Kids on the Go!

That sounds like a Dr. Seuss title... I have him on the brain since it's his birthday this week and we are doing a bunch of activities... But it is not.

Back to what I really wanted to blog about... Here's some things the kids are learning. Here is Po'okela. In the past, I've been able to lay him here to play and return only when he gets stuck on his belly.

I find him here... Look at that distance.

I then sat down to watch what he would do.  He fussed for a bit, mainly because he wanted that blue thing that has a mirror on the other side. This is how he ended up before I moved him.

He gave up on the mirror to crash into the bouncer. Once he got I moved him back to the pay mat (which is where I took the first picture). He continued to do this the rest of the day!

Other things Po'okela is starting to do is trying to spin on his belly to get to things and he does his dad has watched him try to get up on his knees. I am sure he will be on the move in no time.  Another thing he is doing is sitting with encouragement! Here's he is... 

Now Alohi is a completely different story. The weather is so cold here that we don't get out much, but I was asked if I could help the YMCA daycare this week. While there Po'okela stays in the "little kid" area and Alohi goes with some of the bigger kids to play in the gym.  There we play games, run, basketball, reading books, and this...

She hasn't gotten very far without giving up, but at least she is learning another way to move around.  

I'll be helping at the Y next week again and then be on the sub call list.  I may not be working there, but I will be dropping Alohi off ($2 an hour and up to 2 hours) to play while so I can get a break.  I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I left Po'okela too, but the "little kid" room ages range from 0-2 years and numbers vary. So I'll just keep him with me!  In the future I'm sure I will look to working there 3 times a week, but I will wait for Po'okela to get a little older and bigger.  

Work equals $$

Rylan and I have been living a Dave lifestyle. We haven't been very gazelle like, but since our move we have because we are so close and working on being debt free this year. But this blog isn't about our debt free journey, its about teaching Alohi about money. She knows what it is and will ask to buy things at the store. She does get "it's not in the budget" statement a lot and while at home, I listen to this guy's (picture below) live show online so I can remember each day what our goals are. Alohi aways ask, "is that Dave?" or "mommy, is it time to listen to Dave." (This book is good, but no where near rewarding as taking his class).





Rylan and I have been talking about how we want to introduce the concept of work equals money. Thankfully last spring or summer, Dave came to OKC to do a live show and we went. It was good to be around whole bunch of people working on changing their lives! While there Dave's company was offering super awesome deals, one being the kids kit pictured below.  We decided that it would be worth the investment since we were expecting Po'okela at the time and Alohi was showing interest in $$. Before this last month, when Alohi found any money she would put it in her piggy bank and we taught her to say "save, save, save."  

While, my parents were here Alohi learned to get lots of things. Especially if she asked nicely for them. Lately she has been getting the statement “it’s not in the budget.” She would then ask daddy, but we decided that it was time to introduce things she can do around the house to make some money.  

One evening Ry and I decided it was time to introduce her to the Dave Kit.  I had set up her give, save, spend banks and all of the books next to it. We read the Work book (not sure 100% of the title), but she always asks to read it.  She learned that evening that if she clears the dinner table of the dishes and wipes it down with a sponge she would make money.  We told her that this work would make her money.  She makes 3 pennies each evening she does this and ocassionally she will go above and beyond doing other things to make more money. For example the other day I was in the bathroom cleaning. She came in and said she wanted to work too. Let’s just say the toilet bowl was sparkling after the 10-15 minutes she scrubbed, while I cleaned two sinks, bath tub and floors. She was so proud of herself to make more money.

Now, this is just a start to teaching Alohi about money and I know it will change as she gets older, learns more, understands each value of coin or bill and knows money.  For now, we just want her to know that money is worked for and that we give, save and spend money.  There are things around that house that she is responsible for that doesn't earn her money, but she isn't quite ready for that lesson. Right now we are taking things one month at time and teaching as she shows readiness.  We will continue to read the books one each at a time.  This is going to be a fun process!!  

It is just so good to know that our journey right now is changing her life. Praying she will never be a slave to any lender!

Snow Painting

I can't claim this as my own idea but I can tell you that if you aren't apart of Pinterest then you really need to get on there! It is a great resource to get a TON of good ideas, like this one.  I got the bottles at walmart for $1 and filled them with water and food coloring (next time I will add flour or corn starch because Alohi powered through these bottles in less than 5 minutes).

Super excited girl that can't wait to get outside to paint and play in the snow!!

Dad tried to encourage her to make a design or picture, instead of just spraying the liquid out onto the snow. Sorry I don't have an official picture of the painting, she decided it would be fun to stomp through them.

Of course you can go out in the snow without tasting some of it!!

Po'okela wasn't too impressed, but I know when he gets older he will have just as much or more fun than his sister!

Our front yard was completely stomped through or had snow angels everywhere! She had so much fun and didn't want to come in!

Po'okela 6 Months

Time goes by so quickly! Each day is such a joy to be with you and watch you grow up. You love to play, talk and put things in your mouth. Everything goes into your mouth… feet, toys, fingers you can grab, spoons, anything. You still love to play on your play mat, but like it even better when I put a basket of toys you can reach into and put in your mouth. While playing there, you have master rolling from your back to your belly. Just today you rolled from your back to your belly and then from your belly to your back. You usually cry once you get to your belly and your sister comes to your rescue to roll you back over.  

You and your sister play well together. You love it when she sings and talks to you.  My favorite moments this month was when I was changing out bed sheets in your room, your sister yell “mommy he flipped over all by himself. yay!!” It made me so happy that she was encouraging you! She tries to play tea party with you and you mostly chew on any item she gives you. The two of you share a room and still can’t sleep together during day time naps. However, it is so funny to watch your sister try to sleep if you are talking or crying. She will stay asleep but cover her ears with her hands.  Watching the two of you interact warms my heart.

Nap times have been fun to find you. Most times you wake up extremely happy, talking and just waiting for me or your daddy to come get you. I do find you occasionally tangled up in your sleeper. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Overall you are a wonderful sleeper, unless we are busy at MOPS, library day and out grocery shopping.

Feeding times having become interesting. You have tried all the baby foods that I can purchase, but have tried avocado which you really like! No allergic reactions to anything yet. However, I can’t eat any red sauces (spaghetti, pizza sauce, or tomato sauces) because you break out all over your face when I do. Also, I can’t eat eggs but once a week and pineapple.  Thankfully, thats all I’ve found that you react to from breast milk.  There are times when I’m feeding you baby food that you spit or blow raspberries, so I stop feeding you. Hopefully you will learn not to do that so you can get food. Most times if you don’t eat then I’m not worried about it because I know you will be hungry at your next feeding.  Nursing you has been a great bounding time and you make it easy, minus when we are trying to nurse in noisy or places with lots of people. Other than that you are an easy boy that likes to eat!

This month Uncle Garrett came to visit. We spent a few days in Denver, went to the museum. You still aren’t the biggest fan of hotel rooms, but you do like to chew on apples we found out.  Also, while your uncle was visiting you we got about 3 inches of snow. I bundled you up in your little snow suit, which you screamed about the whole time. Then we went outside to watch your sister paint the snow and play in it. We laid you down in the snow next to your sister and you scream the whole time. I took it as you don’t like the snow. However, I am glad that we got you out there and had a fun time! (Some how I don't have a picture of you with him!)

Other things that you are into is playing in your high chair, exersuacer and bouncy seat. You do love bath time, especially when you get to chew on the toys your sister gives you. During baths you like to play while the tub is filling. Getting out of the bath is your least favorite thing.  You search for your dad as soon as he walks in the door. Even if you are nursing, you stop and want nothing to do with me until he says something to you. Most times I need hand you off to him for a few minutes and then we get back to nursing to finish off your full feeding.  There are times where dad needs to sit with us while I nurse you.  It is fun to watch you love on him!  Lastly, you don’t like it when others are sad. You cry if you aren’t apart of something or if there is another kid crying. I learned this at our MOPS play group. My tenderhearted boy!

Ohh and there is your hair… fuzzy hair. I love it and always makes me smile!

We head to the doctor’s on Friday for your 6 month check up and I’ll post your stats after our appointment. I love you sweet boy and looking forward to watching more of your mile stones!

Uncle Garrett

It is always so much fun when Uncle Garrett comes to town! Friday evening we drove up to Denver to go get him, but decided that we should at least do something there. So here is Alohi at the hotel (cute swan towel) waiting for her uncle to come! The next picture is her playing with her uncle, while he rested. He arrived around1am, so he was pretty tired.

While in Denver we went to the Museum, but I didn't take any pictures there because a bunch of the activities didn't allow strollers because of the large number of people there. We got to play in the space area, Alohi had tons of fun in the kids discovery area, and saw a bunch of lizards and snakes. Her favorite part was playing at all the different things.

Sunday we made a trip to the asian market to pick up a few items that I have run out of, then hit Sam's up for our stock up of meats and other pantry items. 

Once we got home to Scottsbluff, we played games, had tea parties, watched movies and played in the snow.  

Uncle Garrett, we love you so much and can't wait for the next time we get to see you again. (and I need to steal the picture of you and Po'okela!) 

Muffin Monkey Bread... YUMMY!

If you have read previous post you may know that I've been trying new recipes. I came across this one and I know how much our family loves cinnamon stuff, so I tried it. I don't know what to call it, but it is super yummy and didn't last two days in our house (and that was with restraint friday evening when I made them for the next morning). I hope you try them out and enjoy!!

Cut up biscuits, rolled with cinnamon and sugar.

YUMMY glaze... I think this is the best part of it!!

Spoon glaze over each muffin... It will be extra sticky!

Coming out of the oven!

Cinnamon Pull apart Muffins

1 can biscuits (buttermilk kind... not the flaky)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon 

1 stick butter (or 3/4 of it)

1/4 cup brown sugar

Cut biscuits up into bite size pieces. (I made about 4-6 out of each biscuit maybe even more) Put sugar and cinnamon in ziplock or bowl, mix. Roll bite size biscuits in mixture and place in muffin pan. Melt butter in pan on low/medium heat and once melted add brown sugar. Mix on low/medium heat until it is completely combined and looks all one color. Then pour glaze over each muffin.

Bake at 350 degree for about 15-20 minutes.  Let sit for about 5 minutes... ENJOY!!!

We ate about 4 of them the evening I pulled them out and they were gone by the next morning!!

Valentines 2012

This was my first year to really be able to celebrate this holiday with doing crafts and not just a party at daycare (which I normally missed because I was working and having a party with my students). So we did some activities, but the flu hit Alohi hard so here's what we were able to do.

Alohi made her dad a love bug! (used toilet paper roll with construction paper) Her favorite part of it was glueing and sticking hearts all over. She also learned to be a doctor when the wing fell off and then the head. It was cute and she had fun!

I fount this idea on pinterest and thought it would be a great thing to send the grandparents.  I never got any pictures of us actually doing this, but they came out cute! Rylan helped me one evening with Po'okela's foot prints and then we had a friend over to do Alohi's hand prints.  Alohi's hand prints were supposed to be in the shape of the heart, but she didn't want to have anything to do with that so grandparents just got hand prints.

This next craft again I got from Pinterest... This was the best gift we sent to grandparents. I wish I could get a picture of then with her hug on one of them. Maybe when the come to visit.  My mom cried and cried when she called. I love them!!

 Alohi and I made some cupid crunch (white chocolate bark, 2 bags popped popcorn, 2 cups M&M's, 1 1/2 cups salted peanuts and whatever else you want to add. If I had chex I would have used it!) I think her favorite part was eating the goodies.  We wrapped them in bags I found at target for 50% off and turned out to be 50 cents for 12 bags, then delivered them to neighbors, YMCA daycare workers, and our librarian teachers.  After her nap she got to eat a baggie for herself! She was so happy!

 

While she was eating, but her brother wanted some too! He got some through my milk. I hope he liked it!

Alohi's special Valentine included this goodie (12 coupons for free things (hamburgers, apples, milk/juice,  ice cream). She also sent some to her cousins and her boyfriend Mason in OKC (it was his first valentine). We been able to use her coupon, but she always asks when we grocery shop at walmart.  So now she can get a treat each time we go.

And lastly, my two valentines on the day! I love them so much and so grateful for being able to spend my day with them!