Pillow Talk

Daddy: "I'm going to turn the lights on now, Tyler" click-
Tyler: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"- (oh the horror- oh kid, I can relate!!!)

Don't Buy Any Lottery Tickets Today Son

This is not Tyler's lucky day at all! While some of our fortunes are consequences of our actions, some things happen in the time and chance that falls on us all. Tyler is not having much success with either way things have been happening to him today. At Walmart, for example, he decided to learn about leverage. Apparently, the 'crash course" last night with Emilie and the bicycle (ahem -who? forgot the helmet???)- wasn't enough. So his remedial course in leverage involved a lab assignment of pulling down on one edge of the shopping cart, while leaving the other side at rest. He determined that this had several results not worth repeating. One of which was the crashing of the cart onto his three and a half year old body. This also made, said three-and a half year old body immobilized until his mom removed the cart. He also realized that carts that fall onto you inflict pain. Additionally, moms who have children who play with carts like this don't let children ride in the carts, instead have them walk through Walmart, which he determined wasn't nearly as enjoyable.

Moving on from leverage, he decided to give gravity a closer look. Ironically, he decided this 'closer look' should occur with his eyes closed. While sleeping, allegedly, he fell off his bed and happened to hit the metal of the mattress - oh what is it called...the box spring. yes. He bruised himself under his armpit on his ribs. Mom checked what she could, comforted, and sent him back to bed with an ice pack, feet elevated and the determination that his body needs to rest and heal and that some days are rougher than others..poor kid. Maybe he'll sleep it off....XX fingers crossed.

Kiss and Tell

There is a little boy in Emilie's class and apparently he kisses her often. I wonder if that is why she has a cough now? It's cute, but you don't want to encourage it too much really.

"Google Search: How to get nail polish off carpet"

My father brought over a bunch of stuff for me to sort through from the garage, all sorts of random things from like ten year ago, high school papers, notes, folders, old makeup, etc... Guess who knows how to open ten year old nail polish? ??? Emilie. Enough said.

She has a cough- I'm home with her this morning.

Trucks and Toddlers

 

While a week ago, Tyler shyed away from his chance to be in a backhoe, today he more than compensated. Tyler and Emilie spent about an hour seeing different trucks. Well, technically, Tyler looked at a variety of machines, Emilie and I stood in line for the lift and Tyler and Daddy joined up just in time to ride up high. I think Emilie and I went higher than Tyler and Rick. They are still a little young. They were also still exhausted from not sleeping enough from Parent's Night Out. Anyway, it was a beautiful day. We did some errands, went to the library, Walmart, and Rick got his check. Rick ran into a former Radio Shack worker. We had leftover Macaroni Grill for dinner-- can't beat that :) However, my jeans might disagree :|

Cutting the Cord

There is, apparently, some fascination that Tyler has obtained for his bedroom window. In particular, the act of putting things out of it seems most delightful. Somehow he managed to have cards reach the ground even though there is a screen behind the glass. I think it has been directly linked to his 'big boy bed' (which I've yet to show photos of) being right next to the window making that string (aka strangulation hazard) always in reach and his little fingers just the right heigh to unlock the window. Anyway, it drained enough energy and it's a safety issue too. As I started typing this I thought (oh I should have moved the bed," I let boys sleep near windows when I trust them to be safe"...) so I went to his room. What did I find? A three and a half year old standingon his bed, ball of paper in hand unlocking the window saying, "What? It was just trash." I silently moved his bed to the center of the room. All the while, he asks, "What are you doing?" He found a nickled from his savings jar on the floor- I said that sounds just about right to pay me for all this extra work. I put the nickle in my pocket, said nothing but.." I let boys sleep by windows when I trust them to be safe." (Oh prior to this, I cut the cord from the blinds---that is what made me think- maybe I should have just moved the bed- but at least now there's not the strangulation risk...and I suppose I could always tie it back on- but with that I just went in there and cut the cord- which really made me the "mean mommy" btw. Anyway, On a better note... Tyler had a green day today:) yipee skippee and tonight is parent's night out- I'm taking advantage of, instead of working. Emilie=Miss Independent- I've got to buy her a pair of sunglasses. Sunglasses and shoes- that girl is obsessed!!! Tyler switched out his Thomas the tank shoes for a pair of Cars ones that glow in the dark- I'm not too impressed with the fit of the shoe though-- we'll see how long they last. I'm trying to figure out my summer schedule to see what all the kids will be doing at summer camp. We planted a tree the other day....poor tree with us doing the planting and tending...let's just keep our fingers crossed. Rick's semester is almost over. Like I said, I'm still waiting to see what summer has in store for me. I think I'm working with school-agers though. I have one more Parent's Night Out I'm working coming up. I just finished my cpr and first aid training this week- I could save your life :) Alright- that's it for now. Tyler and Emilie helped dig, Tyler helped water- he is great at rolling the hose back up too- we have a system where I line it up and he rolls it. OH and Rick was mowing the lawn the other day Tyler was on the porch and something flung up and got tyler in teh EYE!!! scary! He's okay- but seriusly! EVERYONE will wear sunglasses from now on- even though daddy was far away.

Field Trip and Emilie random

 

Went on a field trip with Tyler today. I was mommy/teacher. Most of the photos are from the trip; however, a few of random Emilie were included. I have video as well to upload. Emilie was playing "One Two...feet" or something like that with my feet on the couch- that's the pic of her. Tyler is able to stay focused on single activities for a while. He would have been content to stay at the sandbox the whole time. It felt very similar to having a birthday party for a young child. Part of you wants the 'picture perfect" aspects, but the reality is- it's better for everyone if you just back off and follow the child's lead. So I do have some photos and video- I wanted Rick to see it and Tyler to have a nice way to remember it when he's older...but I didn't want to force it too much. I also wanted more pics because I don't usually get to spend this time with him- but he was too busy for ol' mom most of the time :) bittersweet.

When Mom's Away....

 

 

Whatever they do, it looks interesting. I was either at the gym or doing something with school and these are the pics I found on the camera today. Never a dull moment.

OPEN SESAME...street

Tyler likes to lock the door in the car and then open it when you say, "please". However, this has recently been replaced with the following.

Door locks.
Tyler: "Say Open Sesame Street Please"
Mommy: ??? Open Sesame Street Please???
click--

Emilie has been sining independently the "NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED" song. Cute! She is also making progress with using her words to say a whole sentence. This is only seen by me in the environment of eating, but it's still improvement...."May I have cereal please?"


Staring contest tonight after dinner was great fun- Tyler blinked intentionally after a few seconds...laughs all around.

The first child is easier, but since all is new- it is fair. Though, the firstborn is always 'new' so even the best parents have room for learning and improvement. Time passes so quickly... We had baby chicks hatch at school, it reminded me of the bittersweet 'empty nest' feeling....

I'm getting older, and feel the tug for more babies....

Freckle Face

Tyler is starting to get a few freckles on his nose and one on his leg. I am the queen of sunblock, but even then there are times when I'm not there.... LOOK OUT- the FRECKLES ARE COMING!!!! I've also noticed I call Emilie, "Rose" more recently.

Mama likes Llama

 

Have you ever touched a llama? I have :) They are incredibly soft!!! Here is the last set of animal prints, :) get it-- animal...prints... anyway. Enjoy.

What a Gas

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we came home to see that the construction equipment had made it's way down to our house. They are replacing pipes in the street and, apparently, hit the gas line in front of our house. We called the gas company and watched the trucks while we waited. The house smelled like gas, so we stayed outside for about two hours watching. Naps didn't happen that day, because it was so late by the time the gas man came. It turned out to be a parent from the school where I teach, ironically. Anyway, long story short-- Emilie got to sit in teh backhoe and I have a video clip, hopefully. All of my batteries were dead or dying yesterday.

When Animals Attack

 

Some photos from the traveling petting zoo. I will upload some video too, hopefully in the near future. I have more video of Emilie in a backhoe from yesterday.

Petting Zoo 1

 

 

 

 

Here are some photos from when the local school had animals come visit. Emilie was scared of some of them. I have several sets of photos, since I'm seriously behindin uploading.

I'm aggravating :)

When Tyler gets upset or aggravated he says, "I'm AGGRAVATING". :)

Today had some visitors from Australia. They played on the hill after lunch- chased soccer balls, dogs, and baseballs. Emilie is potty trained pretty much 100% except when sleeping- in case I hadn't mentioned that earlier. THe exception is at school, but tha tis understandable. I'm working on Emilie to talk more, using the parroting she does- she does talk some, dont' get me wrong...just not nearly the chatter box that Tyler is. Also, she tries to fuss and point sometimes- I don't play into that at all- so hopefully that phase will pass soon when she realizes it doesn't work.
She was sick some last week, threw up, diarrhea, fever- not all at the same time thankfully. She is better now though. Rick stayed home with her one day, and then we were off Friday.

This next topic isn't strictly parenting, it's kind of the mix between the faith/parenting blog- but I just wanted to post that I really don't celebrate Christmas/Easter - and while there is nothing wrong with a plastic egg with chochlate inside, after consideration of the origins again- I decided I'd just as well not do it- I did let Tyler do the egg hunt this year, but looking back on it and thinking in the future- I'd decide against it. I mean I told him the bunny was pretend and the holiday Easter isn't mentioned in the Bible -but he's only three and a half...but I felt convicted about it before and more so after, so just a confirmation to myself how I feel about it-


MAMA LION- Tyler had a red day at school a while ago and he said he threw mulch because he was being a 'wild lion". We rough house at home and I am "mama bear" and he likes it but is kind of scared at the same time. Well, I said MAMAM LION would have to come get her wild lion if he has a red day...I think the red day issue for wild lions is resolved....I wonder what comes next :)

Tag team parenting around here these days, between, work, school, exercise, professional development, and errands- everyone is busy busy busy.

I did do more videos of the kids, just haven't filled the tape to upload it or edit it yet. Patience is a virtue- few have, more want, but all need.