How to catch a squirrel...a 6 yr old's tutorial

I just love age six. They are so creative, so determined and so capable. Rooster, my six year old just loves to create traps for anything that moves.  He has tape sticky side up across a piece of food in his room to catch a fly, a fake pond in the backyard to catch a frog and now a squirrel trap.
Ever wondered how to catch a squirrel?  Well, according to a six year old, you start by collecting a bucket full of acorns.

Then use that same bucket for your trap by propping it up with a stick over the acorns.

Then draw some pictures of squirrels, cut them out, and use your mother's wooden clips to secure them to the ground.

Then wait... and hopefully, you'll catch a squirrel! Here is another view of the whole set up.

Don't you just love the creativity and imagination?  I wonder what he'll try to catch next?

Crazy kids

Now that school is in full swing, let's talk about what to do with the kiddos after school.  I don't know about anyone else's kids, but my two are just plain crazy after school.  No need to sugar coat it, they turn into little monsters I don't even recognize.  There is absolutely no emotional control.  I'm guessing this comes from trying to be good all day long and complying with strict rules.  They walk in the door and immediately start fighting with each other.  Then there is melt down after melt down.  So what's the solution?  Anyone have luck with any particular strategy?  My thought is to continue the strict schedule/rules once they get home. I'm generally a laid back, fly by the seat of my pants kind of mom but that simply isn't working for them.  I'm thinking they should get home, eat their snack, do a fun activity with mom, work on chores, dinner, fun time with dad, then bed.  What do you guys think?

Kindergarten days

There I go again.  Taking off from you guys and acting like I have something better to do.  Truth be told, I rather be talking to you but I've got noses to wipe, diapers to change, and Homework ...what's that? Homework to do??  Ok, only a few random assignments, but there is another form of "homework" that comes when your child starts kindergarten.  Nobody tells you about this one.  You just think you'll get up, maybe brush your teeth, pour some coffee, pack a lunch and give them a kiss goodbye... then freedom!  Nope.  That's not what happens folks. 
Let's start with lunches.  Back in the day, my mom would slap a PB&J, maybe leftover meatloaf sandwich (yes, I was embarrassed but their good) or if your my mom, Jelly Bean and PB sandwich (she was fun).  and guess what?  we would eat it!  Not these days.  Actually maybe it's just my kids.  First, it needs to be well balanced or you might get the imaginary label of a malnourishing mom.  So you have to cut up some fruit for the kid - X2 here.  Fork out a fortune for Gogurts because all the kids have them - X2.  Make something of substance in a sandwich -X2.  Oh wait, Rooster informs me that he doesn't like sandwiches in his lunch. Open up a can of creative juice and pack that kid a pumpkin flax seed muffin with some cream cheese.  Add some milk and make it all fit in those tiny lunch bags.  Ahh, lunch is ready.  But wait, they need breakfast and you need to pack them a mid day snack, balanced of course.  Open more creative juice because they are too tired to eat and it's not practical to refrigerate the afternoon snack. 
Then get them dressed, teeth brushed, hair combed, everything in the car and off you go.  You get home, do some cleaning and you need to bake a snack for them because they will be starving when they get back.  You get them home only to find more mail in both bags then you receive in a week at home.  Do they want to dance? swim? girl scouts? PTA? buy a shirt? sell a candle?  Phew, I don't know about you moms out there but kindergarten is wearing me out!  Then there is the new attitude that comes from being good in school all day...
So how are your first days of school going?  Teachers?  Seasoned moms?  Tell me it gets smoother!

Kindergarten

Only 8 days left until Kindergarten!  Where did the time go?  Is it possible I have two children leaving me for school next week?  Am I really suppose to be this anxious?  The fears are endless...will they starve because they can't open their string cheese? will they even realize they have a lunchbox?  will they forget to go to the bathroom and then be too scared to ask? will they get lost? will they cry?  will they share?  The list is endless...

Then I think about their teacher.  I think Kindergarten teachers have to be saints because anytime I throw a birthday party, I feel like these little rascals wear me out.  How do they do it every day with a smile on their face?  How do they get them all to follow along so they can actually learn something?  What do they do when one is crying? How do they deal with the parents???  Now that has to be a tough one. You have the parents who think their child is the only child and needs special rights. You have the parent who thinks their child is gifted and you can't tell them otherwise.  You have the parent who needs to talk to you everyday about their child. You have the parent who is too busy to talk to you about their child (hopefully not many of those).  And the parent who just can't let go.  I think every parent  may struggle with a bit of each of those but I have resolved that my relationship with their teachers is one of the most important relationships I can foster.  After homeschooling for a year, I have learned how difficult it is to teach the core concepts that build a foundation for future learning.  As parents, I feel it is our job to educate our kids.  Now I have this person, a teacher, willing to do it with me.  She is the one with the experience, energy, and resources to do this job with me and I plan to take advantage of this opportunity for my kiddos.  I look forward to hearing what they learn every day and seeing how I can incorporate this into our daily routine. I look forward to the lists of books to read, math to practice, and projects to create.  I look forward to having two new experts in our lives to help educate our two oldest kids. 
Now, if I could just complain for a minute about the supply list, cafeteria food selection, early start time...

Bear again...

I woke up this morning only to realize I'm still 4 years old.  When will my birthday come?  Mommy says it is still a few months away.  Few only means three so I thought it would be here by now.  I'm so excited for my birthday list this year.  Today while at the grocery store I told daddy I wanted all the colors of suckers and lollipops.  He likes to tell me "no, you can have that" but then I remind him that I want it for my birthday.  That makes it ok.  The last day, I saw plastic grapes at Hobby Lobby that I just have to have.  Mommy said "no, they collect dust" but then I reminded her that I wanted them for my birthday. That made it ok.  I also picked out a beautiful piece of fabric and plastic flowers.  I hope she is writing all this down.  When we went to Target, I saw a Backyardigans DVD and was so excited.  Mommy told me I have too many videos but then I reminded her it was for my birthday.  She said that was ok. I love that I will get everything I see every day for my birthday.  Now, if those few months would just hurry up.  In the meantime, I will have to help mommy around the house so she thinks I'm extra good for my special day.  Last day, she took all my books away (apparently I'm not suppose to throw them).  She put them on the book shelf in our play room.

I know exactly what your thinking!  That looks horribly boring doesn't it?  Well, I fixed it for her while she messed up my room again.  Isn't this better?

While I decorated the play room again, my mommy took all my stuff from my room again!

She appears to be detecting my newest way of getting materials for my room.  When my brother goes to the bathroom, I run into his room, grab what I want, and hide it in my room.  He gets so mad when something is missing and I can't help but laugh.  Mommy caught me once, told me I was sneaky and then decided my room needed cleaning again.  I'm so misunderstood, I think mommy is the sneaky one for catching me.  Wouldn't you agree?

Why you should be concerned about your hoarding 4 year old

Do you have a 4 year old who takes everything but the kitchen sink with her wherever she goes?  Or am I the only one?  Should I be concerned?

Bear heading to the park (5 houses away)



I know what you're thinking, "oh, she's so cute taking all her possessions to the park", but I can't get this image out of my head...



First, you have to understand the randomness of her possessions.  A bucket to gather berries and stones to build an ant home.  An umbrella because the sun on a 77 degree night is just too hot for my always cold child.  Her dog purse which she unlatches half way there to see if it will walk like a dog and proceeds to get mad when it doesn't. A satchel style bag to put all the BBs she finds on the ground. And the dress.  She wears that dress EVERY day!!  I thought I hid it well from the mornings wash but nooooo, she found it in MY room.  We bought it last month and it is now stained and the hem is falling.  But, it is her favorite dress.  She must wear it to the park because what else would you climb a tree and build an ant's home in?

I love my 4 year old to pieces but please Bear, wear some shorts under that dress and leave a few things home next time.  Did I mention it took 20 minutes to walk past the five houses to the park with all her stuff?
Anyone else have a hoarder at home?

Reading challenge results

and the winner is....... a tie between Rooster and Bear!  Mommy did horrible with zero checks this week and Daddy only had one.  Beaner was a close runner up with seven while Rooster and Bear both had eight.  They were so cute these past two nights.  They both fell asleep surrounded in books as if they were cramming for a final exam!  Congrats to my little readers!

Brotherly Sisterly Love

The great Ziggy Marley sang a song about needing Brotherly Sisterly love but what exactly is that?  I know growing up, my brotherly love was getting peas chucked at me when my parents didn't pay attention during dinner.  The three year difference between me and each of my brothers created a different definition of brotherly sisterly love than that of my two oldest children.  Rooster and Bear are only 17 months apart and their relationship reminds me of what one might see in twins.  They play together all day long and have their own language.  Despite their daily disagreements, they truly love each other.  I often think, "how do I foster this? keep it going?"  I guess my answer is to just let them do it themselves as the result may be ...

as perfect as an ice cold milkshake on a hot day!

Murphy Reading Challenge

It's time for another challenge!  We have been in summer mode here for quite some time and with that comes the challenge of continuing to educate our minds.  For the rest of the month we are doing a simple reading challenge.  We have this chart on our kitchen wall.  You do not need chalkboard paint to write with chalk.  It will wipe off any gloss painted wall and since we will be painting this soon, I'm not too worried about wiping off paint.  It's just our names and they get a check mark for every 20 min of reading, up to 3 checks per day.

On June 1st, whomever has the most checks, gets a prize!  So join us and let me know how your challenge goes.

In the words of a hoarding 4 year old...

Hi, my parent's call me Bear likely because I'm soft and cuddly rather than difficult.  My parent's think I'm a hoarder but I believe they just misinterpret my creations.  I like things.  Lots of things.  My Little Pony, stickers, Llama Llama, and lots of little bows and ribbons.  In fact, I found a beautiful box of pearl bobby pins in my special box the other day.  I'm not sure why mom freaked out about that one.  They sure did hurt when I touched them but they looked beautiful in my walls and stuffed animals.  My parents keep talking about this simple living stuff and frankly it sounds quite boring.  My mom keeps selling stuff that I could use, like candles, her jewlry and most of all my toys!

The other day I made my room the beautifullest it's ever been! Mommy freaked out and wouldn't let me in for hours after that.  Clearly if she had, my room would still be beautiful.

If you look here, you will see how I strategically set up ponyville on the floor in my room.  I put a chair there so my ponies can reach the tea party on my dresser.  The stickers are all the decorations for the pony party.  I don't think my mom minds that I used all her tape to hang up my pictures.  My Pet Shops were also invited to my party.

I had to show my big brother all the fun in my room so we decided to roast some marshmellows I found in the pantry.  I would of shown mom too but she was feeding my baby sister.

Mom eventually came to my party but I think she was grumpy because she kicked me out of my room and ruined it...

At least she left the decorations.  I had also worked hard at pulling down all my dresses so I can pick out the prettiest one for my parties.

You can see how my art desk is ready for party planning.  Mommy didn't like this either...

She calls this pretty...I call it boring.  My desk is empty!

Well, while my mom was busy destroying the beauty in my bedroom, I was able to make the playroom much more suitable for my creative moments.

My mom calls me a hoarder and I think that is a fancy word for party decorator.  Uh ooh, she just found my party invitation!!  How was I suppose to know she needed that to RSVP for a real wedding??  I just can't win!

Beaner's First Birthday-a letter to my sweet baby

Dear Beaner,
It is with tears of pride that I write this birthday letter to you as you leave babyhood and become a toddler.  This year flew by with an unfairness that only a parent can claim.  I still remember thinking you were a boy as I pushed you into this world with all my strength.  I remember the joy when the doctor pronounced "It's a girl" as I new Peanut would now share sisterly moments with you.  I held you tight even as you peed on me as I didn't want to let you go.  You weighed in at 7lbs, 15 oz and were 20 inches long. I remember holding you as we were pushed into the outside world to travel to our home.  The first few months were a blur of constant diaper changes as we discover your malabsorption disorder, frequent nursing sessions to calm your reflux, and long nights of snuggling on the futon together.  It had been so long since we had a baby in the house that everything felt like the first time again.

Before I knew it three months had gone by and I knew my life had been changed forever.  My career of 12 years no longer mattered as I had three lovely kids that wanted a full time mommy.  It was hard to say goodbye to my work days but everytime I saw your smile I knew it was the right choice.  By this time you were babbling to anyone who would listen and had learned to push yourself over from back to front.  Your giggles melted our hearts and your love for water had already surfaced.

By six months you had mastered sitting up and were starting to scoot all over the floor.  We see a determination in your personality that will take you far in life.  You have mastered saying "dada" which you quickly learn to use to your advantage.  By now your love for hugs and snuggles is evident as we continue to bond.  We continue co-sleeping and breastfeeding which has given you such a special place in my heart.

Nine months quickly came and you pushed through your first two teeth while also mastering your crawl.  At the end of 10 months you took your first steps with the biggest smile.

Today, my love, you are a sweet, intelligent, curious, and adventurous one year old.  You are very much a "mama's" girl and poor Peanut can't sit in my lap without a verbal lashing from you.  Your vocabulary amazes me as you begin your two word phrases.  You have truly changed our lives forever.  You have pushed us to define our success through our family values and time together rather than if we can keep up with "the Jones".  You have taught me that my heart is the best parenting tool I have even when others find it unconventional.  You have motivated us to seek simplicity in our lives so that we can free our minds to see the many treasures you and your siblings enrich us with.  I thank you for these gifts you have given us this year and pledge as your mother to continue to encourage and guide you in your growth.  I look forward to nourishing your growing body with mine and holding you close at night until your ready to let go.  My dear Beaner, as you sleep warm in my arms right now, know that you are a vey special girl and I look forward as we push our way into your toddler years with only looking back to remember the fun we had during your first year.
Lots of Love,
Mama

How to get your baby to sleep in their own bed!