KangaRoo

wherein Elmo is a joey in her 'pocket'

a rockin' Saturday night

it's not all princesses and rainbows

It went at a little like this...

Em: Oh Daddy, look! [holds out empty hands] A little caterpillar!

J: [pretending to take the caterpillar] A caterpillar! Yum! [pretend gobbles the invisible critter]

Em: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

J: Now it's going to turn into a butterfly in my tummy.

Em: AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! No, Daddy! My caterpillar!

J: [pretend coughing] Em, come pat my back.

Em: [pats J's back]

J: [coughs and pretends to hack up the caterpillar]

Em: [cupping empty hands] Ewww! Daddy, it's all wet and has germs! That's SO gross.

game over.

Outfit of the day

Roo compromised and wore a pink hat instead of the black and red cloche she originally chose.

Here she is playing 'wedding cake'.

Titara

Behold! Princess Sleeping Beauty in her beautiful dress, slippers and "ti-tara".

And doesn't Snow White look lovely, too?

instruction worker Roo: this and that

loving her sparkly shoes and the balloon from school that day

still on a pirate kick... this hat courtesy of a princess and pirate birthday party

donning a daddy's hard hat and being adorable

tutus are for suckers

The RGs attended the birthday party of some sweet playgroup friends.

The trio celebrated turning 5 with a princess, superhero and pirate party.

It was awesome.

Lots of yummies, dressing up, toys, play equipment and bouncing with good friends.

Em and Roo each received a tutu, fairy wand and princess tiara for favors. But, they (not so secretly) longed for the boys' favor bag with the pirate/superhero loot inside. As we exited, I was able to exchange their bags and handed them over once we got to the car.

You would have thought it was Christmas!

So, for 2 days now, we've had a couple of buccaneers running about, with super hero capes on for added measure. They've answered nearly every question with "Argh!!!" and are in character for at least 50% of the day.

In fact, Roo has a complete alter ego now named Pirate Finnegan.

I was told this evening that "I not pirate Em now, just Em."

It's hard to tell when they switch back to regular people sometimes.

a little paint on the barn

Em asked me for a "shadow brush" this morning.

I was getting ready for the day and putting on my makeup. She wanted to do that, too.

I keep a set of make-up brushes just for the girls to play with.

(Ever since finding Roo dusting with one of my blushers.)

Playing makeup isn't a new thing.

But today, she wasn't satisfied with the brush. Em said she wanted "some paint".

Here's the result.

Check out those eyes!

storytime as told by Roo

Once upon a time there were two little, no, wait...

There was one little... yes. One little boy.

And one little goyle. Named Daddy and Mama.

And they went to Africa. Then they went to Abilene. And that is the end.

-by Roo

how to make a cookie with frosting

By: Roo and Em

(dictated during bath time tonight)

Roo: Well, first. First. Yeah, first you make the cookie dough.

Em: Yeah, cookie dough.

Roo: A LOT of cookie dough.

me: What's next?

Roo: You eat it.

Em: nom nom nom

me: Wait, I thought you were making cookies with frosting? How about rolling it?

Em: pantomimes rolling out dough

Roo: Ok. You roll it, roll it, roll it. Then, you eat it.

Em: nom nom nom

me: Come on you guys.

Em: Noooo. You pat it.

Roo: *singing* pat it, pat it, pat it

me: Ok, now what?

Roo:

Em:

me: How about a cookie cutter? Push it in the dough.

Roo: Push it in the cookie dough and eat it.

Em: I make-a a cookie! *holding up a pretend cookie* Nom nom nom.

me:

me: Alrighty, now you put them on a baking sheet and put them in the oven and cook them.

Roo: And I have some frosting!

me: Yes, after they cook, put on the frosting.

Em: nom nom nom

Roo: And that's how you make a cookie.

*This recipe turns out delicious air-flavored cookies with bath-water frosting. Use at your own risk.

Toddler Slang, part 7

"pajama socks"

translation: footed pajamas

"monster kisses"

translation: big growly zerbert-style kisses

"sweet kisses"

translation: soft quiet kiss

"30 GOLDFISH IN A BOWL!"

translation: My blood sugar is low. I need a snack. Now! Gimme some goldfish crackers!

"Chriskit bother"

translation: Biscuit Brother's Christmas show

"Princess panties"

translation: Pull-Ups worn for nighttime

"cockerdiahs"

translation: Emme's Crocs

"nose medicine"

translation: nasal spray

"cookie spoon"

translation: spatula with some cookie dough

"picnic at the beach with some hot cocoa water"

translation: I've come up with an excuse to drink the bath water

ah. good times.

Christmas 2009 in review

highlights!

-being with family for real and virtually

-starting an advent tree tradition and reading a Bible story each evening before adding the ornaments

-shopping for Sissy, wrapping her gift especially and keeping it a secret

-really learning the story of Jesus' birth

(then pretending to be the baby Jesus for the next month)

-Uncle Mike... Em's first crush and a darn good sport

-candy... canes, kisses, chocolate or not... anykind. just bring it!

-The Biscuit Brother's holiday music...

-driving around in 'pajama socks' (footed pjs) looking at holiday lights

-Christmas in the Big Woods... a new favorite holiday book

lowlight!

-tummy bug for the entire family

more highlights!

-watching The Nutcracker... many times

-singing Christmas carols, loudly and with much enthusiasm

-rides in the barber chair

-pretending to make snow angels on the floor and imaginary snowmen on their beds

-seeing real snow fall, helping Daddy make a snowman and watching Uncle Mike make a genuine snow angel

-hot(-ish) chocolate, gingerbread cookies and marshmallows

-holiday pajamas

-wishing everyone they met a 'merry Christmas!'

-wishing Marmee a happy Nutcracker merry Christmas

neighborhood of make believe

Tonight Em made the most magical make believe toy out of 1 foot of skinny metal pipe.

It was..
- a flute
- a guitar
- a twirling baton
- a shovel
- a conductor's baton
- a drum stick
- a paint brush
- a violin
- a music note
...and a candle
She pointed it up to the sky so that, from her perspective, the bright ball of the setting sun was poised at the tip of the pipe. Then, she proudly exclaimed, "IT'S A CANDLE IN THE SKY!"
(Em usually speaks in all caps with lots of dramatic gestures).

Indedibibble Em

J introduced the blanket-as-cape idea to Em tonight.
He tied her Nannie blanket around her shoulders and told her she was an Incredible.
Then, he helped her fly all over the room until it was time to land in her bed.
She loved it!

Upon landing, Em picked up the second blanket in her bed and asked for a "A white Indedibibble, peeeeeeze?!"

Of course, if one cape is good, then two will be even better.