Toddler Talk

The one thing that is aways cute with toddlers is when they are new talkers. It is amazing how one phrase or even just one word said by a toddler will make you laugh and by far the cutest is when they sing. Here are a few of Addison's latest:

"Walk-uh"--I think she is saying, "What The" nevertheless it makes me think of an ewok from Return of the Jedi even though I have not seen that movie since I was a kid and can't even remember if they even talk...but if they did..."Walk-uh" would be a word in there language. I also think this is just the shorten version of the phrase that she has said several times..."What the Heck?" Thanks to Ryann (a habit we are trying to break from her) Addison has picked up this phrase.

"Bless You"-- Elliott sneezed the other day and immediately Addy says "Bless you, Daddy"

Even hearing her saying "Hi, Ryann" first thing in the morning is cute. But the words that ARE NOT so cute "nack" for snack (as in all day wanting one) and "Ariel" for Little Mermaid which is her most favorite movie that she wants to watch all the time or Cinderella. (She will only watch for 15 minutes and get bored so the 5 minutes it took to get it on was a complete waste of my time)

Then their are her prayers. She likes to say the prayer before we eat. She won't say it on her own so it involves repeating whom ever is helping her and it is always just the last word of the phrase. For example...Father....day.....food......food....bodies.....Amen. Even if it is not her turn she will just repeat the person saying it.

Singing:

The other night when I was putting on her pajamas she started singing "No more monkeys jumping on the bed". This completely caught me off guard because although I know this song...I have never sang this song with her. I asked her where she heard that song and then she told me "nursery". I guess she is learning something from nursery.

Other songs I have heard her sing, the intro song to Diego, I am a Child of God, Popcorn song, and the chorus to Miley Cyrus's song It's a party in the USA which is currently one of my girls favorite songs right now (Addy will actually ask for the Hannah Montana song)....if it is not Miley it is Taylor Swift in our car....poor Elliott. ( Oh wait they also love Black Eyed Peas's I Gotta Feeling Addy always dances to this song)


**on a side note--Addy has been 100% diaper free even at night since Saturday....fingers crossed! She normally would do days so day AND night is huge. Diapers just may be a thing in the past for me! Knock on wood.

Chinese New Year Party

I get to do Activity Days for 8 year-old girls. There are so many girls that their are leaders for each year. This past Tuesday they all came over and we had a Chinese New Year Party. The real celebration will begin on Feb 14th and thought it would be fun for them to know about this tradition ahead of time. It is the year of the Tiger so when they all arrived I had them make Tiger masks. I also made each girl a packet that had the brief history, coloring pages, a page to practice writing Chinese symbols, how-to use chopsticks page, and info about the year they were born (the year of the snake). We then made paper lanterns, played a game with chopsticks (the girls LOVED this), ate Chinese food, then finished off playing some traditional Chinese games until their parents came to pick them up. It was lots of fun!

While finding stuff for this party it was interesting to read about the different animals. For those that don't know each year it is a different animal (12 different) and it is believed that children born that year will have characteristics of that animal.

Elliott and Kylee are both Tigers, Alyssa and I are Snakes (so is my Mom), Ryann is a rooster (chicken) and Addy is a pig.

If was fun to read about the different personalities and what animals they recommend for friends and lovers. Tigers and Snakes are not recommended matches....darn wish I would have read that 13 years ago.....:)

The invitation I made (info on back)

Tiger Masks

Paper Lanterns (Alyssa is in the pink sweater)

What were you doing?

What were you doing one year ago today? Usually I wouldn't be able to answer such a question. It was one year ago that Elliott had his ever so fun surgery and his first day of training with AIMS. Now he has lovely scars to forever remind him of the ever-so-pleasant surgery. I am so grateful for living in a country that could provide medical technology to fix his lung. His lung has been fine....granted he stopped working out...but his lung is fine.

Happy Lung Day!

Not Ready

I just came back from the store and on my way home I passed by the Middle School close to our house. All of the kids were outside lined up...guessing it was fire drill practice. Middle School is a funny place, you have kids that look like they are 18 and kids that look like they are 9. Such an awkward time period for many. (I remember thinking I was so "old" to be in Jr. High and then High School even more so) It freaked me out a little with the thought that next year Kylee is going to be going to that school. She still thinks I am cool and I know it is a matter of time that she won't. I feel like I am throwing her to the wolves. I have always been excited about the girls growing up but....yeah.... Middle School is where it starts and leads them right into High School and this becomes scary for me because they can make some real "adult" decisions that will affect the rest of there life. It is the start of kids independence emerging (and we know that can be quite unpleasant for parents). They begin to try to figure out who they are, who they want to be, what they like, dislike, find their passions, figure out who their true friends are, wear makeup, they learn that cooties don't exist and in fact really like "those boys", and worse thinking they are in love with one, uhhhh heart-break.....ahhh need I go one. Innocent children thrown to the wolves. I guess ready or not the day will come. I just hope I have done my part as a parent in teaching her the things she will need to know to survive...above all that we love her always.

(Handling attitude problems will be my challenge and Kylee's is already budding at times)

It Does Snow!

It does snow in Las Vegas....and the best kind...UP in the Mountains and not on your door step! It actually brings color to the mountains besides brown...and yes white is a color. Living in snow for many years you begin to expect it so it is fun to see it up in the mountains. I had to take some pictures because it doesn't last long.

I took these off the balcony that is off my bedroom...our view.

Nap Time Stinks!

Their is this OBNOXIOUS video we have had since Kylee was little. It is "The Big Comfy Couch" with Loonette the Clown. She tries to get her doll to take a nap and sings this awful song/rap thing and the chorus is "Stayin' up stayin' up cuz NAP TIME STINK...whew"...repeat. The worst part is it will play over and over in your head long after the movie is over. If you have never seen "The Big Comfy Couch" your life just isn't complete. Well this is Addy's theme song these days. It is a hit and miss to get this girl to take a nap. She still needs one but fights it. On the days she fights it, it is not uncommon to find her somewhere asleep in the middle of what ever she was doing.

For Example:

An hour before bedtime she took a break from playing. She fell asleep at 6 and woke up at 7:30 the next morning. Now that is some serious ZZZZZs.

Watching a movie....rainiy day still in Pjs.

Loonette the Clown

4 Year-Old Photography

Ryann knows the rule...she CANNOT EVER touch my camera without asking...EVER! Ryann knows rules but I don't think she understands that she is suppose to follow them. I found my camera on my bed and asked her if she used it...."No"....I guess she didn't realize the pictures SHE took would rat her out...duhh. Here are some of her pictures from her photo session. Some of Addy but the others are random ones inside our house...you forget what things can look like to a little person.

Through the eyes of a four-year-old:

Balcony off my bedroom

I can't help but laugh at this one...Addy is full of expresions.