Indoor Campout

Fridays are an exciting day in our house. It's the one day a week I let the kids watch more than 30 minutes of television at one sitting (without giving them a lecture about how TV isn't good for our brains). It's FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE NIGHT. Usually, we make homemade pizza and the kids take turns choosing our movie (one week Ava chooses, the next Jax, etc.). But last night was a little different. Ava had mentioned a while back that she wanted to go camping. This is not the best time of year to go camping in our humid little state, so I opted for an indoor campout.

We started the night with hot dogs, beans and corn on the cob and the kids even got to eat ON THE FLOOR (gasp!). Because movie night is our tradition, I couldn't talk the kids out of skipping it this one week saying we wouldn't have a TV if we were really in the wilderness, but they weren't buying it. Fortunately for them, the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie just happened to be on (they're really into Alvin and the Chipmunks right now after Andy and I showed them some of the cartoons from our childhood). As the kids watched the chipmunks perform, I prepared a campout necessity: SMORES. Uncle Dusty once told us smores made with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups put the plain ol' chocolate ones to shame, which doesn't mean much to me since I'm not a big smore fan, but given that generally speaking, I think the union of peanut butter and chocolate could very well be one of the greatest of all time, I thought I'd give it a try. I assembled the sandwiches and nuked those babies for about 15 seconds and TA-DAA -- Smores! I should confess right now that I'm pretty sure my kids have never had smores. Jax wasn't quite sure what to do with them until he laid eyes on the marshmallow, then he knew exactly what to do. Ava, on the other hand, went right to town even asking for another when she was done.

We ended the night with some stories, silly time and finally a family campout in the living room. And by campout, I mean Ava and Jax slept on the hide-a-bed, Andy on an inflatable mattress and me on the floor. It didn't matter, the kids thought it was the coolest thing. So cool, as a matter of fact, that the little loons didn't go to sleep until after 11. They both have already asked if we can campout again tonight. I think they just want more smores.

Natural Science Museum

I've been surprised by the fun things we've found to do in this teeny little state.

We made the hour trip up to Jackson yesterday to drop off my sewing machine at a repair shop (BLAH!) and I thought while we were up there I'd surprise the kids with a trip to the natural since museum.The museum is HUGE. Indoors are sevearl exhibits, including an aquarium, terrarium, hands-on science area, fossils and special exhibit (right now it's sharks). Outside, there's a children's maze and miles and miles of walking trails. We didn't do the walking trails because Ava wasn't in appropriate shoes, but we'll go back next time a little more prepared. Besides, the kids had plenty of fun inside! We went to the aquarium first, which, for some reason scared Jax. Normally, he's fearless, but I think the combination of the dark room and the giant shark he saw when we first walked did him in. He grasped desperately to my leg, repeatedly asking, "Mommy, you 'tect (protect) me from the shark?" Once we got past the fish and hit the reptiles and amphibians, he was way more comfortable. Ava, on the other hand couldn't see each exhibit fast enough. She was going from area to area excitedly calling me over to each one.

We also got to check out a two-headed snake, which Ava was CONVINCED wasn't real.

After the fun inside. We checked out the amazing and HUUUUGE playground near the museum. I gotta say, Mississippi does not fall short when it comes to playgrounds. They're all enormous, full of fun little details and tons of apparatus'. Unfortunately, the cleaning crew came to high-pressure wash the playground while we were there, so our fun got cut short. But, it was fun nonetheless.

The Fake Stuff

We've been collecting Play-Doh over the years. We seem to always get a few containers for birthdays or holidays and I just stick them in the craft bin along with the others. Yet, I rarely take them out of the bin. It's not like I don't want to. I don't mind the kids playing with Play-Doh. I just rarely think of it. But, the other day I did. So excited, I got a few containers out of the craft bin and to my dismay, they were dried out. Not to mention, I had forgotten how gross Play-Doh smells. Really, really gross. I can't believe that someone actually made Play-Doh perfume. You think I'm kidding? Really, they did. The proof is here. Anyway, the kids who were anxiously awaiting getting their hands on the stuff were obviously disappointed. Not wanting to disappoint my two favorite little people, I quickly hit the internet searching for the perfect Play-Doh recipe. Fortunately, there are tons and, even better, I had everything on hand.

So, here it is. Our "Princess Pink" and "Gross-Boy Green" (names courtesy of Ava) Play-Doh. I gotta say, I like it so much better than the real stuff. AND if you stick it in a ziploc baggie it lasts up to six months. Gotta love that!

The kids and I spent about an hour playing with the stuff, making cakes, snakes and dinosaur stomping grounds.

So proud of his snake!

Mmmm... Play-Doh birthday cake!

Here's the recipe I used (it's called Colored Playdough). Make it. Enjoy. Just don't eat it. That's gross. Just ask Jax.

Reward for Early Birds

We've been spending a lot of time inside. It's summer, so it's hot obviously. But summer in the South is much different than summer in Arizona or Utah. The dry heat, I can handle. The muggy, humid, sweat-as-soon-as-you-step-outside heat is a whole different story. Most days, by the time we're all awake, fed, dressed and have finished chores, it's too late to go outside and play for a long period of time. Not to mention, I'm one of those crazy moms who likes to keep her kids inside during peak UV ray hours. I should clarify and state that I do allow them to go outside during these hours if an activity or family outing requires, but trust me, I slather on the sunscreen. Gotta protect that precious skin.

Anyway, that's a long intro. The kids and I have been going a little stir crazy staying inside so much. Jax had an ear issue last week so we couldn't go swimming and we had so many other things going on that we didn't go outside much after dinner like we usually do. So, I resolved to get up earlier, get the kids going earlier and start going outside early in the morning, saving chores for when we came back in. Yesterday morning, we didn't make it. Fifty-percent of my children was having a hard morning. But today, I was determined. As soon as the kids were up, I fed them. Got everyone dressed and we headed outside armed with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, bug kit and magnifying glass. After several games of hopscotch and so much bubble blowing I began getting dizzy, we set off to race down the small hill behind our apartment. It's amazing how many times these kids ran up and down the same hill, giggling each time as if it was the first (mommy got a little wokout in too). Then we set off to catch some poor innocent bugs. Spiders, ants, they all made it into our bug catcher. But the biggest treat came as we collected leaves. I just happened to look up and spotted a butterly, wings fully expanded, just sitting on a leaf. I quickly gathered the kids and we quietly watched in awe as it slowly opened and closed it's wings. I have never seen a butterfly sit still for so long. We watched it for atleast 15 minutes, and it was still on the leaf when we left.

Ava pretending to be a butterfly...

And Jax pretending to be a butterfly

As we walked back to our door I thought of how grateful I was that we made it outside this morning and were treated to such a special sight. Ava must have known what I was thinking because just at that moment she squeezed my hand and said, "That butterfly was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Now, that's how you start a day.

The Bedtime Battle

It's 10:15 p.m. and I need to blog. I need something to distract me from the fact that my two-year-old still isn't asleep, has come out of his room for the fourth time tonight and is currently driving monster trucks in the hallway, which he must think provides some sort of sound barrier from the living room and that I can't hear him. Nice try, buddy. I hear you. I'm trying to ignore you. There's only so many times you can say, "Jaxon, make a good choice. It's time for bed." Or, "Jaxon, do we need to put the gate up?" The gate, is one of those baby gates you use so your kids don't fall down stairs, yeah, we use ours to cage Jax up in his room like the little monkey he is. We only do it at bedtime when he's come out of his room several times. Like tonight. But after screaming at the gate for several minutes (Jax, not me) I went to his room, took it down, gently walked him back to his bed, kindly spoke to him about how sad it makes him and me to have to put the gate up, and got an affirmative from the little dude that he'd stay in his bed. That was 10 minutes ago. I wrongly assumed the gate would be an effective tactic. It was last night, but this kid is no fool, he's over it. He's moved on. Steel door? Bring it.

****Hold on, taking a blogging break to take the little monster back into his room.*****

I'm back. So far, so good. I swear, if he wasn't so cute I'd flush him. Not really. He's huge. But I think that's something my father-in-law used to say to his boys, so Andy says it and now I do. Kinda catchy.

I don't have many frustrations as a mother. I have really good kids. I mean, really. I'm not just saying that. I hear other moms talk about their kids, or I see the way some of these kids behave and I think, "I have it easy." Our kids are very thoughtful, very polite and usually very obedient. Of course, they have their moments. They're kids. But, for every naughty choice they make, there's 10 good ones. Maybe more. So, it's nights like tonight (or every night, as of late) that are so tough. Jax is a really good boy. Except at bedtime. And here's the thing, it's not like he comes out of his room and goes all Godzilla, terrorizing our house. No, usually he just brings a monster truck or two out and will set on the floor near wherever Andy and I are, and play. If we have the TV on he'll ask what we're watching. Most nights, he comes out of his room dragging his blanket, asking us to fix it. He doesn't quite grasp that if he'd stop getting out of bed, the blanket issue would be solved. Some nights he'll go into Ava's room and bother her, some nights she joins in the wild rumpus and I hear two little wild things giggling in her room. Most often though, she yells, "Moooooom, Jax is in my room. Please get him out!" (see what I mean, so polite).

So, what to do. We've started a reward system for when the kids make good choices (which I'll blog about later). Apparently, Jax does not care to earn a Kleinman Buck past 8 o'clock. We've bribed him with a monster truck, promising that if he stays in his bed five nights in a row he can earn a Taz monster truck. We made it two nights. But he still asks about Taz nightly and we still tell him he has to earn him. Some may say bribery isn't the best way to go about it. But here's the thing, it's not like our bribes are unrealistic. I'm not promising the kid a trip to Disneyworld if he stays in his bed. We're simply trying to teach him the positive behavior merits positive consequences. We don't yell at or spank our kids and timeouts are used only when violence is involved (Ava never gets timeouts, occasionally Jax does). I've always tried to use positive reinforcement to correct a naughty behavior or choice, rather than negative. It's always worked for us. I'm counting on it pulling us through this time around, too.

I'm sure we'll get past this. Right now he's still just so excited about the freedom that comes with a toddler bed. But, every parent knows how precious that time is after your kids go to bed. It's not relaxing when two hours of that precious time is spent convincing a child that his bed is the best place to be right now. I'm sure, soon enough Jax will earn his Taz. I'm sure he'll figure out how to put his blanket back on himself. Until then, I'm just going to keep reminding myself just how wonderful he is the other 95% of the time. Maybe I have it too easy. Maybe my kids are so good that I needed a challenge. Yeah, that's it.

Meanwhile, here's the little turkey hanging out at the pool. He already had his floaties on when a little boy offered to let Jax borrow the horse ring. Between the floaties, ring and his belly we had one buoyant little guy. He's so cute. Even when he's frustrating. That's a talent.

The ABC Rock!

Jax has been singing his ABC's for several months now, but I've failed to capture him reciting them until now. Here's the "regular" version:



And here's the "Rock" version:


Enjoy!

For Papa Bear

Our kids are crazy about their Daddy. Don't let him tell you otherwise. Sure, they're definitely attached to me, but when it comes to fun and giggles, Daddy is their man. He's the master at hide 'n' seek, sometimes scaling walls just to get out of view. He love, love, loves to tickle them, just as much as they love to try to hide from thet tickle monster (yet somehow always allow themselves to get caught). He teaches them silly (sometimes inappropriate... thanks Ralphie) songs and the joys of potty humor. There's not a better storyteller out there, at least not one who can somehow always include Princess Ava, Prince Jax, all the Disney Princesses and Shrek in a story... and still have it make sense. He sometimes sneaks in a few extra minutes of TV time for them, something they NEVER get from Mommy. He's calm and comforting and always speaks to our children with love and respect.

This is Andy's FOURTH Father's Day. This one was especially fun for me to prepare for because the kids bother understood what was going on, and were excited to keep our Father's Day plans a secret. Although, Ava tells me Jax spilled the beans last night. If he did, Andy never let on. Just another reason why I love him.

Ava joined the Primary kids in singing at church this morning, she had a great big grin on her face through the entire song. So did Andy. He's always loved our kids dearly, but each day, as they grow older I can see his love for them multiply -- and theirs for him. And I never knew how much my love for him would evolve and grow when he became a Daddy. It's no wonder families are central to our Heavenly Father's plan!

Happy Father's Day, my love! Thanks for blessing me with two precious little monsters, and thanks for blessing them with an amazing Daddy. We love you!!!