I made this & framed it for Grandpa Ransom's birthday. (It's tomorrow, the 25th!) He seemed to like it. : )
Lollipop & "Floppy" chocolate bunny from Grandma
Shanda, Spirit & Brett and cute snowmen!
Our little sweetie on the way home. Not feeling so well.
Brett & E were playing store. Brett said "I'll buy a strawberry." We have cute little wooden strawberries. E says "OK, that will be $60." Wow, that's pricey!
Brett came whining to me, "Mom, no one will play brachiousaurus with me." I said "Well maybe they don't know how to play brachiousaurus. How do you play it?" He said "first you have to have four legs and a long neck." OK, I think I know why no one will play that with you!
Tuesday night I had a pile of errands to run and Damon was working late so I told Brett we'd go through McD's quick for supper. He doesn't care much about McD's and I really don't like it, but once in a while....He does like to go there to play though & thought we should go to the "play McD's." One of our McD's has a play ground and the other doesn't. I didn't want to take the time for it. Brett said "Mom, I promise I'll just go down the pink slide *one* time!" Right! We went and Daddy met us there so I could leave & do errands while Brett played a while. I figure pretty soon he will be too big for it! Today M was coloring. E wanted to play house. She came over and said something and M said "Sorry I really can't be the Mommy now, I'm too busy!" It hit me funny-I feel like that sometimes too! In Wed night meeting I found a phrase in Brett's notebook that perplexed me. It said "arrive in red". Then I remembered at the last place we had g. mtg. there was a poster that said that on the wall. It was a room used by Mary Kay consultants. Damon & I smiled! This morning Brett said "Let's play "Tiger, Tiger, Roar". The girls were like "OK, lets!" and I thought that sure sounds cute or rough so I wonder what they're going to do. I look in the LR and I see them with the scarf. Brett meant tug of war! He must have thought I said it was called "Tiger, Tiger, Roar"! Yesterday they started playing tug of war with the scarf and since they were being careful, I let them and gave them some guidance so there was some rules. This scarf has been so useful. It was in a bag a fabric scraps that was given to us for day care. It's used for picnics, dress up, a parachute (I really need to get one of those!), a blanket, and now tug of war. Who would have thunk?
We made monster cookies this morning & then dyed some eggs. The back yard is too messy now so I pulled the car out of the garage and they rode bikes in the garage and on the driveway. Happy, happy kids! We've had a great week. Tomorrow day care is closed & Damon's off! We're going to MN for the weekend. Tomorrow night Damon & I are having a night away & leaving Brett at G & G R's so that should be fun too. 
This must be "going around", this writing on things that we shouldn't........Saturday morning I was helping Brett get his socks on & he stuck out his foot with ink drawn all over it. I was shocked! He never does stuff like that. He realized I saw it before he remembered to hide it. I almost laughed but contained it while I got after him. He said he would never do it again. I know he did it during nap time when he was writing in his notebook with his little FL pen from Grandma H. Last night I had him show it to Damon and he had to hide his laughing too. Pretty harmless over all.
Brett gave all the kids Jeep rides on Friday when we were playing out in the front yard. You can see what he spent most of his time doing! Of course getting stuck was on purpose!
This is rare but Brett was laying down on the couch all comfy so I said move over, that looks warm! Then two more kids showed up & I was given a book. So we read a book & Damon took our picture. I have a hard time doing that when I have so much to do in the morning but it was nice. Didn't last long enough!
This story is adorable! It's just like shopping with a little one. From Barnes & Noble's site:
Synopsis Mamá and Bebé take a trip to the grocery store--bilingual style. Maria E. Gentle - Children's Literature
If you have ever taken a child to a big grocery store (mercado) this book will bring it all back with a smile. Mama must go to the store and Bebe must come along. As mama tries to do her shopping, Bebe tries to get a hold of different things: a colorful box of something, an interesting jar, some corn, and more, until Mama hands over her keys in an effort to keep Bebe entertained. Every aspect of grocery shopping is pictured in bold retro illustrations done in watercolor and ink. We see the little old lady who takes an interest in Bebe, we see the tug of war over the grocery list, and ultimately, we see Mama trying to appease Bebe with a box of circus cookies. As Bebe bites into the assortment of animal cookies, Mama is able to accomplish her task. The seamless rhyming text incorporates Spanish and English in a most natural, unforced cadence, making this book a pleasure to read over and over. Even for a non-Spanish speaker the Spanish text is so obvious you do not need to know the language to figure out the meaning, but just in case, there is a glossary at the back. This is a perfect book for bilingual story times. The unisex "Bebe" makes it suitable for either sex. The end papers will make you get a box of animal crackers on your next trip to the mercado. Delicioso! 2006, Harcourt, Ages 2 to 5.
I've been making bread. Someone in our union meeting shared some starter & I've made 4 loaves so far. These two are almost gone already! I love this kind of bread and Damon and the kids have enjoyed it too. I like that it's so easy & no yeast. The recipe is similar to this one: POTATO SOURDOUGH BREAD
The melt down has begun...our backyard is a mess and it's ugly everywhere you look. It's definitely the worst I've ever seen it. I can't wait until this passes! Brett enjoyed the puddles this afternoon. Before I got out there he was jumping up & down in it and was soaked. Oh well....I didn't want him to but he was the only one who seemed interested in playing in it so I let him. Tomorrow we'll be doing sidewalk chalk out front! At nap time Brett said "Mommy I sure had fun playing in that mud puddle!"
but still cold here! Today was the first day Brett requested his sunglasses. Ok, I'm ready for the warm weather too now!
Tonight we went to Target and we found a few new toys. I decided I'm going put more money back into the day care rather than give it to the IRS every year! I'm going to teach Brett & E how to tie before kindergarten so I had to get these neat lacing shoes to practice on. It's a better buy than the Scholastic book I was going to order. Wonder how frustrating that's going to be? LOL
The egg & spoon game is so cute and I was thinking we should do that sometime anyway so this is easier with fake eggs & the same size spoons for everyone. It was only $6.99. Then we went to look for new Play Dough tools but found a Lite Brite instead! I was so excited! $10 is all. I thought Brett would enjoy it & actually we all had fun working on it. He didn't know what was really going to happen once we put all the pegs in so it was fun to see his reaction when Damon turned out the lights & told him to push the light button! He says everything is "amazing"! I remember our old Lite Brite. It was clunky! And the paper was so thin. This is battery operated even. Now to keep track of all the pegs......
1/3 cup sugar 1 cup cornstarch 4 cups cold water Cook until thick. Put in bowl to cool. Put in Ziploc baggies, add food coloring and seal. Let the kids play with it while it is in the bag for a neat sensory experience and to learn about color mixing.
The kids really enjoyed this! It turns out into a neat consistency. I put two colors in each bag and let them mix the colors to see what they got.
That I had some influence on this child. I've had her in my day care for 4 yrs now. She was a newborn, about 3 months, when I got her. She was one of my first & started 3 days/wk. Now she & her sister are full time. Anyway, she daily wants to wear a dress and tights. Mom & Dad try to get her to wear jeans but she doesn't even want them to buy them. Her sister is starting to do the same. I really didn't think much of it until they said. I guess it seems so natural to me! : ) And look at her long hair! I think Mom wants to leave it but Dad said today soon it's going to be cut! : ( I think it's a lot for him to care for. I had to smile today when I looked at her wearing this. Her dad likes to buy her all new things from Old Navy but her mom (they're not together now) just went & bought a bunch of skirts and dresses at Goodwill. I don't think he was too impressed with this outfit & he didn't know where it came from yet! Just what a little girl wants though!
Can you see he's wearing *four* shirts?! I asked him to go change his long sleeved shirt because he had gotten play dough all over it & he came back with three more shirts over the t-shirt he already had on. Silliness!
It's just pretzel sticks & cubed cheese dipped in mustard. Brett is a strange child who really likes mustard. He will eat a hot dog with just mustard & DOES NOT want ketchup. Rarely will he eat ketchup on anything. On Tuesday he insisted on having lemon juice on his grilled chicken. OK?? He ate it!
Today I'm taking a "mental health" day. Well not really, I'm still working, but we're taking it easy. So I can't really say the percentage above is accurate for this Thursday! And tomorrow I'm going to be super busy so I better plan on more than 4%! E is out sick, S was here & left for school, A was here & gone already, K napped for 2 hrs this a.m. and Brett & B played in his room with trains. Two more just arrived so we're not doing our regular schedule/additional activities today. I'm letting the kids play & they're doing it so nicely. It's kinda hard to get into our March themes of rain, kites and rainbows when it's 30* and the yard is full of snow & ice! I didn't have a lot do to around the house but I got those things done (there's always more of course). The laundry is done, dishes are under control, and I washed the bathroom & entry floor.
Tonight Damon & I are going to Brett's kindergarten orientation! It's information for parents, not for the kids to attend, so Brett is going to P & B's for a few hours. So nice of them to help us out! I can't believe in a few short months he will be going to school. In the late summer they assign schools (there's 3 or 4 elementary schools & we're in the Milton district, not Janesville!) and I believe there's going to be a day he can check out the school then.
Friday night we have no plans which always feels good after a busy week. Saturday a.m. I have a massage scheduled & have to do some shopping for Grma. She needs a new tea kettle & requested a vaporizor. Maybe I can run it over to her in the afternoon.
Saturday night CSA Kids, where Brett takes swim lessons, has a Parent's Night Out event for kids so Damon & I need to make some plans with our free night! Brett will love PNO - he gets to play in the gym, swim, have pizza & then they set up a movie in the gym until parents pick up-which he may not get to see since I don't think we'll be that late. I think he will really enjoy it! Besides our babysitter wasn't available.
Maybe I should have some company on Sunday?
It was all quiet so I looked in the kitchen to see where he was. He had finished his french toast and put the plate in the sink. I turned around and saw him sitting behind this chair so quiet with his notebook writing. So I know he can be quiet for a few minutes! The writing table is next to him. It's been a very popular place the last few days. And look at those feet-how did they get so huge? I bought some bigger socks over the weekend. It was getting ridiculous getting his big foot in those Old Navy socks. They still fit him but hard to get on.
Here she is. She gets the royal treatment-Brett's Thomas blanket and his Cars pillow in a quiet corner behind the chair. Makes me smile when I see he's done something like that!
Well not Damon, but maybe Brett & I are lucky. Damon is recovering from the flu. A week ago he started feeling like he was coming down with something. Thursday night he went to urgent care & after two hours they said he had influenza B. I thought for sure Brett & I would get it but so far we're doing great! I hope that continues......it's not easy calling everyone and having to close day care, plus if they get it! Damon's been really miserable so I can't imagine Brett having it and how would I be able to function even with a day or two off? Damon took off on Friday and slept a lot throughout the weekend. He's very tired tonight after being up last night coughing. I think his phone (work) woke him up and then he had a coughing attack so ended up sleeping downstairs another night. Hopefully he can sleep better tonight. He has a strong prescription cough syrup that might do the trick. Next year we are definitely getting flu shots! Last year Brett & I did but Damon never has. I bet he'll want one too!
I looked out the patio door this afternoon and saw these five doves, just sitting so quiet. I'm always surprised when I look out & see them, how they seem to just all of the sudden appear. I don't think my brother is such a big fan of doves, but I'm fond of them. They seem to like the planters on the deck railing. This is the first I've seen them since?? so they must be enjoying the milder temps. They look so peaceful-quite a contrast to how I feel after opening my tax paperwork from the accountant this afternoon....
