New...

There are new things happening in our house. Ysa is learning more and more words since her tubes were put in. She says 'nummy,' 'juice,' 'dad-ee,' 'shoe,' and my favorite, 'boppy,' which is a multi-use word that as best as I can figure is for anything small and cute, a baby, a kitten, a squirrel, dog, whatever. I call her boppy now from time to time.

I think Ysa is trying to potty train herself as well. This is kinda exciting, kinda a pain in the ass. She is really young so she tries to know when she has to pee or poop, but doesn't always, so I have to clean up lots of messes every day. I may have mentioned that she is strong-willed before, so she no longer likes diapers. She will tolerate pull-ups and training underwear, but that comes off at random times during the day as well, so she is mostly naked. Oh, yeah, and I spent $70 on new toilet seats that have a built in smaller seat for little kids because she doesn't like the training potty, and guess what? yep, she only wants to sit on the cold bare bowl.
Speaking of accidents, Ysa just pooped on the art table. She was coloring, then crawled on the table to look for a marker or something and I guess the poop took her by surprise because she stood up and looked confused. Fortunately it landed on a piece of construction paper so it was an easy clean up. Anyway, we'll see how this goes.

Also, Garnet got a new hair cut. Anne-Marie cut it and did a fantastic job. She looks as cute as a little wood sprite.

We also have new kittens which are sooo cute. The problem is that Ysa tries to pick them up by their tiny heads, and that isn't so pleasant for them. They are patient little things; if I were them I'd probably hide under the couch all the time, but they have just to learn to run like hell from Ysa.

Fun Games to Play With Your Kids

The games that are most fun for me to play are ones that come up spontaneously and involve action of some sort.

One favorite: Dinosaur Stomp. To play this game, all parties decide what kind of dinosaur to be, then you stomp, scamper, or lumber (depending what kind of dinosaur you've chosen) around the island in the kitchen while roaring or squeaking. Bonus points for trying to eat the other dinos.
Another hit is Pony Show. This requires nothing more from me than lounging on the couch while the "ponies," parade in front of me tossing their manes and tails and exhibiting their interpretive dance moves. Then I get to judge who gets the blue ribbon. Since Garnet plays the parts of all 10 or so ponies, everyone's a winner. Here's a good one that gets your daily exercise quota in as well. It's Animal Dance Party. Put on some good music. We like lots of stuff around here, the last time we put on a Lois album. (great band by the way, I saw them years and years ago at the Dish) anyway, someone (Garnet) calls out the name of an animal and you dance around like that animal. You know, flutter around like a bird or butterfly, swim like a dolphin, etc. Then the leader (Garnet) will say, "now ____!" and you change animals. This game can go on for a whole album's worth of songs. Ysa says, "Uh Oh!" every time a song ends and I remind her another one is coming. The real fun comes when you have to be a frog or monkey. That'll get your heart rate up.

Here's a couple of Ysa's top hits. I actually don't enjoy Cat Water Wading Pool, although Ysa thinks it is hi-larious. She runs to the cat's water bowl, looks up at me expectantly, and then sticks one foot (like the Hokey Pokey, but messier) and as I run over to keep her from falling down and the water from spilling she tries to shove her other foot in as well. This reminds me of my favorite bumper sticker, "What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?" This game will go on until you wise up and move the water bowl out of reach, something that's getting harder and harder to do. Her other favorite, which I do think is funny is called Does Its Head Come Off? In this one, you try to pull Mama's head off while grunting. Then yo Mama or Daddy says, "Nope, it doesn't come off," then she tries the other parent, her sister, and lastly herself. The uncomfortable thing is when you go to adopt kittens and while filling out the application she tries to play this game. You don't want the the nice people down at the humane society to think you are a family of sociopaths. Or at the veterinarian's office, you really don't want her to try to pull the new kittens' heads off. What if they did?

So there you go, some suggestions the next time your kid whines, "Mommy, I'm bored." Just see if its head comes off.

all dressed up...

Garnet loves pink and she loves to be all sparkly and dressed up. This was her on Easter right before our plastic egg hunt. Also included, a picture of my sister, she likes to dress up, too, just not as a princess. My sister, Patti, is awesome and the girls love her. She's a lot of fun. She lives in Ft. Myers but I'd like her to live closer to us...Ysa is getting to where she likes to pick her own clothes out as well but Garnet picked Ysa's Easter outfit out this year.

Ysa Cleans Up

We were at Starbucks the other day for coffee and muffins after Ysa's ear tube surgery. Steven and I really wanted coffee because we hadn't had any that morning. Ysa hadn't been allowed to eat or drink anything before her surgery so we thought it'd be rude to eat or drink in front of her.

Anyway, Ysa was running around laughing manically and generally having a great time when she dropped some blueberry muffin on the floor. So, Ysa comes over, grabs a napkin, throws it on the muffin and smooshes it around with her foot because, I don't know about ya'll, but in our house when we spill something we usually drop a paper towel or dish towel on the puddle and mop it up with our foot. Hey, we usually have our hands full of wiggling children. Or maybe we're just White Trash, oh well. I thought Steven was going to fall on the floor laughing at her squishing the muffin around with her feet. It was pretty hilarious. I think the other customers in Starbucks were glad when we left. Just so you know, we always tip very well.

Garnet's Short Story

So Garnet was just pretending to read Ysa and I a story; we were being her babies. This is the story she told us.

"The Story of Heart Dog"
There was a lady and she had a dog named Lady Heart.
The Lady bite the dog. The Dog bite the Lady.
The officer said, "Bad Lady!" and "Bad Dog!"
The Dog and the Lady looked at each other and laughed and bited each other.
The Dog and the Lady went to the police officer station and pooped on the floor and they went away laughing.

Four years old and already defying the man. I love it.