The fortune

Tonight I gave the kids a bath, John read books to Gillian, and I read a few pages of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Then the three of us snuggled in my bed with Gillian's manket. John decided to get his Grandma blanket so we could all get under it. After about thirty seconds, the kids got bored. John said "I wish we could build a fort." I said "Go for it." They went running to John's room. They were working for awhile when Daddy got home. Gillian heard the front door open and she greeted Daddy when he walked upstairs. "We're building a fortune!" she said proudly. Daddy questioned her "A fortune?" Gilly nodded and said "Yup. We're building a fortune in Johnny's room." Daddy said "Oh a fort, go help John." She ran away and about two minutes later they both were standing in our doorway. John said "You know what? We need some help building our fort." Daddy went to John's room to help out. 

Soon all I heard was giggles. I checked on them. Gillian proudly said "Daddy made our fortune! And we can watch movies in here!"

They played in their fort until bedtime. When I tucked John in bed, he was telling me "I want to make it so it's taller. That way we can bothe sit up in it." When I tucked Gillian in bed, she said "I wish I could have a fort in my room." I love that a simple fort made them use their imagination.  

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. 

Family movie

Tonight we ate pizza in the living room and watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I know. It doesn't sound that exciting. But it was. John was super excited to see all the characters that we have read about come to life. He jumped on the couch when he was excited and hid his face when he was scared. It was amazing watching him enjoy the movie and remember parts from the book. My favorite was when he questioned why they would have to cut parts of the book out of the movie. Perfect night. 

A day at work

John's school was closed today for Rosh Hashanah. I brought him to work with me. It was raining this morning, while in the car headed to the dealership and John said "It's too yucky to go to work." Kinda hard to disagree with that. But I said "Sorry Buddy, we gotta go to work even when it is raining outside." 

We had a pretty unevntful day. John sat at his desk (yes, he has his own desk in my office) and worked on a big picture. He also did some homework too. He assisted me when I went downstairs. Mr. Carlos told John that he could be in charge today (since Mimi wasn't in), but John said "No." Mr. Carlos continued to encourage him and said "You could send all of us home." John again said "No." We told him that Pop-Pop would be very proud. 

We had lunch together and he got to watch some cartoons. 

He did spend a good part of his day playing his DS. 

But he did get to try out the Harley that was in the showroom. 

All in a days work. 

Harry Potter

A few weeks ago, I started reading John "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." I did the same thing last year. But he really didn't really get into it. And it was hard to keep his attention. So I started reading it again. He loves it. He remembers what I read about and questions everything. Daddy asks every night about what we read. And John will give him a little synopsis. "He played quiddich and he caught the ball in his mouth! And he didn't fall!" "They had a dragon and they had to give it away!" "They had to go in the FORBIDDEN forest. And there was something drinking unicorn blood. And you know what? That's no good. You only get half a life!"

Last night, we finished the book. He told me "Harry Potter, the boy who lived twice! Two times he beat you-know-who!" I told him that there are movies of each book and that when we finish reading a book we can watch the movie. He is looking forward to seeing the movie, but he was very excited to start the second book tonight. I am very excited that he enjoys our special time together reading one of my favorite books. 

Dance - lesson 2

Today was Gillian's second day of dance class. She was super excited to get out of bed this morning. Dance class certainly motivates her!

Tonight she told us about class. She said "We did this!" And she stood on her tippy toes and spun around in a circle. Daddy asked her to do it again. She did. And then she said "And we did this. Fast feet!" And she ran around the kitchen table on her tippy toes. 

Tea Party

It's been a long time since I have enjoyed a tea party with Gillian. Yesterday Aunt Betty and Justin came to visit. The kids were playing happily downstairs while Aunt Betty and I talked upstairs. We went to check on them and found John and Justin playing video games. Gillian, on the other hand, had on a pretty dress up skirt and fairy wings. She was setting up a tea party. Aunt Betty and I joined her. I laid out a blanket and helped her set up the plates and napkins. Aunt Betty worked on the cookies and sandwiches. Gillian got some friends (stuffed animals and babies) to join us. She brewed up some coffee (in her coffee maker). And then she said "We need a menu!" She found the Magna Doodle and gave it to me. "Write the menu." Aunt Betty and I laughed and she insisted "Write the menu." I asked her "What do I write?" She gave me a little list of what we were having. "Mac & Cheese, chips, coffee, drinks, cookies, sammiches." I wrote her list and she got mad because I missed something. And I had to rewrite it. Aunt Betty and I really enjoyed our tea party with Gillian and her friends. 

Here are some pictures of the party. And yes, I know I can't spell potatoes.