Aug
30
2012With my very active and extroverted six year old niece here, I had to keep coming up with things to do! So the girls did two things.
The first an epic fail: Bouncy Balls. But only because they never bounced. Ha! They did, however, keep all 3 girls interested and entertained in kneading them for a half hour. So in my book a success. In the eyes of an older preschooler, this would be an epic failure. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
But by far my favorite activity of the week: telling all 3 girls to go outside and pick out 10 sticks to paint with and see how they used their sticks on the paper. Hilarious messy fun 🙂
Aug
16
2012The girls in the dorm of Middle HOW-Word where I lived would go play big ball soccer. Sadly, I never joined in. Mostly because it seemed they only went to play when someone who had never gone before requested to go. Suspicious. You know… like “Snipe Hunting” (what is snipe hunting?) Sort of a cross between scaring someone or pulling a joke on a gullible person… right?
However, after a long 2 rainy weeks, I loaded up the girls and taught them to play big ball soccer 🙂 We had a blast!
Aug
09
2012Sometimes life gets fussy. You know… when you’re doing the same old thing and it stops working but you keep doing it anyway? It’s time for change and you’re not ready for it. It’s those times when I need someone to push me. This rainy afternoon… I did just that.
I pushed both fussy (tired of being in the house) girls right out the back door and into the rain.
There was a bit of uncertainty at first.
Then joy over how the chalk worked differently in the rain.
The over to their water slide and pool.
Shortly after this image, they stripped down (my girls hate being “wet” or “dirty”… I’m not sure how they think naked improved on that condition?).
I passed their rain coats out the door and sent them down to the puddle.
Uncomfortable? yes.
Delightful in the end? yes.
Oh, that I would remember this about change in motherhood and relationships in general.
Aug
02
2012Last week we didn’t really do anything (I was busy joint compounding a new wall and generally cleaning up from my in-laws stay/construction help), but this week we’ve already done two really fun things. So I thought I’d share one with you now.
Having 3 at different ages is tough. Up until recently Sedryn and the girls have pretty much mutually avoided each other. Sedryn avoids the girls because their idea of protecting him is to lay flat on top of him and scream for mommy. As you can imagine, that’s not the most wonderful experience! Aeralind and Bronwyn have avoided the baby since he became mobile at 5 months because he chews on their things. It appears the avoidance was mutually beneficial…
Yet, Sedryn has entered the age where social play is something he desires. So this morning the girls and I built towers with our giant cardboard blocks and let Sedryn knock them over. Then, all of us (Sedryn included) clapped for his accomplishment. (the girls also squealed… which pleased my extroverted boy very much!). It’s so neat to finally see them all playing together!
Jul
26
2012
We just got a copy of Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
. Bronwyn has been expressing interest in learning to write (ahem… throwing fits because she can’t draw letters) as well as memorizing and ‘reading’ books to herself and her siblings. I thought: Well, what have a I got to lose? If she picks it up: great! If she doesn’t: well, she’s got a few years!
. Bronwyn has been expressing interest in learning to write (ahem… throwing fits because she can’t draw letters) as well as memorizing and ‘reading’ books to herself and her siblings. I thought: Well, what have a I got to lose? If she picks it up: great! If she doesn’t: well, she’s got a few years!
For a young reader (and the hesitant parent), this book is perfect! The entire lesson is scripted with text for the parent to read to the child in red. But with a 2 year old there’s one problem with the lessons: the writing section. The girls just don’t have the fine motor skills to write letters (especially Aeralind. Bronwyn can trace large letters on her Doodle Pad)!
Out came the play dough and a pile of tooth picks. I had them trace the first ‘sounds’ they learn (m and s) and then stick the toothpicks in the play dough. It was a heap of fun for all involved 🙂
