And You Can Quote Me on That

The other day Wesley came running into the kitchen with Ryan hot on his tail. Wesley whined, "Mom, Ryan called me a stupid meanie."

I was doing the dishes so I barely turned around and sighed, "Ryan, don't call your brother a meanie."

"I not!" Ryan protested. "I say stupid meanie!"

Guess I know which child is going to follow the letter of the law and not the intent, huh?

Bribe Time

Wesley is in swim class for the next week and a half. Wesley loves to be in the water, but he refuses to learn how to swim - and I am determined he is going to learn.

Some of the parents at Wesley's preschool suggested enrolling him in classes at the community pool instead of the rec. center. The reasoning was that the community pool is more of an outdoor lap style pool and not a zero level entry, so it is easier for some kids to learn there. I'm willing to try anything, so to the community pool we went.

Yesterday was his first class. It was not overly successful. Although Wesley said he had fun he flat out refused to put his face in the water (even with goggles on) and walked around in the water with his kickboard rather than using it to practice kicking. Today's class wasn't much better. He did use the kickboard, but he still refused to get his face wet and hung on to the ladder for a good part of class.

So we pulled out the big guns. We took a trip to the toy store tonight and let him pick out a very fun Scooby-Doo toy (his current obsession).  If he puts his face in the water - and whoever takes him to class actually sees it - AND he does everything his teacher says, he will earn his new toy. If not, well, we saved the receipt or, truth be told, we might give it to him for his birthday.

Am I overly proud of this course of action? No. But I'm desperate. This kid has been going to swim class since he was 2 or 3 and he STILL can't swim or get his face wet!? C'mon! I don't expect him to be a champion swimmer or anything, but I do want him to know enough that he can get from one end of the pool to the other while actually swimming and not dog paddling. 

I'll keep you posted.

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

We did not pay an extra $5 at Kings Island for premium parking, just so we wouldn't have to carry the kids as far after a full day at the park.

We did not let Ryan have a bunch of soda at Kings Island and then wondered how he managed a full day at the park with no nap, AND stayed awake on the way home AND stayed up an hour past bedtime.

I did not find it a little funny when Ryan called Wesley "Mr. Poopypants."

I know I didn't come down with strep throat as soon as we got back from our trip. And there is no way that it is the THIRD time I've had it this year.

Art is in the Eye of the Beholder

We took a short trip to the art museum today. They had a couple of great interactive activities for the kids so we had some fun. Unfortunately, either the kids weren't behaving bad, or I am still feeling a bit off (or both) but I started to lose my temper with them. Still, it was fun for a while.

One of the exhibits is focused on food.

The boys were pretty creative making pretend kabobs

On the grill!

Wesley making a plastic fruit still life

Making imaginary animals

Working with clay

Building metal faces

Wedding Bells

A week or so ago Grandma H. drove Wesley past the place where Duane and I got married.

 "That's where your Mommy and Daddy were married," she told Wesley.

"Really?" he replied. "Then I guess that's where C. and I will get married too!"

LOTS of Kings Island Pictures

We got to the park before it opened, so we had some time to kill. Wesley spent some time looking at the map. And of course, he wanted to visit each area in numerical order.

Ryan spent his spare time playing with ants and in puddles.

They didn't want their picture taken with me, but we forced the issue.

This was one of the boys very favorite rides of the day. Duane was too big to ride, so I got accompany Ryan on each and every ride on this kiddie coaster. He was too little to ride on his own.

Wesley was allowed to ride by himself and he was often a single rider, but he and this boy really hit it off.

Waiting in line.

Ryan really wanted popcorn for a snack and we let him have soda too. MAJOR treat! He took a break to watch Wesley greet the Peanuts characters.

Giving Snoopy a hug

Sally too.

Snacktime! Ryan loves his "Noopy cup!"

They loved the swings!

Mommy and Daddy got a short break while the boys rode the swings.

Ryan was a natural on the bumper cars

He enjoyed these cars too. Of course he wouldn't sit next to the little boy he was supposed to sit with and insisted on sitting with this little girl instead.

This is me trying to calm Wesley about the ride we were about to go on. He was very brave about going on rides that scared him a bit and reserved judgement on whether or not he liked them until after the ride was over. This one was OK, the actual roller coaster he rode with Daddy was not.

There is the top of his little blond head. And yes, you ride this one on your tummy.

Wesley took all the allowance he had saved up ($10) and spent it all on a stuffed toy for C. They are having a playdate next week and he can't wait to give this to her.

Flying the Red Baron's plane. Ryan immediately moved the control so the plane went to the top and he kept it up there the whole time.

Carousel ride

Another snack break. The boys chose cotton candy for their snack, but Ryan totally stole my ice cream!

We went through the dinosaur exhibit and they had a dino dig for the kids. Wesley used a shovel, but Ryan did his "digging" by kicking the dirt around.

Their favorite ride of the day was a combination shooting gallery/haunted house. So the whole time we walked through the dinosaur exhibit Wesley and Ryan "pewed" the dinosaurs (pretended to shoot them)

Ryan rode the Scrambler and loved it because it went really really fast. He rode it twice and probably would have gone again.  Wesley watched the first time, then decided he wanted to ride it too. The whole time the ride was going Wesley was saying "Help me! Help me! Stop the ride! I need to get off!" Not his favorite ride of the day.

Not quite as high as the Eiffel Tower, but still pretty tall. And we did go up to the top of the tower - even me. Although I hugged the wall the whole time and counted the seconds until we were on land again.

One final picture of my little daredevil. He wanted to ride every coaster - The Beast, The Vortex, you name it - but he is quite a bit too small for that. If I told him that though, he insisted, "I big!" He even chose a mug with his name and roller coasters on it for his souvenir. Guess we know who our thrill seeker is.

 Overall we spent 8 hours at the park. I couldn't believe the boys lasted that long and we probably could have squeezed another hour or so out of them, but we decided not to push it.  It was a fantastic day!

Pictures - Jungle Jims and Hotel Happiness

After our trip to the Cincinnati Museum Center, we made a little side trip to Jungle Jims International Market. I have wanted to go to Jungle Jims for years, but never really had the opportunity, so I wasn't about to pass it up.

The entrance to Jungle Jims.

Another view of the entrance. Wesley was pretty annoyed that the place was called "Jungle Jims" but didn't have anything to play on. But he got over it when he saw all the fun animatronic characters throughout the place and we let him pick out some candy.

Ryan wasn't sure what to think of the Elvis bear that played the guitar and sang. All Ryan knew for sure was that it was too loud for him.

The restrooms at Jungle Jims are something else. You walk in through what looks like a porta potty and find yourself in a really nice bathroom. Wesley loved the high heeled shoe chair in the ladies room (I dragged him in with me)

This pretend potty  was supposedly a recreation of an old fashioned royal "throne"  I totally made Wesley sit on it .

 

He didn't mind too much.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the boys were super excited to stay in a hotel. Here they are "helping" Daddy in with the luggage.

We ended up sleeping with Ryan and myself in one bed and Wesley and Daddy in the other. Needless to say, the boys are the only ones who got any real sleep.

Not even the bright light of day wakes this kid!

Wesley and Ryan loved the little mirrored closet and spent a lot of time "hiding" in there. This shot was taken right before we left the hotel to head to Kings Island - which will be my next post.

Cincinnati Museum Center Pictures

So the original plan was to spend two days at Kings Island, but since the weather looked pretty iffy the first day, we headed to the Cincinnati Museum Center instead.

The brothers getting along

Wesley loved the ball area

As did Ryan

We spent a really long time in that one area just sending balls up the suction tube.

Ryan filling up the jeep in the town area

Wesley loved the grocery store and the vet's office

Lunchtime! The guys got sunglasses with their meals.

Drink and swish

Playing on a spider web in the Woods area.

Pretending to be a turtle

Sorry this picture is a little dark. There was a tunnel the kids could crawl into and be INSIDE a fish tank. Very cool.

On to the water area!

The aprons didn't help Wesley stay dry at all, so we ditched it.

Wesley and a dinosaur in the Natural History Museum

It was so much fun! I can't believe we hadn't been there before! It was definitely worth the drive.