2014FEB01 - PEASE sledding

Best of the Dells - JANUARY 2014

There's NO "L" in MOM

Sydney was busy writing today. He had decided to start writing all of the ABC's. He made it to M before his M turned into a giant scribble across the rest of the page. (I had teased him that it said Mmmmmmmmm!)

Then, he decided he wanted to write MOM.

"How do you spell MOM?" he asked

I made the "Mmmmm" sound and he proclaimed "M!"

I made the "ah" sound, hoping he'd recognize "O". (He's spelled MOM plenty of times that he SHOULD remember the spelling by now, as he often DOES write it on his own.)

Proudly, he announced "I wrote a L. What comes next?"

"There no L in Mom." I stated.

"There isn't?" he questioned, perplexed.

"No, there isn't. BUT... there IS an L in SILLY!"

Sydney smiled.

:)

Sydney's scrapbook

Sydney was THRILLED to be making his very own scrapbook. In November, he had claimed a cheap photo book that he found in my office, claiming that it was going to be his Sesame Street LIVE scrapbook. He tucked it away into his pajama drawer for safe-keeping and checked on it every day. Then, as time passed (and I had STILL NOT PRINTED out any pictures since August 27th) he kind of forgot about it.

Last week, I printed out pictures for his album and we filled many of the pages with memories of Sesame Street LIVE, which we had attended on November 27th.

This morning, he searched the office, looking for THE PERFECT PAPER to write his memories onto. Naturally, he witnesses the making of our Project Life album(s) and sometimes helps with that. So, he INSISTED upon using some of MY Project Life 6x4 journaling cards for his special book. (I gave him FOUR of them, because he is four years old. Then, we used scrap paper - cut to size - for the rest of his pages.)

He begged Daddy to sit with him at the table so that Daddy could help him spell his words. (I'm sure that made Daddy feel good, knowing that his son asked HIM for help in spelling. I, on the other hand, will quickly send him his dad's way when it comes to helping with math homework.)

Because Sydney writes SO BIG, we shortened all of the things he wanted to say because SPACE is a premium for him.

Instead of "Oscar the Grouch meets Grover's very best friend" we convinced him to write "GROUCH"

Instead of "Grandpa Lowell came with us to Sesame Street LIVE" we convinced him to write "Grandpa came."

Instead of "Grover's very best friend came to visit Sesame Street" we convinced him to write "Best friends"

Instead of "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me" we convinced him to write "Sing with Me"

He's quite proud of his book. He'll have to keep working on it whenever he feels like it again.

This scrap-booking MOM was proud of him, too! :)

Mommy giggles, overhearing CRABBY conversation

OH, NO!... (0 for 3) Ornaments of Christmas 2013

Poor Sydney! This was NOT his lucky year as far as Christmas ornaments were concerned.

On Black Friday, while shopping for Christmas lights with Nana, Sydney picked out an ornament of "the Grinch" with Max the dog from daddy's work. He dropped it onto the floor when he excitedly wanted to show Daddy his new ornament. Max the dog broke off.

Sydney is 0 for 1.

During the holiday season, Silas and Mommy bought 2 robot ornaments - one blue and one green, matching their sippy cup colors, respectably. The top of Sydney's ornament - where the hanger piece attached - broke off the very first day he had it in his possession.

Sydney is 0 for 2.

A few days ago, (1.4.14) we went back to Hobby Lobby, in search of a replacement robot ornament. (I had meant to return the broken one, but it had never happened and they did NOT have that same kind anymore.) Sydney was THRILLED to pick out a new robot ornament, which we got for 80% off. His new robot was SILVER, like his Halloween costume; it was PERFECT! (We had even discussed the possibility of spray painting the green robot for Silas to also be silver... since Sydney was the big robot and Silas was the little robot for Trick-or-Treat this year.) Sydney had placed his ornament in the back seat of the car "for safe keeping" and had forgotten about it. This afternoon, when we were unloading the car, I suggested he bring his robot into the house.

The tissue paper and bag were ripped off near the recliner and lay on the floor there. Sydney made it to the dining room table with his robot. He was busy admiring it while I was in the kitchen putting groceries away. All of a sudden, I heard terrible shrieking...

He came running into the kitchen with his robot and a leg.

Through his tears, I made out that he was just "in-twoducing da wobot to da new swiver toy on the ta-bow and da wobot bwoke!" (introducing the robot to the new sliver toy on the table and the robot broke)

Sydney is 0 for 3.

Poor, Sydney!

• • • • •
On January 4, we also purchased a two-pack of blown glass ornaments from Clearance at Target. They are Buzz Lightyear and Cowboy Woody. While the boys were arguing over WHO was going to have the Buzz ornament and WHO was going to have the Woody one, I checked the shelf and grabbed a second two-pack. (One for each of them!) These ornaments went straight into the red & green holiday totes that we also bought that day.

I am HOPING that Sydney's ornaments DON'T BREAK before next year. It would be nice to be able to hang them onto the tree.

"Because it is January 7th?" he asked, perplexed.

This afternoon, we are going to have DATE NIGHT - January 2014. (With the overnight remodel, that someone else is taking this time, Mike's work schedule will likely be "OFF" this month.) So, we're taking advantage of a slice of Emily's free time and having a quick date. (She has to be home by 4:30 to  teach violin lessons.)

KID QUESTION: Hey, Mommy?

8:45 a.m. Wednesday, January 1, 1014 –

"Hey, mommy?" Sydney announces, running into the kitchen. "Santa can still see us ALL THE TIME, right?"

"Yep!" Mommy replies.

"HEY, SI-WESS (Silas)! Santa can still see YOU!!!!" Sydney shouts as he runs back into the living room.

(Mommy giggles. Grabs a scrap of paper and writes this memory down. Too cute!)

NO MORE DIAPERS! (DAYTIME)

Silas declared NO MORE DIAPERS!!! He has been doing AWESOME! The only time he's ever having accidents, he is standing NEXT TO his potty chair and it seems pre-meditated because he just wants to go take a bath. (The one day, I felt terrible... he was stuck in his little Levis and couldn't get them down far enough to sit.)

I haven't diapered him for naps in MONTHS and he ALWAYS wakes up dry.

He wakes DRY almost every morning! We continue to diaper him - moreso because we don't want Sydney to feel badly that HE still wakes WET every day. Silas is starting to protest wearing diapers to bed, but we're still forcing the issue; for that, I feel badly.

Not only does Silas WAKE UP DRY, but that little stinker is protesting going to the bathroom until HE is ready to do it. There have been mornings when he first goes potty around 10AM!!! (He's got the pre-baby bladder of his mother, I think! Unfortunately, post-babies, I wet my pants often when I sneeze. That's life; they are TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!)

He's really good about announcing " I have to poop!" loudly and in public. Sometimes, he adds "RIGHT NOW!" for the full drama effect. (Announcing that his butt itches badly also comes with potty training territory; also announced loudly.) There's NO CENSOR on the mouth of a 2-year old.

HE'S AWESOME!!!!

ROAR!!!!!

At bedtime, Sydney has been VERY TIRED (because he still protests a much-needed nap!) and lately wants to wait to snuggle in his own bed (where he sometimes falls asleep before it is his turn).

Sydney was all tucked into his bed and I sat back down into the recliner (with Silas now on my lap) so that I could turn the sound machine ON and the lamp OFF. Sydney was just starting to proclaim "Mommy, I've been a little scared lately because I'm having bad dreams sometimes" JUST as the light flicked off.

Right on cue, in complete darkness, Silas announced "ROAR!"

Sydney squealed in his mosquito-toned whining voice. "SI-wassssssssss! DON'T DO DAT!"

"ROAR!" he repeated, giggling.

Whining and crying continues...

I've got a comedian on my hands, I'm afraid.