Mostly Normal Mom

June 21st, 2013

Super Artwork

Sorry it's been so long! My camera is not working any more, so I haven't been taking pictures of the girls (other than on the webcam). Note: mostlynormalmom is now accepting donations for a new cell phone! Haha.

Also, it was Shire's birthday last week! She's 4 now (hopefully some other people took pictures and can share them with me). 

Here's a quick picture of Shire's artwork these days. She's really good, I think. That's Super Shire in the yellow and Super Mom in the blue; I think she really nailed my hair style, ha!

March 22nd, 2013

Impatient

Seriously. Can it be Spring now? Let's see if a new brand-new box of chalk can jump start it...

Also, I have no explanation for Freya's outfit. Maybe she's a trend-setter...

Poke-poke...

Then we attacked the snow with sticks. Because it deserved it. 

March 21st, 2013

Library Play Time

Twice a month, they open up the main meeting room, fill it with toys and children and host a big play date at the Verona Library. They call it "The Young and the Restless." 

This was supposed to be a picture of Shire's face. Instead, I got a picture of her hair style.

So cute. 

March 13th, 2013

Girls' Room

We play up in the girls' room a couple times a day. I find a change of scenery during the day is pretty essential, especially since it's so hard to get out of the house when it's still snowing and miserable (despite being mid-March). Mostly for my sanity, I keep the toys up in their room to a minimum. Right now, it's just dolls/house/cooking supplies (to go with the playhouse) and their books. 

Tea party in progress. I recently repainted the little rocker to match with the yellows of the rest of the room. It turned out pretty decent despite my poor painting technique. 

The girls' gallery wall continues to grow. I'll admit, it's one of my favorite things. 

The playhouse is still pretty much the same as when it was built last fall, with a few small additions.

This is a little memory-foam bath mat (which we already had but weren't really using). This lives at the bottom of the ladder. Freya's been climbing up the ladder since we built the playhouse, and she figured out how to go down a couple months ago too. I'm amazed that we still haven't had a fall off the ladder, but I feel a little better knowing there's a cushion at the bottom.

Peek-a-boo! I also added some little curtains to the upper windows (from two mini tension rods and a set of brown embroidered place mats that I've probably had for five years and never used). How fanciful!

In the downstairs, there's a small room for the girls' doll cradle. It's tall enough for Freya to stand up in, but everyone else has to crawl.

And opposite that is the kitchen area.

I think maybe next I'll make some curtains for this lower window (or maybe some shutters?) so they can use this as a puppet area. 

March 4th, 2013

Painting

(aka, why is it still winter??)

February 21st, 2012

Open House at Ballet

As you can see, Freya thought this was her big moment--finally, she was getting to dance with the rest of the class. 

Then she noticed her big sister...

...and then was asked to leave the room. Poor girl. 

Releve!

Shire's classmates and her class helper, Jordan. 

January 19th, 2013

Favorite Reads

I thought I'd share some of our favorite things to read. First, here are Shire's favorite books to read to Freya (yes, she has these memorized). 

And now, some books I read to the girls:

I love books like these: simple, enigmatic, beautiful, magical. 

Shire looooves the Berenstain Bears, so much that Mom is sick of reading them to her. So I've started recording myself reading the book (with a little bell to turn the page) so she can listen to them a couple times a day without me having to read them (again...)

If you'd like to listen to one of my recordings, click here to Download The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies. (iTunes file)

 

Both girls love their Baby Bugs (a mini magazine that comes in the mail, a gift from Grandma Alice). They're simple, colorful, and fun.

 

Stewart is (slowly) reading this to Shire (mostly at night, when she's trying to delay going to sleep. This is also the reason for her excellent oral hygiene regimen).

January 15th, 2013

Growing Forward

So, prepared to be flabbergasted: I will be signing Shire up for 4K (four-year-old Kindergarten) in less than a month. A-ma-zing. It seems impossible that one of my girls is almost school-age, but at the same time, she's so ready for it.

The approaching school enrollment has got me thinking more creatively about educational things to do with Shire during the day (especially when the baby is napping). I'm also trying to make use of things that I've collected over the years. So here's the latest idea.

I have a large stash of "squeezie pouch" lids, which I've been trying to find use for. I mean, they're colorful and interesting looking. I've just never found a purpose for them. 

So I found a couple of shoelaces, and we played today with them, making necklaces. It gave us a chance to work on pattern recognition (an early math skill) and fine-motor skill. 

Doesn't she look big? 

October 31st, 2012

Halloween 2012

Starring Shire as Thor and Freya as the Pajama Fairy. With special guest stars Teanna as Athena, Shanda as Teanna's mom. With Stewart as Dad. 

Awesome cape action.

Super hero pose. 

In case you live under a rock, here's a picture of what we were going for.

September 21st, 2012

Playhouse: Step by Step

So, I'll try to have Stewart hop on here with me soon to provide more details about the actual construction process. But for now, here's some "in progress" pictures. 

Step 1 (Monday, September 3rd) -- removed closet doors, purchase lumber.

Step 2 -- removed interior shelving, cutting begins...

Step 4 -- constructed a frame to support platforms and walls. 

(Wednesday, September 5th) -- second platform completed

Step 5 (Friday, September 7th) -- floors in place and secured to platform; exterior design cut with jigsaw and secured to frame.

Step 7 (Sunday, September 9th) -- constructed door and ladder; purchases decorative supplies.

Steps 8--13 (Monday, September 10th - Sunday, September 16th) -- cleaned up all the construction dust, painted the interior and exterior and ceilings, cut and installed carpet, cut clear acrylic to fit upper windows, cut vinyl peel-and-stick floor tiles for faux stone finish, adhered "stones" with super glue. 

Step 14 -- put the toys back and opened the playhouse for business!