Soccer Ahead

We took the kids to a small park a couple weekends ago. Usually that park is fairly empty, it only has a small toddler playground and lots of empty space. However on that Sunday it was hopping with kids running around, an adult volleyball game and a kid soccer game.

After playing on the playground equipment for a little while, Chris and Xander wandered over to watch the soccer game. It was a game between two girl teams, maybe 10 years old. They sat and watched for quite a while. I'm pretty sure Chris spent the entire time ready to spring out and grab Xander if Xander attempted to run out on the field and play.

Right now it looks like Xander will grow up to be athletic. He gets up to exercise with Chris in the morning. Chris does a video and Xander will try to work out along with it or will sit on Chris to help with push ups. They watch sports on TV, ranging from football to baseball with basketball and soccer mixed in. Xander has even asked to watch golf and tennis. When he plays with his friend Dusty, he practices passing and keeping away and lots of running. He's even good at tackling, which we are really trying to put a stop to for the moment.

So when Xander asked to play soccer on that day at the park, I thought about it. And, for reasons ranging from moving to not paying to watch three year olds run around, I said no and he'll have to wait.

Have I mentioned that Xander has hit the question age? Everything is "Why?"

So he asked why he couldn't play. I said they already signed up for teams. Why? Because it's an all girls team. Why? You'd have to play on a boys team. Okay! But you have to be four years old. Really? Yes, really. Okay!

Now he randomly asks if he is four yet, so he can sign up for soccer.

Story Time: Reboot

After all of the drama of trying Story Time at the local libraries, we just stopped going for a while. The weather this week has been cold (fifties is cold here) and wet. On Thursday I decided it was time to try again. Xander likes going to libraries to get books, computer games and movies. I also figured it was time for Josie to learn to Sit Still and Pay Attention. Not that I expect her to learn that in a half hour at the library but we have to start somewhere.

We arrived about ten minutes early and the kids had fun playing with Legos, looking at books and running around. There were plenty of little ones running around. This story time was for 18 months to 3 years so Xander would be a bit old for it however I figured it would be easier to go to that one than to bring Josie to the 3 to 5 year story time.

As soon as the librarian called for Story Time so we could go to the appropriate room, Xander started crying. It took a minute to figure out, but I think someone stepped on his hand. I got him calmed down and we headed in and took a pair of seats so that Xander was next to me and Josie was in my lap.

As soon as the opening song began Xander began to wail. Oh. My. Goodness. So I carried Josie and led Xander out of the room. He couldn't explain why he was crying but he strongly stressed that he wanted to go home.

I wasn't about to give up that easily and I talked him into returning and sitting with me. The librarian was reading a book with numbers and I could hear Xander counting along next to me. Then she did a flannel board story, where cut outs are put up on the board. He found that entertaining. Then there was a song that Josie danced to, Xander wouldn't budge.

At one point the librarian stopped what she was doing and asked a parent to take a book away from a girl reading so she could pay attention. The rules at this library astound me. A little girl, less than two years old, gets in trouble for quietly reading at the library.

Then it went down hill again. Xander started saying, louder and louder, that he wanted to go home. Josie started squirming and wanted down. Since this is the library where we were reprimanded for letting a child quietly walk around during Story Time, I knew it was time to leave and we headed out to read a couple books together.

We made it fifteen minutes. We'll try again next week.

My Little Valentines

To prepare for Valentine's Day, the kids made cards for all of their aunts, grandparents and great-grandmas. Let me tell you, it was exhausting helping a three year old cut out 2o-some hearts and then gluing them to paper.

For the kids, I just wanted to make the cookies that my mom always made for me. They are heart shaped cookies with a cherry filling. After scouring the internet and making a couple calls to my mom, I had the recipe. Then I managed to nab the last heart shaped cookie cutter from Michael's.

During lunch today, I put the cookie cutter to good use.


For the cookies, I made the filling and the cookie dough ahead of time. This afternoon we invited Xander's friend Dusty, his mom and sister over to help make the cookies. They helped with the cut outs and taste testing.


Those cookies are just as delicious as I remember. The kids love them. I guess we have a new tradition.

Dealing With It

Josie busted her eye this morning.

She and Xander were helping me to sort clothes when she slipped and her head bounced off of the corner of a stool in the room.

My immediate thoughts were: Rush to her side, push Xander out of the way if necessary, pick her up and cuddle her, get ice, wait there is no ice, what if it's bad, I don't have a car today, who can I call?! Where's my phone?!?

My immediate actions were actually: Set down laundry, ask Xander to please move back, cuddle Josie, notice there is a little blood, try to spot where blood is coming from but Josie is still in cuddle mode, carry her to the bathroom and get a wet washcloth to clean her and hold on her eye, contain panic that she'll need liquid stitches on her eyelid.

As you can see, my thoughts and actions don't actually match up so well.

Josie actually asked for Cookie Boo-Boo, which is a cold pack shaped like Cookie Monster. It wasn't cold (I hadn't thought to throw it in the mini-fridge) but I let her have it anyway. She happily put it on her eye and walked off to play.

Panic averted.