Wordless Wednesday-Happy 2nd Birthday Ethan

Afternoon Quiet Time

Once lunch is cleaned up, it is time for Ethan to have a nap.  I fondly remember the days when Hannah napped after lunch too, but one day in September, Hannah stopped napping: Cold Turkey.  They was no slow down, just an immediate halt to all things napping.  Since then she has what she calls "rest time", it is neither restful nor quiet, and truthfully there are afternoons when I am more tired after rest time than before it.  On a good day, she plays and reads quietly in her room for the majority of Ethan's nap.  Then she reads and plays quietly in my room.  Those are the good days.  I'm not really going to describe a bad day, its too taxing. :D  I will however "show" one relatively bad day.

On the particular day in question Ethan napped well but woke up early.  Hannah did not manage to stay in her room for even 5 mins before needing something.  Turns out that was the relative "calm in the storm" portion of or afternoon.

Hannah and Ethan had not been playing well together, and they were NOISY, VERY NOISY and I had a headache.  After yelling several times, I separated them into their own rooms and  told them to read quietly on their beds until I came back.  After I calmed down I checked to make sure they were both still breathing and I couldn't find Hannah.  She had sneaked out of her room and climbed into Ethan's crib.  They were finally quiet so I left them alone.

Aren't they cute?  Take note of what there wearing.  Hannah is in the pink pants.  When I finally went back to get them out of their prison they were happy and calm.

At some point they had even traded pants. 

Letter X Wrap-up and Letter Y Preview

Hannah, Ethan and I had a really good time working our way through our X activities.  Andrew was even able to join in a little bit.  We didn't really do anything messy so Ethan was happy.  This week I'll be bringing out the paint so stay tuned.

Hannah is playing with the letter box things, while Ethan ripped off the sticker from the lid.

Hannah had fun doing the X maze, I'll have to print out some more of these because she thought these were lots of fun. 

Working away.

Oh, how much I love these two!

This was definitely a favorite.  It took me a bit of playing to fill the glasses so that they sounded right.  Then I added the food coloring.  I'm not sure why the red is more orange than red (especially since its called Christmas red).  They played their homemade xylophone happily.  It is now sitting on my windowsill and looks pretty when the sun is out (which it hasn't been)

Matching colors.

I had so much fun watching Hannah play tic-tac-toe with Andrew.  He explained it and she seemed to pick it up quickly.  Then after a few games she started cheating.  Hahahahah Andrew would win and she would remove one of his pieces and put hers down instead.

Coming up soon! 

Letter Box Y: Yukon pin, yarn, yo-yo, yellow block, letter y, and a y bean bag.

Yellow cube counting.

Yarn Block Painting (Source: Print and Pattern).  I also left some extra peices of the yarn so that Hannah and Ethan can drag it through the paint.  We will see if Ethan sits at the table with us.

Yellow sponge animals.  These little capsule animals are fun for the kids to watch grow. I thought they could choose and put their capsules in their jar and watch them grow.

Yo-Yo Fun: We are going to make a water balloon yo-yo each, and they can also try their hand at a real yo-yo.  (Source: Delightful Learning)

Wordless Wednesday

Sewing with Hannah

Recently, I was working on a project for my sister's new baby which meant I had the sewing machine out while the kids were around playing.  When I have the sewing machine which isn't often because my mom and my sisters also use it, (and I am not complaining because it is not my machine anyway) it means I am often on a deadline.  Normally, I would just wait until the kids are out or asleep but my looming deadline meant it was going to be an interesting morning.  I worked uninterrupted for quite awhile when Hannah decided that she wanted to help me.  At first I was a little leery not wanting to sew her little fingers, but she had this very excited I want to do it with you look that I couldn't resist.  

I gave her a scrap of fabric and some pins (3 so I could keep track) and showed her how to pin.

She is really quite good and didn't prick her fingers at all.

This kept her busy for quite awhile and even Ethan who wandered over to join in too.  It didn't last long before Ethan left us and probably that was because he was given a blunt plastic needle.  When Hannah was finished pinning she proudly showed me her work and asked to sew it like me.

This is a picture of Hannah practicing while the machine is off, but she did sit on my lap and help me sew her scrap into a square. 

Having Hannah sew with me was completely her idea but it also reminded me that she loves the challenge of trying new (and often grown-up) things.  It is also a way of teaching her that that I think she is a capable growing girl.  

Victoria

Here are some pictures of our trip to Victoria.

Our ferry.

Andrew and Ethan peering over the railing.

In the kid-zone.  Ethan ever the ham.

Our view from our new house. (Hannah thought we moved).

Breakfast is served.

Ethan spotting a butterfly at the Butterfly Gardens.  Then he tried to stomp on it.

Searching for butterflies with her chart.

Hannah and Ethan

Playing on the deck.

Hannah loved running through the long grass.

Ethan liked picking it up.

Relaxed.

Petting goats at Beacon Hill Park.

Ready for a nap.

Visiting with friends.