Saturday, July 24, 2010

Everything Needs a Purpose.

Garrett has always loved putting little objects into a big object.  (e.g., blocks in a box, cars in a basket)  This is a skill I often appreciate because he is a great assistance when it comes time to clean up.

I have this vase sitting on the console table under our TV.  Yesterday, I had to laugh when I walked by and saw this:
It was filled with wood letters and a pair of goggles.  

Notice the lid he placed on top, it doesn't belong to that vase but it is such a perfect fit.  

The lid came from this little vase thingy.....
....which Garrett thought was a the perfect spot for his drink.
It all makes perfect sense.  In Garrett's eyes, everything needs a purpose so he was just helping me out. 

The most amusing part of it all was when Aaron got home from work.  I said "Hey, look at the console table in the living room."  He looked and responded with "Why did you do that?"  in a serious voice.  I then said "AARON, Seriously!!  [which by the way, 'seriously' is Jackson's new favorite thing to say...kids are great at making you realize the things you say too often] You think I did that?!"  He replied back with "Oh....did Garrett do it?"  DUH!!!!  



Thursday, July 22, 2010

Mommy and Me Day.

The boys and I had a nice day together.  We started off by going to story time at North Park.  They have a story time called Tickles for Toddlers for 2-3 year olds.  I find it amusing that both of my children fit into that category.  However, when I told the boys that they could both go because it was for two AND three year olds, Jackson said "Well Mommy, I don't think I can do that because I am three AND A HALF."  Little stinker.

I only took pictures of them in the library before story time started because I didn't want to be THAT mom with the camera in such a small area.  

I love watching Jackson and Garrett around other kids.  I think they are going to be good little students one day.  They will be the boys that are angels at school and CRAZY at home....which makes me wonder if it would be a good or bad thing to teach at their school when I go back to work.
After story time, I took them to the Lego store.  They are completely into Legos right now.  Aaron's brother, Michael, got them a fire station Lego set for Christmas and I feel like every second of every day I hear from the playroom, "MOMMY!  COME BUILD THE FIRE STATION WITH ME!!"  I will build it with Jackson, Garrett will knock it down when I leave the room, and then I hear "MOMMY!  GARRETT BROKE IT!  MOMMY! COME BUILD THE FIRE STATION WITH ME!"  It tends to be a never ending process.  

Even though we have more than just the fire station, I feel like most of his Legos came as a kit (fire station, gas station, etc) and when Jackson was younger, I made the mistake of always helping him build what they were 'supposed' to be.  So, now even though I will show him how it doesn't have to be JUST a fire station, he has a hard time naturally thinking that way about those Legos.  Make sense?

Today even though we did buy another kit, I was sure to come home and make several things right from the start - a house, a ship, the tower like the entrance to our neighborhood, a dog, and just random things so he didn't think Legos always have to be like the picture on the box they came in.    

After the Lego store (I wish I would have taken a picture of them there) we ate lunch - 
I know, not the best pictures, but I am just documenting our day.
On the way home from the mall, we stopped at Target because the whole way home my OCD was setting in and I was really worried on how I was going to store even more Legos when we already had trouble storing the ones we had.  I decided on this basket and wrote Legos on the front on the chalkboard.  I figured it would hold them all and it is big enough that if needed they could actually play basketball with their Legos when it is clean up time.  Legos make me so very thankful that we have a playroom that we don't have to walk through or clean up every night.  
Tonight, the 4 of us had to run to Lowe's (I feel like we always HAVE to run to Lowe's).  While Aaron was getting a cart, the boys hopped onto these.  I could only imagine the damage they could cause on these!
  

You're a Mom.

I LOVE this and had to share it with you all....

So.....Do you know who Elmo's fish is?

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Savannah's Mini-Vacation.

My sister had to go out of town this week for work, the lady that keeps Savannah went out of town this week as well, and of course my brother in law Ricky works....so my sweet little niece Savannah has had a mini-vacation at her Aunt Kelli and Uncle Aaron's house from Saturday to Wednesday!  She is the sweetest little thing!  So easy, laid back, sleeps from 8:30pm until 7:30am, loves watching Jackson and Garrett play....the perfect little baby!  

I have only really taken pictures this week with my phone so that I can send them to my sister throughout the day, so I'm sorry about the poor quality of these pictures.  I really planned on taking somewhat good pictures of the 3 of them together, but for some reason I forget to do it throughout the day.....or don't have the motivation to do it throughout the day.....or one child is hungry....or tired....or stinky....or the boys want nothing to do with the camera...or nothing to do with each other.......the list goes on and on!  Maybe tomorrow!

Savannah in her jumper.  
(Of course my sister has the child that FALLS ASLEEP in her jumper!  I ALWAYS wanted a kid like that.) 
Savannah wakes up before the boys.  Every day when the boys wake up, the first thing they do is look for Savannah!  They each walk into kitchen with messy hair, holding their blanket, squinted eyes, and ask, "Where's baby girl Sa-bana?"   Here is Jackson telling Savannah good morning and asking her if she slept good last night.  They love each other!
I was making Jackson's bed and Jackson said "OH I KNOW!!!  Let's make a pallet with baby girl Sa-banan!!"
Here Jackson is telling her "Look Savannah, here are the toys you have to pick from - a bird, an elephant, a mirror, a turtle, a tire spinning thing.  They are all really fun, but if you don't like them, I am sorry, but you need to pick one, okay baby Sa-banana?" 
Where is Garrett?!?!  He has been great with Savannah too, but for some reason I don't have many pictures with him.  
After dinner tonight, Aaron took the boys to the pool and Savannah got to hang out with me while I did some things in the kitchen.  We had a nice talk.  I taught her how to make Zucchini Bread, I told her that her mommy is a great cook, but never eat anything she bakes (hahaha!!), I taught her my cleaning strategy for cleaning up the kitchen, I taught her why we must wash our hands after cracking eggs, I taught her what a 'big T' meant and what a 'little t' meant (I thought I needed to teach her that since she would never learn that at home....her mom just "eyeballs" it!;) I taught her some family cooking secrets (okay....so we don't have any..... I just made some things up!)  and I taught her much much more!  And if you can't tell, I was cracking myself up the whole time!  Doesn't having a baby in the kitchen make you feel like you have your own cooking show?  She was cooing at me and smiling, so I just kept talking away!  

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Playing in the Rain.

I just found these pictures in my camera and realized I never posted them!  I thought they were too funny not to share.  

Dianne, the boys, and I went to Canton a few weeks ago.  It was a perfect day to go because there was rain in the forecast, so it wasn't crowded at all.  It didn't rain on us until we were getting ready to leave, so at that point we really didn't care if we got wet or not.  So, long story short, we all got soaked going to my car, but it was actually really fun!  The boys both giggled the whole way!

When we got home, it was still raining, and Aaron had something in the garage, so I had to park in the driveway.  We quickly got out of the car, got the boys out, and ran inside the garage.
  
Only Garrett decided to take a detour and play in the rain!  You can't really tell from the pictures, but it was POURING!  He loved every second of it!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Water Spray Park!

This picture makes me smile.  
"Garrett, come here so you can get sunscreen" and this is what he does - 
RUNNING to play!
I love watching them have so much fun together!
I was about to say "They are going to be trouble ONE DAY" but I think they are already trouble.  They will just be BIGGER trouble one day....
On a completely different note, a friend of mine mentioned this song on her Facebook page today (Thanks Torri!), I listened to it, and I LOVE it.  It is so perfect!  
Turn up your volume and listen to it.  There isn't a video, it's only the song.
Totally Aaron and the boys....

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Let’s Cut Paper!

Jackson got this little workbook from my parents for Christmas, but since we moved shortly after Christmas, some of their Christmas gifts were packed up in storage.  I came across this book the other day and knew Jackson would love it.  It is called Let’s Cut Paper!   

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This is from the Kumon First Step Workbook series.  He also has My Book of Easy Mazes and My Book of Coloring.  I think after I write this blog I may order several more.  He really loves them!
This particular books helps him learn to use scissors and helps with fine motor skills.  Not only does he cut the paper, but he has to fold the paper in certain spots. 
It starts with simple things, like cutting whiskers -
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Then cutting out mixed up puzzles and putting them together - (I let him glue his final product to paper)
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A boat and a (sideways) rocket ship -
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We have been doing a few each day. 
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Of course, why would he want to sit in a chair like a normal person?!?!
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This one he had to cut out the corners, then fold up the sides to make a fence for the sheep.
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Pause for some sweet pictures….
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He is all about posing for pictures right now, can you tell? 
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I love that sweet boy…
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