Something new to me

I've been looking around for things to do with Tim and Ryan that are educational. We are getting ready to embark on our very own alphabet book and I was looking for other items that would help with that. I stumbled on Confessions of a Homeschooler and really like what I see. Through her website I also stumbled on Tot School. I thought I'd share these two because they have awesome activities to do with toddlers and preschoolers and even older children. I can't imagine that I will do everything that they do, but I will use some of the ideas in my quest to get Ryan ready for Kindergarten. So I thought I'd share what I'd found with you guys in case you were looking for something fun but educational to do with your kids.

Child Safety Leash

If you'd have asked me a year ago what I thought of those child safety leashes I would have told you to free the leash kids. I hated them. I thought that every child should be taught to hold hands instead of being put on a leash. I thought they were silly.

I thought these things and then came Timothy.

Timothy is my child who will NOT sit in a shopping cart. He will stand up and find his way out. It doesn't matter how tight you put the little belt that they have in them. He will find a way to wiggle free and almost kill himself getting out of the cart. Tim will not hold your hand and stay close by. He just runs full speed to where ever it is he is going. He just goes.

Shopping with this kid is something I so hate. I've started going grocery shopping alone or just with Ryan. When we do shop with Tim and he wiggles out and we allow him to get down and hold our hands he will do all he can to get out of our grip. He will probably attempt to dislocate his shoulder or break his arm just to get free. We will say that he HAS to hold our hand or he gets picked up.

We follow through with this rule and it results in super screaming, head butting and just an all out miserable experience for all of us at the store. If' I'm alone it results in me leaving the store without the items I came for because I just can't handle my wild child.

So, I started looking at leashes. I haven't purchased one yet because I feel there must be another solution to this problem.

Any one have any experiences or ideas?

Books

These are two of Ryan's favorite books right now. I also enjoy reading them to him, so I thought I would share with you guys. There have been, in the past, a few books that he LOVED and I HATED, so this is a nice change for me.

Where Teddy Bears Come from By Mark Burgess and Russell Ayto is a really cute story of the little wolf who wants a teddy bear. Little wolf can't sleep at night so he asks his mom where teddy bears come from. She tells him to go ask the wise owl and so little wolf sets out on a journey in which he meets the three little pigs, Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks, just to name a few. He does find out where teddy bears come from (well, SOME teddy bears). I like that it mixes characters from other fairy tales and that there is a cute, happy ending.
I may have reviewed this book before, but the Uglified Ducky by Willy Clafin is a twist on the ugly duckling story. It's got all the same elements, but the uglified ducky is really a moose (this may be why I REALLY like it... I love moose!). I think Ryan likes the silly words that sound like real ones, but are just made up kiddo speech.

What good books are your kids reading?

Dreaming of warm weather

This is what I can't wait for. I am so ready for spring and then summer. The boys are ready to be outside in their pool and so am I. I've run out of ideas of things to do inside. I am just ready.

Tim counts

This morning I said, "Tim count for me!"

He said, "One, two, six, eight, mommy!"

Then I said, "can you count in Spanish like Dora?"

He said, "Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!"

When I asked if he could say his ABCs he said, "All done mom."

I am thanful for...

1. Finishing our taxes.

2. A wonderful job that I really enjoy going to each week.

3. An awesome friend who watches our kids every Friday.

4. In-laws who always feed us when we visit.

5. A wonderful husband and two cute kiddos.

6. A nana and papa who spoil our boys with cool gifts.