Mondays with Crosby

At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 2 years and 43 weeks old!!!  Looking at those numbers is scary.  Somebody's third (WHAAAATT????) birthday is rapidly approaching.  Rapidly.  We have been invited to lots of 3rd birthday's in the past few weeks.  That can only mean his is around the corner.  Can I just say I am not a fan of the idea.  

So we attempted Gentry's Farm again on Saturday.  We had to take an annual trip with the Rick crew.  Unfortunately, Crosby had a short nap on Friday and didn't get in bed until 10:30 Friday night.  What does that have to do with Saturday, you ask??  Everything.  Somebody (CFM) was in a foul mood.  Tears were shed.  Parent eyes rolled.  Many fits were thrown.  But we had to get pictures of Crosby with Margaret and Wells.  And we all know how much Crosby loves pictures...

I wanted one of him in the corn maze.  I thought it was kind of cute that he attempted to pull this stalk out of the ground.  It wasn't going to happen!  

Then Blake told me to read the sign...

Oops!!  Like I said, he wasn't quite strong enough to uproot anything!  And it made for a funny picture anyway!

Happy in the tipi...

Just a swangin'...

With his best girl!  Funny that he would NOT get in the tire last weekend.  Only on top.  Apparently Margaret can get her way with him!!

We finally managed to get the kiddos to sit for a group picture.  Of course, it was like pulling teeth to get the one on the left to participate.  "I will sit here but you cannot make me smile."

"I don't care that I look like a grump and my friends look adorable!"

"Okay.  I can't pretend anymore. I am not happy about this."

And then Blake says something about monkeys and he smiles.  Just in time for Wells to find some hay!  

At least we got one of each child smiling!  And you might recall having seen the outfit Wells is wearing in the past...  Yea.  Just looking back at that kind of made me tear up.  That was way back when my green eyed boy had big blue eyes.  And no hair.  Although his current hair situation is quite a mess.  Gotta love the Jim Carrey from Dumb and Dumber bang looks.  Yikes.

"Do you want anymore taken off???"
"Uhhh, maybe a little?!?!"

BIG mistake on my part!!  Please say it will grow back fast...

On a different note, my little fella seems to be adjusting to school slowly but surely.  We had ZERO tears  the Monday before fall break.  Then we were out Friday, Monday and Friday for fall break.  A little excessive don't you think???  Anyway.  I was dreading starting back up today.  I just knew he would regress.  And he did a tad.  We had tears right when his teacher came to take him from me.  Thankfully he recovers as soon as I walk away.  I am hopeful that we will have an easy go of it by Thanksgiving!!!

Mondays with Crosby

At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 2 years and 42 weeks old!!!  We had special visitor come to town this weekend.  Crosby's cousins came to town!!  He was super excited to see Sam and Gid on Saturday.  We meet Lulu, GranBuddy, and the Cyrs at Animalia for a picnic lunch.  It was a beautiful day to be outdoors.  So beautiful that our child had zero desire to sit and eat.  He just wanted to run and climb!  Who am I kidding, they ALL wanted to climb.  We tried getting pictures of all 4 cousins...

Man is that a hard thing to do!!!

I am thinking this is about as good as it got. At least all heads are up!

I couldn't resist sharing this one of Charlotte!!!  She is such a ham...

After lunch, we headed across the road to visit a Fall favorite...

Gentry Farm!!!  Of course I attempted a cousin picture on the wagon but that was even harder than the first round...

This was a bribery shot!  I told Crosby that we could ride the on the hay (without hay) ride AS LONG AS he would be sweet and look at the camera!  I know you can't tell by looking at the pictures I have posted, but he really was a little more cooperative when the camera was pointed his way.  All I had to do was say, "Do you want to ride on the tractor????"  He did!

Gid let me take a really good picture of him next to the scarecrow...

Crosby...not so much.  The hay (without hay) ride was over and he wanted to slide!  Good thing he will do anything Sam does!

We had to ride the little tractors again this year.  It is always a favorite...

This year, Crosby was able to participate in more of the activities set up for the little ones.  He had zero desire to stand in one spot last year.  Playing in the corn troughs was not an option.  But this year was different!  He spent a good 10 minutes pour corn in and out of cups and funnels.  Yay for increased attention spans!

I had to take a picture of these signs for my own sake!  Guess what we studied this week in CBS...

How precious that the Gentry family has the Fruit of the Spirit displayed for all who visit!  

It was especially meaningful to me this week!

I had to take a "special" picture of the one I want to work on more!

And here is another decent face shot of my boy, sitting and playing with tractors!  Once again, YAY for increased attention spans!!!

A shot of the hay-less hayride...

Family shot in front of the wagon.  Hello sunshine!

And the kids in front of the wagon.  I think they were pretty well done at this point!

Getting a swing in before leaving...

We all got together again on Sunday for lunch.  According to Sam Malone, we ate at "the best restaurant in Tennessee"... Shoneys!   I managed to get one cute picture of Charlotte and Crosby while we were waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive.

Too bad I didn't have a good bribe for group pictures at Shoney's.  Crosby was in a foul mood most of the meal and was not participating in photo shots!  Beggars can't be chooser!  At least we got a few on Saturday...

Mondays with Crosby

 At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 2 years and 41 weeks old!!!  This week, it is really starting to feel like fall!  Supposedly it was even cooler while we were at the beach.  But we were at the beach so I have no clue!  This weather feels GREAT to me.  Cool nights and mornings.  Warm days.  I really don't think it gets much better than this!  It does make dressing the boy a little difficult.  The mornings are just cool enough that shorts and a t-shirt seem silly.  But after lunch, I start to wonder why I dressed him so warm!  So, we have been sporting the long sleeve shirt with shorts look.  I mean, he has to get all of his seasonal shirts in one way or another, right?!?  I attempted to take a picture of my favorite boy with my FAVORITE fall wreath.  At least the wreath cooperated...

What tastes better in the fall than a homemade apple pie?  WITH Crosby's name on it!!!  Thanks LeAnne...

On a different note.  The past few months have been rather difficult for me and my boy.  Someone flipped a switch.  All of a sudden, my happy go lucky kiddo has started crying every time I take him anywhere.  School has been the worst.  He cries as soon as he wakes up, "I not going to school, Mommy!"  He cries during breakfast.  He cries walking out to the car.  He cries on the drive to school.  And he has an absolute meltdown between the car and the classroom door.  Pitiful!!!  Heartbreaking.  Most Mondays and Fridays, I am ready to pull him out of school altogether.

We have tried to talk it out.  "Why are you sad to go to school/CBS/anywhere I am not?"  I usually get, "I don't know."  One day I got, "I miss you!"  Rip my heart out would you????  For whatever reason, my little man is going through a spurt of serious separation anxiety.  

But today.  Ahhhh, today.  We had a bit of a break through.  He wasn't as tearful as this morning.  I was able to distract him from focusing on being separated.  I started thinking of ways I could make this a good day.  Crosby has asked to go to Toys R Us several times lately.  And seeing how he still has a gift card from his birthday, I thought I could use it in my favor!  

He started to tear up as we were leaving but I was able to get him in the car and out of the garage without losing it.  We headed down the driveway and I presented the plan.  "Crosby, if you can be a BIG boy at school today, with NOOOO tears, maybe we can go to the toy store after school!!!!"  He liked the idea.  No tears when we pulled up.  He was even playing around as we drove.  No tears when we got out of the car.  As we approached the door, his mood changed a bit.  "Mommy hold you."  So I picked him up and we walked into the building.  Still holding back tears.  We made it to the door and transferred him over to his teacher.  With a quivering lip, he said, "I'm going to the toy store."  Sweet thing was trying so hard and he did it!  NO TEARS!!!  Hallelujah!!   I cannot tell you how happy this small break through made me!   We made it to Toys R Us...

We spent a good 45 minutes looking at all the cars, pushing buttons and dancing to their tunes...

He was happy...

I was happy!

And he got to pick out a prize for being sooooo BIG!

Guess what it was...

2 more cars!

Boy was he proud of those 2 new cars...

Too bad he ran right out into the parking lot as we left the store and was not allowed to open them until Daddy got home!  And then he was a stinker much of tonight!  At least we had a good drop off?!?!? :-)

Unfortunately, Crosby will be out of school for 2 weeks due to fall break.  What are the chances this will carry over when he starts back up????

Mondays with Crosby

At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 2 years and 40 weeks old!!!  And what a fun week it was!  Once again,  Uncle Ken and Aunt Dot opened their BEAUTIFUL home in Sea Island, Georgia for our family and friends.  The weather was pretty well perfect!  The rain showers held off for the evenings.  During the day, the sun was bright and shinning.  As Crosby likes to say, "Look...the sun is working!!!"    

We attempted a walk around the pier on St. Simons on day but it was super hot.  I did manage to snap a picture of the little man sitting on one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen...

I can only imagine how old this tree is.  The branches grow down, towards the ground and then come back up.  Some of the branches even lie on the ground before stretching back up toward the sky.  Just beautiful!

We spent A LOT of time at the beach and in the pool.  Being that our trip was later in the month of September, I was a little worried that it would be too cold to swim.  NOT the case!  The water felt great. Luckily, I packed a bag full of toys for the little ones to play with.  I learned that cups are a must have thanks to our weekend visit with the Gants.  Corey, we spent lots of time making "tea" and "lemonade"...

. 

Miss Eva was in on the fun too.  Looking so cute in her monogrammed seersucker bathing suit...

Of course there was a lot of time for Blake to toss Crosby up in the air.  A favorite pool time activity...

He gets so...

HIGH!!!  And we wonder why he is as wild as a buck?!?!

Happy little fish...

Crosby always hugs the concrete dogs at the entrance of Animalia.  I once told him that they never get any attention and he should give them a hug.  Now he does it religiously.  Same thing for the 4 lions that spray water from their mouths.  They never get any love.  That is until Crosby comes to town...

Loving pool time...

We attempted to take pictures of our kiddos at the beach.  Yeah.  They weren't really into sitting for pictures...

In case you can't read it because he wouldn't sit still, it says "Crosby"!

We like to break things up when we are at the beach.  We cook some nights and let others cook for us the rest of the time!  The boys did a great job grilling up burgers...

We did the usually bike ride around the island.  So fun.   Good thing we had Crosby there to help pump up all of the tires...

Crosby was super excited initially...

Then he realized he had to share.  Not his strong suit these days!!!

Beautiful Sea Island Drive...

Bike train...

Jessica, Blake and the wagon train...

Wes is back there too!

We finally managed to get a family shot on our last night.  We were NOT ready to leave...

Pretty sure the Edenfields weren't ready to leave either!

We had a fabulous week at the beach.  Crosby was a little* on the whiney side this week.  *The word "little" is an understatement.  Apparently, he has developed a dislike for his clothes.  He is opposed to wearing the shortall/jon jon.  "I not like this shirt, Mommy!!! I not gonna wear this..." (said with the most whiney tone possible)  He only wore them 90% of the time this summer.  Why is he all of a sudden opposed?  I hate to tell him but he is not gonna win this battle!

While I am at it, he also has an aversion to my hair being pulled back into a pony tail.  "Mommy, your hair down!!!" (also said in the most whiney voice possible)  The child cannot stand it when my hair is pulled back.  He notices it first thing when I walk into a room.  So bizarre.  Although, cousin Charlotte is the same way about Anne Claire's hair!?!  Maybe it is genetic?

So today, we are back into the ole routine.  We headed back to school and it could not have gone worse. I am REALLY not a fan of this new separation anxiety business we are in the middle of.  Something has got to give or this momma is going to lose her mind.  As soon as I pry him off of my neck,give him to the teacher and walk around the corner, he quiets down.  But man, getting to that point is enough to make me want to throw my hands in the air and give up.  I am ready to just pull him out altogether.  Sigh...

I will leave you with a few videos from the week.

Absolutely WILD at the beach...

Singing, swimming, little fish!