travel activity #1

A couple of weeks ago, I had the H pick up a little binder thingy for me at the Exchange Depot, along with a pack of 5x7 cards to fill the pockets. Since then, I have been brainstorming activities for Tonka. As I finish each activity, I'll try to post it. Here's the first.

Directions:
Have 3yo separate the clothespins so each player has one of each color (or just match them up if he's playing on his own).Shake the die and drop it into the container. Find a clothespin that matches the facing color and attach it to the proper square on your game card. Next player's turn.Repeat until all of the clothespins have a home. This can take a half hour if you "do" it right.

When you've finished playing, let the toddler take his time putting the clothespins back into the container. He might want to stir, chew, point, dump, or smack with them instead... but eventually they'll all make it in, especially if you only give him half of the pins to work with in the first place. If he masters this, put the lid on first and open the "pour" side for a smaller opening. (this was formerly a parsley container).

The flip side:
Again with the matching. This particular almost-3-year-old cannot match the ordinals yet, but is surprisingly proficient at the digit matching. The circles are for counting and perhaps cheerios.

flowers for you

on this blessed Sunday.

Korean Barbecue night

1/4 c low soy sauce
1 1/2 T rice wine vinegar
1 T sesame seeds
1 T fresh grated ginger (or 1 t dried ground)
1T dark brown sugar
1 T sesame oil
1 T honey
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 t crushed red pepper

marinate tofu or meat ( I used sliced cube steak) for up to 8 hours. I stir-fried with veggies and served over bean threads. And there was much rejoicing.

Tonka was excited about eating the "worms" with his own set of "pokes;" he gave the meal a thumbs-up with no hesitation.
His brother thought the bean threads were a little slippery, but loved the broccoli!super strange expression and crazy hair aside, I loved it. The H was perhaps more "yay." than rejoicing, but kept his comments to a minimum.

The dog, for those of you who are just itching to ask, couldn't figure out how to eat bean threads D tried to drop into her mouth. It was a little amusing, in a totally disgusting sort of way. Special thanks to Kristan for the bean threads, Sheena for the Sesame oil, Emily for the recipe, and D for buying fresh broccoli!

caught in the act

DSC_0034
Originally uploaded by newlywaaz

yes, he on the table. He also on the chairs, wobbly metal shelving, slightly-less-wobbly plastic shelving, stroller, couch, and kitty litter box. help!

WW: SOOC

(from a few weeks ago)

quotable#2

"wahoo, I love food in my mouth!"

"Mom, would you please put some hair in my armpit please?"

"I scratched my hurt, and I eated it" (scab, I presume?!)

"...and please help Daddy to be in a good day. Amen."

minutiae

birthday inspiration for the boys

(for those of you who haven't found the perfect yard-saled, thrifted, or dumpster dived gift)

www.magiccabin.com
www.hearthsong.com
www.etsy.com

and the list goes on :)

Happy Anniversary!

5 years!?! Already?

Well, she has grown up a lot in those 5 years.

I'm outta here before I start feeling old.

Happy Anniversary darling. It has been a wonderful 5 years already, and i can't wait to see what the next five bring.

did I mention we went to the beach?

same spot (almost exactly!) as the first time. Luckily no popped tire this day. A few pictures:

Huh...

This is what happens you let your almost three year old stir pudding four inches away from where you are plating dinner:











PS: the wife would like you to know that the wings and french fries were from a friend; she would not purchase them herself.

monkey boys

My boys often play outside in the back yard while I am getting dinner ready. Since it is so small and we have 2 sets of french doors, we can hear or see them easily from anywhere downstairs. What has proven entertaining is the fact that they don't often realize that they are being watched. Truth be told, I try to ignore them as much as possible once they are back there. This is why:






You might think the baby is too young for such daring behavior. He would beg to differ:





ps: mom, the shorties are from a huge sweater that you gave me long ago. Thought about dying them, but I happen to love the color. Curly Purly waist with a drawstring, and a very fitted bum that I thought way too much about during the knitting process. They do work like a charm though, and only used one sleeve worth of wool. Notice that I never did get around to fully weaving in the last end. I also still need to attach the very cute tag. As it has been about 6 months since I finished these, I don't see either happening anytime soon. Oh well.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

...dumpster finds, that is. (what did you think I meant?!)

















Here's what I rescued today while I was on my way back from the mini commissary here in housing. Most of this is going to end up at the thrift store, unless you lay claim. All I really wanted was the yellow shelves for Tonka's room.

SOOO.....Up for grabs:
-one pair girls sketchers roller skates, like new condition. size 5
-one pair roller blades, also 5 (I think?)
-one bike helmet
-one set of knee/elbow pads with a Pirates theme
-2 pool floaties (the kind you can lie on) and 2 inflatable beating devices (for chicken fights, I think?)
-chili pepper rear-view mirror decor
-little asian girl rear-view mirror decor
-2 small terra-cotta vases, good for forcing bulbs. might keep these. one green, one black.
-one set of shoe clip thingers for a bicycle
-little photo book keychain. tonka may have laid claim to this already.
-curtain rod hooks, set of 2

random, yes? At least I got my shelves!

"cheese!"

I distinctly remember doing this to my brother's face once while posing for pictures one Sunday morning. Mom, wanna find, scan, and upload it so we can laugh at the similarities (because, of course, you don't already have enough to do)? I wonder if I would have squished that hard had I known he'd grow up to be 6'4"!

The Man also cooks...

ish.

So I cheated a little bit (boxed pasta) but it tasted pretty good, and wifey/honored mother enjoyed not being in charge.

sauteed shrimp, onions, garlic, peas and seasoning.







Mix with pasta,














plate and serve.







The man also cuts flowers












But not with girlie gardening tools; with a man knife/shankin' tool courtesy of ka-bar.

baby steps

(taken last week when he was still practicing and I was still in denial)




















here we go...

ps: yes, the color is odd in #4. anyone want to come be my photoshop guru?

Obedience

A neighbor and I have been talking lately about our 2/3 year old sons and their varying levels of obedience. It drives us crazy that our boys seem to turn a deaf ear, stall, complain, get distracted, or otherwise manage to be disobedient after we have given them the simplest of jobs (requests, commands...). We would like them to obey us, in the words of a fellow blogger, "right away, all the way, and in a joyful way," because we understand that obedience is one of the cornerstones of christian discipline.

It is clear to both of us how to proceed in this training up (at least in theory); it is just a matter of practicing these methods every single day in every single situation. As Christians, my neighbor and I are also holding each other accountable in our relationships as daughters of God in regard to this practice of prompt, complete, joyful obedience.

Yet again I am receiving lessons on faith from my not-quite-3 year old. Talk about humbling!

waiting for daddy