Sydney performs a new (Crocodile) song from school

At Monday's family dinner, we were confused by Sydney's song that he had learned in school. It was a song that none of us (Mom, Dad, Silas nor Grandpa Lowell) had ever heard before and we felt like something was missing. (We also felt like Sydney was part of a show choir each time he danced and got to the Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah part.)

The lyrics go like this:

There was a crocodile, and an orangutan, 

And flying eagle, and a silver fish. 

A bunny, a beaver, A crazy elephant. 

Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah nah.

Repeat, but do no sing the first animal. 

Continue until all the animals have been taken out 

of the song, and only the motions for them remain.

Then, much like the song B-I-N-G-O, you leave off part of it with each verse, singing it only in your head instead. but performing the actions in their place. 

I was especially confused because there didn't seem to be a reason for the song.... I was waiting for this list of animals to DO SOMETHING - like swim in a stream, make a funny face, sing a song, etc. because "There was a..." lead me to believe that there was something MORE.

As it turns out, Sydney nailed the dinnertime performance. After watching a couple of YouTube videos, we were pleased with his recollection of the song and actions and his attempt to talk us through leaving an animal out each time. Great job, Sydney! Way to pay attention!

NOTE: you can watch a video clip of this song by clicking on the link (Sydney's song that he learned in school) above in the first sentence of this post.

Can I get a little peace and quiet? he asks

"Mommy?" Silas questions as he comes into the kitchen. "Mommy?" he repeats, finding me on the phone.

"Mommy? Can we have boys night tonight? I want it to be boys night so, can you go somewhere?" He questions.

"You want to get rid of me?" I ask.

"Yeah, so then, we can have boys night!" he replies without hesitation of any sort.

"Why do you want to get rid of Mommy?" I ask.

"So, then, we can get a little peace and quiet around here, like Daddy likes it." he states so matter-of-factly.

"Some peace and quiet?" I ask, amused.

Laughter ensues on the other end of the telephone line, having been witness to this (hilarious and completely unscripted) conversation. "You'll HAVE TO write that one down!" I hear.

Silas walks into the living room where Daddy sits in the recliner, tucked in cozily with his red, Iowa State polartec blanket and a box of Kleenex next to him.

Shortly after my phonecall, I go in to ask Mike is HE had anything to do with the 'peace and quiet' comment. He laughs.

"No, I did NOT have anything to do with a that, but it IS funny!" he announces.

I look at him with a raised eyebrow. "I heard him say it though." he proclaims. "Funny!"

"Peace and quiet. Ha!" I retort.

"Hey, Silas... If we have boys night and get rid of mommy for some peace and quiet, does that mean that YOU will be quiet, too?"

"What did you say?" he asks. (Standard protocol for our three year old... Which normally gets the you heard me response from mommy, followed by HIM repeating word-for-word the initial question.) "Oh... NO! I will keep talking."

"Enjoy that peace and quiet, daddy!" I announce as I walk away, smiling.

What a kid!

Later that afternoon, Silas announced "Can I just get a little peace and quiet?" Mike and I tried desperately to hold back our giggles. Oh, Silas...

Nana describes Silas as: Loquacious

FLASHBACK September '09 through NOW

September 2009

September 2010

September 2011

September 2012

September 2013 

September 2014

FIRST TRIP to a dairy farm - September 2014

Jesus!

Last night, after the boys got out of the bathtub, they were supposed to be getting dressed. Instead, I could hear them yelling "Jesus!" repeatedly from their bedroom. I went into their bedroom to investigate, only to find them both hiding behind the recliner.

"Jesus!" Sydney yells.

"Jesus!" Silas yells back, failing to hold back another fit of giggles.

"Jesus?" asks mom. "Are the two of you yelling JESUS?"

"Yeah," replied Sydney, rubbing his belly. "He lives inside our heart."

"I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to yell the name of The Lord in vain."

"Huh?" They ask in unison.

"I think you will learn in school that you shouldn't yell his name like that."

"But," Sydney retorts "he lives inside our heart... all the time!"

"You shouldn't yell his name like that. It's not very nice."

"We can't yell it ever?" Sydney questions.

"Well, if someone asked WHO is God's son, that gave his life, you could probably answer..."

"JESUS!" they both yelled, interrupting my thought process. "Is that all?" They asked. "The only time we can yell it?"

"Um..." Trying to think quickly on my feet. "If someone asked WHO parted the Red Sea...." I stalled. " Oh, wait... I think that might have been Moses...."

They both looked at me inquisitively.

"Well, you'll both learn more about it in school. It's probably best for children NOT to yell JESUS like that." I stated. "Hey? Do you want to brush your teeth or go potty first?"

Phew.... a quick switch back to bedtime routine... it's been a long, long, time since my Biblical knowledge was tested like that... although, this past Christmas, while Grandpa Lowell was reading "Killing Jesus", I laughed outloud that the book started "In the beginning..." And announced that "THAT was pretty catchy."

Grandpa looked at me, perplexed at first.

"It's been a long time, BUT... Isn't that the way the Bible starts?"

Upon a quick internet search, we determined that I was right!

IN THE BEGINNING...

BIG DAY FOR SILAS: starting Three year preschool AND Violin Lessons!

TODAY was the day that Silas has been waiting for... ever since he turned THREE, he has been anxiously waiting to start 3 year old preschool. His long wait was OVER this morning! Two backpacks were ready... two sets of clothes... two children and two parents, ready to go!

"I'm going to be good at school. I'm not going to hit... or kick.... or bite!" (Later in the day, when the boys were fighting, I reminded Silas of his morning proclamation. Quickly, he informed me I MEANT AT SCHOOL!!! Oddly, on the first week of school, big brother Sydney did the SAME THING with his (giant paper) listening ears that ONLY WORKED AT SCHOOL.)

Silas picked a YELLOW SHIRT... you know, because YELLOW used to be his favorite color when he was little (and IS STILL his favorite color now!) He insisted upon long sleeves, despite a forecasted high of 89°F and heat indexes reaching 100°F. Thankfully, this morning, it was actually COOL and AFTER PRESCHOOL, we were COLD during a picnic in the park. Lightening and raindrops chased us home without playtime. HOWEVER, we had a busy day planned... 

While Silas was at preschool, Mommy went to physical therapy (where we discovered the route of the twitch in my hand, likely caused by some constriction to the nerves and bloodflow under my left collarbone). After preschool, we enjoyed picnic lunch together (while Sydney was at kindergarten) and dad went to work. 

Mid-afternoon, we went for a violin lesson for Silas... HIS FIRST LESSON! 

(He's also been anxious to learn how to play teenie tiny violin with Emily!!!!!) He started TODAY by learning how to hold it, how to bow, how to let it rest, how to do a secret handshake and some finger moves, as well as how to take it out of and put it into a violin case. Sadly, for him, it was made out of a cardboard box and a paint stick; he's eager to get a real one (which we will rent for $17/month once he's proved he is ready for the real thing!) We listened to an audio CD of classical music for HOMEWORK while waiting to pick up Sydney from school and discussed if Bach or Beethoven was a character on Peg + Cat. (Short, short, short, LONG.... Short, short, short, LONG) Silas and Sydney both think that it is Beethoven, but called him something else that sounded SIMILAR to that.

NO TEARS TODAY!!! But the house was ODDLY QUIET this morning. ;)

LUNCH DUTY FOR DAD

Despite Daddy working in the lunchroom today, Sydney decided that he wanted COLD LUNCH today. Daddy packed him a lunch this morning.

Mommy and Silas snuck over to take some pictures (for Project Life). While we waited, Silas took a picture of US.

Today's lunch was Walking Tacos with meat, lettuce, tomato, cheese; Fresh Pear Slices; Canned Oranges and Cookie. Daddy served cheese and cookies. He later reported that after the third kid, he stopped asking if they wanted a cookie. Only five or so students declined a cookie today.

Sydney announced "You're never going to believe this!!! Daddy packed me a crunchy peanut butter and nutella sandwich and I don't even like crunchy peanut butter!" He ended up eating one disappointing bite of PB&Nutella sandwich, a few baby carrots, and a few slices of apple. That's it!

We witnessed A LOT of wasted food today! Thankfully, Sydney doesn't throw his food away. Instead, he brings it home and eats it as soon as he gets into the door. He's likely STARVING by 3:30pm, being that he eats very little at school. (I'd guess he likes to visit with his friends during lunch.)

Silas was THRILLED to see Sydney at school today and is growing anxious to start 3 year old preschool TOMORROW!!!) Silas was disappointed that Sydney was running and chasing with his friends and forgot that we were there watching. We sat on the grassy hillside and took some pictures. Eventually, Silas ventured over by Sydney and they exchanged smiles and hugs. (Heart-melting moment for mom.) 

On the way home, Silas announced that he didn't like it when Sydney played with his friends instead of HIM. (We are actually looking forward to Silas getting some REAL FRIENDS at school; his best (imaginary) friend is "Silly Head". Sydney never had imaginary friends.) Silas attempted to pull Sydney away from his classmates and playground friends. Sydney was happy to play with Silas, too.

Many of the children commented on how much Silas looks like Sydney.

I also had an incredibly funny conversation with one of the little girls in Sydney's class, whom he talks about often. After our conversation, I can see WHY he likes her.

Cecilia was telling me that she had brain surgery and they accidentally put a smart chip inside of her brain instead of the one that they were going to put inside. "Cool. So, you're like a super smart robot then, huh?" I asked. She smiled and assured me that she IS part robot and VERY SMART. (Now, I see why Sydney speaks so highly of her... He LOVES robots, too.) *In case you were wondering, that conversation was prompted by her preschool classmate, who attends the Spanish Immersion School, telling me that he AND his dad (both) have hearing aides and how his dad had surgery to use part of a bone inside of his ear. It was pretty entertaining at recess! :)

No one said it would be easy

A blogger I follow (an admired scrapbooking guru) recently dropped her first-born daughter off at college in Madison. She's struggling with an emptier nest now, with a teenage son left home and reminders of her beloved daughter. 

Here was my comment to her recent post, NO ONE SAID IT WOULD BE EASY:
I went to UW-Madison for THREE WEEKS before calling my mom and asking her to come get me. (I know mom cried after dropping me off for the first time in the high-rise dorms downtown, but she remained calm and strong in my presence.) Eventually, I discovered that it was a lovely place to visit on weekends, as my HS boyfriend remained, living in a whole other world over in the lakeshore dorms. I moved back home, took a career search workshop at a local technical college, became a full time tech school student while living at home and working. My mom and I used to enjoy walking together; no one else walks at the right pace and I enjoyed her company SO MUCH! Now, living HOURS AWAY from her, I would give almost ANYTHING to be living nearby her again. 

TOMORROW marks a BIG DAY in the history of our household... My three year old (youngest) goes off to preschool and his older brother is a few weeks into kindergarten. I'm unsure HOW I will handle the silence and the solitude two mornings per week. At this point, I can't even imagine going to the bathroom by myself.

Wishbone wish revealed

A few weeks ago, Grandpa Lowell cleaned off the bones of a rotisserie chicken for us; he knows how much I like to get my hands dirty, I think. He attempted to save the wishbone, telling the boys that we can do something really SPECIAL with it, but discovered that our cats kept finding his hiding places of the drying bone. Eventfully, I relocated it to the tall windowsill above our stove and it remained there until yesterday.

Grandpa showed the boys how to do it and told them to make a wish. Sydney proudly reports that he knew he would win because he was pulling especially hard and wanted his wish to come true. Soon after, he proudly told me that HE was the winner, told me what he had wished for and announced that it was something on his Christmas Wish List.

He announced that he was going to DRAW A PICTURE of the thing that he wanted. (He drew the letters B-E-A-R and then drew around the letters and colored them, like on WordWorld.)

Unfortunately, the item that he's got his heart set on is A TOY that we saw at the doctor's office during their recent well-child appointments.... now a (collectible) toy that costs one Ben Franklin PLUS SHIPPING!

He wants The WordWorld Bucket Set HOUSE of Duplo Blocks. A toy available on Amazon with the description of MOST PIECES INCLUDED. He really, Really, REALLY wants the World World BEAR the most!

I see that BEAR is available on eBay... sold separately. Somehow, I'm guessing he really WANTS the house, too.

Wondering... Do wishes REALLY come true???



http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0010WHAH8/ref=olp_tab_collectible?ie=UTF8&condition=collectible