Skip-Bo

This afternoon, I played [a very simplified] version of Skip-Bo with Evan and Kendra while Laura napped. I thought they'd be able to do it. They could! But the amazing thing to me was how badly I want my kids to be able to play "real" games (instead of Candy Land, Chutes & Ladders, etc.). Chad and I love playing games. I want to be able to do that with our kids. Maybe, just maybe, is that day in sight?

Nah, probably not. Laura still likes to take pieces/cards from any game that's being played.

But it was a nice fantasy while it lasted.

Ego boost

One morning this week, I came to the breakfast table with my hair in a towel.
Kendra: Is it Sunday?
Mommy: No, it's [whatever weekday it was]. Why? Oh, did you think it's Sunday because Mommy showered?
Kendra (very matter-of-fact): Yeah.
Mommy: Nope, it's not Sunday.
Evan: Mommy and Daddy shower every day, Kendra.
Mommy: No. Daddy showers every day usually. Mommy - not so much.

But what an ego boost for Kendra to know it was Sunday since Mommy showered...

Best ever (of one)

[Evan's playing with the paper airplane I just made him.]
Evan: Mommy, can Daddy really make a paper airplane that's better than this one?
Mommy: I'm sure he can.
Evan: I think he can't.
Mommy: You think he can or he can't?
Evan: I think he can't. Because this is the best paper airplane I've ever seen!

I'm going to revel in that compliment for a while and not focus on the minor detail that this it the only paper airplane he's ever played with.

Long winter

You know it's been a long winter when your 5-year-old says the crackling fire sound in the Little People castle is the sound of ice falling off the roof.

Matter of perspective

When I picked up Evan from preschool this morning...

Teacher: This morning I was giving the kids words to sound out and write down. The first one was Cat, so they're working on [c sound, a sound, t sound]. I look over at Evan's, and he'd written Kitten.
Me: (chuckling)
Teacher: The next word I had them do was Bug.
Me: Did he write Spider?
Teacher: No, he asked if he could write Ladybug instead. I said, "I don't care what you write, Evan." [She knows he can read, write, and spell, so she was letting him write what he wanted while she worked with the other kids who are just starting on this skill.] He ended up writing, ummm ..... Hey, Evan! Come here.
Me: She's telling me about you writing words this morning, what did you write when she said to write Bug?
Evan: (giggling) Bug in jail!
Teacher: (laughing) Yeah, he wrote Bug in jail! I kept reminding him to start his letters at the top [he writes very well but doesn't use the "preferred" method of writing his letters], and he "rrrrr"d.
Me: Did you growl at your teacher? Mommy growls sometimes too.

Evan, the teacher, and I were all laughing about this story. And, honestly, I think it's hilarious! However, I'm also fully aware that if he's still doing this (doing his own thing instead of following instructions, even if he is going above and beyond the assigned task) in a couple of years, we might have problems. But for now, it's a matter of perspective. And my perspective is that I think this is hilarious!

Braid train

Kendra wanted braids in her hair this morning. She and Laura are now playing train ... using Kendra's braids. Kendra "pulls" them by the right braid and makes the train noise. Laura holds onto the left braid and follows Kendra.
Of course while I was typing this, the train went under a bridge (the dining room table) and Laura didn't duck. So after Kendra gave her a kiss to make it all better (they're so cute and funny!), they changed the train into a bird/plane/helicopter and were flying with the braids.
Who needs toys when you have hair!?

That's impossible!

Evan: Kendra's jammies have a kitty in a cup?! That's impossible! That must have been someone naughty who put a kitty in their cup and was using it for a straw!