Simple Things Sunday: Clementine Creatures

Some times it's all about the simple things you can do for your kids just to make their day a little brighter.  Especially when they're in school all day long, trying so hard to do a good job.  So I've tried every day to take an extra a minute or three to add a little something extra to his lunch box just to make him smile.  Either I use a cookie cutter to give him a fun shape, attached mini pickle halves to roll ups to make snail or make creatures out of his clementines.  I saw the snail idea all over the internet and the turtle I came up with spur of the moment.  Nice part is that I could use any old marker since he doesn't eat the skin anyway.

The snail was a surprise and he refused to eat it at school.  He said it was too cute to eat and insisted that I had to get a picture first.

The turtle I took a picture of beforehand and informed him of that so he would eat his lunch.

They aren't the most perfect little things but he loves when they show up in his lunchbox.  It serves as a reminder to me that I should make more of an effort to do little things every day for him.  An extra story at bedtime, extra cuddle time, fun shapes at lunch, stop what I'm doing and really listen even when there are 15 things to get done.  We forget sometimes that kids don't need grand gestures to show that they are loved, respected, appreciated.  They just need little moments here and there and simple little surprises to brighten their day.

Flashback Friday: Bubble Bath

I haven't done a Flashback Friday in ages!  I miss looking through the old photos of Mr. No.  Apparently, I had these cued up in a folder for months just waiting for another Friday post when the mommy blogger hosting it had little ones who needed her attention instead.  This one popped up just as I had forgotten all about Flashback Fridays!  But, anyway, on to the cutie Mr. No photos! 

These are from when Mr. No was about 17 months old.  I used to blow bubbles for him when he was playing in the bath all the time.  Now he takes showers as often as he takes baths.  My little boy is growing up!

  

Goodbye Eggnog! (a little late)

While in the process of making an Eggnog Evergreen photobook of last year's adventures which Eggnog will bring with him when he returns this year, I realized that I never finished my series on Eggnog's adventures from last year.  Things get busy around Christmas and apparently I forget pretty much everything but now that Mr. No is in school full time I have a little time to catch up.  So here is the end of last year's adventures just a little early for this year's.  But if there's one thing I learned last year, it's never too early to start planning!  Last minute throw togethers are HARD!

Day 19: Evergreen's Travels

 

Rise of Guardians Elf seems to have recruited some new evil minions: Trashies! With their incredible numbers, they seem to have taken Eggnog down and are roping him to the rug!  I guess they were mad that Eggnog didn't take them out to play though I don't really blame him.  They are disgusting!

Day 20:  Angry Elves

Eggnog brought an early present for Mr. No!  Not sure if it was a Santa approved gift but our Eggnog does what he wants.  Looks like he challenged Rise of the Guardians Elf to a little game and he's wiping the floor with him!  Yay Eggnog!

Day 21:  Cowboys and Robbers

Apparently, Rise of the Guardians Elf is a sore loser!  So he's stealing Eggnog's gold in retaliation!  Bad, bad elf!  I hope they catch him!

Day 22:  A Little Research

 Not sure Eggnog knows what to make of Mr. No's Zinkies.  I don't know if he's ever seen toys so tiny before.  He's certainly examining them closely!

Day 23:  SuperElf!

Eggnog made himself a spiffy little mask and cape (stealing my sewing material again!!!) and is flying high with Spiderman and few other superheroes! There's a lot going on in the town below.  The villains seems to be rushing to the jail! I wonder who's in there...oh, of course!  It had to be Rise of the Guardians Elf causing all the trouble!

Day 24:  Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

The toys all got together to throw a goodbye party for Eggnog since tomorrow is his last day here!  They thought of everything...lights, music, decorations, snacks and even the perfect going away present for Eggnog!  Rise of the Guardians Elf all wrapped up!  Aww how sweet! 

Day 25:  Eggnog's Goodbye

Our last day of Eggnog's Antics are here and he made sure that he left on good terms!  He brought gifts, left Mr. No an wonderful handwritten goodbye and even made us elf sized pancakes for breakfast!  Yum!  Thanks, Eggnog!  We'll miss you!

So finally, there is the end of our Eggnog adventures!  All of his other adventures can be found here:  week 1, week 2 and week 3.

Fuzzy

Since Mr. No has been very brave and very cooperative about going to school full time (after 2 years of 2 1/2 hours days 2-3 days a week) and riding the bus like a big kid, we decided to let him get a new pet.  We've had a rough year pet-wise.  We lost our much loved cat, Braden, which is a loss we still feel daily.  3 of Mr. No's 4 crabs died and I won't even get into how that happened. I'll just say that I did not realize hermit crabs were cannibals.  Ick.

So last week, we did the pet store trips to look at small animals and lizards.  I basically vetoed the lizard type creatures.  Not that I don't like them but they tend to have a lifespan of 10-35 years depending on what you're getting.  I'm not willing to put in that much time on another pet. I'm well aware that my son is 5 and will try his hardest to take care of his pet but I'll be doing a good share of the work and I'm only willing to put in 2-3 years max.

After much debate, he decided that he wanted a teddy bear hamster.  Of course, none of the stores had any but, once he caught a glimpse of this little girl, his mind was made up. 

Meet Fuzzy.  Mr. No's Robo Dwarf Hamster.  Cutest little hamster ever.  The smallest, fastest and, of course, longest living of the hamsters according to the internet.  She is a quick one and skittish when you try to hold her but she does come running out and up into the "cuddle area" when you talk to her in hopes that you'll take her out of the cage for some free time.  He loves this little creature so much and she's rapidly warming up to him.

 

Mr. No is now officially a furry pet owner and he just loves her!  But really, how you could not love that cute little face?  If she ever lets him hold her for more than 30 seconds, I'll get a photo of them together.  Right now I'm just too busy chasing her down whenever she escapes. Which is Every. Single. Time. 

Simple Things Sunday: The Kindergartener

So glad Simple Things Sunday is back!  We've had a super crazy and busy summer and now is definitely the time for me to start remembering the simple things about life with Mr. No.  This week Mr. No started full day Kindergarten!  I'm super proud of my smart, happy, hilarious little man but it's so sad because I miss him so much in the 7 hours he is gone every day.  So this week is our first day of kindergarten pics to remind me to enjoy every morning waiting with him for bus no matter how hot, cold, rainy or snowy because after that bus drives away, I'll be counting the minutes until he comes home. Except when I'm at the grocery store.  As much as I love him, grocery shopping without him is a dream come true!

 Chalkboard signs printed from That's What Che Said

Lenticular Lego backpack...very cool

H is a little sad waiting for the bus