Giggy Turns Two

We had Giggy's birthday on Saturday. It was an amazing, beautiful fall day. The trees are at the end of their fall cycle and dropping all their colorful leaves. The streets were covered in a tick layer of leaves, I just love the crunching sound. We went to The Highland Haunt. It was a really cute little fall festival. They shut down 32nd st for a few blocks for trick or treat booths, and tons of other activities for the kids. The best deal was the $5 activities pass. The girls could get a pumpkin, we actually got the last two. Face painting, we accidentally forgot. The girls favorite was a horse and carriage ride. 

And a bouncy Castle.

All in all, the festival was so much fun. As much as I detest Denver, Highland is so amazing. We will certainly be back next year. After we left the festival, we came back to our house to enjoy some green chili, presents and Giggy's butterfly cake. 

I cannot believe Giggy is two already. She is growing into a beautiful little girl.

Personality: You speak so quietly sometimes it is hard to hear you over your very boisterous family. However, if you finally want to get your point across, you get loud and man you have the perfect two year old tude. You are still very attached to mommy, you only allow people to hold and pay any attention to you on your terms.                                                                             Favorite Pass Times: Baby dolls of any kind, Curious George, Wreck it Ralph, Balls, and Cars. Favorite Food: Bananas, PPJ, Milk, BREAD, you LOVE bread. 

Home Pre-School

It has been a while since I posted about the girls schooling. It is going pretty well. Pouch is learning something new everyday, as is Giggy. I am not actively teaching Giggy anything, she is just along for the ride. But she is surprising me by what she is learning and retaining. 

Pouch is always excited to start school each day. We have started doing a bible story at the beginning of each day. Its really amazing how her eyes light up each time God is mentioned, the purity of children's hearts. One of our new goals is to have them watching more educational TV shows, rather than mindless TV. I try to start our lessons with Leapfrog movies about letters or numbers then transition to actual school. They are still toddlers after all. I only focus on book learning for as long as they are interested. Some days that is about 10 min others its 30 mins. As long as a little learning is happening I am happy. 

I signed up for the website ABCmouse.com. It is really fun and interactive. Pouch is becoming a pro at using the mouse and computer to complete each lesson. right now, I am only using it to supplement our other activities at home. She is able to identify letters when asked to chose from a line up of other letters. However, she is still having a hard time coming up with the name of each letter individually. Each day she is getting better and soon she will be moving on the phonics and letter sounds, it is crazy to think maybe in a year she will start reading. 

Emma's 3rd Birthday

Well we had Pouch's third birthday at the Children's Museum. It is one of the girls favorite places to go during the week. We went small this year with just the Grandparents and my siblings attending. The day turned out to be great, and I was able to enjoy, instead of being stressed

Pouch insisted she wanted to have a dinosaur cake with green frosting. 

Dressed up like a firefighter playing on their life size fire truck.

One of her presents from Grandma and Grandpa.

Blowing out her candles!

The one thing I wanted out of her birthday was NO electronic toys. I want the girls to play with toys that spark their imagination. We as a society get enough stimuli from the electronic world around us. It worked out great. She got art supplies, which both the girls love to paint and color. Some old fashioned wooden toys and more Lego Duplos than any little girl can use. Her favorites are the trunk of Disney Princess gowns daddy and I got her, I see Halloween costumes already done. 

Man she has grown so much!

I wanted to start a tradition of asking her the same set of questions every year for her birthday to see how the answers change as she grows and matures. 

1. What is your favorite color? Purple

2. What is your favorite toy? Stethoscope

3. What is your favorite fruit and veggie? Apples and Broccoli

4. What is your favorite TV show? Super Why

5. What is your favorite movie? Monsters inc

6. What is your favorite thing to wear? My bow dress

7. What is your favorite animal? Cow

8. What is your favorite song? "Black sheep" aka Baa baa Black Sheep

9. What is your favorite book? Library Books

10. Who is your best friend? Sissy

11. What is your favorite snack? Apple sauce 

12. What is your favorite drink? Milk

13. What is your favorite breakfast? Waffles

14. What is your favorite lunch? "Mac an o cheese"

15. What do you want for birthday dinner? dinosaur cake and sketti

16. What is your favorite sport? Football

17. What is your favorite thing to play outside? splash in water

18. What is your favorite holiday?  "candy, sissy doesn't have a bucket, but I have bucket" aka Halloween

19. What do you sleep with at night? My bunny baby

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? "This Big" with her arms stretched out as far as they will go. 

21. Whats your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Cook

22. Whats your Favorite thing to do with Daddy? Play Zombies

23. What is your favorite thing to do with Sissy? "ring around the rosie, pock pock, we all fall down"

My Dearest Loves

Wow, what a blessing being a stay at home mom is. I am lucky to have a hubby that works hard for our family, allowing me to stay home a spend time with my "oats." I know that I often take for granted all that Hubby does for us. He is one of those rare good guys every one looks for, and I found him. He is also a great dad. I know I made the right choice when I see him with the girls. His love for them runs so deep, I can see it on his face the second he gets home to great them. The way he holds them and plays with them, they are always asking for more, even when it tickles.

A few nights ago I asked him what personality trait he wants the girls to share with him. He didn't have an answer, but I do. I want them to love as deeply as you do, you love passionately and need love just as passionately. I want them to be as determined as you are, you have jumped hurdles to be the man you are today. If you set your mind to doing something you will succeed, and will not allow anyone to tell you otherwise, including me. Although, this will be a difficult one when they are teens. I want them to be as intelligent as you are, you are always bettering yourself, reading, knowing what is happening in the world around you.   

You are the father these girls need. One who will listen to their problems and be empathetic. I know would would do anything to make sure these girls get whatever they need. Thank you for allowing me the blessing of staying home with them, teaching them, and living my dream. 

I asked the Emma the questions below about daddy. He answers are true and from her 2 year old heart. 

Rylie got him a little present too. 

A is for apple

Well its been a while since I posted. We have been busy with life and schooling. I have been really trying to come up with the best way to home preschool. I have spent many hours reading blogs and information on the best way to continue. The best way I found for now is to really focus on one letter, one number, and review the shapes and colors while we are at it. We also pick one animal to learn about, alligators was this week's. I spent the last month and a half having Pouch do letter crafts, and now we can focus on one each week. Last week we began with A. Being able to identify both the big "A", or as she calls it mommy A, and little "a" or Pouch. The sound it makes, and the beginning of writing both.

Until we get our much needed printer I have been making all her practice sheets. She did all of her A's without much help from me, mostly just showing her what direction her lines needed to go. There are also so many great websites to help with her learning. Even Giggy is catching on. She was saying A and the sound it makes every time we would go on the computer. She is also starting to learn her animal sound thanks to sissy's help. The library is also a favorite for me and the girls. We make it there on a weekly basis to help us with our learning.

Giggy is getting SO big. She isn't having any trouble keeping up with sis. Depending on the situation she may be the one taking the lead. She is having fun with gymnastics. The only downside to gymnastics happens to be the ability to climb everything. We often find her on the back of the couch holding on to the railing trying to get into the dinning room. She is pretty fearless, always willing to lead sissy down the big slides at the park. She is also starting to talk in complete sentences. So she isn't having much trouble getting her opinion heard, that's for sure.

Pouch is getting smarter everyday. She is really quite funny as well, always trying to make us laugh. Its such a great thing as a parent to finally be able to talk with Pouch and carry on a conversation with her. Last night I was taking a bath listening to Hubby and Pouch carry on a conversation the for a good 20 minutes.  She is very involved with what is going on around her. Her favorite question is "mom, whats noisen?" She wants to know every sound the world makes at this point. In addition, she wants to know the who, what, when, and where to every hour of our lives. I am really trying to oblige all her questions, curiosity is all she is about at this point. 

Sisterly Love

I can truly say my girls love each other. Although they still fight and argue almost 50% of the time. They usually want the best for each other.

This morning, after getting most of their toy taken away, they were playing so nicely together. Its fun just watching them in their own little world playing pretend. I seriously don't mind just watching them play together. Pouch is constantly trying to get Giggy involved in what she is doing. One of their favorite activities is gathering all their babies and playing house; putting them to bed, washing them, taking them this way and that. 

The sweetest things are when they hug and kiss on another. Pouch seems to be the most affectionate and Giggy rarely wants to partake, but that doesn't stop Pouch. We started a new bed time routine, so of course it has been a little difficult adjusting. Giggy usually cries for a while. So on Saturday night I come in to check on the girls, Pouch was in Giggy's bed. I take her out and ask her why she got in there, she simply responds  "sissy was scared." I really hope they are close for the long haul. I know sisters can be ruthless when they are older, but I hope I can guide them to friendship, 

Always the Comedian

The Pouch is such a goof. Hubby's foot has been really hurting so before we took him to the doc yesterday, Pouch was trying to be a helper and fix daddy's foot. She had my sewing measuring tape, so she wrapped around daddy's foot and said "wrap the snake around it, feel better?" Where does she gets some of the stuff she says? She also likes to say "hurry guys, snakes coming," when we are going upstairs for bed. I have also passed my slight driving aggression on, so whenever someone is not driving how she sees fit, or if I say something, she either says "crazy dude" or "drive dude." Two is such a fun age! It amazes me how fast she is learning to talk. It is fun trying to get her to say "big" words. She is even starting to use them, She said "yum delicious" about breakfast this morning. Giggy is beginning to say little phrases and expanding her vocabulary as well. Most days, being a parent is so gratifying.

Lost in Ancestry

A post on one on my favorite mom forums about ancestry got me thinking and searching. I don't really ever act on it, but I love learning about my family's history. I know very little about where my family came from. I know my paternal great great? grandfather came here from Sweden. Apparently, its up for debate, his last name was changed when he immigrated to the US. My mother's family history is pretty well documented. One of her cousins did the whole family history going back for generations. She was even able to track some of them coming over on the Mayflower.

Some of the coolest things are looking at some of the family photo albums from the turn of the century  Some of the photos bring to light activities that would like to be forgotten, but it was a different culture, different time. Some are just a look into the past, what clothes they wore, how they did their hair, fun little history lessons. My mom even has a old signature book from when my great grandparents were married. The hand writing alone is exquisite. The language they use is well thought out and something that will probably be forgotten.

My search got me on the internet searching for what I could on ancestry.com. I was able to find census documents from both my grandmother's families. They were just children at the time but still neat to see. One of the coolest finds was the Ellis Island website. You can go on and see records for all the immigrants, including the ship manifestos. I looked up my hubby's last name, as it is very unique. I only found 9 results. One of the women immigrating from Germany had the Pouches name. I don't really know if they are directly related to my hubby's family but I will take the leap and say they probably are.

Some day I hope to dive in even deeper. Maybe make it a summer project with the kiddos when they are older. See what lessons our family history can teach us.

Love and Logic

Trying to find my place as a mom is one of the most difficult things I have done. Like it has been said many times before, kids don't come with an instruction manual. I am in the trenches with Pouch in the terrible twos and Giggy is right behind her. So I have been asking myself, how I can be a better mom? I feel like my day only consists on yelling "no" ALL day. With one of my goals this year being to stay positive with the girls I have been looking for a new way to discipline. I think I found it in the form of a modified Love & Logic. For you who dont know, Love and Logic is based on 4 main concepts.

1. The first is building the self-concept. Basically you offer empathy, understanding and unconditional love. By allowing kids to solve their own problems, make non life threatening mistakes and learn from them. Thus giving kids the chance to think for themselves, and hopefully they begin to make the right choices for themselves with guidance from me. 
2. Sharing control is the second. Rather than demanding something be done you can offer your kids control when you dont need it, so you can have some back when you do. If you give your kids choices, a basic human need, on small stuff like what shirt do you want to wear? what do you want for bfast? You can take control when absolutely necessary  You can also give them choices on some big stuff you just have to make sure both options are within the limits you have set. 
3. Give empathy before delivering a consequence. This is also letting your kids make small mistakes they can learn from. You can give a enforceable statement, meaning you can dole out an actual punishment if not done. So an example "Hey! Feel free to keep any toys you pick up," if they aren't picked up you keep them, and the kids have to earn them back. So when kids are toddlers, you come up with a simple statement "Uh oh" "Bummer" "How sad" ect. Instead of yelling at your kid to stop throwing their food on the floor, you say, "How sad. Dinner is over." By taking away their meal and truthfully they will probably go hungry until breakfast, depending on how old they are, you are teaching rather than just yelling. Remember fight or flight, usually screaming at kids get a negative reaction, you want a positive. 
4. Last but not least, Share the thinking, by raising a kid who feels good about themselves, has a strong bond of love and trust, allowing them to make mistakes and learn from them, and by giving them strong problem solving skills. Once your kids are a little older you actually have them help think of an appropriate punishment for their crime. If they draw on the walls, you ask them how they are going to solve it? Hopefully by that time they are able to think for themselves enough to figure it out. Often times they think up punishments worse than necessary. 

Well I will be trying this approach. I hope to be successful at it so my life is easier, and my kids are calmer and happier. I will keep you all posted on how we are doing, and hopefully my sanity begins to return. 

Giggy the gymnist

We started the girls in gymnastics a few weeks ago. Giggy seems to enjoy it. She likes playing with the little kids and she is a climber so being able to do that as sport is right up her ally. The balance beam and and slide seemed to be her favorite today. She is by far the tiniest in her class. I think it ranges from 12 months to 24 months and I would guess she is the youngest. But she doesn't let anyone leave her behind.

Now pouch is a different story. She is not all the sure about it. We have yet to stay for a whole class. It is all an experiment so we can try something different when she is done with this session. I think her calling may be music related so we can look into that. Or starting swimming lessons, every time we go to the rec center she asks to go swimming. But that would also require me to get into a swim suite...

After class we went to the park. The girls love it. All this nice weather is giving us a chance to try out the parks around town. We are excited for the cool new park opening at the rec center. It looks pretty fun.

Pouch The Incredible

Pouch is the newest member of the potty club. She did amazingly well. We started last Friday now she is pretty much fully trained. She learned so quickly I was amazed. I chose the three day method. Basically you don't leave the house for three days, take off the diaper, have nothing on their little bottom and show them the potty. We may have broken the don't leave the house rule, but she did great. With some Reese's Pieces and a few bigger prizes she is 95% potty trained. She is now wearing regular undies like a big girl. Even Giggy is showing interest now, maybe Pouch can teach her a thing or two. Daddy said she can get a bike in a few months for her big prize once she is a fully established bathroom goer.

Jumping In

Its a new year! I figured I wanted to jump on the band wagon of the blogging world. Mostly just for my own pleasure and saving a few memories so my mom brain can look back on them.

Some of my goals for this year:

1. Making an effort to feed my family wholesome food. I have a seriously bad habit of eating fast food while on the go. It needs to stop. But mostly I want to feed my family more veggies, fruits and grains, and less processed foods. 
2. Going off of above, I really want to cook meals at home every night. We don't really go out that often, but we go out more than we should. Also, I want to start making my own bread, and other foods I count on the store to provide me. 
3. Teach my kids something new each month. Their little brains are ready for learning! Pouch already knows her numbers to about 15, although she ALWAYS forgets 6. This month she is potty training. Next month is letters, both by sight and saying her alphabet. Giggy's goal is to learn her body parts. Next month is working on knowing her animals. 
4. Reconnecting with my mommy friends. 
5. Making a bigger effort to spend "us" time with my gamer nerd hubby. 
6. Get rid of Facebook. It really is a distraction and their is not too many positives to having it. This way I am more purposeful in my relationships with friends and family. 
7. Last but not least, being a better mom. Pouch is in the midst of the terrible twos, and giggy is emulating her big sister very well. I am learning to be patient but I need to out weigh the No's with more positives through out the day.