This is the Story of Gus and Sam...and Sadie

Sadie

September 8, 2010

6 pounds, 15 ounces and 19.5 inches

Three Beginnings

In a matter of a couple of weeks, Sam started kindergarten on a very, very rainy day in August.

He got right to work at school and has been a trooper ever since. He even likes to do his homework and seems to enjoy getting ready and going in the mornings. No complaints about getting dressed so far!

Next, Gus will start preschool TOMORROW. He's nervous about going and says he doesn't want us to leave him. It will be hard to leave his sweet face, especially if he is crying real tears...

...but we HAVE to because after we drop him off at his first day of preschool we are heading to the hospital to have his baby sister! It's going to be a big adjustment for both boys, but especially for Mr. Gus, I think. Here's hoping (and praying) that these three beginnings continue to go smoothly as one embarks on "real school", the other on preschool and the third on life.

If the Shoe Fits

It's funny how similar and how different two brothers can be. Ozzie just got home from work and Sam and Gus were equally excited. "Daddy, daddy!" they both exclaimed over and over before he was even out of his truck. Gus jumped up from the table where he was having lunch and ran out the garage door to greet his daddy in the driver. He slammed the door behind him. Sam ran from the table to the "shoe bucket" and carefully put his Crocs on then he ran out the garage door -- slamming the door behind him. And the nature v nurture debate goes on...

Just Gus

Sam has been in camp for the past 4 weeks and Gus has really been missing him. It's been a challenge for me to keep Gus entertained from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. each day while Sam's away exploring rain forests and space especially as I have less and less energy.
This morning we dropped Sam at camp and headed to the park. He put on his brand new bike helmet and climbed in the jogging stroller and as we walked he flew his airplane (that our beloved Mrs. Lawrence had given him when we dropped off Sam. It was the project of the day at camp). As he flew the plane he'd yell, "One, two, four, seven, eight, BLAST OFF!" It's so fun to listen to him as he learns to count. We walked past the little train that he so desperately wanted to ride, but we couldn't today. They won't let pregnant mommies ride the train. So, instead he agreed that we could walk along the tracks and look for the train. We found it and we waved to Mr. Conductor. We walked to the sheds and watched another Mr. Conductor fixing an engine. Then we turned around and walked back toward one of two of the water spritzers that are fabulous for cooling off. He asked me to turn on the spritzer then turned his head away as the water covered him in a light spray. When it finished, he looked up and said "Again." Again and then, again, he scrunched his face and looked away. Next we went up and down the bike hills and to a pavilion where we stopped so he could get out and play with his airplane stretch his legs a bit. I did some triceps dips and push ups while he played and then fed him two (yes, two) things of yogurt. "Mmmmm. Blueberry," he said when he got to the second container. Back in the stroller we stopped at the train station where Mr. Conductor asked about Sam -- he hasn't seen him in awhile. I promised he'd come for a train ride soon -- as soon as his daddy could bring him. We ran into some other friends and chatted with them for a bit and then went through the other spritzer. Around the lake and to the ice cream shop where we stopped for a cone. Chocolate chip with chocolate sprinkles is what Gus picked for himself. After a quick rinse off in the bathroom sink we started to head back to the car when we ran into some more friends. We played on the playground with them and then finally found our way back to the car...it was a three-hour park adventure. "I don't want to go home," Gus said as we got in the car, but when we got home he wanted to climb on the couch, put his head on a pillow and snuggle up under a blanket. No complaints from me. I love these special moments with my sweet bear.

No Photos Necessary

One of my fondest childhood memories is digging up potatoes with my brother Michael and Grandpa Workman on the hill behind their house. I couldn't believe that my grandfather had grown these potatoes...that it was possible for just an average person to GROW potatoes. Of course, I know now that Grandpa Workman was nowhere near average and that he had been an honest-to-goodness farmer before I came along. But that day, on that hill it was like magic digging into the ground and pulling up real potatoes that we could actually eat. Grandpa was so tickled by my amazement each time I found a potato or each time I asked for reassurance that we really could eat them. There was also a wonderful satisfaction in finding those buried treasures and a wonderful comfort in the feeling that my grandpa was so magical.

I was reminded of that long-ago potato adventure today when my father -- Gus and Sam's Grandpa Workman -- stopped in for an unexpected visit. Gus looked up from his dinner and said, "Grandpa," with a shy smile and Sam ran over from the couch to give his grandpa a big hug. Eventually, and not surprisingly, we all ended up outside. We walked the yard of the new house and discussed plans for removing exotic and bringing in native plants. We eventually ended up by an old cement pad that we're told once housed a shed. Ozzie said we'd probably just tear it out and I said I had thought we could put a basketball hoop there for the boys. Soon, we were all picking up and stacking old stones that had been covered from years of growth. We pulled a few weeds and discussed our plans for our new basketball "court". Some of the stones -- which we planned to use out front -- were too embedded to pull up by hand. "Those are going to need a shovel," said Ozzie and Daddy said, "I happen to have one," and before I noticed he was gone, he was back and using the shovel to peel the rocks from the earth. Sam and Gus were close by and at the ready to move and stack the stones. Then they both clamored for the opportunity to use the shovel as well. And their Grandpa Workman was patiently amused with them just as mine had been with me. He helped them stack bricks that Ozzie dug up and then he dug up grass that had overgrown onto the cement as Sam hauled it all to a pile. Before long we'd cleared the outline of the court and the better part of two hours had passed by. The last hours of the day that are usually full of fighting and fussing flew by peacefully in the unseasonably cool breeze which we enjoyed while we worked. Were we working? It sure didn't feel like work. Alas, it was time to return to our routine and get the boys in the bath tub. As we said our goodbyes, that's when the potato memory came back to me and I was thinking how lucky my boys are to have a Grandpa Workman...just like I was. And then, I wished I had thought to grab my camera and snap a few pictures. But, then, I don't have any photographs of the day we dug for potatoes and that memory remains clear as a picture for me.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Carol! And a Tiny Update (Finally!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA CAROL!

Today we celebrated Grandma Carol's birthday by having our first swimming lessons of the summer. Sam did great, Gus not so much. Neither of them want to get their faces wet. My goal is to have them both swimming by the end of the summer. Well, Sam anyway. Maybe by the end of summer Gus will at least not cry in the pool.

Now both boys are resting on the couch. Sam not feeling great and Gus exhausted from not swimming. A nice thunder storm is brewing and I love watching the rain come in off the river. I have to go get the laundry going and unpack some boxes! How are there still boxes?!!?

Ozzie celebrated his mother's birthday by coming in first place after day one of the Flatsmaster's Redfish Tournament. So, he'll be celebrating the day after by fishing again instead of mowing the lawn. Hooray. Ozzie will tell you that mowing the new lawn is a heinous experience!

Speaking of the lawn...we love the new house. However, moving and getting settled has been keeping all of us very busy so there's not much time for blog updating. Sorry Grandpa Barry. We know you check for updates. I think I'm to a point where the updates can come more regularly now...at least until your granddaughter arrives in September. Oy! In the meantime, some pictures will have to do.

Carol, we'll call you to say Happy Birthday when Ozzie gets home from the tournament.

xoxo

This is the day before Sam's FIFTH birthday in March! Look at how cold it was in March!

Sam got a butterfly house for his birthday. We grew butterflies from the larval stage until the full butterfly stage and then released them. The boys LOVED watching the process.

Sam's last day of preschool! Gus will have his first day here in September.

Gus enjoying the new yard. He's at the top of a mini-hill that he LOVES to run down and up and up and down.

Last week the boys got haircuts! Where did all Gus's curls go? Never fear. They are already starting to grow back. And, Sam is soooooo tall!

Donuts With Grandpa

Sam's school had Donuts for Dads in February. Ozzie had to work so Grandpa Workman filled in for him. Sam was thrilled his Grandpa was coming to his school and was delighted to show him around. Gus was sad that he wasn't able to stay and play, but he did get to be in the picture. And, as Aunt Sally says, his time will come.