Bits & Pieces

I haven't been online much since last week as Todd and I have been helping out a friend in need, offering a place to stay, being a shoulder to cry on, giving loving advice and helpful support.  As we've been focusing on someone else other things take a back seat, of course.  But if I don't post here frequently I find myself forgetting the little details I love so much..... so here goes.




Over the weekend we celebrated a very important little person in our lives.  Little Ajay is two and we joined our family for a sweet little party.  Chloe could barely sleep for days leading up to it.  The thought of having cake does that to her.

My kids each wrapped up a treasure they were ready to pass on to someone new and also a new truck for their little cousin.  It was precious watching them give like that and Ajay loved what they picked out.

Chloe has a new favorite outfit.  Does this one surprise you?  She has gold glitter shoes to go with it now since her rainbow glitter shoes are too tight.

She wore it three days in a row with a change of tights on the last day.  It is finally not a huge chore for me to shop for her since she will wear things with ruffles, bows and pink.

Every day one of the kids will announce "Let's go outside" and they strap on shoes and run out the door.  Usually they are back in a few minutes to bundle up a bit, but sometimes not.  The days of me having to be with them constantly are soon becoming a distant memory.

They played chess for an hour on the kitchen floor (with cushions under them).  Chloe learned the real rules just about a month ago and is so pleased with herself.  They played three or four games nicely but this special little scene ended with name calling and Evan storming outside.  Oh well.

Todd gave the kids a handful of cords he trimmed from our new blinds and you would have thought it was Christmas.  Evan and Chloe have been playing horses and cavalry for days.  I have found horses tied up all over the house.

Evan seems more into building and displaying Legos lately rather than playing.  I'm sure it's just a phase, but I wonder all the time when he'll stop scooting around on his knees so his pants will have a left knee in tact.  Maybe when he's 10??

See the hole in the knee?  All his pants end up like this.  His left knee is his scooter.

Evan recently had an idea to make his own teepee out of fabric.  He wanted to stitch it together in pieces just like the Indians would have with buffalo skin.  So he asked me to teach him how to sew (I love unschooling). Chloe wanted to make one too.

These little projects sitting around make me so happy.   They do a little here or there as they work on them over the course of a few weeks.  I hope they actually finish them because it's a really neat idea.

 

Todd has been home for a while so the kids keep him busy multitasking -- playing with both of them at the same time.

They also have made up games they play only with him, like BLAR!!! or Mail Chase.  Blar is just a scary version of hide and seek where Todd jumps out and scares the crap out of everyone with a BLAAAARRRRR!! that makes me pee myself if I'm nearby.  Mail chase is an attempt by the kids to raid the mailbox before Dad does.  Todd loves to get the mail, so they try to stop him and have a battle with grabbing, chasing and hiding the mail all over the house.

The only game I have with them like that is Rogue Babies.  I'll have to explain that another time :-)





Evan's been really seeming older lately.  Talking like a big kid and acting different in ways that are hard to put into words.  I love that he calls his dad "Dud" most of the time, or when he's annoyed with him, "Tawwwwwwwwd"  :-)

Chloe can finally do this wall climbing trick that Evan loves to do.  Her only issue:  sweaty hands.  She might never achieve greatness in this sport.

She has been wanting to learn how to read though.  We are working on letter sounds as she asks about them.  I honestly never thought she's be interested in reading, so this is a wonderful surprise!