ESL

Does anybody have an English as Second Language guide for toddlers? See, my toddler is very content with his OWN language, but I'd like for him to learn ENGLISH. We do understand some of his words, but his language is a little tricky to follow.

NO = NO or "I like a dramatic and immediate response, but yes. I'd like that."

uh uh = yes (not uh Huh with an upward intonation, but the sound most of us use for no).

deet = drink

nack = fruit snack

muck = milk

mice = milk

choo choo = train or word you use when you are walking along curbs or planter beds

MINE = "don't touch that" or "I'm not sharing" or "it was given to me"

dash = trash

uh oh = "I think it's cool, but Mom probably won't like it"

bubble = bubble

ugh ugh ugh = "I want to pour the Tide in the washing machine"

toot = Fruit Loop

muh = more

My favorite is I Love You - he just mumbles whispers with the correct syllables.

ETA:

ess = eggs

deet = another word for chips

deet = treat

uh dere = up there - as in "help me sit on the countertop, I'm too tired to scale the cabinet or drag a chair over"

Lost It

Jessica has had a loose tooth for a couple of weeks. It's gotten REALLY loose and Dad had tried a couple times earlier this week to flick it out. She doesn't want it to hurt, so she hasn't wanted Dad near it.

I grabbed a couple picks of it hanging on by a thread and then Dad did his flick trick again and I caught it all on camera. Wish you could hear her squeals of delight. She was SO EXCITED to loose her first tooth.

If Mom won't let you take the Pantry to the Sandbox...

you bring the sand to the kitchen.

Yesterday I found two large piles of sand on my kitchen tile. As I was shooing the kids out the front door to get to the team basketball party, I found a third pile of sand in our entry way. Jayson had used his dump truck (from the sandbox) to distribute his loads.

All in a Day's Work

Today (after two days of consecutive intense workouts) I got up, showered, and got dressed. I shuttled children to school, prepared Jessica's backpack for Kindergarten, started some laundry, packed a picnic lunch, & curled Jessica's hair. While I was busy, Jayson was too. He fought with his sister, peeled a couple oranges for his self serve breakfast, & insisted on pouring the detergent into the washing machine (a job that his sister wanted - thus more quarreling).

He was busy at the park as well - leaning his body out of high places, attempting to climb down ladders forward-facing, running after stranger's dogs, & finding the fruit snacks in my bag. We wouldn't know how much he loved the park if he didn't have to be removed kicking and screaming and refusing to be buckled in the car.

Once we returned home I encouraged him to go work in his sandbox (it's shaded). He had spent some time there yesterday as well, but by the time I got the video camera out he was off to other adventures. So I hurried out today to capture him playing. You'll have to excuse my chewing. I was enjoying Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies - wasn't planning on talking in the video :)





So I returned inside and linked the video footage to the computer when I heard some scrambling in my pantry. I caught him red handed on the way out to the sandbox with my canister of rice. I secured the rice, tightened the child lock, and went about my business. A few minutes later I went out to check on my little sand chef and he was having the time of his life - he had retrieved the kidney beans from the fridge and they were seasoned with sand. Seriously, we have TWO locks on the fridge - one that is pointless because a small tug will pop it open and one that's working too well - you need two hands to unlatch it.

This was ALL before 1 p.m. when we read stories and he refused to nap and instead found time to rearrange his toys.

Music Help

I have an iPod now and a giftcard that's burning a hole in my pocket. Please comment and tell me your favorite tunes/artists/albums so I don't keep listening to the same six songs over and over and over.

THANKS!

Dear Family

I know I haven't been good about keeping up this blog. Wish I was - that would be way funner than dusting baby powder out of every crevice in Jayson's room. But I have been trying to get some pics on Flickr, some will make it here eventually. Remember that the family pics are marked family only so you need to be logged in. If you need an invite, send me an email.

Go see Family Home Evening pics HERE.

Also, you may not know but I've been trying to post nicer pics of the kids each Monday HERE.

And Cyrus I hope you have a super great birthday this week!!!!!

Love,

Jennifer

Deal or No Deal

I like to take the deal. Most of my purchases are logical or can be justified. I rarely "just have to have" something that costs way too much. I also don't dress fashionably or have a nice handbag, which I often regret when I see myself in the mirror or need to grab a few items to take with me on the run.

When I bought my gym membership, it was a DEAL. Going 2-3 days per week meant that I got 10 workouts - plus all their hot water for my shower, and almost 20 hours of babysitting all for $30. Not bad.

So I figured out how much my gym membership cost me the last payment cycle. I did NOT get a good deal. I think I made it to class once and had to leave halfway through because I was so dizzy. I took some personal sick days and then my kids required me to take a week or two more because they needed constant nose wiping. Then I wasn't in the groove and one excuse lead to another and to another.

I returned to the gym today. So I thought I needed to write a list of reminders to myself of why I should keep on going:

1- The more you go the less it costs per visit.

2- Now that Jayson doesn't nap regularly, it may be your only time away from him.

3- The kitchen doesn't get any messier when nobody is in it.

4- Feeling a pulsing beat makes me feel alive.

5- Long, hot shower with no children running around the bathroom.

6- A stranger walked into the locker room and complimented my freshly blown hair (at home my hair often hang dries because who has time to use a dryer with a toddler pumping soap, opening make up, or dumping feminine hygiene products underfoot).

7- Eventually the body is going to have to surrender and give up a few pounds.

Celebrating Scouting

Each boy decorated a birthday cake celebrating scouting. Jacob's favorite part of scouting was the recent Pinewood Derby. We had already purchased a car mold and he knows how to melt colored chocolates. Mom stacked a cake and trimmed it down to slope like the derby race track.

Gracious

Today is the day that the elementary school announces which players made the 5th Grade Basketball Team. Over 25 boys tried out to win one of only twelve spots.

James came home a little disappointed after the first day of try outs. He felt that he messed up some of the drills. He also saw his competition and was intimidated by their success.

The second day of try outs was postponed due to rain and was rescheduled for another day. This try out was scrimmage play. Dad wanted to come and watch but got stuck on a business call. This worked out nicely for me since Jayson was still napping. I watched my boy give his best. He seemed really focused and giving a 110% effort. I too saw lots of boys with talent.

That was last Wednesday. The boys would go with the 5th grade on a field trip on Thursday, have Friday through Monday off of school (to sweat it out), and then be invited to a gathering on Tuesday. Each kid that tried out was invited to the quad for an icy treat and that was where the list of team members would be read aloud. Coach reminded the boys that most of them wouldn't make the cut and it would be a hard day for all of them. He gave them good advice to help them manage the situation.

This morning I had a little chat with James about being gracious. If he made the team, we all would be so happy and excited for him but there would be friends sitting around him that wouldn't receive the same news. If he didn't make the team, he could know that he tried his best. He'd have to find a way to be happy for his friends that get a spot on the team. You wouldn't want to blurt out and say anything that you'd regret later.

I didn't get to school early to meet James at the gates to receive the news. I met him at the curb where we loaded six kids into the car. I didn't get a good read on him (partly because I couldn't see him with all the other heads bobbing in the car) so once we weren't blocking traffic I looked at him and asked....

HE MADE THE TEAM!!!!!!

I'm SOOOOOOOOOO excited for him.

I remained really calm in the car - even teared up a little - trying to do my part to be gracious. But here on my personal blog I'm BEAMING WITH EXCITEMENT. I hope this will be a wonderful experience for him.

Happy Valentines Day