Putting Around

After a day of fun in the Wichita Mountains, we decided to spend Sunday afternoon doing something a little closer to home. We hadn't taken Grayson to play miniature golf for several years, so after church we loaded up and went to a course nearby.

It was another gorgeous day and despite Grayson's focus on playing some arcade games, once we started putting around he was hooked!

Grayson got a hole-in-one on a really challenging hole. We were all thrilled and went to celebrate over lunch and ice cream. 

Afterward, we wanted to soak up more of the sunshine so we headed over to Lake Thunderbird to hit the trails. The guys mountain biked while I hiked the same trail. I'm so excited for warmer weather and the return of getting outside!

Let's be adventurers

We officially kicked off spring break this past weekend and took a day trip down to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. It was a picture perfect day and we all had a lot of fun.

Grayson is really becoming a great hiker and managed to go on two different trails which were nearly 4 miles total. We also explored the nature center on the refuge, saw some bison, elk and longhorn cattle, plus visited the nearby town of Medicine Park.

In typical Grayson fashion, he talked nearly the entire time we were hiking, but it's fun to see what draws his attention. Maybe someday he'll figure out how to exist quietly in nature.

Fueling up with a PB&J on our way to the refuge

He loved all the exhibits in the nature center

Stamping his national park passport and picking up a junior ranger packet.

Our junior ranger ready for adventure!

Trying to lure over some ducks to feed on leftover rolls with daddy in Medicine Park

An emerald pool at the Narrows

Top of Elk Mountain (little man was pretty worn out by this point)

The photo above and the three below are from the highest point in the Wichita Mountains on top of Mount Scott.

How to solve the world's problems

Grayson learns all kinds of things at school, including problem solving and conflict resolution techniques. It's funny when he starts repeating lessons from school because you can tell he's mirroring the language his teacher used in class.

Here's a step-by-step lesson in resolving issues from a kindergartener (and I know a few adults who could benefit from this lesson as well):

Step 1:  Calm down!

Step 2:  Make a plan

Step 3:  Agree on the plan with your friend

Step 4:  Do the plan

After our recent visit to Mississippi, Grayson also added, "Step 5: Have happy hour." Whoops! Guess we made a bit of an impression on him. Although, happy hour to him means snacks and usually some screen time like watching Wheel of Fortune with his Pappa and great-grandmother Mary Lou. No wonder he's a fan. Too funny!

Our Choir Boy

Grayson recently joined the children's choir and last Sunday was his first performance with them as part of Lent. He was nervous the week before and we practiced every night to help him feel more confident. He insisted on taking his lyric sheet up with him, but ended up not needing it.

Afterward, I asked how he felt standing up there and he said the nervousness went away and he enjoyed it. They will sing again next month and then in May do a little musical with several songs and a few simple acting roles. That should be interesting!

For now, I'm just so proud of him for all of the time he spent practicing and for sticking with something even though it seemed difficult at first and he was nervous.

Cabin fever

We're going on three snow days in less than two weeks (not counting snow over the weekend) and Grayson and I are feeling a little cooped up. The amount of snow hasn't really warranted staying home (in my opinion), but his school has been cancelled which makes balancing workdays and caring for a child extremely challenging.

Grayson has been enjoying the extra hot chocolate, eating snow and "sleeping in" (until 7 a.m., goodness kid take advantage of it!).

We've played countless rounds of Guess Who?

We've watched most of the good movies on Netflix, so I decided to introduce Gray to The Karate Kid. So many wonderful life lessons, plus some rockin' 80s hair and clothes so it was fun for all!

He also made this riveting movie with my phone. Did you hear me say we have been inside too long? I have no doubt it will be up for an Oscar in next year's short film category. 

Learning About Dreams & Love

Grayson has been coming home with a lot of schoolwork lately and I always enjoy seeing what he comes up with when prompted by a lesson.

His class was learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. a few weeks ago and he came home with this art project:

It asks what Martin Luther's dream was and then what Grayson's dream is. He said MLK's dream was love, peace and "same bus." When I asked more about that he told me how everything used to be separate for brown people and white people. His dream is "to play together." 

Today he brought home a "heart map" which is part of their Valentine week lesson. He was supposed to draw pictures of things he loves to do. 

From left to right: He loves to Travel (an airplane), Imagine (a castle), Be at home (a house) and Play Minecraft (a very detailed picture of him playing a video game). 

It's fun to see his spelling and how his mind interprets each assignment. His drawings are getting more detailed as well and usually give us a chuckle. 

Boys' Club

I love many things about being the mom of a little boy, but I can safely say it is testosterone OVERLOAD at our house lately.

Between Michael, Grayson and my Dad (aka Pappa) staying with us for a few weeks, it's been all about cars, electronics, Nerf guns, light sabers and even the occasional burp. Everyday I come across something around the house that is completely strange, and something only a boy would do (like stash Nerf bullets in my laptop like the photo above). I came home from work last week to a stack of new tires and wheels in my living room. MY. LIVING. ROOM.

I am desperately overdue for some girl time...perhaps a pedicure is in order.

I don't think he has any clue that tires belong in the garage and not in the house.

Daddy's little helper getting in position to start wrenching on the 4Runner

This little guy may be even more excited than his daddy about these new wheels and tires. Must be a guy thing. 

Talking through their strategy to remove the bumper and get to work. Two peas in a pod.