Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
A new month means a fresh start and setting some small goals. Most of my goals this month are very manageable, s I hope I can achieve them. I make a lot of mental to-do lists but that doesn’t always work for me. This month, I’m going to write (or blog) about my goals holding me more accountable and successful.

1. Volunteer more at my kid’s schools. I like to help out wherever I can or am needed. Whether it’s making cookies for a bake sale, reading stories to the class, or being a room mom, I’m thrilled to be helping in some way. As a bonus, I love the smiles my kids give me when I pop in class and surprise them.
2. Enforce chores with my kids. Some time ago, my husband and I (and the boys) picked some chores for the kids to do. After traveling this summer, we lost track of the daily chore routine.  Now that we are back on schedule, I wouldn’t mind some extra help around the house.
3. Find/create some new lunch box recipes. Last year, I found a few new healthy options, but now those are being turned down. There are tons of ideas available. I just need to take the time to find some that my kids will enjoy.
4. Organize photos to finally create photo books of my kids/family. This has been one of my goals for oh, the last six years or so. I keep telling myself, “I must do it, I must do it.” Every month that passes by, it seems to get pushed to the side. I am challenging myself to create at least one book.  Hopefully that one book will motivate me to make multiple books.
5. Organize/rotate toys and clothes. Even though it’s still 95 degrees in Mississippi, I still want to dig out the fall/winter clothes and get them organized in the boys’ closets. Tate wears a lot of Jack’s hand-me-downs, so that transfer is easy. I also like to rotate toys this time of year. I dig out toys the boys haven’t played with in a while. Rediscovering toys is always a nice surprise.

I know these tasks might seem simple to some, but I like to feel productive and I enjoy getting things done around the house. I’m looking forward to turning these goals into small victories for myself and the greater good of my family.

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
After a year of developing in a fairly normal fashion, Haley is starting to exhibit some interesting and unique personality traits. It’s really funny to see behavior that models her father (mischievousness), her mother (stubbornness), and that is all her own.

We keep Haley’s toys in a fabric bin in the corner of her room. There are also a couple oversized stuffed animals there. I often bring out these items for Haley to play with. She loves hugging her big teddy bear and pulling items out of the box. Lately, a new game has emerged. Haley now walks directly into that corner, turns around and stands there. She doesn’t look around; she doesn’t try to climb on the nearby loveseat. She just stands there and looks at you. It is the oddest thing!

Haley is also starting to show signs of OCD. She loves cleaning things. She’ll grab any piece of cloth or napkin or white paper she sees and begin rubbing the ground or table with it. Nothing is ever clean enough for her! This is definitely the result of Haley watching her grandmother do chores. Another favorite activity is vacuuming. Good luck to you if you were planning to vacuum and Haley sees you. She insists on helping. As it turns out, one year olds are not so skilled at the task.

Haley often laughs maniacally, like a mad scientist, and no one knows why. She also loves to pray. We showed her how to fold her hands in prayer, and she can’t get enough of it. Sometimes when she’s breastfeeding, she’ll stop suddenly, look up at me with a big smile, and grasp her hands together. She’s so religious! This delights my mother to no end.

We’re really enjoying all of Haley’s quirks. So far, toddlerhood is pretty entertaining!

From Friday Mom – Jaime:
Andrew gets a semi-annual “report card” from daycare.  It’s always interesting to read through it, because other than the usual things like “Andrew excels in sharing” or “still needs work on potty training,” there are always some interesting tidbits in there.  Like that Andrew can count to 20 in English, Spanish and French.  I knew they had been teaching Spanish to the kids, but had no idea they were also learning French.

Did you know that I’m bi-lingual?  Yes.  I’m equally fluent in English and Sarcasm.  It may not be my most attractive quality, but it’s one pretty firmly ingrained in my personality.

I can’t count the number of times where my mom would tell me something I didn’t want to hear and I’d respond with a roll of the eyes and, in my most sarcastic tone, “Yes, Mother.”  Those two words fit for almost every occasion:

Did you do your homework?

Are you going to be nice to your little sister?

You better get your grades up or you’ll never get into ______ (insert appropriate word here, Honors English, college, law school, etc.)

Be home before curfew.

You get the idea…

Well, it seems that my little guy has inherited the sarcasm gene.  And boy, at age 3, does he know how to work it well!

Andrew, come on. It’s time to go home.  Yes, Mother.

It’s blizzarding out.  You need  to wear a jacket and hat if you want to go outside.  Yes, Mother.

No, really.  You have to eat dinner.  Yes, Mother.

*sigh*

And so it begins…

have a great weekend everyone.