castle life

Castles are a big deal around our house right now.

Every night Peter prays:
"Tank you Karis, Tank you  Ca-ub, Tank you Wilson, Tank  Ehn-ry, Tank you Castle Park, Tank you super past (fast) tire swing.  49ers touchdown, Amen!"

And Hannah, well, she has declared that when she grows up she is going to marry Peter (because her cousin Reagan told her that you have to marry your brother) and live in a castle in Arizona.

So there is no fort building around our house, only castle building.

And today our castle was inhabited by a ninja turtle and a ballerina. :)

Life in this castle was full of smiles,

concentration,

peeking eyes,

and yes, even some tears.  

 

 There is something engaging about sitting in a fort, er castle, of your own building and staring out at the world around you.

 

 and what was the rest of the royal family up to?

sleeping.

They were missing out on the fun

and sillines!

 

sick days

Today is a sick day around our house.
Matt came down with this cold on Monday, Peter on Tuesday, me on Wednesday and Hannah today.  I called into Hannah's school for the first time to report that she is sick and won't be there.  (and boy, what an upset child did I have when I told her that she couldn't go to school- I guess at least she loves her school.)

Everyone is still in their pajamas around here (and it's after 10am).

Laying around, and playing...

in forts

and with playdough.

Hearing the word, "NO!" 

and learning some valuable lessons about sharing with our siblings.

We are working hard 

at play.

Experimenting,

Being silly

and feeling a little lousy in between.

If you are sick, I hope you are having as much fun as we are!

bah-boo

This afternoon, a dirty diaper got in the way of a good nap for Peter.

Hannah was still sleeping so I brought him downstairs for some Mommy and Peter time because we never seem to get enough of it.  He was more interested in examining Toby.

Peter has started to notice his own ears, nose and hands.

And looking at Toby's paws were just fascinating (and a little concerning) to him.

Toby was being a great sport about it.  So I grabbed my camera off our mantel and starting snapping some pictures.

(did I mention that he's looking so much like a little boy now?)

All of a sudden, Peter starts saying "bah - boo" "bah-boo". I could not figure out what he was trying to tell me.  So I snapped some more pictures and he said it again.

Then, it dawned on me.  He thought I was playing peek-a-boo behind the camera.

And he was beyond himself excited when I said "Peek-A-Boo" back.

Yes, this is one seriously happy boy who's learning to talk and teaching his mommy to understand.

Then he found his lost sock and the game was over.

little artists

Hannah loves to paint.
It's one of those things as a mom (and previously as a teacher) that I cringe when asked to do because of the inevitable mess it makes.  But kids love it and so I do it anyway.
(And I'm coming to embrace the creative splatters and all.)



Last week I showed her how to use watercolors with a brush but she decided they were better used with fingers.

Yesterday we went back to some homemade finger paints.  

And of course what big sister does little brother wants to do. 

So I got creative and gave him some berry yogurt to finger paint with.  It's edible (because there is no doubt in my mind that he'll put it in his mouth) and pretty easily contained on his tray.

He loved it!

(as I write this I notice that he is definitely wearing his sister's flower bib, sorry Peter)

my two little artists at work.

if you want to make your own finger paint here is a great tutorial: http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/06/squeezable-homemade-finger-paint/

or of course, you can just use yogurt! :)

play time

We have had lots of playtime in our house the past few days.

It goes like this:

Hannah builds a tower

Hannah protects her tower from little brother.

little brother gleefully knocks it down.

My kids definitely are the best of friends or the worst of enemies at this point.  So it's probably a good thing that we do some cooperative activities (facilitated by me).  

Yesterday we made a pink cake - Hannah was my official helper on the stool adding ingredients. Peter was my unofficial helper in his high chair (to keep him from knocking his sister off the stool).  He banged bowls, spoons & spatulas to entertain us. 

Then there's those moments in play where someone gets worn out, puts on all her dress up clothes and informs us to leave her alone (don't even look at her) because she is taking a nap under her table. :)

To add to all of the mayhem and fun - our friend Karis (who is just a few weeks younger than Peter) came to join in today.  She and Peter were both incidentally wearing the same diaper so we had to get some pictures.  (Peter is the one with a few curls in the back.)

Peter and Hannah showed off for Karis by jumping on everything in sight and climbing all over their furniture.  Karis soon joined in on the fun.

Attempt #10 to get a group picture with Karis' mommy, Erica.  This picture well illustrates the mayhem side of playtime.

Pretty sure this is not the end of it!

pool time

It's pool time at grandma and grandpa's house!

And Peter is off!

 (he loves playing in water but actually hates the pool - i can't quite figure it out.)

Hannah is finally comfortable swimming around with her water wings.

And there might be just enough time for a popsicle treat.

water

Water is a fun toy on a hot summer day.

Today our friends' the Seitzs came for a visit and after lunch I looked up to see Hannah & Joshua outside, with the hose turned on (not quite sure which one of them managed that) - spraying each other with water and screaming with delight.

yes, delight!

no matter that they were already soaking wet. They continued to spray each other,

water our cherry tree,

and hose off the chairs. 

p.s. Peter loves water too.  Here is an almost daily pose of his - standing outside the back door, looking in and soaking wet from the water table.