RandomStuff

I guess the official countdown to Christmas is here. My Oh My.  Today is a Monday and I worked. I am off for the next nine days and then work one followed by four more off. I think I can handle that. Totcollege is closed this week and today the kids went to Carol's. They will also go on Wednesday and I will focus on the arduous tasks of packing and wrapping. Whopppeeee!

I think our weekend was good. We had our most wonderful Gingerbread Making House Party on Friday. Saturday we went to a party at some friend's house, Ann and Harry. We didn't get home until after nine, which is really late around here. Yesterday we were too pooped to pop as Mackenzie might say. Before bed we all drove around a little bit and looked at some lights. Mackenzie wanted them all on her side. I think Zachy even got the idea, somewhat.

Saturday and Sunday we made Grandma presents. Mackenzie painted frames. She did a lovely job. Then Sunday Mackenzie and Zachy made sweatshirts with their handprints. That was an experience. They turned out cute, definitely made by little hands. It's the thought that counts, right?

A couple random points...

• Over the weekend Zachy decided he likes to walk backwards. Why? Because he can. He thinks it's pretty funny. So do I. I also happen to think it's really cute too.
• Tonight when I got home from work Mackenzie was in the bathroom doing her #2 thing, waiting for me to get home so I could help. Love that not so much.
• I think, yes I think, Mackenzie finally cares about Fisbee the Elf.
• Zachy is communicating up a storm. He understands so much. He follows simple commands. Watching his communication skills develop is a blast.
• When Zachy gets upset he throws a little tantrum. Usually this involves walking across the room and laying down face down. It's sort of sad. And sort of cute.
• Mackenzie is in a phase where she gets scared of things, like being alone in the dark. Or in the light for that matter. She just really does not like being alone.
• Zachy tries to run now. Given that he still has somewhat of a wobble walk thing going, I find his 'running' effort pretty impressive.
• Mackenzie set up a picnic for her and her baby this evening. It was sweet.
• I asked Mackenzie how Zachy did at Carol's today and she said,  'I protect him, Momma.' What a good Big Sister she is!

That's all I got. Nighty-night time for this Momma!

FotoFriday12.10.11

A day late again. 'Tis that time of year, for sure! Yesterday we went to Mackenzie's special art showing at the Preschool. More on that sooner than later, but it made for a busy day for us. So, no chance to get to posting.

Here's some photos from last week!

Last Saturday we went to the Courthouse Square for the Christmas Parade.

We had a most wonderful day!

Zachy at the Courthouse.

Mackenzie on the steps. Love her red cheeks!

Tired of the parade, he has the whole street to himself!

The afterglow of her first Realizing-it's-Him Santa Moment!

Feeding Zachy some ice cream.

He would sign 'More' and she would comply.

Some random pix from the rest of the week...

Why Oh Why I ask, does he still treat his sippy cup like a science experiment?

He has been getting familiar with it for eight months now.

Cute. What more can I say?

I hereby name this...

The Mackenzie Photo of the Week!

With Fisbee...Showing him some Love!

Magnets on the treadmill, a much better science experiment for sure.

Just this weeks she started to put the doll furniture in the dollhouse.

Playing my favorite game, Baby.

Transferring sand from the box to the container!

On the no-nap day. But really...how can you be upset with such cuteness?

I  hereby name this...

The Zachy Photo of the Week!

Who's pushing Whom?

Zachy pushing 'Baby.'

Elf&MissPritchet

Sometimes it's a matter of whatever works, right? At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Spirited as she is, Mackenzie is a pretty good egg. She's three, so she has her moments, but she tries. Definitely tries. Sometimes she tries to follow rules and other times she tries not to. The latter seems to come a bit more naturally. Just kidding. Maybe not kidding. But really, this is what three is all about. Testing limits. Learning limits. Testing them a bit more.

Discipline has never been easy with her. Maybe because she's my first and maybe because she is so spirited. And, pretty bright. Seems she is often a move or two in front of me. Lately, I have tried two external compliance motivators. I warn you, they involve deception.

Let's start with the Elf. In my last entry, I mentioned that I got the Elf on the Shelf. He's the guy who hangs around and reports back to Santa, helps Santa keep track of his Naughty and Nice List. There are tons of Elf's in houses everywhere. Our Elf is named Fisbee. They all fly back to the North Pole when the kids are sleeping and give Santa the latest 411 on their assigned kiddos. Mackenzie's response after when we went through the whole deal? 'I don't like that guy.' Of course she doesn't. This morning we went searching for him and found him by the TV. She was excited to find him, but then started calling him 'Stinky Elf.' Maybe she's over the commercialism of Christmas at three and really doesn't want presents from Santa? But then she tells him she's sorry. Hopefully he has a sense of humor.

I like the Elf on the Shelf. Sure it involves using Santa Claus to your parental advantage, but don't most Santa-believing parents use him on some level? And it's a cute story actually. Not vicious and threatening like the parents I witnessed at the mall play area reprimanded their child by angrily taking her to face off with Santa after she didn't listen. Yikes! I'd fear Santa's wrath if I were that poor little girl. Come on people!

The next external compliance motivator is probably pretty awful. Back in September we were at a birthday party. Mackenzie and one of her BFF's went running and were neither were listening to us Mom's telling them to come back. I don't remember what exactly BFF's mom said, but she yelled out something like, 'Miss Smith's Orphanage.' BFF stopped in her tracks and came back immediately. BFF's Mom told me how when she was growing up in New York there was an orphanage that her mom used to threaten to send her to if she was bad. So, she has carried on this tradition with her kids and said that she doesn't use it often, but when she does, it works. Her oldest has figured out it's a ruse (he's in Kindergarten), but the three year old continues to respond fantastically.

Yesterday Mackenzie and I got to talking about Miss Pritchet's house, a place where parents send their kids who won't listen. I was telling her how sad all the kids there are because they miss their Mommy's and Daddy's and brothers and don't have any toys to play and don't get to watch tv. She was intrigued by Miss Pritchet's. She asked if I ever went there and I said I did. My Mommy sent me there and I was so sad. We talked about if she wanted go there and of course she does not.

Today she was being very silly at naptime, which is cute at first but then equals no nap equals tired fussy evening equals frustrated Momma equals no good for anyone. So, I asked her if she wanted to go to Miss Pritchet's and she looked at me with big eyes and said 'No.' Then she went right down for her nap.

Horrible I know, but she's asleep and I'm enjoying the peace and quiet.