Top Ten on Thursday

1. Oh, the boy. He is doing so much lately, so I'm afraid this post may be a little boy-heavy, but let it be stated for the record that I love my children equally. Some days (weeks?) one of them is just more entertaining than the other. This week happens to be his.

He is so into wanting to be a big boy and doing everything that Ansley does. Case in point: I can say "It's time to eat" and he will be standing beside his booster seat in 1.3 seconds. The way to this boy's heart really is through his stomach. But lately when I announce "it's time to eat" this is what I find instead:

And I was fine with letting him eat here, right up until he fell off the chair and hit his head.

2. We did some back-to-school shopping today. What, you say? I thought you were homeschooling, you ask? Well, yes, that's true. But there are so many great memories of my school-days that I don't want Ansley to miss out on. So, we will do the new clothes thing, the school supplies thing, I'll even throw in a lunch box if she wants. The point is I want her to have fun memories of "back to school" traditions, even though her school memories will be different than mine. She tells me she wants to wear this on her first day of school, when we'll most likely have some sort of fun First Day of School treat/activity/tradition.

3. Ansley has always loved to color, but Christian has taken a recent interest in it. Except he says color "car-lo" which cracks me up. The other day he was walking around the kitchen saying "car-lo", "car-lo", so I hooked him up. Sure, buddy, let's carlo.

4. Ansley is becoming QUITE helpful. I say that in all seriousness, just in case some of you are tempted to laugh. She wants to help me bake, cook dinner, make snacks, treats - you name it, she wants to be in the kitchen. And I must say, I'm enjoying the help! If Christian could stay entertained while we cook dinner, evening meal prep would be a breeze. We received some Amish Friendship Bread awhile back (thanks, Beth!) and we made two loaves from the original starter, ate them both in less than 24 hours, gave three starter kits away, and today is Bread Day again. (Um, anyone want a starter kit?) It is really good bread. I guess most anything coated in cinnamon and sugar would be, but Ansley sure does love making it.

5. Christian loves playing with Little People. Even though we have an airport, a barn, a castle, and a zoo, the house is his favorite.

6. Christian will pick up toys when asked, put them back in their bins, and he loves to push all the chairs under the table when we are done eating. Yet he insists on making his lunch into a hat after every meal, whether or not there is anything in it. A bowl full of peaches? Makes a great hat, while peach juice oozes down his face. A box of chicken? Looks like a good hat to me! Up it goes. It makes the biggest mess, to which he is oblivious. Ansley was always such a neat eater, so I'm not used to this meal time craziness.

7. At 18 months, Christian weighs 24 lbs, 13 ounces (50%) and is 31.5 inches long (25%), for whatever that's worth. Memories sake, I guess. And, for the record, he's had five ear infections this YEAR, four of them in the past two months. Tubes, here we come! (Seems the boy not only looks like me, but he's following in my ear infected footsteps pretty closely.)

8. Ansley's always asking about sewing when she sees me making things, so I had a great idea yesterday: I'd introduce her to sewing! Ansley was pumped, me possibly even more so, but then the fabric was too thick and the needle hurt her finger. I'm sure they make kid-sized needles, so I'll have to look into that. So I ended up sewing it on my machine, but she did get to stuff it. And now she wants to make 20 more.

 

9. Because the girl loves butterflies. She has already announced that she wants a butterfly birthday party for her 5th birthday. So, we're starting to get ready, since it's just a month and a half away. Wow. She has also said that she wants an American Girl doll for her birthday.

10. Today I asked Ansley if she was going to wear pants this winter. She said yes, she thought she would. So I pointed to some cute pink corduroy pants, and said "What about these pink ones?" Ansley perks up and gets all excited - I'm thinking this is a good sign - and then says "Where's penguins?"  "No, PINK ones" I say. "I don't like those." she says. "I thought you said they had penguins on them."

"So you would wear pants if they had penguins on them?" I ask

"Yes!" she says. "But only if those pants were a dress."

It looks like it's going to be another Dress Only Winter for us.

Oh, well. Nevermind new clothes. Let's go carlo.

Comments

[Candace]

I love hearing about what is happening with you guys! LOVE the butterfly! :) And we loved the little people house here as well! :) Oh and you have GOT to find some pants with penguins on them now!!

[Ashley Lee]

Christian and Isaac would get along so well together. They have many similarities so it seems.

Olivia's 6th birthday party was butterfly themed. It's a fun theme to work with. Can't wait to see pictures from it.

[MiMi]

It would be cute to have a birthday tree decorated with those butterflies! Christian looks older already--now that he is 18 months old.

[Renee]

Smiling just reading about all that's going on at your house. :) I know I've seen pants from Lands End Kids with small pictures on them like snowmen or horses - maybe you can find penguins - or penguin tights to go with her favorite dress. Hannah has always preferred dresses too. Does her first day of school dress have apples on it? Very, very cute. Where did you find it? We are going back to homeschool shopping for first day dresses next week. When your school lessons begin it will help that Christian likes to "carlo." :) Check out www.rainbowresource.com for some kids sewing kits with big needles. A friend had her oldest make a stuffed puppy dog as a gift for her youngest. Lauri also has sewing kits. We got a vet puppet. I can't wait to see your butterfly party ideas. You always plan such fabulous parties (and Ashley Lee too with Olivia's butterfly party!) Have a great weekend.

MEGAN RESPONDS: Yes, Renee, her dress does have apples on it. It is from Gymboree. And thanks for all the great information - I'll definitely be looking into all that!