Memory Monday

I am so proud of my little man. I can't believe that back in October he could only communicate by a series of  "un, un" and a few words (yes, moo for cow, arrr for dino, plus a couple more) as you can see in the video. Now he can form 3 word phrases.

He has come so far, and it has been a lot of hard work. He was seen 5 days a week for his speech from the age of 22 months old to 3. Then I made him do drills with flash cards through out the day everyday. Now he goes to a preschool that focuses on speech delays.

He still struggles to communicate, and get frustrated when he isn't understood, but nothing like he used to. I think sometimes we take talking for granted, it comes so easily for most of us, and it is one of the main forms for communication and a way to connect with one another.

I will admit I am still concerned for him. I do believe he will get up to speed with his language skills, but what if he isn't before starting Kindergarden? He is bright, and very knowledgeable (when we test his cognitive development is just above where it should be and has always been on the high range since he was very little), but people (kids and adults) can be cruel. If he talks "different" I don't want him to be teased. Being a kid is hard enough without being teased for something you have worked so hard at.  But for now I need to push my worries a side and focus on the fact that he is doing so well. He amazes me! His strength and drive to be able to communicate is awe inspiring. I love you Boog, you have been my best teacher through out all of this.

The Snail Whisper

Boog has had a rather large interest in insects and other small outdoor creature for awhile now. It started with Worms, then moved to Rollie Pollies and now Snails.

If you ask him he will tell you about them (mainly that they are nice and they crawl), but the part that cracks me up is that they are his friends.

He is very nice to them, tries to share his food and toys (yuck!). He talks to them and protects them (from his Sissy, Littles, grabby hands). To top it off, they seem to like him! This morning the snail found him and started the crawl up his leg, Boog was super stoked!

They played "together" for well over an hour. Boog insisted that I  do a "photo shoot" of the snail.

After a couple of pictures he decided I wasn't "really capturing the snails personality" and that he should be the photographer! So he took "Snail" inside (yes I let him bring him inside, cause otherwise he sneaks them in! more on that in a bit) found his camera and took pictures of  "Snail" for 15 min!

Once they grew bored of taking pictures, Boog came up and said the "Snail" wanted to watch Star Wars. So I poped in the DVD, because who am I to deny "Snail" his favorite move Star Was ;)

After watching a bit of the movie, Boog informed me that "Snail" was tired and want to go back home. Boog opened the back door, headed outside and place "Snail" on a leaf and then came back inside. What a lovely play date!

This isn't the first time he has spent time playing with a snail. Each time we go outside he searches for them and once he finds one, he includes it in all his outdoor activiities. I never had a problem with that, until Boog decided snails should also be allowed inside. I had a strict "No Snails Inside" policy.....until the other day when Boog snuck one in. I was doing the dish and making lunch, then when I went to get the kids ready to eat I found him, the snail, just chilling on the couch with Boog!

I immediately ask Boog what the snail was doing inside! Boog's reply "My friend snail, nice snail, snail watch tt (tv)". It melted my heart and grossed me out all at the same time. So a new policy was born, snails are only allowed inside when Mommy says so and in a approved container (a bowl just for snails) or his kids table that I can clean easily once the snail returns home.

My son, befriender of snails!

A Yummy Snack!

I still have a ton of fruit left over fruit from our outing to the farm and there has been some great sales at the store, but fresh fruit only last so long. I have been trying to come up with ideas to use them all. So last night when I got home from work I decided to use it in a healthy snack for the kiddos. Yummy homemade Popsicle. Here is my recipe for something your kids won't able able to resist on a hot summer day (it is 99 degrees at the moment).

Half a cup of Bing Cherries
Half a cup of Logan Berries
Half a cup of Strawberries
Half a cup of Blueberries
Half a cup of Yogurt
Quarter a cup of Flaxseed Oil

Into the blender it all goes and puree until it is a nice smooth constancy. Pour into your Popsicle mold and stick in the freezer. Now you have happy kids and a happy mom (because you just made a healthy, refreshing snack for your growing little ones)

Warning to all Mommy that make these Popsicles: They are messy and stain. I recommend the kids enjoy them outside while playing, otherwise you will end up with a red spotted carpet (and a not so happy Mommy).

If you are unable to find Flaxseed oil or Popsicle molds please click on the links in the sentence :)

Enjoy!

Memory Monday

The kiddos and I were watching some home movies this morning and Littles found this one particularly funny.

So here is Littles 3 months old playing on her belly mat with me.

They grow up  so fast, I am so lucky to have these videos to look back on and enjoy with them as they get older. So much fun.

Happy Father's Day

A big thank you to the two most amazing men I know.My Husband and my father! 

Mr. R you are amazing and the kids are so lucky to have you as their Dada! You always know how to make them laugh and the best playmate EVER! They adore you!

The kids made this for Mr. R's Father's Day present

Daddy, without you I wouldn't be the woman I am today. You have given me so much, and done the same for my children.

We spent Father's Day Morning at Papa's house! They all had a blast with a water fight!

You taught me what a man should be. You were the best playmate EVER when I was a kid and my "rock" as I got older. Thank you for showing me nothing but love! You are the best Daddy a girl could ask for!

Riding the train at the park

Baking together

At the Japanese Tea Garden

My first baseball game

Halloween

Easter

Happy Father's Day to all Dads out there! 

You have no idea how important you are!

Creatures Of The Ocean

This morning it was our first class of Summer music "Creatures of the Ocean". Littles did music in the spring and LOVED it, so I wanted to sign her up again for summer. The only day we could do it though was Tuesdays and I didn't have anyone to watch Boog so I signed him up too. I was a little nervous,because music class is a lot of circle time, which has never really been Boog's Strong suit.

For Boog's 3rd birthday I hired the music teacher for his party. He did okay, but didn't really participate except for the very beginning. I had video taped his party and was playing it one day just after signing him up for class and got a glimmer of hope. He loved the video. He sat and followed all the teacher's directions, laughed and had fun.

I would like to tell you that today's class was a success, and it sort of was. Littles did great as usual, Boog on the other hand.......well not so much. He spent most of his time running around and only participating in what he want to.

Dancing with scarves. A moving around activity that Boog decided was worthy of his time.

Could have been a really cute shot if it wasn't blurry, ugh.

I will admit I was a little embarrassed by his behavior ( I should clarify, I wasn't embarrassed by him, but by the fact that other people had paid money for the class too and he was being disruptive. I should also say he wasn't the only one running around, but he kind of got the others wound up). He wasn't terrible by any means,but he wouldn't sit still for any length of time (Littles sat the entire time, like an angel). I tired my hardest to get him to join in, but with both of the kids there, well I can't be two place at once. So I finally made the decision to be an example, by participating in the class with Littles instead of chasing after Boog (in hopes he would see Mama and Sissy and want to do what we were doing, plus I didn't want Littles time spoiled).

Littles enjoying herself and looking super cute

The end of class, bubble time. Both of the kids always get very excited about bubbles.

I just don't understand how he can do so well at preschool, including circle time (I heard wonderful things about his behavior from the end of year meeting) ,then when it is a class that I am forking out money for to help enrich his life, that is when he decides to act up. I know you may be thinking to yourself, maybe he has ADD or "he is just a little kid" but he CAN sit and stay with a task for long periods of time, the trick is it has to be on his terms. Stubborn little kid, I wonder where he gets that from (wink, wink...me). For example today after we got home he sat himself down and colored for 25 minutes straight.

Unbelievable 25 minutes of coloring, why couldn't he have behaved like this in class.

The summer semester is only five weeks long, so if his behavior doesn't change at least I will only have to endure it for a short time (Littles is signed up for the Fall semester too, Boog is back in preschool and is not). But my real hope is that he grows to enjoy it (the actual class, because he enjoyed himself today...by running around) and learn some of the songs. Fingers crossed!

What would have you done in my shoes? Chased after him and made him sit in circle? Left the class?

Memory Monday

When Boog was nine months old (and Littles was only a glimmer in my eye) we went and got family portraits done. Out of the all the shots this is my favorite one with all three of us. Lots of love for Boog! What a handsome little man. I can't believe how fast he has grown!

Cherries/Berries Fields Forever

"Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields. Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about. Strawberry Fields forever ."- The Beatles

Yesterday we didn't go to strawberry fields, but we did go pick cherries and berries at a local farm with my dad or as he is better known,"Papa". It was a lovely day, not too hot (cause around here in June it is usually in the triple digits during the summer) and not too windy or raining (it has rained a lot here lately, very unusual).

We picked Olallieberries, Loganberries, and Bing cherries. We all really enjoyed ourselves, it was a wonderful family outing.  The kids were able to burn off lots of energy by running around.

There was plenty of quality time with Papa. Boog LOVES his Papa, he asks about him all the time. Shoot even this morning he said "go Papa home, p-l-e-a-s-e". The bond they share warms my heart.

And of course they couldn't escape the Mommy love......

They had a huge "on the go" healthy snack of off the vine berries and cherries.

They learned how to pick berries without smooching them on the vine.

And I was a happy camper, because I got some really nice shots of the kids.

Once the days activities were over we were left with lots fun memories and yummy fruit to enjoy for days to come. Now just figuring out what to do with it all. I froze some for breakfast smoothies, But maybe I will make jam or pie with the rest. 

What are you up to this weekend?

Reading To Your Children Is Important And A Joy

I have the fondest memories of my mother reading to me when I was a child. The most vivid memory is every Christmas she would read me the Little Match Girl. At the end my mother would always cry and I would make fun of her (I was such a lovely child) because it was "Just a story Mom".

But once I got older and read it to Boog his on first Christmas I found myself in tears at the end just like my mother. It is funny how stories stay with us and how our reaction to them change as we get older.

 I feel very strongly about reading to my children. It is great bonding time, it helps broaden their vocabulary, and hopefully teaches them to love books. I will admit Boog didn't always love books. Okay he did, but eating them, not having them read to him.

Boog 5 months old

Littles on the other hand took to books right away. It didn't matter if I read them to her or not. She would pick them up before she could even sit and flip through the page on her own.

Littles 3 months old

Both of the kids love books now. One of their favorite places to go is Barnes and Noble for story time.

The kids at Barnes and Nobel when they were younger. I don't take pictures there as much as I used to because I am busy chasing Littles around. She has hit the stage of "have to explore EVERYTHING".

And they get super excited about their bedtime routine. It combines their two favorite things a bath, (not every night, but a couple of time during the week) and story time.

We spend one full hour reading (and goofing around) before the kids hit the sack. I used to be the one who did bedtime, but since I work nights five times a week my husband (Mr. R) does 5 nights by himself and two with me. I really miss always being there for bedtime. I love reading to the kids and having them sit on my lap and telling me about the books.

Here is how last night's bedtime routine went. In the beginning it consisted of Littles and Boog fighting over who got to sit on my lap (and no, they were not happy sharing my lap with each other) so we switched off. Littles would pick a book and she would get to sit on my lap. Then Boog got to pick a book and he would sit on my lap. This went rather smoothly until Mr. R came into the room. I swear his very presents sometimes sets the kids into crazy, rambunctious mode.

After they calmed back down it was Mr. R's turn to read a book.

 While Mr. R read his book, shocking a Star Wars book (my husband is the BIGGEST Star Wars geek!) Littles decided she wanted to read her own in my lap.

A music book of children's songs, shocking, she sure does love her music. Then Boog told me "My turn now, p-l-e-a-s-e" and put his hand out for the camera.

We were not prepared for this picture (otherwise we would have been smiling, not a look of what??), but a pretty good shot for a three year old. Next was Littles and my turn to have our picture taken by Boog.

Soon Boog gave the camera up and decided to serenade us while rocking in the the glider.

I put two wall decals of fairy doors in Littles' room and Boog nightly tries to coax the fairies out by knocking and offering them things (and yes he believes that fairies really live there). I love it, it is a crack up to watch and super cute!

Meanwhile Littles was back to reading her music book, she is such a doll.

And we always read a dinosaur book, if not more then one per Boog's request. Littles added the sound affects this night, Roar, Arrr!

Soon the hour was up and time for bed. Littles turned off the light closest to her bed and Boog gave her a kiss.

I highly suggest adding story time to your nightly routine if you already don't. And read some books for yourself, because if they see you reading leisurely they will know books are fun and cool. And remember books aren't just good for your children they are good for adults too.
What is your children's favorite book?
What is your favorite book?