Boston trip

This past weekend we celebrated President's Day (well, we celebrated 44 out of 45 presidents) by visiting Aunt Debby and Uncle Rich in Worcester, MA. As always we loved our time there. The boys love playing with the many toys and games at the house. This time we enjoyed using all three extra bedrooms so Theo and Beckett could share a room by themselves, Reed could have a room to himself, and Mama and Daddy could have a room to themselves. Very luxurious!

We were looking forward to visiting Aunt Deb and Uncle David nearby as well but we were not in good enough health, so we will have to visit on a future trip. Reed and Theo had coughs and sniffles and snots, and Beckett developed a recurrence of his flu-like illness he had had two weeks prior (though it seems to have only lasted two days this time).

Sunday Jeff and Beckett stayed home while Debby and I took Reed and Theo to the Boston Children's Museum. We have been incredibly lucky other visits to have the museum nearly empty, but Sunday it was PACKED. We waited about 45 minutes just to get into the museum. Thankfully there is LOTS to do and not much that we had to wait to do. The kids had a fantastic time. The above picture is the photo I took of Reed when we arrived at the museum, to document what he was wearing that day in case he went missing (a fun tradition whenever we go somewhere crowded).

Reed loved the PlaySpace for 0-3 year olds. He especially enjoyed pushing his grocery cart and loading it up with toys and items from all over the space. For most of the time he had a baby in the front of the cart, but here someone had temporarily nabbed it.

Reed also loved the giant train table.

The last time we came to the museum we had this entire room of trucks and building equipment to ourselves. This time we shared it with about fifty other parents and kids.

Theo building an imagined dinosaur out of foam skeleton pieces.

An animatronic dinosaur that kids could control with buttons.

Reed LOVES Reed-sized chairs and other furniture.

Reed's first Mater ride

Row row row your bath

Yesterday we had a snow day which was the last straw of a pretty crap week. Beckett has had some kind of illness since last Saturday that has made him lethargic and whiny and achy and occasionally acutely ill. Today I took him to the dr who shrugged and guessed it was viral. If he's not better by Tuesday we'll do some blood work. Reed developed croup Wednesday and after a scary night Jeff took him to the dr Thursday, so he was on a short round of steroids to help with his breathing. Now he "just" has a nasty cold which makes him tired and snotty and clingy.

Of course this is Daddy's bro weekend with Uncle Jon in NYC so I'm on my own. This morning Grandpa Stu came up to rescue the children and bolster my spirits. He played Clue and Guess Who, fed most of his own breakfast to Reed, and helped get us ready to go play in the snow. By the time he left, my patience was restored and I felt like I might be able to handle the last 24 hours of my single parenthood with 2/3 sick children by myself.

This is from Beckett's first day home from school on Monday, when Reed was also home and wanted to go outside but wasn't happy playing in the snow by himself. So Beckett summoned the energy to suit up and go out to play with him.

An energetic game of Guess Who with Grandpa Stu today.

Mama and Theo Clue time.

The snow and temperature was perfect for snowman building (and then punching said snowman in the neck).

We took a leisurely walk around the neighborhood looking for found accessories for our snowmen. Reed likes riding on my back these days and since it hurts my back to have him on the front, this is a much welcomed arrangement. He was feeling pretty crappy but enjoyed the cold air.

Lots of opportunities for snow mountain climbing.

And also polar bear impressions by Theo.


When we got home the boys had a rare extended quiet time coloring and drawing and writing together.

After dinner of smoothie and popcorn (our go-to when Daddy is not home), the boys shared a long bath made more exciting by my pulling icicles inside from the second story windows and giving them to the bathgoers, which inspired an icicle duel.

Quotes from tonight's icicle bath:
"I'm dying!"
"You're dying?"
"You're my brother, don't die!"
"You can't die that quick."
"Here's a rescue potion!" (Reed pours water on Beckett's head)
"Stop, I don't like the potion!"

Reedisms

Two recent Reed sayings that I just love:

Last week Reed and I were eating lunch together. I had been making faces at him, and particularly one with my eyes wide and mouth agape, like a surprised face. I hadn't made it in a few minutes and Reed said "PESHON." I looked at him quizzically and he said it again, "PESHON," When he could tell I couldn't understand what he was saying, he made the surprised face at me, and said again, "PESHON." I still couldn't get it, and then said, "expression?" He lit up, like he does when he's been understood, and nodded enthusasiastically said again, "PESHON! PESHON!" The kid knows the word expression.

Friday we were home again and he was in the bath. I was in the hallway reading and keeping an eye on him when I heard him say "I need more cups please mama." I sat dumbfounded for a moment trying to process that my 21 month old just said a six word sentence.

Time with Alexis and Max

Jeff wasn't able to come because he had to work Monday (bah) but the rest of us enjoyed a wonderful sleepover in Buffalo at the new home of Auntie Alexis and Uncle Max. Max led the boys on an energetic snowball fight and then taught them how to use his electric cello. Theo tried it first and was very good but Mama didn't get the camera out to take pictures or video until it was Beckett's turn. Alexis and Max also proved to be excellent Monopoly and Clue players. Also readers. Also, there was a LOT of eating.