JDaniel Moment Archives - Page 2 of 2

Exploring Greenville- Stars Wars Event at the Roper Mountain Science Center

October 15, 2011 By Deirdre

Last weekend we told JDaniel we need to go run so errands. He really wanted to stay home and play in the yard, but after convincing him that he would get to eat Chick Fil-A for lunch ,he got a little more excited about running errands.

The first stop lead us to a road JDaniel knows will take us to church. He pointed out that it wasn’t even Sunday yet. As we traveled a little ways down the road he noticed that we were turning left instead of right at the light.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“Wait and see!” I told him.

When we pulled into the parking lot of the Roper Mountain Science Center, Jdaniel noticed other children walking from their cars. They had on Star Wars costumes. It was wonderful to watch the light bulb go off in his head.

“We are here to see Star Wars things!” he announced. He has been so into Star Wars since the cereal boxes displaying images of Star Wars characters arrived a few weeks ago for me to review for a giveaway.

There were so much to see and do.

We looked at all the displays.

The costumed Star Wars characters were admired from a far. Princess Leia was the only “nice” character that JDaniel recognized.

There was documentary on how the characters were developed and the robot costumes made. JDaniel loved this.

After looking at all the Star Wars exhibits, we headed to the animal exhibits in a different building. He loved getting to see and touch a variety of animals including a snake.

He has been asking to go back to the center. It really is a wonderful place to visit. One of the best things is that some of the Star Wars exhibits are permanent and we can visit them over and over again.

Pausing Life for a Moment- We need to pause in the afternoon

September 20, 2011 By Deirdre

JDaniel has stopped taking naps. He would still take them if I wrestled him down and forced it, but then he would be up until ten o’clock chatting in his bed. So, we have stopped with naps.

He still needs to slow down in the afternoon and read, rest or play upstairs. We are calling this time “quiet time”. It isn’t always quiet and he spends a whole a lot of time wanting to know when the kitchen timer is going to beep. (When it beeps, he is released from being sequestered and can come downstairs.)

JDaniel sometimes sits at the top of the stairs and sings to see if I will do anything.

No, he is allowed to continue to sit at the top of the stairs. He just can’t come down the stairs.

When he does he is guided back upstairs and strongly reminded to stay upstairs or he will lose his snack.

(Snack is greatly desired in the afternoon at our house.)

Last week when he called down to ask if it were time and I replied that it wasn’t, his small voice muttered, “You have to be kidding.”

I suppressed a laugh. I knew the words he had just muttered where mine.

I wrote a few weeks ago about my words spreading to my son and here was a reminder that they had not only spread but had been planted in his memory.

When had I said those words? I couldn’t remember then and I still can’t.

I could hear his feet shuffling over my head as he moved from the hallway to his room almost in defeat.

I don’t think he thought the timer would ever go off.

One hour of time seems like a lifetime to pause from being with me to have time to play, read, or rest on your own to him. Yet we both need some “quiet time” even if it seems like a will never end for one of us.

Do you have a “quiet time” at your house in the afternoon?

Pause Life for a Moment- Summer Fun and a Special Moment

August 9, 2011 By Deirdre

I didn’t schedule anyone to share this week instead I decided to share a special moment that happened on the Fourth of July when we were visiting with my mom in her retirement village.

We had walked down to pond just down the road from her house. JDaniel wanted to explore the rocks at first and then he was dying to touch the water. My husband followed him down to the shore and I got to memorialized this special time between them.

I love how one guy has his elbows up and the other has is elbows down. Both are relaxed and enjoying the moment.

I would have loved to have been closer to hear what they were chatting about.They just seemed to enjoy being together. JDaniel with his feet dipping into the pond and my husband sitting beside him.

After about fifteen minutes, they decided to head back up the road to my mom’s.

It is moments like these that I am so glad I carry a camera around.

What was your favorite moment of the summer or time of summer fun?

This post is linked to Things I Can’t Say’s Summer Fun Show Off.

Eating the Eifel Tower

July 23, 2011 By Deirdre

Last Saturday JDaniel and I headed to the French Celebration in Fountain Inn ,South Carolina. The celebration was in honor of Bastille Day which was earlier in the week.

JDaniel noticed the giant Eifel Tower in front of the festival right away. He loved that he could walk right under its arches.

We then moved to the food area inside the building. They were serving coffee and but, what really caught Jdaniel’s attention was the Skittles Eifel Tower project set out for kids to work on. At first he didn’t realize that Skittles were candy and he just placed them on the outline. Then some other children came over and one of them announced that Skittles were their favorite candy. JDaniel’s ears heard the word candy and suddenly he became less interested in the building on to the design.

There was also a display of children’s book on a table with an accordion. JDaniel loved playing the accordion. I am not sure the other people that came in for coffee and a pastry were really into his musical presentation.

A lovely lady with samples of various vinegars and oils was also in the food area. We really enjoyed trying out some of them. She mentioned that she gives tours in her shop and would love for us to come by. I think we will be going. It will be fun to see her shop and try more of her products. She said that they serve ice cream with some her products at the end of the tour.

Our final stop at the festival was the French Dog Parade. We watched stuffed dogs, little dogs and big dogs cross the stage with their owners. JDaniel loved sitting in the front row and clapping for the participants as they marched by.

Letting Him Have a Cup and a Cone

July 6, 2011 By Deirdre

We decided to go to a wonderful ice cream spot in our town on the 4th of July. It used to be small train station along railroad tracks. Now it is small ice cream spot along the railroad tracks. They serve soft serve chocolate or vanilla ice cream with a wide array of topping for a very reasonable price.

While he waited in line JDaniel watched for a train. They don’t come by often in the evening. We usually hear them in the middle of the night.

He really wanted to play in the large puddle behind him, but I persuaded him that his feet would get drenched and he listened to my advice!

You can get your ice cream in a cup or a cone. JDaniel really wanted a cone. Due to the fact that ice cream can fall off a cone and become unable to be eaten unless it is is licked off the ground. (Which we won’t allow him to do) He conceded to having a cone in a cup.

Once he sat down he pulled the cone out and set it to the side. He never touched it again. I guess he just likes the idea of a cone.

The ice cream was yummy, but JDaniel hardly made a dent in his. He is usually the first one finished.

Why?

He was distracted by the discussion he decided we needed to have on fireworks. JDaniel knew we would be watching some later in the evening. He wanted to know everything we knew about how they worked and what they are made of.