John had a GREAT day at school ...

... yesterday, even though it was his first day back in almost three weeks! The drop-off was a little tough, but not really more than normal. I got all the kids driving cars on the "road" (a couple of strips of masking tape on the carpet), and he was having fun with that. Plus, his bee and his new stuffed dog (named "Keats, other Keats") helped him to be strong.

When I picked him up, he ran up to me and hugged me and said "I cooperated and was quiet on my mat." He was very happy and got a sucker for getting two stickers. When we left, his friends Whitley and Galen were very sad to see him go, I think Galen thought he wouldn't see John for another 3 weeks...

So that was good, I think I was a little anxious all day.

A new plateau

(Here is Hotwater Camp Day 11)

I am going to venture to say that we are again reaching a new plateau in John's relationship with self-control and discipline. All the talk these days has been about cooperating and manners. He really seems to understand cooperating. He applies it to his own behavior, as well as Naomi's, and is very accurate in labeling what is cooperative and what is not. We also label good and bad manners, but that one isn't as gratifying, because there are so many things that are bad manners! Sheesh.

Along with the understanding of cooperating is the beginnings of awareness of responsibility for his actions. When I ask him to do something and he starts to resist, I say "You can either do this or take a time out and then do this." Usually, if he's not too tired, hungry, or already wound up, he will take a minute and say "I will do this." Then he usually announces, "I'm cooperating, Mama." If he does choose a time out, or is put in one for a serious breach, he usually has a small tantrum in there, calms himself down, and then says "I'm ready to cooperate, Mama." At that point, I go in, and wait while he cleans up the toys he threw in his tantrum.

I am very much enjoying this phase, but am skeptical as usual. The first test of new circumstances will come on Friday with our plane trip!

For all the "commuters" to Grandpaparazzi's Neighborhood

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Blast from the past

I was going through some pictures and movies of John and came across this video. He's two months old and saying "Hi" to us. The canula is also a harsh reminder of what he went through the first few months. Please forgive the parental doting and Juliet directing him. -Tony

Water heater update 4/16

It's here and we have hot water!!!

Water heater update 4/15

The contractor called me today; he's going to pick up the water heater this afternoon and drop it off at the house tomorrow morning. It will still be Thursday or Friday when it gets installed, but it's movement in the right direction! -Tony

More Hotwater Camp Posts on Grandpaparazzi's Neighborhood

Here is Day 6 (aka Easter).

Here is Day 7.

Thanks very much for keeping it going, Pa!

Sympathy for the Common Man

Poor Tony.
He had a very rough day today, at the beginning of a long week that follows a rough week. He has been without hot water for a week and a half now. Today was the day that the new hot water heater was supposed to be installed. However, the one I picked out was the wrong one: too tall and a power-vent model instead of a direct vent model.
After more research, returning the wrong model, calling the gas company, and visiting several water dealer distributors, we have a new one picked out. Evidently there is only one model which will fit our crawl space, and it is the same model we have now. State Industries, 40-gallon, natural gas, direct vent, short model. Unfortunately it has a 6 year warranty (which is the lowest level warranty in water heaters).
Oh well, like I keep being told, "It is what it is."
Hopefully the plumbing contractor can install it on Thursday or Friday...

I'm glad I'm not there, but I feel like a rat leaving a sinking ship...

McKinney Hot Water Camp, Saturday

Go to Grandpaparazzi's Neighborhood for Saturday's exploits!

McKinney Hot Water Camp, Friday

Today Aunt Jenny and Cousin Naomi came over for some fun, fun, fun! We played outside. Naomi ate some oranges while I moved some balls from one bucket to another. Then we played a game where we jumped and ran from one chalk shape to another on the driveway. Then we hid is the shed with Mommy and jumped out and yelled "Surprise" at Aunt Jenny. That was REALLY funny, because Aunt Jenny was VERY surprised each time!!!

Then we went over to the "park" at the next door neighbors' house and swung a LOT. Aunt Jenny made up a great story about two snail shells that we found. I think Mommy and Aunt Jenny told that story 20 more times throughout the day. It was very good, and involved a snail, a monster, swimming, running, and me and Naomi. Naomi's favorite part was when the monster showed up.

Then Mommy and Aunt Jenny pushed us (in strollers) over to McDonald's for chicken nuggets, fries, apples, apple juice, and fun on the climbing playplace there. I was very good at climbing up the shelves and through the tunnels and going down the big slide.

Then we came back to Mimi and Pa's for naps. We were both very tired.
When we got up, we played a little and then got dressed to go to the "tree park," which had a GREAT playground, lots of big rocks, and a giant pile of mulch. There were swings there too. We had fun sneaking up on Mommy, this time she was the one who was surprised every time!

Then we drove back to Naomi's house to pick up her dad, my Uncle Jeff. Then we drove to Mercado Juarez, which is the yummy Mexican food restaurant they go to every Friday. I had chicken rings and fries, and chips, and queso, and tortilla, and one part of a maraschino cherry.

Then Aunt Jenny drove me and Mommy home, where Pa and Mimi were waiting. They went on a date to a movie and dinner, because it was their 43rd wedding anniversary today. Way to go, Pa and Mimi!

Now I'm taking a sink bath, while Pa watches. Then I'll head to bed! It was a big day!

McKinney Hot Water Camp, Thursday

Today was a more "normal" day. Fish-face while watching Veggie Tales, playing with my tractor-trailer train, playing in the garage, because it was kind of rainy and windy. I did take a nap today for the first time since Monday. It was a long one because I was soooo tired! I tried to get out taking it, but mommy was onto all my tricks ("I have to pee." "I have to poo." "What's that?" "Stay here.")

After the nap we went to Walmart to pick up some things, sandals, sand, eggs for Easter, Bob juice containers, and some cookies for Mommy. Then I played in the garage while Mommy worked. After dinner I took a bath in the sink. We watched one Shaun the Sheep story (one of my new favorites) and then went to bed. Sorry there are no pictures. Mommy took some of the sink-bath but Pa is not here to download the camera...

See you tomorrow! Naomi and Aunt Jenny will be coming over and I can't wait!

McKinney Hotwater Camp, first full day

I had lots of fun. Mommy had a break!

I did lots of yard work with Mimi and Pa.





Then I took a well deserved break.


Pa rigged up a fantastic swing.


I love my new swing!


We went to the rental car place to pick up a car for Pa, who is driving to New Braunfels tomorrow to see Great Grandpa.


I have a new IKEA giraffe, fortunately it was here already, because Mommy left my regular giraffe at home. I shared my lasagna with the new giraffe at lunch.


The weather was so nice, we had dinner outside too. It was very European, cheese, apples, oranges, and crackers.


We also did fish face, went for a stroller walk to mail a letter, played with trains, and played the drums with Mommy on Wii. Our new favorite song is "We Live in Brookwood." You might know it as "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys.

Penna team member update

As Tony finishes out the last three weeks of his school year, John and I have taken flight to DFW for a couple weeks with Mimi and Pa. I was starting to stress out about another two weeks of Tony being away from home constantly and was able to find very reasonable airfare from Atlanta, so John and I arrived yesterday.
Aunt Jenny picked us up from the airport and then we had dinner with her, Cousin Naomi, and Uncle Jeff, as well as Mimi and Pa at On the Border. A blast was had by all, and Jenny, Jeff, and I agreed that it was a luxury to sit at a table together without having to be on toddler alert! Naomi and John took a little while to warm up to each other, but began to feed off each other very well. We'll see them again on Friday.
John and I are here through the 24th, which is the day after Tony's second show opens and his last day of class. Then we have a small respite before Tony starts another show and a TBA trip to Colorado for a Penna wedding.
I'll try to post some pics from here soon.

A "New" Park

New to us, anyway. After we got there, I was afraid it would be too hard for John, but he learned some of the basics really fast. I'm very thankful we got home without any falls!