Lesson 225: Back to the Past

Quietest my house has been all day was when I caught Deci and Elora sneaking into the kitchen and swiping a whole apple. They were standing together taking turns taking a bite out of it. I can't get them to eat apple slices to save my life but a whole apple is apparently another story.
Eat healthy: check
Play quietly: check
Share: check (yes!)
Gone down the 'it's an apple not a ball' road yet again 15 seconds later: check

Today's Lesson: Revisit those old lessons once in a while.

Lesson 224: Multiplication

Two little boys have found the perfect fusion of their mommies and daddies. Earlier they were sword fighting with their cereal spoons and making a mess, so I gave them disposable straws instead. Now they are sitting peacefully on the couch reading and sword fighting. The best of both worlds I suppose.

Lesson 223: Addition

1 box+ 3 holes + 3 Cheerios + 2 boys fascinated with 'inside' and 'outside' = at least 15 minutes of entertainment.

Lesson 222: Mommy is...

Deci and his cousins have lately gotten into repeatedly asking "Where Mommy/Daddy go?" The answer is of course the same every day and every time they ask. So needless to say,the endless question was starting to drive me batty. Then I thought I'd be clever. I gathered all three of them together for a speech.

"Now Mommy/Aunt Yaya, Daddy/Uncle Darrell, and Uncle Devon/Daddy are all at work. So now listen carefully. Mommy/Aunt Yaya is at work. Every body say 'at work'"

"At wook"

"Ok and Daddy/Uncle Darrell is at work. Everybody say 'at work'"

"At wook"

"Very good, and Uncle Devon/Daddy is also at work. Everybody say 'at work'"

"At wook"

"Wonderful. Now where is Mommy?"

Roran: "In Car!"

Lesson 221: If and Only If

If you are a cute little girl. And if you are adorable and loved by everyone. And if you are the youngest and most innocent of the children so far. Then you can cry and screech just because and everyone in the room will come to your rescue and want to hold you and play with you and make you laugh. You can be the center of attention by just batting your eyelashes in the right way.

Lesson 220: Holiday Clothes Part 2

Holiday Clothes Part 1

When choosing a costume for that special Halloween-church-alternative-event remember that you are going to a church that has specific beliefs about Halloween. In fact they've gone so far as to have an alternative night for you to take your kids to, so maybe dressing them up as a ghoul or a devil is not such a brilliant idea.

Lesson 219: Plans for the Future

Don't tell them you are going outside until they actually need to know. Hearing "Outside?" "Outside now?" over and over could drive anyone batty.

Lesson 218: Tickers

Once upon a time I gave a minute donation to one of the many charities that sends out address labels and a dime "hoping that you will send it back with your generous donation." You know exactly what I'm talking about, the ones that probably spent more sending your address labels than they actually get in return donations. Anyways, ever since it has seemed like every charity on the face of the earth sends me address labels. Not that I'm complaining, they are a small luxury that I really enjoy. However, I have enough that my desk drawer is over flowing and I could never hope to use all of them.

My solution: "Tickers" The ugly ones and ones I'll never use have all been moved down to Deci's drawer. The one with all of the slightly dull pencils and kid friendly markers. Now if he wants to be extra creative with his pile of scratch paper he can pull out a sheet of stickers and attach them any way his little heart desires. And the best part? Entertainment for the little boy, completely free. Well free for me anyways.

Lesson 217: Get It Out Of There

As soon as baby is done with items like the bouncy seat and excersaucer take them into storage. Otherwise her big brother might start his own "re-purposing" blog.

Lesson 216: If You Can Think of Nothing

If all else fails sit right behind Mama and scream your lungs out. She'll either pay attention or trip over you.

Lesson 215: How Are We Doing?

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."~ Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa

Lesson 214: Rediculous

It is impossibly hard to get mad or do any sort of discipline while your little boy is wearing a fuzzy superman top-hat that bounces as he runs around the house.

Lesson 213: Finger Paint

If your baby insits on grabbing the spoon full of baby food every time you take it to her mouth, drop a little baby food on the tray and let her finger paint with it. Experts say that she is just interested in it's texture and feel and this is a great way to let her learn while keeping those speedy little fingers busy.

Lesson 212: Don't Amputate it Doc!

"Wahhhhhh!"

"What's wrong, Buddy?"

"Wahhhhh!"

"Did you hit your toes?"

"Yeeaah"

"Want me to kiss it and make it better?"

"Yeah" (wimper wimper)

"Think we'll have to cut them off?"

"Yeeeeaaaah.... let's go play."

Today's Lesson: Shrug it off. There are more important things to do.

Lesson 211: 1, 2, 3, 4

Deci just recently learned his numbers and often we hear this:

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5,7,8..."

But today Rilian added:

"No, no Deci! You forgot 9!"

Today's Lesson: Apparently 9 is much more important than 6.

Lesson 210: Duck, Duck,...

RILIAN: Duck, Duck, Gooose! (runs around the other two boys and sits) Your turn Rornin!

RORAN: Ahg Ahg Ahg Ahhhhh!(runs around and plops down where he was again)

(They both turn to Deci)

DECI: Ush shop Rornin. My urn! Yuck, Yuck, Yuck, Yuck... Nuh-nin!

Today's Lesson: Give you teachers (especially Uncle Dustin) credit for their work.

Lesson 209: Splat

The chances of your child dropping the uncooked egg, he just hijacked off the table, as he brings it back to you are much slimmer than if you chase after him to get it back yourself. Trust me.

Lesson 208: Gifts for His Children

"Next to eternal life, the most precious gift that our Father in Heaven can bestow upon man is his children." 

~David O McKay

Lesson 207: Dish iz

I realized one night while doing the dishes that it was way too quiet in the other room, so I set off in search of my two munchkins. Soon, I found them sitting in their room on the floor with Deci's blankets spread across their laps reading a book. Deci was being a great older brother and not only sharing, but telling Elora exactly what he thought the book said. It happened to be their kiddie Bible and I walked in just as he turned to the page of Adam and Eve in the Garden. They were of course following tradition and therefore naked but were modestly covered by a convenient branch here and a well placed bush there. However, this is not what made me have to leave the room. It was Deci confidently assuring Elora that "Dish iz Mama and Papa." that sent me giggling out of the room.

Today's Lesson: "Mama" and "Papa" are universal concepts that fit into every kids story, even the slightly awkward ones.

Lesson 206: Weird Things Deci Does Part 2

My kids have lately taken to playing together. Elora has a particularly infectious giggle, and Deci loves to make her happy. So their latest game is that she sits and he lays his head in her lap. Then she pulls on his hair and giggles  Apparently Deci has no nerves on the top of his head because they play this for 10 minute stretches.

Today's Lesson: A toddler has learned about hair, keep yours out of the way. Unless you are super dedicated to your little sister's happiness.