Advent Day 3: Tree Day!

Advent 2013, Day 1

For the past few years, instead of doing an Elf on the Shelf, we've had a Magic Holiday Mailbox! Everyday, Santa's "elves" leave our daughter fun activities and treats to do with family and friends. This year is no different! The magic mailbox made it's return yesterday with a letter from Santa, a snowman chocolate, and the activity of going to buy toys for the local 'Toys for Kids.' I didn't feel it would be right to take pictures of the outing, but here is her getting her letter from Santa, which she LOVED!

The Santa Envelope template was from www.mrprintable.com

Mommy-and-Me Do Together Craft: Photo Frame/Art Display

My kiddo loves to paint, and I'm always trying to think of cool ways to display her art. I was at the dollar store scoping out frames for an office-redo project I'm working on, and had an idea to make some mother's day frames that for interchangeable artwork and photos.

While Viv got to work crating some masterpieces, I heated up the 'ol hot glue gun and started by cutting a few pages out of an old photo album.

Measure and mark on a paper instert exactly where you will want to glue onto the plastic... this will save you from having a crooked frame.

I covered by photo frame insert with felt and foam frames... remember not to glue the top of the insert and frame if you want to be able to change the photo!

Ready for artwork!

Kiddo Craft: Chalk Driveway Paint

This was so easy to do....we have more large sidewalk chalk than one family (despite our numerous chalkboards) would ever go through in a reasonable amount of time, so here's what we did:

• Placed the chalk in thick-ish ziplock bags, and used a meat tederizor to crush it up (a regular hammer will do, I just didn't feel like searching for one that early in the morning).
• Combine with water in containers with lids that seal! 
• Enlist a petite helper or two to mix mix mix and shake shake shake!

Make sure you frequently mix each  color!

Kiddo Craft: Birdhouses and Butterfly Feetsies

When we moved into our house we were given an unpainted birdhouse for Viv to decorate. Since we're in the midst of mother nature's fickle 'is-it-spring-or-is-it-winter' dance (an as I typed this, it started to snow again), we decided that today would be the perfect time to do something to welcome spring!

 

And since we had some paint leftover... we made a fe spring creatures of our own :)

 

Bring on the sunshine!

Laughable Moments AKA "$hit My Kid Says"

Viv is Unimpressed

The other day our darling daughter approached me and asked “What did people even TALK about before I came out of your belly?” [insert guffawing mama here] This led me to think about so many of the funny conversations she’s had with Mike and I. While there was certainly never a loss for topics before she “came out of my belly.” She certainly has brought a whole new level of unintentional humor into our home :)

Here are some of my faves, which, thanks to Facebook, I had a running record of! I knew all those status updates would come in handy one day!

Viv: "Daddy, I have to tell you something."

Mike: "What?"

Viv: "You're a boy, so you have a penis!"

Mike: "Um. thanks for letting me know…"

Viv: "You are VERY welcome!"

"My foots are dancin'!"

Viv: "What does 'car' start with?"

Me: "It starts with a 'C'"

Viv: "NO! It starts with a KEY!"

(Discussing preschool that day)

Me: "did you make sure to share?"

Viv: "Why, what did you hear?

Me: "Um, *should* I have heard something?"

Viv: "uhhhhh... no?”

Viv: "Thank you for the grape juice, mommy."
Me: "Thank You for having such good manners."
Viv: "Don't thank me, thank daddy."

(When asked about her art at the pretend art show we set up):

"Look at all the arts you see'd! If you believe what you believed, then you will see all the dance."

Viv: "I'm Princess Ariel!

Me: "Oh, whatch'ya doing Ariel?

Viv: "Nothing, just sittin' on my clam!"

Viv: "You have to say 'excuse me' when you toot?"

Me: "Yes, you do."

Viv: "Aaaand when you burp?"

Me: "Yes, and a variety of other things."

Viv: "And a variety of cake!"

Me: "Um..."

Viv: "Daddy's pooping"

Me: "Oh yeah?"
Viv: "Yeah, that means he's in the bathroom, so don't try to talk to him, okay? He wants privacy, and the door shut."
Me: "Is that what daddy says to you?"
Viv: "Yeah, a LOT”

After Viv asked me to "make her a word" with the alphabet chicken nuggets: 

Viv: What'sit say?

Me: Lets sound it out together..

"Puh" "Iiih" "Nnn" "Kuh"

Me: What does it spell?

Viv: INDIGO!"

Viv: "what's that?" 

Me: "a new toilet brush" 

Viv: "what's it do?" 

Me: "It cleans the potty!" 

Viv: "I thought daddy cleans the potty?"

Viv, pointing at a funnel at the Pick and Shovel: "haaaaaat!!"

Me: "That's called a funnel honey."

Viv(skeptically): "Well who's it fun for?"

"It's called a Christmas tree skirt so people know the tree's a lady."

(Looking at one of our photo albums):

"Is that the day I hatched out of your belly?"

(While playing office):

"Well mommy, we did it again... there's no business like work business. And at the end of the day, we get a sticker."

("Reading" a book to me):

"You should always put away toilet paper. There once was a girl who wanted to put away toilet paper. Her daddy said 'okay.' And then her mommy said 'alright.' So she did. And then there was a thing with feetsies that crawled BACK to the house. It was a baby. It growed to a big girl and lost aaaalll it's energy. And then lost her bones. She couldn't stand. She couldn't sit. She couldn't do anything without her bones. Her daddy said 'What happened to your bones? They were orange when I saw them in the sky.' She found her bones at a museum with a kookie slide. Oh wait, I skipped a page. So she found her bones and then she looked for her dream where she was princess. The end."

Viv: "When I hatched out of my egg, was I little?
Me: "What? Honey, remember we talked about how people-babies grow in their mommy's tummies until they are ready to be born."
Viv: "Oh. And *then* they hatch out of their eggs?"

Me: "Viv, Cinderella;s stepsisters are named Drizella and.... what is the name of the other one?"
Viv: "Latisha"

Viv: "How's the apples get mashed?" (applesauce)
Me: "It gets cooked and mashed in the kitchen at an applesauce factory."
Viv: "Who mashes up the milk?"
Me: "No one honey, milk comes from cows."
Viv: "It comes from a COW?! Does he mash it up, like, in his bum?!"

(As I arrived home):

Viv: "Hi mommy, can we play?"

Me: "What should we play?"

Viv: "Castle!"

Me: "Okay, I just need to change into some sweatpants or something first."

Viv: "How about something more princessy?"

Me: "What, like Lululemon?"

Viv: "is she a princess?"

Viv: "Why those boys have that doggie?"

Me: "Well, I think they own him honey."

Viv: "What's 'own' mean?"

Me: "You know how we have kitty cat? Well, that means they have doggie."

Viv: "AND we have a daddy!"

"What's a 'tough noogies'?"

Ahhh, I look forward to many more smile-worthy moments :)

8 "Facts" We Learned From Our Preschooler This Week

8 "Facts" We Learned From Our Preschooler This Week

1. FACT: "Only girls can go to cheese parties." We're not sure what a cheese party is, but I'm sad Mike will not be able to attend.Also, imitation cheddar is unacceptable, so don't even try.

2. FACT: Boobs are made of feathers. "That's how come they are kind of like pillows."

3. FACT: A Yoga mat is actually just a "fashiony runway" and a "royal princess carpet." Don't question her on this, she will demonstrate how to properly walk like a "fashiony" person, and will insist you follow suit.

4. FACT: The Easter Bunny, like many celebrities before him, has decided to re-brand himself with a one- name moniker. Instead of Peter Cottontail, this season he'll  be "Just Cottontail."

5. FACT: Mike's job is to "write about boy things."

6. FACT: China is "on the other side of the lake shaped like a ballerina."

7. FACT: Clearly, "You can wear a tutu, sunglasses, patent-leather shoes an no undies" is practically word for word the same thing as "Go put on something comfy for mommy and me yoga." Yes, if you're Paris Hilton. However, this "fact" is highly contested in our household, lol.

8. FACT:  It is possible to remember the precise location you lost a sticker in a department store 6 states away, a boo-boo from a year and a half ago, and every word of every line from 'Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses,' but impossible to remember what your mom asked you to do 3 seconds prior. According to preschooler law, all requests to do something must be repeated at least 6 times and submitted in writing with a cookie bribe 24 hours in advance.

:-) Ahhh, she teaches us so much! :)

Kiddo Craft: "Magic" Message Painting

Is it spring yet? We spent this chilly afternoon doing some arts and crafts!

Using the clear crayon leftover from Easter egg dying (white crayons would work too, but our paper was slightly gray so I went with this) I created some pictures and messages for Viv to water color and discover what each one was. Easy-peasy and really fun for little ones! Viv  painted about 12 in all, but would have gone on all afternoon if I hadn't started running low on crayon :)

I feel like I'm falling for fall

After a bad day, I was able to relax and enjoy a nice late fall afternoon with Viv. We took a walk around the neighborhood, drew some pumpkin pictures, "followed" a caterpillar, and pulled out some of the Halloween decor.

I love fall.

I love the smell of leaves. I love the appropriateness of argyle socks. I love the apple picking. I love making my great grandmother's apple crisp (which as one of my first blog posts here!), and  the veritable smorgasbord of other apple-related goodies. I have once again fallen for fall.

 "I can be Pumpkin Girl!" Personally, I think it looks like she's teaching them the Macarena

Signs That Fall Has Arrived at The Olmstead Homestead

 

 

Preschool and a Letter

I was torn as to which blog to post 'First Day of Preschool' Pics on. It's kiddo related, but personal too... sooo, I posted the Pinterest 'First Day' project over at It's a Daughter's World.

To My Darling Child on Her First 'First Day' of School,

Today was the first time of many in years to come, where Daddy and I will drive you to school, introduce you to your teacher, and wave goodbye as you run off to play. While I'm sure that you will not likely greet each year with the same enthusiasm that you did today, Daddy and I promise to be just as proud, if not prouder, of you everyday as we were of you today. <3 p="p">

" Every object, every being, is a jar full of delight."- Rumi

This morning my boss asked me how I managed to be so happy everyday, let alone so happy on a Monday morning. I would like to say that being happy comes as naturally as breathing, but that is both untrue and borderline obnoxious. It took me a long time to realize that happiness isn't something that falls in our laps, nor can we expect to find it in places we go looking for it. Happiness, for me, has meant rejoicing in the small things. The sun on my face; laughing with my husband until my stomach aches; the sound of my daughter singing from her crib in the morning; iced coffee and flip-flop days.... little things to celebrate each day.

Things that are making me happy today:

1. We moved into our house this fall, so I had no idea that come springtime we would have both lilies of the valley and lilacs blossoming in the side yard. Not to go all Anne Shirley on you all, but could there be a more perfect posies? The unexpected appearance of both of my favorite flowers deepens the love I have for living in the middle of nowhere.

2. My two shmoos :) Oh, and Vivi's new wagon!)

3. Creemees! Mmmm... vanilla-chocolatey goodness in a cone! Some of you may know this as a 'soft serve' ice cream, and to you folks, please let me refer you to this Facebook Group: It's called a creemee. If you don't like it, get the F$%# out.

4. Sitting in the sun reading a deliciously good book! Come to think of it... sitting anywhere reading a good book.

5. Having fun with food (especially when making food for someone else)

I could write some long [read: pretentious] testimonial here about how introducing my child to art at an early age will open her mind and awaken her senses... but no one needs (or has any desire) to hear about any of that, and I have no earthly longing to write about it. Sure, exposure to art can help develop the brain and provide and outlet for emotional expression, yadda yadda yadda and all that.

It's also (*most importantly*), what us common folk refer to as, ya know... fun.

Fingerpainting on a rainy afternoon? WIN! My little 'arteeest' was thrilled with her first go-'round with painting, and now that I know she will not try to *eat* the art supplies, I am equally as enthused.

Two mom thumbs up for Crayola Kid's Paint too! In addition to Viv being covered in paint, the floor and the tub were *shmeared* with color as well. Color me impressed (color, get it? ahhhh... I slay me) because this is one "washable" product that did not mean "scrub for hours and it should eventually come off."

(click to enlarge)

“Getting bored is not allowed"

This evening I introduced my daughter to what is, quite possibly, the best children's book ever written- Eloise, by Kay Thompson.

Who is Eloise? She is, undoubtedly what everyone with style wishes to become. She is a fearless female who speaks her mind, does what she wants and looks fabulous the entire time! I assure you, there is not a fashionista in the world that can come close to darling Eloise. She is witty, brazen and has the intelligence and vision of a Nobel Laureate.

Oh, and did I mention that she is six?

I adore this book for so many reasons! And while I never poured a pitcher of water down a hotel mail chute, it is certainly reminiscent of the whimsy and hilarity that is childhood. This is a story for every little girl (and boy... and grownup) to remind them just how deliciously fun life can be, no matter what age you are. And *that* is a feeling which I hope my daughter, (who giggled her way through the book) can keep with her forever ;-)

It's the simple things...

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
ee cummings