Entries from January 2012 ↓

http://youtu.be/4Hpo02XFvDU
I think Ezri’s favorite thing was that when we returned to pick up Dolly the next morning the librarians who hosted the sleepover were snoring in sleeping bags because the stuffed animals had worn them out with their many overnight antics.

We’ve been reading Little Critter books in the “My First I Can Read Series” by Mercer Mayer a lot lately. As a bonus, some titles can also be read on the Nook Color. Ezri is completely fascinated by the concept of a sleepover and thus likes Little Critter Sleeps Over. In other books, Little Critter’s adventures include a class trip to the Sea Park, one to the firehouse, calling 9-1-1 when his dad is stuck in the basement, being home sick from school, making a snowman, and showing readers around Critterville, his hometown. Ezri loves hearing about school and school trips. While the writing isn’t grand, it is mundanely suited to a girl who is curious about exactly the sorts of experiences Little Critter describes.

Ladybug Girl by Jacky Davis
After being told she cannot play with her older brother and his friends, Ladybug Girl (a girl named Lulu in a ladybug costume) and her dog venture outdoors to find their own fun. The illustrations here show so much emotion on Lulu’s face. She is not too small to cross a pond that may be shark-infested or to help ants or to help fix a stone wall. Ladybug Girl is definitely not too small no matter what that brother of hers says. This title is a great celebration of making your own fun and defining yourself. Lulu styles herself as Ladybug Girl and then lists all the amazing things Ladybug Girl can do. As a parent, I like that this dress-up girl isn’t just about being pretty she does things and takes charge of herself. I think this book would be appeal to girls obsessed with less substantive titles like Kahn’s Pinkalicious.

Pearl and Brownie by Cynthia Rylant
Today I brought home a couple titles about this cat and girl combo. In Pearl and Brownie Grab a Bite they have lunch. In Pearl and Brownie Hit the Hay they get ready for and go to bed. These simple stories about familiar everyday things were just right for Ezri. She loved talking about the story and since it wasn’t too long I was willing to discuss details of the illustrations and compare the kitty, Pearl, to our cats. Recently our cats have begun napping with or even spending the night in Ezri’s bed. Because of that, reading about Pearl going to bed with Brownie resonated. Bright illustrations add to the appeal.

“Fancy teeth.” This is how Ezri describes teeth with braces.

“The reindeer can’t see.” This said after eating the eyes of her chocolate reindeer pop.

“Hanukkah is when you light candles and you don’t blow them out. And there’s GELT!!!” This said when asked what Hanukkah is.

“My kiss weared off.” Ezri has taken to calling her parents back on specious claims to extend her bedtime routine. Cute and annoying simultaneously.

“Snore loud so I can see the Z’s.”

“I want all of these minutes.” This said holding up all her fingers to declare she wanted a long time before going to bed.

“Where am I going this day?” Means what it says. I just like the phrasing. She has recently learned that days of the week have names, but she has to ask for the name of any given day.

“I need this many socks.” (holding up five fingers) “I growed an extra foot.”

The top of the hill was running out of snow.

But there was enough for a good ride, if you had a Meghan to kick start the sled for you.

The warmer temperatures made it nice out. They also made the snow the right texture to build a snowfriend. Meghan loaned her scarf and Ivan loaned his hat to this little guy we built on a park bench.

Ezri enjoyed “decorating” the snowman by adding snow.

Meghan also introduced Ezri to the game of snow burial.
Ezri loved being tucked under a snowy blanket.
She stayed still until she was all covered but her head.

In the car after the park, Ezri and I talked about what we did.
We went sledding and made a snowman and made snow angels and played on the seesaw and we met a dog out walking with his family and Ezri was buried in snow.

I asked, “Ezri, what was your favorite part of going to the park?”
Her enthusiastic answer, “MEGHAN! Meghan comed and that was my favorite part.”
Yep, I was going to say the snowman, but on second thought I agree with Ezri.

Ezri stomped through the yard chanting, “snow snow snow SNOW!”

I pulled her around on her sled.

Ezri caught snowflakes on her tongue.

She threw snow like confetti in the air while cheering, “SNOW!”

One of the nice things about now is there are lots of new toys in the house to play with.

These “fruitominos” were fun to stack and knock over. The rock family liked their domino house. Ezri really enjoyed making domino sidewalks for the rocks to “walk” on. She also liked the game where I made a letter and she guessed which letter it was.

This post-Christmas and Last Night of Hanukkah party was just our speed this year. A few good friends came to eat treats, play with the dress-up box, make a craft and watch trains together. It was all over by early afternoon and we could nap.

Ezri waits not-so-patiently for friends to arrive!

We make a Thank You card craft with watercolors.

The quote from the girl holding Ezri’s reins here is, “Super Santa Ho-ho-ho. Slow down!”
Ezri is wearing part of a garden gnome costume and a superhero cape which you cannot see from this angle. The cape is from a past Summer Reading Club in which I dressed up as “Speed Reader” and visited schools to encourage summer reading. The reins are a cat toy. Pirate Meghan is in the background.