Family, Pumpkins, Leaves and Lions

It has been a long time since I last reported on our incredible journey together. Hollis started pre-school this year at the Avery House Nature center.  It is a nature-based school where the kids go out every day.  He goes three times a week, and Ayla is there too.  The Co-op is still in operation so he spends several afternoons with his good buddy too. 

The school has been great!  Since I Hollis could talk he informed me he didn't want to wear pants, long-sleeved shirts or jackets.  He also never wanted to go outside.  Ever. This saddened me

because I so greatly wanted to expose him to the outdoors with adventure hikes and exploratory play.  He didn't put up such a struggle with friends, but under my care it had always been a fight.  At Avery the kids go outside every day and every day they where boots.  Yes.  Finally, I have gotten Hollis into a pair of boots!  Oh what JOY and EXCITEMENT for our life together. He loves looking for bugs and birds.  Now the whole family goes outside for a post-dinner night walk.  Hollis leads the way, commenting on the moon or other wonders he might find with his flash light. 

Because Hollis has gotten so independent and comfortable taking care of so many of his own needs, I have much time to can the 2014 harvest and I feel like I got a piece of me back.  The last three years I chose to slave minimally over the canning, and each Winter and Spring I missed having an abundance of our own homemade quality to goods to add to our meals.

 We spent two weeks in Pennsylvania this year, choosing to spend time during the Fall, rather than Summer.  It disrupted our Fall schedules of school and gymnastics, but otherwise it was a perfect time.  The trees were just starting to change colors, the weather was cool and refreshing and there was so much to do. 

Hollis even got stories read to him by his Auntie K.  Auntie K set us up to have a blast at her house and we did.

We rushed around to see as many family members as we could, but whenever we had some down time Hollis requested to visit Mimi and Pappy Carl.  Hollis drew pictures with his Uncle Ricky, collected money from the grandparents and visited the "lego store" more times than I thought possible to beef up his lego collection.  His favorite pastime for sure was playing pillow fight with Mimi where "he totally was winning." 

I was usually able to fill him up with a good breakfast at Auntie K's, but he had candy for lunch and ice cream for dinner.  For some reason everyone wants to give toddlers sugar every time all the time. 

We were able to get out on a family adventure with Auntie K, Josh, Papa G, Gma Patti, Uncle Frankie, Aunt Amanda, and baby Frannie to the pumpkin patch.  The whole family got lost in a corn maze, took a hay ride and ate some inferior donuts. 

Hollis is still talking about his parade adventure.  In rural PA, these parades are a big deal.  Nearly every little town has one and everyone attends.  I was lucky enough to run into a friend at the Emmaus Farmers' Market who invited me to watch the Topton parade from her house.

The Topton Halloween Parade was celebrating something like its 50th Anniversary.  My mom had been going to this parade since she was teen, I went to it when I was a kid and now I got to share it with Hollis. And did I mention they throw candy!  Hollis was thrilled.  He started off by waving for candy, then with both hands then he was jumping and waving.  He walked a way that night with at least three pounds of candy. I let Hollis enjoy some of the best high-fructose corn syrup treats around, and then I told him the airline lost the candy when he got home. 


George's Mom, Grandma Judy came to visit us for three weeks and well it was just perfect!!!  The last time she visited Hollis was just a couple months old.  We were able to get out to a pumpkin patch, visit the Ducks stadium, and Hollis really loved making puzzles with Grandma.

It has been such a great summer for us!  In June we went to Tahoe for Jonas and Charlotte's wedding.  It was a week long adventure that included camping at Lassen Park, dutch oven camp food, and long hours on the road.  At Tahoe we stayed at great Air B&B across the street from the Jonas.  We spent time on the lake and an afternoon at an adventure ropes course.  George loved the ropes course, but I think Dad and I loved it even more!

Over Labor Day weekend we floated the Willamette with some dear friends.  We only stayed on the river for two days and one night.  But we set-up camp under a rainbow!

The weather was perfect and the rafts were set up with beach umbrellas.  

Hollis surprised me with how well he did on the river.  And while at camp, he played with the other kids for hours.

Hollis celebrated his 3rd Birthday on August 20th.  We had a BBQ - BASEBALL birthday party in Tunison Park.  He collected lego money instead of gifts and was able to buy the Ninja City of his dreams.

His earlier birthday celebrations had been grouped into a giant celebration where I - his loving momma - invited everyone in town.  I did this because I never had the time to see my friends, so it was a great excuse to bring everyone together.  This year, having had more time to connect to friends, I made the special day all about him.
Hollis has been surrounded by many of his friends since the day he was born. 
It is so nice to have been so stable to keep Hollis in the same house and same community.

Hollis had a great time running around with his family and friends and reports that he is looking forward to his next birthday party.

During the month of August, Hollis and Ezra spent two days a week together.  On Tuesday they were with me and I took them on the bus to Toddler Story Time at our local library.  And then we would take the bus to the Co-op or Lincoln School, before we came home.  The boys loved taking the bus, they would sit in the back where the seats were raised so they could see where we were going.  

Hollis's closest friends, Ayla and Anni have been gone all summer long.  At the end of August Alya returned and Hollis has been incredibly happy. 


Hollis started Pre-school this year at the Avery House Nature Center.  He had been attending summer camp there, and had really warmed up the the teachers and the program.  He attends school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning with Ayla.  On Tuesday and Thursday I am luck to have both of these kiddos all day long, until the University starts up again.

I use to work in a childcare center when I was 17 years old.  I was in charge of a class of six three-year-olds.  It was  easily one of the most difficult jobs I have ever had, but I loved being with the children.  Spending days with Hollis reminds me of those times.  This age is so fun.  Hollis loves to be helpful.  Last night Hollis help me make dinner, by cutting up vegetables (with a butter knife).  He also likes to help me form meatballs.  They say if your kid helps make dinner he is more likely to eat it.  While this isn't true for Hollis yet, I am hopeful that one day it will be.

Crickets and Teaching

Oh our bright sun-shiney Hollis, is always filling our life with laughter.  The other night while reading to Hollis, he interrupted me and said, "Mom, listen the crickets are singing.  They are singing row row row your boat and they just don't stop." 

Recently he informed me that when he gets bigger he wants me to take him to the "teacher store" where he can "get clothes to dress like a teacher"  he said, "he will be a teacher then.  When I asked him what he would teach, he replied "about ninjas" 

I want to record all these musings, but I forget so many by the time I get to the blog. 

Sincerely,
Forgetful Momma

Almost 3 years on the books!

Hollis is no longer a baby that is for sure.  Sometimes it saddens me to watch life happen so quickly!  A couple of times a week we take a bath together.  We load up the tub with toys and have a blast splashing around and being silly together. Last night in the bath tub, Hollis was cuddled up to me.  He talked about nursing, as he does almost everyday, and it has been eight months since he weaned.  I am amazed by his memory and by is continued adoration for my milk bags.

Hollis loves to make people laugh.  He makes jokes, makes up stories.  And if he can get someone laughing he lights up and keeps momentum of barrel laughs going.  Each night at the dinner table we discuss our daily highs and lows, Hollis thinks it is a performance and tries so hard to get us all laughing. 

He is still obsessed with ninjas and nights.  We now take the bus and raid the library weekly for juvenile non-fictions books that cover history and weaponry of his favorite topics.  Last night I read to him about the feudal system as he got ready for bed.  

 This summer has been filled with lots of bus rides, trips to parks, scooter rides, play dates, party cakes and blueberry picking.  Hollis love to come and visit me while I work the Wednesday Farmers' Market.  He probably comes for the donuts, but I like to believe it is to visit his momma. 

He is almost three now and I still am in awe when he dresses himself, or goes to the bathroom without any parental aid.  How did this happen so quickly? 

The Sweet Life

When I was seventeen I worked at a childcare center full-time.  I was primarily in charge of the three-year-old group, and it was so much fun.  Being with Hollis, who is just a couple months from turning three reminds me of those times. 

Hollis has his own way of doing things for sure, and he doesn't like to be told anything for different.  In the winter time we struggled to get Hollis to wear pants and jackets.  He refused, and well we rarely couldn't get him outside.  Oddly, now with the good weather he wants to wear soccer socks and hoodies even on the hottest of days.  We do take these off, despite the fits of rage, and well he doesn't like it.

He has been wearing his Phillies hat non-stop since I put it on him a month ago.  He wears it all day, sleeps in it and he even wears it in the bath.  I don't really fight it, because before the hat, he would complain about how bright every thing was, he would cry that it was too bright and often I felt helpless.  Now he doesn't mention it.

He is becoming a more social creature and I like seeing his social personality grow.  Yesterday while we were at Georgie's baseball game, Hollis came up to me and pointed to an older man and said "He's Brian" and I asked him how he knew that.  He said "I walked up to him and asked what's is your name and he said Brian.  I said I am Hollis."  Brian smiled.  At Georgie's sports games and activities, Hollis makes friends with all the younger siblings.  We had a huge park breakthrough the other day, when Hollis just ran off and played with kids he didn't know at all, while I sat on a blanket talking with momma friends.  He played without me for two hours.

Everyday we build castles, sometimes up to ten times a day.  For his first Christmas I prematurely bought him a set of wooden blocks  These blocks sat mostly untouched until a couple of months ago, and now we build castles everyday.  It is the first thing he asks to do when he wakes up in the morning.  He even asks if we can do it in the morning, right before he falls asleep.  He cycles through his favorite activities every couple of months.  It is the time for castles.

Eating.  I still struggle to get this kid to eat a well-balanced diet.  He just doesn't want to eat my meals, preferring only the meat and fruit just as he did when he was a baby. 

Bunny Love

This year marked Hollis's third official Easter, and this year I had some plans.  I am not religious and I am not traditional or ceremonial. This is fine and usually I am okay with it, but when you have kids you want them to have fond memories of their childhood.  I grew up in mixed family, a working poor family, and despite how hard my parents worked day in and day out, raising five children, they never forgot to celebrate a holiday.

Easter was big holiday in my family.  My Uncle Nate would throw a huge Easter party every year.  There would be an egg hunt and an egg toss.  Everyone would show up and have a great time.

This year, Auntie K was here to help remind us of the importance Easter fun.  She got Hollis all excited to color and decorate eggs.  She found a ninja turtle inspired egg project and Hollis was sold.  He talked about everyday until we made eggs together.  On Easter, I missed a neighborhood hunt and brunch, but luckily Hollis was with friends and went to Lincoln School for a hunt.  He had a great time!

"Turn the page"

Every night when Hollis and I go to bed together, he cuddles on top of me and asks me to tell him about the fun things that I did.  After I tell him something, he asks me to "Turn the page" or "Next, page Momma."  Sometimes I wish we could just go to sleep, and I forget how incredibly special it is that my little man wants is soothed by hearing me talk about my day. 
Hollis and Georgie came to my first crossfit competition a week ago and cheered me on.  This was the first time he got to see me perform all the things I tell him about each night. 

I will be Captain Hollis and you can be Captain Momma

I need to write down what he says when he says it.  By the time I sit down to blog I can barely piece together the adorable things he says.  He uses his semi-limited vocabulary to express some complicated thoughts and they are just so priceless and unfortunately they are likely to have a short shelf-life.  This morning I asked Hollis for a kiss and he said "I just got to do something real quick and I will kiss you later, I promise."

He is very expressive, with words, with hands and with his face.   I love watching him think about what he wants to say while he is saying it.  It is no easy task.

We just spent a lot of quality time together over Spring Break.  We didn't have much childcare arranged, so it was mostly just me and him.  We went to the park, to a birthday party, the whole family spent a day in Portland. While in Portland, we visited OMSI and the Avalon Nickle Arcade.  We had a blast.

First Day of School

For the last month or so Hollis has been asking to go to school.  He also asks to "go back to soccer game" and "can I play baseball game too."  I think it is great he is able to tell me that he has interests and that he wants to get involved.  Last year my best buddy went in on soccer lessons for Hollis. We all (Hollis included) thought that he would be playing soccer during the lessons, but he just didn't like the whole sitting down and singing songs or talking part of the soccer lessons.  It was an hour long and about half of it was sitting down, a quarter of it was running around looking for sharks, and the remaining quarter was playing soccer.  I spent the entire time trying to fight my child to participate like all the other kids.  He didn't want to do it, and honestly I didn't want him to do it either.  We only made to half of the lessons and I never thought about it again.  Hollis, however, is thinking about it again.  



The last few months I have been trying to wrap my head around preschool.  Which one to choose?  How close is it, what days do they
offer, can we bike there, how many hours do they offer, what do they feed the kids, can we afford it??????   I found the Nymphs in Nature program, a one-hour, one day a week outdoor nature play program during my preschool search and told Hollis he was going to school.  He was thrilled.  We talked about what we put in his backpack, and what we might do when we get there.  Today was his first day, and although he was bummed that Georgie and Ayla weren't there, he had a great time. 

When we walked in to the classroom he was immediately engaged in wonder.  There were tanks and cages with animals.  He was greeted by Teacher Laura, and said "I didn't bring my ninjas."  She showed him where to hang up his backpack and jacket and took him to meet the class rats, Salt and Pepper.  He sat with the class during circle time to learn all about beavers.  He helped dress up a classmate as a beaver.  We went outside and played games, collecting cards that represented a beavers needs and he ran around as a beaver trying to escape the teacher posing as predators. 

We went inside again, the kids built a beaver dam out of sticks and mud and then they put houses and trees in a tank full of dirt,  the teacher scraped out a river in the dirt and then she flooded the tank with water and watched the river fill.  Then the kids helped build a dam.  He loved every minute.  Especially when he saw a box turtle crawling across the room toward him.  He smiled ear to ear as the teacher let him touch the turtle.  We had such a great time.  I look forward to sending him to preschool at the same place.  It will also be nice because we can walk and bike their easily.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The other day we went to a friends house and they were making cookies.  The kids were making cookies.  Hollis jumped right in and helped with mixing and putting the drop cookies on a sheet.  I could tell that he was really engaged and that he liked being a part of the process.  I wondered why I haven't done this at home.

The next day was a Co-op day for me, which means I had all three kids with me.  It was the day before Valentine's day so I decided we would make cookies and valentines together to take home.  Maybe not too surprising but Hollis had more difficult time with me.  He just kept eating the sugar, the sugar-peanut butter mixture, the sugar-peanut butter-flour mixture and so on.  I tried to be cool as the mamma I watched the day before, and I think I did okay.  I sort of rushed the whole experience as to keep the kids from eating all of the chocolate chips.  But they did a lot of work, and it was great to give them the baking experience.

The cookies turned out great - although there is not much chocolate chips in them!   Happy Valentine's Day!

Nakakeens, Mousy Ousy and more Hollis-onics

Each day Hollis gets a little bit better at communicating and I know that his made up words will slowly disappear from our family vocabulary.  I just want to take a moment to record some of my favorites.  Usually we a have tough time figuring out what he is talking about and then we adopt the words into our own vocabulary.

Nakakeen - Napkin
Mousy Ousy - Mike Wazowski
Marfa - Martha
Omul - Oatmeal
Ogurd- Yogurt
Bassettball - Basketball
Ocopose - Octopus
Egos - Legos