My little helper, Daniel

Daniel really enjoys trying to help me when I am making something in the kitchen. This time I let him start to put potatoes in the water while it was cold and he did really well, so I continued to let him even when the water was hot. He put all six potatoes in the pot, he just never tired of it. He loves to put things inside other things. It is not easy to stop him. He just keeps coming back or throws a tantrum no matter what it is, he just has to have his way.

My little ones

Daniel is so gentle and kind to his sister. She was playing her little computer and he wanted to use it too, so he sat on her. They played like this for a while, it was funny. Abby can be very patient with him sometimes, and then there is the rest of the time...not so patient. She is pretty dramatic at times about it. But Frank hints around that she gets that from me. I don't know what he is talking about. My sister, Amy, will tell you I was the calmest sister. I never over reacted. I really don't know where both of my kids get their tempers and loudness from. I once heard my sister, Andrea, say about one of her boys, Daniel has two volumes: loud and louder. There is nothing very quiet about him. An he is gentle when he wants something. He cracks me up, but I was close to tears when he spilled paint in our coat closet yesterday. His hands can find anything.

VCR update

For those of you that read the post from January 10th about all the things Daniel can fit in the VCR, I have something new to share. I was talking to Frank's mother in Florida this weekend and she told me that Frank, as a toddler, stuck a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich in the 8 track machine himself. So, now that explains a lot.
I am now realizing that Frank's characteristic in is own son, is coming back to haunt ME! Frank isn't around enough to suffer the way I do all day long, 7 days a week. When Daniel went another round with the VCR tonight while I was cleaning his room, I almost left it for Frank to clean up. But I was afraid that he wouldn't see all the little flat puzzle pieces and then who knows what would happen. Does it sound like I am upset a little? No, just venting after a LONG day. I love my son and his dad. I wouldn't trade them for anything or anyone. I just don't know how people do it with more than one boy.

What the....?

Hmmm, What happened here?

Oh!

That explains it.

Flower Girl

I figured out how to make flower hair clips last night and this is Abby modeling the smaller versions. I have larger ones for my own ponytails or for adding to a headband.

Daniel's Fashions

Look at this get up. He loves to wear my kukui nut neckles. One in red and one in brown.

Then there is the leg warmers look. They are actually my warm fuzzy socks. He finds them in my dresser drawer and brings them to me and yells at me until I put them on. He wears both of these dress ups on a daily bases, but not usually and the same time.

What, Daniel holding still?

Daniel is really growing up. He is old enough for think time(time-out). I have been putting him in think time for sometime now, but now I don't have to hold him there all the time. When he gets in trouble for, let's say, biting or hitting, then I give him a look and tell him to go to think time, and off he goes to the top of the stairs and sits down. He just sits there and looks at the front door, waiting for me to count(well, most of the time). Proof that he really does sit there.

Here is another shot of him in think time with his blanket. After I took the picture he smiled at me showing off his 5 teeth. He is such a ham. After he gets out of think time, I repeat what behavior I don't want him to continue, and then explain how I do want him to behave. Then there is always a big hug after all the talking. I don't have a clue if think time really works, but we are trying. This kid spends a lot of time in there when he is tired or hungry. He gets really cranky, and you don't want to see that.

Quiz time:

It is quiz time to see how well you know Daniel.

How many objects do you think Daniel can fit, or shove, into our VCR, that isn't a VHS tape?

The answer comes in two parts.

Now, keep in mind, we have the VCR in the TV hutch with toys at the bottom. When the bottom part is open for the toys, the VCR is exposed. We can't really figure out how to get around that. He likes to "play" with the toys, which just means he makes a big mess. On Thursday he had two tries, or times I wasn't watching closely enough. This is what he got in the slot the first time. He was not happy when I wouldn't let him finish is "project" as he was so intent getting things as far in there as possible. I thought I took them away after this event, but apparently not. He found more.

This is what he got in the slot the second time. He got even better. They were in there even deeper. I have a dime in the pictures so you can see how large these objects are. And this is how I spend my days. Cleaning up after Daniel. He just can't be stopped. But he makes us laugh.

Daniel's Art Work

This is Daniel's first work of art, on the kitchen floor, none-the-less. He learned to open the marker lids and the containers we keep them in, though this is the first time he chose to use them. The blue thing next to the marks with the "phys. ed. dept." is his tush as I am trying to take this picture. He keeps me busy all day long. It isn't worth taking him anywhere without Frank's help, as you can imagine why. He is fearless and too curious to be safe. He gets bored way too easily at the stores. He is very active and has a temper that rivals Abby's.

Abby's Christmas

We wanted to post some of Abby's fun gifts. This is her Diamond Castle Barbie that sings a long and somewhat lovely song everytime you push her hand. Thanks, Aunt Beth.

And this is Abby in her roller skates and pads on. She didn't ask for them, but Santa knew her well enough to know it would be fun. Though I was looking for a way to rip them off her after 10 minutes. They were really in the way the rest of the gift opening process. She didn't take them off it seemed for a few days. She loves them.

Christmas

Oh, the joy of Christmas morning. We had a good Christmas with a few twists. After opening the gifts we were supposed to get ready and head out to Plain City to my parents for the rest of the day. But the snow and wind was blowing was so bad, we didn't dare go. At about 3:00 the snow stopped and we headed out, but now we were packed and ready to spend the night at my parents. The big snow storm was coming later in the evening and we just didn't want to get caught in it. It just isn't Christmas without a big family gathering. This is what the living room looked like before the kids got to it. Everything on the picnic table was from Santa. It was arranged by the obsessive Mr. Clause himself. He did a great job.
Daniel had fun, but more with just life in general and all the action than the gifts. Oh, he loves all the bows. He had been taking them off the gifts from under the tree all month long. So it was no surprise to see him playing with them all morning.


Abby loved her clothes and toys. This is her "horse shirt" from her neighborhood grandparents, Bob and Carol. She loves it, and won't take it off when she puts it on. Not even for dress ups.

This is her modeling an outfit from Aunt Beth, I think. She loves to model her clothes. There is glitter on the pants, and that was the best part for her of course. She has to roll up all pants that are a little long, and in her own way.

I tried really hard to keep cleaning as we opened, but it was too hard to get around that picnic table. They do love the table though. It is meant to be used outside, but there is too much snow for now. We had a great day.

We really enjoyed being at our own house for the first time since we were married, and not having to load all the gifts to Plain City or to Florida. Not that we don't want to be there, but the gifts just get to be more and more each year. Last year we knew we just couldn't do all that hauling anymore. I also enjoyed the time sitting around the house being lazy and spending time with the kids waiting for the weather to clear up, after Abby stopped throwing her tantrum that we were going right then. All and all, it was a good Christmas.