Sunday, February 28, 2010

Story Time

Story time is very special now that Smudge has started reading the stories to us.

You gotta love it!

Friday, February 26, 2010

The wheels on the bus go round and round...

Jboy got this fold-out yellow school bus for his birthday and he does have great fun in it.
Although it has a door on the side, he likes to climb out the holes in the roof.
After a whirlwind ride around the living room in the bus it is time to flake out on the kiddie couch.
He is not camera shy at all this little one.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Work Crew

What is it with kids and brooms? I no sooner get the broom out of the closet when Smudge comes running over wanting to "help". I usually let her have the broom until she gets tired of it, and then continue on with a daily sweep. I really needed to sweep up some stuff though, so I gave Smudge a duster and the Swifter so I could use the broom. She was happy dusting and mopping...
but I still couldn't get any sweeping done because... youknowho had to get in on the activity too.
The dust bunnies got a free ride this day and were left to frolic for another day while this crew just chased them around the room instead of rounding them up.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Imagination

Ah books, they take us to all sorts of magical places don't they? Jboy spends a lot of time at the book shelf and then...
hops on his magic carpet and let's his imagination take him on a fantastical ride.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Fun in the snow

Cold germs were wreaking havoc at the kid's house this past week, but on this sunnyand cold day I decided to bundle us all up and get out for some fresh air and sunshine in spite of coughing kids and running noses!
Smudge had fun clearing snow off the deck while Buppa watched and Amma stayed inside to get Jboy bundled up.
Goodness, there was lots of work to be done. Snow to clear...
and animals to feed.
Then it was time to play.
Wheeeeeee!
Meanwhile inside the house Amma was getting Jboy ready for his snowsuit. He doesn't have any boots so I had to improvise with warm socks, sturdy shoes and an outer layer of thick wooly socks over the shoes.
By the time he was dressed he could hardly move.
We plopped him in the swing and he really enjoyed that.
They kept Amma and Buppa busy pushing pushing the swings for quite a while.
Then Smudge took a turn pushing little brother, but she kept getting too close to the swing and got knocked over a couple of times. She kept at it though and soon found this safe spot off to the side and did a stellar job of keeping little brother moving and giggling.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Concert

Smudge goes to a music class every Saturday morning and loves to get right up front when the teacher plays her guitar. All the other kids seem to sit quietly and take in the class but not Smudge, she wants to get right up close and personal.

In case you missed them, here are some links to videos of her at the class last year
Dancin' Queen
Stummin' and Hummin'
Last One

Because she loves the music class so much and seems very interested in musical instruments, she got a small guitar of her own for Christmas this year. She hasn't quite got the hang of how to hold it, and we can't convince her to turn it around and hold it the other way, but she sure has fun with it.

When I walked into the kitchen the other day I saw her and Jboy having a conflab about the guitar.
Smudge was ready to play a set, and Jboy was feeling left out...
so we got a guitar for him too, and they gave us a concert.
Smudge decided to add a vocal to the mix. Enjoy!


Stars in the making.

I just found this old blog from last year of Smudge having a musical moment with Uncle Ben. Thought it seemed appropriate to include it here too.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Patient Buppa

The other morning I was fixing my hair with a curling iron and some brush rollers when Smudge walked past the bathroom door and wanted "curlies" in her hair too. Once she had beautiful rollers in her hair like Amma, she wanted to fix Buppa's hair too. Jboy sat in his high-chair looking on while Smudge started to worked her magic with the curlers. First of all Buppa's hair had a thorough brushing.
Then she massaged his scalp with a magnet.
Once the curlers came out of her hair she thought she should add them to Buppa's head.
Patient, patient Buppa sat there and let her stick the curlers on, take them off and stick them on over and over and over again.
Later when it was time to do a ballerina dance she thought Buppa should wear the pink flowered headband.
Yes, patient, patient Buppa. What a gem!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Help you?

As soon as Smudge sees either AC or I near the kitchen counter she runs for a chair and says "Help you?" I am not sure if I would call it "help", but "help" us she does. The other day I was making a batch of muffins and she was in on the whole procedure. From measuring the flour to pouring the buttermilk to breaking the egg.
We had eggs, buttermilk, oatmeal and flour from one end of the counter to the other, and I had to dig some eggshell out of ht mix, but she had a blast.
It was quite a challenge getting the mix into the muffin cups let me tell you.
Once we got the muffins into the oven it was time for a snuggle to recoperate from all that hard work. Jboy wanted in on that action too.
Oh what precious times with these little ones.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Keeping Buppa Busy

Don't think I need any words to go along with this picture.
These little kidlets sure keep Buppa (and Amma) busy, busy, busy!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Finding his place in the sunshine.

Jboy wasn't feeling his best at times last week, but he did find this place in the sunshine and I think that made him feel a bit better.
Here's hoping he is feeling much better this week and we all get to walk in the sunshine of peaceful and calm days.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Who is that?

Smudge came home from nursery school on Friday and Jboy was very happy to see her.
Amma wasn't quite sure who it was though. It sure looked like Smudge, but for a little girl who wouldn't let Amma put a clip or bow in her hair for more than two seconds before ripping it out, she sure had a lot going on with her hair-do.
Someone at school had put two poodle ears in her hair with elastics and then added a clip to her bangs.
It wasn't the most flattering style ever, but Smudge didn't mind it at all, and pranced around with the dodads in her hair for quite a while. Maybe things have changed and I will be able to add a bow or clip to her hair in the future. I'll be sure to post a picture if that happens.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Fun First Week

I thought it would be nice to end the week with a few random shots taken this week. Jboy sure had fun with the empty toy baskets.
He enjoyed many happy times at the bookshelf too.
Smudge played hide and seek with Winnie
while Buppa fed Jboy his lunch.
Then it was time for Smudge to do the dishes.
Goodness what a busy but fun week.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Floor antics

After a good wrestling match with Jboy...
Smudge and Buppa read Jungle book and decided to get down on the floor and act like Rama and his wolf cubs
Then Jboy wanted in on the act too.
Amma thought it was best to stay on the couch and keep an eye on the kids from that vantage point.
This basket hardly seems big enough for both kids, but after Smudge climbed in to join Jboy, they both seemed quite happy in there and stayed for quite a while. That suited me just fine.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Basket Cases

Day two is under our belts, and we are not quite basket cases yet, but the kids sure are - and they love it!

Buppa thought this was a great way to enjoy a relaxing drink. Jboy didn't mind at all.

You gotta do what you gotta do... Right?