Doodlebug - Tally Mark 26

Rather than make a list of things this month, I just want to write.

Doodlebug has fully embraced turning 2. We are dealing with dramatics, hysterics, tantrums, the whole 9 yards. I don't think I'm a good mom for 2 year olds. There's been lots of yelling from both sides, which I've learned quickly does not help the situation...at all.

But then Doodlebug sees me sad because I closed the garage without pulling the car up far enough and is quick to comfort me. Or he leans in for a kiss every five minutes. Or he rubs my back when I get him out of his crib. He's a stinker a lot of the time but also my little love bug and I will take his kisses anytime.

In the last few weeks, he's taken a real liking to Super Why. When he asks to watch it, he throw his fist in the air and says "Why!!!" He in turn has learned his letters and says A B C D and E quite well. He can also count to five and can often be heard saying "3, 2, 1, go!" His little vocabulary is expanding and I heard him say "oh, baby!" in the car a few weeks ago but won't repeat it anymore. He calls both grandfathers Bopbop (just like The Lime did), calls LaVor's mom Nanny, and my mom Neenee. I know the day is right around the corner where he'll start talking up a storm and we won't be able to keep him quiet.

He loves Nursery and wishes he could go straight to class as soon as we get to church. It helps that his teachers are amazing and that they love him to pieces. I brought him back after changing his diaper last week and they greeted him as if they hadn't seem him in weeks; "Hey bud!! You're back! Your snack is waiting for you!" He loves the songs they sing, the toys, and his little friends. I'm so happy he's having a positive experience because at this age, we were still having to stay with The Lime.

Doodlebug loves The Lime and I think he's going to have a hard time in a few weeks when The Lime heads back to school. They fight all the time but then I catch moments like last night when they were snuggling and my heart just about bursts out of my chest. Despite a four year age gap, they always find something to play (this morning it was jumping off the couch into the pillows) and I hope it stays like that for years to come.

Doodlebug is so stinkin' funny, we can hardly stand it. When he doesn't want something, he's started making chonga lips, waving his hands in front of him, and saying no. Or he makes a really cheesy smile in pictures. Or he stares at us out of the corner of his eye when he's eating dinner. Whatever he does, he's a goofball and it keeps us constantly laughing.

He is also Mr. Independent and wants no help whatsoever from anybody. If he's getting in or out of the car, he wants to do it alone. If he crosses the street, he crosses his arms so you can't hold his hand. If he's drinking from a fragile glass and you keep your hand underneath it, just in case, he swats your hand away. I don't know where he gets his stubbornness from.

So even though the first few months of being 2 have been an eye opener, I am loving most minutes of it because I get to share it with Doodlebug.

Folsom Prison Blues

Growing up, there was a correctional facility on the way to a mall that we would pass frequently. I would ask my mom each time we drove by if we could stop for a tour. Combine that with The Lime's extreme desire to visit Alcatraz and my infatuation with prison shows and we're a demented family. Just kidding! Sort of.

With Folsom Prison just miles away, I decided one of our field trips this summer would be to the Folsom Prison Museum. You drive well onto the prison grounds, pass a guard, and land yourself right across the street from the actual prison entrance. So close yet so far away.

We got there right when it opened and were amazed at all of the artifacts they have from the 130+ years it's been in service. They played an enjoyable documentary that gave us a glimpse of what things looked like on the inside.

Can I tell you what a gosh darn shame it is that these prisoners are wasting their intelligence away sitting in prison when they could be contributing to the outside world?! Seriously, so many of these men and women are brilliant and could be doing amazing things if they made better choices. Just look at what they've created...

Naturally, they had a whole room set up with Johnny Cash memorabilia. While Cash never spent time in prison, he did write the catchy "Folsom Prison Blues" in 1956 and performed at the prison on two separate occasions.

If the natives hadn't been getting restless, and my parents didn't have another appointment, we would have stayed longer. And now our desire to visit Alcatraz (and San Quentin!) is even greater.

Empire Mine Park

We have exactly one month before school starts (AHHHHHHHHH!) and are bound and determined to make the best out of the limited time we have, gosh darnit.

After our fun and busy Friday, the boys and I were anxious to keep the momentum going and do something just as fun with LaVor. "Check your e-mail," he said to me before we went to bed. In it was a link to the Empire Mine State Historic Park. "Looks good to me!" I said. So after our doughnut run, we headed up the hill to Empire Mine.

It was a cool 72° and there was hardly anyone there when we arrived. "Just how I like it," LaVor said.

We browsed through the Visitors Center first and admired the amazing mineral collection they had displayed. We also enjoyed the brief history of the mine as well as the scale model of the mine's underground tunnels. Pretty dang fascinating when you think of them doing all that work without modern technology!

The boys were anxious to step outside and see where all the real action took place. Thank goodness for LaVor and his knowledge of machinery and most everything that requires hands on attention.

Things got really exciting when we got to go down the steps into the mine. The distance is nothing in comparison to how deep it really goes but it gave us all a small glimpse of what conditions might have been like for the miners.

LaVor took The Lime while I changed Doodlebug's diaper. During the diaper change, we kept hearing "ping, ping, ping" and smelled smoke. Sure enough, the blacksmith was the next stop. Two men and one woman were pounding away at red hot metal making various different tools.

The cement looking part of this picture is the actual building that was used while the mine was up and running.

I loved the offices, but especially grew fond of the old creaky stairs. I wish I knew how old they really were because they've definitely been loved and stepped on.

We made our way across the grounds and admired the cottage and gardens.

The Lime really wanted to see the moose head in the Clubhouse. Unfortunately, that's about all there was to see. The heads were gifted to the Bourn family from a Canadian friend.

After a few minutes in the gift shop, we were on our way back down the hill.

It was just the right amount of information and stuff to see for the boys and interesting enough for LaVor and I. We are anxious to see where our next adventure takes us!