Gymnastics with Toddlers

Both kids are enrolled in gymnastics this semester.  They love going but sometimes they struggle with waiting in line for their turn on the beam or bards etc.  Thea is especially energetic.  Some of the activities are a bit of a stretch for 2-3 year olds but usually the kids modify it how they see fit.  

It’s interesting to see how they practice the skills outside the gym too.  We’ve been walking on the curb wall more and finding bars to swing from and practicing handstands like champs.  

(Backup) Good List Thea

All good.

Your passion for repetition.  

The way you are so decisive.  

Watching you learn.

Your love of all things boots.

Your boundless energy.

You blue blue eyes.

The way you mimic me or jones.

When you sing to yourself.

How you declare your need for me.

The way you play with your babies, rocking them, taking them places, making sure you don’t leave a baby behind.

All good things.

 

Good List Jones

The way you appreciate quilts, running your fingers along the blocks or binding.

How you squint one eye when smiling.

Reading bunches of books by yourself.

Sock monkeys made by grandma.

How you gobble up fists of jerky from auntie Kathleen.

The way you flirt with your gymnastics coaches.

Pretending to be shy at school.

Telling me that the moon tastes like moon chicken and needs ketchup sauce.

Questioning how a braid becomes a braid.

Giving hugs when I leave without you.

All good.  

The Block of the Month Quilt

Remember back in 2015 when I started this quilt??  Well I gave up on making the blocks but I finished this unfinished project.  I pieced the back in leftover fabrics from this project as well as leftovers from another one same with the binding.  At first I wasn’t a fan but it’s grown on me.  

Hello February

It’s February a new month.  I have serious winter blahs! So it’s a new opportunity for me to state a few mini goals:

• Blog more (like there’s 28 days in Feb I am shooting for 15)
• Create some good lists, its sooo easy for me to get trapped into the drama, and I need more good less drama
• Meal planning (I did this this last week and it was soooo helpful).
• Do something uncomfortable
• Get in those steps, lately I have been way off on step count thru the week,  so I am going to attempt to up the count by pacing on conf calls, or getting up earlier for a fast walk, or walking the long way etc.
• Van shopping - time to get serious about getting rid of this awful car.  
• Order photos from 2017.
• Buy new underwear 

That it for now it’s not exactly an exciting list but it’s a need one.  

22 - Skating Lessons

Skating is offered at the local college and the coaching is so good.  It’s mostly taught by college students but it’s like 3 kids to each coach.  Jones was first discouraged as he “falls down” but he’s getting better he’s been using the buckets to skate less and less and he seems to fall over because he likes to go fast.  He also made a little friend and she is in the level two group so he wants to move into her group.

We do need to get new snow pants as apparently he’s been wearing 2T and they are getting a little short as the suspenders to expand.  But they are perfect so he doesn’t have wet pants after practice.

He has a show coming up in May and I can’t wait to see the kids skating.  Anyhow I feel like the Learn to Skate Program has been very good and I play to also have Thea participate next year.  

28 - Women’s March Indy

Women’s march check.  It was also Thea and mommy date.  It was a great day for a march. Such an empowering event.  I am so glad I brought Thea I think it’s important for her to participant in these events even though she’s so young.  She learned how to chant my favorite was her yelling “this is what mocacy looks like”.  (Mocacy is Democracy.)  So cute she also was waving to people, giving high fives and holding her sign.  

7 - organize the toys

So I did this organize the toys. Both in their room and in the living room. They already dumped everything out but we are attempting to work on keeping things organized by toy.  I need to label the baskets.  Also I need to find another place to put the games and puzzles.  I did donate about 2 boxes of babyish toys and I still have two boxes of books I haven’t taken to donate yet.  

The baskets I used were from Target they were like $4.80 and they fold up.  The train set didn’t fit in one so I kept it in its old bun.  Below the baskets not photoed are larger toys like the barn, school, big trucks etc.  each thing has its own shelf and so far the kids are doing pretty good putting things away.

Tuesday 10 - A good list

A few good things... 

1. Temperature Quilt (more later)

2. the women’s march (photo from last year)

3. I finally got my new plates and liscense the requirements are crazy in Ohio. I went 3 times.  

4. dIY for sleeping bags!  Love this.  I plan to make them for my kids.  Source Beautiful Mess https://abeautifulmess.com/2018/01/how-to-sew-your-own-sleeping-bag.html

5. Ice skating lessons 

6. My new favorite pants (jockey brand)

7. Gymnastics for both kids!

8.  Working on my hexie project.

9. The Winter Olympics!  

10.  Finally getting my new insurance cards even if I had to print them myself!  

Conversations with Jones

This morning on the way to school Jones presented all these ideas he had:

1. Him -  “Mom I need keys.  I want to be Mr Craig and teach school and lock the doors.  Do you think I can grow a beard.”

Me - “you want to be a teacher?”

“Yes Mr Craig he has keys to lock the door.  I want to lock the doors.”

Then later at school he announces to Mr Craig “Hey there are now two Mr. Craig’s.  me and you.  I am getting keys and a beard. Then I will be grown up and be you.”

Everyone had a good laugh.  The other teachers who heard are now calling him Mr. Craig.

2. Him “Mom can we discuss what is happening after school?”

Me - “sure we need to go to the store.”

Him - “sure. Before dark,  I want a picnic, and campfire.”

Me - “it’s supposed to rain all evening.”

Him - “we have blankets.  Do they have camphouses atthe store?  Do you think we need to dig a hole for our campfire? Maybe Mrs Linda wants a campfire at her house?”

Me - “it’s winter but we could get a tent from the garage when it’s warmer, we have a few.”

Him - “can we campfire? We need a hole and bricks and pokers.”

Me - “perhaps we should research the fire pit.  We could probably make one when it’s warmer and everything isn’t all wet.”

Him - “I think mrs Linda has one already we can borrow hers”

Me - “you can ask”

3.  Him - “do crocadillys like guacamole?”

Me - “no I think crocodiles like chickens and fish and birds.”

Him - “ahh so they like chicken-fish guacamole and probably corn dogs ”

Me - “exactly.”