...just summer fun in our own backyard.We do go out and about quite a bit, but that doesn't mean we aren't having fun just hanging out at home, too!
Friday, July 17, 2009
photo Friday
...just summer fun in our own backyard.We do go out and about quite a bit, but that doesn't mean we aren't having fun just hanging out at home, too!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
sauce for the gander
One of my favorite sayings is "Being fair does not mean treating everyone equally. It means giving each one what they need." Gretchen prefers something along more the lines of "an eye for an eye", "what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander" or "a trip to the playground alone with Mommy for a trip to the playground alone with Mommy".
But, no matter what got us there, we had a lot of fun! We headed for home when lots of bigger kids showed up and were running all over the smaller ones. Plus, Gretchen was pretty sweaty and ready for another drink after an hour of climbing and sliding!
One girl, maybe 7, tried to orgnaize all the little girls into a game of Duck, Duck, Goose. She invited Gretchen so I made sure she knew how to play. I overheard another mom giving her 3 yr old a run down on it, too! Even with 2 kids, it isn't a game that you can play at home, you know? But, once she got the 6-8 kids sitting in a circle and started "duck, duck, goosing" every kid she tapped and said "goose!" immediately responded, "I do not want to be the goose!" and the game petered out pretty quickly. I thought it was a riot!
Once we got back home, she helped me do some laundry - and I found myself explaining a life lesson to her..... multiple Huggy Bears. Darn it - I didn't think they suspected I had the extras and sure enough, I was right. She gasped, "Mommy - there are 2 Huggy Bears!" immediately followed by "I want them both tonight in bed!" I tried to casually explain one stays clean and in the laundry room and you can have one in your room. I think Carl won't believe her even if she tries to tell him she has 2. (He has 5! Shhhh!!!!)
But, no matter what got us there, we had a lot of fun! We headed for home when lots of bigger kids showed up and were running all over the smaller ones. Plus, Gretchen was pretty sweaty and ready for another drink after an hour of climbing and sliding!
One girl, maybe 7, tried to orgnaize all the little girls into a game of Duck, Duck, Goose. She invited Gretchen so I made sure she knew how to play. I overheard another mom giving her 3 yr old a run down on it, too! Even with 2 kids, it isn't a game that you can play at home, you know? But, once she got the 6-8 kids sitting in a circle and started "duck, duck, goosing" every kid she tapped and said "goose!" immediately responded, "I do not want to be the goose!" and the game petered out pretty quickly. I thought it was a riot!
Once we got back home, she helped me do some laundry - and I found myself explaining a life lesson to her..... multiple Huggy Bears. Darn it - I didn't think they suspected I had the extras and sure enough, I was right. She gasped, "Mommy - there are 2 Huggy Bears!" immediately followed by "I want them both tonight in bed!" I tried to casually explain one stays clean and in the laundry room and you can have one in your room. I think Carl won't believe her even if she tries to tell him she has 2. (He has 5! Shhhh!!!!)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Carl & Mommy
OK, I realize these are fightin' words in many circles, but I'm going to utter them anyway. One kid is easy! Well, if it makes you feel better, I'll revise them immediately. One kid is much much much easier than two.
You know the kids go to school separately, so each morning I have only one with me from 9-1. We have so much fun just doing things one-on-one. Last week, I went with each child to the Children's Museum and to the local play place for kids under age 5. Carl's day even included a free hour of swimming at the city pool if you showed your play place receipt for the day! So, 4 mornings last week I trekked (truk?) downtown with someone, but it was fun! And yes, I was in public for the second time this season in only a swimsuit.
Since I usually seem to have Gretchen stories, I'll share my morning out with Carl here today. First, we headed to Barnes & Noble to buy a gift card for Claire's birthday (Happy 10th tomorrow, Claire!). They open at 9 and we got there about 5 after. As soon as we walked through the door, Carl turned to me and said, "I want trains." We haven't been there in so long, but if there is a train table around, Carl will remember it! No one can turn down Carl. We headed back to the kids' area. We played trains and sang "Down By The Station" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and just had fun. Then, he wandered off, but quickly spotted a Dr Suess display. So, we got to read Green Eggs and Ham... and then he was back to the trains! We finally left there and quickly stopped into Michael's to pick up some cross stitch cloth. Now, if the train memory wasn't impressive enough - we walked into Michael's and he said, "I want Little White Woof." That is the name of his (brown) stuffed dog with magnets in his feet that we bought there months ago!
So, he was starting to get a touch fussy when we got back in the car, but I didn't say where we were headed. When we approached the turn, he said, "I go to the playground." Yes, it was that corner. I asked him if he would like to go to the playground with just Mommy and he thought it over, "Uhmmm... yes!" (I am trying to eliminate that "uhmmm" that he currently does becasue it sounds uneducated.) I even brought sneakers instead of having him wear his Birkenstocks. I know he runs like crazy, and sandals just aren't going to cut it for him! He had a ball playing and chasing the bigger kids and just climbing every ladder and high slide they have. Then, and I am not making this up, he said, "Rock and roll to the car?" I had him confirm his decision to go several times and yes, he wanted to go to the car. So, I told him I had a cup of water for him and he able sprinted to the car. I know the other mothers were jealous that my kid was not kicking and screaming as I removed him from the playground!
The fun didn't end there. We did our shopping at Walmart which isn't super exciting for adults, but for a kid who likes riding in the back of the cart and seeing the lobsters, it's a fun time! A quick drive-thru trip got us a couple chicken sandwiches and a hamburger and we headed home. I even let him watch his current favorite show during lunch (usually a no-no) Imagination Movers, Bad Hair Day episode. When that was over, it was time to go get Gretchen.
Now, I know that today wasn't highly educational, but Carl and I had a ball. Don't get me wrong, for those of you who don't know the fun of having two kids the same age - twin playtime is a lot of fun, too, but one-on-one playtime is a blast, too!
You know the kids go to school separately, so each morning I have only one with me from 9-1. We have so much fun just doing things one-on-one. Last week, I went with each child to the Children's Museum and to the local play place for kids under age 5. Carl's day even included a free hour of swimming at the city pool if you showed your play place receipt for the day! So, 4 mornings last week I trekked (truk?) downtown with someone, but it was fun! And yes, I was in public for the second time this season in only a swimsuit.
Since I usually seem to have Gretchen stories, I'll share my morning out with Carl here today. First, we headed to Barnes & Noble to buy a gift card for Claire's birthday (Happy 10th tomorrow, Claire!). They open at 9 and we got there about 5 after. As soon as we walked through the door, Carl turned to me and said, "I want trains." We haven't been there in so long, but if there is a train table around, Carl will remember it! No one can turn down Carl. We headed back to the kids' area. We played trains and sang "Down By The Station" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and just had fun. Then, he wandered off, but quickly spotted a Dr Suess display. So, we got to read Green Eggs and Ham... and then he was back to the trains! We finally left there and quickly stopped into Michael's to pick up some cross stitch cloth. Now, if the train memory wasn't impressive enough - we walked into Michael's and he said, "I want Little White Woof." That is the name of his (brown) stuffed dog with magnets in his feet that we bought there months ago!
So, he was starting to get a touch fussy when we got back in the car, but I didn't say where we were headed. When we approached the turn, he said, "I go to the playground." Yes, it was that corner. I asked him if he would like to go to the playground with just Mommy and he thought it over, "Uhmmm... yes!" (I am trying to eliminate that "uhmmm" that he currently does becasue it sounds uneducated.) I even brought sneakers instead of having him wear his Birkenstocks. I know he runs like crazy, and sandals just aren't going to cut it for him! He had a ball playing and chasing the bigger kids and just climbing every ladder and high slide they have. Then, and I am not making this up, he said, "Rock and roll to the car?" I had him confirm his decision to go several times and yes, he wanted to go to the car. So, I told him I had a cup of water for him and he able sprinted to the car. I know the other mothers were jealous that my kid was not kicking and screaming as I removed him from the playground!
The fun didn't end there. We did our shopping at Walmart which isn't super exciting for adults, but for a kid who likes riding in the back of the cart and seeing the lobsters, it's a fun time! A quick drive-thru trip got us a couple chicken sandwiches and a hamburger and we headed home. I even let him watch his current favorite show during lunch (usually a no-no) Imagination Movers, Bad Hair Day episode. When that was over, it was time to go get Gretchen.
Now, I know that today wasn't highly educational, but Carl and I had a ball. Don't get me wrong, for those of you who don't know the fun of having two kids the same age - twin playtime is a lot of fun, too, but one-on-one playtime is a blast, too!
Monday, July 13, 2009
left handed?
We keep wondering about Gretchen's hand preference. She used to draw with both, but always switch the chalk or crayon to her left hand for her more detailed work. When she writes letters now, it is most likely in her left hand. And today, I watched her paint with a small brush in her left hand. But, she does sometimes create things with her right hand. She sucks her left thumb, too. So, when does the hand preference really show clearly? Is she old enough for me to make a prediction yet? Or is she still discovering her own abilities on this?
Wikipedia claims 7% of the population is left handed, but that it is more common in fraternal and identical twins on this page. It also says statistically, more left handed people are born to older mothers. Did I tell you someone in Walmart recently asked me if Gretchen was my grandchild????? But, that is getting off topic here.
I guess I should ask my best friend who is not only a leftie, but also a science teacher if Gretchen is old enough for us to have a hint about her handedness.
Wikipedia claims 7% of the population is left handed, but that it is more common in fraternal and identical twins on this page. It also says statistically, more left handed people are born to older mothers. Did I tell you someone in Walmart recently asked me if Gretchen was my grandchild????? But, that is getting off topic here.
I guess I should ask my best friend who is not only a leftie, but also a science teacher if Gretchen is old enough for us to have a hint about her handedness.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
garbage
1. disposal - Ours broke about a week ago and today Lew & Brian put in a newer, bigger one! Phew! I have gotten too spoiled. I don't know how people with small kids can function without a garbage disposal!
2. picking - the apple has not fallen far from the tree. My Dad was The King of garbage picking. He even used to ride with a friend who was a garbage collector to help him - and I'm sure grab any goodies he came across. Once, the cops called him at work to inquire about his presence in an upscale neighborhood. Apparently, someone saw him driving slowly through the neighborhood and called the cops on him. He wouldn't think twice of driving though on garbage day looking for bikes or vacuums or anything good. The cops just told him not to go to that neighborhood anymore. They probably had a good laugh after hanging up.
As for me, I have picked up treasures such as : a wooden Melissa & Doug easel, the light wheel to an antique silver Christmas tree, various vacuums, 4 lawn chairs (we love them!), 6 plastic Adirondack lawn chairs (those, we did not love, but we put them up on Freecycle and someone grabbed them up), 2 of those motorized Jeep riding toys for the kids, other kid toys, and most recently... 3 wooden kitchen chairs. I am picking up one per week from the same house in our neighborhood. People are allowed to put out their garbage can and 1 extra item. So, this family must be putting out one chair per week. It's getting fun. I can't wait for next Sunday to see if I score Chair #4!
Last week, we put out a tiny rocking chair (that I bought from a garage sale of a friend's parents for $3) because the shellac was coming off on the kids' hands and there was a rusty nail sticking out. It was gone that night - so I am doing my part as well!
2. picking - the apple has not fallen far from the tree. My Dad was The King of garbage picking. He even used to ride with a friend who was a garbage collector to help him - and I'm sure grab any goodies he came across. Once, the cops called him at work to inquire about his presence in an upscale neighborhood. Apparently, someone saw him driving slowly through the neighborhood and called the cops on him. He wouldn't think twice of driving though on garbage day looking for bikes or vacuums or anything good. The cops just told him not to go to that neighborhood anymore. They probably had a good laugh after hanging up.
As for me, I have picked up treasures such as : a wooden Melissa & Doug easel, the light wheel to an antique silver Christmas tree, various vacuums, 4 lawn chairs (we love them!), 6 plastic Adirondack lawn chairs (those, we did not love, but we put them up on Freecycle and someone grabbed them up), 2 of those motorized Jeep riding toys for the kids, other kid toys, and most recently... 3 wooden kitchen chairs. I am picking up one per week from the same house in our neighborhood. People are allowed to put out their garbage can and 1 extra item. So, this family must be putting out one chair per week. It's getting fun. I can't wait for next Sunday to see if I score Chair #4!
Last week, we put out a tiny rocking chair (that I bought from a garage sale of a friend's parents for $3) because the shellac was coming off on the kids' hands and there was a rusty nail sticking out. It was gone that night - so I am doing my part as well!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Happy Birthday, Daddy!
We had friends come over to help Lew and Lindy both celebrate their 7-11 birthdays!
The Birthday Boys!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
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