This little girl refused to sit in her high chair on Wednesday. She seems to think she's big enough to sit in her booster seat. And if I was worried about her making a mess...
She wiped up every drop of milk with no question.
picture
Friday, February 26, 2016
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Life lessons
Today, with this unbelievably beautiful 65 degree day, we took the kids to the park. One boy came to the playground with a small ball in tow (approximately 4 years old). Two other boys saw him and his ball and asked if they could play with him (approximately 5-6 years old). I thought this looked like a great opportunity for Liam to join in on a game so I encouraged him to play with these other boys as well.
Immediately the two boys who asked if they could play with the boys ball hijacked the ball and just began kicking it only to each other. Liam did not hesitate at all and started running after them and tried to dive for the ball himself. And that's when it happened, "Hey, you cheater! You're a cheaterhead!"
Now let it be known that I remained calm. I did not jump in but wanted to see what Liam would do when called a name (unfairly, I might add). Liam got up, watched the boys as they ran away with the ball and then looking very sad, hid behind a tree.
Doesn't that just make you so sad? It did for me but again I waited. When Evan asked where he had gone and I showed him where he was hiding because apparently he had missed the name calling so I filled him in. I think the other parents overheard me telling my husband that our kid wasn't sure if he wanted to play with those boys anymore because they just called him a cheaterhead. And they finally got up from where they were sitting and told there boys to give the ball back to the kid they stole it from and that they were going to go get there own ball from home and come back. Never asking there children to apologize for the name calling. Thumbs up.
It was time for us to leave anyway so on the way home Liam and I were discussing what had happened. I told him next time someone called him a name to say that that was not a nice thing to say. Or that he could have said I just want to play with you.
Tonight at dinner Evan wanted to address the incident. (because he was MIA when Liam and I had already talked) Evan's advice? and I quote: "Just take the ball from them put it over your head and say THAT'S RIGHT! I'M A CHEATERHEAD! and laugh a whole bunch."
And this is my parenting partner. His recommendation when put into a difficult situation is to tell our son to act like a maniac. *sigh*
Immediately the two boys who asked if they could play with the boys ball hijacked the ball and just began kicking it only to each other. Liam did not hesitate at all and started running after them and tried to dive for the ball himself. And that's when it happened, "Hey, you cheater! You're a cheaterhead!"
Now let it be known that I remained calm. I did not jump in but wanted to see what Liam would do when called a name (unfairly, I might add). Liam got up, watched the boys as they ran away with the ball and then looking very sad, hid behind a tree.
Doesn't that just make you so sad? It did for me but again I waited. When Evan asked where he had gone and I showed him where he was hiding because apparently he had missed the name calling so I filled him in. I think the other parents overheard me telling my husband that our kid wasn't sure if he wanted to play with those boys anymore because they just called him a cheaterhead. And they finally got up from where they were sitting and told there boys to give the ball back to the kid they stole it from and that they were going to go get there own ball from home and come back. Never asking there children to apologize for the name calling. Thumbs up.
It was time for us to leave anyway so on the way home Liam and I were discussing what had happened. I told him next time someone called him a name to say that that was not a nice thing to say. Or that he could have said I just want to play with you.
Tonight at dinner Evan wanted to address the incident. (because he was MIA when Liam and I had already talked) Evan's advice? and I quote: "Just take the ball from them put it over your head and say THAT'S RIGHT! I'M A CHEATERHEAD! and laugh a whole bunch."
And this is my parenting partner. His recommendation when put into a difficult situation is to tell our son to act like a maniac. *sigh*
Monday, February 8, 2016
Kindergarten ready
Liam had his first eye exam last Friday. He did great! The doctor was great and made Liam laugh multiple times. He does not need glasses at this time. Although I'm sure it's only a matter of time since both Evan and I have glasses and contacts.
He was a bit unsure with a couple of the images that they wanted him to see such as the telephone. Like an old school land line 1940s telephone. I had to finally give him the hint of Comissioner Gordon's telephone that they use to call Batman.
Another image he had trouble with was a chick. He kept saying it looked like a hammer. 😆
The Doctor said that everything is normal for his age. Crossing off another to do before kindergarten!
5 years
This post is about Liam at the age of 5. It will be long and you are more than welcome to not read it as it is more for me and Evan to look back on and get a glimpse of who Liam is at this age.
Liam is a fun, friendly, enthusiastic little boy! Although he tells me all the time how big he is and that I should stop calling him little. :( Liam started preschool this last fall and goes 3 days a week for 3 hours in the morning. He LOVES preschool and has made many new friends but his very good friends at preschool are Anthony and William. I really enjoy hearing about his day when he gets home from school and what he learned about and who he played with. Now when I pick him up from school he likes to say good-bye to all of his friends often initiating the greeting. He has come a long way in 6 months.
Liam knows all of his upper case letters, some of his lower case letters, the days of the week, months of the year, his numbers and is working hard on learning how to count to 100. He can write his name and wrote a letter to Santa Claus this past Christmas with my help. Although I made him sound out all of the words and figure out what all of the letters were by himself. He was so determined and we were so proud!
Liam goes to daycare with Ms. Jana twice a week and Grammie Walles comes to our house once a week. I still get to stay home with him and Caroline on Wednesdays and Fridays which I really enjoy as well.
Liam weighs 38 pounds and is 41 inches tall. He has now graduated to a high back booster seat for riding in the car which he thinks is pretty cool. He loves using the regular seat belt and has a bit more freedom to get toys, books and blankets for himself and for Caroline. He wears 4T/5T shirts and 4T pants. He no longer needs a pull-up at nighttime and is excellent with using the bathroom all by himself.
Liam will lay down for rest time and many times falls asleep for one hour although there are some days that he does not take a nap. He will go to bed around 8 pm and wake anytime between 6:45-7:15am.
Liam is a very kind and thoughtful big brother and loves to help Caroline. Liam is also a big brother who loves to sometimes terrorize his little sister by chasing her around the house pretending that he is a monster or hiding and then jumping out to scare Caroline as well. It's a love/hate relationship like all siblings have. I can't believe that it has already begun (the fighting) but I don't think that it's unusual by any means that they sometimes have quarrels over the silliest things.
Liam is becoming very helpful to grown-ups as well. Liam will now help me unload the dishwasher, set the table and has always helped me cook. This past weekend at Grandpa and Grandma's house he helped Grandma Fink clean (dust), Grandpa Fink pick up sticks in the back yard and Aunt Emily as well.
It's been really fun to see Liam's humorous side grow in this past year. He is always trying to play tricks on people or trying to get others to laugh at him. He's a natural!
Liam is still really into playing with his superheroes although his Batman sets definitely get the most play time right now. (Imaginext) He also really loves playing with Legos. He likes when we follow the directions and build a Lego set together but sometimes he also likes playing with Daddy when there are no rules or directions and he can just build whatever he wants. Liam likes playing games with "Simon Says" being one of his favorites.
His favorite shows currently are TMNT, Curious George, the many Lego movies, Paw Patrol, PJ Masks and watching the old Batman TV series with Adam West. He truly enjoys any TV/movie time and I think he could watch any movie or show happily if we allowed him to without restricting his hours of screen time. He also likes to play games on the lap top computer, ABCmouse, and my cell phone. He recently told me that he needs his own IPAD so he could play games on it like all of his other friends. (I told him no way) (Liam's screen time is limited to 1-2 hours a day)
Liam loves to play T-Ball and Baseball with Daddy. He was enrolled in T-Ball this past summer through the parks department and was THAT kid who ran after the ball even though it was hit to third base and he was playing first base. "I want to get the ball every time!"
He also was in swimming lessons last spring and summer and really became very confident with putting his head under the water and jumping into the water as well. We need to sign him up for lessons again soon.
Liam is very excited about going to kindergarten. I don't think he has a clue what that means but he wants to go to Brynleigh's school and thinks that they will have all sorts of fun together. (Metcalf; Brynleigh is Ms. Jana's daughter who is in kindergarten now)
I can't believe that Liam is 5 years old! I am so excited to watch him continue to grow up and discover new things over this next year. He truly makes my heart happy.
Liam is a fun, friendly, enthusiastic little boy! Although he tells me all the time how big he is and that I should stop calling him little. :( Liam started preschool this last fall and goes 3 days a week for 3 hours in the morning. He LOVES preschool and has made many new friends but his very good friends at preschool are Anthony and William. I really enjoy hearing about his day when he gets home from school and what he learned about and who he played with. Now when I pick him up from school he likes to say good-bye to all of his friends often initiating the greeting. He has come a long way in 6 months.
Liam knows all of his upper case letters, some of his lower case letters, the days of the week, months of the year, his numbers and is working hard on learning how to count to 100. He can write his name and wrote a letter to Santa Claus this past Christmas with my help. Although I made him sound out all of the words and figure out what all of the letters were by himself. He was so determined and we were so proud!
 |
"I have been a good boy. Plese for chrismas I want the mr freeze monster
(this picture is the first draft, which stops at plese.
The finished draft says the rest which I will put in his keepsake box)
|
Liam goes to daycare with Ms. Jana twice a week and Grammie Walles comes to our house once a week. I still get to stay home with him and Caroline on Wednesdays and Fridays which I really enjoy as well.
Liam weighs 38 pounds and is 41 inches tall. He has now graduated to a high back booster seat for riding in the car which he thinks is pretty cool. He loves using the regular seat belt and has a bit more freedom to get toys, books and blankets for himself and for Caroline. He wears 4T/5T shirts and 4T pants. He no longer needs a pull-up at nighttime and is excellent with using the bathroom all by himself.
Liam will lay down for rest time and many times falls asleep for one hour although there are some days that he does not take a nap. He will go to bed around 8 pm and wake anytime between 6:45-7:15am.
Liam is a very kind and thoughtful big brother and loves to help Caroline. Liam is also a big brother who loves to sometimes terrorize his little sister by chasing her around the house pretending that he is a monster or hiding and then jumping out to scare Caroline as well. It's a love/hate relationship like all siblings have. I can't believe that it has already begun (the fighting) but I don't think that it's unusual by any means that they sometimes have quarrels over the silliest things.
Liam is becoming very helpful to grown-ups as well. Liam will now help me unload the dishwasher, set the table and has always helped me cook. This past weekend at Grandpa and Grandma's house he helped Grandma Fink clean (dust), Grandpa Fink pick up sticks in the back yard and Aunt Emily as well.
It's been really fun to see Liam's humorous side grow in this past year. He is always trying to play tricks on people or trying to get others to laugh at him. He's a natural!
Liam is still really into playing with his superheroes although his Batman sets definitely get the most play time right now. (Imaginext) He also really loves playing with Legos. He likes when we follow the directions and build a Lego set together but sometimes he also likes playing with Daddy when there are no rules or directions and he can just build whatever he wants. Liam likes playing games with "Simon Says" being one of his favorites.
His favorite shows currently are TMNT, Curious George, the many Lego movies, Paw Patrol, PJ Masks and watching the old Batman TV series with Adam West. He truly enjoys any TV/movie time and I think he could watch any movie or show happily if we allowed him to without restricting his hours of screen time. He also likes to play games on the lap top computer, ABCmouse, and my cell phone. He recently told me that he needs his own IPAD so he could play games on it like all of his other friends. (I told him no way) (Liam's screen time is limited to 1-2 hours a day)
Liam loves to play T-Ball and Baseball with Daddy. He was enrolled in T-Ball this past summer through the parks department and was THAT kid who ran after the ball even though it was hit to third base and he was playing first base. "I want to get the ball every time!"
He also was in swimming lessons last spring and summer and really became very confident with putting his head under the water and jumping into the water as well. We need to sign him up for lessons again soon.
Liam is very excited about going to kindergarten. I don't think he has a clue what that means but he wants to go to Brynleigh's school and thinks that they will have all sorts of fun together. (Metcalf; Brynleigh is Ms. Jana's daughter who is in kindergarten now)
I can't believe that Liam is 5 years old! I am so excited to watch him continue to grow up and discover new things over this next year. He truly makes my heart happy.
Friday, January 22, 2016
Children are exhausting
The following list are things that happen when I try to do anything else besides watch my children, including but not limited to, doing laundry, trying to prepare and cook meals, trying to clean our house, doing the dishes, unloading the dishwasher, etc. (you get the point)
1. My children fight. Caroline screams at the top of her lungs.
2. Liam chases Caroline around the house pretending to be a monster. Which at first she will think is funny and then will decide she is terrified and begin to scream.
3. Caroline will decide she doesn't want to be downstairs anymore and go upstairs. This is really not a problem UNTIL Liam decides she shouldn't be upstairs all by herself and will go after her and drag her back downstairs again. Caroline screams at the top of her lungs.
4. Caroline climbs on top of our dining room table.
5. Caroline finds a pen, marker or crayon on the table and decides she wants to start coloring. She really doesn't care that there is no paper near her, she will happily color any solid surface.
6. Liam does puzzles by himself. (yay!) Caroline wants to "do puzzles" also. Caroline takes apart the puzzle that Liam is trying to put together. Fighting begins.
7. Caroline finds a piece of chalk and happily colors any solid surface. Including our stereo speakers.
8. Caroline finds the chalkboard eraser. Caroline wants to help clean up and then proceeds to "erase" on our furniture, smearing chalk dust all over said furniture.
9. Caroline announces she is pooping. Then says potty. After I ask her if she wants to sit on the potty to poop she says no. After a couple of minutes I will find her sitting on the potty with the seat down saying she is pooping on the potty.
10. Liam finds his sleeping bag and pulls it out of the carrying backpack. He will then get inside of said sleeping bag and decide to use it to slide down our flight of stairs.
Enough said. How come some days I just feel like my world is completely chaotic. I am trying so hard to pick up the house, do the laundry, cook dinner and make sure that the chalk, eraser, pens, crayons are also picked up and put away but I never seem to do enough. Caroline always seems to find that one crayon that I missed. Liam is always trying to break an arm or leg by performing daredevil stunts. Everyone says these days go by so fast. Don't wish them away. I wish I could go back when my kids were your childrens ages. I think the next time I hear that I will invite that person over to babysit for an entire day. We'll see what they say when I return after 8 hours with my children. I'm guessing they will be just as exhausted as I always feel.
1. My children fight. Caroline screams at the top of her lungs.
2. Liam chases Caroline around the house pretending to be a monster. Which at first she will think is funny and then will decide she is terrified and begin to scream.
3. Caroline will decide she doesn't want to be downstairs anymore and go upstairs. This is really not a problem UNTIL Liam decides she shouldn't be upstairs all by herself and will go after her and drag her back downstairs again. Caroline screams at the top of her lungs.
4. Caroline climbs on top of our dining room table.
5. Caroline finds a pen, marker or crayon on the table and decides she wants to start coloring. She really doesn't care that there is no paper near her, she will happily color any solid surface.
6. Liam does puzzles by himself. (yay!) Caroline wants to "do puzzles" also. Caroline takes apart the puzzle that Liam is trying to put together. Fighting begins.
7. Caroline finds a piece of chalk and happily colors any solid surface. Including our stereo speakers.
8. Caroline finds the chalkboard eraser. Caroline wants to help clean up and then proceeds to "erase" on our furniture, smearing chalk dust all over said furniture.
9. Caroline announces she is pooping. Then says potty. After I ask her if she wants to sit on the potty to poop she says no. After a couple of minutes I will find her sitting on the potty with the seat down saying she is pooping on the potty.
10. Liam finds his sleeping bag and pulls it out of the carrying backpack. He will then get inside of said sleeping bag and decide to use it to slide down our flight of stairs.
Enough said. How come some days I just feel like my world is completely chaotic. I am trying so hard to pick up the house, do the laundry, cook dinner and make sure that the chalk, eraser, pens, crayons are also picked up and put away but I never seem to do enough. Caroline always seems to find that one crayon that I missed. Liam is always trying to break an arm or leg by performing daredevil stunts. Everyone says these days go by so fast. Don't wish them away. I wish I could go back when my kids were your childrens ages. I think the next time I hear that I will invite that person over to babysit for an entire day. We'll see what they say when I return after 8 hours with my children. I'm guessing they will be just as exhausted as I always feel.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Interview with a 5 year old
What is your favorite food? "mac n cheese"
Who is your favorite stuffed animal? "My bear"
Where is your favorite place to go? "library"
What is your favorite color? "red"
What is your favorite movie? "Star Wars"
What is your favorite TV show? "Curious George & Teen Titans Go"
What is your favorite holiday? "Christmas"
What is your favorite restaurant? "McDonalds"
What is your favorite game to play? "Penguin Panic"
What is your favorite toy to play with? "Gotham City Batman"
What are you going to be able to do now that you're 5? "I could let the dog outside by myself" "I get to go to kindergarten"
What is your favorite thing to do outside? "Swing"
What do you like to do with Caroline? "play with her"
What do you like to do with Mommy? "go fun places"
What do you like to do with Daddy? "go to zoos"
Who is your best friend? "Eli"
What is your favorite animal? "leopard"
What makes you happy? "Daddy playing with me"
What are you scared of? "the dark"
What do you want to be when you grow up? "a police officer"
What is the best thing about you? "I'm funny"
Who is your favorite stuffed animal? "My bear"
Where is your favorite place to go? "library"
What is your favorite color? "red"
What is your favorite movie? "Star Wars"
What is your favorite TV show? "Curious George & Teen Titans Go"
What is your favorite holiday? "Christmas"
What is your favorite restaurant? "McDonalds"
What is your favorite game to play? "Penguin Panic"
What is your favorite toy to play with? "Gotham City Batman"
What are you going to be able to do now that you're 5? "I could let the dog outside by myself" "I get to go to kindergarten"
What is your favorite thing to do outside? "Swing"
What do you like to do with Caroline? "play with her"
What do you like to do with Mommy? "go fun places"
What do you like to do with Daddy? "go to zoos"
Who is your best friend? "Eli"
What is your favorite animal? "leopard"
What makes you happy? "Daddy playing with me"
What are you scared of? "the dark"
What do you want to be when you grow up? "a police officer"
What is the best thing about you? "I'm funny"
Monday, January 11, 2016
Happy Birthday Liam!
Happy Birthday to my favorite little boy who turned 5 today! I can't believe that you are this old already. I remember the moment you were born and how we were told first how much hair you had and then that you were a boy! We were so surprised and you have continued to surprise us and teach us so many things. Like how to have patience, how to laugh uncontrollably and how to love unconditionally.
We are so excited to see that you are becoming an amazing little person. You are such a good brother and a great friend. You are funny and silly and just plain goofy at times!
Happy 5th Birthday Liam!
We are so excited to see that you are becoming an amazing little person. You are such a good brother and a great friend. You are funny and silly and just plain goofy at times!
Happy 5th Birthday Liam!
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