Cupcakes and Firetrucks!

We went to the 1st annual Fall Festival at the Y yesterday and I am a little surprised at what made the biggest impression. We did traditional Halloween stuff like hay rides and trick or treating (in car trunks), and got to jump in jumpy houses, eat popcorn, and do a little more dancing in costumes, BUT the main thing the kids liked was the cupcake walk. On the way to school today they couldn't stop talking about how you walked around the circle and stopped on numbers and if your number was called you got a pink cupcake! What actually happened was that the lady running the walk tried to match up the number to the one Katie would eventually land on (since we circled many, many times without being called) and when her number was called she asked Tyler if he wanted a cupcake too (of course, he said yes).

They also got to get into a firetruck. Tyler was thrilled, Katie wasn't too impressed. We just can't get Tyler to wear the Tiger hat, but he still enjoys "roaring" when he wears just the body part of the Tiger costume. Along with the cupcake conversation we had a few more this morning that had me stumped on how to explain. Tyler had to use the bathroom and we weren't far from school so I asked him if he could hold it. He did the typical reach down and try to physically "hold it" so I tried (again) to explain that what I really meant was to not go until we got to a bathroom - difficult! Then Katie asked me who her Auntie (which she says Auntee) was and I told her who her Aunts (which I have always said like ants) were, but tried to explain that they are called Aunt and not Auntie in our family and then she insisted that she had an Auntie because all of her friends do so we are just going with it, for now! The other was with Tyler, he was talking excitedly about hiding since lately he has really enjoyed hiding and listening to us seek him out. I was trying to explain that hiding is ok if we are playing a game, but that if I ever say Tyler come out now he has to do it (because I fear he will hide at a time when he shouldn't and he will get lost or scare me silly that he is lost - he is a good hider). He kept telling me, but mom that isn't how it works - you are supposed to find me - and I tried to explain that most of the time we can do it that way, but that if I ever tell him that he has to come out it is because I can't find him and need to. I am not sure if he got it, maybe I need to test it when I actually do know where he is and praise him for doing what I ask! Doing what I ask is not typical these days, but we had their parent teacher conferences and both of their teachers said they listen and mind really well so I am hopeful that it is just with me that they pretend like they can't hear or understand what I am asking. They both got really great evaluations in their first event parent/teacher meetings :)!

We are excited for Halloween fun tonight. I think we are going to attempt one of us trick or treating with them and one handing out candy, but that may mean that the extent of our trick or treating is our little neighborhood! This is the first year that the kids have actually gotten to eat the candy they receive and understand that it is a special treat - I think Halloween has created monsters out of these two in that they are not complete candy mongers! We have talked a lot about "too much candy will make you sick," and watched a couple of shows with that same theme so I am hopeful that they understand why we limit them to just a couple of pieces!

COLD Halloween Fun

We went to the Zoo Halloween extravaganza last night with So-So and Ray, which was the first time the kids got to wear their costumes. We will let them wear them to a festival at the Y tomorrow and on Halloween, of course - but ever since they have come in they have been itching to wear them so they were super excited about our zoo adventure. It was very cold, considering this is essentially our first cold snap, but the kids had fun even if they wouldn't wear pieces of their costumes - tiger head for Tyler and daisy headband for Katie. It was "trick or treat training" since they had booths set up on a trick or treat trail for the kids to visit - and surprisingly Katie was the shy one and Tyler was all about getting some candy!

Tonight I think we had an all-time most tired child in Katie, who spent the day at the tailgate and bouncy houses and was completely exhausted. They were both worn out - we went to the Arkansas/Vandy game where they had a fall festival set up and we had our usual tailgate which meant lots of fun and activity for T&K and we didn't get home until 4:30 after leaving the house at 9:00. It was a long, but fun day. I hope to have better success getting pictures on Halloween since I had an uncooperative camera and children this time, but here are a couple from the zoo.

The Daisy, Princess, Fairy - as Katie describes herself.

The headless tiger! Trick or Treating.

Tyler, especially, was a dancing fool. He was cutting a rug at the game today too and it is pretty funny - let's just say rhythm is not his "thing," but it makes me smile because he is having so much fun and doesn't have a self-conscious thought when he is letting loose!

More Fall Fun!

This weekend meant more Fall fun for everyone. Lance and I got to go to the Vandy game (big, big thank you to So-So and Ray-Ray for watching the kids again) and had a great time watching a victory and spending time with friends. Earlier in the day we went to Gentry Farms and I forgot to charge my camera, but got a few shots before it completely died! It was much more crowded out there since it was such a beautiful day and the second to last weekend of them being open - but the hayride, hay maze and playing in the corn troughs were still lots of fun. This evening is pumpkin carving time so we can finally "light them up" like the kids have been begging to.

Tyler has been telling everyone who asks that he is going to be Super Why for Halloween, but his tiger costume came yesterday and he loves it so hopefully he will go back to that choice! Katie is upset that hers isn't in yet, but hopefully it will be here soon. They have Halloween parties and a festival at school next week so it should be fun for them - they are of course big fans of candy and seem to be at the perfect age for playing pretend and really getting into being in costume. Tyler has become a champ with letters and letter sounds, even if S and C, G and J still confuse him. I don't think Katie is behind, but she is not nearly as interested as him in figuring out letters and spelling. She can tell you how to spell her name because she was jealous that Tyler could do it and we have a little toy that has letters that you press and it tells you each letter and he can pick out all the letters of his name which makes Katie want to figure it out too! I guess a little healthy competition won't hurt in this instance!

Tyler with the pumpkins. Neither of them would cooperate and look up at me when I was taking a picture, and my camera didn't have enough juice to wait them out!

Katie in her super cute outfit from So-So!

Tyler called this a jungle! The corn is always a big hit.

Halloween

Well, after much deliberation, we have finally decided on Halloween costumes. After agreeing, Tyler has already changed his mind, but hopefully we can talk it up enough in the next two weeks and he'll be back to wanting to be a.... Tiger! Katie has decided to be a flower "princess." We got her a daisy costume since her primary requirement was to have a tutu and she pointed it out and said that was what she wanted to be. The price was right on both of their costumes so we just went for it, last minute since they are being shipped and won't be here until right before Halloween. I want to get them out to Ghouls at Grassmere, but probably won't have their costumes in time so they might have a second costume pieced together from stuff at home (princess dress-up dresses, cowboy, etc). Tyler has become determined that he wants to be Super Why (of course, now that I ordered something different and it is something that I can't really create at home), and I am hoping that changes but love that he is so into that show. It has been great for him picking up on letters and letter sounds - and Katie watches too and pretends to be Princess Presto spelling stuff with her wand. They crack me up with the stories they tell to each other and us, and playing pretend - I am loving watching their imaginations grow.

Last night was the last Tumble Tots class and they got to jump in a bouncy house! We have some decisions to make because Katie still loves her dance class and it is over in December unless we re-up (would probably do the one that includes tap since she is mesmerized by the girls in their tap shoes). They both have shown interest in soccer (we got a little goal for the back yard and they have been practicing scoring!) and want to do swim lessons, and Tyler is convinced that he wants to do tumbling some more. I don't want them to be over-scheduled (and Lance would rather Katie do soccer than dance), but they do enjoy the classes. There are lots of things I want to do in the next few weeks - the zoo Halloween, still haven't been to Gentry Farms, carve pumpkins, and then Christmas and Thanksgiving stuff and since most of the classes are on the weekend I feel like we should probably hold off until January and re-evaluate what they want to do after we see how much "free" time we have. This time of year is so difficult - mostly because of (I am ashamed to admit) football. We love going to football (and eventually basketball) games, but the kids are still a bit too young for the night games - plus, that is a long time for them to essentially entertain themselves since they can't really follow the game action. I still wish we could find an affordable sitter that we trust (and probably could if Lance was comfortable with a "stranger" watching them), because not going to games is really not an option for Lance and I feel bad imposing on our current sitters which means that since that is my issue I should be the one not to go and to stay home with the kids. I see his point, though - if we hire a sitter, spend money out, and then get a cab if we have some cocktails - we both can't afford to go out anyway :)! Regardless, we hope to make it out to a pumpkin farm Saturday and maybe the zoo on Friday so hopefully the next post will include cute Halloween/Fall photos!

Owen Farm

It was another eventful and oh so fun Saturday! We started the day with dance class and then along with So-So and Ray-Ray made the trek out to Ashland City for a day at the pumpkin farm. There were slides, swings and even a pumpkin cannon. We were all too worn out before we made it through the corn maze, on the hayride or playing in the corn, but we will probably do those things at Gentry some time this season so it was fun to try some new things. The kids are running on fumes right now because even after a fun-filled, activity-packed day naps were a no go. I have no clue how they get them to nap (occasionally) at school, because at home they talk (to themselves if separated), sing, cry - anything to avoid sleeping. Monday I have to work, but the kids don't have school and dad will have them on his own so maybe he can figure out the nap thing!

After the day on the farm I went looking for some dresses (Katie is still insisting on wearing dresses every day to school and it will be cold soon), and was shocked to learn that Columbus Day weekend is apparently big for shopping because they were literally sold out of everything in Katie's size at Old Navy, Target, etc. I came back with the intention of loading them in the car and taking them to the mall with me to give Lance a break, and I have never seen two more exhausted children. They are having meltdowns right and left and would fall asleep standing up, I think, if they didn't have such amazing willpower! Needless to say it will be an early night for them (and probably consequently an early morning), but our farm fun was just too much for these two. Lance was in charge of bringing a change of clothes for Katie since we met over at So-So and Ray-Ray's, and he forgot them but So-So saved the day with a "popcorn" shirt that Katie just loves!

When I asked them what their favorite thing was they said picking out pumpkins (we got two big ones) AND Katie said the swing and Tyler's was the slide! They also said the pumpkin cannon, but really they couldn't decide if they were scared of it or not!

Our Little Tumblers

Tonight was our Tumbling Tots class (I think we have just a couple left), and the kids are definitely going to be sad when it is done. They were pretty shy at first, but now they are excited about it and doing well. They are still working on the very basics - standing, jumping and balancing on one foot, forward rolls, banana and star jumps (their favorite), the beginnings of cartwheels, etc. - but they have gotten better (at listening and staying in line, too - but they still struggle with the line thing) every time. Katie told me today that she loves the Y because she gets to swim there in the "whale pool" and go to Tumbling Tots! Just a couple of weeks ago, they had to be coerced into the room and quickly had to hide out of sight, and now we have to make up elaborate explanations for why we have to go to school before we go to class because they just can't wait to get there!

Their classroom has big open windows and Katie is such a ham when she can see us watching and constantly looks at us and waves or acts up. It is so different than watching her on the closed circuit tv at dance class when she doesn't know I can see her - she is a completely different child! At dance class she is careful to stay where she is told, listens to the teacher intently and tries hard to figure everything out - at the tumbling class she skips in line, only does the parts that she likes, and runs over to the window to wave and preen the entire time. It might have something to do with the time of day, but more likely it is just the same strange behavior that means they are on their best behavior around everyone but me!

Stretching at the beginning of class!

Tyler is still working hard to learn his alphabet. He has learned to spell his name - for the longest time he insisted that it was T - I- L - E - R and that it couldn't be Y because that makes a different sound (he is learning the sounds letters make). Tonight at bedtime he told a pretty shocked Lance (because it is a car game on the way to and from school to talk about what letters we see on signs and what sounds they make and what other words start with what letter, so Lance had no clue that he has been asking about his name and the letters) how to spell his name and he finally said Y instead of I! He almost has Katie's too (and Katie is getting there), but he gets caught up in telling me that they both have a T in their names for Tyler. Our discussion this morning really opened my eyes to how difficult it is to learn the English language. He was telling me what people's names start with and said So-So started with a C. I told him that it was actually "s" like snake (one that he knows) and he said "no, C like cereal." Ugh - I don't really know what to do with that one! I just thought of other S words and C words like cat and car (although he asked me why those weren't K) and he seemed to accept it, but also looked at me kind of like he was just humoring me! I might need to read up on teaching reading and literacy to preschoolers, because I have definitely confused myself lately trying to figure out how to explain the rules and how best to introduce a three year old to phonics!

So Opinionated

I don't know how we ended up with two very opinionated little people (ha, ha, ha) - but Tyler and Katie surely do know what they want and will do everything in their power to make it happen like they intend! Katie is doing it with clothes and I am trying very hard to let it roll off my back. She is back into a dress stage - and she cannot be convinced that it is too cold to wear the ones we have since we don't yet have long-sleeved ones or tights. I am trying to pull the trigger on the 48 hour sale for 30% off at Old Navy/Gap since they have some ones that look like they will be easy to play in and cute and comfy, BUT with Miss Independent I have know way of knowing if I am purchasing something that she will deem worthy to wear (and the sale is only online so I can't take her to find out even though she LOVES shopping). She insists on picking out what she is wearing for the day and never thinks that the first shoes I pick for her are appropriate (I need to learn from that and offer the ones I really want her to wear 2nd). She doesn't do too bad, because she is starting to pick up on matching and does seem to have some fashion sense already (probably better than mine), but the shoe thing is a debacle. She always wants to wear ones that are not quite right (black patent leather to the playground, pink sparkles a size too big to school, brown platform almost heels that I have no idea where she got), and I always end up letting her because it isn't worth the fight! Her feet have finally grown, though, so I need to go behind her back and pack up all the ones that don't fit since those are the ones she usually wants to wear, even telling me that "they only hurt a little bit mama - it's ok." Lance is appalled that she doesn't seem to care if she gets a blister and I have tried to tell him that it is not surprising that our little girlie girl already understands that sometimes you have to suffer for beauty :). I have to pick up a pair or two of shoes for her for fall/winter and I think I am going to try to find them as neutral as possible that will still be worn by my little fashionista so we don't have as much clashing!

Tyler's opinionated streak doesn't have much to do with what he wears (he could care less other than, against Lance's wishes, when he insists on wearing nail polish like Katie), but if he thinks something is correct he cannot be convinced otherwise. He is starting to recognize letters and tells me what words start with what letter and if he is incorrect and I try to tell him that his name has a "y" not an "i" for instance, he says "actually mom, it is an I - it's ok you got confused." He has definite ideas of how exactly he wants to build his blocks, put his puzzles together, or be read to as well and he will let you know what way he prefers! He is still getting so frustrated, and is whining a lot (but much better now that he isn't on prednisone) and we have yet to find anything that gets him to calm down or tell us what is wrong. Lance says that he was like that, too, and that the best thing we can do for him his to teach him to take deep breaths, keep trying, or walk away to calm down if it is too overwhelming so we are upping our efforts to really enforce time-out anytime he has a meltdown to give him the opportunity to learn both that the behavior will not be tolerated and that there is a better way to handle frustration. It is a bit touchy feely, new-age parent who thinks their kids deserve explanations (which is so not me)- but there has been a bit of progress so we are sticking with it for now. The allergy medicine seems to really be helping him, too and hopefully if we can get that under control he will have less breathing issues and no need for the rage inducing steroids!

The kids spent Saturday night with Ray-Ray and So-So (and we are so thankful), while Lance and I went out to celebrate his birthday so we didn't have much on the agenda for the weekend other than the usual dance class for Katie. We had a good time, though, playing in the backyard with the beautiful Fall-like weather and of course, watching Tyler put puzzles together (he is still obsessed). Next weekend I either want to go to Gentry Farms or I want to try out a new place I heard about in Chapmansboro that has all the same things as Gentry, but also has inflatables and a little train. Lance has to work, though, and I always get lost trying to find new places (still, after living here for many more years than when I was driving in Florida) so we will probably end up where I know! Either way, I hope to have pictures of our Fall fun next time I post!