The Bread Truck and Polar Bears

Okay, so here are two pretty funny stories:

THE BREAD TRUCK -

We went to breakfast at the local cafe on Saturday. As we were leaving the bread delivery was coming and the truck was parked with the back roll up door open. As we walked up to our car Akins says "Wow, Mommy look". "Yeah, honey it's a bread truck, do you want to look at it"? So, we go over and look in the back of the truck and Akins says "Sandwiches"! I said "Yeah, the bread truck brings the bread to Sam (the owner of the cafe) and then Sam uses the bread to make sandwiches. Pretty cool huh"? Then he wants to look at the front of the truck which has those sliding doors that you can leave open when you drive. Akins checks it all out and then says "Mommy, I like that truck".

Now a lot of little boys might like this truck, but a little boy who has been deprived of food and who continues to have some food issues like insisting that we take even the oddest of foods home with us in a to go box - like pancakes - no one gets their pancakes to go, well, no one except for us. That little boy REALLY likes the bread truck!

POLAR BEARS -

Most of you have probably heard of that group that seems to be largely comprised of elderly folks who go swimming in the coldest of waters. I mean really cold with ice floating in it for example. This group is called the Polar Bears. Well, I am pretty certain that Akins is warming up (no pun intended) for his membership to that club one day, as he went swmming today in the pool which is registering 70 degrees and he insisted it was warm. One future Polar Bear in the making! Brrrrr! He tried to get Grandma to go but she was not having any of it.

A crack up

Akins is growing into this really funny and entertaining young boy. Lately most times he laughs at all things, he entertains and he seldom cries, whines or fights us. Is it another honeymoon with battles to come? Who knows but I'll take it. Here are a couple of funny conversations from lately.

Mommy - How old is Miss Kelly? (teacher about 30ish)
Akins - Really old.
Mommy - Oh, is Mommy really old?
Akins - No.
Mommy - How old is Mommy?
Akins - 18
Mommy - How old is Grandma?
Akins - 19
Mommy - Oh, how old is Miss Kelly?
Akins - Really, Really Old
Mommy - How old is Lorea?
Akins - 22
Mommy - Okay if you say so.

Lorea is eating a burrito. I ask for a bite and I take one. Lorea looks at Akins and says look what Mommy did. She took a big bite. He looks at me for confirmation because he did not see it and we all know you can't trust something you did not see.

Akins - She teasing?
Mommy - Shrugs
Akins - Sometimes you take a big bite Lorea and sometimes Mommy not take a big bite

Ha - I'm off the hook!

Akins turns the BIG four!

Well, hard to believe we are celebrating another birthday with this litle man. He is very proud to be four and says "I don't like three. Mommy, you like three?, Ah-Dorea you like three? I don't like three". So, last year was a full on bash at the house with a ton of people this year split up very differently, first a party with Claudia and Aunt Tammy, then the state fair last weekend, and tonight a nice little party with just us here at the house. Photos following of the big event...

The evening begins with his special requested meal - SHAGETTI AND GREENS!

How old are you???

Eyeballin'the gifts

Oh, but just one more bite of uhhhh....GREENS! REALLY??? Whatever dude!

What could be better than a remote controlled SHIDER?

Make a wish and blow out your PINK candles!

Rob and Big T-shirt - well let's just say Rob and Big are BIG at our house. Of course some require a little censoring.

Hulk boxing gloves - long story behind this I will share at halloween!

Okay, I know I am biased but is this not the most beautiful kid in the world!

The gift of all...Akins chose Ironman over a trampoline. Again, I say WHAT? REALLY? Whatever dude. So, $24.99 vs. $180.00. Excellent!

Possibly a little afraid of the Shider?

The Chase Is On!

Giving Grandma some lovin' before she takes off.

I'm not sure who likes the Spider more Akins or Dolly?????

Note the full on tongue action - yummy spider!

Road Warriors

Taking after our friends Scott and Sue we have become true road warriors this past month. First the road trip to Illinios. It's like the "red-eye drive", leave late and arrive middle of the night, then stay two days, then turn around and go back! Ugh! It is and has always been my duty as the younger sister to torment (of course, or as Akins would say DUH). And so, suited up and prepared with a plan fitting of just the right amount of trauma we headed off again for South Dakota. This time it was because my sister was about to celebrate a milestone birthday...I won't say which one :)

The planning began back in July while the family was here over the 4th. My niece Amanda and I began plotting and scheming. So, without Tammy's knowledge Lorea, Akins, Grandma and I took off Thursday night driving to South Dakota, true Road Warriors. We spent the night in a castle like hotel in Council Bluffs, IA and drove in the rest of the way on Friday morning to arrive in time for lunch for which Tammy thought she was having with just her kids. As luck would have it my brother-in-law Jim's parents were in town too and so that just made that many more people to add to it. You're getting the picture right! Tammy arrives walks in and jaw drops! SURPRISE!! This was just the beginning of what ended up being a very interesting start to a day that ended at about 3:00 am! I'm not saying what we did but let's just say some of it would need to be censored. Those milestones need life experiences to go with them right? I thought so....:)

Saturday we had a joint birthday party for all the timely birthday's - Tammy 9/19, Claudia 9/23, Sara 9/20, Abbie 9/26, and Akins 10/1. The kids tore the place apart, we ate lots and had a great time. The only down fall - Scott and Sue were not available to hook up during the weekend. :( We missed you guys - next time!

Communication Gap!

I have been travelling so sorry for being out of the loop and not updating. Things have been relatively smooth sailing which is a good thing. We have discovered one thing that may have been causing some of Akins outbursts and that is a very simple thing called communication. Akins began often saying things like "quiet what" or "rules what" or "hurry what". We just thought it was another way of being defiant because of the way it was stated. Then one night I said "okay quiet time now I love you" and he says "what Mommy-O" I said "I love you" he said "no that other thing". Puzzled for a moment I had to think and then I said "quiet"? and he says "yes, quiet what"? Thinking for a moment I said "What does quiet mean"? He says "yes"? Wow - what a mind blower because I have said this same phrase every night for over a year. So, I explained to him what quiet means. He was satisfied and off to sleep he goes. Since that night and me realizing he has not understood that word this whole time and yet has just rolled along as if he did. Now when he says "..... what" we promptly explain. Also, we have learned to explain before he asks. As we talk about things we say "do you know what that means or do you know what that is"? Based on his response we make sure he gets it before we move on. Interestly, enough since that evening his moods and tantrums have calmed tremendously. My theory is some of his mood was driven out of frustration. I hope I am right.

Labor Day Road Trip to Illinois

Since Akins came home I have been trying to figure out how to accomplish getting him out to meet everyone in the family. The summer was pretty packed with my sister's annual visit and the AFAA reunion. Taking advantage of the three day weekend,Lorea, Mom, Akins and I took off for a long drive to Illinois. This is where I grew up and still have Uncles, Aunts and Cousins not to mention a lot of friends dating as far back as the third grade. I tried to fit them all into one action packed weekend, we even managed to squeeze in the Children's Discovery Museum. Here are some of the highlighted photos...

Givin' Robbie some lovin'

I will beat you Mr. Bones

Marcus was showing Akins how the tongue works at the Museum

Akins giving Marcus a "little" ride

Playing dentist - perfect timing Akins got his teeth cleaned and x-rayed TODAY!

We loved the air games

I'm not sure who is having the most fun

Milking the cows

Who is that guy with his legs wrapped around that thing?

Akins and Flo (Rob's Mom) takiing a little down time before the feast at Rob's resturant

I think there were 13 of us for dinner. This is Mom's side of the family. Her brother Del and his wife Sondie, my cousin Paula and her husband Chip and their kids Lexi and Cory. Then Rob's Mom Flo, Rob and Marcus and of course us.

Say chesse and smile????

Lorea, what are you up to?

Chip teaching the kids how to sew their hands - big hit!

Chip and more games

Meeting new cousins Lexi and Cory

Getting the Grand tour of Robbie's resturant "Lancaster's" He even got to see the kitchen and meet the chefs

Kickin' it with Robbie and Marcus' dog Banky

Hangin' out with Uncle Robbie

Hold still just long enough to snap - ahhh close enough

Helping Uncle Robbie (my best friend) feed the squirrels

Catching up with school friends

All this meeting people wears a boy plum out

All the girls hangin' out at Uncle Del and Aunt Sondie's house

Chow time

There were a whole lot of stories to tell

Playing with Cory and Lexi

Uncle Del helps Akins brush his teeth

Akins got to meet his very first "puppy" with sharp little teeth and all

Even more fishing and more barbie updates

Okay, today we were determined by golly to catch some fish, and we did! Two little blue gills. I caught them both but allowed Akins to help reel in the second one - the look on his face well, one half excitement and one half terror. I split these looks equally as I really could not tell which was going to win out. In the end exccitement prevailed. I was pleased to see him feel compassion for the fish as this is a major accomplishment - remember there were many months of comments like "I will stomp it, crush it, kill it". He did not like that the fish got hurt and did not want me to use the stringer. We did on the first one because I wanted to get photos and of course we were so certain that we would catch nothing we left the camera in the car. After seeing the first one struggle he said "Mommy-O don't put that blue thing on the other one and then seemed even more pleased when fish # 2 wiggled its way right out of my hands back into the lake. No photos of this memorable event! :(

As for Barbie - he refers to it has his "woman" which apparently I missed this dialogue yesterday while on the phone. So, after Grandma told me about it today I inquired just to see what was up.

Mommy-O: Akins, where is your woman?
Akins: Uhhh, she is in my swimming pants.
Mommy-O and Lorea: Look at each other a bit distressed as he is wearing his swimming trunks.
Mommy-O: What?
Akins: Oh, in my bath tub.
Mommy-O and Lorea: A look of relief.