Look at his mouth very carefully. He is trying to say "ch-ch-ch..." cheese!
"Ch-zzz! Ch-zzz!" Work that mouth!!
Who, me?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
A Climbing Man and His Jewels
Crew laid claim to this blue necklace and we had a very fancy few days. He is such a little mountain goat these days. Up the stairs he goes!Look at his mouth very carefully. He is trying to say "ch-ch-ch..." cheese!
"Ch-zzz! Ch-zzz!" Work that mouth!!
Who, me?
Look at his mouth very carefully. He is trying to say "ch-ch-ch..." cheese!"Ch-zzz! Ch-zzz!" Work that mouth!!Who, me?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Customizable Cursive Handwriting Worksheets
Kinley has been very curious about cursive handwriting lately. I found a place to make free customizable handwriting worksheets for print, D'Nealian, and cursive! I'm sure it's not the only place out there, but it was quick, easy, and free! Plus, most cursive templates don't connect the letters seamlessly like this!
Click here.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Mother Goose Mayhem and the Humpty Hullabaloo
We've spent some time exploring the many lovely nursery rhymes of that wacky ol' Mother Goose. I just love Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose collection.
We spent a lot of time on Humpty Dumpty because he's so fun. First, we had a Humpty Hunt! We've been collecting Easter "Humptys" for years... 
The Humpty Hunt was humdiggity fun.
Then we painted Humptys. We did so with attitude.
And sass.
Introducing: the happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Dumpty. On their wall. (I just printed off an image of a brick wall that I found online. There are millions. I printed the image on card stock and voila! Instant card stock wall for our card stock humpties!)
We colored hard-boiled Humptys and built them their very own precarious wall. It was just unstable enough to breathe reality into the nursery rhyme. (If you ever want the craft template, I can't find the link online right now, but I could email the template to you if you asked nicely).
We made humpty shakers. The kids had to count out 25 dry pinto beans for each shaker. That was our "big math lesson" of the day.
Shake, rattle...
and ROLL down the Humpty Half Pipe!
Good times. Good times.
We spent a lot of time on Humpty Dumpty because he's so fun. First, we had a Humpty Hunt! We've been collecting Easter "Humptys" for years... The Humpty Hunt was humdiggity fun.Then we painted Humptys. We did so with attitude.And sass.Introducing: the happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Dumpty. On their wall. (I just printed off an image of a brick wall that I found online. There are millions. I printed the image on card stock and voila! Instant card stock wall for our card stock humpties!)We colored hard-boiled Humptys and built them their very own precarious wall. It was just unstable enough to breathe reality into the nursery rhyme. (If you ever want the craft template, I can't find the link online right now, but I could email the template to you if you asked nicely).We made humpty shakers. The kids had to count out 25 dry pinto beans for each shaker. That was our "big math lesson" of the day.Shake, rattle...and ROLL down the Humpty Half Pipe!Good times. Good times.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Climber
How did he get up there?
Earlier this week, Crew climbed up on the hearth in front of the fire place for the very first time! He also climbed out of his pants (not for the first time).
Now, we can't keep him off of it.
I am trying in vain to teach him to climb down. He prefers to be rescued. Ad nauseum.
Also this week, Crew stood up in his crib for the first time!! Yikes! Justin has now lowered the crib down from newborn setting...
Earlier this week, Crew climbed up on the hearth in front of the fire place for the very first time! He also climbed out of his pants (not for the first time).
Now, we can't keep him off of it.I am trying in vain to teach him to climb down. He prefers to be rescued. Ad nauseum.Also this week, Crew stood up in his crib for the first time!! Yikes! Justin has now lowered the crib down from newborn setting...
Saturday, March 26, 2011
More "Adventures"
1. Acknowledge that Kinley and Tanner have been riding the same bikes for 3 years and no longer fit.
2. Negotiate with Daddy for a bicycle disbursement.
3. Excite the children beyond their ability to contain themselves.
4. Drive all three children for the adventure-of-a-lifetime at our local Walmart. Assume it will be a drama-free experience.
5. Locate bike department. Quickly find the cutest/cheapest bikes in the recommended sizes. Coerce a terrified 5-year-old onto his first real bicycle.
6. Take long enough in the decision-making process that toddler loses temper. Commit to bike purchases.
7. Enlist too-short 8-year-old with poor reflexes to push cart. Steer from front with one hand, hold intermittently screaming toddler with other.
8. Do weekly grocery shopping.
9. Empty groceries onto belt with one hand, hold continuously screaming toddler in other. Ask 8-year old to hold screaming toddler. Listen with horror as volume of shriek increases exponentially.
10. Load bagged groceries back into cart. Ignore stares from passing strangers.
11. Surreptitiously sniff armpit to make sure deodorant hasn't abandoned the cause.
12. Give self a mental back-pat for surviving excursion without crying. Attempt to pay for groceries and bikes.
13. Realize far too late that credit card is at home on desk.
14. Wonder vaguely if you've been gathering some seriously jacked karma.
15. Cry.
2. Negotiate with Daddy for a bicycle disbursement.
3. Excite the children beyond their ability to contain themselves.
4. Drive all three children for the adventure-of-a-lifetime at our local Walmart. Assume it will be a drama-free experience.
5. Locate bike department. Quickly find the cutest/cheapest bikes in the recommended sizes. Coerce a terrified 5-year-old onto his first real bicycle.
6. Take long enough in the decision-making process that toddler loses temper. Commit to bike purchases.
7. Enlist too-short 8-year-old with poor reflexes to push cart. Steer from front with one hand, hold intermittently screaming toddler with other.
8. Do weekly grocery shopping.
9. Empty groceries onto belt with one hand, hold continuously screaming toddler in other. Ask 8-year old to hold screaming toddler. Listen with horror as volume of shriek increases exponentially.
10. Load bagged groceries back into cart. Ignore stares from passing strangers.
11. Surreptitiously sniff armpit to make sure deodorant hasn't abandoned the cause.
12. Give self a mental back-pat for surviving excursion without crying. Attempt to pay for groceries and bikes.
13. Realize far too late that credit card is at home on desk.
14. Wonder vaguely if you've been gathering some seriously jacked karma.
15. Cry.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Happy Friday
1. Wake up.
2. Check the weather report online. Open blinds and peer out window. Feel betrayed by Father Winter. Cancel tentative plans to take the children on an outdoor park adventure.
3. Call friends to see if we can get together. Receive warning of contagion. Rescind invitation. Hope friends still love us.
4. Hop in car and drive to Ikea. Leave Kinley and Tanner at Smaland to get their energy out. Have misgivings due to possible germs. Close eyes and walk away. Wander with Crew through Ikea.
5. Crew whines and moans through half the store.
6. Find The Perfect Bathmat for $9.99
7. Crew dramatically increases level of complaint, screams bloody murder from cart, demanding to be carried.
8. Ikea carts are not made for steering one-handed. Ikea carts are not made for steering two-handed either. Ikea carts are also, inconveniently enough, not made for pulling.
9. Get to checkstand and realize there are only self-checkstands available. This is a problem. See #7.
10. Set Crew down in the cart. Hysterical shrieking begins. Again.
11. Begin checkout process. Realize magnet board is sorely bent. Call for assistance. Employee suggests I wend my way back through the maze-of-madness to get a replacement. She quickly regains her senses. See #7 and #10.
12. Employee #2 races sweatily down the aisle with suitable magnet board plus an extra. I decide I need both. I may never be allowed back into the store, after all. Finish transaction.
13. See good friend and neighbor on our way out. Ask if she could hear Crew from where she was sitting. Denial seems noncommittal.
14. Pick up Kinley and Tanner from Smaland.
15. Hear tales of unknown child landing on Kinley's face in jumping pit. Kinley has black eye.
16. Take purchased items out to the van. Repeat #10.
17. Return to Ikea. Ride escalator with three small children; avoid losing a child or a limb. Order food and make it to table without dropping anything. Eat swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, and lingonberry jam. Think to self, "this is a perfect moment". Enjoy lunch. Thoroughly.
18. Force Kinley to eat Swedish meatball because "she'll love it." Prove yet again that Mommy knows best. Share half the meatballs. Sample chicken strips and fries from kid plates. Vow to never eat at Wendy's again.
18. Stop off at library on the way home. Have library card get eaten by checkout stand. Three times. Listen to library attendant say over and over again, "this has never happened before. This is so weird. What in the world is going on? I've never seen anything like it." Begin to feel cursed.
19. Arrive home. Good friend and neighbor (see #13) extends playdate invitation to Kinley and Tanner. Wonder exactly how overwhelmed I appeared at Ikea. Feel a little embarrassed but accept invitation anyway. Crew falls asleep.
20. Vow to not be defeated. Decide pajama pants do not mean defeat. Put on pajama pants.
2. Check the weather report online. Open blinds and peer out window. Feel betrayed by Father Winter. Cancel tentative plans to take the children on an outdoor park adventure.
3. Call friends to see if we can get together. Receive warning of contagion. Rescind invitation. Hope friends still love us.
4. Hop in car and drive to Ikea. Leave Kinley and Tanner at Smaland to get their energy out. Have misgivings due to possible germs. Close eyes and walk away. Wander with Crew through Ikea.
5. Crew whines and moans through half the store.
6. Find The Perfect Bathmat for $9.99
7. Crew dramatically increases level of complaint, screams bloody murder from cart, demanding to be carried.
8. Ikea carts are not made for steering one-handed. Ikea carts are not made for steering two-handed either. Ikea carts are also, inconveniently enough, not made for pulling.
9. Get to checkstand and realize there are only self-checkstands available. This is a problem. See #7.
10. Set Crew down in the cart. Hysterical shrieking begins. Again.
11. Begin checkout process. Realize magnet board is sorely bent. Call for assistance. Employee suggests I wend my way back through the maze-of-madness to get a replacement. She quickly regains her senses. See #7 and #10.
12. Employee #2 races sweatily down the aisle with suitable magnet board plus an extra. I decide I need both. I may never be allowed back into the store, after all. Finish transaction.
13. See good friend and neighbor on our way out. Ask if she could hear Crew from where she was sitting. Denial seems noncommittal.
14. Pick up Kinley and Tanner from Smaland.
15. Hear tales of unknown child landing on Kinley's face in jumping pit. Kinley has black eye.
16. Take purchased items out to the van. Repeat #10.
17. Return to Ikea. Ride escalator with three small children; avoid losing a child or a limb. Order food and make it to table without dropping anything. Eat swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, and lingonberry jam. Think to self, "this is a perfect moment". Enjoy lunch. Thoroughly.
18. Force Kinley to eat Swedish meatball because "she'll love it." Prove yet again that Mommy knows best. Share half the meatballs. Sample chicken strips and fries from kid plates. Vow to never eat at Wendy's again.
18. Stop off at library on the way home. Have library card get eaten by checkout stand. Three times. Listen to library attendant say over and over again, "this has never happened before. This is so weird. What in the world is going on? I've never seen anything like it." Begin to feel cursed.
19. Arrive home. Good friend and neighbor (see #13) extends playdate invitation to Kinley and Tanner. Wonder exactly how overwhelmed I appeared at Ikea. Feel a little embarrassed but accept invitation anyway. Crew falls asleep.
20. Vow to not be defeated. Decide pajama pants do not mean defeat. Put on pajama pants.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Born To Teach
Kinley spent an entire Sunday afternoon preparing an amazing Family Home Evening lesson on Baptism and Choosing the Right.
She made two games for Tanner: Bingo....
And a "Right versus Wrong" mix and sort.
She even bore her sweet little testimony of baptism and the joy she feels when she makes good choices in her life. This little gal was born to teach. Her school teachers have not infrequently joked that Kinley could stand up and teach the class in lieu of a substitute; she is regularly relied upon for peer tutoring, and I love having her assistance during preschool when she is off track.
I will never forget an experience I had when she was two years old. She brought me a picture of the creation and repeated verbatim a mini "lesson" that we had previously shared together. Only she took upon herself the role of teacher this time:
Kinley: Mommy, who is this? That's right, that's Adam. Is he a boy or a girl? Good job, Mommy, he's a boy. What is this? Yes, it's a tiger. What does a tiger say? Yes, a tiger says roar! What color is the tiger? Right! He is orange and black. Good job, Mommy! What other animals do you see? Let's count the animals together. 1, 2, 3, 4... What does that elephant say? What about her? Is this a girl or a boy? Yes, she's a girl. Does she have long hair or short hair? What is her name? That's right, Mommy! Her name is Eve! Good job, Mommy! You are so smart!
Back to current events. She declared her intention to take over all future Family Home Evening lessons, but I had to put the kabosh on that. Mommy likes to contribute sometimes, after all.
She made two games for Tanner: Bingo....And a "Right versus Wrong" mix and sort.She even bore her sweet little testimony of baptism and the joy she feels when she makes good choices in her life. This little gal was born to teach. Her school teachers have not infrequently joked that Kinley could stand up and teach the class in lieu of a substitute; she is regularly relied upon for peer tutoring, and I love having her assistance during preschool when she is off track.I will never forget an experience I had when she was two years old. She brought me a picture of the creation and repeated verbatim a mini "lesson" that we had previously shared together. Only she took upon herself the role of teacher this time:
Kinley: Mommy, who is this? That's right, that's Adam. Is he a boy or a girl? Good job, Mommy, he's a boy. What is this? Yes, it's a tiger. What does a tiger say? Yes, a tiger says roar! What color is the tiger? Right! He is orange and black. Good job, Mommy! What other animals do you see? Let's count the animals together. 1, 2, 3, 4... What does that elephant say? What about her? Is this a girl or a boy? Yes, she's a girl. Does she have long hair or short hair? What is her name? That's right, Mommy! Her name is Eve! Good job, Mommy! You are so smart!
Back to current events. She declared her intention to take over all future Family Home Evening lessons, but I had to put the kabosh on that. Mommy likes to contribute sometimes, after all.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Chaos of Capacity
We had a preschool lesson on "capacity". It started off innocently enough.
It became very exciting...
And quickly devolved into two 5-year-olds playing with water buckets.
Um, yeeeeeeeaaahhhhh.
The important thing to remember is that they learned the concept, we did no permanent damage, and a good time was had by all.
It became very exciting...And quickly devolved into two 5-year-olds playing with water buckets.Um, yeeeeeeeaaahhhhh.The important thing to remember is that they learned the concept, we did no permanent damage, and a good time was had by all.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Overheard At Preschool
Tanner: Have you ever been to Provo?
Madison: No, what's that?
Tanner: It's a place. It's a very nice place. It's where Dex died. Now Dex lives under a stone. Well... his body lives under a stone. His spirit lives in heaven. Your spirit never dies, you know.
Madison: Yeah, I know.
Madison: No, what's that?
Tanner: It's a place. It's a very nice place. It's where Dex died. Now Dex lives under a stone. Well... his body lives under a stone. His spirit lives in heaven. Your spirit never dies, you know.
Madison: Yeah, I know.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Dance Mat Typing
Kinley told me about a program they use on the computers at school to learn typing skills. I found it online and watched her do it this morning. Wow! Educational and fun! You know what a sucker I am for that magic combination. Great little program and it's free!
Click here.
Click here.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
It Wasn't Enough...
It wasn't enough that Crew stealthily escaped the confines of our couch and made his way upstairs unattended.
It wasn't enough that the big kids left the upstairs bathroom door open, which is against the rules. (Crew is very stealthy and curious).
It wasn't enough that Crew essentially locked himself in that bathroom by closing the door first and opening the cabinet drawer second, making a rescue attempt impossible without cooperation from him. (Crew is very stealthy, curious, and disobedient).
It wasn't enough that the big kids filled the mini-garbage can to mountainous proportions with papers from their cleaning frenzy in the playroom. (Also against the rules. For many reasons.)
It wasn't enough that Crew took those papers and filled the toilet to mountainous proportions. (Crew is very stealthy, curious, disobedient, and adventuresome).
Oh, no. It wasn't enough.
There just had to be poop in the toilet too.
It wasn't enough that the big kids left the upstairs bathroom door open, which is against the rules. (Crew is very stealthy and curious).
It wasn't enough that Crew essentially locked himself in that bathroom by closing the door first and opening the cabinet drawer second, making a rescue attempt impossible without cooperation from him. (Crew is very stealthy, curious, and disobedient).
It wasn't enough that the big kids filled the mini-garbage can to mountainous proportions with papers from their cleaning frenzy in the playroom. (Also against the rules. For many reasons.)
It wasn't enough that Crew took those papers and filled the toilet to mountainous proportions. (Crew is very stealthy, curious, disobedient, and adventuresome).
Oh, no. It wasn't enough.
There just had to be poop in the toilet too.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Slow Ramp
It's taking me a lot longer to return to health than I had hoped. I continue to improve, but it's a slow and groggy process.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A New Week
I have my expectations ramped up for a great upcoming week. Dangerous, I know.
We are all feeling a lot better. Kinley will return to school in the morning. I climbed out of bed sometime Saturday afternoon. Found my way to the shower this morning. I still have a headache that I just can't kick.
I'm not proud of the quantity (or quality) of media and electronic babysitting that went on around here last week -- I did mention that Crew's first word was "movie", right? Tanner has entered an alternate Wii reality within his own mind and I've planned a detox program that he's not gonna like. Crew became quite independent, playing with his toys and wandering the house while I hid under my covers, texting Justin my burial wishes.
We are all feeling a lot better. Kinley will return to school in the morning. I climbed out of bed sometime Saturday afternoon. Found my way to the shower this morning. I still have a headache that I just can't kick.
I'm not proud of the quantity (or quality) of media and electronic babysitting that went on around here last week -- I did mention that Crew's first word was "movie", right? Tanner has entered an alternate Wii reality within his own mind and I've planned a detox program that he's not gonna like. Crew became quite independent, playing with his toys and wandering the house while I hid under my covers, texting Justin my burial wishes.
Justin worked until midnight Saturday night and then stayed home from church today to take care of us and to try to put the house back into some semblance of order. Only 5 more weeks of tax season! He cleaned out Crew's morning floaties from the tub and hardly even complained about it. What a good daddy. His reward? Crew said, "car" for him.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
He Spoke More...
No, literally. He said, "more!" All during dinner he alternated between banging his fists together and saying "mah" out loud. It's been suspicious for several weeks, but tonight I became a believer!
Tonight he also bowled us over with a clear-as-a-bell "car" while pointing at.... a CAR. He did it over and over again, a dozen times. Of course, I couldn't get him to do it for Daddy over the phone, the little stinker. But I have Kinley and Tanner as witnesses to his jaw-dropping miracle! It eventually regressed throughout the evening to "ca" and then just a "c" sound, but I'll take it.
Tonight he also bowled us over with a clear-as-a-bell "car" while pointing at.... a CAR. He did it over and over again, a dozen times. Of course, I couldn't get him to do it for Daddy over the phone, the little stinker. But I have Kinley and Tanner as witnesses to his jaw-dropping miracle! It eventually regressed throughout the evening to "ca" and then just a "c" sound, but I'll take it.
WORDS!! Do you hear me? WORDS!!!
Friday, March 11, 2011
A Case of Mistaken Transmission
So, I realized that Kinley didn't GIVE me strep throat. I TOOK it from her during sacrament meeting when I noticed she had breakfast smeared on her face, right as she was asked to go up front to be recognized for her baptism. I did something that I swore I would NEVER EVER do. I horrified/nauseated the both of us by using what was quickest and most convenient: my thumb and my spit.
That'll learn me.
As a side note, Dr. J. was surprised and impressed that I knew what the word "petichiae" meant. Thank you, CSI Miami.
That'll learn me.
As a side note, Dr. J. was surprised and impressed that I knew what the word "petichiae" meant. Thank you, CSI Miami.
Good News, Bad News
Good News: Crew can now very quickly and happily get himself off the couch all by himself!
Bad News: He dives headfirst.
I cannot convince him to turn around and do it safely. He thinks it is so hilarious. He cackles the whole time and then struts around the livingroom like a peacock.
Thanks for your "help", Daddy.
Bad News: He dives headfirst.
I cannot convince him to turn around and do it safely. He thinks it is so hilarious. He cackles the whole time and then struts around the livingroom like a peacock.
Thanks for your "help", Daddy.
He Spoke....
I am sure of it. Daddy is not so convinced.
I said, "Crew, do you want to watch a movie or go night-night?"
He reached his arm toward the basement and said very loudly, "BEE!" As in...."moo-bee" perhaps?
I asked him again. Again he shouted, "BEE!" and reached toward the basement stairs.
Ladies and gentlemen, I do believe we have our first non-Mama-Dada word
I said, "Crew, do you want to watch a movie or go night-night?"
He reached his arm toward the basement and said very loudly, "BEE!" As in...."moo-bee" perhaps?
I asked him again. Again he shouted, "BEE!" and reached toward the basement stairs.
Ladies and gentlemen, I do believe we have our first non-Mama-Dada word
The Doctor
Tanner: Virus
Kinley: Strep throat
Lucky, Special Me: Both! I'm such an overachiever...
We are, however, on the mend.
Kinley: Strep throat
Lucky, Special Me: Both! I'm such an overachiever...
We are, however, on the mend.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sickly
The Princess is sick. She woke up at 1 in the morning with fever, chills, aches, pains, etc. She's been up and down all day, spending lots of time in the bath or sacked out on the couch. I'm so glad that illness didn't plague her special weekend. Beyond that, I'm really irritated at being struck by yet. another. germ. It's like we spend our free time around here licking petri dishes. Having Crew get sick is AWFUL; trying to keep him away from his much-adored germy siblings isn't a whole lot of fun either.
I've been lethargic and cranky today. I'm wondering if I'm having sympathetic sicky symptoms... or if I'm getting actually sick myself. When I wasn't tending to Kinley's woes, I was also up a lot last night being sad/mad about a package that I mailed that may be lost forever into the USPS abyss. Justin called this afternoon and cheered me up. We're deep into tax season and today I'm really feeling it.
In good news, Crew has made peace with his shoes at last. He brought them to me and asked me to put them on his feet this afternoon. He is still wearing them. P-r-o-g-r-e-s-s. In other good news, I am continuing to lose consistent weight and girth. Zippin' up skirts and old pants, etc. etc... 15 pounds down (10 of those since Halloween, stop-and-start through the holidays), only 18 more to go. I'm on this ride to the end.
I've been lethargic and cranky today. I'm wondering if I'm having sympathetic sicky symptoms... or if I'm getting actually sick myself. When I wasn't tending to Kinley's woes, I was also up a lot last night being sad/mad about a package that I mailed that may be lost forever into the USPS abyss. Justin called this afternoon and cheered me up. We're deep into tax season and today I'm really feeling it.
In good news, Crew has made peace with his shoes at last. He brought them to me and asked me to put them on his feet this afternoon. He is still wearing them. P-r-o-g-r-e-s-s. In other good news, I am continuing to lose consistent weight and girth. Zippin' up skirts and old pants, etc. etc... 15 pounds down (10 of those since Halloween, stop-and-start through the holidays), only 18 more to go. I'm on this ride to the end.
"It's not how big you are...
...it's how big you play." --Author Unknown
Kinley finished her basketball season the day after her birthday. Yes, I'm almost a month late on this post. Anyway, it was a great season and we are really looking forward to next year! Go, Jr. Jazz!
Kinley finished her basketball season the day after her birthday. Yes, I'm almost a month late on this post. Anyway, it was a great season and we are really looking forward to next year! Go, Jr. Jazz!
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