was done. We will definitely go back but next time I'm taking someone with me. Oh, and I really burnt my shoulders and back...apparently sunscreen expires and when it does it doesn't do such a great job! I'm pretty sore today....

Cliff was very productive while I was gone with the kids and built us a nice new front fence. The old one was shorter than we wanted and the boards had definitely seen better days. He still needs to do the gate but I love that no one can see in my yard as they drive down our alley.

Brock is starting solids. Officially. Not just little tastes here or there. So far cereal and bananas have been tasted and accepted. Oh, and baby cookies.

And my hubby just walked through the door with a dozen roses....just because. Yep, I know I'm lucky! It's great to know he loves me!

Something new....

We have a new friend in the neighborhood. He and his mom just moved in with his Grandpa who lives 2 doors down from us. We've never had friends close to us...playing always involved organization from the parents. And now I watch my sons take off to another yard and house....and it makes me proud, anxious, happy, paranoid....do you see the problem I'm having? I have mixed emotions about this new found friend. On one hand I love that the boys have someone to play with because it's always more fun when there's someone else involved, it's great that they only have to go 2 doors down, I can see them every few minutes from my kitchen window, they like all the same things and speak the same "pretend language" (I'm going to be Indy and you'll be the shovel guy....) BUT on the other hand we don't know a whole lot about them and I think that's my hang up. I'm working on it. But it makes me nervous when they are in his house and I can't see them. I wonder if it makes his mom nervous when he's here? This situation is brand new. And my thoughts are all jumbled because it brings back some not so great child hood memories about things happening at friends' houses that my parents didn't know about...and I worry. What can I say to them now so that they don't end up in the same situation?
And they're BOYS! Totally different from girls. They think different, act different, respond different...
BREATHE. I keep telling myself this and try to give them the space and freedom to explore this new friendship and cross my fingers that it will enrich their lives and only offer minor bumps and bruises along the way.
And I have no idea what the 'friend' rules are for how long to play at a friend's house...what to do when families are on different schedules(they ate supper about an hour before us yesterday and we ended up with the new friend playing in our house while we ate. I promise I told him that he would have to go home and Zane would come over as soon as was done supper - but the kid just stood there so I let him stay. See, I'm totally out of my element here.) Our kids go to bed earlier than he does...get up earlier....oh this is going to be an interesting summer!

He sits!

Brock is our best sitter! He loves it and is doing great....a couple of rolls to the side when he gets a little tired or stretches too far. Zane and Rhett are thrilled that he can sit and play now!

Home

We made it home last night....and before I tell you what I came home to (it helps build the suspense don't you think?) Here's a quick review of what we've been up to for the last 2 weeks!

- Saturday 26th - Zane's soccer tournament - he was THRILLED with his medal after playing 3 games and we had to bring it with us to show all the grandma's and grandpa's

- Auntie Kizzy came up and was my life saver. We never would have made it down without her! She and Cliff switched vehicles in Calgary so Cliff could take some appliances home to his parent's new house....and spent all day Saturday helping them move

- Kizzy, the kids and I left Sylvan after Zane's last game and headed south to Raymond. Met Cliff there. Missed my 10 year reunion because I was still traveling

- Hung out Sunday....Brock tried chocolate milk and attacked the cup. It was pretty funny.

- Monday Cliff and I took Brock, met up with Kizzy in Lethbridge and did some shopping. New suits for Cliff and some new stuff for me. I caved and bought new clothes. Sigh. Went mini golfing with the kids and grandma and grandpa and Auntie Kizzy. Rhett would putt, pick his ball up, plant it 2 inches from the hole and putt it in. Lots of fun and laughs.

- Tuesday Cliff golfed with his buddy Mark Nielson in Magrath. I read and the kids jumped

- Wednesday we did the parade (lots of fun of course - read lots of candy and Brock sleeping for most of it) Traditional Robinson family BBQ, family counsel on preparedness and really fun family pictures with Rhonda. We're soooo excited to see them! Keep checking her blog to see the preview when she's done editing.

- after pictures we packed up and headed to Taber to spend some time with Cliff's family and extended family who were visiting from Utah and Washington. They have kids the same age as our kids so they had lots of fun playing with cousins for a while.

- Thursday the kids went to a movie with Auntie Kristie and a bunch of the relates. Cliff and I got to leave all 3 kids home with Grandma and Grandpa and went for Chinese food at the Regent and a movie with Preston and Kristin Porter. It was fun and a nice break. The kids were good so that was a relief.

- Friday, Saturday and Sunday we just hung out. It was great. I read a lot, the kids played and we just enjoyed being with family.

- Sunday we met up with my parents in Coaldale and Cliff headed home in one of their vehicles and we headed to Raymond.

The rest of the week the kids played outside as much as they could, terrorized the house, and had lots of fun. They made a friend a couple of doors down (he was visiting his grandparents as well) And it was a new experience for them to have a friend that close! I had to make a trip to the dentist to get a tooth fixed, had a great dinner with Kizzy and Lish and read 9 books over the course of the 2 weeks. It was a great vacation.

And now we're back to real life. And this post has taken me from Sunday night to Tuesday afternoon to finish. So, back to the beginning.... I came home to a disaster. Yep, a big one. Cliff decided to surprise me with tiling the shower in our only bathroom. It looks fantastic....but wasn't close to done when we got home on Saturday....and still isn't finished because we ran out of grout and haven't been able to match it yet. So while I was happy about my surprise I was upset at coming home to a major mess and only being able to take baths. Yuck. I really don't like baths. Maybe I could learn to like them in a big jetted jacuzzi tub, but not our little tiny one. Oh well. His heart was in the right place and I've told him a couple of times that I don't want any major renovations as a surprise any more! Brock and dad just hangin' out after church in Raymond.

Brock trying out the chocolate milk in daddy's cup. A definite hit.

Rhett and Zane at the parade with Auntie Lishie's dog Moe eyeing their candy.

Brock and Rhett tackling Grandpa Dooley

Zane and Rhett trying out the sprinkler air hockey....Zane loved it....Rhett liked the idea but not the cold water!Zane showing off how tough and cool he was by standing in the really cold water!Rhett looking grimy and hot from a day outside modeling his 2 hat look. His Canucks hat was filthy gross so I bought him a new one to wear while we washed the other. He then started to wear both of them.

I have lots more pics but this post is already huge and the kids want a snack! Enjoy.

Brock at 5 months....

- is 14.4 lbs
- rolls from tummy to back
- rolls up onto his side from his back
- has found toes
- DROOLS over everything!
- is only nurses a couple times a day
- sleeps good
- laughs
- sits on his own for a few minutes before toppling
- prefers his Bumbo for sitting
- loves to jump
- chatters all the time
- likes being outside
- hates his car seat
- gets mugged on by his brothers all the time
- is very interested in big people food
- has tasted chocolate milk, ice cream, whip cream, juice, strawberries and water melon...not in that order
- LOVED the chocolate milk, juice and water melon. First taste of strawberries thought I was poisoning him. His expression was soooo funny.
- attacks a cup when you try to give it to him - grabs on and pulls towards mouth very quickly
- starting to recognize his name
- is kinda in between bottle sizes....4 oz isn't quite enough and 8 is too much
- still eats a ton and slowly starting to chunk up
- will chew on anything that his hands can get into his mouth
- is a fabulous baby
- only cries when he's hungry or tired...unless he's in the car seat!