Pond Cleaning

We went to feed the ducks earlier this week.  Anders told us, and I don't know where this came from, "Ducks clean pond."  I don't know where he learned that, but it was pretty cool. 
Today we played at the playground, but Anders does not like getting dirt on him, so that makes it tough to do too much at the playground.  At the playground, I taught him about the 5:30 SWA flight from Phoenix, so I wasn't surprised when Anna told me, "I was walking back from the 5-4 with Anders and he spotted a plane in the sky and said 'airplane fly to Houston.'"  That's still about the only context in which he'll say Houston.  He still loves Dallas and San Antonio, though.  His Dallas t-shirt that I bought him in September fits really well now, and it's a new favorite. 
Swimming went well on Monday as Anders asked to go under water!  He did a good job with that.  There were mixed results on the slide, but he did go down a couple of times.
Anders tested well at physical therapy on Tuesday.  He showed particular progress going up and down the stairs with both legs. 
MOPS did not go that well yesterday.  Anders was crying before he arrived and the Anna and Anders show was a comedy of errors while there including Anna losing her phone, the entire MOPS group stopping everything to look for it, and then Anna finding it in her purse!
Anders took the lethal 5 minute car nap today, which ruined his nap. 
At school today, we had field day.  My "house" won.  Not content to be a spectator, I joined in the action.  I'm not sure I helped, but I don't think I was a hindrance.  I also might have rushed the court along with the students when our victory was announced, but those reports are still unconfirmed. 
I feel that I have redeemed myself a bit for the cheating of us boys in the Mrs. Lovstuen's class in the 5th grade class softball tournament that led to the end of the class softball tournaments at East Side School in Decorah.  Here's the lesson I learned that day, if you are ever responsible for making the batting order for an entire elementary class, don't over think it--bat the best people first.  I'm sure Kyle Cutting, Josh Hildebrand, and Barrett Gipp would agree. 
I have also become a Quiz Bowl assistant coach for a weekend.  There is a huge national tournament at St. John's this weekend.
I also know  you wait for these weather updates.  I feel that we are making the turn toward spring.  I know it's never really winter here, but it just smells more "springy" today.  I've heard from various people that spring starts here in the back half of February.  They also have a giant rodeo with a bunch of musical acts starting this weekend, which sounds a lot like the state fair back home. 
Anders will be without Anna, with her friend, as Anna has a job interview tomorrow.  I fear that job interview season could prove more traumatic than MOPS.  Anna has recommended writing numbers and letters to calm Anders, which I think will work...eventually.  Anders sometimes counts to 20 before he goes down the water slide at swimming, so if you get him counting you have a chance.
It has been another fun and hectic week in the Chez Peterson.  By the way, we ate at a Texas-based chain French Restaurant, which I highly recommend if you are in TX, Louisiana, Atlanta, or the DC area called La Madeleine. 

Welcome Behind the Wall

This is my first post since I went private.  We all liked the easy access to the blog, but this way provides some needed security so that prying eyes do not see every mundane detail of our lives.
Anders is putting up a brave face regarding swimming and MOPS--a group that has activities for mothers and children, but separates them so that the moms can have adult conversations.  He does not like to be separated from Anna and he does not like going under water.  Last week at swimming I made sure he didn't go under.  He was so engaged that by the end of swimming lessons, he went off the water slide twice!  This is from a kid who only recently started going down a dry slide on the playground.  It was a remarkable turnaround over the course of half an hour as he went from clinging and whining to marching up the ladder of the slide to his teacher and then sliding down to me.  Anders calms himself by counting to 20 before he slides down the alligator mouth slide. 
Similarly, at physical therapy, he took his treatment from Chamira all on his own.  Anna talked it over with him and he agreed that she would stay in the waiting room and he would go in and do his exercises with her. 
I would say that Anders is settling into a routine after our return from Christmas Break.  It took a while, but he now knows what to expect and when.  He doesn't always like it, but as long as he's not surprised things usually go well or at least okay.
The potty training is going quite well for a boy.  Once he learns to "tuck," we will have climbed another mountain.  He's gaining bladder control each day it seems and he has no problem stinking up the living room with many a "man-sized poop." 
We seemed to have entered the rainy season in SE Texas.  I can see how our home and the area around it used to be rice fields or sugar plantations before that.  Yet, we are still in a drought!  After breaking 80 last week, we are in the low 50s and overcast today, but no rain...so far.
I don't care who wins the Super Bowl, but I hope the commercials are good.
I am thankful for fresh-made grocery store guacamole.