Treasure Hunt

If you've ever seen Jake and the Neverland Pirates, then you know exactly how to pronounce treasure like Captain Hook.  He says it exactly like this: treas-ah!  And Hannah, Jack, and I know it well.

This morning, after we'd had our breakfast, Hannah and Jack went off with construction paper and markers while I checked my email.  Before I know it, Hannah came by and asked me if I wanted to use her map to go on a treasure hunt.  It sounded like a fun snow day idea, so off we went.

First Hannah described her map to me.  As she pointed to each colorful dot, she said, "First we go 'dere, to 'dere, to 'dere.  We go to Tumble Mountain, and Florida, and the beach to find the treas-ah!  Let's go, Mommy!"

"Treas-ah!"

"See those stinky skunks, Mama?  Hold your nose!"

"Tumbling Mountain with the tumbling tree falling, hmm, that's a weird place, Mommy," she said as she read the map.  "Only step on the yellow ones, Mommy!  Don't fall in the stinky swamp!"

"Treas-ah!"

Jack joined in the fun and starting cutting down the vines ahead of us with his sword.

Consulting the map together and deciding where to go next...

"Jump over the muddy puddles, Mommy!"

"Ssshhh, be very quiet, Mommy - so you don't wake up the ogre!"

I love watching their imaginations and listening to them as they play.  They never cease to amaze me with the things they make, and how they pull from things they've seen...makes me smile.

*****

Later in the afternoon, here's what my little lovelies looked like:

They decided to do a little indoor sledding and put on their safety gear before getting started :)

Gotta love the safety gear!

Silent Sunday ~ Super Hero Style

Mommy Fail, Pink Kitty Cats, and Trees

For the past several days, I've been fighting Hannah each morning to get her to wear shorts to school.  It's been 90 degrees outside, and our tiny tot only wants to wear jeans.  An entire drawer full of new shorts, cute dresses, and sunny skirts, and she'll only wear jeans!

I say fighting because it usually involves a tiny bit of wrestling, some sweating, and Hannah eventually falling limp.  Which means she wins.  Anytime I'm sweating before 7:15 am means I've lost.  So she's gone to school in jeans.  I take her shorts, just in case - but when I pick her up?  Jeans.

This morning, for some miraculous reason, I finally won.  I was able to sneak them on her little legs before she noticed she was wearing shorts.  She put up one little complaint, and then just said, "Okay." I didn't say a word.  I just slowly backed away so as not to upset the atmosphere.  I packed jeans in the event that she got to school and had a complete meltdown.

It was a little cool when we left, but I figured it would warm up later in the morning.  It was supposed to hit 82 degrees today.  When I went out for recess at 11:45, it was 62 degrees.  Wonderful.  Now my little girl is cold and will never trust me to wear shorts again.  Thankyouverymuchweatherforecaster.

I called school and kindly asked that they change Hannah into her back-up jeans.  Thank goodness they love us because otherwise, I'm pretty sure I'd drive them crazy!

Funny enough - as I stressed through my recess worrying about my chilly children - Miss Hannah was apparently sweating from all of the fun activity she had outside.  At pick-up, Miss Keyana told me that when they came in, Hannah informed her that she "made a accident."  This caught Miss Keyana a tiny bit off-guard because that's not usually the case, so she went to see what happened.  She very kindly explained to Hannah Bear that she hadn't gone potty and that she was just sweaty :)

"Oh.  Okay."  So she pulled up her pants and went on her merry way.  Just like that.

*****

Tonight at dinner, Daddy was prepping Jack for their next round of The Animal Game.  Hannah decided she wanted to play.  She scrunched up her little nose and said, "Let me think.  A princess isn't an animal...a horse!  A horse is an animal!" clearly remembering her last attempt at the game.

I decided to try to help her out once again.  I leaned over and whispered into her ear, "Shh, don't tell the boys.  A kitty cat."

She smiled.

Jack asked her, "What color is it?"

"Pink!" she shouted, with great excitement.

"A flamingo?" Daddy asked.

"A mingo?  A mingo isn't an animal..."

I explained to her that a flamingo is a pink bird.

"I don't like birds," she told her daddy.

Jack asked her, "Does it have a tail?"

"No," she quickly answered, as I give her my WHAT?! face.  "It's a kitty cat!" she told them.

And they just smiled because they know.  And Jack?  He said, "Good thinking, Hannah.  That was very good," because he's learning.

*****

Tonight, they made trees.  Jack is teaching Hannah all about his love of art, and it makes me smile.

tonight

Today was a good day.  It's the first day in awhile when I haven't felt defeated, so that's always a good thing.

Pretty amazing since I made a new meal for dinner tonight and I'm the only one who liked it.  I've been trying to feed the little lovelies early, and then if they still want something else to eat, they can try what Brad and I are eating.

Jack and Hannah were happy and so sweet to one another.  Jack's teacher had a birthday today and gave cookies to the students in order to celebrate.  And Jack?  He actually saved an Oreo for his little sister, and gave it to her promptly when we came in to pick him up this afternoon.

And his teacher told me that they were all sharing what love meant to them, and do you know what Jack-Jack said?  He said, "Hannah."  Be still, my little heart.

He actually congratulated her tonight and gave her a high five when she successfully turned on her music and turned off her light all by herself (with the help of a step stool).

And then, when he tucked her into bed, and I bent down to say goodnight:

     Me - Hannah Bear, who's the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world?

     Hannah - I'm am.

     Me - Who's the best, best? (I only asked her this because the other night at dinner, she happily  
     announced that we were all the best.  Daddy, jokingly asked her, "Yeah, but who's the best, best?"
     and, without missing a beat, she responded, "I'm am.")  So anyway, I asked her, "Who's the best,
     best?"

     Hannah - Daddy is.

And I'm not even upset.  How can I be upset that she loves her daddy so very much that he's just the best thing she can imagine?  I can't.  It makes me so happy.

Oh, happy day.

Wordless Wednesday

{my little lovelies, in lights}

{guess who likes peppermint?}

Trick-or-Treat

Happy Halloween!

This was really Hannah's first true Halloween where she could really participate and get into the festivities.  Months ago, when I asked her what she wanted to be, clear as day, she said, "Minnie Mouse."  And Minnie Mouse she was:)  I didn't have to buy a costume for Jack this year because he could make any costume he could possibly want in a matter of seconds with things we already have in our house.  (And Grampy had already purchased the Iron Man costume that Jack eventually decided he wanted to wear!)  I was proud of myself for that.  Instead, I purchased three Minnie Mouse costumes to find just the perfect one.  Eventually we did, and I was able to return the others.

Hannah was really excited to go to school on Halloween.  She couldn't wait to wear her "bee-u-tiful dress!"

Wearing her Minnie Mouse gloves

Playing musical chairs

I spy a Minnie Mouse having snack

Jack picked the design and Daddy did the carving

A visit from Grandpa and Grandma

Showing off her bee-u-tiful dress

A visit from Grammy and Grampy

Iron Man and Minnie

Jack wanted to walk the Halloween parade all by himself this year.  Just another sign he's growing up...  Hannah couldn't wait to go trick-or-treating.  She went all the way around the block with Daddy and Jack while I stayed home and passed out candy.  Even though it drizzled a tiny bit, it was warm outside, and everyone had a great time.  The kids were especially thrilled about their pumpkins filled with candy:)

I look forward to many more Halloweens with these two precious pumpkins!

Wordless Wednesday

These two make my heart melt.

{And tomorrow - our firstborn turns five.  And graduates from Pre-K.  It's a big day in our world.}

Wordless Wednesday

{sibling love - captured by Jack's Pre-K Teachers}

Silent Sunday {Park Edition}

{thank you, sunshine}

this is why

Sometimes they fight and steal toys from one another, it's true...

but most of the time?

They are super-sweet to one another.

She follows him around, gets excited to see him every morning, and watches him swim.

He waves to her from the side of the pool, soothes her when she's upset, and kisses her goodnight.

They play keep away from Mommy, they run around together before bath time, they giggle and play.

Tonight, when he swam to her waiting on the side of the pool, she clapped and gave him a high five for doing a good job.  

And then?  He whispered to me how happy he is to be Hannah's big brother.

I'm the luckiest mama in the world.