Another action filled weekend has come to a close. Friday and Saturday were unusually busy, but Sunday was laid back and relaxed. The weather cooperated with our plans because Friday and Saturday were gorgeous, allowing us to be enjoy our outside activities without an issue. Sunday was met with nonstop rain, which was fine because I didn't really want to get out of my pajamas anyway.
Friday night I packed up the boys and we went on a ghost hunt. Timmy, truly in the spirit of the event, went completely dressed in his Ghostbuster's uniform. It is safe to say that he was the hit of the town, garnering smiles and comments from everybody who saw him. We didn't see any ghosts but, as Robby explained, the apparitions were probably staying away because they knew that there was a Ghostbuster in the group. (Timmy readily accepted this logic and no longer lamented the missing ghost encounters.)
Saturday morning we packed up and headed to our local town fair. Timmy, again decked out in his uniform, surveyed the street fair for ghosts and other spooky encounters. When he wasn't looking for ghosts he was spinning wheels and gathering swag. By the time we headed home both boys had accumulated two overflowing bags of assorted branded junk.
In the evening we headed out to the Pumpkin Glow experience. Robby and I have been to this event for two years in a row, but this was the first time for Scott. Although my husband wasn't nearly as enthralled and gobsmacked by the squash sculptures, the boys and I thoroughly enjoyed the event.
Yesterday was spent relaxing and readying the house for the upcoming week. I managed to sort through the festival swag bags, weeding out everything except for the toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps and toys. Everything else went into the recycle bin (when the boys weren't looking.)
A day of relaxing inside was exactly what I needed to help heal my leg. So much ghost hunting over the past week has caused my leg to become extremely sore and tired. Because of the wind yesterday, we stayed inside. Apparently ghost hunting wasn't as fun inside, because Timmy actually occupied himself by quietly playing other activities.
I hate wind storms, but I really enjoyed kicking my leg off and relaxing for a few hours. I felt like I was being a slacker, but my guilt was short lived. I quickly became lost in reruns of Halloween Wars, and I lost track of time. I may not have been productive, but my goodness my leg is feeling much better this morning!
The day off was a godsend, because the weekend schedule is going to keep me hopping. Tonight we are heading out for a family-friendly ghost walk through town. Having missed the ghost hunt with his cousins over the summer, Timmy is absolutely ecstatic about going tonight. He is planning to wear his Ghostbuster's uniform in hopes of "helping" our guide.
Tomorrow morning we are going to a parade and local street fair. Both boys love the parade and accumulating as much free swag as possible. (It takes them an hour or so to fill a few bags with assorted crap, but I have to parcel it into the trash slowly to avoid disappointment.)
In the evening we are going to the Pumpkin Glow experience. Walking through the carved pumpkin displays is breathtaking. It has become a family tradition that I look forward to each year.
Between the ghost hunt and tomorrow's itinerary, I no longer feel guilty about taking it easy yesterday. I'm going to be doing a lot of walking in the next 48 hours. The rest was needed and definitely well-deserved. Perhaps someday I'll be able to take it easy without feeling guilty!
The rain poured yesterday, forcing us to take our ghost hunting inside. Although I missed being in the fresh air, one benefit of being inside was the luxury of listening to the television while playing. Listening to the television definitely provided a much needed distraction from our game. (I just keep reminding myself that someday he will be playing with friends and/or independently, and that these times are fleeting.)
Today we are experiencing crazy wind, which is always worrisome. We have lost so many trees recently and I always worry when the winds start howling. Today will be another one spent inside, where we are safer from the falling nuts and branches. Fingers crossed that we don't have any down trees today!
Because of Timmy's immune issues, he hasn't been cleared to start school. So instead of sitting in a classroom with new friends, he is learning as much as possible at home while adopting me as a ready playmate. I know that he will thrive in school (once he is physically cleared), but in the meantime I'm trying to make the best of a less than ideal situation.
Academically, my little guy is thriving. He is learning his letters like a champion and is writing more and more every day. He is becoming a little sponge, soaking up as many letters and numbers as possible. It is so much fun watching him make sense of the words and numbers all around him, as if he were deciphering a secret code that he is just discovering.
At times like this, when he is going through active interventions that leave him more vulnerable to infections, he is safer staying outside to play. Although I know that Timmy will love having more playmates when he starts school, I am trying to not obsess about his socialization. I ensure that he plays at parks and other gathering areas whenever possible, assuming the weather is cooperating, so that he can socialize with minimal risks. Until his immune system strengthens, staying outside in the fresh air is safer for his immune system than being in a closed-in classroom.
Because Timmy isn't in school, I have assumed the role of primary playmate. While I absolutely adore my little guy, I have to admit that I struggle with becoming bored during the day. Right now he is really "into" playing Ghostbusters, which is basically just us walking through the yard shooting pretend proton guns at imaginary apparitions. He plays for hours every day and loves every moment.
I worry that I am losing brain cells from boredom! I tried to listen to an audio book to help pass the time, but it was too difficult to manage my Ghostbuster directives while trying to focus on the story. Timmy also prefers to listen to the Ghostbuster theme song (on a constant loop) while playing, so I found myself arguing with a five year old over what we were going to stream.
I'm trying to remind myself that this will soon pass, and that someday I will miss this dedicated time together. Trying to looking on the bright side, we are bonding and creating memories. I'm also logging a lot of steps (averaging about 24,000 per day), so it should be helping my weight loss ambitions.
I'm not sure when it happened, but Robby is now taller than me. It is strange seeing photos of him standing next to me. Even though I now look up to see into his eyes, somehow I still view him as being smaller than me. I don't realize how tall he has sprouted until I see the photographic evidence. What happened to my little boy?
Not only is Robby taller than me, but he is inching closer to surpassing Scott. His foot size already exceeds Scott's, and over the weekend I had to take him shopping for new jeans. Robby and Scott are now wearing the same size clothing, both jeans and shirts. Yikes, talk about a reality check!
Sometimes I look at Robby and I catch glimpses of my sweet little Koopa. At other times he resembles an adult more than he does a child. Growing up is hard, and we are definitely charting this course together.
Another weekend flew by in the blink of an eye. It is hard to believe that it is again Monday, back to the grind of our work week schedule. Even though the weekend passed way too quickly, it was a relaxing and fun two days.
The weather was perfect, allowing my little Ghostbuster and I to fight paranormal foes through the neighborhood. Who knew we had so many poltergeists living among us! Thankfully Timmy is an excellent ghost hunter who is undeterred in his quest to capture each and every ghost.
In between fighting ghosts, we were able to work outside to prepare for the changing seasons. Leaves were blown and the driveway was cleared (at least temporarily) of those pesky hickory nuts. Hopefully nut season is coming to end soon because I am tired of being pegged by those hard little projectiles every time we venture outside to play.
Not only do the hickory nuts hurt as they rain down on my head, but they are hazardous as I try to walk. On Friday I stepped on a nut with my prosthesis and nearly lost my balance. Slipping is no fun, and I am always left feeling both shaken and extremely vulnerable. If we had the money, I would cut down the hickory trees. Unfortunately, right now all we can do is continue to clear the driveway every day of the falling little nut bombs.
We had a fantastic day at Pumpkinville. It was so fun having Scott home in the middle of the week. The boys were particularly ecstatic to have their daddy home from school for a fun day. I think that taking a break from the stress of work did him a world of good as well!
The weather was gorgeous and, as anticipated, the crowds were nonexistent. We were able to enjoy all of the activities without fighting hoards of people and long lines. Robby and Timmy played together for hours, squealing and running throughout the haybales and inflatables. I even got into the action on a few slides, although I have to admit that it was nice to sit back and watch the boys play together.
Today we are back to reality, but my goodness it was nice to disconnect and break away for a few hours!
