Toby's Surprise Day

Every year, around Toby's birthday, Aaron and I like to take a day off and do something fun; just the three of us. Toby was born on a Wednesday so, we always do it the Wednesday before his birthday.

This year we went to Boston for the day. We're lucky that Boston is less than an hour away and we have so many options of fun things to choose from! We didn't plan Boston by accident, it was actually very strategic in that Boston is home to THE ONE AND ONLY CURIOUS GEORGE STORE!  If you know my kid you know how he feels about "Ah-Ah."

On Saturday May 16th, to kick off his birthday, we had a family party at our house. This year's theme was Curious George and it was ADORABLE. But, more on that later. We still have a few things up our sleeve for his actual birthday on Saturday May 23rd, but we had been planning this particular day for months.

As of Tuesday night, he had NO CLUE what was to come the next morning. He knew he had a special surprise but, other than that, he knew nothing. He woke up and said, "It's my surprise day!"

When Aaron asked him what he wanted for breakfast, he said "pupcakes" (pancakes)
so, he and Dada made them!

Then we packed a lunch and headed to the New England Aquarium. He was SO excited!

He loved the touch and feel tank except when the man scooped up a hermit crab. Toby immediately told him sternly, "Put him back. He goes in water! You'll hurt him!" (He has such a big heart!)

 After we spent the morning at the aquarium, we ventured out into the beautiful city of Boston for the second part of Toby's "surprise" day.

What would a trip to Boston be without a ride on the carousel?

 

And, in case you're wondering what I would look like if I was a three-year-old-boy,
see picture above.

After the carousel, Toby informed us that, despite a huge breakfast and non-stop snacking, he needed a pretzel. Today we met all of his demands. So, off to Fanuiel Hall/Quincy Market we went

That pretzel was yummy but, an ice cream would certainly hit the spot!

For the final surprise we headed to Harvard Square in Cambridge...

Yes, there is a store, devoted entirely to Curious George. It's the only one in the world, in fact.

It was basically Toby's Disneyland.

Unfortunately, the Curious George in the airplane wasn't for sale. I mean, not that I asked or insisted, or tried to grease their palm or anything. I'm just, you know, assuming that it's not for sale. They probably wouldn't even sell it for brand new crisp one hundred dollar bill if it was offered to them. Allegedly.

Toby didn't ask for anything in the store. We couldn't believe it! He was just so happy to be there. So, we took it upon ourselves to purchase a few little souvenirs for him. Nothing huge... just a couple of toothbrushes and a magnet.

On the way back the car Toby found a "castle" near Harvard (his future Alma Mata) and wanted to go knock on the door. 

He certainly felt like a king for the day. He fell asleep before we hit the highway to come back home. When we got back to town and we asked him what he wanted for dinner, he said "Pizza!"

Which he ate in his new big-boy chair.

It was a perfect day and I'm really loving the tradition of making a day of fun for him.

What I'm not liking is that my baby is THREE. Time goes too fast.

"Hufflepuff!" -The Sorting Hat

If you have no idea what the title means, then move along; don't waste your time reading this because you obviously haven't read Harry Potter... and we probably shouldn't be friends.

In the series, the Sorting Hat is an old hat that sorts first year students into one of the four respective houses. Hufflepuff is known as being the house valuing hard work, patience, loyalty, and fair play rather than focusing on a particular aptitude in its members. Hufflepuffs value the group as a whole and are known for tolerance. Hufflepuff is the house of general human decency and kindness. Sadly, the Hufflepuff house gets almost as much hate as Slytherin.

If you think about it, J.K Rowling pretty much covered society in defining the four houses; we all fit somewhere and life pretty much sorts you. People who know anything about Harry Potter and the four houses, have probably mentally sorted their friends and family. Or maybe you haven't... and that's just me.

Anyway, I digress. Today, I realized my son is a Hufflepuff.

From the moment he woke, Toby said he wanted to go for a hike at the "Bird Bond" (Audubon Center.) It's no exaggeration when I say we've probably been there about 40 times since he was born. He loves it there. I love it there. So we go there. A lot.

Whenever we go, we must cross a small footbridge in order to get to the hiking trails. Anytime we cross any footbridge (anywhere) we always say, "Tromp! Tromp! Tromp! Who's that tromping on my bridge?!" which is a reference to the Three Billy Goats Gruff. (If you haven't read that classic children's story either, you might as well go back to bed and just start life over.) Today, as he approached the bridge he said, "Mama! Today Toby be the troll!" (Meaning, he wanted to say "Tromp! Tromp! Tromp!" all by himself.) I said, "Okay, Bud. Today you can be the mean old Troll."

I don't know if I can properly communicate what happened next, and some may think it's petty, but I'm incredibly proud. Toby stopped walking and turned to look at me. The look in his eyes made him seem years older than three. What he said next, completely schooled me. It is a moment I want to remember forever.

"Mama, the troll isn't mean. Him sad. Him can't live in a house and him hungry under his bridge. The troll is sad, Mama, him is not mean."

At three-years-old, my son has a clue about the human condition. He has empathy and insight. The world can be tough, and often people walk around in judgement of others; so nearsighted and intolerant. I hope Toby never loses that part of him that sees beyond the obvious.

My kid is a Hufflepuff and I'm so proud.

On saying yes... and worms!

Parenting is a balance. We're all told how important it is to say "No" to your kid.

I think it's equally important to say "Yes" to your kid whenever possible.

This week is a Yes.

Yesterday, Toby asked me to stay home from work. He was sad that I was leaving and it made me sad too because Aaron is on school vacation. So, after I left for work yesterday, I thought, "Why not stay home? Why not say yes?"

My kid wasn't asking for a new toy, he was asking for more time.

So, I worked out the rest of the day and then cancelled the rest of my week (which consisted of two of the three days I work each week.) There are some weeks this wouldn't be possible but, after I looked at my schedule, I realized I could do it. So, why not say yes?

Today started my unexpected vacation. This morning, while Aaron and I were making pancakes, we let Toby watch an episode of "Ah-Ah" (Curious George) it was the Curious George Digs Worms episode. Toby was mesmerized. At the end of each segment it shows children doing real life things and today, they had a worm farm. At breakfast, (while eating his rabbit shaped pancakes) Toby asked if he could have a worm farm. I thought, "Why the heck not?" So, he and I went out to get all the necessary supplies.

On Pinterest I found some cute ideas for a worm farm and, so, we made one. (Check out THIS site)

All in all there are about 10 nice looking creepy crawlies in there. The worms are going to live inside for a few days and then they will be released into our compost pile. Toby got a big kick out of them and needed to "study the wormies" before bed (or he could have just been stalling, but I like to think he wanted to see them.) 

And speaking of compost... for Easter we the Easter Bunny brought Toby the DVD Curious George Goes Green. It's all about recycling, gardening, and composting. Since then he has been obsessed with our compost pile. His daily "chore" is to put water in the compost pile (which he insists on doing all by himself.)

I'm not sure what this week will bring, but I hope there is a lot of "yes" involved.