How to Roll Dice

Should I get him in a tap class?

Dice are fun for this analytical 4 year old.

Here are the specs of our exciting dice game:

Roll, look for matches (triples, etc.), pull out matches, repeat until all dice are pulled out as matches, then roll all dice again. Repeat the process until I put my foot down and make him stop. Because he'll never stop. Never!














I've been saying this a lot lately, but the mantle of "the more challenging child" has just about 80% passed from Jacob to Nicholas. I'm not trying to label them (although I just did) but I'm happy that Jacob's chilling and that Nico's, um, throwing a lot more tantrums. It's really Nicholas's turn to be more demanding and difficult. It's so fun to see Jacob reason through things and take things in stride more. It's also nice to be more capable of dealing with Nicholas's crying since this is my second time 'round the toddler bend. Especially when he cries because I can't put his granola bar (or banana, popcicle, etc.) back together again after he breaks it. When will he learn it's impossible? Oh. Man.

Oh, Jacob

The other day I was squeezing a lemon into my water. Jacob started asking me all sorts of questions about it. He wanted some lemon for himself. He said he wanted it on the cup. I wasn't sure what to make of that, so I squeezed the lemon into an empty cup. I handed it to him and he dropped the cup as if it were made of fire. He said there were things (pulp) in it and he didn't want that.

So I went back to the drawing board. He told me multiple times, very emphatically that he wanted the lemon ON the cup. I had no idea. Then he picked up the lemon and the cup did his best to put the lemon on the cup.

With that, I got it.


















I really don't know where he learned this since after I squeeze a lemon into my drink I just throw the lemon away.














He's so observant. And, he winks!

For the Thomas Lover in your home

Thomas the Tank Engine

May I suggest track 3 for your especial enjoyment? It's our favorite.

Now, go dance!

There's also a remix of the Thomas anthem and a 50 cent song.

I can't vouch for content (I'm just scared it might be dirty) but the concept deserves a listen to the first bit.

Thomas vs 50 Cent

Thank you Sid

Get ready folks. In this season of endorsements this is me officially endorsing a television program. Sid the Science Kid to be exact. I almost wrote an ode to Sid, but then I realized that one ode is enough for any blog.

Sid the Science Kid follows this kid named Sid, ya dig? Every morning he has an experience that puzzles him (i.e. "Why can I smell my brother's stinky diaper down the hallway?"). He then goes to school and talks about it with his class. Teacher Suzy then miraculously teaches an entire lesson on the topic. With visual aids that would take time to prepare. Like weeks to prepare in some cases. But somehow...she knew to leave a pumpkin to rot in case Sid was curious about decay (which he has been). They spend some time in the lab, they play with their ideas, there's a song, and then Sid goes home with his weirdo Grandma (she really is weird) and discusses it with his parents.

My reasons for loving Sid boil down to three points. And please don't scoff until you've heard me out.

1. It makes me a better parent. No, wait, let me explain!

I notice moments when I could be showing something new to the boys (particularly Jacob at this age) rather than shooing them away. A good example is when I recently made ice. Jacob asked me "Wwwwwwwwwhat you doin'?". The, "never you mind" answer was on my lips when I felt a stroke of genius. Sid genius. I told Jacob that I was making ice, which is when you turn water into ice...blah, blah, blah. He loved it. And he loved it when I called him to the kitchen a few hours later to "investigate" how our ice was progressing. It's all about the investigating, and the comparing, and the contrasting and so forth.

They also did a show about estimating, which lead to The Great Overestimation of 2008. I gave Jacob 8 carrot sticks and asked him to estimate how many I'd given him. He poked around in the bowl and decided on 27. Hmmmm.

I also deeply love Curious George (which also focuses on math and science). But Sid doesn't sugar coat the science with stories like George does, they actually admit that, hey kids, we're going to teach you something! And it's reproduceable at home. Unlike on George when he accidentally becomes part of a flying trapeze group or goes to space (twice!). Just not as likely as finding a mushy banana and wondering why it turned so gross (the decay lesson). I'm not so much concerned about my kids becoming more scientific than the Japanese or anything, but I like the straightforward approach to it all because then Jacob can do it too. It's empowering for him.

So, yes, I love Sid because it helps me see opportunities to be a more engaging, teaching parent.

2. I also love Sid because Jacob loves it.

We really try to limit TV (our success varies day to day) but to see Jacob take positive, interesting things away from it makes me happy. Not like dumb ol' Dragon Tales. I deeply dislike those dragons.

3. Sid has finally brought Jacob around to art.

After every experiment they always draw their observations in their journal. So, one day I pulled out a notebook and wrote JACOB on it and told him it was his journal. All day he's begging to draw in it. In fact, it's pretty much out and ready to be drawn in all day long. I feel like it's a nice place for him to return to during the day. Sort of to regroup and process for a minute and then move on to something else.

This might not seem like much, but Jacob has never taken that kindly to art of any kind. I felt so disturbed by his complete dislike for it all. I mean, play-doh, finger paints, watercolors, crayons, markers -- you name it, he didn't want to do it.

He just loves it now. Sometimes Nico joins in too (although ever since the below experience mainly with Colorwonder markers). And as I type this I actually have a tear of joy in my eye. It's delightful to have a little artist in residence. Jana (mother of the artsy kidlets) has been telling me this for years and I am finally witnessing it.

So, behold my little artistic scientists. Sigh.


















































Definitely the Colorwonder. (What rock star eye makeup.)


















So, please give Sid the Science Kid a shot. I thought it looked dumb too and see how I'm eating my words?

That is all.

Toilet Paper City

Bulk paper products have really turned our heads lately. A nice, soft, absorbent building (and knocking down) material.

What a charming little villa.


















(I got this idea from The Toddler's Busy Book. But did you think maybe I thought it up myself?)