Friday, January 28, 2011
Snow Day 3 = Baking
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Snow Day 2 = Shoveling
The rain and sleet turned to snow...8 inches of it. Time to shovel! Darrell shoveled some of our very, very long driveway while the kids, my wonderful neighbor, Andi, and I did the rest. That is hard work! But we did manage to have some fun while doing it!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Recycling and Entertaining
Need a use for those solid colored dot stickers in your desk? Recycle them as gumballs and keep two preschoolers entertained...for at least 15 minutes!
Active Learning or Just Cabin Fever?
Has your kitchen ever looked like this before 9:00 AM? Yes, the kids dove right into my teaching bag with my "Candy Unit" before breakfast. We've already played Candyland and Drew did the same 24 piece puzzle twice.
Why is it that we are awake and ready easily on Saturdays and snow days?
Snow Day 1 = Cleaning
Before:
After:
Icy Day
Schools were closed today b/c of a big winter storm heading our way. Right now it's icy but we are supposed to get lots of snow later on. Makes me want a NOLA snowball after looking at our deck!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Getting Organized
This year I have decided to declutter our house and get rid of junk we never use. I've been wanting to reorganize my kitchen, so that was the 1st big project. First, I cleared off my island, took down all the decorative things on top of the cabinets and am trying to get as much off the counters as I can. It is so nice and feels so big with just these little changes. It is coming along nicely and I've been putting Libby and Drew's shopping cart to good use!
I've also got my eye on these for some of my cabinets...
The Latest
Happy New Year!!! Sorry, it's only about 3 weeks late!
It's almost the end of January and I have been away from the blog for a while now. Mostly because we've been just go, go, go since Thanksgiving with family visiting, enjoying Christmas together, and living life as we know it. There hasn't been any major developments with us lately, but let me just fill you in...
Drew has been having difficulty behaving at preschool. He is using his hands rather than his words and either hits, pushes, or throws toys. We notice this at home, especially when he's frustrated. He's definitely going through a "I can do it myself and WILL do it myself" phase lately. And naturally, when a toy is frustrating him, he ends up throwing it across the room. We've had to use a lot of different strategies, from explaining the consequences to his behavior to a flat out time-out or even time in his room. His preschool teacher, Mrs. Marco, is so good with the kids. She has been keeping me updated and he is now working for a sticker if he has a "thumbs up day". We've had a few days with no sticker, but mostly, he's improving. I think it is a phase and hope to just push on through it to get to the other side eventually!
Libby is starting to talk back like crazy! Sometimes you can't help but laugh when she gets her little attitude going. But mostly it's just plain annoying. She's not getting the "I'm the parent and you don't talk to me that way" idea. Even when that is flat out said to her, and not in a very nice loving voice. We've been doing 1-2-3 magic a lot (basically counting to 3 before there's a consequence). She, like a sly cat, is waiting til 3 and then trying to bring on the tears when the consequence occurs. Sadly, the only thing that gets action is the threat to take away her "Beary" little bear she's completely in love with right now or one of her 10 blankets she carries around the house (and car) with her.
Both are doing really well with potty training. When they're playing, they sometimes forget, but I'm happy with how it's going. They're still in pull-ups at nap and night, but doing well. They both take about a 2-hour nap in the afternoon. Lately, I'm wondering if Libby is ready to give hers up. She mostly ends up talking and talking and talking and complaining about something and needing this and that... rather than sleep. But then she has terrible bags under her eyes and is a grouch. So, I'm gonna hold on to those naps if we can!
Libby is FINALLY on a preventive medicine called Pulmocort for her breathing issues. She takes it twice a day through her "dinosaur" (nebulizer) and it has really helped tremendously. That plus a flu shot will hopefully get her through the winter. Right now strep throat is going around everywhere, so knock on wood all of us dodge it. We were worried Drew might have it last week b/c he was home a couple of days with fever and that barking cough. But luckily, it just cleared up on its own and he's back to "normal" with just a runny nose every now and then. Phew!
Oh, guess what-- Libby is now into wearing dresses!! Remember how I was so upset that she was going through a phase of now wanting to wear them at all (much to my dismay)?? Well, I think seeing the other girls at preschool wear them with tights has helped. But guess what-- her new thing (and she's adimant about it) is that she won't wear any type of clothing with buttons on it. Pants we can usually get away with b/c most are either pull-on or have snaps. But any dress or jumper with buttons at the shoulders or a shirt with buttons down the front or back are an absolute, "NO!" Is she serious?? Apparently, she is. I can't wait to see what comes next!
It's almost the end of January and I have been away from the blog for a while now. Mostly because we've been just go, go, go since Thanksgiving with family visiting, enjoying Christmas together, and living life as we know it. There hasn't been any major developments with us lately, but let me just fill you in...
Drew has been having difficulty behaving at preschool. He is using his hands rather than his words and either hits, pushes, or throws toys. We notice this at home, especially when he's frustrated. He's definitely going through a "I can do it myself and WILL do it myself" phase lately. And naturally, when a toy is frustrating him, he ends up throwing it across the room. We've had to use a lot of different strategies, from explaining the consequences to his behavior to a flat out time-out or even time in his room. His preschool teacher, Mrs. Marco, is so good with the kids. She has been keeping me updated and he is now working for a sticker if he has a "thumbs up day". We've had a few days with no sticker, but mostly, he's improving. I think it is a phase and hope to just push on through it to get to the other side eventually!
Libby is starting to talk back like crazy! Sometimes you can't help but laugh when she gets her little attitude going. But mostly it's just plain annoying. She's not getting the "I'm the parent and you don't talk to me that way" idea. Even when that is flat out said to her, and not in a very nice loving voice. We've been doing 1-2-3 magic a lot (basically counting to 3 before there's a consequence). She, like a sly cat, is waiting til 3 and then trying to bring on the tears when the consequence occurs. Sadly, the only thing that gets action is the threat to take away her "Beary" little bear she's completely in love with right now or one of her 10 blankets she carries around the house (and car) with her.
Both are doing really well with potty training. When they're playing, they sometimes forget, but I'm happy with how it's going. They're still in pull-ups at nap and night, but doing well. They both take about a 2-hour nap in the afternoon. Lately, I'm wondering if Libby is ready to give hers up. She mostly ends up talking and talking and talking and complaining about something and needing this and that... rather than sleep. But then she has terrible bags under her eyes and is a grouch. So, I'm gonna hold on to those naps if we can!
Libby is FINALLY on a preventive medicine called Pulmocort for her breathing issues. She takes it twice a day through her "dinosaur" (nebulizer) and it has really helped tremendously. That plus a flu shot will hopefully get her through the winter. Right now strep throat is going around everywhere, so knock on wood all of us dodge it. We were worried Drew might have it last week b/c he was home a couple of days with fever and that barking cough. But luckily, it just cleared up on its own and he's back to "normal" with just a runny nose every now and then. Phew!
Oh, guess what-- Libby is now into wearing dresses!! Remember how I was so upset that she was going through a phase of now wanting to wear them at all (much to my dismay)?? Well, I think seeing the other girls at preschool wear them with tights has helped. But guess what-- her new thing (and she's adimant about it) is that she won't wear any type of clothing with buttons on it. Pants we can usually get away with b/c most are either pull-on or have snaps. But any dress or jumper with buttons at the shoulders or a shirt with buttons down the front or back are an absolute, "NO!" Is she serious?? Apparently, she is. I can't wait to see what comes next!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Do You Hear What I Hear?
It's the sound of quiet as the decorations slowly come down, the toys get put away, and the Christmas candy being completely devoured by us! I have been so busy living life lately that I haven't been posting or even reading my favorite blogs! I just looked at my last post here and realized it's been almost 2 months since I filled you all in on what's happening in Virginia!
So, Thanksgiving came and went and was extra special because Uncle Jeff (my brother) spent 2 weeks with us on his way back to Louisiana from New York, where he worked at a restaurant there for the summmer. He had a great time with the kids, although, I think he may never EVER want his own after being with 2 little terrors that I call my children.
Libby and Drew have been going through such a tough little "phase" (at least I'm hoping) with talking back, fighting with one another, forgetting what the words "wait", "share", and "no more candy" mean. It's been getting a tad better, but whoever said 3 was way worse than 2 should win a huge prize for being exactly right. I will tell you, though, that I am so grateful to God for giving us baby bedtimes that are earlier than ours. Not only because they get out of my hair for at least 10 hours, but really because there is nothing more precious than watching my babies sleep. I think God created this as a natural stress reliever for all parents. Suddenly all of that stress and anxiety and fear of what's to come is melted away with the quiet peacefulness of watching their chests rise and fall in either Lightning McQueen or Disney Princess PJ's in the light of their sweet little night lights. I can stand there for a while and just smile, remembering how just 4 or 5 years ago I begged God to let me have the chance to be a mother. I pleaded that I would be so good at it and would take care of a baby so well because I was meant to be a mother.
I am blessed to tell you today that not only did God listen to my prayers, but he replied... TWICE! Perhaps he thought I was REALLY meant to be a mom! Whatever His plan, I'm all for it. So, I say thank you to Him for the greatest gift I'll ever receive.
So, Thanksgiving came and went and was extra special because Uncle Jeff (my brother) spent 2 weeks with us on his way back to Louisiana from New York, where he worked at a restaurant there for the summmer. He had a great time with the kids, although, I think he may never EVER want his own after being with 2 little terrors that I call my children.
Libby and Drew have been going through such a tough little "phase" (at least I'm hoping) with talking back, fighting with one another, forgetting what the words "wait", "share", and "no more candy" mean. It's been getting a tad better, but whoever said 3 was way worse than 2 should win a huge prize for being exactly right. I will tell you, though, that I am so grateful to God for giving us baby bedtimes that are earlier than ours. Not only because they get out of my hair for at least 10 hours, but really because there is nothing more precious than watching my babies sleep. I think God created this as a natural stress reliever for all parents. Suddenly all of that stress and anxiety and fear of what's to come is melted away with the quiet peacefulness of watching their chests rise and fall in either Lightning McQueen or Disney Princess PJ's in the light of their sweet little night lights. I can stand there for a while and just smile, remembering how just 4 or 5 years ago I begged God to let me have the chance to be a mother. I pleaded that I would be so good at it and would take care of a baby so well because I was meant to be a mother.
I am blessed to tell you today that not only did God listen to my prayers, but he replied... TWICE! Perhaps he thought I was REALLY meant to be a mom! Whatever His plan, I'm all for it. So, I say thank you to Him for the greatest gift I'll ever receive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
