Countdown

Our kids love a countdown. We countdown the number of days until vacation, Christmas, birthdays and the end of school (just to name a few things). A few years ago, I bought a sign to display our various countdowns. We are currently counting down to Gillian's birthday. She is learning how to write her numbers and has been helping to change the "days until" everyday. 

A few days ago she wrote.

And today she wrote. 

I love that she is helping me with our countdown!

Baking

I had a little helper tonight. 

We had to make some cupcakes for Gillian's birthday party tomorrow. Gillian helped make the chocolate cupcakes. 

I think she just wanted to lick the beaters. I always let them lick the beaters. 

Afterward she had chocolate all over her face. She didn't believe me when I told her that she was a mess. She checked out her reflection in the toaster and tried to lick all the chocolate off. 

Cake

Yesterday was my birthday, we spent most of the day getting our house back to normal. We had new carpet installed on the second floor and yesterday we moved everyone back into their rooms. When Gillian found out that is was my birthday she asked "Can we make cake?" Gillian loves cake. Daddy promised her that they would make a cake together on Sunday. 

The first thing she asked this morning was "Can we make a cake now?" Daddy told her that they would make the cake while John was at religion class. After class I told John, we need to go to the store and get icing. He said "Can't we make icing?" Let me just say that I am so proud of him immediately thinking that we could make it. I said "Yes, but mommy doesn't have time today." John said "But everything you make at home tastes better than the store stuff." Again, this kid knows just what to say to make me feel amazing. I said "Thanks, but like I said before I don't have time today." 

We arrived home to find that Daddy and Gillian had made the cake. Well Gillian did all the work Daddy just cracked the eggs. 

I helped Gillian ice the cake. Gillian and John helped clean up the icing. 

The cake was delicious. Gillian did a great job!

 

K-cups

This morning John helped me by filling up our K-cup carousel. He said "I'm going to fill the middle row in a pattern!" And he did. He filled up the entire carousel and said "Do you know what? If I spin it really fast the cups fly out!" I laughed and said "Are you sure?" He said "Well I've never tried it. But I bet it happens!" It's hard to argue with that. So I said "Go for it!" He spun the carousel really fast. And two of the cups went flying out. He shouted "I knew it!"

The list

John and Daddy went on an adventure yesterday. They needed to get silly socks for John for school, and flour and creamer for Mommy. When they got home, Daddy told me that John was a big helper. John kept a list in his head. He described it "I had pictures in my head and then when we got something on my list I made a check (and he took his finger and made a checkmark on his temple)." John was so proud of his list. After he described his list, he told me "When we got everything I erased it!"

Sunday Breakfast

I try to make a nice breakfast for the family on Sundays.  This morning, Gillian and John wanted to help.  I put Gillian in charge of coffee, while John helped me make the eggs.  Gillian is the best coffee assistant.  We have a Keurig coffee maker and all Gillian really has to do is load the K-cup and push a button.  We moved a chair over so Gillian could reach the coffee maker, and I gave her two cups.  She picked up a K-cup and asked "Daddy like this one?"  I told her yes, and she made the coffee for Daddy.  She then yelled "Daddy!  You gotta help me!  It's hot, you gotta take it out!"  Daddy helped her taking out the used K-cup and moving the cup of hot coffee.  She then asked me "You like this one?"  She's a smart little lady, she remembers which K-cups Daddy likes and which ones I like. 

Meanwhile, John was assisting me with the eggs.  I was making toad-in-the-hole, and John was cracking the eggs for me to put into the center of the pieces of bread.  He was very good at cracking the eggs and enjoyed it so much that he was ready before I was ready for the next egg.  When we had cooked enough, John called everyone to the kitchen.  He was very proud.  "I helped make the breakfast!" he told Daddy.  Gillian was mad, and said "I made the coffee!"  I am a lucky mommy and I had two helpers this morning. 

Later in the morning, I was ready for my second cup of coffee.  The kids were downstairs playing and I stood in the kitchen and said "I really want another cup of coffee.  I wish I knew how to make one."  And from the basement I heard "I can make it!"  And Gillian came running upstairs.  She even checked on Daddy "Daddy, you need more coffee?"  And she made us all some coffee.   

Cookie assistant

Aunt Betty came over on Sunday to help me decorate Valentine's cookies. John and Daddy decided they would build Legos all day. Gillian, on the other hand, told me "I's going to help you. I do the sprinkles!" When Aunt Betty arrived, Gillian squirmed into her lap and refused to move. Again she told us "I can help!" Aunt Betty decorated a few cookies with Gillian sitting in her lap and then she moved to another seat. She then iced a cookie for Gillian to decorate. Gillian was very precise with her placement of the sugar hearts. 

After adding the sugar hearts, Gillian decided that the cookie needed sprinkles too! Pink of course. Gillian was happy to help decorate that one cookie but that didn't stop her from critiquing our work. If we decorated a cookie with just icing she would say "You forgot sprinkles!" If we asked her what color to use she would say "Pink!"  

I iced a cookie for Gillian to decorate. She decided to use white pearls on it, but initially wanted to use my tweezers. I told her to just use her fingers because it was hard to use the tweezers. She did a great job. 

I asked her what she wanted to use next, sugar or sprinkles. 

She decided to use pink sugar. 

Gillian decorated a beautiful cookie. She also helped Aunt Betty with another cookie. Below are her finished cookies. 

I think she is going to be a great cookie artist!

Adventure with Grandma & Grandpa

I asked Grandma and Grandpa if they could watch John on Thursday (since schools were closed for the teacher's conference).  Grandma told me, "Well Grandpa has to take Aunt Betty to the airport and I have to teach Aunt Betty's class for the rest of the day.  But John can either go with Grandpa to the airport or with me to school."  I talked to John and he said "Airport!" 

On Thursday morning, John came running into our room.  He was all smiles.  He said to me "You know why I am up so early?"  I said no.  He said "I get to go to an airport for the very first time today!"  I dropped him off at Grandma's and Grandpa's.  He was still excited.  He couldn't sit still.  When I was getting ready to leave, he started to put his jacket back on.  But Grandma stopped him.  She explained that it would be awhile before they needed to go to the airport, but they had some small adventures planned for the beginning of the day. 

Their day consisted of going to the beach and checking out the heavy equipment being used for moving sand and rebuilding the dunes.  He got to stop at Leggetts where Grandpa had to look at a couple of video games.  And John also got to play a couple rounds of golf too!  They also stopped at St. Denis.  I don't remember what they were doing there, but they stopped at St. Denis and John got to go inside the school.  They went to the ice cream store and John helped pick out an ice cream cake for Grandpa's birthday.  Then they went to Aunt Betty's school, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and John got to meet her class.  Grandma stayed to teach the class and Grandpa, Aunt Betty and John headed to the airport. 

Grandpa told me that John had one responsibility at the airport.  John had to remember that they parked in section 403.  So from the parking lot into the airport, John said "403, 403....403."  Then in the airport on the way up the escalator, John turned to some guy walking past them "403!"  John is a very big helper.  I asked him to tell me about the airport.  He said "It's really big!  There's a lot of people there!"  He also told me "And the planes were bigger than the car!"

They got back to Grandma's house and John helped Grandma with dinner.  He got to cut the carrots.  He said "You know!  With the carrot cutter!"

I am so thankful that John was able to spend the day with his grandparents.
   

Waffles

Gillian likes to sleep in on the weekends. This morning, she found me in the kitchen. After I got my morning kisses and squeezies, she asked me "What you doing?" I told her that I was making waffles. She said "OK I help!"  If you have ever had the assistance of a 3 year old, you know I wasn't thrilled to have a helper. But I moved a chair over to the counter and Gillian assisted me with the measuring cups. She helped with all the ingredients and mixed the batter while I set up the waffle iron. She told me "That hot. I no touch it!"  Smarty pants. Since she couldn't help with finishing the waffles, I gave her the forks and plates to set the table. I also asked her to call Johnny and Daddy and let them know breakfast was ready. She yelled "Dinner ready!"  Very close. Luckily the boys knew what she meant. The boys complimented us on the yummy breakfast. Gillian proudly said "I helped!"  

Lazy Sunday

Today was raining and yucky all day. John and Gillian didn't complain at all about being inside all day. I think they were a little exhausted from playing outside all day yesterday. They spent most of the day in the basement playing with their toys. 

John came upstairs and said "I knew it! You are making cookies! I couldsmell them   downstairs!. He then stayed upstairs to help me cut out cookies. He is a good helper. Every time the timer went off, he would say "Mom! Do you hear that?"

We called the kids upstairs for dinner tonight. We could hear John on the stairs, but Gillian was crying. John yelled at her "Come on Gill! You know where the door is!" Daddy yelled downstairs and said "Did you turn the light off?" John said "Yea! But she knows where the door is!" Gillian, still crying, walked upstairs. She was not happy that John left her in the dark. And John got a lecture about turning the lights off when someone was still in the room. 

Daddy's Clues

This weekend John went into our art supplies and started to pull out blue paper. He drew something and then started cutting. He got frustrated because the three sheets of paper were not staying still. I asked him what he was doing. He said "I'm making hands for Blues Clues!" if you read our blog regularly, you will remember out Betty's Clues post.  I thought that John would come up with something for Daddy and I to solve. But no. Once he was done cutting out his hands, he handed them to me and said "OK. I'll close my eyes when you put out the clues." I asked Daddy to set up the clues. John waited patiently downstairs while Daddy set up the clues.  Then he came upstairs got his notebook ready and pencil behind his ear and he was ready.  Here's John solving "Daddy's Clues"

 

The first clue: he found one of the hands on some of Daddy's tools. John quickly drew a picture of the tools and went to find the next clue. 

The second clue: John found a bag in the loving room with the next hand print. The bags had wires in it. John scratched his chin and drew a picture of the wires. 

The third clue: John was very confused. He didn't know where to look next. He wondered around the living room looking high and low. Luckily, Gillian pointed out the next clue. "it's right here!" she proudly said as she pointed to a big box. 

 

 

John had all of his clues. So he sat in a chair and scratched his chin and tapped his pencil on his forehead. "Hmmmm. I wonder what Daddy wants to do? Tools and wires and a box." Daddy gave him a little hint and said "What's in the box?" "I know! Daddy wants me to help him set up the new TV! I knew it!!!"

Girl Party

Saturday, Gillian and I had plans to go to Aunt Missy's bridal shower/luncheon.  I had discussed the party for quite some time with John.  First I explained to him that Mommy was making cookies for Aunt Missy's party.  And second, I explained to him that Daddy would take him to cooking class because I needed to go to Aunt Missy's party.  First thing Saturday morning, Daddy was telling John that maybe they would do something special, just the boys.  Daddy suggested that they go and visit the set of "The West End."  John was quick and said "but I wanna go to Chuck-E-Cheese!"  Somehow he remembered the last time Mommy had a girl party, he got to go to Chuck-E-Cheese. 

Aunt Missy planned a luncheon for the bridal party, but what she didn't know was that the bridal party planned a surprise shower for Saturday.  Gillian and I arrived at the club early to help set up the room.  Gillian was a little shy at first, but after awhile she got friendly with the other bridesmaids.  As the guests arrived, Gillian walked around the room (never too far from Mommy) eating her veggie straws.  Then it came time for the big surprise, Gillian joined the bridesmaids and I as we waited outside for Aunt Missy to arrive.  We all walked into the club together.  I was a little worried that Gilly would cry when everyone yelled surprise.  But she didn't.  She was wonderful.  She smiled and was very excited for Aunt Missy.  We all moved into the dining room to eat lunch.  Gillian, again, was very excited to be out to lunch with the big girls.  She got to sit in a big girl chair and she was even given ketchup to dip her chicken fingers into (and we all know how much she loves to dip). 


The best part was next!  Present Time!  We had Aunt Missy sit in a chair in front of everyone.  Gillian found the perfect seat for a little lady, some presents.  I was a little worried that Gillian would want to open the presents with Aunt Missy.  But again I was pleasantly surprised.  She did her duty as a flower girl and helped.  She would throw away the wrapping paper and give the bows to Kalyn.  She ran back and forth for about 20 minutes.  She visited Mimi for a little bit and then came back to get cake.  I was feeding Gillian in an effort to prevent getting chocolate all over her dress.  At one point I guess I wasn't feeding her fast enough, because she took the fork from me and stabbed the remaining portion of cake and picked it up.  That portion was probably two inches long!

She was so good.  She did start to get fussy when all the guest had left.  We were all hanging out on the patio and I think that Gillian was just overtired at that point.  We got into the car and we were less than a mile down the road before she was asleep.  I had a wonderful day with my favorite little lady celebrating with the bride to be!

 

The Chore Chart

Before Christmas, one of the ladies from work gave me a few toys for the kids and two Melissa & Doug Chore Charts.   I honestly thought when she gave them to me that it was a little soon to give John a list of chores to do on a daily basis, but both Daddy and I loved the charts.  We finally put them up today.  I know we are total slackers.  Anyway Daddy hung them up with John.  They picked a handful of "chores" for him to complete.  1) get dressed, 2) brush your teeth, 3) take care of pet, 4) set the table, 5) take a bath, 6) put toys away and 7) get ready for bed.  Daddy told John that if he did his chores every week and got a minimum of 25 smiles he could earn a $5 allowance.  Daddy explained to John that he could use the money for whatever he wanted.  John went to his friend's birthday party on Saturday and really liked the super hero toys we got for his friend.  I was upstairs folding laundry while the boys were busy hanging up the charts.  I could hear John from downstairs saying "OK Daddy lets do our next chore.  We got lots of stuff to do Daddy!"  I am very glad that John is excited about helping and trying to get his chores accomplished.  I didn't earn an allowance when I was growing up, but I hope to instill in John a respect for money.  I think he is already beginning to see that it will take him a lot of work to earn those two toys he wants. 

Gillian has her own little list of "chores."  1) brush teeth, 2) take a bath, 3) pick up your toys and 4) stop whining.  As you can see from the pictures below, both kids have started the week out with a bang. 



Gillian's Chores



John's Chores

playing outside in january?

this winter has been unseasonably warm.  we have been very lucky.  daddy & john put the christmas lights up on a warm day and daddy took them down on another warm day.  this saturday was gorgeous out.  gillian wasn't feeling well in the morning and after nap time, i found john and daddy outside.  gillian and i decided to join them.  i brought gillian's doll stroller out and john pulled out his various bikes. 


gilly and her baby

john on his bike



gillian only took a couple of laps around the driveway before she got bored with baby and decided to move onto bigger things. 

on the tricycle

on john's quad

she quickly realized that she can't pedal the trike, but she was able to use john's power wheel's quad.  luckily for mommy, the battery has not been charged for the quad since this summer.  so it wasn't going fast.  gillian wouldn't be afraid of it, but i wouldn't be able to catch her.  john was perfecting riding his bike.  he is getting really good at pedaling and is working on his steering.  we only had two crashes with the two of them.  that's not too bad. 

we also got out a couple of balls.  john found a soccer ball and a kick ball.  gilly found a tennis ball. 

no day outside riding bikes is complete without some sidewalk chalk.  i had john write his name out really big on the driveway. 

today was colder, not as nice as saturday.  daddy and john started working on their new project ~ a step stool for john to reach the fish tank.  i got john ready and put him in old ripped jeans, a sweatshirt and work boots.  he kinda looked a little like uncle t when he was all dressed. 

mini uncle t?

daddy had john set up with a very important mission.  his job was cutting.  and i think he did a pretty good job with it. 

not a bad weekend for the kids.  i am thankful that gillian is feeling better and eating again (a true sign that my little girl was sick).  we are truly lucky to be able to play outside on our bikes in the beginning of january!