Playing By The Rules

Louie got a pack of games for her birthday. One of them being checkers. I feel like she is a bit young for that one, but she was desperate to play, so yesterday I sat down with her and tried to teach her just the basics. By the end of our game, she had learned that you can't just move anywhere and that you jump people to win. She actually did fairly well. So when Lanny came home from school and wanted to play she readily agreed. Here's a rundown.
Mom --"Maybe you should play something else, Lanny doesn't know how to play."
Louie--"Well, I do, and I'll teach him."
She did set her pieces up correctly on the board, while Lanny just spread his all over. She showed him where to put them. I thought, oh well, here they go.
Louie--"Okay, Lanny, if I jump you than you have to jump my piece. If you jump my piece than I jump your piece. Okay?"
So Louie showed him how to jump her piece, then she promptly took his piece.
Louie--"See. When you jump me, I get your piece. Now I jump over your piece and you take mine."
Well, let's give Lanny a little credit, after two jumps and having his pieces taken he wasn't about to do it again.
Louie--"Your turn Lanny, you jump my piece."
Lanny--"No way, I don't want to jump, then you'll take my piece."
Louie--"You have to jump, that's how you play the game."
Lanny--"No."
A bit of a quibble started, so I tried to help out, but Louie just threw herself backwards flat out onto the ground (they were sitting on the ground) and cried, "Why am I the only one who knows how to play this game?" She was exasperated.
The game continued until all the pieces were gone. Then they counted up their pieces and to their surprise (shock) they both had the same amount. So who won? Well, I guess it was a tie! Which was a good thing, because they can both live with a tie. Lanny however, is thinking twice before having his sister teach him another game.

Trying New Things

So Lanny learned a new song in school and I thought it was so cute. I used my web cam (thanks Dad) to record him and thought I would try and put it up on my blog. So here goes. Unfortunately you guys miss the cute dancing/hip swinging he is doing. Also, at the end, his look of horror is because Kessie is standing behind me while I film and she suddenly decided to chew on some scissors. Everything went downhill from there, but oh well. Happy Monday to all!

Afflerbach Achievers

I received a note in the mail inviting me to come to an assembly called "Afflerbach Achievers", where Lanny would be receiving an award. I was so excited. Apparently, every (I'm not sure how often) teacher gets to pick four students who have excelled in some area and give them an award. Lanny got his in reading. We got to sit on the stage with him (Louie was so thrilled to be up there with him she couldn't stop hugging him.) Then the audience cheered for everyone and they popped some balloons filled with confetti. Lanny didn't know he was getting the award, or that we would be there, so he was super excited! Afterwards his teacher came up and said, "I gave you your award in reading because I had to pick just one area, but you are great in every area!" He really beamed! We really like Mrs. Jackson, she is always very nice and complimentary towards every child.

I was pretty proud as well. I know I'm bragging a bit, but with Lanny being the youngest in his class, I always worry that I did the wrong thing by putting him in school instead of waiting a year. So far he loves it, and is doing well. I guess time will tell all though.

Here's Rosie

And here she is, the star of the Butterfly Pavilion, no not Louie, Rosie! Here are a couple more pictures at the Butterfly Pavilion, including Rosie. Yes, Dad, I did hold Rosie again, she still tickles your palm, and I got a sticker that read "I held Rosie" and I wore it proudly, until Louie stole it so she could wear it proudly!

Butterfly Pavilion

I thought it was about time that I put some pictures up of the Butterfly Pavilion. We had a great time. Lanny loved the bees. Actually, I was listening to him tell Grandma Karen about it on the phone and was amazed at what he remembered. I won't even come close to remembering all that. They got to see stick bugs, huge centipedes, tarantulas, bees, starfish, fish, butterflies, scorpions, cockroaches, seriously, there were a lot of bugs! Louie loved touching the starfish (there was one slimy and one sandpapery.) She also tried and tried to work up enough courage to hold Rosie, the tarantula, but was just too scared. However, she did let Rosie shake her hand (she touched Rosie's leg) and was so proud of herself, as you'll see in one of the pictures. Keston loved the hands on childrens play area, with the big spiderweb (climbing ropes), the honeycomb to climb in, and she could finally run around and be loud. This was a new addition since Lanny and I visited with Grandpa Craig when he was little and I'm glad they put it in, I thought it was great for the kids. I loved the butterflies. They were so beautiful, but I got a flinching disorder, because I was so nervous that I would touch one, and that is not allowed. How can you not though, when as soon as you enter they dive bomb you. One landed on my arm. We had been instructed to just keep moving and say, "I am not a flower," apparently this butterfly was deaf, because it would not get off me. The kids thought it was great!
It is actually not a very big building, but there is so much to see. They even gave the kids a mini-class about the life cycle, Lanny now shares the life cylce of everything with me. During the class, they got to look at a bug that was going through different stages of the life cycle (another picture, you'll see of Lanny). It was pretty neat, and I think that the kids learned a lot.

There is just so much to tell, but instead I'll just put a plug in for the Butterfly Pavilion. It's a great place for kids to go! Fun and amazing! Visit them, or go to their website www.butterflies.org/

Frog (as of yet nameless)

So, I understand that puppies are darling, and kittens are adorable, but seriously, have you seen baby frogs? They have got to be the cutest of them all. I've decided to go into frog farming. They are low maintenance, amazing to watch develop, and so cute! Did I mention that they are cute. I have completely fallen in love with this little frog. He/she, I have no idea the gender, is the only one of the tadpoles that has legs and has started to look like a frog. I don't know why the other ten haven't developed as quickly, but it makes it easy to spot my cutie. I haven't decided what to name him yet, let me know if you have any suggestions. He is very hard to take a picture of since he is constantly moving, but I had to share his fab face with everyone. If you have never had a tadpole as a pet, you are seriously missing out. Feel free to join me if you ever decide to go into frog farming!

Quick Funnies

So I have just a second and I wanted to share some cute sayings that the kids are using lately.
Yesterday, I was standing at the sink and Keston pushed a chair over so she could help Daddy make cookies.She pushed it right up to me and said,"Beep, Beep." It was so cute, she has such a little voice, and I have no idea where she heard it because I don't say it. Too cute, now she's got me saying it, just so I can get her to say it again.
We went to the Butterfly Pavilion and Louie was so excited, she kept asking, "Mommy when do we get to go to the Butterfly Chameleon?" (We have been reading books about chameleons.) She loved it and tells everyone what a fun place it was.
Lanny also has a cute saying. He has been being "the Flash" a lot lately and so he goes everywhere quickly. This morning I told him to run upstairs and get something and he told me he would do it and "be back in a jippy!"
Seriously, I hope my children never grow up. I love their innocence and the joy they get out of everyday life.