Monday, March 8, 2010
Killing Two Birds With One Stone
Did you know that playing Hot Lava can have multiple purposes? On the one hand it is a fun game to play with your toddler, on the other, it fluffs your couch pillows and gets them back in the right shape. It also is a great way to figure out that my toddler has much more endurance for running around in circles, stepping on pillows, than I do.
Nap Time
Nap time has a way of sneaking up on me sometimes. I will be busy doing something, and then I realize that things are a little too quiet. This is what I find.
The Era of Buzz and Thomas
I never wanted my kids to be commercialized. There are a few isles in the toy store that I just can't stand to go down. But, through watching Toy Story II (the first one is scary with Sid and his dog, and those freaky toys) and PBS, James has fallen in love with all things Buzz and Thomas. What can you do when he LOVES it?
About six months ago James discovered a buzz figurine that he liked to play with. Most new toys are only really interesting for a few days, and then he only returns periodically to play with them. Not so with Buzz. Buzz has become much more permanent. James rarely goes anywhere without Buzz, and only sets him down for brief periods of time. He even has a special way of holding him, which has turned parts of Buzz yellow from the oils of his skin. Sometimes it is a problem because Buzz has limited James to one hand. Climbing at the park is much harder with Buzz. However he is handy for testing out slides. I always know when James is about to come down, because I can hear Buzz bumping down first. There was a while when James started carrying two Buzzes around; he even could fit them in one hand. But one of them disappeared mysteriously while he was sleeping one day (yes he takes Buzz to bed). He can even say something like "to infinity, and beyond" where he shoots Buzz up in the air as he says "and beyond." Every once in a while Marshall will show an interest in Buzz, sometimes he will get to hold him for a minute, and sometimes James gently takes Marshall's hand away. Marshall is the only one who gets such patient treatment. If you are interested you can play I spy and find all of the different pictures that Buzz appears in on this page.
Second only to Buzz is Thomas the Train. Though the show is rather simple, James loves it. And because he often wakes up at 5:30 in the morning, he gets to watch it often (while I lay on the couch until a decent hour). He even knows a few of the lines, and quotes them along with the movie. A few weeks ago we bought a small Thomas that makes a loop on a little track. He has had so much fun with this, even figuring out how to put the track together by himself. He loves to get close to the wheels and watch them turn as Thomas goes by. Just the other day I found a little train set for cheep at a second hand toy store. I was amazed how quick he figured out how to work things. He loves watching the trains go around and around. As with most things that he really loves, he gets really upset when things don't go as he wants, but as he learns to work it he gets less and less upset. I just need to stock up on batteries now.
About six months ago James discovered a buzz figurine that he liked to play with. Most new toys are only really interesting for a few days, and then he only returns periodically to play with them. Not so with Buzz. Buzz has become much more permanent. James rarely goes anywhere without Buzz, and only sets him down for brief periods of time. He even has a special way of holding him, which has turned parts of Buzz yellow from the oils of his skin. Sometimes it is a problem because Buzz has limited James to one hand. Climbing at the park is much harder with Buzz. However he is handy for testing out slides. I always know when James is about to come down, because I can hear Buzz bumping down first. There was a while when James started carrying two Buzzes around; he even could fit them in one hand. But one of them disappeared mysteriously while he was sleeping one day (yes he takes Buzz to bed). He can even say something like "to infinity, and beyond" where he shoots Buzz up in the air as he says "and beyond." Every once in a while Marshall will show an interest in Buzz, sometimes he will get to hold him for a minute, and sometimes James gently takes Marshall's hand away. Marshall is the only one who gets such patient treatment. If you are interested you can play I spy and find all of the different pictures that Buzz appears in on this page.
Second only to Buzz is Thomas the Train. Though the show is rather simple, James loves it. And because he often wakes up at 5:30 in the morning, he gets to watch it often (while I lay on the couch until a decent hour). He even knows a few of the lines, and quotes them along with the movie. A few weeks ago we bought a small Thomas that makes a loop on a little track. He has had so much fun with this, even figuring out how to put the track together by himself. He loves to get close to the wheels and watch them turn as Thomas goes by. Just the other day I found a little train set for cheep at a second hand toy store. I was amazed how quick he figured out how to work things. He loves watching the trains go around and around. As with most things that he really loves, he gets really upset when things don't go as he wants, but as he learns to work it he gets less and less upset. I just need to stock up on batteries now.
Christmas 2009
This was our very first Christmas that we spent in our own house. I loved decorating, setting up our tree, and thinking of fun things to get everyone I love. I stretched the Christmas season out a bit because I wasn't ready to take down all of the colorful decorations and make it painfully obvious that I haven't finished decorating yet. I also learned that I am going to have to get started much earlier next year because inevitably there is just too much to do. I was called as the primary secretary in our new ward (which was my calling in my old ward, it just seems to be where I fit right now), and the end of the year was filled with church planning as well. My goal is to get Christmas cards out next year. I am thinking positively and I think I can do it. I have such cute kids, their pictures just scream "put me on a Christmas Card."
Anyway, we woke up Christmas morning and opened presents. We ended up taking back most of the kids presents. Why should I buy toys? That's what grandma's are for. James would love one toy so much he had a hard time moving on to unwrap the next. By the end of the morning he was loaded with tons of new toys, and Marshall had discovered his love for wrapping paper. We also started a new tradition of making cinnamon rolls Christmas morning. This year was such a hit I don't think we will ever be able to go without them again.
Later, my parents and sister came over and we got to open presents again. Then, that night we went over to my grandpa's house and got to exchange presents again. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without lots and lots of family.
Can I just say that it is ridiculously hard to get toys out of their boxes. There were wires and tape everywhere! I even had screws in one package. Screws! What the heck do they think is going to happen to these toys?
Also part of Christmas: huge messes. I took me days to clean up this year because I had to find places for all of those toys.
Marshall has longer hair on top of his head right now, and it makes for the best Mohawk.
Anyway, we woke up Christmas morning and opened presents. We ended up taking back most of the kids presents. Why should I buy toys? That's what grandma's are for. James would love one toy so much he had a hard time moving on to unwrap the next. By the end of the morning he was loaded with tons of new toys, and Marshall had discovered his love for wrapping paper. We also started a new tradition of making cinnamon rolls Christmas morning. This year was such a hit I don't think we will ever be able to go without them again.
Later, my parents and sister came over and we got to open presents again. Then, that night we went over to my grandpa's house and got to exchange presents again. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without lots and lots of family.
Can I just say that it is ridiculously hard to get toys out of their boxes. There were wires and tape everywhere! I even had screws in one package. Screws! What the heck do they think is going to happen to these toys?
Also part of Christmas: huge messes. I took me days to clean up this year because I had to find places for all of those toys.
Marshall has longer hair on top of his head right now, and it makes for the best Mohawk.
Yeah, I think I am chewing gum so if anyone else actually watches this, I am sorry.
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