Warning: proud mama post ahead!
About 11 months ago, we joined our local YMCA, mainly so I could try my hand at swimming in the lap pool. I took the kids to the family pool about once or twice a week for them to play in the water. Oliver was not quite 3 1/2 years old, and Buttercup was 16 months old.
Buttercup loved the pool and would dive under and hold her breath, then come up giggling. She also refused to wear a life jacket, of course. ;-) But Oliver was genuinely terrified of getting into what he called the "deep water" of the family pool -- ranges from 3 1/2 feet to 4 feet. He would insist on wearing a life jacket, even in the shallow 1 foot area, and if we ventured out onto the steps that led to the deeper water, he would start crying and clinging to me or the handrail for dear life. When I would ask him if he would like to take swim lessons, he would become almost hysterical.
Over time (maybe after seeing his fearless baby sister in the water), he eventually let me carry him out into the deeper water, and we would float around and play until he got scared again.
Then, about 4 months ago (right before his 4th birthday!), he became more daring in the pool. He stopped asking to wear a life jacket, and he would walk to the steps and jump toward me with no problem! A couple of months after that, he realized that he could stand in the "deep water" (3 1/2 feet) and still have his head above water, and from then on he's been a total daredevil in the pool. He jumps off of the steps and swims to the wall, he tries to do somersaults in the water, he dives to the bottom of the pool to touch my feet. He'll even ask me to stand about 6 feet away from him and then he'll swim from the wall to me.
Today he stood on the ledge in the 4 foot area and jumped into the water over and over and over. After a while, he figured out how to hold his knees to his chest (kind of like a cannonball) to make a really big splash, and then he would sit on the bottom of the pool for a moment before popping up again!! He is even starting to get excited about taking swim lessons in a couple of months! It's just amazing to me, and I am just so proud of him! What a big boy. :-)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
A treat for the birds and squirrels
Last week I found this fun activity idea on the Totally Tots website. To make it, you'll need:
-- peanut butter
-- bread
-- cookie cutters
-- bird seed
-- a straw
-- string
-- some cute helpers! :-)
First, use the cookie cutters to cut the bread into cute shapes**. Spread each side with peanut butter, then top with bird seed.
Use the straw to punch a hole in the middle of the bread, then use the string to hang it from a tree branch. So far, we haven't had any takers, but hopefully soon!
**Our bread folded in on itself after I hung it, so the shapes didn't really matter for us. In hindsight, we should have either used less peanut butter or made toast instead.
-- peanut butter
-- bread
-- cookie cutters
-- bird seed
-- a straw
-- string
-- some cute helpers! :-)
First, use the cookie cutters to cut the bread into cute shapes**. Spread each side with peanut butter, then top with bird seed.
Use the straw to punch a hole in the middle of the bread, then use the string to hang it from a tree branch. So far, we haven't had any takers, but hopefully soon!
**Our bread folded in on itself after I hung it, so the shapes didn't really matter for us. In hindsight, we should have either used less peanut butter or made toast instead.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A visit to a new museum
Today we went on a mini road trip! There's another highly-recommended children's museum about an hour from us, so we visited today to see it for ourselves. There are some exhibits/play stations very similar to what is available at "our" museum, but there were some really nice, new-to-us exhibits that the kids and I really enjoyed exploring. Oliver had so many favorites that he couldn't choose just one (although I think he liked the outdoor water play area the best), and Buttercup's favorite was the grocery store (complete with child-size metal grocery carts!!). It's a great place, and we are definitely going back some time in the (near) future!
Here are some (okay, a lot of) photos from our visit:
Here are some (okay, a lot of) photos from our visit:
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Playing with Paperoni
Anna found some kits of paperoni on sale at Target this weekend, and the kids had a lot of fun playing with it yesterday morning.
The kits included craft ideas, stickers, sequins, and tongs for applying the paper to the craft surface -- I think the tongs were Buttercup's favorite part!
By the way, don't close a car door on your finger -- it HURTS!
The kits included craft ideas, stickers, sequins, and tongs for applying the paper to the craft surface -- I think the tongs were Buttercup's favorite part!
By the way, don't close a car door on your finger -- it HURTS!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Haning out at the museum again
Thanks to a gift of museum membership from Grammy and Granddaddy, we've been spending more time at the children's museum! We visited again last week and, as usual, had a great time. Surprisingly (or maybe not), the kids spent more time exploring activities that they've never shown much interest in on previous visits. Oliver and Buttercup were both really interested in the dairy section, behind the food store. They played here for almost an 30 minutes (which, in toddler/preschooler speak, is translated to a "really, really, really long time")!
We eventually headed upstairs to the Tinkerer's Workshop, where I expected Oliver to sit and work with screws, hinges, and bolts for the rest of our visit. But once again, he proved me wrong! He walked right past the tools and headed straight for this paint-with-water station, where he and Buttercup played for a while.
After that, we went to the craft tables where there are lots of different types of recycled items (like toilet paper rolls, yogurt containers, egg cartons, etc) that the kids can use to make crafts. Both Oliver and Buttercup sat and worked on their own craft for about 45 minutes.
Buttercup mostly colored and applied tape to a piece of purple construction paper (which she promptly destroyed because she was angry with me for not letting her hit another toddler at the table). And Oliver made this awesome boat (his own design!!).
I think this was one of our most fun trips to the museum so far!!
We eventually headed upstairs to the Tinkerer's Workshop, where I expected Oliver to sit and work with screws, hinges, and bolts for the rest of our visit. But once again, he proved me wrong! He walked right past the tools and headed straight for this paint-with-water station, where he and Buttercup played for a while.
After that, we went to the craft tables where there are lots of different types of recycled items (like toilet paper rolls, yogurt containers, egg cartons, etc) that the kids can use to make crafts. Both Oliver and Buttercup sat and worked on their own craft for about 45 minutes.
Buttercup mostly colored and applied tape to a piece of purple construction paper (which she promptly destroyed because she was angry with me for not letting her hit another toddler at the table). And Oliver made this awesome boat (his own design!!).
I think this was one of our most fun trips to the museum so far!!
Friday, January 14, 2011
M is for Moose
This morning after breakfast, Oliver was looking for something different to do, so he and I decided to do another letter lesson. It's been so long since our last one that I can't even remember what we did!
After some hemming and hawing, we came up with M is for Moose -- specifically, Oliver's beloved chocolate moose. ;-)
While I worked on drawing the moose's head, Oliver traced his hands to make the antlers.
Once it was all put together, he very carefully wrote the word "moose" at the top of the page! Turns out that "moose" is kind of difficult to sound out -- those tricky double Os and silent E! -- but he did great and I am just so proud of my smart little boy.
Check out my awesome (ha, ha!!!) moose here:
After some hemming and hawing, we came up with M is for Moose -- specifically, Oliver's beloved chocolate moose. ;-)
While I worked on drawing the moose's head, Oliver traced his hands to make the antlers.
Once it was all put together, he very carefully wrote the word "moose" at the top of the page! Turns out that "moose" is kind of difficult to sound out -- those tricky double Os and silent E! -- but he did great and I am just so proud of my smart little boy.
Check out my awesome (ha, ha!!!) moose here:
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Creamy Ham and Potato recipe
I discovered this recipe last week and made it twice in 3 days! I even doubled the recipe on the 2nd attempt because it is just that good.
Creamy Ham and Potatoes from Taste of Home magazine
4 medium red potatoes, thinly sliced
2 medium onions, chopped
1-1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1-1/3 cup water
1 cup shredded cheddar, optional
In a slow cooker, layer potatoes, onion and ham. In a saucepan, melt butter, then stir in flour, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. Combine soup and water, gradually stir into flour mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Pour over ham.
Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until potatoes are tender. If desired, sprinkle with cheese before serving.
Yield: 4 servings.
Creamy Ham and Potatoes from Taste of Home magazine
4 medium red potatoes, thinly sliced
2 medium onions, chopped
1-1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1-1/3 cup water
1 cup shredded cheddar, optional
In a slow cooker, layer potatoes, onion and ham. In a saucepan, melt butter, then stir in flour, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. Combine soup and water, gradually stir into flour mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Pour over ham.
Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until potatoes are tender. If desired, sprinkle with cheese before serving.
Yield: 4 servings.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Oliver-isms
Are there a lot of telephones wires that go to fire stations?
Mom, when we get to the playground, I'm going to tell you a secret.
If an owl is hanging on a tree in Alabama, can it see all the way to Texas?
I want to be a carpenter when I grow up, but I'm not going to live in the same town as you. I might visit you some time though.
Mom, one day when you're not looking, I'm going to walk gently into the utility room and throw away all of my papers.
Do cats vomit because they're allergic to vitamins or tomatoes?
Tell you what. I will do a super good chore this morning, and YOU will give me more allowance in my piggy bank!!
Do you know how I waited so patiently for the 7 [on his clock] this morning? I said to myself, "I will put my elephant over my face, and then I will see a 7!"
I try to remember stuff, but I think I have too many thoughts in my brain. [Dramatic sigh.]
Mom, when we get to the playground, I'm going to tell you a secret.
If an owl is hanging on a tree in Alabama, can it see all the way to Texas?
I want to be a carpenter when I grow up, but I'm not going to live in the same town as you. I might visit you some time though.
Mom, one day when you're not looking, I'm going to walk gently into the utility room and throw away all of my papers.
Do cats vomit because they're allergic to vitamins or tomatoes?
Tell you what. I will do a super good chore this morning, and YOU will give me more allowance in my piggy bank!!
Do you know how I waited so patiently for the 7 [on his clock] this morning? I said to myself, "I will put my elephant over my face, and then I will see a 7!"
I try to remember stuff, but I think I have too many thoughts in my brain. [Dramatic sigh.]
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Mmmmmmm, carrot cake!!!
My hubby's birthday was this week! Every year I ask him what kind of birthday cake he wants, and he always says that he wants carrot cake. I made him one once a long time ago (I think it was right after our second anniversary!), but I finally decided to try it again this year. He does so much for me and the kids, and is more than deserving of a simple carrot cake. If that's what he wanted, then I was happy to make one and it was an easy way for me to show him my appreciation!!
I made the cake while the kids were napping, so they didn't get to help with that part. But they were up and around when I made the cream cheese icing -- definitely the best part of the cake!!
I used this recipe, but as usual, I didn't follow it exactly (recipes are more like a guideline, right?). The verdict? This cake is SO good that over half of it is gone already (less than 24 hours after we cut it!) and I am definitely not waiting another year before I make it again. :-)
Here is the recipe, with my additions/changes in bold.
Carrot cake:
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 cups white sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3 cups coarsely chopped carrots
1 cup chopped pecans (omitted, Hubby doesn't like pecans)
1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease two round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir in carrots. Pour into prepared pans.
3. Bake at 350 for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack and cool completely.
Cream cheese icing:
6 tbsp butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans (omitted)
In a medium bowl, whip butter, cream cheese and vanilla until fluffy. Add powdered sugar a little at a time and beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Frost the cooled cake and enjoy!!
I made the cake while the kids were napping, so they didn't get to help with that part. But they were up and around when I made the cream cheese icing -- definitely the best part of the cake!!
I used this recipe, but as usual, I didn't follow it exactly (recipes are more like a guideline, right?). The verdict? This cake is SO good that over half of it is gone already (less than 24 hours after we cut it!) and I am definitely not waiting another year before I make it again. :-)
Here is the recipe, with my additions/changes in bold.
Carrot cake:
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 cups white sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3 cups coarsely chopped carrots
1 cup chopped pecans (omitted, Hubby doesn't like pecans)
1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease two round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir in carrots. Pour into prepared pans.
3. Bake at 350 for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack and cool completely.
Cream cheese icing:
6 tbsp butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans (omitted)
In a medium bowl, whip butter, cream cheese and vanilla until fluffy. Add powdered sugar a little at a time and beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Frost the cooled cake and enjoy!!
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