If you come to our house I promise you'll have many games to entertain you. Ryker's partial to "normal" games: peek-a-boo, catch, and does-this-item-keep-falling-every-time-I-drop-it-from-my-high-chair.
Jack has progressed from those games to new ones. We play "basketball," which is played with a soccer ball and a huge bat. We also play "hockey-ball," which is played with a hockey puck but no sticks. Ever since Easter he's been really excited to play "Hide the Egg." We play it ALL THE TIME. I have hidden that Egg so many times and in so many places that I should win some sort of egg-hiding award. Let me know where I can get one of those.
The newest game I play with Jack - named by Jack - is "Hide and Seek: Small Things." This is played with a tiny container, into which you place BBs which you find in our playground and also some tiny pebbles. Then someone gets to hide it on the playground while the other person counts to "fourteen seventeen dollars eight." I wasn't sure how to reach that number, so I just kept counting, "...seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, fourteen seventeen dollars eight." Jack seemed content with that.
And don't worry, if you think you won't be able to find Small Things or the Egg, it's okay because all you have to do is start to walk around. Jack will quickly walk to where he hid it and grin really big - eyes darting from you to the hiding place and back again. And if you look remotely near it, he'll shriek.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
What Must He Think of Me?
This afternoon Jack and I got some ice cream from Dairy Queen as a treat for after dinner. (Jack didn't eat his dinner, so he didn't get his ice cream - but that's another story.) Anyway, I picked the new truffle Blizzard. It has chocolate ice cream and pieces of chocolate truffles.
After putting Ryker to bed I grabbed my treat from the fridge and sat down on the couch to dig in. It had a plastic top on it and when I pulled it off, a bunch of slightly melted ice cream fell into my lap. Cute.
I ran back to my room to change. As I got in there, holding my shorts so that the ice cream wouldn't fall on the floor. Jack came into the room, looking for his slippers, and saw me holding my shorts filled with chocolate ice cream and chocolate chunks.
"Mama, did you just poop your pants?"
And the really disturbing part? He didn't even sound that surprised.
After putting Ryker to bed I grabbed my treat from the fridge and sat down on the couch to dig in. It had a plastic top on it and when I pulled it off, a bunch of slightly melted ice cream fell into my lap. Cute.
I ran back to my room to change. As I got in there, holding my shorts so that the ice cream wouldn't fall on the floor. Jack came into the room, looking for his slippers, and saw me holding my shorts filled with chocolate ice cream and chocolate chunks.
"Mama, did you just poop your pants?"
And the really disturbing part? He didn't even sound that surprised.
What Kids in the 'Burbs Do for Fun
My cousin-like-a-sister Christi recently posted a video of What Kids in the Country Do for Fun. Here is my rebuttal video - What Kids in the 'Burbs Do for Fun.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Interview Questions
My interview questions for new day cares:
1) What is the licensed teacher to student ratio?
2) Have there been any formal complaints?
3) What is their approach to teaching reading?
4) What are some examples of food served?
5) What is their approach to discipline?
6) How do they approach communication with parents?
etc etc etc
Jack's interview questions for new day cares (as dictated to me in the car on the way to our visit yesterday):
1) Do they have a playground?
2) Do they have trucks?
3) Do the teachers have gloves to put on when changing diapers?
4) Are there two sinks in the bathroom?
5) Do they let kids bring toys in from home?
1) What is the licensed teacher to student ratio?
2) Have there been any formal complaints?
3) What is their approach to teaching reading?
4) What are some examples of food served?
5) What is their approach to discipline?
6) How do they approach communication with parents?
etc etc etc
Jack's interview questions for new day cares (as dictated to me in the car on the way to our visit yesterday):
1) Do they have a playground?
2) Do they have trucks?
3) Do the teachers have gloves to put on when changing diapers?
4) Are there two sinks in the bathroom?
5) Do they let kids bring toys in from home?
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Sad Days
I knew this day would come, but I didn't picture it like this. We are going to have to say goodbye to Chrysalis Kids' Cocoon, our beloved daycare. They are officially closing the center on June 12. We were told that we had one month to find other child care. Ironic, don't you think, that an organization whose programs support women and children would throw us out with nothing more than a letter? Who can find child care in less than a month?
I'd rail more on them here but I'm saving my best material for the letter I'll be sending to their director.
Instead, I'm going to use this space to reflect on what an amazing place it has been for our family. Jack started at Chrysalis in the beginning of January 2006 - he was a little over 3 months old. I heard about it from Laura, who had worked there and also had her daughter in their care. She was the very first person I told that I was pregnant (after Chuck, of course) and she made me promise that I would call them THAT VERY DAY to get my unborn child on their wait list. I remember dropping him off the first morning. There was only one teacher there right then and she was busy doing something so I was asked to strap him into a swing (that teacher is gone now, by the way). I sobbed on my way to work, picturing my precious baby strapped in that swing all day. He wasn't, of course. As a matter of fact, there were periods of time when I would go pick him up and he would cry because he didn't want to leave. His first two teachers were Dominique and Alison, and they were fantastic (and neither were the Swing Teacher mentioned above). We went through some periods that were harder than others, but all in all it was a great fit. It was small and felt very much like family.
Then Miss Kay and Miss Kathy and Miss Andrea came. If you've been reading this blog, you know how very much we adore these people. Miss Kathy has left, but we still get to see her every once in awhile. But Miss Kay and Miss Andrea have continued to run the ship, along with Miss Norma - raising our children and keeping us sane. They have rubbed their backs while they fall asleep, carried them several blocks back to daycare after playground accidents, and dealt with fevers and throw-up and tantrums. They taught them the ABCs, to count, to tell jokes, to use the computer, the months in Spanish, and that "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit." They gave nicknames and hugs and told them they loved them.
We love them to. And we're going to miss them.
And we're stressed about finding a school even a tenth as warm and loving as the Cocoon has been. Jack must be picking up on the tension, because he's been offering Chuck and me beers since 7:45 this morning.
I'd rail more on them here but I'm saving my best material for the letter I'll be sending to their director.
Instead, I'm going to use this space to reflect on what an amazing place it has been for our family. Jack started at Chrysalis in the beginning of January 2006 - he was a little over 3 months old. I heard about it from Laura, who had worked there and also had her daughter in their care. She was the very first person I told that I was pregnant (after Chuck, of course) and she made me promise that I would call them THAT VERY DAY to get my unborn child on their wait list. I remember dropping him off the first morning. There was only one teacher there right then and she was busy doing something so I was asked to strap him into a swing (that teacher is gone now, by the way). I sobbed on my way to work, picturing my precious baby strapped in that swing all day. He wasn't, of course. As a matter of fact, there were periods of time when I would go pick him up and he would cry because he didn't want to leave. His first two teachers were Dominique and Alison, and they were fantastic (and neither were the Swing Teacher mentioned above). We went through some periods that were harder than others, but all in all it was a great fit. It was small and felt very much like family.
Then Miss Kay and Miss Kathy and Miss Andrea came. If you've been reading this blog, you know how very much we adore these people. Miss Kathy has left, but we still get to see her every once in awhile. But Miss Kay and Miss Andrea have continued to run the ship, along with Miss Norma - raising our children and keeping us sane. They have rubbed their backs while they fall asleep, carried them several blocks back to daycare after playground accidents, and dealt with fevers and throw-up and tantrums. They taught them the ABCs, to count, to tell jokes, to use the computer, the months in Spanish, and that "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit." They gave nicknames and hugs and told them they loved them.
We love them to. And we're going to miss them.
And we're stressed about finding a school even a tenth as warm and loving as the Cocoon has been. Jack must be picking up on the tension, because he's been offering Chuck and me beers since 7:45 this morning.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Things I Love About Ryker at 10 Months
1. When he sees me come into daycare to pick him up, he squeals and pounds the floor with his hands.
2. When he's eating something he shouldn't be, like a rock or woodchips, and I say "no no Ryker - ick - don't eat that" he always smiles really broadly and proudly shows me whatever it was that he was eating.
3. He LOVES Jackson, and watching all of us dance.
4. He will still fall asleep in my arms while I'm feeding him at bedtime.
5. He is starting to have fun at the park - likes swinging and going down slides. And when you rest him at the top of the slide, he giggles and does his little scooting/slalom move to get to where he will actually slide down.
6. I love his pincer grip. He uses it on everything - food, clothing, accessories, rocks & woodchips (see above) and to hold each of my fingers one by one at bedtime.
7. His wookiee sound (still).
8. His nicknames: Wookiee, Ryk, Rykie Bike, Scooter, and Rock (given by a toddler at daycare who can't pronounce his full name).
9. His tongue. He plays with his front teeth, makes strawberry sounds, and sticks his tongue out. My two particular favorites - (a) he turned around at Bull Riding to see the kids behind us, then just stared at them while licking his lips, and (b) he does a Michael Jordan impersonation every time he is concentrating on doing something.
10. He gives open mouth kisses on your cheek or neck in the morning when you pick him up from his crib.
2. When he's eating something he shouldn't be, like a rock or woodchips, and I say "no no Ryker - ick - don't eat that" he always smiles really broadly and proudly shows me whatever it was that he was eating.
3. He LOVES Jackson, and watching all of us dance.
4. He will still fall asleep in my arms while I'm feeding him at bedtime.
5. He is starting to have fun at the park - likes swinging and going down slides. And when you rest him at the top of the slide, he giggles and does his little scooting/slalom move to get to where he will actually slide down.
6. I love his pincer grip. He uses it on everything - food, clothing, accessories, rocks & woodchips (see above) and to hold each of my fingers one by one at bedtime.
7. His wookiee sound (still).
8. His nicknames: Wookiee, Ryk, Rykie Bike, Scooter, and Rock (given by a toddler at daycare who can't pronounce his full name).
9. His tongue. He plays with his front teeth, makes strawberry sounds, and sticks his tongue out. My two particular favorites - (a) he turned around at Bull Riding to see the kids behind us, then just stared at them while licking his lips, and (b) he does a Michael Jordan impersonation every time he is concentrating on doing something.
10. He gives open mouth kisses on your cheek or neck in the morning when you pick him up from his crib.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Awesomeness
Things that Jack has done recently that remind me how awesome he is:
1) He brought about half of his stuff animals into Ryker's room, saying that "he needs them more than I do."
2) He earned a treat the other night - a handful of Jelly Beans. He wanted to have a picnic with them, which means he wanted to eat them somewhere other than the kitchen island. Chuck and I weren't finished eating yet so I said that he could either eat them at the island, eat them somewhere else without us or wait. Not only did he wait patiently, he shared the Jelly Beans with us without us asking for them.
3) He told me he wanted to give food to the kids in Haiti.
4) He was riding down the street on his chopper with me pushing the stroller behind him when a car pulled onto our street far down the road. He pulled all the way over to the curb, stopped, and waited until the car had passed before continuing to ride.
5) He has conversations with adults all the time and asks what they are doing - and then he REALLY LISTENS. He's not just asking because he's heard that before and thinks he's supposed to. He asks because he really is interested in what people have to say.
1) He brought about half of his stuff animals into Ryker's room, saying that "he needs them more than I do."
2) He earned a treat the other night - a handful of Jelly Beans. He wanted to have a picnic with them, which means he wanted to eat them somewhere other than the kitchen island. Chuck and I weren't finished eating yet so I said that he could either eat them at the island, eat them somewhere else without us or wait. Not only did he wait patiently, he shared the Jelly Beans with us without us asking for them.
3) He told me he wanted to give food to the kids in Haiti.
4) He was riding down the street on his chopper with me pushing the stroller behind him when a car pulled onto our street far down the road. He pulled all the way over to the curb, stopped, and waited until the car had passed before continuing to ride.
5) He has conversations with adults all the time and asks what they are doing - and then he REALLY LISTENS. He's not just asking because he's heard that before and thinks he's supposed to. He asks because he really is interested in what people have to say.
6) Addendum to #5 - he approached a woman yesterday outside of daycare and had a long conversation with her about why she was in a wheelchair. He asked great questions and was a great listener. (And then he proceeded to ask everyone at my basketball game about their injuries, while giving them all the dandelions he had picked.)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Scooter
Ryker has decided on a new form of transportation, earning him his second nickname - Scooter.
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