Spring Break task: keeping the Kindergartener busy

Kien is happy playing Legos ALL DAY.  He might take a break to play cars or draw some pictures, but he is a generally easy kid.  The only bummer is that after a long enough stretch of him playing in his room he becomes a cranky little man.  He thrives off repetition, schedules, and routine.  So I have to incorporate some kind of organized structure in between the Lego airplane and Lego beach house just so we can have a sane evening.  Spring break is only a total of ten days, but the first day will be a day of soccer-shoe shopping and stocking up on supplies for the next week.  I've compiled a list of things I want to enjoy so I can put some creative structure in to Kien's day and get him out of his beloved bedroom.  My standards are that they all need to be realistically completed by working for about an hour at a time because that's the maximum time frame that Brayden lets me leave him alone for. Each project needs to be affordable, either using things I already have or by spending not more than a couple dollars.

#1: Painting pots 
My first thought was to pick up some cheap terracotta pots. I might still do that, but there's a chance I'll spend the first day paper mache-ing (what would the verb of paper mache be?) on to plastic posts we already have because we have a lot.  you know, those cheap green ones that potted plants from the store come in? They're floating all over my yard and garage.  So paper mache, paint (have it), and spray-sealer (have it) should do the trick.  I hope.  We'll see :)

#2: Yarn-wrapped picture frame
Cardboard (have it) cut into picture frames, various colors of yarn (I have teal, gray, ivory, and pink, maybe I'll let Kien pick out a new color if there are any small balls on sale).  Wrap the yarn  around the frame, and VOILA, a picture frame.  Maybe we can make a few coordinating ones and will have a beautiful montage on the walls. Art is always better when the kids create it on their own.

#3: Pretend stained glass
 Between two pieces of wax paper (have it) sprinkle crayon (have it) shavings, pictures, and anything that's flat like pieces of grass, flowers, magazine cut-outs, etc.  Iron it all slowly and once it's all done and pretty we can hang it in the windows, or maybe put it in the frames we made ;)

Catch-all Catch-up

I know I've been failing at contribution to my blog, but I have a damn good excuse.  MY WRIST HURTS! My doc says I have tendinitis. I say it's painful.  I've been wearing a brace and it's been helping but today I got cocky and thought I could do without it.  Bad move.  My brace is currently in the dryer so I'm still without it and typing is probably going to aggravate it more.   But I miss my computer-world :). 

This week has been fun. Kien was getting sassy at school and on Tuesday crossed the line (running in the library- GASP!) so I popped him up twice a day with the homeopathic remedy "Sulphur"-something-or-another and grounded him from his favorite things; legos, iPod, and DSi. He had to be an angel Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in order to earn back his iPod for our road trip to Hilo tomorrow (Saturday) morning.  The cringe whenever I think of Hilo as a "road trip" because the 1-1/2 hour drive should hardly qualify as a road trip but being as how we live on an island, my kids must be deprived of such luxuries of a true road trip. When I was 16 I drove from Minnesota to California (via Texas); THAT was a road trip.  At 14 years old I went motor-homing (is that a real verb?) with my grandparents for nearly a week all around Wisconsin and maybe in to Michigan. I was young and stupid and didn't pay much attention to where I was, and I regret that now.  Back to Kien; he was perfect the rest of the week and I am so thankful; I couldn't handle the "road trip" to Hilo at 6:30 AM with Kien NOT having his iPod. He is a talkative little know-it-all.  Not the greatest combo when sleep deprived and carsick.

SIDEBAR: homeopathic remedies are always my first go-to choice for anything.  I know it's debatable and that a lot of people think it's bogus, but it has worked -- and continues to work -- for me and my family all the time.


I saw the coolest soap dispenser on Pinterest, so obviously I had to make one for Kien.  The soap dispenser cost $6 from Target and I already had clear hand soap and Lego pieces I took from Kien's billions. Kien loves it and I'm so impressed at how adorable it is in his bathroom!

In other news, I decided to do Brayden's first birthday party with a CANDY LAND theme.  It's going to be completely adorable and I'm loving my ideas and how creative I can get with it.  I'll have a TON of pictures after the party.  His birthday isn't until April 29th, so I have a couple months still.  Just looking forward at the fun ahead.

Going to ice my wrist,
Lyn

The mind of a five year old

Over the past two weeks we've spent a lot of time at the condo where my parents are staying. The best part is that the pool is practically in their backyard. During said two weeks, Kien has begun to confidently swim and has learned a few new terms.

"cotton ball"

"cat pool"

Okay so when he used these terms I (along with anyone around me) was completely confused before figuring out what they mean. "Cotton ball" needs only a little explanation. It's what he thought a CANNON BALL jump was. Picturing a jump that could possible be coined a "cotton ball" was by FAR the highlight of the moment.

"cat pool".... WELL.... I'm already giggling... I called the small kid pool a "kiddy pool"... So of course Kien thought that I was saying "kitty"...and the rest is humorous history.

I love the innocence of a child.

Wants to be five again,
Lyn