The First 100 Days of School Project

January 31, 2012 By 3 Comments

20120130-235037.jpg

It may be hard to believe based on the sneaky little smile on my small dude’s face…. but this little guy actually stayed home from school today.  It was a headache.  Yes, just a headache.  Normally, I might have dismissed it, but the first words out of his little mouth when I woke him for school were, “Oh, Mommy…. my head hurts so badly!”  So, I knew he didn’t have time to form a fib.  And he held his head the entire time he was getting ready for school.

Did I mention headaches make me nervous?  So, home and snuggles for the small dude.  Oh…. and a FOUR HOUR nap in the middle of the day.  At the very least, he must have been behind in sleep, yes?

So…. he missed his 99th day of school, but he will be present and accounted for on his 100th day.  And he will have his 100 Day Project in hand.  We debated: Cheerios?  (Nah… everyone will do that) Peanuts? (No can do: allergies) Marshmallows? (Big sister did it last year) Collect baseball cards? (Not edgy enough – they’d just be in a stack because good heavens, Smith boys don’t put tape on them!)

We finally – thanks to Delaney’s brilliant thinking, settled on making the small dude’s name out of 100 chocolate chips.

20120130-235106.jpg

Now…. we could have done his full name: Cooper… if we wanted to use a) a bigger piece of paper or b) make his name smaller.  Coop wasn’t having any of it.  He counted the chips, chose the paper and put his name on it.  I negotiated a little help with the glue because I didn’t want chocolate chips glued to my kitchen table.

I’m fun, but not THAT fun.

Are you doing any 100 Day Projects?  I would love to see them – and I know my small people would too.  Share the links in comments!

 

Filed Under: Featured Content, Good thing he's cute, Recent Posts, Small people Tagged With: , ,

“M” is for …..

September 16, 2011 By 4 Comments

He is edible.

My small dude, that is.  And every single damn day he hits me with some zinger that a) makes me cry b) causes me to look for hidden cameras because, REALLY, did-he-seriously-just-say-that?? or c) I melt to the point that I can hear a chorus of ‘ahhhhhhs’ accompany him like his own personal background channel.

And this moment was no different.

The conversation started like most typical, “how was your kindergarten day?” chats do….

“Mommy!  Tomorrow is SHOW AND TELL!”  In Kindergarten, this is like going to the Super Bowl.  Except it happens every week.

“Excellent, Small Dude….what are you supposed to bring?”

“Something that starts with ‘M’….”

Now, if you know us….. this is an easy one….

 

You see that thing on his hand…. friends, say it with me….it is a MITT.  While most kindergarteners are certain to be packing a stuffed monkey into their backpacks, this Mommy is already heading to the garage for that well loved mitt, calling over her shoulder,

“What are you bringing….?”

And he answers…..

“My MOMMY!!!”

And you know what I did??

I MELTED.

Filed Under: Recent Posts, Small people

I’m Raising a Reader

September 6, 2011 By 10 Comments


Let’s be clear.  My small people have more athletic ability in their pinkie toes than I do in my entire body.

My brief, but traumatic, athletic career included a broken knee cap, a broken wrist, a sprained knee, a sprained wrist, three broken fingers, a concussion and a knocked out front tooth. All by the time I was nine.  It is, therefore, no surprise that I still duck when I see a ball coming my way AND my five year old son is apt to correct my form.

And by correct, I mean roll his eyes and then approach me slowly to actually SHOW me how it is supposed to be done.  And this includes all sports.  I have been coached on throwing a baseball, kicking a soccer ball, and RUNNING.  I am a sad, sad specimen of an athletic wannabe mom.

So the small people who excel at all-things-ball-bat-and-running related?  I, at times, have feared their DNA does not include ANYTHING from me.

Well, I did fear that. But not anymore.

I am raising a READER.  And you know what?  Excuse me while I yell this from the top of my house: She gets that from me.

My small girl started to read in Kindergarten. Last year, in first grade, she developed an aptitude for it and began to ask for books. But, at the time, she still preferred to have me read TO her.  But now…. that has changed.  Books are first on her list of, ‘may I please have’….AND she now begs to read TO ME.

And even better?  This picture was taken today.  She curled up on my bed with a book of her choosing and she read peacefully.  She is on page 220 of a chapter book she started on Friday.  **beams with pride**

At her age, I LOVED to read.  At bedtime, I used to sneak into the bathroom, faking a tummy ache, just to continue to be lost in one story after another. And now?  Guess who is turning her light back on to read after lights out?

Maybe we do share a little DNA.

 

Filed Under: Recent Posts, Small people Tagged With: , , , , ,

Potty Training SUCCESS!

July 5, 2009 By 12 Comments

It feels like a miracle.

A small one, at least.  And one that only a mother who has actually gone through it can appreciate.

Cooper is officially Potty Trained.

{cue marching band music, picture me jumping from the couch to the table with unabashed enthusiasm}

You may remember Delaney tried to teach him.  That almost worked. But not quite.

Then we had some success.  He would pee on the potty.  But that other stuff? Notsomuch.

I made the mistake of putting a pull-up on him to avoid pants full of poop while we were out and about (and no where near a potty). Sooooo…..he figured that was the way to go. For the past few weeks, he’s even been getting the pull-up and putting it on himself when he needed to go.

A twitter friend, Jill, sent me one of her Potty Tots kits to kick start the process.  Both the small people LOVED the DVD (it also comes with a darling potty chart and stickers!) and can’t stop singing the song.  I finally had to tell them we couldn’t watch it again until Coop was fully trained.

I was afraid it might never happen.

But on Friday, something tipped.  He was walking on his tip-toes. He was scared. He was sweating. He even screamed like he was losing a little piece of himself.  But eventually he couldn’t hold it any longer.

He pooped on the potty.  All by himself.

So we celebrated.  He told everyone he saw.  And then he did it again. And again.  And again.

So, tonight – we said a formal adios to that little potty. 

 

We packed up the pack n’ play. (which we used as a changing table)

And my little guy turned into a big kid – just. like. that.

Filed Under: Extraordinary, Funny, Good thing he's cute, Gratitude, Small people Tagged With: , ,

Kid-themed Inauguration Celebration

January 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I have to admit, I stole this idea from a girlfriend….in honor of the Inauguration today, she and her 4 year old daughter made these darling cookies:

usacupcakes

I offered the same fun times to Delaney – she wanted cupcakes instead.  Not quite the same effect…..even with red and blue sprinkles in the batter:

cupcakes2cupcakes1

 

So…we aren’t winning any baking awards from the Inauguration Committee, but at least Mini knows today is special! Right??

Filed Under: In the News, Small people Tagged With: , , , , ,

This moment in History – a letter to my children

January 20, 2009 By 1 Comment

Dear My Favorite Small People,

Today history unfolded in front of our very eyes.  Well, at least in front of mine and the millions of adults, teenagers and children who were lucky enough to grasp the magnitude of January 20, 2009.

I have tried to share the moments with you today as they happened, but you were perplexed by my ‘tears of joy’.  When you are 4 and 2 years old, you only cry when you are sad, but trust me, my sweet babies, you will shed tears in the years to come when happiness fills your soul and you simply overflow.

I have loved hearing you recognize the men running for this highest office.  Your squeals of recognition when now President Barack Obama’s face was present on our TV screen will forever be a part of my psyche.  And, Coop, he will always be part ‘E-rock O-Bana’ to me.

As we listened to Barack Obama pledge a unique allegiance to our country, I was struck by something very special:  there will be many moments in your life that root you to the ground, compelling you to remember ‘exactly where you were’ when those events happened, but, as history has shown us, most of those moments will be powerful in a tragic nature. In your history classes you will learn about 9-11, about Challenger and Columbia, about Hurricane Katrina and many others.

But today was different. Today was the opposite of tragedy – it was pure triumph. It was a beautiful tribute to the United States of America, what this country stands for and how powerful the collective voice of the people can be.

President Barack Obama is the first African American President.  He has proven that there is absolutely no dream too big.  While you and I will never truly understand the magnitude of this for the African American men, women and children in this amazing country, we will be proud that we live in a nation that is destroying the lines of race between citizens. 

President Obama will be the President you initially hear most about in school as he will be in Office as you begin to learn.  He has a very tough road ahead of him, and I truly hope he will be someone you respect.

I know it will be years before Obama’s gift as an orator will effect you as it has me, but I hope you can take comfort in my words as I tell you, he is something special.  He, whether you agree with all of his political philosophies or not, has moved Americans (and many from other countries as well) in a way that few have.  He is giving hope in a time that we need it.  He is dreaming and setting lofty goals in a time that has been drowning in a collective frustration with a down economy, millions of lost jobs, and a continuing war.

His gift for inspiring and offering hope, I believe, are just the beginning. 

I hope, as you get older, you will know that my priority is and always has been the two of you – your health, your education, your safety, your dreams.  I respect President Barack Obama because I believe his priorities and mine are the same: You and the other children who make up the future of the United States. 

I love you and am grateful you tried to share my joy and awe today.  And, I know that President Barack Obama would think your little kid enthusiasm for his moment in history was something special.

Love Always,

Mommy

Filed Under: Extraordinary, In the News, Small people Tagged With: , , , ,

Turning a corner?

January 15, 2009 By 1 Comment

It is -15 wind chill today.

So…rather than subjecting myself or the kiddos to ANY portion of that ridiculous temperature, I opted for an inside day.

Now…’inside days’ have been especially challenging lately as the small people tend to get bored VERY quickly and no amount of destruction can typically keep them satisfied. But, today was different.

On an average day, I can expect at least 5 “Damey hit me’s” or “Damey pushed me’s”, a half dozen “Coopy won’t share’s” or “get off me’s”, punctuated by frequent yelling, tugging, throwing and the like.  However, today was strangely peaceful.

Is it possible?  Could the small people be turning a corner?  They have played trains, house, Care Bears and Barbies, pretended to be a clean up crew, created a ‘cushion pool’ out of my couch cushions, practiced writing, dressed up with all kids of hats and all-together, enjoyed each other’s company.

Wait a minute…is this heaven?  Oh….nope….one of the small people is crying (Daddy’s taking care of it)  She’s hurt, but ok.  It is her brother’s fault, or so she explains between hiccups.

At least I know we are still normal.  And, for the most part, they like each other.

img_1220smaller

Filed Under: A little piece of Heaven, Am I lucky or what?, Small people Tagged With: , , , ,