Grandpa Ramsey's Visit

Last week, we were spoiled. My dad, Boyd's Grandpa Ramsey came for a visit. It was a fantastic visit. Boyd and I were very sad when we had to say goodbye and Boyd was pretty much in denial of it until we actually loaded up the car. Grandpa helped so much around the house and organized our garage. I can actually park in the garage now! All my neighbors are in shock-it's big news in our hood. He also went exploring with us and soaked up the rays, as we soaked up time with him. SO many wonderful memories were made. Boyd and his grandpa's Bucks connection was just precious especially as Boyd, dubbed Little Giannis, watched the real Milwaukee Bucks Giannis tear it up in the NBA All Star Game, as well as their connection for trinkets and hidden gems.  My dad was able to teach us both how to play Chinese Checkers which was a really fun evening despite my losing. Boyd picked it up pretty fast too. My dad's visit made me swell with pride as he continues to teach me how to be a good human being. He made so many friends at the bus stop and with friends who would come to the door to play, checking on ones who seemed out of sorts, bonding and chatting it up with others, and he is seriously so kind to everyone he meets. His love for being a grandpa shone bright the whole trip. He taught me about parenting too, to stand my ground a little bit more with Boyd as I watched the respect between Grandpa and Boyd grow as he held his ground on the purple cow deal with Boyd- combining playful fun with firm limits.  I caught myself just watching in awe and admiration so many times his trip, hoping I turn out to be at least half the person he is. I loved our one on one time chatting over lunch too.  I am also so proud of him for continuing to push his own limits as he comes back from his surgery a year ago as well. I am thrilled we were able to celebrate your surgerversary with you dad and with a run.  Thanks for a great visit! 

This was before my dad came. Boyd is such a ham. That face. Turn oatmeal into something spectacular...

like this. Best Valentine's Box in his class if I do say so myself.

I may have mentioned that art is Boyd's favorite thing about school this year. A sample of a few projects that just came home.

We also made it through Candy Bar Bingo at school where I had to do the calling. He picked out a new spirit stick while he was there too.

Still has those same big eyes he looked at me with as a baby.

Exploring different rock specimens .

Grandpa saved a newspaper clipping that has proved very helpful in pronouncing Giannis Antetokounmpo's last name. 

Trinkets.

Bucks fan inheriting a shirt handed down from his cousins.

Official Giannis NBA All Star Game jersey. Boyd was thrilled when the warm ups came off and they were wearing the same thing.

Out of order picture but Boyd is back training for the Tour.

Exploring history at Chatham Mannor which  over looks Fredericksburg.

An old gnarled tree

Grandpa ran while we biked. Then we threw rocks in the river. Boyd is good at skipping them now and has quite an arm as he aimed at logs floating by.

Intense game one with three players.

Here Boyd teamed up with Grandpa and is literally smelling victory. I love this picture.

This one cracks me up too. V for victory.

Lots of snuggles.

Government Island posing.

About to head out on the Surgerversary Run!

Lots of back and forth in terms of speed for Boyd. Tortoise and the Hare.

The crew!

The All Star Game viewing. First thing Boyd said in the morning was, "Who won?" Then he had to go on espy.com to look everything up. We loved watching the dunk over Steph Curry- Giannis came to play.

One of several projects completed . We are all enjoying the chimes.

Early February catch up

Somehow with my jet lag from Japan I missed a photo of Papa's visit with Boyd but I did snap this photo of Boyd's drawing from the Italian restaurant. Papa has taught Boyd some Italian. Boyd also has the opportunity to do a research project on a country of his choosing and he picked Italy.

After dropping Papa off at the airport we went and visited the Thompson's and new baby Hannah.

Boyd has the same picture with Hannah's brother Bennett when he was the same age. Boyd even chose to wear the same shirt.

Photos out of order but some neighborhood pals.

Annual iceskating. The ice and dull skates made for a rough outing this year. Next year we need to get our own skates.

Boyd and Bennett. Bennett loved Boyd so much and Boyd was so proud to make Bennett laugh and laugh playing games with him. Bennett cried when Boyd had to leave.

Selfie.

Awards ceremony at school. For critical thinking and creative problem solving.

Boyd and his teacher.

He should be in a jeans commercial.

Trampoline park to jump around with our neighbor Shawn. They built some cool structures to knock down and jump over into the pits.

Before the Superbowl, Boyd claimed the Sushi Go Championship title.

Tonight we completed this years Valentines. As customary we made them homemade. I love the rocks with Boyd's personal flair. 

One of the few times I can get him to "craft".

Must have gotten his creative juices flowing. "Look, I'm a pirate."

Snip snip snip, now I'm a shark.

No comment. I swear 8 year old boys and anything having to do with their bodies.

First night of working on his Valentine's Container. Tomorrow we need to get and stuff black socks and then attach the signs. He he too funny with the signs.

Sunday night the boys were watching football and I was watching Modern Family on the computer with a headset until I grew another head and we shared.

Earlier in the morning we created a car show with Boyd's 18 hand created and designed cars. They each have a special name. Love his creativity.

Today we added our first pet to the family. Welcome Blue the Beta fish. Also, Boyd asked me not to flush him when he died. Let's hope he loves the bowl we bought and decorated for him and he lives a long happy fish life.

His compassion, patience and care for others. Sometimes I feel like he struggles in this area and then there are moments where he shows it so completely that it blows me away. He loves having Mamitu staying with us. He has accepted her and makes her feel like one of the family. He is so patient with the language barrier and a wonderful teacher with new games and fun. 

The number of reasons I love Boyd keeps on growing.

Creativity. He made Usain Bolt out of K nexs.

He appreciates one on one time. Feeling like schedules were crazy and missing Boyd being home on break I scheduled a date with him after school for hot chocolate. It means the world to both of us and reentered us on 2017 and what really matters.

Family time. Family date night was scheduled for Friday and we went bowling. Boyd was beaming the whole time. I was a terrible bowler but he loved me just the same.

I told him when he sleeps he still looks like the baby in utero and as an infant so he told me to take a picture of him pretending to sleep. 

Beyond blessed with people and things in our lives. This arrived from our nanny, Priyanthi, who watched and loved Boyd when we lived in Falls Church. A new remote control car that even drives on the walls. It is so cool. 

Snow 2017

So, Boyd loves snow and after the blizzard of 2016 he expects every snow to be epic. He was a little disappointed with our first snow of the season but that didn't deter him from sledding and playing in it with friends the majority of the day. Love out neighborhood by the way. Yes, they were sledding in the road in the morning and then the hills in the afternoon. 

Snow runner.

To say he was obsessed with making and throwing snow was an understatement.

Part of the snow crew. They couldn't get enough.

This is a terrible idea and I cringed the entire time shouting you need a helmet but fortunately one safe ride down was enough.

Boyd's first hunting experience

Getting geared up.

This post is full of surprises. Our animal loving child who won't even let people order lobster at dinner went Pheasant hunting. Shocking I know. Even more shocking, he loved it. Our dear neighbor, Doug, across the street had invited Adam on and annual hunting outing after Christmas. Boyd had been invited but we declined. The  morning of I was talking to Boyd about our day, which to be honest wasn't fun (a crazy mommy work day),  when he suddenly said, "I want to go hunting with Dad." Adam and I exchanged looks like ehh what do you think and I spoke up saying he would have to ask Mr. Doug since he had arranged the trip and it was very last minute. Well, Boyd did and Mr. Doug was thrilled. He pulled out all his son Sloan's old gear (he actually said he had already pulled it thinking Boyd would have fun with it and his nerf gear). The boys were all pumped. Then Boyd came home and started getting cold feet. I told him he couldn't back out now because everyone was counting on him and were all excited. We read a new book from Santa about facing problems and seeing them as opportunities (social stories work people) and he was feeling better about the idea. Adam helped him get ready and as soon as he grabbed his lunch pail and headed across the street, I felt like he had grown up 5 years. He was one of the guys. I thought he might cry, puke, tantrum, or spoil the trip but low and behold I received the following pictures from Adam and the report that he loved it. My sensory challenged child actually held a dead pheasant and let them put one down his overall-disgusting but huge.  When he got home he couldn't stop talking about the trip and how Sloan had shot one in the head and he saw brain, etc. He wanted to go again the next day.  True he wasn't doing the shooting but he sure proved me wrong and we have at least a pheasant hunter on our hands. A huge thank you to Doug and Adam for being brave enough to take them with them and props to Boyd for shocking us all (Tammie, Doug's wife was equally surprised). 

The first photo I received from Adam. Look at that look on his face.

Then this one with Mr. Doug. My mouth dropped. Pheasant in hand.

I have no idea what they are doing to that bird.

That face. The crew of kids that went along with their dad's (minus Sloan who made the grown up status). Adam said he thought having all the other kids around probably made a huge difference in his attitude and experience.

Pheasant hunting is exhausting. Boyd fell asleep while I was reading James and the Giant Peach.