Winter pet safety

Designs by Shay is having a giveaway to help keep you and your pets safe this winter.

Vicky

Monkey's business

Monkey is hilarious.  Not always a good thing as he thinks he can charm his way out of things.  But sometimes, he is just too funny.  It's not just what he says, but how he says it.  He still has such a little voice and has a knack with timing things that he is able to make things that might be considered annoying or just a regular statement by any other child, funny.  So, here is a running list of Monkey's Moments:


1.  Doing naughty things as in poking or pushing on you can be justified by the single statement of: "I wuv you."  This is not an apology, this is the reason why it is ok.


2.  Anything that he may like, usually food, he responds to the question "Do you like it?" with "Yes, I wuv it."


3.  Me: "Monkey, I don't want to see you doing..."  Monkey:  "Mommy, cwose yur eyes."


4.  Usually getting your attention will begin, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy..." then the rest is often something simple like "yook at dis."


5.  He also thinks he is funny.  When he does something that he thinks is funny he'll say, "Is dat bunny? Dat's bunny."


6.  Although not as often as before, he'll correct you by saying, "No, no, no." He'll put his head down, looks up and shakes his finger at you.


7.  It's difficult to get Monkey's attention to say the least.  Often you end up say his name multiple times before he stops what he's doing and says, "What".


8.  Again, his lack of attention.  "Monkey, go do..." Nothing.  "Monkey, go do..."  Nothing.  "MONKEY, go do..." and finally, "Me?  Monkey?"  He has this surprised look on his face that he can't believe that you are talking to him.  Sometimes this is proceeded with a slight gasp.


9.  Monkey decided he wanted to give our cat a treat.  He was wandering around the downstairs with his hand crammed in the treat bag calling the cat.  I hate, hate, hate the way dog and cat food smells.  Me: "Monkey get your hand out of the treat bag." Him: "Why?"  Me: "It's stinky and I don't want to smell cat treat on you the rest of the day."  He shoves his nose right up to the bag and bring a handful up to his nose, "Dey don't smell, dey smell doooood."


10. Goggles.  Acceptable accessories for all areas of your life.  Including the bus stop.

Vicky

Training

We took Lily to obedience classes before the kids were born.  She was our baby and I wanted a well behaved dog inside and out.  I knew someday we would be having kids and she needed to know how to act.  Well she certainly was well behaved.  She always walked nicely on the leash, never straying more than half a step from your side.  She rarely barked at people walking past our door.  Although she had a weakness for cheese, she never took any food from anywhere or anyone.  Until the kids came.


In the very beginning cereal could be left on the floor overnight and she wouldn't touch it.  She gradually began to clean up stuff that had fallen off of the high chair and lick up Cheerios from the chair when they were spilled off of the tray.


And then... today... The kids had pieces of bread and were running around from her having her run with them and having a grand time.  All fun and games until the bread is eaten.  It happens to each of them (even though I tell them to eat at the table) before Sunshine finally decides that maybe Mommy knows something.  Then, while sitting AT THE TABLE, Lily takes food out of Sunshine's hand.  I was so mad.  Not just at Lily but at the kids too.  All that training so easily forgotten for a piece of bread.

*sigh* I guess we need to work on our training again.  I'll admit though, she's still an awesome dog.

Vicky

Puddle jumping

Blah, it's a rainy, gray day.  Blah.  Not too cold, but a nice day for cuddling up with some hot chocolate or hot cider and a book (cuddling with the computer isn't very appropriate).  It's also a school day which means walking Sunshine to the bus stop.  I suppose I could put the kids in the car but the car isn't in the garage right now so I'd still be standing in the rain to buckle the kids in.  Besides, I purposely bought Monkey and Sunshine rain boots and umbrellas just for this occasion.  Monkey was also lucky enough to have scored an awesome rain coat that goes all the way down to his knees.  I made sure they were dressed properly, wrapped Bug in my Moby, grabbed umbrellas and left for the bus stop.


We had got to the first puddle and they were both stomping around in it.  I was able to drag Sunshine away but as I walked away, Monkey started to cry.  What's wrong?!  I checked his shoes, his shoes have been known to come off when he walks (I don't know how).  They were still firmly on his feet.  I checked his rain coat, snapped firmly all the way down (you CAN NOT walk outside without having his coat closed).  So why the tears?


"Bug, what's wrong?"


"Der's more puddles!"


How on earth can you say "no" to a little boy who wants to jump in puddles?  I promised we would jump in puddles on the way home.

And jump in puddles we did!

Sunshine also wanted to puddle jump on the way home.

Vicky

One pedal at a time

A week and a half ago the little girl two doors down learned to ride her bike.  It was so much fun, Sunshine and I were outside and I was helping her and as we watched, she started pedaling a little further each time.  Next thing we knew, she was riding her bike.


It wasn't a surprise then when Sunshine asked to have her training wheels taken off of her bike 2 days later.  She had them off during the summer but was either not ready or just frustrated.  When she cried that she wanted them back on I said fine, riding your bike isn't something that needs or should be an argument.  Well we took them off and this time I said this is it, I'm not going to keep taking them off and on.  I stood outside with her and tried to help her with the basics, pushing off, pedaling and not going super slow, look up, etc.  She was very frustrated and I was apparently at fault.  I left her alone with her bike and came back out every so often.  The progress was definitely slow but she was determined.


The next day, back outside she went.  Practice, practice, practice.  I went out again and was helping her.  The 2 little girls 2 doors down were also helping her.  Nothing is as sweet as an 8 and 6 year old trying to help a 5 year old ride a bike.  Patience and positive peer pressure are always on their side.  She was getting about 3 or 4 full pedals and then nothing.


The next day I promised her I would bring her bike with me when I went to the bus stop.  In the 3 houses from the stop to our house she figured it out.  All of a sudden everything just fell into line; she sat up straight, looked up, gave a big push and strong pedal and got that other foot up in time.  I saw her from behind and how she straightened her back.  It was so exciting, I was so proud and she was as well.  It's one of those moments that I'm happy I was able to witness.

Vicky

Tea for 3

Here's a fun giveaway from a fellow blogger.

Vicky

Green Apply Supply

Check out this giveaway for natural beeswax crayons.

Vicky