Entries from November 2011 ↓

I am inspired by the book Fifteen Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids
The idea of going outside at least briefly with your kids each day despite the weather appeals to me. Today was easy because the sun was shining.

Outside we played shrubbery peekaboo.
Ezri gave the tree its medicine. This involves placing small twigs in a knot in our maple tree to make the tree feel better.
We shared an apple and noted that there was a fly who liked honeycrisp apples too. This was the one easy idea I took from the book today – snacks can be extra fun when taken outside.
We heard a squirrel in the wooded area next to the driveway and worked to spot it.
We picked a red leaf for the nature jar.
Ezri said, “I love this leaf. I don’t want a caterpillar to eat it.”
I told her there aren’t caterpillars this time of year.

We went out to DeKalb to spend Thanksgiving with Ezri’s paternal grandparents and aunt. Ezri really liked sleeping over at her grandparents. It has been almost a year since sleeping over at the grandparents and now Ezri loves the idea of a sleepover. She got to stay in her own room which was Eric’s room growing up. In the rush of packing, Eric and I managed to leave behind her favorite stuffed animals and her pink blankie. We had visions of a crying Ezri at 2 a.m., but Ezri managed to sleep through the night without these comfort items. She really is growing up.

She likes to help. Ezri helped her dad make the cranberry relish.

When we all sat down and poured wine and began blessing the meal, Ezri’s small voice piped up with “I want to eat.” She had been waiting with all the wonderful smells of food surrounding her for long enough. She enjoyed her sweet potatoes and turkey and stuffing very much.

She enjoyed teaching Amy and Tim to play her favorite board game, GO AWAY, MONSTER!

Amy’s chocolate pumpkin pie was probably Ezri’s favorite food of the day. I can understand why – yum.
Whipped cream is perfect on pie or straight from the beater.

Does this count as playing with her brother? These are some of her dad’s and aunt’s toys saved from their childhood. Ezri loves the barn and all the little people.

Having pie for breakfast on Black Friday was a family tradition Ezri approved of wholeheartedly. She told all her friends at the library on Saturday about having pie for breakfast when asked how her Thanksgiving was.

This is a photo taken to reproduce a similarly staged photo of Eric and his family in 1976. When we scan that one, I’ll post it for comparison.

When asked what she was thankful for, Ezri responded with “TREATS!” I asked what else and Ezri said, “Flowers.” Anything else? “Nothing else I think.”

It was a very nice Thanksgiving all round. Good people, good family, good food and plenty to be thankful for – treats and flowers included.

Yesterday Ezri was sick. Eric made her a cozy nest in the basement of blankets and other machine washable pillows and stuffed animals.

This is Ezri today talking about yesterday. “One day ago I was vomity and Buckety made me feel better I think.” She had our red bucket who followed me around during my morning sickness and was affectionately dubbed “Buckety” near her for most of yesterday.

Ezri watched her first feature length film in her basement cozy. Pixar’s Cars for the record. She usually hasn’t the attention span to sit still for a movie, but yesterday was a very still day.

Although she could not keep down pedialyte or jello, Ezri really wanted one of the oranges on our counter. Ezri said, “I want a orange.” She was told no because she was sick. She said, “I want a orange. I will use buckety.” Translation if you give me an orange I will get my vomit in the red bucket, so there’s no problem with giving me one of those oranges. We waited until today for oranges, but we’ve eaten an orange today and it was delicious.

Ezri also insisted on being dressed in her dresses with tights yesterday rather than pants. She went through three dresses. It can’t all go in the bucket. Even though she didn’t feel well she looked good!

Today she has been playing up a storm and wearing pants and Buckety need not be in the room with us.
Here she is saying, “I am a silly clown!” with blue play dough on her nose.

Eric, Ivan and Ezri in line

On Saturday, Ezri got go take the train for the first time ever.
There was a park district program where kids got to ride the train to Aurora (“The North Pole”) to meet Santa. On the way there, they read “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg.

Ezri was excited, both about getting to ride the train, and by the theme.

Ezri waiting in line

Grandma Liz came with us, which was great, as my mobility was limited, with Ivan strapped to my chest.

Liz and Ezri on the train

Hey, Ezri, where’s Ivan?

Yep, there he is.

We had no chocolate chips when Ezri asked if we could bake cookies. So, we made a plan to go to the store and get them. Ezri then suggested we get M&Ms to make our cookies instead. She’s very candy obsessed since Halloween. We did and Eric and Ezri baked some pretty awesome cookies.

The stand mixer is our friend. Ezri is getting good at dumping pre-measured things into the mixer. She really wants to be good enough to crack an egg, but so far we’ve only done that together. She has accepted that cracking an egg takes teamwork.

Okay, I say.

Thus, Ezri joins the many who use blogs to post pictures of their pets. This is the first time I recall her telling me what to post here. My creative control is slipping.

Today was the first day Ezri asked for her mittens that I thought she had the right idea. It’s getting chilly out there.

Another collection of Ezri’s comments:

“Many things are up high. So, may I please stand on chairs?”

Ezri’s comment on the slightly smaller bananas in the produce section:
“These are just my size.”
Yes, we purchased a bunch of them.

Playground Justice Vigilante Style
Ezri: That boy hitted me.
Me: He hit you? That was not nice.
Ezri: It’s okay. I spitted on him.
Me: We do not spit on people. Was this before or after he hit you?
Ezri: After. After hit, I spitted on him.
(An obligatory discussion of never spitting on people and the necessity of involving the law – err, adults – to settle such disputes followed.)

“Mama, do you have enough hands?”
This said after asking for a snack. I may be using the phrase, “I don’t have enough hands,” too often since Ivan was born.

“Is it now yet?”
This after hearing from her parents, “Not now. You need to be patient.” one too many times.

Ezri thinks all conical hats are party hats. She put on this outfit and proudly declared, “I’m a PARTY GIRL!”