Unusual Tracks in the Snow

What a beautiful sunshiny day it was today, and Kayli wanted to go outside and play! So, out to the backyard we went. Although the sun was shining, and lots of snow had melted, the shaded patio was still coated with snow. Shortly after scooping up some snow with her hands, Kayli announced that "we better go in and get our glubs!"(That's "gloves" in case you've either outgrown or forgotten this marvelous winter word;one of my favorites!) She was right, and so we donned our "glubs", then went ahead and added boots, for good measure! Once we were back outside, we were on our way to the sandbox...

...when we discovered a whole bunch of different kinds of footprints in the snow. Looked like there had been an "animal party" out here, judging from the number and variety! So...I started to point them out, while inviting Kayli to guess the animal that might have left them...


...then Kayli yells, "Look, Mom, Elf tracks!" (What? Are you sure?) "Yep, definitely elf tracks!" (Well, what's an elf doing in our yard?) "He's been watchin' us. That's what elfs do." (Really?) "It's ok, Mom, cuz he's watchin' us like the angels watch over us." (Oh, then that's a good thing)
*I'm so glad to see that the "elf character" (aka: "house snitch") has redeemed himself. His reputation has been restored!
Look closely, and you'll see that these tracks DO indeed bear a strong resemblance to elf shoes!!!

Seasons Vs. Holidays

Starting this summer, Kayli and I began lots of ongoing discussions about the seasons. She was learning a “seasons song” at preschool and this got her thinking. She asked me one day “So, what’s up next Mom?” I told her all about Fall and the various things associated with Fall, with Halloween being one small part of the discussion. Well, you know that peaked her interest and she immediately began spotting any and all leaves on the ground as sure signs that Fall was here, in August! Soon Fall truly came and went, and then we headed into winter. Kayli can now tell me all the seasons, in order of occurrence, and give a few identifying characteristics of each, such as “Summer is hot so we can swim”, “Fall is when the leaves fall off the trees” Don’t be fooled, though, by this preschooler’s alleged grasp of the seasons, because the “big picture” is in perpetual development! Sometimes she will see a whole bunch of leaves swirling around in the driveway or a parking lot, and say “Well, it looks like Fall is here again!” or after a long stretch with no sun, as we just recently experienced, she will see the sun shining through our windows, and announce “Mom, I think summer is here”. The grandest of the “circular discussions” we’ve had, however, has been the “Is it Christmas” or “Is it Winter” debate. In Kayli’s mind, Christmas IS Winter, complete with snow. I explained that there is not always snow on Christmas, but sure enough, it snowed, and Kayli gave me that “See I told you” look and said “There it is,Mom, snow. You KNOW, it’s Christmas.” So, Christmas came and went, then the snow kept coming, and Kayli would say “Is it still Christmas, Mom?” No, Kayli, it’s Winter. “Oh” she says, “You know Mom, winter IS a Wonderland! What is a wonderland?” Then, following my very best “winter wonderland”/ snow explanation, she says “Well, I might as well put on my winter dress then” as she pulls out her red velvet Christmas dress with white fur cuffs, to wear to the grocery store. So, just yesterday, we’re out running errands and it begins to lightly snow on us…Kayli says “Oh boy, here we go again, I guess we’ll be getting some more presents!”

A Bad Dream

So, what does a bad dream look like in our house? Well,very early this morning, Kayli woke me up, saying "Mom, I had a bad dream" I asked her "What happened in this bad dream, Kayli?" "Well, Mom, I was lost, deep in the forest, with Tigger. He just kept bouncing and bouncing, up and down, up and down!"

I wait...for more...then I say "Soooo, is there more?" "Well, yes, you see, I FINALLY found Pooh's house. Boy, that was a close one! Whew!"

I say "Hmm, that sounds like a crazy dream. So, then did you and Pooh sit down together and eat a pot of hunny?

Kayli collapses in laughter "No, silly mom, it was just a dream!" Oh.

Going to Ch*urch

When Kayli and I go to church, it’s always an adventure. We usually try to sit close to the front so she can see what’s going on. I tell her to whisper, if she needs to tell me something, and she can demonstrate this skill on command. However, as we all know, when a young child is suddenly “struck” by something he or she has just heard, or a revelation pops into their head, they have no control over the volume used to express their immediate thoughts. Such was the case when the homily today was provided through a slideshow/video narrated by the Archbishop.

The church went dark, a screen popped down from the ceiling, and a man’s voice began. Kayli suddenly sat up straight, began looking around, eyes darting back and forth like they do when you’re thinking hard, trying to figure out a complex problem. Then, she glanced once, then twice, towards the ceiling, turned to me, and cupping her hand around the side of her mouth, as if she were trying to be discreet, loudly inquired “Uh, Mom, is that man’s voice talking to us from heaven???” “Is it God talking from heaven?” Quietly I assure her that it is not voices from heaven we are hearing, but she continues to look above the screen as if she's found evidence to the contrary.

So, now the slideshow is over and the priest reiterates the key points he wants us to think about, such as how we all need to just “light that fire in our hearts!”

“What?” Kayli perks up again. “What, Mom??? Did he say Light our Hearts on FIRE???” I’m nodding and “shushing” her as she shakes her head in disbelief, ignoring my attempts to lower her volume, as she bellows “Woww, that’s Gotta hurt!” I spot the lady next to us stifling a laugh.
Then, finally, it is communion time, so I head up toward the front, with Kayli walking directly in front of me.


I’m thinking about how glad I am that we’ve moved past the stage where Kayli thought I was getting a potato chip and she was mad that she didn’t get one. So, I step forward and receive the host, while Kayli receives a blessing. Then, I turn to go back to my seat when I see Kayli firmly planted in front of the Eucharistic Minister that is holding the wine chalice. As I reach out to take her by the hand and begin to lead her back to our seats, she looks around, acting confused and loudly proclaims “But, Mom, you forgot to get your drink.” “Why don’t you want to get a drink?” “You’re supposed to get a drink, see?” as she points to the other people taking wine. I attempt to explain some acceptable possibilities for not always choosing to “take a drink” at communion, and that just got me that “look”; You know the one, the one that says “I have no idea what you are talking about but I still think you Just Forgot, and I’ll be sure to remind you next time we come to church…”Oh, boy, this kid doesn’t miss a thing.

Living in a Snow Globe!

Is it just me, or is anyone else starting to feel like we're living in a snow globe???

The snow just keeps coming and coming and coming! Unfortunately, this isn't the kind of snow you spend time playing in, it's the kind of snow accompanied by temperatures that could freeze your face off!!! Or, as I like to say to Kayli: "We'll freeze our petutsies off!!!" Then she tells me "Mom, we're going to freeze our tutsies off, aren't we?"

It looks soooo inviting, though! "Pleeeease Mom, can we play outside in the snow???" Well, knowing full well she won't last more than 5 minutes, but being the good sport that I am, I am willing to spend the 15 minutes dressing Kayli in five layers to go outside for 5 minutes of sheer snow joy, then spending another 15 minutes helping her strip off all the layers and watching the pocketed snow come tumbling out of her boots, mittens, hat, snowpants, across the kitchen floor, where I just wait for it to turn to water, then, we grab the mops, and the fun never ends...

I'll just climb up here and get the mail for you, Mom.

All in all, having a couple unexpected days off to enjoy the snow, has been so exciting. To quote Kayli: "WOW, Mom, this is such a CITING day! We sure LOVE play days, don't we???" We sure do, Kayli!

Applying New Knowledge!

So, several weeks ago, on a typical frigidly cold day, I took Kayli to Won*derscope (our children's museum), where we spent three solid hours of play!!! While in the "hospital room", I was reading her the random facts that were posted on the walls, about the human body. She was intrigued by them all. Now, "fast forward", to this week, and we are attempting to move my very heavy coffee table to make room for my Wii platform, and Kayli is grunting and groaning (her version of participating), and she says to me "I can't get it to move, Mom, and I even used my tongue." I, of course, respond with "What? Your tongue???" Then she uses that tone that indicates I've apparently taken leave of my senses, when she replies "Uh, Mom, remember, your tongue IS the strongest muscle in your body!!!" (One of the facts we indeed did read while at the children's museum, and one of the facts that indeed did make an indelible impression on my child) For me, this was indeed a "laugh-out-loud" moment as I witness my child innocently attempting to apply the new knowledge she's acquired!
(Look at the picture below, on the far right side of the blackboard, for part of the "tongue information")

On this day, to quote a well known story, "the sun did not shine, it was too wet to play, so we went to Won*derscope, on that cold, cold, wet day." Ok, so it wasn't really a direct quote, but the idea was there! This place was practically deserted, as you can see from the pictures that follow. Kayli and I just went from room to room, and played and played and played. What a great place this was to be on this COLD, COLD, WET Day!





Now, On to the "house-garden-grocery store"room...




And, more fun in the "ball room"...




And then my all-time favorite, the giant, indoor, sandbox...



Then, Kayli moves on to some painting...




And, did you know that Q tips make great "paint brushes"?


Oh, and don't forget the ultimate in child's play, WATER!!!





Oh, we've had soooo much fun today, how we love coming to this place!
"Please, can we come back tomorrow???"