Build-A-Cat or Elephant

 

Evy has been to Build-A-Bear once. She still remembers the time she was sick and couldn't go to Build-A-Bear with Harper and reminds me that we owe her one. Always asking about Build-A-Bear. So, we asked Grandma Joan and Papa Jake for gift certificates for Christmas. It was the perfect cold weather outing and the girls each had $35 to spend. I made them stick to their budgets. Evy picked a pink cat, named it Aerial, and choose a wedding dress and veil for Aerial to wear. Charlie chose a pink elephant, named it Ellie, and wanted her outfit to be blue. Blue! But there were no cute blue outfits so we settled for an outfit with a little bit of blue in it. Now both kids are asking to go back to Build-A-Bear every day. Evy has chosen to participate in a language study on campus where she will earn $10. She has already decided to save the $10 towards her next Build-A-Bear trip!

Kraft Korner*

Cabin fever is setting in. I think I normally make it to mid-February before I start going crazy. I haven't felt like schlepping the kids anywhere in the sub-zero temperatures so I've been trying to think of some activities that we can do indoors. Last week we crafted wedding veils and bouquets. Today we made Kool Aid Play Dough. The veils and bouquets occupied the girls for most of one day, they had a great time playing wedding. The play dough kept their attention for about 45 minutes. At this rate I'm going to need approximately 4,356 more ideas to get us to Spring.

 

*Couldn't resist using a "K" for craft and corner. Why do businesses do this? Drives me nuts.

Basketball Beginner

Evy was introduced to basketball this weekend through our rec center pee-wee basketball program. She joined two of her friends on the Red Bulls where they worked on dribbling and shooting. She was not thrilled about the idea beforehand and unfortunately broke into tears during a bathroom time out telling me she didn't like it and she just wanted to do soccer. I am very proud of her for getting back into the game and finishing the session. There are five "practices" left and I'm hoping we can make it through all five. I think some practice at home will help build her confidence. She has had very little exposure (if any) to basketball. For the record, I stopped playing basketball in the 8th grade because I didn't really like it either.

Bunk Bed Bust

Well, it's been about three weeks since we introduced the bunk beds. We had two great nights and after that it's been pretty much a disaster. Evy is doing great. She goes to sleep and stays asleep all night. That problem...solved. Charlotte on the other hand, is just plain crazy when Evy is allowed to sleep in the room with her. She talks, gets out of bed, climbs the ladder, takes her diaper off to go potty in the big girl potty, and takes over an hour to fall asleep. New problem.

The conversations between the girls are priceless so I transcribed one the other night.


January 1, 2014

8:17 Emily leaves the room, Charlie has been “tucked in.”

8:42 Scott brings Evy to top bunk, leaves the room.

C: "Evy want to go out and watch a movie? Want to go out and watch a movie Ev?"

E: No Answer

C: "Evy? Ev? Evy? EEEEEEEEEEEvy?"

E: No Answer

C: "Evvvvvvvvvvvy? Evy, I want you talk to me."

C: Lots of blabbering, cannot interpret

C: "I have you favorite book. Evy I have you favorite book. Emeraldalicious."

C: "Ev, you want to get out of bed and watch a movie?"

C: Lots of blabbering, some singing, no clue what the child is saying

E: "Char you can do whatever you want to. You can go out and watch the chipmunk movie."

8:51 Charlie gets out of bed. Goes to her bedroom door and then returns to her bed. Sitting up in bed banging the bed rail.

8:55 Charlie gets out of bed.

C: “Evy you come in here right now. Don’t let the monster get you.”

8:57 Emily goes into room, returns Charlie to bed. Charlie cries.

C: "Cupcake, cupcake, cupcake"

E: "I thought I just heard. Doo doo doo doo do. It sounded like chipmunks movie music."

C: "I can’t go out there. My mom say get in bed."

E: "Char if you go out there you’ll get in big trouble. Go to sleep!"

C: "Nope!"

E: "So you’re going out there?"

C: "No I staying."

C: "This is baby Camryn, Evy (holding up her flashlight friend). This is baby Camryn."

E: "Charlie it sounded like it went do doo doo do do. If you want to meet my claws, oh yeah baby they’re real. It sounded like that. "

9:05 Emily in room again, Evy going to bathroom. Inform Charlie that Chipmunks movie is NOT on. Say “Go to bed” in very stern, likely to be interpreted as mean voice.

C: "Evy! Evy!" CRYING. "Evy! Evy!" Screaming

(On monitor I can see them holding hands between bunks. Evy telling Charlie shh….shhhh….)

C: Lots of blabbering and incomprehensible sounds….

9:22 Silence

Oh, Charlie

We started potty training on Christmas Eve and Charlie has been doing awesome. Less than 10 accidents total. We bought her some new underwear this weekend and she thinks they are the best thing ever. She carries the pile of underwear around with her and wants to change them every 30 minutes.

Mid-evening change.

I'm funny

 

In other news Charlie has become quite the sass and finds herself in timeout a handful of times each day. Sometimes she even earns her timeout on the way home from daycare and immediately goes into timeout when we walk in the door.

 

When Scott drops Charlie off at daycare her teachers ask her where she wants to sit for breakfast. She always picks to sit by herself at the empty table. We asked her why she likes to sit by herself and she said "because my friends are bossy."

Christmas Wrap Up and Happy New Year

We wrapped up our Christmas celebrations last weekend with Scott's family. My picture taking has gotten horrible, all of the photos from Christmas at my parent's house were stolen from my brother's camera. I didn't get a single family photo from Christmas and this is the only one I took while we were at Scott's parents. Ugh. Maybe a New Year's Resolution for 2014?

 

Santa brought Scott's sister's family a new puppy for Christmas. Evy was in love and wanted to spend most of her time playing with Marley!

On New Year's Eve we stayed in and enjoyed a delicious steak dinner prepared by Scott.

Our friends hosted an Outback Bowl party. You can see that it was just too much excitement for our sweet little cow. Poor baby has been lugged around everywhere for the past week; missing her naps. I think she's ready to get back on our regular schedule.

 

Happy New Year to you all!