Magic Springs!

Fair Trade?

The first grade teacher told the class to write sentences using the word "swap," because they are working on s-blend words (sl, sk, sm, sn, sk, sw etc.) Gabi said she doesn't really like to trade things so it took a bit to think of what and with whom she might swap. But, she had a pretty smart idea in the end and here is what she wrote:

"Gabi found a little brown pinny. I swapped it for a big green dollr."

Who do you think she plans to make this swap with? Well, as you can see by the cowlick, her little brother gets to be the guy who looses ninety-nine cents.

Kicking the Habit and Getting a Prize

Micah has slept with (and sometimes walked and talked with) a pacifier since he was a wee little thing. But, the last two months or so I have been telling him that he's getting big and might not need it any more. And that when he was ready and could sleep without it, I'd take him to get a prize.

His first response was, "I want a prize, but not today." He kept that answer for weeks. Then he made a few attempts to go to bed without it only to change his mind. Then this weekend, Micah and his daddy spent a good while in the boy toy aisle at the store (Gabi and I were otherwise occupied with shoes.... shoe shopping can entertains 2 girls for a while.) Micah saw transformers, robots, and action figures! Oh my! He reallllly wanted them. So I reminded him about the prize deal. Monday night, he wanted a toy so bad, he didn't get a paci out at bedtime, crawled up in his big bed and went to sleep. So after preschool Tuesday afternoon, we went and picked out his prize: a set of 5 Star Wars action figures including 3 robots and a wookie! What could be better? He's so proud of them! And I was so proud of him- my big guy with no paci!

That was until I was cleaning up his room Tuesday evening and found a paci deep in the covers of his bed. I asked him if he'd slept with it and he giggled and nodded. He told me he had hidden it. I'm still not sure if it was in his mouth as I never saw it when I tucked him in or checked on him, but I know he knew it was there from the delight in his eyes. But, he hasn't had a paci since. He agreed to trashing them all in order to keep his not-so-honestly earned prize.

So- he had his little joke and we still got to ditch the pacifiers. If he can trick me like this when he's 3, things may not bode well for the future me. But, then again, I did convince him that a bran muffin was a dessert today, and even was one worth eating his vegetables for-- so perhaps all hope is not lost.

He knew it was Star-something

"Mama, I gots my light saber! Let's play Starbucks!"

Just call him....

Micah said, "I am a big, strong, mean machine man! My name is Sweetie!"

They said....

Gabi got chased by a dog at the playground. She's OK, but got scared to death. The dog owners apologized and felt very bad. It took a while for Gabi to calm down, but she did and climbed to the top of the slide, turned toward the people with the dog across the way and said in her naturally quite loud but very prim and proper voice, "That dog is really not well behaved."

On a lighter note:
Micah said to me, "Mama, are you thinking about cooking a cake? 'Cause I'm thinking about eating some."

I'm Raising Ashley's Child

Had I been a teenager in the age of text messaging, I would have been sending "ur my BFF" to Ashley. Ashley has always been one of those super organized people, which is cool and all, but I thought she might have taken it a bit far with her weekly list detailing what she would wear each day. Now this is what Gabi does every Sunday... lays out her clothes for each day with a note on top saying what she's doing that day. For example, the Tuesday note says she has to wear tennis shoes for PE, take her library book to school, and she has dance class in the afternoon. Seriously, I think I'm raising Ashley's child.

M is for....

Micah!
And W is for weird mustache.

Grouches

Miss Mischevious Miri

Whenever I get the camera out, Miriam sees the dangling strap and lens cap and immediately starts trying to catch them.

Batman is here to save the day!

I addition to his Halloween costume, Micah now also has caped Batman PJs, so he's available round the clock for superhero duties.

Aunt Pet taught Gabi Bookkeeping 101

Aunt Pet was over for Blake's birthday a couple of weeks back and helped Gabi learn how to add two and three digit numbers so she could see how much money she has. Now every time we give Gabi a dime or quarter for her chores, she writes it down below her total. So, her current life savings is $8.93. Almost enough for a Webkinz! Or if she holds out and saves a while longer, maybe a Wii game of her own!

All About MICAH

Micah's preschool is doing a unit called "All About Me" and the teachers did one of those hilarious forms where they ask the kids questions and write down the kid's response. The picture at the top is of Micah being Batman being a space man, hence all the extra arms and eyes.

My favorite is his response that he is "this" tall... I'm sure he was putting his hand on top of his head when he said that. Oh, and he has never seen Star Wars. Just played the "Lego Star Wars" game on Wii. Chewy is his favorite because he likes to say Wookie, and who ever heard of a furry alien?!

A Church Micahism

In addition to starting back to preschool this week, Micah also has a new preschool Sunday school class at church. Which means he comes to parts of the "big church" worship service. Today was the first time in recent memory he took communion. After he drank his juice and ate his wafer, he said, "That cracker needs some cheese."

Back in the swing of the school year

This week we finally got everything back in the school year groove.

Gabi started back up with her extracurricular activities... Tuesday night dance class and Wednesday night UM Kids at church. She is also starting piano lessons this year. Her teacher is a pianist/organist at our church, who is a music ed major at the college where I teach. Gabi enjoyed her first lesson thoroughly. The first basic concepts are learning high and low notes, and when the stick points up on the note to play with your right hand and when the stick points down on the note to play with your left hand.

Micah also started back to Preschool three days a week. He is in the honeybee class along with most of his friends (and without the bully kid from last year's class). His teachers are very nice. He was also very happy to be having music again and already got to play the trumpet with Mr. Brian, his music teacher.

Woo Hoo! It stopped raining! We got outside!

Micah, the Scooter Super Speeder

Micah really is speeding on his little scooter these days... I'm going to have to start being a little more assertive in my helmet rule enforcement with his newfound speed demon side.

Gabi, the Rocker Chick

Going for a Ride

Micah & Gabs went on a ride through the backyard on PaPa's ATV.

And Miriam went on a ride through Micah's room in a dump truck.

Boo!

Gabi's etch-a-sketch drawing of a ghost, witch, and vampire (complete with his own glass of blood!) .. Boo! Only 9 more weeks 'til Halloween.