Favorite Lil Man Quotes of the Week

Lil man has entered into the world of 'Star Wars'. I don't know if he is enjoying it more or if my hubby is. So, I'd like to dedicate this week's quotes to Star Wars through the eyes of a 4 year old. OK, honey, let's make Luke Skywalker proud!

"Ty fighters are naughty." (Love how he applies language applicable in his world)

"Jaguars are good." (He is determined that Jawas are really named Jaguars. There is no telling him otherwise)

"Ewokes are like little bears. They live with Stormtroopers which are bad. Ewokes like to throw stones."

The best is not a quote though, it is how interactive and engaged he is with both the movies and the Lego Star Wars game. He jumps, makes blasting sounds, and gets a great little workout! No sitting down with a bowl of popcorn (sorry Orville, you'll have to hang out with mom and dad) while he 'watches' a movie.

Winter Boots in 80 Degrees

Loving that we've actually had Spring this year! It typically goes straight from winter to summer. This past week, temps rose to the 80s!! (Which is a slice of heaven if you ask me!!)

Last Friday, my hubby and I decided to take a day off - just us adults. Both kids went to school and we did what any adventure seeking parents with the day off (Bueller...Bueller) would do... we slept!!

As neither of my kids like to sleep (which is crazy to me as sleeping was one of my favorite hobbies!) we took the day to sleep, get things done around the house, pay special attention to our eldest child (yes, the attention starved doxie dog), and go out for a nice lunch/happy hour.

After our slumberous, delicious snooze (can a nap be delicious?! I guess it can when you so infrequently get to sleep for more than a few hours in a row) - we got ready and hit the Ville.

It was a beautiful day (as lil man would say, "this is beautiful!"). Temps were in the 80s which was great for a March day!!! You could wear anything! (My fav type of days). I wore a dress and sandals. We had a great time enjoying the afternoon - and even stopped to have a bite at Sullivan's - complete with some yummy apps and a glass of vino for him and a glass of Moet for me.

A while later, it was time to get our kiddies! (While I loved our adult day, I was so excited to see my lil ones. I could hardly wait!!) When we got to lil man's school, we followed tradition and stopped by his cubby to pick up his coat, knowing that lil man would be outside on the playground. Upon opening his cubby, we were greeted by an infamous "blue bag." You see, when you get the blue bag, it means that it was a more challenging potty training day.

I picked up the bag - and it was heavy. I turned to hubby and said, "what's little man wearing? Is he naked or barefoot out there?" You see, his shoes were clearly in the bag. Knowing we did not have any back-ups, we ventured out to the playground.

What a fantastic sight! (I'm so kicking myself that I did not take a photo) Here lil man was busy playing, having a fantastic time, in ... his winter boots!!! It was 80 degrees and our lil guy was wearing his winter boots. LOL!!!! It makes me smile just thinking about it.

I don't know if that sight was funnier or seeing him run (in his boots) to greet us was better. It was classic! But, I give it to lil man - he didn't let winter boots in 80 degree weather quash his fun. He was having an absolute blast, as he should be. Just goes to show that boots are always in style - and that you can have fun no matter what you wear!!

Favorite Quotes of the Week

"I'm Home, I'm home, it's time to take me home..." (Lil Man's interpretation of "Hi Ho" by the Seven Dwarves

"Can't go to swim lessons today." Why not? "There's a monster in the pool!" (Lil Man's reason/excuse for not wanting to go to his swimming lessons. Gotta love his creativity!)

"Bill ate Ben." (OK, not true. One of Lil Man's frogs passed and this is his explanation for what happened. But, have no fear, we got him a new frog - and his name? Ben)

What your excuse?

Three-year-old-isms:

"I can't go to swimming lessons. There's a monster in the pool!"

"It's too windy, I'm going to swallow the wind!"

"Papa you're getting smaller, mama you're getting bigger."

"I can't go to school today!"

Sign of a great vacation!

It was the first day after the holidays. We had all taken the time off to spend time together. We had family in town visiting too and had many wonderful adventures.

When the Monday after the holidays finally came, my son turned to me and said, "We can't go to school today!"

At that moment, two things happened...

First, I saw myself. You see, I have never really been a fan of school (OK, that is being gentle). I often joke that the only grade I ever really liked was kindergarten. It's a half day and you get to play. What's not to like about that?

When I got to first grade, I clearly remember not wanting to be there. I would go to the bathroom and cry (really) in a bathroom stall. I remember one of the teacher's or teacher's aides tell me once, that they would send me back to kindergarten, but I was too old. (Yes, really!) I remember this so clearly. I hated being at school all day and only having one recess. And this was my normal feeling. After being on vacation, summer break, etc. I can only imagine how challenging it was for my mom to stay strong, tell me to be positive - and always smile - and then have to send me off to school. I always would tell her that, "I don't want to go to school!"

Now, time warp back to present day - with me being the mom... the second thing that my son's words said to me - also reminded me that the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

By saying that he didn't want to go to school - it was a sign. A sign that he had a truly wonderful vacation. Looking at the words in this way, while the words themselves made me sad, they also made me feel good. Good that our time together over vacation was extra special and that he didn't want it to end. That made me feel so good as a mom that I'm doing something right - and that my lil man had a wonderful vacation.

Whenever I get close to the end of vacation, I too always say - "I don't want to go to school." I too have a very difficult time with saying goodbye to vacation with family. I guess I am sentimental and cherish the time that I have - and love the fact that my son does too. He's clearly a loving, sensitive, sweet lil guy.

I see so much of myself in my son. It just amazes me some days. This was one of those days. Maybe we will just have to stay home from school. :)

Big Brother Quotes

"Santa is going to bring Siena some teeth and a toothbrush!"

"That is my baby sister!"

"Feed my baby!"

"We can't go to school!"

The joy of winter through a child's eyes

All summer long (yes, summer), Lil man has been watching Frosty the Snowman, because what family does not watch Christmas specials all year long! He recently transitioned onto Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (which we've been watching for months). He has taken a special liking to Bumble and also now equates snow to Christmas.



The other day we got our first few flakes of snow. When lil man learned of this, he immediately asked "Mommy, can we make a snowman?" Of course, there was no snow on the ground. He also kept saying "Bumble" as he thinks snow and Bumble go together. So instead, in a rare moment of craftiness, we made snowman out of marshmallows! Lil man had a blast using toothpicks to hold the body together and then smaller marshmallows for the arms and legs. I don't know if he had more fun making the snowmen or eating them! And papa got into it as well, putting my little snowman to shame. He made a HUGE snowman. Who knew that making marshmallow snowman would be such a fun family activity.



OK, now back to the snow... So the first snow came and when lil man found out, he was ecstatic!!! I told him when I picked him up from school. When we were walking out, snow was flying everywhere. Now, here is what was so sweet... I put my head down and tried to dodge the cold snow and lil man did the opposite. He looked up in the sky and directly into the snow - with the biggest grin I've ever seen. He was enjoying every moment of every flake touching his face. And he laughed and smiled. Only the joy a lil one could find from a simple, pure moment. It made me stop and think about life's pleasures.

The entire way home in the car, he talked about the snow - how it was covering the trees, cars and that he was going to make a snowman, snow train, etc. The excitement in his voice was inspiring and could even turn someone who prefers warmer weather, into a fan of the winter season.

The next day, lil man proudly put on his boots and talked about making snowmen and snow trains. When we got to school he ran to his teacher and said, "It snowed!!!" (though of course, she already knew this point, she played along). That night after we returned home, Papa did something very special. He and lil man put on their snow boots, snow pants, coats, scarves, gloves and hats - and they went outside. Of course it was dark, but that didn't stop these two. They got out the sled and Papa pulled lil man down the street to the end of the block. I could only imagine what the neighbors were thinking if they happened to look out at that moment. Two boys sledding in the dark. :) What a special time between a father and son.

Truth in Mom's Cooking - from the mouth of a 3 year old food critic

OK, so I am not an accomplished chef... and even saying that I can cook may be a bit of a stretch. While I love great food (usually at the hands of some other great chef from one of the local restaurants or cafes), I find myself to be more of a convenience cook.

As a working mom, now with two little ones under three, I am into quick meals (but do try to put the best quality prepared foods, semi-homemade and homemade meals in front of my family). When I do have some time, I really enjoy cooking, but I have lost my knack due to lack of recent practice and have fallen into the realty of convenience as king. (I'd rather spend time playing with my little ones when I get home versus cooking for an extended period of time).

In fact, in one of my earlier postings, I talk about if my son was grown up and today and had to reflect and tell you about his "normal" family life, he just might tell you (sigh, not proud) that food is cooked in 30 seconds and that the microwave is the medium (oven, what's that? just kidding, we're not that bad. frozen pizzas go in the oven, everyone knows that. :)

But seriously, I am currently home on maternity leave, so I decided to try and change this memory and perception and give my family some home cooked meals. I have been devouring the latest cooking books, blogs and magazines to try and create a new meaning of food preparation (stressing patience and emphasizing the wafting aroma of cooking pastas, meats and veges).

This week, I cooked (not a fancy dinner, but an improvement) some quesadillas. I was standing over the stove, grilling the tortillas to the perfect shade of golden brown, when a little steam (ok, so some smoke), hung over the stove.

My little man looks over at me and said, "Fire!" (At first, I had no idea what he was referring to). He said it a few more times and then I grasped that he was referring to the steam or "smoke" coming from my gourmet dinner on the stove.

He then, with his three-year old ear-to-ear grin, turned to me and asked, "Do you have any smoke?" (you see, he likes to ask us daily, "do you have any (fill in the blank)?" Typically he asks us if we have any toys, because we say "no" and then turn the question around to him - and he proudly says yes - as he has many toys).

Then he immediately followed his question with, "Smoke is for choo-choos."

I couldn't have said it any better myself. At that moment, I realized that a new food critic was born.

Bath time bribe

Looking for an inexpensive and almost sure fire way to get your toddler or preschooler excited for bath time? In a word ... dinosaurs.

My 3 1/2 year old, once a fan of bath time, has decided that he is no longer quite as enthusiastic about getting clean. My sister sent him a gift which quickly has become part of our new bath time ritual.

She sent him a packet of capsules containing, "grow in water" dinosaurs. Yes, the little pill shaped capsules which you submerge in water to grow a thumbnail sized creature. A cheesy birthday party gift you say? Maybe, but this worked like magic and continues to do so every night.

We told our lil man that he'd get to "hatch" a dinosaur egg in the bath tub. This instantly peaked his preschool curiosity. Instead of fighting about the end of play and the inevitable transition to bed time, lead in by the infamous "bath" - he immediately wanted to get into the tub.

A bribe you might be thinking? Maybe, but isn't a little serenity and just a little creativity worth it? Now, every night without a dissenting comment or sound, he happily goes up for bath time so that he can "hatch" a dinosaur egg. He picks out one, by the color of the capsule each night, and declares whether it will be a "mommy", "daddy" or "baby". He excitedly tosses it into the tub and ventures in to see what new, exciting species will emerge.

Now, this is what I call a good value. For us it is definitely worth the $1 for an entire package/page of nightly bath time buddies.