I can walk into and completely around the grocery store without ever noticing a sign, and ad, or display stand. I know what I'm there for, and I go after it. Usually not straying...too much. :)
Miss E walks beside me, the entire time, reading. Reading the sign in the front window. "HEB has higher standards, and lower prices!"
Reading the labels as I compare cleaning products. "This one is new and improved!"
The incentives on the detergent bottles. "That one has 20 percent more!"
And the magazine covers while we're waiting in line. "Miley Cyrus' Secret Life! Can I get that one? It's for kids!"
Um, not it's not.
It cracks me up!
Yes, it's a great thing that she is such an advanced reader. While I was helping Miss A get ready for bed last night, Miss E stayed curled up on the couch and read 4 chapters of a Magic Treehouse book.
But Oh My Goodness! It makes it harder to shop, to drive down the road, even to quickly surf the web with her over my shoulder.
We were waiting at a car place yesterday for my inspection, and she picked up a Redbook and was flipping through it. I saw a couple of the article titles on the cover and took it away quick!
It's neat to see her world growing by leaps and bounds. She is very excited for 1st grade. Told me today that she expects to have "boxes" of homework.
We'll see. :)
Oh-and little Miss A-we were talking about kites this evening and I asked her what letter kite started with. She thought for a loooooong time. Surprised me. And proudly said, "K"!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
My Summer To Do List!
My life is full of lists...I list what I'd like to make for dinner next week, what activities we have coming up, what food items we are currently in need of, wish lists, chore lists, to do lists, bills and budget lists, etc. etc.
Thanks to a tip from friend M, I found a new list, that I love! My Summer To Do List.
M stumbled across this list on one of my new favorite sites, Crumbs In My Couch. I love this mom's ideas and approach to hands on learning!
So, I've decided to start my own list. Better late than never! Mine will include things we have done this summer that I would like to do again next year, things we didn't get to do this summer that I want to put in plans for next year, and ideas that I've found from other moms blogs that I love and want to try. It will include ideas from as small as an at home craft to as big as a (small) family vacation!
(and I got a head start and took a lot from the 'Crumbs' Mom. Why not?!)Enjoy!
The Keas Kid's Summer To Do List!
1. Build a sand castle
2. Have a picnic
3. Run in the sprinklers
4. Body paint (kind of like finger paint gone wild!)
5. Plant flowers
6. Hike to the dinosaur tracks
7. Lay in the grass and find shapes in the clouds
8. Make smores by campfire
9. Make a nature box
10. Make an ice treasure
11. Make homemade ice cream
12. and homemade Popsicles!
13. Go to the Zoo
14. Blow BIG bubbles!
15. Play hide and seek at night with flashlights
16. Make a treasure map and hunt for treasure
17. Play hopscotch
18. Go to an amusement/water park
19. Go camping!
20. Paint the fence
21. Have a snow day
22. Jump on the tramp w/sprinkler under!
23. Visit the Children's Art Park
24. Attend free movies!
25. Make a fort and sleep in it!
26. Make our own stepping stone
27. Go to the Botanical Gardens
28. Ride the Zilker Zephyr
29. See a play or musical
30. Fly a kite
31. Take a listening walk
...more to come...this is a good start for just banging out ideas. We'll see how much I can cross off in the next week! Some we've already done, of course!
Thanks to a tip from friend M, I found a new list, that I love! My Summer To Do List.
M stumbled across this list on one of my new favorite sites, Crumbs In My Couch. I love this mom's ideas and approach to hands on learning!
So, I've decided to start my own list. Better late than never! Mine will include things we have done this summer that I would like to do again next year, things we didn't get to do this summer that I want to put in plans for next year, and ideas that I've found from other moms blogs that I love and want to try. It will include ideas from as small as an at home craft to as big as a (small) family vacation!
(and I got a head start and took a lot from the 'Crumbs' Mom. Why not?!)Enjoy!
The Keas Kid's Summer To Do List!
1. Build a sand castle
2. Have a picnic
3. Run in the sprinklers
4. Body paint (kind of like finger paint gone wild!)
5. Plant flowers
6. Hike to the dinosaur tracks
7. Lay in the grass and find shapes in the clouds
8. Make smores by campfire
9. Make a nature box
10. Make an ice treasure
11. Make homemade ice cream
12. and homemade Popsicles!
13. Go to the Zoo
14. Blow BIG bubbles!
15. Play hide and seek at night with flashlights
16. Make a treasure map and hunt for treasure
17. Play hopscotch
18. Go to an amusement/water park
19. Go camping!
20. Paint the fence
21. Have a snow day
22. Jump on the tramp w/sprinkler under!
23. Visit the Children's Art Park
24. Attend free movies!
25. Make a fort and sleep in it!
26. Make our own stepping stone
27. Go to the Botanical Gardens
28. Ride the Zilker Zephyr
29. See a play or musical
30. Fly a kite
31. Take a listening walk
...more to come...this is a good start for just banging out ideas. We'll see how much I can cross off in the next week! Some we've already done, of course!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Out of the Mouths...
Over the weekend we made one last trip to Graham, TX. The girls had a blast at their cousin's pool party, got in a nice visit with Nana and Pops, and enjoyed some good quality play time and some yummy pizza.
You would THINK after a fun filled evening like this, they would be ready to crash, right???
Apparently, WRONG!
When it came time for bed, we were comfortable enough, with Miss E on the top bunk and Miss A and I on the bottom. And they weren't overly hyper/wild/rowdy.
Just not tired!
Miss E was tossing and turning, hanging her hands over the edge of the bed, and commenting or questioning on the most random things.
For over an hour!
I finally got up, took Miss A potty again, gave a rather stern whispered warning (the baby was asleep right next door) threatened something or someone I'm sure, and turned my back, praying for peace and quiet!
Miss E quickly settled down.
Miss A, on the other hand, was still going strong. She was talking to her stuffed animals, playing with her shadow, putting her feet up on the wall, and constantly moving back and forth from the foot to the head of the bed.
I was sooooo tired and just wanted to sleep!! SO, when she saw something on the floor (my phone, I think) and was determined to get it, ignoring my numerous warnings to Be Still! Be Quiet! Go to SLEEP!....I popped her quickly on the rear.
I wanted to get her attention. And it worked!
She whipped around and told me off!
And so was born my newest IQ.
Enjoy!
"Don't you spank my bottom, Mama!"
...pause for about three beats...
then,
"Do you HEAR ME!?!"
THEN....
a HUGE dramatic sigh, a huffy, puffy, elaborate rollover so her back was to me, and finishes with:
"You gotta be Kidding Me!"
I. Was. Dying!
It was all I could do to contain myself! I was shaking, I was laughing so hard. There was no way I could even attempt a response.
I wonder where she's heard this before?? :)
You would THINK after a fun filled evening like this, they would be ready to crash, right???
Apparently, WRONG!
When it came time for bed, we were comfortable enough, with Miss E on the top bunk and Miss A and I on the bottom. And they weren't overly hyper/wild/rowdy.
Just not tired!
Miss E was tossing and turning, hanging her hands over the edge of the bed, and commenting or questioning on the most random things.
For over an hour!
I finally got up, took Miss A potty again, gave a rather stern whispered warning (the baby was asleep right next door) threatened something or someone I'm sure, and turned my back, praying for peace and quiet!
Miss E quickly settled down.
Miss A, on the other hand, was still going strong. She was talking to her stuffed animals, playing with her shadow, putting her feet up on the wall, and constantly moving back and forth from the foot to the head of the bed.
I was sooooo tired and just wanted to sleep!! SO, when she saw something on the floor (my phone, I think) and was determined to get it, ignoring my numerous warnings to Be Still! Be Quiet! Go to SLEEP!....I popped her quickly on the rear.
I wanted to get her attention. And it worked!
She whipped around and told me off!
And so was born my newest IQ.
Enjoy!
"Don't you spank my bottom, Mama!"
...pause for about three beats...
then,
"Do you HEAR ME!?!"
THEN....
a HUGE dramatic sigh, a huffy, puffy, elaborate rollover so her back was to me, and finishes with:
"You gotta be Kidding Me!"
I. Was. Dying!
It was all I could do to contain myself! I was shaking, I was laughing so hard. There was no way I could even attempt a response.
I wonder where she's heard this before?? :)
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Friday, August 8, 2008
Obsessions
I know I have a long road ahead of me full of little obsessions as the girls grow. I know they'll come and go, and I'm TRYING to take the latest with a grain of salt.
Oh. My. Goodness.
It's hard!
What's the problem?? Oh, let me tell you.
I have to listen to lengthy conversations about the newest websites, the latest addition to her EcoPet collection (some kind of eco-friendly link on the PBS website where kids can create their own animal, environment, etc.), what shade of eyeshadow she put on the dress up Barbie AND I have to review and approve each and every e-story submission. Because, one of these times, it's "gonna be on TV, Mom!!"
But all this pales in comparison to the Webkins. Please save me from the Webkins. I won't go into detail on this one, but let me just tell you...when she works it into the dinnertime prayer....
Oh yeah.
Tonight-"and Dear God, thank you for letting my Daddy have lots of work, so he can save money to buy me a Webkins."
I can't even imagine the days to come of shopping, cell phones, and BOYS!! Oh My!
If I don't laugh, I'll cry....!
Oh. My. Goodness.
It's hard!
What's the problem?? Oh, let me tell you.
I have to listen to lengthy conversations about the newest websites, the latest addition to her EcoPet collection (some kind of eco-friendly link on the PBS website where kids can create their own animal, environment, etc.), what shade of eyeshadow she put on the dress up Barbie AND I have to review and approve each and every e-story submission. Because, one of these times, it's "gonna be on TV, Mom!!"
But all this pales in comparison to the Webkins. Please save me from the Webkins. I won't go into detail on this one, but let me just tell you...when she works it into the dinnertime prayer....
Oh yeah.
Tonight-"and Dear God, thank you for letting my Daddy have lots of work, so he can save money to buy me a Webkins."
I can't even imagine the days to come of shopping, cell phones, and BOYS!! Oh My!
If I don't laugh, I'll cry....!
Moments
I have had several conversations lately about how I'm noticing changes in my little Miss A. She's finally maturing a bit and becoming such a sweet little girl.
Now, she still has her moments...and has already had some this morning...but they are fewer are farther between. And even less when not aggravated by a certain big sister. :)
She has been initiating play so much more now. She wants to dress up, play with dolls and animals, she plays with imaginary friends, she dances and sings, and says the sweetest things to me ("Mama, I like you!") when I play with her!
Right now she is walking around telling us, "My name is Ms. Jennifer." "Come to my class"! She's carrying around some animal matching cards as her 'school work', telling us we have to find the sheep/camel/cow etc.
The other day, after I'd had a VERY long and sleepless night, I put a movie on in the afternoon thinking I would catch a nap on the couch while she watched. She had other ideas. She had NO interest in watching a movie. She wanted to PLAY!
She wanted to play babies, and tried tucking them in with me on the couch. I tried to tell her I didn't feel well, and needed to rest. I was so out of it I must have been dozing in and out during her attempts to rouse me. One time I realized she was repeating over and over, "Give me your arm. Mama, give me your arm. Let me have your arm...".
She had gone to get her doctor kit and was trying to take my blood pressure!! The next thing I new I had an otoscope stuck in my eye. LOL!
I didn't have the heart to lay there any longer. I put some more water through the coffee maker and eventually came around.
Well, I've gone way off track in this post. I thought I'd get on real quick and make a note about how I found her in bed last night. Sorry!
For a couple of years now, Miss a has been a bit obsessive about taking things to bed with her. Not always an animal or doll, just anything she happens to be attached to for the day. Or week. Or month! Sometimes it's one certain thing for a month or more. After one visit to Nana and Pop's house, Miss A came home with a goody bag. Yes, like kids give away at their bday parties. This one had a few trinket toys and some candy, etc. She carried this EVERYWHERE, AND slept with it for months. She never once opened it. I did not have to worry about her getting into the candy over night, or ever, actually. She just wanted to have it with her.
Anyway, this little idiosyncrasy has evolved a bit, and sometimes she'll just grab random things on the way to bed. (the day of playing doctor on me, she slept with the big, chunky doctor kit case!)
She almost always wants to put our bedtime story book under her pillow, and usually has several stuffies in with her.
Last night was no different. She had 3 or 4 animals and the book, I think, when I left her in bed. She had to tell me several things after laying down, ask for something to eat/drink, and ask questions about our activities the next day....but she stayed in bed. So, we're getting better.
I went in to get her a couple of hours later and almost laughed out loud at what I saw! She was snuggled up with a women's softball, a Cake Mix Magic cookbook, and about six large wooden puzzles pieces!
I guess she got a little lonely and went rummaging around her room before settling in! I was shocked that she did this on her own and didn't bother me about it. Usually, if she even drops an animal off the side of her bed, she'll yell for me to come and get it.
I wanted so badly to take a picture. Wish I had. It was so cute!
Now, she still has her moments...and has already had some this morning...but they are fewer are farther between. And even less when not aggravated by a certain big sister. :)
She has been initiating play so much more now. She wants to dress up, play with dolls and animals, she plays with imaginary friends, she dances and sings, and says the sweetest things to me ("Mama, I like you!") when I play with her!
Right now she is walking around telling us, "My name is Ms. Jennifer." "Come to my class"! She's carrying around some animal matching cards as her 'school work', telling us we have to find the sheep/camel/cow etc.
The other day, after I'd had a VERY long and sleepless night, I put a movie on in the afternoon thinking I would catch a nap on the couch while she watched. She had other ideas. She had NO interest in watching a movie. She wanted to PLAY!
She wanted to play babies, and tried tucking them in with me on the couch. I tried to tell her I didn't feel well, and needed to rest. I was so out of it I must have been dozing in and out during her attempts to rouse me. One time I realized she was repeating over and over, "Give me your arm. Mama, give me your arm. Let me have your arm...".
She had gone to get her doctor kit and was trying to take my blood pressure!! The next thing I new I had an otoscope stuck in my eye. LOL!
I didn't have the heart to lay there any longer. I put some more water through the coffee maker and eventually came around.
Well, I've gone way off track in this post. I thought I'd get on real quick and make a note about how I found her in bed last night. Sorry!
For a couple of years now, Miss a has been a bit obsessive about taking things to bed with her. Not always an animal or doll, just anything she happens to be attached to for the day. Or week. Or month! Sometimes it's one certain thing for a month or more. After one visit to Nana and Pop's house, Miss A came home with a goody bag. Yes, like kids give away at their bday parties. This one had a few trinket toys and some candy, etc. She carried this EVERYWHERE, AND slept with it for months. She never once opened it. I did not have to worry about her getting into the candy over night, or ever, actually. She just wanted to have it with her.
Anyway, this little idiosyncrasy has evolved a bit, and sometimes she'll just grab random things on the way to bed. (the day of playing doctor on me, she slept with the big, chunky doctor kit case!)
She almost always wants to put our bedtime story book under her pillow, and usually has several stuffies in with her.
Last night was no different. She had 3 or 4 animals and the book, I think, when I left her in bed. She had to tell me several things after laying down, ask for something to eat/drink, and ask questions about our activities the next day....but she stayed in bed. So, we're getting better.
I went in to get her a couple of hours later and almost laughed out loud at what I saw! She was snuggled up with a women's softball, a Cake Mix Magic cookbook, and about six large wooden puzzles pieces!
I guess she got a little lonely and went rummaging around her room before settling in! I was shocked that she did this on her own and didn't bother me about it. Usually, if she even drops an animal off the side of her bed, she'll yell for me to come and get it.
I wanted so badly to take a picture. Wish I had. It was so cute!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Ketchin' Up.
I wanted to keep track of our last days of the summer...and have fallen behind already! Here's the Cliff Notes version so far.
Friday, August 1-ACM. Some details below.
Saturday, August 2-Kids workshop at Home Depot. Not one of my favorite crafts. A flag holder with a Home Depot sticker and an Olympics sticker for the flag. Buy hey, it was some free fun, we enjoyed putting them together, painted on them after we got home, and now they have mysteriously disappeared....
Sunday, August 3-A day at home. Daddy was home, and Grammy came over to watch the races. Played lots of board games later and had Freezer Pops for dessert!
Monday, August 4-playdate at J's house. Fun with yarn!
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We also played a new game called Twister Scram! LOTS of fun-I like this one. I may have to put it on our wish list!
Tuesday, August 5-Hosted A's Science Kids group. We experimented with mixing primary colors! The kids colored in some parts of a coffee filter with red, blue, and yellow markers. Then painted on water and watched them bleed together, creating the secondary colors (orange, green, and purple!). This was a big hit.
Then they each got to mix up their own bowl of Goo. AND decide what color it would be! I had red, blue, and yellow food coloring and each kiddo chose their own color combination to dye the Goo. The Goo was a HUGE hit! And a HUGE mess! But it cleaned up super, super easily. Everyone played well together and had a big time. On the way out, each child got to take home a Ziploc baggie with two ice cubes, each one a different primary color. As the cubes melted together, they too created a secondary color. Such fun!
Some pics from the fun:
The whole gang-mixing primary colors.
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The beginnings of Miss A's masterpiece...and the drip down her arm that I did NOT see through the camera...!
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Checking out her buddy's work.
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Oh, the girls and I made Puppy Chow later.
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This totally looks like an ad for the store brand.
But, Yum and double Yum!
Wednesday, August 6-The last free movie of the summer. We went with our buds and saw Doogal.
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Again, not my favorite, but I guess it's always neat to see a "big" movie, as Miss A calls it. We roamed around the mall a bit afterwards and hit the Dollar Tree. Each girl chose two items from the store.
Miss E chose two little make-up sets. Some lip gloss and fingernail polish kits.
Miss A chose.....
a spring loaded gun that shoots plastic balls, and an FBI kit, complete with gun, handcuffs, whistle, walkie talkie and the baton thingie that they hit with!
Am I in trouble or WHAT?!?
I need to get dinner ready....something quick for sure. The girls are playing "school" in E's room. She just realized yesterday how soon she'll be starting 1st grade. Yikes!
I opened her door and made a little noise in her room this morning, trying to rouse her for the movie. She jumped out of bed and peeked out at me from her doorway, and announced, "ONLY NINETEEN MORE DAYS UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS!"
The very first words from her mouth.
I'm glad she's excited. I'm hoping for a good year!
Friday, August 1-ACM. Some details below.
Saturday, August 2-Kids workshop at Home Depot. Not one of my favorite crafts. A flag holder with a Home Depot sticker and an Olympics sticker for the flag. Buy hey, it was some free fun, we enjoyed putting them together, painted on them after we got home, and now they have mysteriously disappeared....
Sunday, August 3-A day at home. Daddy was home, and Grammy came over to watch the races. Played lots of board games later and had Freezer Pops for dessert!
Monday, August 4-playdate at J's house. Fun with yarn!
.jpg)
.jpg)
We also played a new game called Twister Scram! LOTS of fun-I like this one. I may have to put it on our wish list!
Tuesday, August 5-Hosted A's Science Kids group. We experimented with mixing primary colors! The kids colored in some parts of a coffee filter with red, blue, and yellow markers. Then painted on water and watched them bleed together, creating the secondary colors (orange, green, and purple!). This was a big hit.
Then they each got to mix up their own bowl of Goo. AND decide what color it would be! I had red, blue, and yellow food coloring and each kiddo chose their own color combination to dye the Goo. The Goo was a HUGE hit! And a HUGE mess! But it cleaned up super, super easily. Everyone played well together and had a big time. On the way out, each child got to take home a Ziploc baggie with two ice cubes, each one a different primary color. As the cubes melted together, they too created a secondary color. Such fun!
Some pics from the fun:
The whole gang-mixing primary colors.
.jpg)
The beginnings of Miss A's masterpiece...and the drip down her arm that I did NOT see through the camera...!
.jpg)
Checking out her buddy's work.
.jpg)
Oh, the girls and I made Puppy Chow later.
.jpg)
This totally looks like an ad for the store brand.
But, Yum and double Yum!
Wednesday, August 6-The last free movie of the summer. We went with our buds and saw Doogal.
.jpg)
Again, not my favorite, but I guess it's always neat to see a "big" movie, as Miss A calls it. We roamed around the mall a bit afterwards and hit the Dollar Tree. Each girl chose two items from the store.
Miss E chose two little make-up sets. Some lip gloss and fingernail polish kits.
Miss A chose.....
a spring loaded gun that shoots plastic balls, and an FBI kit, complete with gun, handcuffs, whistle, walkie talkie and the baton thingie that they hit with!
Am I in trouble or WHAT?!?
I need to get dinner ready....something quick for sure. The girls are playing "school" in E's room. She just realized yesterday how soon she'll be starting 1st grade. Yikes!
I opened her door and made a little noise in her room this morning, trying to rouse her for the movie. She jumped out of bed and peeked out at me from her doorway, and announced, "ONLY NINETEEN MORE DAYS UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS!"
The very first words from her mouth.
I'm glad she's excited. I'm hoping for a good year!
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