we're all battling a big case of cabin fever. Nothing ends a gloomy day better than a movie night:
Mack's dress up is getting more and more zany the longer winter drags on:
Sunday, February 27, 2011
What to do?
Because we've been seeing a bunch of this:
we're all battling a big case of cabin fever. Nothing ends a gloomy day better than a movie night:
Mack's dress up is getting more and more zany the longer winter drags on:
we're all battling a big case of cabin fever. Nothing ends a gloomy day better than a movie night:Mack's dress up is getting more and more zany the longer winter drags on:
Foggy!
Mack loves to "draw" on the foggy windows that appear in our room after a shower. 
ay to daddy as she wrote her name on the window.
ay to daddy as she wrote her name on the window.
Mad scientist
Mackenzie has been learning all kinds of things lately! For Christmas, a family friend gave Mack several different science kits. One of them was making your own marbles! The marbles weren't glass, but a slimey substance that made for lots of fun bouncing.
They started out so tiny but in a few hours, they were the size of regular marbles.
The marbles made the rounds- they got nice and warm on Mack's play stove, were feed to her Zhu Zhu pets, were bounced around like crazy before I finally put them in a plastic bag for squishing before they found their way to the trash. What a fun experiment! Along with making marbles, Mackenzie helped her daddy make root beer ( pics to come) and a batch of daddy's real beer, both great ( and a little advanced but still fun) lessons in science.
They started out so tiny but in a few hours, they were the size of regular marbles.
The marbles made the rounds- they got nice and warm on Mack's play stove, were feed to her Zhu Zhu pets, were bounced around like crazy before I finally put them in a plastic bag for squishing before they found their way to the trash. What a fun experiment! Along with making marbles, Mackenzie helped her daddy make root beer ( pics to come) and a batch of daddy's real beer, both great ( and a little advanced but still fun) lessons in science.
Proud mama
I posted a few weeks ago about how Mack had started sounding out three and four letter words . I was SHOCKED a few days ago when she read the syrup bottle at breakfast! " L-og C-ab-in. LOG CABIN!!" She exclaimed! So proud of my girl.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Counting it down!
How many days until Mack's birthday? Let's consult the chart:
And look what else she can do: Numbers! She did 1-8 all on her own.
And look what else she can do: Numbers! She did 1-8 all on her own.
Using those hands!
Mack is quiet the helper. Like any child her age, she likes to get her hands dirty and do " big kid" things all on her own. Yesterday was full of " do it myself" kinda things. Have a look:
Since learning she could pretty much make her own sandwich, she's been eager to create different flavors. Yesterday she made a blue berry, blackberry and peanut butter sandwich. See the blueberry poking out?
After a little quiet time, we mixed up a batch of cookies. Mack used her own cookie sheet and utensils:
I like her chocolate to cookie dough ratio:
Waiting for a warm cookie:
Yum!
Since learning she could pretty much make her own sandwich, she's been eager to create different flavors. Yesterday she made a blue berry, blackberry and peanut butter sandwich. See the blueberry poking out?
After a little quiet time, we mixed up a batch of cookies. Mack used her own cookie sheet and utensils:
I like her chocolate to cookie dough ratio:
Waiting for a warm cookie:
Yum!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Duped!
Mack is, by nearly all standards, a very easy to handle child. She does her own testing but quickly learns that the rules don't bend and gives up. That's most of the time.
A few weeks ago, I asked Mack to clean up her toys. She happily obliged the request but did what I considered to be a sub-standard job. Last year we took a Love and Logic parenting class and I was feeling confident ( perhaps overly so, looking back) so I said to Mackenzie " It looks like you've forgotten to put some of your puzzles away. Do you want to pick them up, or do you want ME to pick them up? " , my voice raising just enough to indicate that "ME" doing it was not a good choice. She took the bait and giggled as she said " You do it mommy!" I made a big, extra dramatic production about swiping up the toys and putting them where all " exiled" toys go- the top of the refrigerator.
Fast forward a day and the top of the fridge is now cluttered, toys teetering at the edge, and my closet is over flowing with fake food and stray books. Clearly, this wasn't working and I was getting frustrated. Each time I offered the choice, Mack eagerly ( and unremorsefully ) allowed me to pick up her toys. It even seemed like she was picking up less toys than she was before this ordeal began! My plan was back firing. But I was waiting for that one special toy, the one that she would miss when I cleaned it up. I knew the toy, but I was losing hope.
Finally, the moment was upon me. Mackenzie's most treasured toy, her Tag pen, was left carelessly on her bed . I can't be sure, but I think angels sang and a special ray of sunlight was sent down to highlight the occasion.
" Mackenzie!"
Running feet getting closer
" Yes, mommy"
" It looks like you've forgotten to pick up some of your toys. " ( Dramatic glance down at the Tag pen) " Do you want to pick it up , or would you like ME to do it? "
I held my breath and waited for the moment my point was driven home, a lesson learned.
" Go ahead , Mommy. Bye- Bye Tag pen!"
Running feet getting further away
*Sad trombone*
So , after my attempt at being logical failed, I surrendered the exiled toys back to their owner and decided to lower my expectations. She is two ( almost three, but still, TWO) . And the very fact that she cleans up 90% of her toys with out being asked is phenomenal! So what if she leaves a stray ( and uncomfortable) toy under my pillow or misses one or two legos out of 1,000 . She's two. There will be plenty of time for this later , when cleaning up after herself 100% of the time is a little bit more reasonable. For now, I'll be proud of the 90% and dodge the rest!
A few weeks ago, I asked Mack to clean up her toys. She happily obliged the request but did what I considered to be a sub-standard job. Last year we took a Love and Logic parenting class and I was feeling confident ( perhaps overly so, looking back) so I said to Mackenzie " It looks like you've forgotten to put some of your puzzles away. Do you want to pick them up, or do you want ME to pick them up? " , my voice raising just enough to indicate that "ME" doing it was not a good choice. She took the bait and giggled as she said " You do it mommy!" I made a big, extra dramatic production about swiping up the toys and putting them where all " exiled" toys go- the top of the refrigerator.
Fast forward a day and the top of the fridge is now cluttered, toys teetering at the edge, and my closet is over flowing with fake food and stray books. Clearly, this wasn't working and I was getting frustrated. Each time I offered the choice, Mack eagerly ( and unremorsefully ) allowed me to pick up her toys. It even seemed like she was picking up less toys than she was before this ordeal began! My plan was back firing. But I was waiting for that one special toy, the one that she would miss when I cleaned it up. I knew the toy, but I was losing hope.
Finally, the moment was upon me. Mackenzie's most treasured toy, her Tag pen, was left carelessly on her bed . I can't be sure, but I think angels sang and a special ray of sunlight was sent down to highlight the occasion.
" Mackenzie!"
Running feet getting closer
" Yes, mommy"
" It looks like you've forgotten to pick up some of your toys. " ( Dramatic glance down at the Tag pen) " Do you want to pick it up , or would you like ME to do it? "
I held my breath and waited for the moment my point was driven home, a lesson learned.
" Go ahead , Mommy. Bye- Bye Tag pen!"
Running feet getting further away
*Sad trombone*
So , after my attempt at being logical failed, I surrendered the exiled toys back to their owner and decided to lower my expectations. She is two ( almost three, but still, TWO) . And the very fact that she cleans up 90% of her toys with out being asked is phenomenal! So what if she leaves a stray ( and uncomfortable) toy under my pillow or misses one or two legos out of 1,000 . She's two. There will be plenty of time for this later , when cleaning up after herself 100% of the time is a little bit more reasonable. For now, I'll be proud of the 90% and dodge the rest!
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