Rice Box

Our sand box broke this year, so we decided to try something different. We made a rice box, which requires a small plastic swimming pool, fifty pounds of rice and toy cars. 

We actually keep this in the house and let Austin play in it while we are working on other things.  Yesterday I thought it would be great for him to play with his construction toys and watch Bob the Builder.  There were two mistakes with this:
1. Austin does not like TV
2.  He hates the feeling of rice on his feet

It worked out well, because I was able to play in the rice with him for almost an hour.  By the end he was much more comfortable with the rice and would actually let me cover his feet (just for a second). 

The older two kids love playing in the rice box.  One of the best things about the rice box is that we can pack it up in a big bin and keep it out of the way when it is not being used.  Also, rice is so much easier to clean up then sand.

Austin's Big Bed

Lately Austin has been having a hard time going to sleep.  He wants me to lay down with him to go to sleep, which does not work with a crib.  Yesterday, Thad took down the crib and put up his big boy bed.  Taking down the crib was a little sad.  This is the first time in eight years we have not had a crib set up in the house.  My family is growing up too fast.

Austin was so excited to see his big beg.  He would stand next to it to make sure everyone knew it was all his.  He does not miss the crib at all.

Yesterday was a busy day so I thought he would fall asleep quickly.  Around 9 pm I laid down with him in his bed, turned on the lullaby's and tried to go to sleep.  Austin could not get comfortable.  He had pillows and blankets that I did not allow in the crib.  It was an exciting new adventure for him. He tried laying down in every different direction possible including ramming his head into my back and kicking the wall over and over again. 

I was determined not to get out of bed with him still awake.  I figured if I got out of bed, he would think that was allowed and it would be an uphill battle every night.  I almost lost the battle when Austin head butted me and cut my lip open.  I had a fat lip and blood on my hands, but soon after her decided to sleep on the pillows that I placed between the bed and the wall so he would not get stuck there.  Kids are crazy, they can be going a million miles per second to crashing in no time flat. 

Being such a worrier, I got up several times in the night to check on him.  He hardly moved the whole night.  Around 4:00 am I heard the click of a door shutting and see my little man running down the hall to our room.  He climbed in our bed, wanted a drink and went right back to sleep.  He was still asleep when I left for work this morning. 

Thad gets to put him to sleep tonight.