More roar pics

Roar or Treat

This year was Aiden's first time to go trick or treating. We got the leopard costume for him last year but he absolutely refused to wear it. In fact, he opposed it so vehemently that if he saw it hanging on the hanger he would start shouting "no" and run away. So we gave up and walked around Publix for their little "Boo-fest" (or whatever they called it)...holding the sad, dejected leopard costume. By Christmas of last year, he loved the leopard and asked to wear it on a regular basis. So we decided that this year we would give the poor leopard another try. He loved it and even more so when I drew whiskers and a nose for him. He was so enamored with himself, that every time he saw his reflection in a glass door he would giggle and then roar really loudly. He would some times forget to say trick or treat or forget about the candy altogether when he saw himself in the door.

Ellie got to be a bumblebee this year (a costume borrowed from her cousin, Lola). She looked so precious in it! She didn't quite know what to do with it but she sat contentedly in the wagon as we walked through the neighborhood just looking sweet.

Potty-training

Aiden started potty training on September 30 (making him about 2 years and 9 months). I read a book and talked to lots of friends for advice before I started, but I still approached the day with fear and trepidation. The first day was rough but not as rough as I thought it would be and by the end of the day he was successfully peeing in the toilet (rather than the little potty I had bought for him). After about 4 days he was telling us when he had to pee on his own (but not all the time so even now I still have to ask him or send him in to go). Number 2, however, has been a whole other story. It is now October 30 and he is still not so sure about that. He seemed afraid or resistant to that at first, so after about a week I made a chart (shown below) and told him that each time he poopoos in the potty he can put a sticker on a number and when he gets to 5 I would take him to Monkey Joe's (always a treat for my little Tigger). Slowly but surely he made his way to number 5. So when my mom was up visiting we took him and his friend, Naiah, to Monkey Joe's. They had a blast and it was a huge hit. He's still not having much success, though, so I may enstate another chart of some sort to encourage him in the process. Fun times in the Jantz home...never thought I'd spend so much time in the bathroom and talking about poop and pee.

The chart (above and below), the potty and, of course, the Spiderman underpants.

Aiden and Naiah tackle each other in the moon bounce.

Apple Picking

Silly faces in the car

Ellie inspecting the pumpkins

Aiden walking through the orchard and signing the alphabet, his favorite pasttime of late.

One of our favorite fall activities is making our way up to Flat Rock, NC, for a day of apple picking at Skytop Orchard. Of course we have to leave early enough to stop by the Flat Rock Bakery for some sumptuous coffee and pastries...there's no way we can travel all the way up there and miss out on their delicious Havarti cheese bagels and bran muffins and cheddar and chives scones, not to mention their amazing Americanos. The orchard had a wonderful crop this year, unlike last year when the late frost pretty much destroyed the crop. We took two trips and got a total 2 bushels with a variety of apples: fuji, mutsu, granny smith, staymen winesap, jonagold (perfect for making applesauce). The weather was absolutely perfect for this time of year-nice and chilly but not too cold. Aiden walked through the orchard spelling out all the names of the apples. Ellie rode in the backpack on Jamin's back (fortunately not mine). The second time we went we hiked all the way to the back of the orchard where the apples had hardly been touched. Branches were touching the ground under the weight of their bounty. We rode the tractor around the orchard (well, Aiden and Jamin did...I had to get off with Ellie just before because she got really upset) and looked at the animals. The kids fell asleep on the way home.

Progress

Here is a picture of Aiden's face the day after the car wreck and another one just a few days ago. It's really healing up so well. In fact, his tongue healed in a matter of days! The others are taking longer (obviously). The one on his left cheek looks a bit "Frankenstein-ish" with the long line and the stitch marks on either side. Jamin remembers the ER doctor telling him that the stitches were dissolvable, but when we took Aiden to the doctor a week later he said they weren't and would definitely have to be removed. It took Jamin, the doctor and the nurse to hold him down while he was getting his stitches removed...poor guy!!! But he's doing much better now. I think the biggest trauma he suffered, though, was emotional. He still talks about all the fire trucks and ambulances and police cars that came to the wreck and the hospital and the stitches. I wish he could express more about it, though, especially since I don't remember anything. One day a month or so after the accident he was at Mammy's house and a commercial came on TV that showed a car accident. He just stopped and stared at the TV screen and then clutched Mammy's hands and said "hold hands."

Hiking

On Sunday, our church had a service in the mountains on Bald Rock. It was a beautiful day with a clear view and the leaves were all changing colors. Afterwards we went to Caesar's Head for a hike. We got lost somewhere in the middle of the hike so I don't even know how far we hiked but it was a great hike nonetheless.

     Quick family shot

                                                      Taking a rest after getting lost.

                  Posing at the lookout

Aiden jumps off the rocks

                              Daddy and Ellie

Eating the cake

Notice the progression in these photos: