Exhausted

I brought Gillian to work with me today. She was due for her annual physical and I figured it was easier to bring her to work instead of dropping her off at school after her appointment. Plus then her teachers didn't get stuck dealing with a cranky little girl. 

We went to work first and I tried to get some stuff done before heading to the doctor. Gillian set up on John's desk and worked on a picture and her "un-pewter" (her leapfrog laptop). Then it was time to go to the doctor. She was amazing in the doctors office. While we were waiting for the doctor to arrive, I said "I hope you have your listening ears." She smiled and said "Nope. I left them at home." Luckily for me, she was teasing because she listened to the doctor and didn't even cry when she got her shots. 

Since she was so good at the doctors, I let her pick whatever pastry she wanted from Starbucks. She picked a chocolate chip cookie. And then said "But I need something to drink." She really can work the system. She had her snack when we went back to the office. And before I realized it she was eating goldfish. She told Mimi "I like to eat!" 

Having Gillian at the office is different than John. John entertains himself, while Gillian needs constant contact. "Mama, can I use your stamp?" "Mommy, do you have any markers?" "Mommy, can I sit with you?" "Mama, what does that say?" 

It was a long day for Mommy, but Gillian feels special. 

Trial class

Yesterday Daddy signed John up for trial Tae Kwon Do classes. John has expressed desire to take Karate classes. Daddy thought that this will help with John's concentration and listening skills. Today was his first class. He was very excited. 

I asked if he would smile in one picture. He said "No. This is serious. I need to be serious." I didn't get to watch his class today. Daddy said he did very well. But he needs to work on two things. One, listening to instructions. And two, not talking to his classmates. John agreed. He said "I need to listen better." He says he likes the class, so we will see if he likes it when he goes again on Wednesday.  

going to the doctor

Gillian woke up around 3:30 this morning coughing.  Daddy calmed her down and got her to go back to sleep.  Daddy had today off and he told me this morning that he thought Gillian should stay home from school today.  He thought that her cough was really bad.  John only had a half a day of school today and we had previously scheduled his annual exam for this afternoon.  When I got to work, I called the pediatrician and asked if we could bring Gillian to John's appointment.  They had no problem with adding Gillian and Daddy took both of them to the doctor's office this afternoon.

Gillian went first.  Dr. Yee directed all of her questions to Gillian.  She asked "What's wrong?"  Gillian said "I coughing.  I coughing a lot!"  Dr. Yee asked "Is the cough worse at night?"  Daddy said "Yes."  Gillian said "Yes.  I cough at night."  Dr. Yee prescribed an antibiotic and a cough syrup. 

Next was John's turn.  John was a big boy during his appointment.  Dr. Yee directed all of her questions to John.  He was very polite and answered all of her questions.  He got weighted and measured.  In one year, he has grown 3 inches and gained 5 pounds.  He also had to get his flu shot (the first time he had a shot in his arm).  He was scared, but Daddy held him tight and Dr. Yee was quick.  He didn't cry.  He was tough.  I'm so proud of him.  While John got dressed, Dr. Yee took Gillian down the hall to pick out lollipops for both of them. 

When I got home, I asked them about their adventure at the doctor's office.  John said "I got a shot.  It hurt really bad, but it doesn't hurt now."  Gillian said "I didn't get any needle-shots.  But Johnny did!  I got a lollipop!"

The Adventures of Buddy the Elf

Our Elf on the Shelf arrives the day after Thanksgiving.  His name is Buddy.  Buddy is one of Santa's messengers.  He comes to visit the kids during the day and then goes back to the north pole at night and reports back to Santa.  The next day, Buddy will be found in a different spot.  Buddy was a little adventurous and silly this year.  Here are all the places the kids found him this year:

November 23 - Buddy ate one of Mommy's cookies:

November 24 - Buddy needed to brush his teeth:

 

November 25 - Buddy had a tea party with Rapunzel:

November 26 - Buddy SMASH!

November 27 - Buddy went fishing:



November 28 - Buddy read some of the kids "friends" his book:

November 29 - Buddy tried all of Gillian's bows

 

November 30 - Buddy made snowflakes

December 1 - Buddy trapped the kids in their rooms

December 2 - Buddy made "snow angels" in some of Mommy's flour

December 3 - Buddy got tangled in some Christmas lights

December 4 - Buddy checked out the Christmas tree

 

December 5 - Buddy went bungee jumping with a slinky





December 6 - Buddy needed to relax after bungee jumping.  He took a bubble bath.

 

December 7 - Buddy went cruising with Barbie



 

December 8 - Buddy was just hanging out in Gillian's room

December 9 - Buddy borrowed John's favorite friend, Travis! John said "I was holding him so tight!  I don't know how Buddy got him out of my arms!"

December 10 - Buddy got stuck in a jar

December 11 - Buddy roasted marshmallows.  According to John "He's marshing marshmallows!"

December 12 - Buddy found a marker and made John & Gillian's pictures look silly.  Gillian did not like it all.  She kept saying "He make me scary!"

 

December 13 - Buddy helped decorate the Christmas tree

December 14 - Buddy was hanging out in Mommy & Daddy's room. 

 

December 15 - Buddy found the kids at Mimi & Poppy's house.  And then he disappeared and ended up back at our house.

 

December 16 - Buddy left the kids craft project.  John loved it so much.  In the middle of building it he got up, ran over to Buddy and said "Thank you!"

 

December 17 - Buddy went mountain climbing up Mommy's hutch



 

December 18 - Buddy left John a note.  "Listen Better."

December 19 - Buddy made a hot air balloon out of a birthday balloon for Daddy.

December 20 - Buddy left the kids a snack.  Cookies that look like Buddy!

December 21 - Buddy colored a picture

December 22 - It's a pirate's life for Buddy

December 23 - Buddy tricked John!  During dinner last night, John said "wouldn't it be funny if Buddy made a fake Buddy?"  Buddy must have heard John, because this morning there was a fake Buddy in John's room and the real Buddy was hiding in the living room.

 

December 24 - Buddy played a game of Candyland with Rex, Wolverine and Cinderella

We had so much fun looking for Buddy this year. Can't wait to see him again next year!


Holiday Lunch

On Thursday, The Lincroft Center for Children had their holiday lunch.  John and Gillian have been singing Christmas songs for the past couple of weeks.  Gillian has been singing Jingle Bells.  John knows a lot of songs, but he refused to tell me what songs his class would sing.  I was able to take my lunchtime and run over to school to watch them sing.  They started the show with the Tiggers first.  They sang a little song and went back to their table.  Next was Gillian's class.  I was very worried.  I thought she would see me and go running.  But she didn't.  She stood in her spot next to her BFF's Jo-Jo and Dorlisa (aka Dora). They started with Jingle Bells, then they sang Santa (to the Bingo song) and last they did the Reindeer Pokey. 

After Gillian's class, we saw the Dolphins' and the Dinosaurs' then it was time for the Kindergarten.  John's class all wore black pants with white shirts, scarfs, mittens and handmade hats.  They sang Frosty the Snowman first.

Next they sang Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel.  The kids really loved this song.  Look how excited they got at the end!

I was so proud of my kids.  They both sang very well and listened to their teachers.  After the show, the kids had lunch.  I had to go back to work, but I am so glad I got to see them sing.

Listen Better

John and Gillian have not been listening very well lately. Last night we were watching cartoons before bed and John kept jumping on my bed. I must have said "Stop jumping on the bed" like a dozen times. So I thought I would teach them a lesson and I had Buddy leave them a message. He spelled out in Cheez-it's "Listen Better - Buddy." John discovered Buddy this morning and asked me to read it to him. I told him what it said and explained to him that maybe Buddy heard Mommy yelling at you last night. John says "Maybe it means that Buddy needs to listen more!"