Freak Out -- lil' e

Things My Mom Does That Freak Me Out:

1.  Demands I give her money from my piggy bank (which is strangely a brown elephant) when I destroy Eden's things.

2.  Hangs me upside down like a bad in the closet (well, maybe she doesn't but she says she will)

3.  Takes away technology when SHE says I don't listen to her words and she won't change her mind no matter how much I insist I didn't hear her.

4.  Makes me eat with a fork (what??! hands are waaaaay more efficient)

5.  Straps me into a car seat from which I cannot escape while in my underwear and lion shirt while I scream and threaten to escape out of the car from the other door since she childproofed my door after I opened it while we were driving down the street -- all because she wouldn't let me stay home from school!!

Things My Mom Wishes Freaked Me Out:

1.  Threatening me to listen to her words by saying she's going to take away my dessert for life.

2.   Telling me I will get no technology time if I don't eat my vegetables.

3.  Informing me I could've died if Jessica wouldn't have been there to help me up to the surface after I dove to the bottom of their 6 foot pool and ran out of air on the way back up.  I assured her next time I wouldn't run out of air.  (She didn't seem pleased until informing me I would have no more swim lessons if I continued to dive down to the bottom of their pool - of which I acquiesced because I've been talking about swim lessons with Jessica for the ENTIRE fall, winter and spring!)

4.  Informing me I could fall over our second floor balcony if my pillow fort fell over the wrong way since it was taller than the railing.  I quickly assured her it would never fall over because I had learned after the last won dumped me into the window, for which I was somewhat disappointed it didn't break.  She again informed me if I didn't live by her parameters, she wouldn't allow balcony forts.  (What an overly anxious mother I have!)

5.  Cautioning me not to ride a mini-wagon down the slide.  (Here, I wished I'd listened to her.  It hurt.)

Things I Do to Freak My Mom Out:

1.  Spitting out my ice cream sprinkles back into my bowl after they have been in my mouth to save until the very end.  She especially squeals when it involves spit.

2.  Making a beautiful picture on my wooden chair and table that didn't scrub off.  (I assured her I'd want it always so it didn't matter it wouldn't come off.)

3.  Doing forward rolls off the couch

4.  Running around without clothes when Eden has her friends over.  I really don't see what the big deal on this one is....

5.  Dropping the food I don't want to eat on the floor so I don't have to, you know, eat it.


To discuss what I do with the cats would take up way too much time....so I'm skipping that subject.

Later,

lil' e

7 Sayings for Getting Me Tickled AND Making My Mom Mad -- lil e

Lent is upon us.  I'm thrilled.  I gave up doing the dishes because we are supposed to give up something that is really hard, and doing dishes is, and it is something I did every day.

I can't wait until next year when I get to pick another hard things to give up.

My Mom, however, isn't so lucky.  She's given up sugar and I couldn't be more thrilled.  This has meant a lot more Girl Scout cookies for me and Big E.  I've come up with a number of sayings already that will get her both mad at me so she tickles me all at the same time.

1.  "Mom, I saved a piece of Valentine's candy for you."
      "You did?"
      [dramatic pause]
      "Just kidding."

2.  "Mom, Dad brought you back a frozen yogurt from Tutti Fruitti."
     "I can't wait.  What kind?"
     "Mom, you gave up sugar you can't eat that!  I'm just kidding anyways."

3.  "Mom.  This thin mint is so good.  Do you see that I'm eating the whole bag and you don't get any?"

4.  "I can't wait for dessert tonight.  What are you going to have?"
     "I'm going to eat all of your candy."
     "No you're not.  You're just kidding.  You can't eat any sugar but I'M going to eat lots while you watch."

5.  "Mom, I'm not going to have dessert either."
     [dramatic pause]
     "just kidding."

6.  "Mom, do you see how all the cookies are almost gone?  You're not going to get any by the time lent if over."  (I can't help but smile on this one.)

7.  "Mom, do you want me to get you a dessert?  Oh wait, you can't have any.  Guess I'll have to eat yours."

This is the bestest time of year!  Did I mention that I can't wait for Lent next year?

Later,

lil e

Observing Lent -- Big E

We observe lent in our house.  Every year it's a struggle to first of all decide, do I add something or do I take it away and then secondly to decide, what? after first part is decided.

lil e and I decided this was our best year yet in the brainstorming phase.

Giving Up

Big E:
doing the dishes
cleaning the kitty litter
helping of any kind
picking up any clothes that are consistently on my floor
closing the dresser drawers that mysteriously are open when I come back in the afternoon

lil e:
listening to Mom's words (and Dad's too)
helping Daddy when he asks
doing chores for free
brushing my teeth
doing the dishes
"I won't shoot you dead, Mommy."  (to which Dad said maybe he needed to give up Pop music thanks to Maroon 5)

Both of us:
Bathing!!!!
(It is sooo overrated!)

Adding

Both of us:
Dessert three times a day
Getting paid to be a part of this family
Technology all day, every day
Legos, Legos and More Legos
Staying Up and Not going to bed (ADDING waking hours of the day)

Unfortunately, our parents didn't see any of these as options.

So, I, Big E will be giving up complaining (which will be sooo easy because let's face it, I never do it -- at least I never notice when I do it).  lil e, he thinks he's given up doing the dishes for which he is thrilled about and nothing else seems to have taken root as "counting for giving up."  He's thrilled and I'm, well, I'm not so thrilled.  I can't believe my parents aren't making him pick something else.  That is so easy.  That is not hard at all.  And that is so not fair.  Ooops.  Do you think this counts?  Surely writing complaints doesn't count.  We never said anything about writing them, or even thinking them, so I can't be breaking Lent (can I?) on this first day!?

Peace,

Big E

Now that I'm Five -- lil e

I've discovered a five year old mind is a bit smarter, more persuasive when you are only four.  While it's a bit hard to explain let me illustrate using examples.

Four year old mind:
M: Elisha we don't jump on the couch.
E:  How can you see me?  I wasn't 'cause you can't see me. 
M:  I can see everything.  We don't jump on the furniture.
E:  Why not?  I'm not hurting anything.  I'm not breaking anything.  This seems like a good idea.
M:  Don't argue with me.  What do you say?
E:  Oh mom.  Why not?
M:  Do you want a time out?
E:  No.  Okay. (sigh) Yes, Mom.  I won't jump on the furniture.

As a five year old:
M: Tell me why jumping from the table to the bean bag isn't okay.
E:  Pause before talking. What are you talking about?  It's okay.  It's fun.  I feel like I'm flying.  Um. 
                    Um.  Because I could hurt the bean bag?
M:  Very good.  That's right.
E:  But Mom.  It isn't going to pop.  It has room in it and it won't pop.  Do you want me to show you?
M:  Listen.  Are we supposed to even get up on the table?
E:  No.
M:  Do we put our feet on the table?
E:  No.  So can I put it at the bottom of the stairs?  I won't be on the table.
M:  Go find something else to play.  I don't want you jumping on the bean bag.
E:  There is nothing else to play.
M:  Then you need to go into your room until you come up with something.
E:  Oh, Mom.  I just thought of something.  I'm going to look in the garbage to see if I can make a new invention so I can throw it down the stairs with a napkin parachute.

I can definitely see five has it's advantages.

Later,

lil e

Snuggly - lil' e

Snuggly!  My sleep pal and partner in crime!
 

Snuggly is so funny!  She just got caught trying to climb up the blinds.

So, my mom let me know I'm spelling Snuggly wrong but you know what, I like the two 'g's' so it stays! 

Snuggly and I have been doing some real bonding.   I tempt her by putting food on the counter so she wants to get up and eat it.  Then, I grab the squirt bottle and squirt her.  It's amazing because Mom never lets me use a squirt gun in the house.

Snuggly also keeps me company when I'm playing my piano.  She jumps on and walks on the keys while I sing and play.  Mom doesn't let this continue very long because she says I'm not learning my new songs.  I, however, reassure her that I'll learn my songs better with Snuggly with me.

There was a time I didn't know if we could keep Snuggly or Princess.  They were climbing up all our leather furniture and scratching on it.  Then there were the cell blinds on the window that Snuggly would jump onto and climb up to the top where my Mom would grab a broom to knock her down.  There was also their attempts to jump on the top of the television, which almost made them a Craig's list post.  However, they seem to be better after they've been put into time outs, squirted with water, and clapped loudly at so it looks like they will continue to be part of the family.

Later,

lil' e

Things to Do with Kittens -- lil e

Our kittens have arrived.  Pictures to follow in another post.  For now let me tell you what I've learned about cats.  I'm especially pleased that they look a bit like lions so I can practice before I get one of those.

Kittens can land on their feet from just about any position.  Flipping them.  Throwing them in the air with or without a twist.  Twirling them.  Flinging them in any direction using wrist creativity.  Before you feel sorry for my kitty, Snuggly, you should know she loves this type of acrobatics.  There are no cries from her so it is very hard to get caught though today my Mom said she would take my kitten away from me if she caught me flipping her in the air again.  Or, maybe it was when I flung my Pooh blanket on it and she couldn't get out, but whatever, she doesn't cry so she must like it.  Even she tries to fling herself onto the blinds from my bed, bat-style.  She hangs upside down from her scratching post.  She even flings her body into a full twist as she leaps onto her sister, Princess.

In order to train kittens to sit like humans you must hold the kitty in that position, like a 'C.'  Snuggly and I are having a difficult time agreeing that this is an important skill.  She doesn't really like it so she cries and then my Mom yells tells me I have to let her go.

Kittens, unlike lions, don't like to sit and have books read to them.

Snuggling is so much fun.  So is picking up the kitty and kissing her, hugging her, and putting her in the dump truck before hurling it across the floor. 

Kittens aren't afraid of jumping out of hurling dump trucks.

Kittens don't like Lego houses, not soft enough.

Kittens love sleeping in their crate but not being locked into their crate.

I love kittens.  I love lions more, but for now, I'll take my kitten.

Later,

lil e

Now that I'm 4 1/2 -- lil e

Now that I'm moving closer to five, there are several things I've learned but one that I want to focus on now...letting your needs be known.  As I'm getting to know myself better and really understand what I like and don't like, I'm finding it's really important to let my Mom know these things, too.

For example, asking for my needs when I'm aware of them...

Me:  "My legs are really tired."
Mom: "I'm sorry you're legs are tired."
Me (my voice gets even slower and deeper, like I'm really tired):  "I need to play on the i-pad that helps them sleep and get rested then they'll feel better."
Mom: "No.  Go play."
Me (pleading): "I might fall down the stairs they are sooo tired.  I need the i-pad."
Mom:  "Crawl backwards down the stairs if you need to, but no i-pad."
Me: pleading a few more times, then eventually crawling down the stairs -- face first, of course.  Backwards is for wimps.

Reminding my Mom, who's boss...

"God gives me ideas, Mom.  He tells me what to do.  You don't."

Developing Self- Esteem...

"My name should be 'Cutie Cheeks.'  Look at how cute this shirt looks on me."

Ambitions and Visions...

Me:  "I really, really, really want a lion, Mom."

Mom:  "Lions are in Africa."

Me: "When I'm five, you need to take me to Africa."

Mom: "I don't think we'll be able to do that."

Me: "If you don't take me then I'm going to jump on a shark and go all the way across the ocean.  Then I'm going to get a baby lion and put it on my back and the shark will take us back home."

Mom: "Lions grow up to have very big teeth and they could eat you."

Me:  "I'm going to read to my lions, Mom.  They won't eat me.  They be nice."

Mom:  "I think they will miss their family."

Me: "No they won't.  I'll be their family.  And Mom, we're reading the 'Three Little Pigs.'  They won't miss them at all."

Be strong and assertive.

Later,

lil e

Getting Older -- lil e

Sometimes things just don't happen the way I want them to go.  Take today for instance, I just couldn't get along with Big E.  We got a verbal warning, then we got sent to our rooms, then we got dessert taken away and next consequence -- something with a wooden spoon.  Here's the thing, in the moment I just can't stop myself.  I knew that I'd get my dessert taken away if I fought with Big E.  Yet when she came into my room and I didn't want her to, I got mad because she came into my room.  Sure she left when I asked.  Sure she didn't even question my demands.  Sure she told me to let her now if I wanted to play with her.  It didn't matter.  I was just mad she came into my room so I wanted to copy her.  I went into her room and hit her!  Just like that.  She needed to know that she should have known I didn't want her in my room.  I'm four after all, I need my privacy!  What really bugged me even more than her coming in my room was she had the nerve to go and tell me, even when I was hanging on her arm, begging her not to tell on me.  In fact, it's really her fault that I don't get dessert.  In fact, I think it's not fair that she didn't lose her dessert, too!  I think I'm going to mention that, especially when Mom is at work tonight...I think I will definitely be getting my dessert back!

A few things I've learned along the way...

excuses really work to keep you from getting in trouble --

Mom: Why aren't you listening to your sister's words?
Me: There is a lot of wax in my ears, Mom.  I can't hear her.  I think you need to clean it out.

Mom: Why aren't you eating your eggs?
Me: I'm hiding from my eggs.  They are so yucky.  I can't even be near them.

Mom: Why aren't you listening to my words?
Me: I really want to listen to your words and I'm trying but my brain keeps making me do something different.  I think it needs another cookie.


There are a few things I'm trying to understand about getting older.

#1 -- I want a real car.  When are you going to buy me one?

#2 -- How old do I need to be before I can get a gun like Papa?

#3 -- When I get older and can work, I want to go around collecting bottles and cans for money.  I can stay home from school and do this.

#4 - How can I become a girl?  I really want to be one so when I get bigger I can shop at Justice

Later,

lil e

Things I Say to Freak Out My Mom -- lil e

1. It's been a really short day.  I don't need to go to sleep.
2. When I grow-up, I'm not going to learn how to drive.  I'm just going to crash into other cars.
3. I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night and come into your room to play on your ipad.
4. Do you call the police with 911?
5. I have a grasshopper stuck in my throat.
6. Mom: I don't want you to run and jump into the deep end without floaties when your babysitter takes you to the pool.   Me:  But, Mom....
7. If I tie this rope around my waist and jump off the balcony, it will catch me.
8. When I get married, I'm going to live with you.

A Few of My Favorite Things -- lil e

Movie -- Dolphin Tales My Mom would have never found out that I hid the Netflix DVD under my bed unless I told her. I hated sending it back -- I LOVE THIS MOVIE!

Jacket -- my green one that she left at Mimi's because she said it was too small. I want it!

Body Part -- My brain.
              lil e: Can I watch Netflix?
              Mom: No. You need to play outside.
              lil e: I checked in with my brain and it is telling me I need to watch Netflix.

And it just keeps telling me that on different days...
             Mom: You need to go play outside.
             lil e: Mom, my brain is telling me I need to watch a movie.

I'm waiting for the day she actually lets me use MY brain and not hers.

Thing I Couldn't Live Without Until My Mom Stole It and Made Me Live Without -- My pacifier, it kept my lips on.

Gum -- Trident Layers, any flavor. If I swallow it, I go get another one.

Book -- How the Leopard Got It's Claws -- My Mom made me cry at the library book drop because she made me give this book back. It's my favorite!

Art Medium -- scissors and paper -- I can make almost anything with scissors and paper. If only my Mom took more pictures I could show you them.

Food -- Carrots

App -- Angry Birds

Place to Visit -- Washington with Papa's lawn mower and Mimi's digger...there is also snow. I LOVE snow! Did you know you could eat it as long as it isn't yellow?

Homework -- nothing. I don't like doing homework. Besides what other preschooler does homework? I'm going to be burned out by the time I'm 5. I know that I cried and jumped up and down insisting on getting to take piano lessons like Big E but I had no idea I had to practice using a book and I couldn't lay down on the bench and just reach my hand up there. She obviously doesn't have an appreciation for "tuning in" to the notes.

Later,

lil e

Why My Mom Makes Me Cry -- lil' e

Eight reasons my Mom makes me cry (this does not count sporadic things that are done to me, only those things that are a pattern)...

1. She throws away boxes. She will not keep any boxes that my toys come in. Or, when she does keep them, she eventually throws them away. This makes me very sad....I really, really like boxes.

2. She takes away my dessert, regularly. I don't get to eat dessert when I hit, bite, or kick Big E. Not very fair. Big E shouldn't need to be protected, she's much older than I am.

3. She took away my green jacket. I don't want my black jacket. Every time I look in my closet, I get sad. My favorite green jacket is gone.

4. She gets rid of clothes and shoes that I once wore. I don't want any of my clothes or shoes to be given away. They are all my favorites and it makes me very sad when I see them in a box going to someone else. I don't want them to leave. I might become a baby again and they would fit.

5. She throws away pieces of paper that I've cut or drawn on. It's bad enough I don't have any baby pictures but what makes it worse is my mom gets rid of all my little papers that I cut from big papers or that I draw on. She throws them away. In the garbage. I can never get them again. Ever. Luckily, I figured out her ways and check the garbage regularly to make sure she doesn't throw anything away.

6. She doesn't let me make dragon soup. I keep asking my mom to make dragon soup with me but she won't. She says I can help her make soup but she can't help me put cookie dough, pumpkin puree, carrots and water into a soup. This makes me sad. She's stifling my creativity! How will I ever do anything great in this world if she doesn't let me experiment with my creations?

7. She doesn't appreciate my need to build things out of anything I want so she destroys my bridges, my cars, my tractors, my roads, etc. without even asking. She tells me that she needs to sit on the couch so I can't take all the cushions for the whole day or all her pillows because she needs them back but she just doesn't get that I need them to stay built. My building ideas are based off what I just built. I need to look at them, even during the night. Again, stifling me! (You see the pattern.)

8. She doesn't let me stand up while we're driving to look at the cars behind us. How does my Mom expect me to see the cars behind us when I can't turn around and look? It's not fair. I even have my seat belt on my legs so I'm strapped in!!! She can be so rigid at times...

Shout out to all my fans reading this. Let me know why your Mom makes you cry.

Later,

lil' e

Why I Cried on My Birthday -- lil' e

Birthdays are not a happy event for me, especially since I'm four. Five, now that is a cool number. I'd be happy to be five. Three. Three is also cool. But, four. very boring. Besides, since I've been four I hear, "No. I won't pick you up and carry you, you're four now. Use your legs." "Go get dressed. You don't need me to do it, you're four." "You can't use your fingers, eat with your fork. Ffffour, Fooork, see they go together." "You can get your shoes on, you're four." My mom thought herself so clever but I know my letters. I told her, "Listen to me, fork, goes with five. I will use my fork when I'm five. I'll be really big."

Listen, four can be cool sometimes. I'm definitely faster. I can catch a ball better and throw FAR! When my mom isn't looking, I jump for four steps instead of three because you know, I'm now four! But, it wasn't like some magical thing happened on my birthday. In fact, tears, big shoulder shaking tears came down as I was told I had to say good-bye to three since I was turning four. They should know to just ignore the fact I'm turning four. I don't need to know that. I can go right on being three and not know the difference. What were they thinking? They know I'm a person who has trouble letting go. I cry every time I need to put on my new black coat and it's been two months! I want my old, green one back. I don't care the arms were too short. I don't care it was hard to get on. I WANT MY GREEN ONE!

I also don't want to get older for my parent's sake as well. They have been great failures. I have no pictures of me as a baby. They tell me there are some but when I ask where they say in the computer waiting to be put in books. I don't believe them. I look around and there are NONE. Big E has lots of pictures I've seen. Where are mine? Listen, I don't want to grow up, I WANT PICTURES! Then there is the hope that I will be a girl. I don't know how those fish at the aquarium go from being boys to girls and back again but I want to do that and the longer I'm walking, the more complicated it gets.

When you see me, please tell me I'm three.

Later,

lil' e

8 Things to Do with a Pencil -- lil' e

8 Things to Do with a Pencil...

Number One -- Get green playdoh off my shoe sole after stomping killing my "playdoh'ed frog."

Number Two -- Pick my nose and pretend 'it' just went there...(I couldn't control it)

Number Three -- Chase Big E around while yelling, "I'm going to get your eye."

Number Four -- Draw on my Mom's cookbook, "It needed some more dec'ration."

Number Five -- Make new designs on my boring, white door because "It needed some more dec'ration."

Number Six -- Sing into it like a microphone.

Number Seven -- Stick behind your ear because accessories are just cool.

Number Eight -- Make holes in the dirt for a crayon garden 'cause crayons just don't dig very well.

Later,

lil' e

Christmas! -- lil' e

HOW MANY DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS??? Can it be moving any slower? Just when I wake up to think it has finally come, I'm told it's still not here. Baby Jesus must be feeling like it's FOREVER until it's here. Did you know it's His birthday? He must be so excited. It's not clear to me how old he'll be since he's up in heaven but I can't wait to have His cake. At His birthday party, I'm going to dress up like a donkey, at least that's the animal I'm hoping to be.

To help pass the time until Christmas, my Mom has been running me around as if I am a donkey. I think I may be making the trip to Bethlehem as I go from party to party. Luckily, there are lots of nutritional grasses for me -- donuts, sugar cookies, chocolate chip pancakes...the list goes on.
Here's one party where I sang, or was supposed to sing. My sleeve tasted much better than a song.

 

I really hope this is the way we can pass the time next year. Yesterday, we went on a boat ride to find sea jellies and see the Christmas lights along the canals. I've posted my two favorites -- a Santa face and the Family Griswald house (if you look closely you can see the dad hanging off the house -- how he stay up there?)

 

 

 

I hope Mr. McGregor celebrates Christmas. Maybe he'll finally catch Peter? I can't help but be a little bit disappointed when all those bunnies get away. What can you expect? I have coyote pillows on my couch that my Grandpa and Dad took out (meaning -- killed, bam, no longer). Let me tell you something, though, all other Beatrix Potter books without Mr. McGregor, complete bore. I don't want them in my collection anymore. ONLY MR. MCGREGOR BOOKS!

On that note, I can't wait for Christmas. I hope I get all the things I've been putting on my wish list for the last year. I can't remember a thing on them but every time we go into a store, I let my Mom know all the things I want on my wish list and there are just too many to remember. I will say, I can't wait until one day I can write it down because my Mom tells me she won't write everything. She told me I didn't need baby bouncer, but I told her I could still fit in it and listen to music when she needed me to sit in time out. I'm not holding much hope that made it to the list, but oh well.

Can't wait to go to the snow!!! We've been praying for more -- we've got to make an igloo or I'll be so disappointed. Gotta practice my building technique so off to do Legos.

Later,

lil' e

Fall Festivities -- Big E

I'm happy to report that this fall has been one of the best ever. Not only do I get to stay home and go to school for most days of the week, but I also get to do lots of gymnastics. I do them in the living room, the dining room, and anywhere large enough to flip my legs into the air. I find it is most convenient to start doing hand stands or cart wheels when it's time to do the dishes or clean up my room. It's hard to argue with someone who explains she can't clean up yet because her coach says she needs to practice her handstands. While I can't completely get away from doing my chores, it does delay the painful reality that I don't have servants so I have to do chores myself.

Speaking of servants, my mom, who I really do enjoy as my teacher most of the time, can be a bit rigid at times. Rigidity can be a real joy killer to someone who has a creative spirit like myself. Her rigidity can even take away my joy about my favorite subject, math. For instance, what is the big deal about always getting the exact answer? Really, is there a big difference between 4250 and 4256? Does it really matter when I'm this close? Or, how about the division problems with remainders? Who needs a remainder? What happened to rounding? Rounding was the IN thing in 2nd grade how can my Mom expect me to throw out this wonderful technique and remember my remainders? Sheesh. Rigidity has really been the downfall of many great people, think past president. At any rate, I hope she isn't on a slow steady decline towards old aged thinking.

Check out my Pictures and Until Next Time,

Big E

Some favorite pictures from the fall:

My floor routine at Level 3 State Championships.

 

A trip to the Spider Pavilion with my family and Aunt Michelle:

 

My heart's treasure:

 

Floor Baby -- lil' e

As I've gotten older it has been fun to reminisce about my younger days. Here are a few of the things that I've told my Mom about. They are especially important memories when she isn't letting me do something that I know I've done before.

(e: lil' e and M: Mom)

e: Can I watch Diego?
M: No.
e: When I was a floor baby I used to sneak out and watch the TV when you didn't know. I even watched scary stuff but I wasn't scared.

e: Can I have chocolate chip pancakes and whip cream for breakfast?
M: No.
e: When I was a floor baby, I would eat whatever I wanted and you couldn't stop me.

M: You need to pick up your Legos.
e: When I was a floor baby, I threw my Legos and and you picked them up.

M: It's time to go to bed.
e: When I was a floor baby, I stayed up as long as I wanted and you couldn't make me go to sleep.

e: Can I go ride my bike?
M: Not right now.
e: When I was a floor baby, I used to sneak out of the house and go in the backyard when you didn't know.

e: I don't want to take a nap.
M: You'll need to have quiet time in your room.
e: When I was a floor baby, I didn't like you.

e: Can you get me a water?
M: You know how to get water.
e: When I was a floor baby, I had the longest tongue, it went up to the ceiling.

e: I want to do spelling with Big E.
M: You need to learn your letters first.
e: When I was a floor baby, I knew all my letters.

It's nice to know that my Mom has loosened up on things. When I was a floor baby, she was always telling me to stop eating things off the floor, to stop licking my shopping cart and to get my fingers out of my mouth. I keep letting her know that I don't care if I get germs. When I get sick, I don't have to go to school. I get to eat on the couch for all my meals. I get to watch Diego all day long. Sometimes I even get to sleep in her bed OR she sleeps in mine. Now, instead of telling me to stop, she just stares at me and says nothing. It's nice to know she finally gets me.

Later,

lil' e

I'm 9 -- Big E

I had the coolest party ever for my ninth birthday. I had eleven of my great friends with me at Paint and Glaze, a fun place with ceramics that you get to paint. One of the greatest things about the party was that they made a cat on my sign AND a peace sign!!! My Mom didn't even tell them that those were my favorite things right now. They just knew! As soon as I saw the sign, I knew it was going to be a great party! I bet you can't guess what I picked out?...let me give you a clue, "it says meow" and I can drink from it. That's right, it was a cat cup!!! I'm trying to get over my Mom and Dad refusing to get me a kitten so I'm hoping that having a few more kitten stuffed animals will smooth my broken, broken heart(birthday presents by people who know the deepest desires in my heart and feel very sad for me that I have such strict parents).

It's so hard to sum up what this year has meant to me. It was very, very hard to move in the middle of the school year. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It was hard to leave my favorite tree that is probably turning a sunset red and orange color right now, well, if it ever turned cold that is. It was also hard to have to get up extra early to make it to school right before the bell rang. It was also hard to say good bye to my neighbors who will also be having parties right now because there were about five of us with September and October birthdays. With the hard times though, have been some good things. We have a community pool and I learned to swim. I get to ride bikes and my new scooter in the front driveway and in our street. I have new, great neighbors that I can play with. I don't have to get up early anymore except on Fridays because most days I do school at home. I also have my own room so lil' e can't destroy as many of my things (except when he goes in there when I'm at gymnastics or at school on Wednesdays), but he's learning that I have some cool things and if he destroys my stuff then I won't play with him and he doesn't like that.

Regarding my birthday, my ACTUAL birthday, Grammy rescued me from the tyranny of my mother. She doesn't realize that when you do a pseudo-homeschool model that you CAN take a day off. She made me do school work even though it was a national holiday AND it was my birthday. But, Grammy stole me and took me to my favorite restaurant, In 'n Out and then we went to my favorite dessert place, Tutti Fruitti yogurt. She saved the day.

I think my Mom is growing. After all, she did let me go with Grammy. She does give me more breaks during school but we still work until 3 or 4 pm. Just an aside, the house isn't getting any cleaner when we end sooner. I've caught her in her room reading her books, something about a hornet's nest and a girl. When I ask her when she's going to clean HER room, she never answers me. She just says that when I'm the adult, I can make my own decisions but for now, my room has to stay clean even though hers doesn't. I think she uses the same standards for cleaning as she does with sugar. When we're sick, we don't get any sugar. When she's sick, she says she needs it to keep mentally sane. She says that she's willing to pay the price of being sick a few more days, because sugar helps her parent us better and use a good tone of voice. As you can imagine, she doesn't allow me to use sugar for a better tone of voice with my brother. Instead, if I'm too mean, I can get my sugar taken away. There again, different standards. My wish is that in this year of being nine, the rules will be more equal....AND I'll get my kitten.

Until Next Time,

Big E

Homeschooling Creations -- lil' e

I'm not sure you can imagine the torture Big E must go through with my Mom as her teacher three days a week.  I assure you, Big E gets plenty mad at me because she says that I get to play all day, of which my Mom will agree before she adds, "You didn't even go to school when you were his age."  This quiets her up and I'm once again not the object of her very focused eye that tries to watch what I'm doing.  Here are a couple of creations I've made while Big E is being made to do workbooks (!).  I've already told my Mom, I refuse to do workbooks, besides I'm a Montessori preschooler, they DON'T believe in workbooks at my "kool."

Chicken

Picture of Squished Dinosaur -- T-Rex Stepped on it

Dinosaur Eggs

Top:  Dinosaur that got stepped on

Bottom:  Big, Big, tiny egg

Top: Triceratops that Died
Middle:  Tiny Eggs that will Hatch into a Bird
Bottom:  Bird

Big E has been saving up her stories so hopefully she'll write next.  Mom has been starting school at 8 am and end between 4 and 5 pm.  We think it's because she has more fun teaching than cleaning the house and this justifies it getting messy because she's "working" a full-time job.  At any rate, Big E has no time for "free activities," like blogging.  She's hoping Dad will rescue her by coming home early from work one day and he'll see the truth behind this 8 and 9 hour madness.

Later (and thankful to be only 3),

lil' e

More questions for God -- lil' e

I've been doing some thinking and have some more questions.

We have a different sun everyday. How does God do that?

How does God make strawberries so good?

Why does my mom make her vegetables hot? They are yucky! Cold vegetables are the way God made them and they are yummy!  Thank goodness my mom lets me eat all my veggies cold!  She's nice that way.

God, why are all the men at the Getty Villa naked?  It looked weird.  They need underwear.  Can you help them with that?

 

How can Big E do this?  I keep landing on my head.

 

How do starfish stick to the glass?  They don't even fall off if I pound!

 

Would my mom really throw me in the shark tank if I didn't listen to her?

 

How did you make brownies taste so good?

 

Why did you make me so I can't stop picking?  I tell my mom and dad that my forehead just won't stop bleeding.  I told them that I just go to sleep and I wake up and I've picked it.  I tell them over and over again that I can't help it but they won't believe me.  God, I need you to tell them that you make some kids to pick, like me and they just need to ignore it when I do it!

Later, 

lil' e

What I did the last two weeks -- Big E

Here's a bit of what I've been doing over these last two weeks. It has been very busy and I've hardly had time to sleep.

Here is a picture of what I've done with my dad at least three times a week. He can throw me much higher than my mom. Of course, he's taller so he has an advantage because I think my mom is stronger.

We went to the aquarium where we enjoyed fish like this...

touched jellies like this...notice our two fingered touch

My mom said that if we didn't listen to her she would throw us in the shark tank. I think she was serious.

Next she took us to the Natural History Museum where she told us we were very lucky to be living in modern times because otherwise we might be an appetizer for this T-Rex.

Here's lil' e taking pictures with his camera. He was copying me, of course. He does that with everything.

This animal didn't fair so good. He was lunch.

My friends, Megan and Maggie's dad is a scientist at the Museum so we got an amazing behind the scenes tour.

This is the head of an ibex. I'd ask to see it on our private tour because I was reading a book about the stone age with one in it. I was lucky because they usually don't have one. However, they had just gotten it the day before from the LA Zoo whose ibex had died recently of old age.

Afterwards, we were so energized that we lifted a truck!

Next, we went to a Colonial Farm with our good friends, Marin and Brooke. This woman is teaching us etiquette. She is quite funny and spit food and water at us! Talk about manners.

We learned about writing with quills.

Here are lil' e and my mom's letter to us.

I learned how to weave.

We also went to the Getty Villa. I know! Yet, another adventure. We were in heaven. We're planning our tour while Mom waits for us to make some decisions about what we want to see. I've made it very clear that only things that are interesting are worth looking at. I don't want to see "the normal." How boring is that?

We appeased her by posing at the end. lil' e never wants to stand next to me.

Now, this was where the action was!

You have to be quite brave to explore the Villa!

My mom has enrolled me in a charter school, which I love because I only go to classes twice a week and then she gets to teach me the other days. I love everything about it except when she speaks in a mean tone and tells me that I'm not working fast enough. But everything else, is the best!

Until next time,

Big E