Pants

In our family, it is easy to see who wears the pants:

She also absconded with the money DH had left in his pockets.  She says she needs it to buy food to eat.

And just because I have too much spare time on my hands, I'm starting a new blog  for my Montessori stuff.  I've been neglecting my Montessori writing for too long now!

Gimme Gimme Gimme

Usually I don't get the newspaper.  The writing is marginal at its best as well as having little I want to read about.  The comics lost their appeal about the time Calvin & Hobbes stopped running.  Then there is the whole sensorial experience I thoroughly dislike (too big, noisy when you turn the pages, the smell of the ink & the feel of the pages -ICK!) However, during the month of November I usually get the Sunday edition for the store circulars.  There really wasn't anything useful (despite the $80 in coupons inside!), but one thing came out of the paper that was worth its weight in gold:  the Target Toy Catalog.

Turtle's face lit up when she saw it.  "Is that mine?" she asked incredulously.  "Uh, sure!" I replied.  She crawled up on the sofa next to me, put the catalog on her lap and reverantly began to turn the pages.  Then began the barrage of "I want that!"s

"I want that!"  she shouted excitedly, pointing at (Matchbox Stinky The Garbage Truck).

"I want that!" she shouted again, pointing at (Hot Wheels Color Shifter).

She also wants a Buzz Lightyear scooter, Barbie's Three Story Dream Townhouse, and the Zoobles Gift Pack (whatever those are.)  The most terrifying want so far is the K'Nex Loopin' Lightning Coaster -all those pieces!!!!

She has however decided that she is NOT going to put the shopping cart on her Christmas list.  She is going to get it for Halloween. Next week.  After gently pointing out that Halloween is over and won't happen until next year, she replied "But mommy, I want Halloween again!"

So far one item has struck her fancy.  An item she has seen advertised on television (BTW Thanks Qubo) and in different store circulars. It is the first advertisement she saw that made her claim "I want that!"


                          
I think perhaps she knows that I ate my body weight in DQ Snicker Blizzards the last few months I was expecting her!

Ducks in a row

Or in this case, fish.

You just never know what you'll find when you live with a preschooler!

Turtle Tales: Just Desserts

I had no idea how important dessert was becoming to Turtle until the morning she spied a candy bar wrapper in the trash.  She turned to me, stomped her foot and said "Mom, you need to get busy and make another dessert!"

Of course being the dutiful mother that I am, I complied.  I made an apple crisp  :D

Wild Raspberries, c.1959  (orange and yellow) Art Print

Andy Warhol

Marshmallows

 Marshmallows.

What a curious thing! Sticky, sweet, light, fluffy, and ever so tasty in your cocoa.

Even tastier when you jam them on a stick and roast them over hot coals.

"How wonderful!" we thought.  "A perfect night to jam marshmallows on sticks so Turtle can enjoy her first taste of s'mores!"

Except she didn't enjoy her first taste of s'mores.  In fact, we couldn't get her near enough to a toasted marshmallow to try one.

I'm concerned she may not be my child.

She liked squishing the marshmallow up in her grubby little fingers.  Then she asked for some of the chocolate.  Maybe she is my child after all.

Do you like your marshmallows golden brown?

or charred?

I can't decide.  I may need to do some additional research and report back.

Please......

.....I want to be alone!

War of the Catulets and Montagues (Scare-a-Cat Challenge)

Star Crossed Friends

Its nice having neighbors with pets -we can enjoy the pets without the responsibilities of actually owning one.  Mr. Neighbor Kitty (henceforth I shall refer to him as Macavity) is actually quite nice.  He comes over to play with Turtle when we are out.  He headbutts my leg to let me know when it is my turn to scratch behind his ears.  Unfortunately, Macavity seems to view our yard as one giant, luxury portapotty.  His latest crime involved Turtle's little sandbox.  Sorry Macavity, as nice as you are this war is ON!

After being greeted by "Eau de Cat Poop" at the front door one time too many, I learned to use rough mulch in the front flower bed to discourage lavatorial visits.  We use netting & burlap in the back garden beds as well. Turtle's sandbox is actually a cheapo plastic tub filled with play sand so we can pick it up & store it in the garage when not in use.  The last sandbox incident happened with the sandbox was at my feet -serves me right for turning my head.......

So this week I'm in the mood for a Scare-a-Cat Challenge rather than a Scaredy Cat Challenge!

BTW, Macavity's owners are AWESOME neighbors & I don't want to cause discontent between our Houses over a friendly (with properly functioning digestive system) cat.

Noodles Will Make You Happy

"Don't cry momma, noodles will make you happy" my darling daughter told me while patting me gently on the arm one spring afternoon.  I was pretending to pout about something or other, and Turtle offered me these words of comfort.  Naturally, I burst out laughing. "See - she's right!" said my husband.

She was.  Now it is our own little catchphrase when we want to make someone laugh, and generally it does.

Last night was NOT a good night for Turtle.  Her nap wasn't as long as she wanted (or needed).  It was hot in the house (have to keep it warm for our ailing parakeet).  She had an owie on her bottom that was making her miserable.  In other words, she was in extreme meltdown mode.  Even simple questions such as "would you like some more water?" threw her into hysterical crying.

I had nothing to lose so I told her "Don't cry, noodles will make you happy!"

She stopped screaming, sniffled a bit and replied, "I want some noodles."

Fortunately I had in my freezer an Amy's Organic Pasta Dinner for kids.  In three minutes I had on the table noodles, broccoli and apple crumble.  Within the first two bites she had stopped crying.  She had already had her dinner, but obviously she was still hungry because she ate most of her second meal.  The rest of the evening passed by cheerfully. (She didn't even cry when I left her room after tucking her into bed!)

Obviously, she's on to something!  Results from an internet search on carbohydrates and mood seemed to support Turtle's theory.  Jack Prelutsky must have known this as well when he wrote my favorite poetry book It's Raining Pigs & Noodles.  I can't read a single poem from there without at least cracking a smile. 

There are many noodle images that make me giggle.  To begin with, there is the Andy Warhol image above.  But there are many others.

So if you are in need of creating a good mood for yourself or anyone else, try noodles.

<

Girl's Got Style

Yep.  That's my girl.  She's decided that she shall be the one to choose her clothes.  I'm sure catwalks everywhere are shuddering in anticiptation of her next collection.  At least she chose appropriately for the weather!

The Grass is Always Greener...

......and mommy's hat is always more fun to wear!

Have a fantastic weekend :)

Doctor Who meets Dr. Seuss

My daughter recently discovered her daddy's stash of Dr. Seuss books.  She immediately fell in love with Fox In Sox.

"Mommy, read my Doctor Who book!"
"Doctor Who?  Do you mean your Dr. Seuss book?"
"Yes, my Doctor Wheuss book."

Evidently Doctor Who and Dr. Seuss have now joined forces to battle universal bad guys, such as the above mentioned Fox in Sox who tortures poor Mr. Knox with terrifying tongue twisters.  Let me tell you, I have a hard time not laughing when Turtle asks me to read her Doctor Wheuss book now!

The giggles continued when I saw this Everything I Know in Life I Learned From Doctor Who poster
(sorry, couldn't get the image any larger!):

The poster image is so blurry that I can't see what I've learned by watching The Doctor! Oh well. I have logged many hours watching Doctor Who (classic and new).  Think DH will mind if I placed this inspirational poster of the Dishy David Tennant on our bedroom wall?