New Word

Danica's vocabulary is fairly small.  It mostly consists of Mama, more, Dada, & hi.  But the other day she figured out how to say a new word, and not an easy one at that.  Let me preface by saying the girl loves to eat & loves food.  You wouldn't know it by how skinny she is, but she can pack it away.  So it was no surprise when she pointed at the cookie jar whenever she passed it everyday and screamed for a cookie.  The screaming was obnoxious & girlfriend has some lungs.  But now when she passes the cookie jar we know exactly what she wants because she says "cookie".  It's so cute!  You can see the video here.

Do I Unknowingly Speak Jive?

The other night I was tucking in JoJo.  After a book & prayers I usually sing him a song.  I've done this since he was born.  When he was a baby I would sing him to sleep every night.  Currently his favorite song for bedtime is Teddy Bears' Picnic.  So, I began singing...
"When Joshie goes out in the woods today he's in for a big surprise.
When Joshie goes out in the woods today he better go in disguise.
'Cause every bea-"

"Mom, how do I get in disguise?  And how do I get out of disguise?"

"You just put it on & take it off like regular clothes.  It's just like a costume."  My comment was followed by a confused look from my sweet son.  I began singing again:

"When Joshie goes out in the woods today he's in for a big surprise.  

When Joshie goes out in the woods today he better go in disguise.

'Cause every bear that ever there was wi-"

"Mama, how do I get up into disguise & how do I get back down?  How do I get up there?"

"Up where?"

"Up in disguise!"

Then I realized what was going on.  I was saying "disguise", he was hearing "the skies".  Actually he was hearing "da skies".  No wonder he was confused!  That would be one weird song if you heard it like he was.  And then I though, do I unknowing have a Jamaican accent where when I say "da skies" my son doesn't even question it, he doesn't think it's a new word?  Do I walk around the house speaking Jive & now it's my kids first language?  Now we both were confused.  I quickly explained to him that I wasn't saying "the skies" but "disguise", or a costume.  He nodded & I began the song again:

"When Joshie goes out in the woods today he's in for a big surprise.  

When Joshie goes out in the woods today he better go in disguise."

"But Mama, how do I get into da skies?!"

I just answered (in a Jamaican accent) "You take da plane, man."  Ahhhh... parenthood.

Obsessions: Maddie

Horses.  Maddie loves, is passionate about, & completely obsessed with horses.  Do you remember that girl in school that loved horses so much that she wore horse t-shirts, had horse notebooks, & always talked about horses.  Well, that's Maddie.

She would be on top of a house every day if she could... and she tries to!

She'll spend hours riding no matter what the weather.

This is her partner in crime, Itchy.

They are currently learning how to barrel race, which Maddie loves.  She can't wait to go fast (when you & the horse are first learning you walk the pattern for a long time so get use to it).

We're planning on having Maddie & Itchy compete this summer in their first horse show in Corvallis.  It will be for our breed of horses- Missouri Fox Trotters.  They will do the walk & trot that this breed is known for.

Along with some trail class competitions (up & over the bridge).

 And some foot work competitions.

And obstacle courses.

When Maddie practices with her horse she works very hard & goes for hours.  But she loves it, & is so disappointed when she can't ride.

They make quiet a team, Maddie & Itchy.  I know she's going to miss him a ton when we finally buy a house & move back into town.

But for now, living on the ranch, she's in heaven.  Surrounded by her obsession, horses, twenty -four seven.

Obsessions: Gracie

Gracie is obsessed with collecting.  And we're not talking about collecting one specific item.  She will collect anything at anytime. 

 This sort of scene is a daily occurance in our house, one of Gracie's many collections.  I've finally convinced her to take a picture of her treasures & then we can put them away.  Otherwise she wants them left in their specific spot forever.  In this case, the coffee table.

And the girl will collect anything.  For instance, she found this heart sticker & this heart bead on the floor of our church last week.  Thus her "heart collection" was birthed.  She will collect anything: rocks, clothing, stickers, ribbons, anything shiny, toys...

If there is an empty box or bag she will swoop it up & fill it with her treasures.  She got this little set of drawers for Christmas from her Grandma K.  Every drawer is filled with something... Gracie is in heaven.

And this has been going on for a long time.  She's around two in this picture.  She drug that bag around for a week, constantly filling it with various things.

The first thing Gracie started collecting was "babies" (stuffed animals).  Sometimes her collections invade the space of others & we have to intervene.  Here she saw Maddie's nap as a perfect time to set up & display her baby collection.  

I can't stop her, I can only try to contain her.  This is the floor beside her bed.  Yet another collection.  Don't be surprised if you see her on TLC's "Hoarding: Buried Alive" show.

We always joke that Gracie will own a shop someday where she can set up "collections" all day long.  She loves creating displays with her treasures.  The hard part will be when people come to purchase the items, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Obsessions: JoJo

JoJo is obsessed with music.  He has a gift for pouring his heart into a song.  Even if that song is a bunch of incoherent slurred toddler words.

Everyday pencils become drum sticks.

Kitchen stools & jars become a drum set.  (He's generally very serious when playing music- focused)

Tennis rackets turn into guitars.

And Joshie sings with all his heart.

He's been singing & making up songs since he was one years old.  And I'm not making that up; God honest truth.  When he was a baby he would babble little melodies he made up.  So cute.

I have the video to prove it, he is about one here

He also does air guitar & a sweet butt-rock voice whenever he's excited.  "Hey JoJo we're going to McDondalds."  His response "MccccDonaaaaalds!" in a high pitched voice accompanied with air guitar motions.  What two year old does that?!

His favorite song is "Happy Day" which he hears at church quite often.

I try not to decide too early in my children's lives what they will grow up to be.  But if this kid doesn't do something with music I will be completely shocked... completely.

I enjoy watching his passion & love for music grow.  It's fun to watch him watch musicians... he's in complete awe.  It will be interesting to see what instrument(s) he eventually decides to play (I hope it's not the drums- but as you can see from the pictures that may be a hopeless hope).

Joshie Live in Concert Video