Fish!

This has been a fantastic week in the Knowlton household...and no sarcasm needed.  It appears we have hit a few milestones this week, and I could not be any prouder of my boys.

Monday consisted of our usual routine with story time at the Thomaston Library.  Pierce was elated to see his friends, and as always, it was nice to have some adult conversation.  Before heading out to the library, we had played soccer in the muddy driveway (or rather Carter played in my car while Pierce and I ran around like fools).  After story time we all agreed that we did not want to go home, since it was about 60 degrees out and the "air feels nice" (as Pierce put it).  So we picked up the dog and went for a nice sprint at Veteran's Memorial Park in Watertown.  There was no feasible way to reach the playground, but the boys were happy to jump in the stroller and head for a few laps around.  And of course the dog was happy that I was RUNNING for 1.5 laps while pushing the stroller.  I guess that all the insane working out and watching what I eat is paying off.

Tuesday was a milestone day all the way around.  Pierce did not cry the entire time he was in Child Watch; only for the first 5 minutes.  This meant that Mommy was able to do a COMPLETE workout.  Yay!  I felt like a million bucks, and then we went to the Children's Museum in West Hartford.  We haven't been there in over a month, and I figured the boys deserved a real day out.  Carter was much more in tune and showed just how much he matured and grew in the last month.  He grabbed my hand and pulled me to all of the different tanks and tried to tell me what the animals were.  Pierce was really into how stuff worked, and was beyond excited to play with some girls he met at the shadow wall.  However, I did find it humorous that Carter refused to climb inside the big whale, while Pierce was running all over the thing testing his echo.  It was Pierce that did not want anything to do with it last year.  It just proves that yes, stages do happen and are completely normal.

From the museum (we did spend over 2 hours there), we headed over to Whole Foods to purchase lunch and a few things for the house.  Carter just wanted strawberries, and he made sure the whole store knew it with his screaming of "berries!" until I caved in and let him eat some.  Pierce wanted to build his own salad (is he really 2 1/2 or 12?), so I let him.  Now what did he choose?  He chose romaine lettuce, red lentils, tuna, grilled mushrooms, cucumber, tomato, and a lemon parsley dressing.  I was excited since I thought he was not going to touch it, and I was going to have a salad.  My excitement dissipated as I watched him eat the entire salad on the way home, and once he was finished he asked for the rest of Carter's strawberries.  Yay for him making super healthy choices!

That night we did our ritual of swim time.  The pool was freezing, but Carter and Pierce of course had a blast.  I asked Carter if he was a fish.  He responded with a big smile and a VERY loud YEAH!  He is doing such a great job with trying to blow bubbles while using his arms and legs at the same time.  And for the first time ever, Pierce strapped on a bubble pack, and let go of us to swim.  I mean head above the water, arms and legs moving kind of swim.  GREAT JOB PIERCE!

Wednesday was a busy day.  I intended to relax, but with the lovely rain/ice mix we had falling from the sky, my only option was to keep busy so the boys would not be stir crazy.  I started the morning off by making more bread from scratch. Carter heard me starting to pound out the dough, and he came running full speed into the kitchen saying, "Me!  Me!"  He was so excited to help me, and I was excited to be able to spend some time with just him.  Pierce of course realized that mommy was doing something just with Carter, and came barreling in too, but they did take turns helping to knead the dough.  After that was done, we headed over to story time in Litchfield, where Carter actually sat and followed directions!  This is an older story time, and I do not expect him to act like 3 year olds.  But he did it!  He even put stickers on his craft project afterwards just like the big kids.  I am so very proud of him!

Later that afternoon we made mint and chocolate cookies where of course the boys licked the beaters.  And prior to licking the beaters they were begging for them.  It was pitiful but funny, all at the same time.


Today was a slower day.  However, while it may have been slower, it was just as great.  This morning was rough.  I had to drag Pierce into Child watch kicking and screaming that he did not like it and did not want to go.  I also listened to it for a good hour and a half prior to it, and was in tears myself thinking I was really torturing him.  However, he did get yelled at for letting out that high pitched scream and telling me no to my face.  But, wouldn't you know as soon as I left the room he stopped crying?  In fact, he told me he had fun and read books the whole time.  Now Carter ran away from me as soon as we got in there to play.  He has his priorities, and playing is it.

After that, we had to go to the store to purchase Amber's flea medicine.  It is getting to be that time of year, and with everything melting, I would like to prevent them from even coming in the house.  All we needed was some flea stuff - yet somehow we walked out of there with all the stuff needed to get the fish tank going again.  Pierce has been asking since before Christmas for a fish tank, and he really is at the age where he can help us.  Carter is also now following in his big brother's foot steps and is loving fish.  I forgot to purchase gravel (duh!), so Daddy and Pierce went out on a date and picked out plants and gravel for the tank.  What I did not realize at that point and time was that we had to swap some furniture from their room to our room, and vice versa.  They had a tall dresser in their room, and they would not be able to see their fishes if we set the tank up on it.  Plus, Pierce has been climbing it lately, and before he knocks it over on himself, it is just better to swap it with our short one.

The amount of clothing that came out of the dressers and the amount of mess that was created was amazing. However, we now have bedrooms that are completely cleaned and a tank that is set up and purifying while we wait to get the fish.  Carter does not understand why there are no fish in the tank and cries fish every time he goes near it.  Dan taped a goldfish cracker to the tank, and that has helped for about a minute at a time.  However, I know that means that Carter is just as excited as Pierce for the fish to come.


Now the boys are in bed, the house is clean, and I am going to be headed to bed soon myself.  Boys, as much as we may all drive each other nuts we are the best little family I could have asked for.  I will always love you...even if I am frustrated and yell, I love you.  I do everything to make you guys be the best you can be, and please do not ever forget that.  I am so excited for a future of road trips, experiments, crafts, and sports, that you cannot even begin to imagine.  Thank you for all of the times we have together; good and bad.  They are what makes us us.