My Little Llamas

We are big fans of Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama books. When Matthew was nine-months-old he screamed in delight each time I turned the pages to Llama Llama Red Pajama. We took that book with us everywhere. Then one day Grandma saw a second Llama Llama book came out and picked us up a copy. This time Llama Llama was Mad at Mama. Countless times I have quoted the books to him, “I think shopping’s boring too- but at least I’m here with you” Or, “Mama Llama’s always near, even if she’s not right here.” We now own five Llama Llama books and each one is a perfect read for one occasion or another.

Recently we’ve been curling up to read Llama Llama home with Mama, because it seems that at least one of us has had a cold these past three weeks. Some of the pages from our old favorites are torn and taped back together from when Matthew was first learning how to turn book pages. Now he gently scolds Sammy to be careful with these same books when she tries to turn the pages. I wonder if she will one day call them Yaya Yaya books like Matthew did when he was leaning to talk

Pizza Time

Matthew had a pizza making party with friends this weekend. That is one way to bust winter boredom!

Finger Painting Friday

Months ago I picked up this book at a library sale and tucked it away for the middle of winter.  Finger painting with a book feels more official somehow. 

The Whole Nine Yarns

Yesterday we spent a lot of time waiting. Waiting in the exam room for the doctor. Waiting at stop lights on the way to the doctor and then on the way to the pharmacy. Waiting for the pharmacist to fill their prescriptions. With all the waiting, and three ear infections between the two of them, I thought they deserved a toy from the dollar store by the pharmacy.

I read somewhere once that yarn makes a fun toy for babies (under close supervision). I picked out a bright blue ball of yarn for Sammy. When we got home she pulled, tasted, and rolled the ball of yarn for a long time.

Matthew unwound and cut some yarn from the ball to make police scene lines and spider webs. When it was time to clean up we kept the yarn to play with another day. Sometimes the best toys are ones that are not very expensive.      

January Mattisms

Open the gate (his hands) Pick a flower (invisible) That is how many boyfriends you have (65!)

Is Joe MontTim still on the 49ers?

Me: What is your favorite color? Matthew:  Invisible red.  

This book is for ages 50 and up (A book that advertises  50+ crafts). 

What? I can't hear you, I have an ear infection, remember? 

She is such a slime monster!(About Sam)

I am going to go change into some sport clothes. I need armor.

 Are you my wife? (To Grammy)

She likes fruits, vegetables, and, um, bacon (About Sam)

This is like Iceland! (His school parking lot)

Game Face

Bob and I have not been on a date in awhile so Grammy watched the kids while we went out to dinner and a movie on Friday night. Dinner was enjoyable, not a chocolate milk or crayon in sight, and we talked about television shows mostly having to do with SNL alumni instead of Power Rangers Samurai. Then as we were paying the bill it hit Bob. Something he ate had made him sick. He was willing to put his ashen game face on and continue with our date but instead we went to the pharmacy to get some medicine and then to home. 

“Why are you home?” Matthew demanded as soon as we came through the door. Bob dashed off to the bathroom while I faced the angry preschooler. He was furious that we interrupted his Grammy time, which in turn made me furious and I sent him to bed. Some might say I was being a cotton headed ninny muggings. 

At least Sammy was pleased to see me and once things calmed down I gave her a bath. Her happy face full of soapy bubbles and legs kicking in the water did not fail to cheer me up. Matthew, who was supposed to be sleeping, came out of his room with a picture he drew for me of us playing hockey together. I hung it on the kitchen cabinet so that it will always remind me to put on my own game face at times of feeling unappreciated. 

By the time Sunday came Bob was back to his old self and we had tickets to the AFC Championship game.  Matthew could hardly sleep the night before because he was so excited that he was getting to go to Grandma and Papa’s house. They have Legos and a pirate ship! 

After dropping off the kids we arrived to the stadium at 1:30. The game came down to the wire and the Patriots won it due to a bad kick from the other team. The fans, including us, went crazy! It was such an incredible game to have gone to. 

We wished the kids had been old enough to come with us but they seemed to have had as much fun as we did. After we picked them up and were driving away Matthew began to cry because he just had to tell Grandma one more thing.

1st Sled Ride

SW Game

Matthew invented a new game.

How to Play:

1.       Separate Star Wars figures into piles for players to buy. Piles may be named such as, ‘Come Back Darth Vader, Come Back’, ‘Try To Escape’, or ‘Clone Troopers Battle Down’.

2.       Roll a die. The picture on the die could mean:

a.       Laser Beam- You get to steal the other person’s dice

b.      Battle  or Face Off – Two players standing on a battle stand fight. Whichever one falls over first has to go talk to the master. The master is typically General Grievous.

c.       Strike Beam- The master changes to you OR you lose two turns 

There are many points to the game that have not been ironed out. For example, how much money does each player begin with? How does one win the game? Despite these flaws the game is contagious in part due to the four-year-old creator’s enthusiasm about it.

Win Win Weekend

This weekend was busy with sledding, roller skating, and laser tag. Matthew was so excited to see snow sticking on the ground that he could not wait to go out to play. We went sledding and tracked animal prints.  Roller skating was a lot of fun too. He was shaky on the rink but confident enough to keep at it for three hours. We played laser tag together before we left and our team won. Speaking  of winning, our football team also won this weekend, go Patriots!

Behind Bars

Admittedly Sammy is old enough to sleep through the night. She does not need to wake up once or twice to eat and another time to have her pacifier put back in her mouth. When I toted an empty laptop bag to work one particularly sleep deprived morning last week it was then that I decided enough was enough. This weekend Sammy was going to spend her nights behind bars. Crib bars! 

The plan was that I would sleep in Matthew’s bed to secretly keep an eye on her while she cried it out and Matthew would sleep in our bed with Bob. He was so excited to move seven of his stuffed animals to our room with him. 

Night one of our plan was Friday. I went to bed earlier than usual because I had a cold. The next thing I knew Matthew was snuggled up beside me and saying, “Aren’t I lucky to have a bed big enough for both of us to sleep in?” followed by Bob dragging him away to our room. The next night I heard Matthew chattering through the wall about football and Bob telling him to go back to sleep. On the last night of my onsite sleep training I heard Bob and Matthew still awake and bickering by the time I turned off the CARS themed reading light to go to sleep. While managing to sleep train one child we completely disrupted the sleep pattern of the other one. The new sleeping arrangement has turned Matthew into a bedtime egomaniac. Tonight the sleep training continues, but everyone will be sleeping in their own beds.