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.

Hannah's 2nd Attempt at the Animal Game

For the past couple of nights, Hannah's been getting out of bed after tuck-in time, and coming ever-so-peacefully into Jack's room to tag-along for his book.  Then I re-tuck her in, and she goes to sleep while we snuggle with Jack for a bit.

Tonight, we decided to give her another go at the animal game.  Based on last time, I tried to give her a little help.

Me (whispering into Hannah's ear): A ladybug.

Daddy: Does it live in the ocean?

Hannah (looking at me): No.

Jack: Is it a spider?

Hannah (looking at me): No.

Daddy: Does it have fur?

Hannah: It's yucky.

Jack: Is it a spider?

Hannah: I want a horse.

Me (whispering into Hannah's ear): No, it's not a horse.  It's a ladybug.

Daddy: It's yucky... Is it a bug?

Hannah: It's a horse.

Daddy (trying to act like he's really going out on a limb): Is it a horse?

Hannah (completely surprised that Daddy guessed her animal): Yes!  It's a horse!

Hannah's first take with the animal game

Tonight, Brad and I were playing The Animal Game with Jack at bedtime when I looked over and was face to face with Hannah.  She'd apparently hopped out of her bed, walked into Jack's room, and waited patiently to be noticed.

It was too adorable not to include her.  She listened to us finish my round (my animal was the flamingo again), and then I thought, "Why not?"

"Hannah Bear, think of an animal and keep it in..."

"Giraffe."

"No, no - keep your animal a secret.  Don't say it out loud.  Think of a new animal, and we'll ask you questions."

"Okay."

Jack asked, "What color is it?"

"Pink and purple.  I have three powers."

So I asked if it was a unicorn.  Or a butterfly.

"No, it's a giraffe!" she shouted.

We'll keep working on it :)

Moments ago...

Tonight while tucking Jack into bed, he asked if we could all play The Animal Game.  I gave it three valiant attempts, and all three times, the boys guessed my animal within the first two questions - I think I give up.

Take 1:

     Jack: How many legs does it have?

     Mommy: Two.

     Daddy: Is it a kangaroo?

     Mommy: Really?!?!  Yes, it was a kangaroo!

Take 2:

     Jack: What shape are its ears?

     Mommy: I don't know - triangular?

     Jack: Does it have antlers?

     Mommy: Not really.  I don't know...

     Daddy: Is it a giraffe?

     Mommy (kicking and squirming):  Are you kidding me?!?!  Yes, it was a giraffe.

     Daddy (laughing hysterically): There aren't many animals with quasi-antlers.


At this point, Jack starts to feel bad for me that my animals aren't going so well, and Daddy and I are laughing so hard that we're almost crying.  He was being very sweet and wanted to make sure that my feelings weren't hurt!

I tried one more time, thinking of the most general animal I could come up with so as not to have an awkward question that would immediately give away my animal.

Take 3:

     Daddy: Does it live on land or in the water?

     Mommy: On land.

     Jack: What color is its nose?

     Mommy: Black.

     Daddy: Is it a bear?

     Mommy:  Are you serious?  It lives on land and it has a black nose and you know it's a bear?!?!
     Yes, it was a bear.  Now I'm really done.

We laughed some more and decided we'd give The Animal Game a rest, and I'd do some animal research.  Jack suggested I try a snake or a dolphin...

*****

Then - there was this:

{don't worry - I fixed her little leg after I took the picture!}

*****

I'll be back later to catch up on the week and a half I missed.  I have no excuses except for the fact that I was tired!