"He's a Very Enthusiastic Learner"

You've come a long way, Bo. And we are so proud of you for it!

Tonight was Bo's teacher conference at preschool. What can I say, that boy is rocking his letters, numbers, colors, body parts, writing, cutting and, perhaps most importantly in our book, his social skills! This preschool gives the kids a test four times a year. By the end of the year, they want the children in Bo's age group to score a 75 on the test. Bo is currently at 135 out of a possible 150. It's awesome how well he's doing.

Rewind to a year ago and we were in a very different situation... Weekly calls about severe behavior problems from daycare. Suspensions from daycare. And worst of all, he just seemed so unhappy. We were stressed out, he was stressed out. It was a rough time for everyone involved.

And then we learned about Lil' Scholars preschool and Bo's dairy intolerance. And life changed dramatically for our household. It wasn't overnight by any means, but the new preschool/daycare environment and staff were amazing. They provided consistency, discipline and rewards for a boy who needed structure and understanding. The dairy diagnosis showed us that the poor kid just didn't feel well most of the time. He was grumpy because dairy made him nauseous. He was angry and defiant and didn't know why and couldn't control it. Take away dairy, add some vitamins and we began to see a softer side of Bo.

Now, he is a smiling, loving sweetheart of a joker who is the most enthusiastic learner in his class! His teacher said he's the first one to announce the new letter of the day and shouts it out to everyone. He's the first to raise his hand to answer a question and he wants to be at the front of the group for every book and activity.

Of course, he still has his mama's temper and he's no angel. He still throws tantrums a couple times a week. He still fights with his friends. He's still working on sharing and listening. But I never wanted or expected him to be "perfect." I just wanted him to be happy, healthy and excited about learning. And that's just what he is. Way to go, Bo!

Oh Wednesday, you were not kind

Bo and "Big Guy" at the Sculptural Garden. Bo always walks like he's on a mission. Confident, sure of himself and not easily deterred from his goal destination.

Today was madness at work. It was just one of those days when 100 things were due and there was no time to do them. I won't bore you with details. Kim, if you're reading, way to hang in there, girl. She's one of my coworkers, and well, her job sucks. There's no other way to describe it. Sorry, Kim.

Anyway, after work I picked up Mazy from his playdate at his friend Evan's house, and then we picked up Bobo from daycare, and then we met Mom for supper at The Bass Pro Shop restaurant. I can't remember the name of it, but the boys love the fish motif. Mazy the super negotiator somehow talked my mom into buying him a present... He came home with a four-foot great white shark pillow. He spent most of the night wrestling with it, attacking us with it and pretending it was cousins with the great white shark pictured on his tshirt. Bo picked out a four-wheeler toy with a little man and a chainsaw or his present.

I am looking forward to a day off tomorrow with the boys to officially celebrate Bo's 2nd birthday. Hooray! None of his presents are wrapped yet. I haven't baked the cupcakes. The new wading pool hasn't been blown up and filled with water yet. Sigh. Right now I'm saying it will all get done tomorrow during their nap time...

Quick job update: Well, I am moving forward with the job I really didn't want to move forward with. Had a phone interview today with their recruiter. The VP wants lunch with me on Friday. Good money. But it's Johnston, Iowa, not exactly the western Iowa job I dreamed of. I want to meet the VP and hear more about the position. They're after my writing skills and ag background, but said the job is about 20 percent travel with a client based in Indianapolis. Strangely, I had a client based in Indianapolis last year and got to know the city quite well. I like it.

It's time to end this day. More tomorrow after birthday fun.

"Bo"cabulary word of the day: George Hat (proper noun) Context: "Mama, read George Hat! George Hat!" Translation: Mother dear, please be so kind as to read me a Curious George book. I love Curious George and his friend, the man with the yellow hat."

2nd Birthday Madness

Today is the day I am getting a handle on all the details for Bo's birthday. I sent out emails to all the guests (sorry if you were not invited, we just have a LOT of family members and the guest list grows rapidly!) to find out who's coming and how many we'll serve.

Right now: 25 yes. 23 unknown. I have the menu planned. Shawn is ordering the cake tomorrow. Mom and I are picking up all the decorations and stuff tomorrow after work. Friday I'll get groceries. Saturday I'll cook and prepare the house for possible guests. Sunday will be the party -- rain or shine. It's at a local park, in a shelter house. We'll have fans if it's beastly hot, which it likely will be...

Also today, I emailed that DSM agency I sent my resume to last week. I haven't heard from them and want to make sure they received it. They probably did. And I probably offered too high of a salary range, but I would like a response so I know whether to cross them off my potentials list.

"Bo"cabulary word of the day: guy (noun), meaning: any man in Bo's life whose name he doesn't bother to learn, which is pretty much everyone, sometimes including Shawn. (Which kind of cracks me up.) "Bye bye, Guy!" "Hey guy, hey." "Biiggggg Guy. Hi Biggggg Guy" -- this was his response to the large ABC man sculpture at the sculpture garden on Saturday night. He was leery of this guy and would not go near him. But from a distance he would wave to him and say hello and goodbye. His manners are improving.

Today's photo: The Big Cheese and a little mouse. Bo's Halloween costume last year -- we made it, and it was so fun! He was so cute in those big gray mouse ears. And of course, any opportunity to wear his CheeseHead is a good day for Shawn.

Flat-tire Monday

Jeez, is there anything worse than beginning the work week by discovering your tire is flat. Pancake flat. Not-going-anywhere flat.

Luckily, Shawn to the rescue. He offered to take the tire off, haul it to Nevada, get it patched and bring it home with him tonight. All I had to do was drive his car to daycare to drop off the boys while he did his Mr. Fix It job. Then he'd drive me to work.

Well, sounds simple, but it wasn't. Bo was mad and did NOT want in his car seat. After hitting me in the face four or five times, I got mad and said a word I shouldn't have said. Mazy then proceeded to tell me how I should not say that word, and that only pirates can use naughty words because they don't care about the law.

I then proceeded to back out of the garage, but not before turning too sharply and hitting the side of the garage, tearing off the trim, chipping the door frame and scratching the car. Arrghhh! That really helped my mood. And yes, there were more expletives. Mazy knew better than to say anything. Kids can sense it. "Red alert, red alert, mama is about to freak out!"

I took a deep breath backed down the driveway, went to daycare and returned home to begin the day again.

It went much better from then on. I'm now at work, waiting for Shawn and the boys to pick me up so we can go home or maybe to the grocery store for supper and shopping. It depends on Bobo's mood. OK, I am finally going to publicly admit it: the boy has my temper. Actually, he has my temper from when I was younger and didn't control it better. It flares occasionally these days, like this morning, but not often. So I know my sweet, beautiful Bo will one day grow out of his rages and short temper as well.

Monday health update: I worked out four days last week. Ate very healthy during the work week. Not so great on the weekend, but not terrible. Results: down three pounds!

Also, since this is Bo's birthday week, all pictures this week will be a tribute to him. Beautiful, curious, hot-headed, energetic, athletic, double-dimpled Bourne Sutton Wirt Hanson! I love you, Buddy!

"Bo"cabulary word of the day: cheenchi, noun. In Bo language it means blanket, sheet or comforter. He loves to have a cheenchi when we read books together. He loves to steal Mazy's cheenchis every morning when he gets up and is allowed to terrorize his brother. We love bocabulary words!

Me and Bo Today

Oh beautiful day -- how I love to wake up knowing I have three days off work to spend with Shawn and the boys! The sunshine came streaming in at 5:55 and woke me up. I lied in bed until 7, and then crept into the boys room and woke up my little morning buddy, Bo. He and I arrived at the farmers market by 7:25, and boy oh boy, it was the place to be today. Cars and people everywhere! Bo and I parked illegally, knowing we wouldn't be too long and headed into the market. Dogs, strollers, wheelchairs, wagons, cat strollers, you name it and it's at the market.

We went straight to Anita's Garden to buy a mini hosta for my mother-in-law. She said you're supposed to plant them in front of your clematis plants and she needed another for her landscaping. We picked out a pretty variegated hosta and then headed for Something Italian for some breakfast pizza. The line was already about 20 people deep. We bought one slice for $4, had them cut it in two pieces -- one for Bo to eat immediately and one to wrap in tin foil and take home to Mazy. Then we checked out a new soul food stand called Mother Dear's. Food looks great. I might have to try it next time. Next we made a quick stop at Iowa Orchard's stand to sniff the fresh strawberries. The boys picked the first strawberries in our garden last night -- Bo was a champ at spotting them! He picked them and ate them before Mazy knew what happened! We only had a few, and I was so tempted to buy a quart of them but at $5 a pop, I thought I'd wait and take the boys to the Berry Patch -- a you-pick-strawberry farm up near Nevada -- next Friday. They'll love it! Finally, a quick stop at one of the Dutch bakeries for a Dutch Letter for Shawn. Then we high-tailed it out of there before it got any more crowded.

Ate a quick breakfast at home with Shawn and Mazy, drank some coffee and then headed to the yard for some quick work while it was cool. Swept out the garage, gave Mazy and Bo sponges and soap so they could scrub down the stainless steel garbage can in the kitchen, and then came in for a morning of house cleaning.

Shawn and Bo just left for Nevada for the afternoon. Delivering Belinda's hosta and having lunch with them. Bo's going down for a nap in another hour or so, and I'm doing some major house cleaning while I'm alone. Then I'll have two wonderful days to play and have fun on the farm!

Everyone enjoy your Memorial Day weekend! I'll make a bouquet of flowers and take to Grandma Betty's grave on Monday, and some for Gerald and Ermadale and all the rest of our relatives at Morrisburg Cemetery. Hey, go to the link on Grandma's name. I just found a cool site when I searched for Morrisburg. There's a photo of her gravestone and you can sign in to the site and write a message and leave some flowers on her page! Kind of cool!