Little People

I have bought a few "vintage" Little People on E-Bay (before we were doing Financial Peace University) and at garage sales (Dave would approve of this) for Big J. I remember playing with them for hours as a kid and I guess the purchases were sorta for mommy too. Well, Big J loves them. Here he's showing me a few of his favorites and telling me something...to babbley to really understand. These people can go anywhere. Some of you saw the ones on his Flickr page that ended up sleeping in the fridge! Today it is my job to hold the people in my hand as Big J takes each one individually out on an adventure. Some get to go in his shirt pocket (thanks John for this vivid Hawaiian shirt), some on the bookshelf, some look out the front door, and others visited daddy's work boots. Each had several turns going on adventures while I held the rest in my hand...and they had better be there when James returned because I wasn't a good babysitter of the people if I set them on my leg or the chair...that is a NO NO for Big J. If he's asked you to hold something, please, hold it right.

It was supposed to be a rainy yucky day here but it turned out to be 80 and sunny! My "Freedar" was loving today's activity. Our playgroup went to the mall for Momtopia, a once monthly advertising specialty. This month's theme was "carnival". Clinique, the Cookie Co., and Popcorn Pizazz were the sponsors. They gave free samples and shamlessly handed out lots of literature on what we were missing by not stopping by their stores frequently. It was fun though because there were little carnival games for the kids to play, complete with prizes, a clown making baloon animals, and a huge inflatable slide. Big J came home with a paddle ball, punching baloon, skittles, a teddy bear, and coloring sheet. He had a baloon sword, but when you bite those, they pop. All my daycare kids got to enjoy the carnival and the older ones did the slide about forty times, no exaggeration. It was all free...and everyone took LONG naps this afternoon!

A Great Spring Day

We spent quite a bit of time outside today. The weather was about 75 deg. and sunny. The grass is growing so fast that even though #1 mowed 4 days ago, it needs to be done again! Snug and R played in the dandelions (our yard is 90% dandelions, 10% grass) as our neighbors were out spraying their yards to get rid of them! I'm sure they love that we grow them in abundance as they try their best to kill them off. We also planted morning glories today in our recycled pots to celebrate Earth Day. The pots were made of empty cool-aide canisters.

New Slippers

Big J grew out of his fire engine slippers this week. For those of you who saw him with them, you know he loved them. I went to the "store" and found a new pair. By store I mean the box of shoes to grow into in the top of Big J's closet. Thanks to the O's and the W's hand-me-downs and Grandmommy's new ones she has sent, he has a little "store" I can shop at as his feet grow. Today I looked into the box and saw that he had slippers that are a little big, but will work. They have footballs on the toes that light up when he walks. Let me tell you, there has been lots of running and jumping and tapping of toes this morning! He didn't even want to get in his chair for breakfast (a huge shock) because he couldn't see his toes. We'll have to see if he takes them off to play outside or go to the Cedarville baseball game tonight...hey at least he is dressed today, right?

This is a "Ba"

"Ba"

If you knew what time it was when this picture was taken you'd want to know why Big J is still in his jammies. Well, about once a week Big J has a jammies day because mommy is too tired/lazy/busy to get him dressed. Getting Big J dressed is no easy task these days. He is very distracted and has no time for all that fuss. Half the time you get all the clothes off of him and he's gone before you have time to put even a sock back on. Last week he greeted R. and her mom at the door absolutly naked. That is a great way to show a parent you have good control over your daycare, let me tell you.
Today Big J woke up after some of the kids were here, and I was busy making pancakes already. Halfway through breakfast the O.s dropped off their youngest three. One to stay for the morning, and two to wait until it was time to walk to school. Naturally I didn't have time with six kids plus Big J in the house to get him ready for the day. As soon as all the big kids were out the door for school I had a doctor's appointment, and # 1 had the kids. #1 often has a hard time keeping up with just Big J, so this task isn't easy, and Big J stayed in his jammies. As soon as I got back from the doctor it was time to make lunch. I figured he had might as well not get his clothes for the day dirty at lunch, and I resolved to put him into proper clothes right after lunch...or after nap...or certainly before the three Cedarville students who are coming for dinner arrive. We'll have to see.
By the way, the doctor gave me a great report! Baby J is growing perfect and I have been cleared to pick up Big J when necessary again. As soon as I got home I picked him up and gave him a big hug, something he's been begging for for the last month while I wasn't allowed to pick him up. Of course he was so excited to have the old mommy back...um, no. He demanded to get down RIGHT NOW...really did my heart good, let me tell you.

The swingset on the left was a gift from our neighbor, N. She had it for her grandkids and they have outgrown it. The kids really enjoy playing out in the sun, it was about 60 deg today. The smaller slide/fort I found alongside the road. It is the perfect size for my toddlers. We also have two "Coupe" cars that have been given to us. They get lots of use! Today's favorite activity besides the swingset was bubbles. I may have to get more wands though. Two wands for five kids wasn't working out. We do have to learn to share, but that ratio isn't working for us. P.S. Kitties do NOT like you to blow bubbles in their faces or dip their tales in the cup of bubbles. Just in case you didn't already know that.

Everyday after lunch the kids at Draycare get to watch 30 minutes of TV. R. almost always picks Dora the Explorer when it is her turn to choose. If you've never experienced Dora, you've really missed out. (For those of you who don't know Dora, Boots, or Map, I included a picture that can give you an idea.) I don't know about the people who claim their children are learning to speak Spanish from watching her, but they certainly are learning something. Here you can see Big J saying "map" after the prompting of Dora and Boots. Very educational, don't you think?

First Time Using This...

I have a couple of friends from high school who use this to post pictures and write about what is happening with their kids. Since we are far from family, I thought it was a great way to share what is going on with James, and soon Jack. We post pictures as regularly as possible on flickr, but this is more of a journaling thing too. Bear with me as I learn the ropes!