Week of October 20, 2014

Play date with church friends.

Copying the titles of songs from the Phineas and Ferb soundtrack on paper and the chalkboard.

She spied a poster behind a counter at our grocery store above a fire extinguisher that said "P.A.S.S." and she wanted to know what that meant. Once I figured out what she was talking about, she got spelling, mnemonics, acronyms, and fire safety all at once! (It stands for pull the pin, aim, squeeze the trigger, and sweep it back and forth.) And we talked about when something can be solved with a fire extinguisher and when you need to just get out and call the fire department.

We read a book about time zones on Monday or Tuesday. Then on Sunday she heard one of our fellow parishioners talking about how she used to live in Hawaii and Lucy jumped right in with questions about which time zone Hawaii is in and how many hours difference it is and when exactly she changed her clocks when she moved here.

Made a conveyer belt (her words) for her cash register out of a whole bunch of colored tape.

Library. Dora game and that story typing game. She figured out how to color the backgrounds of the pages and draw shapes.

Turned our coat closet into an elevator with the addition of a piece of paper with two arrow buttons on it.

We read a book about keeping lizards as pets.

She's started making plans again for the hotel she's going to open in our house. This is a picture of all the amenities that room service can provide upon request:

[Bibles, soap, pads of paper, pens, bottles of water, candy, newspapers, iPods, .... and I kinda lost track of what was happening after that]

Lots of Phineas and Ferb (show and soundtrack).

We've been taking walks (well, she mostly rides in the wagon) around the neighborhood and to the post office some days.

Last skating lesson of the session and she passed her test! And we signed her up for the next session at her request. At this point she seems to be gunning for hockey player in a year or two.

Sunday school: talked about about the greatest commandment and another is like unto it. And she remembered what they talked about last week! "They were trying to trick Jesus by asking him a question about a coin with their leader on it." I'm just amazed that she was paying attention.

We took a walk in the forest-y part of a park today, and I started explaining about the Doctor Who episode last night (which she did not see), but it turned into a discussion about the oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle.

Then we walked to a trunk or treat at a church down the street from us (she dressed up as a fairy princess). Then we played at the park for a bit. Oh, and we saw some raccoons! Just hanging around a tree in a neighbor's front yard in the middle of the day just as cool as they could be. A different neighbor had some major tree work done a couple days ago -- I think maybe they were displaced. They were cool to see, though.

[She drew the plant on the piece of paper, see? (This is at a friend's house.)]

[House lizard flag]

Week of October 13, 2014

We read a book about Picasso. We talked about his art and what we liked.

It was 10/13, so we watched her first two X-Files episodes. (I solicited opinions from my fellow adults on the least scary episodes.) For one of them I had to explain the basic concept of World War II.

We've been reading a book about building fairy houses because house lizards.

More nail hammering.

Plenty of kicking around the backyard. She put her skateboard in her turtle pool to pretend to surf.

She found this emergency crank-powered radio/flashlight we have that does bare a striking resemblance to a video camera, so she was going around filming things for a news report:

And then she drew this on her chalkboard to turn it into a TV. (In her words, there's headlines at the bottom, a weather warning at the top, and the reporter is talking about house lizards, which is why she has a flower on her shirt, and you can't see her legs because she's on the TV.)

Library. Dora computer game (costumes and cooking and gardening).

We walked to the park (she rode her balance bike -- which is pretty much too small -- pedal bike time is coming!). Most of the walking to and from involved learning to be safe and follow instructions. She was very kind to a little boy (3yo?) there who followed her all around.

She brought me this, which is a felt finger puppet I made for her, and a pair of scissors, and asked me to cut the eyes off it. Of course I asked why. To turn it into a costume for house lizards. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to see out. I told her maybe we should wait until we've caught some and trained them not to be afraid of us.

Girl scout meeting: learning about animals. They made a bald eagle out of everyone's handprints and built a paper cup bird feeder.

She's been writing lots of numbers on things. Filling out a lot of fake checks. Trying to spell short words and actually doing a half-decent job.

Skating lessons, of course. That's chugging along.

She's been spending a lot of time watching Dotty play a Pokemon game on her DS. Dotty is a saint -- I would have been fed up with all the backseat driving long ago.

Sunday school and children's church -- they talked about giving to God and St. Francis. She wrestled with her friend. And she drew this after announcements:

["sign up" -- pretty sure that's a hand holding, a pen, writing on a piece of paper]

Someone was talking about signing up for hosting coffee hour, greeting (and passing out bulletins, prayer books, and hymnals), and bringing flowers for the altar. She apparently was listening, because she drew all three of those things!

We went to a corn maze farm with the Girl Scouts. Navigating a 2.8 mile corn maze with a map (and the obvious -- seeing corn growing!); corn box (like a sand box, but... with corn); petting zoo; giant tire/tube slide climbing structure; learning what the "buddy system" means; introducing her grownups to other grownups.

[See? Corn box.]

[On Daddy's shoulders]

And of course endless episodes of Phineas and Ferb, and talking about Phineas and Ferb, and Phineas and Ferb inside jokes, and I bought her a Phineas and Ferb soundtrack CD. And due to Candace's influence, we had to have a talk about not referring to someone as your "boyfriend" without at least talking to him about it first.

Tuesday and Wednesday, October 1 and 2, 2013

She came with me to Bible study and listened to Laurie Berkner while the rest of us... studied.

Watched Blue's Clues.

A couple different times she was surprised to discover that a magnet she was playing with stuck to something unexpected (laundry basket. baby gate).

Duplo/action figure/furniture/plastic animals situation.

Asked why it's called a library if it has to do with books, but the word library doesn't have anything to do with books. Good question! I tried to explain about Latin and everything...

I also explained the concept of arranged marriages for political peace (thanks, Brave).

Read In the Night Kitchen again.

Wednesday: Library (Magic School Bus game again). She always swipes the books for me at the self-checkout. It's a big deal to her.

More Blue's Clues.

We baked a cake for Scaredy Squirrel's birthday tomorrow. Chocolate cake with peanut butter/maple frosting. (Yes I'm aware that peanuts are not tree nuts, but it's the thought that counts.) 

 

[Lucy blew out the candles for him.]

And then they put it on the official Scaredy Squirrel Facebook page!

 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Duplos

Dress up

Musical instruments

Took a bunch of photos and videos with her camera.

Went to Grandmary's and played in the pool, etc.

Between the Lions CD. Also last year's Christmas pageant CD first thing in the morning. Bleh.

She wanted a snack and when I got up to get it for her, she immediately opened my laptop and started typing on it (after I had just closed it and told her not to touch it), so I refused to get her a snack.  (This should not be construed as parenting advice.)  So she said, "Fine! I'll make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!"  And she did.  She got a plastic knife from her playroom, got out the pb and j, cut the bread (homemade, so it was not already sliced).  I caved and opened the lids for her and got her a plate.  She was very proud of herself. 

Tiny dolls and furniture

Norman read her the Japanese legend "The Samurai Maiden" from Not One Damsel in Distress.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Duplos. She tried to explain what was going on (it was very elaborate), but all I understood was "They're waiting in a big line." I asked her what for, and she said, "For January 1st." Oh.

Spent quite a bit of time looking at Doctor Meow by herself.  She identified a question mark and asked why it was there.  Read quite a few words, including a whole sentence, and the words "boys" and "girls", which I didn't read to her last night (they were on signs in the illustrations).

Went to Grandmary's and apparently spent the whole time watching Curious George on Grandmary's tablet and wearing her new blinky Christmas socks.  Gotta get her a tablet one of these Christmases... I think she'd get a lot out of it.

Came home and played Doctor Meow in the kitchen. She is seriously into animals driving ambulances and being in hospitals. Best thing ever!

Listened to one of her Between the Lions CDs.

I read her Raise the Roof.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Wanted to hammer nails into wood, but it was *early* and cold outside. I had to shut that down, but she still enjoyed spilling nails everywhere.

Did "science" with some stuff from her science kit and some of our water bottles and things.  And by "science", I mean she got a bunch of water from the bathroom and poured it into the bottles and all over everything.  But she did it while wearing goggles.

Library.  No story time this month, but she spent quite a bit of time navigating sharing one computer with two other girls around her age. As far as I know, no one did any shrieking or crying.

Listened to the Kwanzaa music CD we got from the library. (The library has these things called "literacy kits" -- it's a big tote bag with books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, and games around one theme. This is the second time Lucy has taken the Kwanzaa bag home.)

Watched Brave.

Put together a Kwanzaa puzzle.

I read her Curious George Rides a Bike.

Watched Kwanzaa DVD.

Made this bed when I wasn't looking:

 

 [Side note: Last night Lucy was finally convinced that her monster face pajama shirt was too small for her (size 24 months!). She was pretty upset about it -- she didn't want to give it away. So I offered to turn it into a pillow. So now she has a little monster pillow!] 

She asked me to pin that grocery circular to the wall. My first instinct was to refuse, but I'm trying to say "yes" more, so I said yes.  I'm glad I did, because at first I think it was the tapestry from Brave, but then it turned into an archery target.  Lucy's holding her stuffed Merida doll, an arrow (plastic stick from a balloon), and a bow (her new tool belt). 

  

Speaking of saying "yes"... I heard her using the sink in the bathroom extendedly. When I went in, she was rubbing hand soap all over her RV camper toy.  I suggested the bathtub might be better for rinsing the soap off.  She did the jeep and trailer that go with it, too. 

 

I read her the Brave golden book. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Norman fixed her bank after she went to bed last night, so first thing this morning she sorted all her coins again.

Between the Lions CD. (The song about the sounds "g" makes seems to be her favorite.)

Got out her maps. (I think this had something to do with playing The Muppets, because she also got out the California magnet, and was singing some of the songs.)

"Read" her lighthouse calendar to herself.

Pretty long session of making up a story with her fairy tale dolls and Rapunzel and Eugene.

Spent about 1.5 hours at Grandmary's without me. Baked cookies, drew on the white board, used the Etch-a-Sketch, played with some Cars toys (!!!). Aunt Dotty showed up after a while.

Watched Brave.

Read Norman part of the "book" that Grandmary wrote for her (and about her) today. Then she got frustrated and let him read the rest. Then she told him a couple extra sentences for him to write at the end.

I read her the book again before bed.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Numbers and shapes workbook pages.

Between the Lions CD.

Baby Henry!

Played outside.

Learned a new rule called "keep your hands to yourself."

Watched Cars.

We built the coin bank kit she got for her birthday. I kind of messed it up (I'm going to blame a manufacturer's defect), but it doesn't seem to bother her.  She got to hammer! (with my help)

Watched Cars bonus features.

Wanted to go outside and build something, so we took her scrap wood and nails out there.  We decided to make a sign.  We hammered it together, then she told me what to write on it, and we put it in the ground.

["FREE NEWS! Lightning & Lucy married each other for free, because they don't have to pay to marry each other"]

Then she played outside by herself for a while.  At one point she asked me to get the plastic pitcher and help her fill it with water, so she could water the plants like Red the firetruck on Cars.

Spent some time with her new bank, sorting her coins into the different sections (labeled by coin name). Asked me for help a couple times, and then was doing it herself. 

I read her Maisy's Toys (Spanish/English), and then we looked up some Spanish on Google Translate.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Science kit first thing. We took out the penny that we left in the vinegar overnight. Overnight is too long, in case anyone is wondering. It was past shiny and on to... abrased.

Talk of how she wants to build a real tiny house with real kid-sized furniture in the backyard.

Also she wants a horse. After I cleared up why we can't keep one in our backyard, she started talking about us having our own farm. And cows. And milking cows. And taking the milk to Braums. LOL.

Between the Lions CD.

Grocery stores. Our checker at Target was named Jessie, so I asked Lucy if she could read her name tag. She could, and the three of us talked about it. Then the checker asked if Lucy her name and if she can spell it. Lucy proceeded to explain how she *writes* her name, including how she sometimes messes up the C by accidentally making another U instead.

Computer games: typing, coloring, animals, geography, etc, etc. 

"Helped" me make bread (mostly by playing with the dirty dishes I made).

Watched The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, plus the bonus feature about neighborhood heroes.

I was painting my nails, so of course she wanted the same. Black with gold glitter on top!

Got herself some water and played with her science kit.

Between the Lions CD again.

I read her another chapter from the Pooh book.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

When I woke up, she had taken the three glow stick bracelets that were in her room when she went to sleep last night, taken them apart, and put them back together in one big circle, and was using it as a steering wheel.

Drew with colored pencils. Really wanted to draw Guido from Cars, but got frustrated pretty quickly. I drew one for her (which was terrible), then another one while I looked at a picture of him on the internet (much better).

Sunday School. Mixed class with the older little kids (which I'm sure she loved). They talked about the Last Supper.

Church. She made lots of library story time type name tags for us.  She asked us our names, then rattled off some random letters to make sure she was spelling it right, scribbled, drew a picture, then put a sticker on it for tape and stuck them to our shirts.

Uncle Ben visited after and brought her two more presents: a semi truck Lego set and a copy of Brave!

She watched Cars.

We built a race car out of the Lego set together, following the instructions.

Then she built her own stuff -- Flo's drive-in, and Luigi and his tire shop from Cars.

She dressed up like a "science Jedi":

She listened to the Between the Lions CD (they have songs and stories on them).

We used her science kit to do the experiment where you shine a penny with vinegar.  While we were waiting for the penny to get shiny, she did lots of eye-dropping and pouring with some water.

I read her a chapter of A Hundred-Acre Wood Treasury. (That's stories about Winnie the Pooh, as conceived by AA Milne, but not actually written by AA Milne. Don't ask me; she picked it at the library.)

Friday, April 26, 2013

Birthday!

Opened one present at breakfast. A book, and bath toys that look like little foam dishes with a dish rack that suctions onto the side of the bathtub.  The dishes have black splotches on them that disappear in warm water.  But she doesn't know that last part yet. :-)

Megan's house: They drew on the chalkboard and played outside, among other things.

She played shop and offered to sell me the set of dishes for my daughter.  She told me they were "10 for 2 dollars".  After she gave them to me, I counted, and sure enough, there are 10 dishes in the set.

Duplos.

Opened more presents when Norman came home:

Colored pencils (they drew pictures together).

Between the Lions CDs (she listened to them a bunch, especially the stories).  Then she said she wanted to dress up like the girl in the story, but she didn't know how she dressed!  So we gave her some easily-accomplished suggestions.

She also got some new (to us) ballet slippers that actually fit.

And then I read her a Mulan golden book.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Story Time at the library. Animals and colors.

Lucy picked out some Charlie and Lola books and some other random ones, I found two Elephant and Piggy books that we haven't read yet, and Lucy went back to Between the Lions for her one DVD.

Played in the play area mostly by taking random books off the shelf and pretend to hold her own story time.

Played with the puppet theater.  Wanted to know what sound the hippo makes. I found a video on my phone and played it for her. Turns out it's kind of like a cross between a cow and a trumpet.

The librarian told her that when she's done with a book that she doesn't want to check out, she should take them up to the children's desk. Lucy was thrilled to help, and even more thrilled when one of the librarians at the desk called her a good helper.

Back home: Watched Between the Lions (a show kind of like Sesame Street but for older kids -- emphasis on phonics and reading).

Christmas pageant CD. Again.

Asked what "burned bicycle" is in Spanish. Google Translate obliged.

I read her I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie & Lola).

Listened to read-along book Scaredy Squirrel and followed along in book several times. As a result, had me explain parachutes, nets, calamine lotion, and sardines.

Had her Pooh figurines go on a road trip in her Sesame Street RV.

I read her two Elephant and Piggy books: "Let's Go For a Drive" and "We Are in a Book!".

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Lazy, whiny day.

Lucy spent about 15 minutes messing with my smartphone before I realized what was happening. Looks like she sent a link as a text message to my entire contacts list. She claims she was trying to play Angry Birds.

Watched the Blue's Clues/ Blue's Room DVD.

"Wrote" "cards" to people.

Lots of play with imaginary friends, including Charlie Brown.

She knows how to work the stereo in her playroom. She listened to her Christmas pageant songs CD several times, then the audio of the books the Scrambled States of America and If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.

Noticed a taxi when we were out driving. Wanted to know about taxi vs. cab vs. taxicab.

Went to an Easter party at the Natural History Museum. Dinosaur bones, life cycles of bugs, bean bag toss, ring toss, and the agony of being the slowest and least aggressive of the 100+ children all vying for the same Easter eggs in an enclosed field. (They had some extra eggs they held back for kids like her.)

I offered to trade her a new notebook for the 5 pieces of crappy candy in the eggs she got.  She asked to see the notebook first.  Savvy.

Successfully applied the two temporary tattoos she got from the museum all on her own.

I read her Elephants Cannot Dance (Gerald & Piggie book).