Princess Liyah

A princess graced us with her presence this morning.  Her mommy, the queen, had a date with GG (the dowager) to go kayaking so we got to entertain royalty.

Cousins in the kitchen

This is one princess who does not need a prince (because she stole Darth Vader's lightsaber (with his hand still attached))

Having a chat with Lord Vader, I assume about the hand situation

I was informed that this is a princess and a prince in a castle.  Later it would be a princess and a crocodile.

The epic lightsaber battle that happened in the living room, kitchen, office, stairs, and bedrooms of my house

Even Jedi need a break for peanut butter crackers.

 My niece is, in a word, awesome.  I was so glad we got to hang out this morning and really sad when it was time for soccer class and Giddy and I had to leave.  Hopefully we will get together again soon!

Men in White Shirts

We convinced our friend Craig to come over for dinner tonite by promising burgers and bacon ranch pea salad.  The husbandit pointed out while we were eating that children born the day we (Craig and I) met would be celebrating their 13th birthdays now.  Mac and I were kids who changed schools a lot growing up so knowing someone for that long is mind boggling for us.  It also probably explains why these guys have all have started dressing alike.

Gideon is a big fan of Craig's.  Last year we mentioned he was coming over and Gideon declared that Craig was his best friend.  Tonite at bedtime Giddy came downstairs to tell Craig goodnight and added "see you in the morning!"  We then explained that Craig would be leaving tonite, which was disappointing but Gideon took it in stride.  After Gideon went to bed the guys decided to watch True Detective while I went upstairs to work on new baby's mobile.  At some point Mac opened the front door and Gideon, who we all thought was asleep, yelled "Good bye Craig!"  Apparently the little guy had been staying awake in an effort to say goodbye to his best friend.  He's pretty awesome.

Meet the Teacher

Gideon is starting preschool next week.  You read that right,  NEXT. WEEK.

Today we got to go meet his teachers for the first time.  It was hectic, I had a lot of paperwork to fill out and due to some contractor related surprises Mac didn't get to come with us like he had planned but in the end Gideon enjoyed it so much he didn't want to leave.  My mom was also a great support, filling out forms in the car as we drove to the school, asking the teachers good questions, signing up to volunteer in Gideon's room, and basically being a pro at this whole getting ready for school thing.  We are really lucky to have GG so close.  As we were leaving she suggested we go ahead and get pictures with his teachers now since the first day of school would be pretty crazy for everyone.  I mean seriously, my mom is a genius.

One of his teachers and I share a due date

Pretending to be docile

Monkey boy!

Getting Some Rest

So I am fully into the entirely uncomfortable stage of  pregnancy now which is pretty hard on my pride and mommy guilt.  I hate not being able to do stuff for myself, especially when that stuff involves playing with Gideon or helping around the house.  Luckily Gideon is usually pretty content to join me in bed in the afternoons and even Mac keeps me company from time to time.  I love these guys.

Dinner AND a Tournament

A few weeks back I bought a deal online for Medieval Times.  Our trip to Scarborough Fair back in May revealed Gideon's love of knights and jousting and I have fond memories of a trip my old high school theater class took to Medieval times over a decade ago.

Luckily my husband has a better memory than I do because when I woke up this morning he proposed we actually USE the deal I bought instead of letting is expire.  So we called and got our tickets worked out and then waited on pins and needles for showtime.

We didn't really know what to tell Gideon other than that we were going to a castle to see knights and eat dinner; I have no idea what he expected but it was quickly apparent that he was not disappointed.

We got there pretty early so the wench (yep) who sold us our tickets suggested we try out the Torture Museum.  I asked if it was too scary for little kids and he assured me it was not.  That probably should have been a red flag.  It was pretty lame, and dark, and slightly stinky, and definitely not something we would do again.  Gideon thought it was fine but it turned out to be a long line of people basically waiting to get to the exit.

Gideon really liked these masks, I am sure they have some sort of horrific purpose, I stopped reading the wall plaques.

After the museum we walked around the atrium of the castle waiting for the show to begin.  We let Gideon choose a souvenir because we are souvenir lovers and he picked a little dragon that roars and named him Super (or Wuper in Giddy speak).

"He Wuper"

Then finally it was time to go inside the tournament hall.  We were assigned the black and white night when we walked in and I was pleased to discover that he had a long mane of luxurious ginger hair.  Mac found a flag peddler and we settled in to being the best damned residents of whatever made up place supported the ginger haired knight that EVER existed.

I won't lie, some of the show is boring, but that's okay because you just spend that time eating.  Also they have a full bar in the castle now which I am sure would have made the show waaaaay more interesting if I were not with child.  I am a genius and remembered before we left the house that you are expected to eat half a chicken with your bare hands and thus brought silverware for Gideon who loved the chicken, bread, and potato while letting us eat his soup, ribs, and apple turnover (thanks kid!).  It was so much food we ended up getting a to-go box.

The husbandit went to the bar for a beer and also brought this wonderment of whip cream and strawberries back for me.  Obviously he is MY knight in shining armor.

But MOST of the show was actually pretty thrilling.  I can always tell when Gideon is having a good time because he starts asking if it is time to leave, " Is it over?  Time to go mommy?  Is it time to go bye bye?" followed by a look of relief when I tell him there is still more to see.  Our knight won all of the pre jousting games and would cockily toss his beautiful locks as if to say "no big deal" with each win.  I'll admit, I was feeling pretty confident about his chances of winning the whole thing.  Of course that means he lost in the first round of jousting.  But that's okay, as each new pairing was announced we would choose a new knight to cheer for... who would them promptly lose.  I was pretty proud of our kid, he took all of the losing really well, cheering hard for our knight anyway and basically being entirely entertained by the whole spectacle, especially with the introduction of what he called "the bad guy knight".  If too much time went by between sightings he would turn to me and ask "Where the bad guy knight mama?  Where he go?"

They had his complete attention

 All in all it was a great night, so great that discovering my car completely dead in 100 degree heat afterwards didn't even bring us down.  Luckily the guys who parked next to us had extra long jumper cables and Gideon loved getting to go back in the castle to meet the king who he said "thank you, bye bye!" to.  With little sister less than two months away I am anxious to get in as much Giddy funtime as possible and this dinner and tournament was definitely fun.

These Kids...

Our good friend Michelle and her awesome family recently moved to a new house that is sadly farther away from us than the old one.  This makes us sad but she actually moved closer to our good friend Emily so at least we all still get to have awesome playdates, especially since Michelle's new house has a POOL!

I am so glad that these kids have the opportunity to grow up together, and that I am getting to raise my children with the helpful advice of these two great moms.

Yesterday was our first visit to the new house and the kids had CRAZY fun.

Scardey Daddy

Last night after bedtime Gideon asked me for some ice water.  Knowing how difficult the stairs are for me these days (hello 31 weeks pregnant!) daddy went to fetch the water.  Then this conversation happened:

Gideon:  I want some ice water.
Me:  Daddy went to get the water for you.
G:  No, you go get the water.
M:  Daddy can get the water.
G:  No, he can't, its too spooky downstairs.  Daddy is afraid of monsters and ghosts!
M:  Daddy isn't afraid
G:  Yes he is!
M:  Why do you think daddy is afraid?
G:  When I pretend to be a monster daddy say "AHHH!!!"
Daddy (walking in the room):  I got the water!
Gideon:  Raaaaahhh!!!  Monster!!!
Daddy:  AHHH!!!!
Me: sigh.

Bridge Man

Said to me today:

"I Bridge Man!  I make Bridges! (lays on floor)  Time to Bridge away!"  (runs away)

Donuts

It was cloudy when we woke up this morning so I decided to pretend it was fall and make little biscuit donuts. Gideon helped me with the cinnamon sugar/ate all the little donut holes.

Hero Costumes

I heard rumors about awesome superhero costumes at Costco so I sent Gramma CC to check it out for me (someday we will have a Costco membership).  She found some GREAT costumes and Giddy is pretty thrilled about it.   He made a very fierce Wolverine before switching to his beloved Iron Man. 

I wasn't home but Mac said that the only way he could get Gideon to take off the Iron Man suit for naptime was to convince him that Tony Stark doesn't sleep in his armor. Then they had to lay it out next to the bed so it was ready to put on the moment he woke up, which is exactly what he did before settling down for snack.

Storm Watchers

Normally I sleep in on Sundays but I decided to get up this morning in case Mac needed help building the ark (because rain). Luckily these two love storm watching. Perfect morning for it.

Later they snuggled up and watched How to Train Your Dragon for the first time.  We had been a little worried that Giddy would get scared but he loved it (except for the last battle, which he asked me to fast forward through).

Eating Daddy Pickle

Maybe our best video ever. Gideon used his magic powers to turn daddy into a giant pickle who he then chased around the house trying to eat. When daddy pickle collapsed in exhaustion on the floor Gideon reassured him by saying he would eat something else. Daddy asks for a kiss that turns him back into daddy and Gideon says "not yet" and then gives him a hug

Slow Down Kid

Gideon decided to grow up a bunch today and it is killing me a little bit. He started his new soccer class (for 3 1/2 year olds!) and switched to his new booster seat in the car (with 5-point harness!), and got a new big boy backpack for school which starts in about 2 weeks (R2D2 with lights and sounds, thanks for the heads up Auntie Bethany!). 

Slow down kid.

He's come a long way since his first class.  Now he can balance on one foot, dribble the ball, and listen to directions from Coach Mike (most of the time)

He loves his new seat

Piderman

"I'm Piderman! Shew shew shew! Nothing can wop me!"

Last Ultrasound

Gramma GG and Gideon accompanied me to my last ultrasound today in hopes of getting a good last look at baby sister.  Unfortunately our tech was pretty disinterested in us in general so the entire experience was underwhelming, but we did get one last picture to share.

Only 9 more weeks to go!

The big boy room

Gideon's new room (our old art room) is coming along slowly.  We have lots of big plans for in there and I hope there is time for all of it.  Mac has really been the hero of this story, spending every weekend cleaning, pulling up carpets, patching walls, painting, leveling the floor, etc, etc, etc.  Right now it feels a bit endless but I am proud of what we (mostly Mac) have accomplished so far and I know Gideon is going to appreciate the end result.  Here is what we have so far:

Gideon's only real request for his room was that it be blue.  So, in what was absolutely a world record for "Fastest Paint Color Chosen by Mac and Kristin Edwards", we took only 2 days to decide on Empire Fleet Blue (fate right?) for Gideon's room.

I bought these James Hance prints a couple of years ago because I just KNEW they would be perfect.  Also I was right.

Giddy already loves his big boy bed from Ikea

The only other piece of furniture from his old room that will follow him to his new room (love Ikea furniture!)

Gideon does not yet know how awesome h is desk lamp is going to be (thank you amazon.com for having awesome stuff)

Picked up this ceiling fan last weekend at Lowe's and of course my awesome husband has already hung it up

We are definitely getting this Death Star like light from Ikea

I have no idea how to quilt but this has GOT to happen for Gideon, anyone out there want to get paid to make this for me?

Found these stuffed animals on Woot! and had to have them

Curtains for his reading area...now I just have to find them...

Working on a custom order of these amazing outlet covers from idillard on Etsy

 It is hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago that room looked like this!

In my defense this is only what it looks like when you start to pull everything out to box it up, previous to this it was actually a functional room.

Daddy Hulk

Gideon and Mac like to play "Good Guys and Bad Guys" which usually results in daddy (bad guy) being put in jail (the guest bathroom) by Gideon (good guy/ghost). Today daddy found a tube of Halloween make up in one of the drawers and turned his incarceration into an opportunity to transform into a very angry Hulk.

Gideon was at first terrified and then THRILLED

Have I mentioned that I married the BEST MAN EVER?

Cousin Time

I got a great deal on a game card at iT'Z which meant we could invite Auntie Bethany and Cousin Clara to come out and play with us!  After a ton of pizza we hit the games.  Once Clara got acclimated to the noise we played all the games and won all the tickets and got some great prizes at the "ticket store".

SKEEBALL!

You better believe I hit the jackpot!  I am getting pretty good at this jackpot thing.

Awesome pinata game

So much pony love

Its a lot cheaper when you tell them they are playing the game instead of actually putting any money in

Wheel...of...FORTUNE!

Liyah was in love with that horse

I love this picture

Pretending to be totally normal children

On our way out I could not resist buying some tiny cinnamon sugar donuts.  The kids loved watching the little machine drop the dough into the hot oil and DEAR LORD they were so good.