Train Excitement

An hour long drive, ride on a shuttle bus from the parking lot, and waiting in long lines - apparently worth it (at least for Ian and Dexter)!

Waiting for Ian

Elissa invited Dexy to join her, Jason, and Ian at a special train show today (some women sets up the trains on her private grounds and gives the proceeds to charity).  This worked out well for me - I was able to wrap up some work before we go on vacation and rearrange Dexy's room (something that has been impossible to do when he's home). Ben dropped Dexy off on his way to work and Dexter had to wait with Elissa while Ian and Jason finished up tennis lessons.  The plan was for Dexter to help Elissa pull some weeds in the garden but that plan went out the window when Dexy saw Ian's toy trains.  Shouldn't have even let Dexter in the house...

At least he played quietly by himself so that Elissa could get some work done (the dude has had practice playing quietly while Mommy gets work done).

Eating Only the Crust

After all of the pie-making effort, Dexter only wanted to eat the crust.  

"Mommy, next time, can we make a pie without the insides? I only like the crust."

Egg Washing the Tractor Pie

Our first trip of the season to the farmer's market last weekend yielded a ton of blueberries. We figured we would make a pie with the few pints that remained uneaten. Dexy was a huge help: measuring flour and sugar and mixing the blueberries. We decided to cut the vents into the shape of a tractor.

Dexter got really into painting the top crust with the egg wash before we put it into the oven.

He slathered so much egg wash on it that it almost looked like it had scrambled eggs baked on top when I took it out of the oven :)

A Consequence for Mommy

Dexter has been responsive to receiving consequences as a mechanism for redirecting naughty behavior.  Most of the time, just the mention of him getting a consequence will make him follow Mommy or Daddy's instructions.  In the past couple of weeks however, when we threaten a consequence if he continues some sort of naughty behavior, Dexter has been letting us know if he's OK with that consequence and, if he's OK with the consequence, he continues the behavior we are trying to stop!

A couple of days ago, I gave Dexter a consequence he was not OK with and he promptly announced that he was giving Mommy a consequence, took Mommy's puzzle book from the coffee table, and placed it on the "naughty shelf" (where we place his toys that are taken as consequences). Ben and I could hardly contain our laughter as we explained to Dexy that consequences didn't work that way. 

Boat Afficionado

We were pulled into the boats section on our way out of the Bass pro Shop by an excited Dexter who pointed out EVERY SINGLE boat motor,

and climbed aboard EVERY SINGLE pontoon boat on display.

Showing Daddy Around the Bass Pro Shop

Daddy wanted to get some lures to go with the fishing poles we got him and Dexy for Father's Day so we headed back to the Bass Pro Shop this week. Dexy had a blast "showing Daddy around". First stop - the wall of fish.

 The anti-gravity chair.

 "Dexter's" tent.

"Sleeping" on the cot in "Dexter's" tent.

Father's Day Car Show

After Dexy and I bought a couple of fishing poles for Daddy for Father's Day and Daddy got back from his church gig, Daddy took Dexy to the Annual Father's Day Car Show.

 They had a blast looking at all the cars and big engines and trucks (and Mommy had a nap).

When they pulled up to the car show and parked in the nearby Culver's parking lot, Dexy thought they were at the car show and started commenting on all the "cool" cars (of visitors to the car show).



Posing in front of his favorite truck.

Tying One On

An orange belt, that is!

Enthusiastically Accepting His Orange Belt

Orange Belt Testing

Dexter (and Kurt) successfully completed their forms in testing for their orange belts!

Out of Formation

Apparently, you don't have to stay on your spot in order to earn an orange belt...

 Dexy did manage to perform all the stances,

Slightly after everyone else.

Pre-Test Energy

On Friday, Dexy tested for his orange belt in Tae Kwon Do. Before the testing began, he ran and ran and ran and ran in circles around the studio. 

And he climbed on all the equipment.

More Hose Fun

I brought the computer outside the other day to work on a paper for school while Dexy had some "hose fun". Not the brightest move considering how much fun Dexy has with the hose.

 He did manage to water the vegetable garden (as well as Mommy)...

And the weeds!

Daddy's Gig

A couple of weeks ago, the North Shore Guitar Academy moved from its Evanston location to Wilmette and had a teacher's performance to advertise the new location.  I had massive amounts of schoolwork to do so Ben took Dexter for the Sunday afternoon gig.

Dexy had a blast.  He got to hang out with one of Ben's students and his Mom. Thanks for keeping an eye on him, Mrs. Sklansky!

Dexter looks just like a miniature version of Hans, one of the other teachers (the 6'4" guy in the white shirt playing in the background).

Return to the Sprinkler

Last Wednesday when Elissa was watching Dexy for me, Ian and Dexter again played in the sprinkler.  Looks like Dexter is getting the hang of flip flops!

Old Vans

Despite the fact that we got Dexter a new pair of vans, he still insists on wearing his well-worn "old vans".

Bubble-Mania

We had perfect bubble-blowing weather the other day - a slight breeze that made the bubbles swirl around the yard.

 My Bologna is wondering what is going on. It's just Dexy working on his bubble technique!

 Little Lawrence Welk...tiny bubbles

 The thrill of chasing bubbles!

Bubbles, bubbles, everywhere.

Bird Watching

Dexter likes to climb up his "bird watching tower" to see what kinds of birds he can spot around our yard, in our neighbors' yards, on rooftops and wires, in trees and bushes, and flying around. He can identify robins and cardinals.




Yesterday, we spotted two baby birds hopping around in our tulip garden and learning to fly along the chain link fence.  They still had some fluffy down but enough real feathers to make a go of it. Later, Ben and I spotted one of the baby birds on our roof with its Mommy.  We think they belong to a pair of birds that live in our gourd birdhouse.