Paul’s Page

My sister and her two kids came to visit at the end of June, and since my brother and his family also live nearby, all the cousins got together! Here they are just before they went in to the DuPage Children’s Museum.

I have other pictures and some videos of the kids all swimming together, but I personally think this picture (which my sister took!) is the greatest. I love the colors and the kids look so happy. Most of them are looking up at the fake train on the track above their heads.

Samuel, Jessica, Daniel, Leah, and Paul

This picture was an accurate picture of all the cousins for an entire two weeks. My brother’s wife has since had her twin little girls, so we’ll have to try to get all the cousins together again at some point.

This is a picture I did not take of Paul and Daddy looking out Paul’s bedroom window in the growing twilight at bedtime, Daddy saying, “And there’s one! And there’s one! Paul, do you see the fireflys?” and Paul saying, “Yes, Daddy! Look!” cuddling a little closer to him, and I smile and tip-toe back downstairs to finish the dishes all the while thinking “Yes, this is why he quit his other job, this is why he homes at night, and this is why Paul stayed awake to wait for him” and I hear shrieks of laughter from upstairs as I tidy the kitchen and I know life is as it should be.

I got inspiration for this from www.unphotographable.com, which is written by a photographer who has missed some great shots either because it was against the law to take a picture or he did not have his camera or taking a picture would not have been appropriate or he just did not take the picture.

As was mentioned, we drove to Nauvoo this last week. The first day (Tuesday), he enjoyed learning about Joseph Smith at Carthage, even if the movie and then the tour was a little too long for him. Then, at the visitor’s Center, a full ten mintues got him through all the exhibits. Lots of exclamations of “Joseph Smith!” and “Jesus” when he saw something familiar. Then, Paul saw two and a half of the restored old houses (he had a fit during the blacksmith, which I thought he would have liked) and the second day he made it through a visit to the bakery. And that was it. I overestimated how “fun” it would be for a two year old.

We did play a little bit at the Pioneer Pastimes station, which has pioneer games. But it was sweltering, so we didn’t stay outside long, and in fact came home Wednesday afternoon. (They closed the outdoor exhibits due to excessive heat and Paul would not sit through the inside things.) Before it got too hot, we also went to the ox cart ride. Homer and his friend (forgot the other ox’s name) walking in a circle for about 4 minutes and Paul got to pet his back. He has said “I rode a Ox!” to anyone who will listen every day since then.

The Ox Cart

Paul with Homer the Ox

Paul also loved seeing the Temple.

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I think our brief time in Nauvoo was just right for him.

Mommy and Daddy took pictures of the Nauvoo Temple  and so we encouraged Paul to as well since we gave him that cheap camera. He took a couple pictures and then said, “I did already” so I don’t think he understood why his amateur photographer father took an hour of pictures!

Here are Paul’s pictures. I’ve omitted the dozens of pictures of his fingers and of the wall, floor, grass, etc. I know these below still are silly and out of focus but I’m actually pretty impressed that I could tell what he was taking pictures of!

Yes, he took this himself!

I held the camera for him while he pushed the button.

He did this all himself! He wanted a picutre of the "other temple," i.e., the Catholic church building next to the Nauvoo temple.

He did it all himself! He wanted a picture of Daddy taking pictures.

Hi. I am a Binkie Addict. I’ve been binkie free now for five days and five nights now, and it’s still rather painful. Here’s my story.

Mommy and Daddy brought the binkie addiction to my attention on Sunday night, after I played with my binkie in the middle of a fireside at church and wouldn’t put it away. I resisted the title of “binkie addict” and I cried when Mommy said it was about time I stopped using the binkie. I kept my binkie that night and didn’t let go of it.

In the morning, Mommy told me it was time to stop using because I’m a big boy now and should not continue to cater to this addiction. She gave me the responsibility to throw my two binkies away when I felt I was ready to be a big boy. She said when I did, we’d call Grandma Peggy and tell her that I’m a big boy. I thought about it for a few minutes and decided that yes, I wanted to be a big boy, and I wanted to tell Grandma Peggy I was a big boy. I threw away both of my binkies.

Mommy was really excited. Apparently, it was only 7:30 a.m. and she didn’t think I’d be so eager to be a big boy so early in the morning! She didn’t realize that that is the easiest time to be a big boy. I’m awake and happy, and I certainly don’t feel a binkie craving when I’m happy. I don’t need my binkie when I’m not tired. I watched Mommy take out all the garbage in the house and I stood by the window for a while, hoping that the garbage man would come so I could see his truck. (He didn’t come.) We had to wait another hour or so to call Grandma because it was just too early still. I was excited and couldn’t wait to tell Grandma my big boy news. She was excited for me too.

I had a fun morning playing with toys. But I bumped my head on something about 10:30 and that’s when I realized what being a big boy meant: I asked Mommy if I could have my binkie, and she said there was no more binkie. Wow, that was hard.

At about 1 or 2, I wanted my rest time in my room. But once again, there was no binkie. Oh, the withdrawl was so painful that first day! I cried and cried. I searched in every garbage in the house looking for my binkies. But the garbage cans were all empty. I remembered watching Mommy take out the trash and felt very sad.

In the afternoon, Mommy said we were going on a road trip in the car. (I’ll tell you about our trip later.) We would be driving to a big hotel with a big big bed just for me! I was so excited, and I helped Mommy pack the bags. Daddy started driving the car and it took about 20 minutes to realize that when I asked for my binkie, Mommy wouldn’t give it to me. I screamed for hours, and I would only calm down when Mommy was telling me stories. I can’t tell you how sad it made me to know I would not have my binkie. I think I fell asleep in sheer exhaustion.

Tuesday was a busy, busy day. I didn’t bother to ask for my binkie because I knew Mommy didn’t have it. Besides there was so much to see. There were barns full of cows and roosters and horses and lions, and I liked to make all their noises. I saw old houses with interesting things to look at. I played games. I saw pictures of Joseph Smith and Jesus. I looked around at everything new. It was only when the sun went down that I thought of the binkie again. Mommy and I were walking around the Temple — it was so pretty — and Daddy was taking pictures. Mommy said we’d be going back to the big hotel with the big big bed and we’d get some sleep. I was sleepy! I asked Mommy then, but I knew the answer: “But my binkie?” She said, again, that there was no binkie. I suppose it didn’t matter. I was so sleepy. I fell asleep in the car again.

Wednesday was another busy busy day with lots of new things. It was when were driving home and I could tell the sun was going down that I started asking for my binkie again. I knew it wasn’t coming, but I was so bored and so sleepy, I couldn’t help asking. Mommy did not feed my addiction.

Thursday was a hard night. The day was fine; I never mentioned my binkie because there was no point. But when Mommy put me in bed at 7:30, I could not sleep. I was in my own room and in my own bed, and the binkie is such a part of my routine that it was hard to do without it.  I kept bouncing down to talk to Mommy and Daddy who were watching a movie. I didn’t go to sleep until after 10.

Last night was the same. I cried and cried and cried. I pleaded. I whined. I pulled Mommy’s hand. It was probably 9:30 before I got to sleep. I was just so uncomfortable and sad. I know Mommy’s insistence that there is no more binkie is true, but it doesn’t make the withdrawl any less painful. My question now is: how long will it be before I can go to sleep without feeling so sad, without the craving for the binkie?

I know I am a big boy, but I’m glad I can tell you all the hardships of being a big boy. Habits are hard to break, and this addiction, particularly, has been hard since I’m nearly three years old. Three years is a long time to have a bad habit!

On the Monday morning when Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul were here (Memorial Day), we went to Wisconsin! We were going to go somewhere closer to home, but it was pouring rain so we drove an hour and spent some time at Lake Geneva. It was not raining in Wisconsin. I liked the playground we played at!

I also had fun walking down the board walk with Grandma, Papa, Mommy, and Daddy.

It was really sunny, so I didn't want to open my eyes!

We are a happy family!

I love Daddy!

I'm glad Grandma can keep track of Billy by holding on to his leash!

On our way home from Lake Geneva, we went to the Train Museum! I had asked about it all day. “Train Museum now?” I kept saying. I was glad when we finally went there.

I got to ride on a train!

Even better, I got to ride on Grandma Peggy's lap while we rode on the train!

I had so much fun with Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul!

(Note: all pictures above are low res. Send Mommy an email if you want the larger file for printing or viewing purposes.)

Apparently, Paul was singing all morning while I was gone at work (volunteering at the library). He was happy to perform for me too!

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Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul came to stay with me! I had so much fun with them that I still keep talking about them!

We spent a lot time in the car the first night. But that’s because we went to Chicago. We walked down the street to go to dinner together. Grandma Peggy gave me a puppy that we called Billy. I wore Billy on my back and Grandma held on to his leash so Billy wouldn’t get lost while we walked around. there were so many things to look at, I forgot to look at where I was going! But I  knew Grandma was right there with me. Read more…

On Mother’s Day (almost two months ago already), I dressed Paul in the suit I’d found at a thrift store and took some pictures of my adorable little man. Yes, this suit is far too big. I’ve put it away for another year or so until it will fit him properly. But I did get some pictures!

Here are three pictures, two of them in both black and white and color. If you click on the image, it will open up the high resolution image. Or, if you’d like, I’ll send you a print. Let me know what you want!

The other night, I was in the other room while Paul and Daddy laughed and played. After a little while, Paul came in to find me.

“Mommy,” he said in a toddler whine. “Daddy stole my nose!!”

“Tell him to give it back,” I responded, trying to surpress a laugh.

From the other room, I could hear Paul repeating this request to Daddy. Daddy, being the joker that he is, said, “I can’t. I ate it.”

I went in a moment later to see Paul with his definitive sad face (lip protruding as far as it would go) and the saddest little look on his face. Apparently, this was pretty serious.

I let him steal my nose too, and all was well. Still, I’ll never forget that little toddler tattle-tale whine: “Daddy stole my nose!!”

Grandma Peggy requested our testimonies for this Mother’s Day. What a wonderful idea!

Here is Paul’s testimony for both of his grandmas!

(Sorry for the glare!)

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