Ask EJ

Ok, I am going to try something new out.  EJ, my 3 (almost 4) year old has told me that she doesn't need to go to school because she knows everything.  I now need your help...ask her a question.  It can be whatever you want and on Friday I will post her answers.  Be creative and have fun!

Bring it!

The Little Things

We have had pretty good weather the past two days (finally) so I have been out walking around the neighborhood running errands with the kids quite a bit.  It is interesting to see them get excited about different things as we are out.  Yesterday EJ saw her favorite truck, a cement mixer, 5 times.  Yes she counted.  Every time she went nuts.  M on the other hand got excited at trucks, buses and construction equipment, telling me the color of the vehicle each time.

Today as we head out for errands I get an idea...riding the train.  About halfway through the errands the kids were getting a little restless.  Perfect time to negotiate...they are good for the rest of the errands and we will go on the train.  Worked like a charm.  

Waiting for the train.  Headband was mom's idea this morning.

The train! Can it go faster?

All that excitement wiped them out.  Success!

Total travel - 4 stops and half mile walk home.  Best $2.25 I have spent.

What I told my kids about Boston & Newtown...

NOTHING

I have been reading things about what to say to your kids about these tragedies and I don't get it.  Now my kids are almost 4 & 2 but at least a couple of the articles I read targeted a 4 year old.  I find no reason to tell them about it because: 1. how will they find out any other way 2. it will open up all sorts of questions EJ in particular doesn't need to be asking yet.

What will me telling my kids about these things (or any in the near future) accomplish?  Make me feel better?  I don't know.  I'm not naive, bad stuff happens but can't my kids be that way for a little longer?

Music that doesn't suck

Ok its been long enough, The Avett Brothers are coming back and you get to hear the full band this time.  Although this is one of their slower songs it is very powerful.  I highly recommend seeing them live, the energy they put forth on stage is incredible.  Anyways, on to the music.  Enjoy...

Quick thing to start the weekend

Busy day so I had M take his nap early so we can get some stuff done this afternoon.  M sleeps for around 3 hours so I had time to play with EJ some games that only she can play and help her with her workbook.  After doing that for a bit EJ decided she wanted to lay down for a little bit and asked me to wake her up when M got up.  M gets up and I play with him for a little bit and then send him in to wake EJ up.  At some point in her sleep EJ knocked her stuffed frog off her bed.  M walked over and picked it up and whispered "EJ...here" and then patted her back.  So cute.  EJ just rolled over and kept sleeping, now facing him.  M's next move?  He took the soft basketball nearby and bounced it off her head...Brotherly love only goes so far.

My sweet devil

Funny Kids

We had our kitchen cabinets repainted last week.  Part of that process involved us getting new hinges.  For some reason the type of hinge we needed was sold at one place in all of Chicago and they didn't have enough.  No problem, we ordered new hinges and they came today.

Our beautiful newly painted cabinets

Now on to the kids...M & EJ were playing great together so I figured I would hang the rest of the cabinet doors.  The kids were coloring right by me at their little table when I started and about halfway through EJ asked M to go upstairs with her to her room to color the cardboard house she has up there.  When I heard EJ ask M I was happy since she usually doesn't want him in her room let alone coloring her house.  What great kids, right?

I am putting on one of the last doors and EJ calls out to me "daddy look at my arms!".  I asked her to come down and show me...

They're washable, right?

Yes, that is marker on her face, arms and hands.  M has it on his face, arms, hands and, as I found out when I changed his, diaper his legs.  EJ thought it made her look "extra special".  

Once I got past the initial shock I started laughing and haven't stopped since.  At least they were playing well together.

Music that Doesn't Suck

Sick kids this week has slowed me down from blogging.  Hopefully they get better soon since we have a busy weekend coming up.

Anyways, that's not what this post is about.  It's music time!  I went to a show on Monday with a buddy and really liked the opening band, The Lonely Forest.  Enjoy...