Star Wars

Mo has never seen Star Wars.....it isn't something that Scout or I talk about on a regular basis.....but somehow, Star Wars has sneaked its way into Mo's world.

There are 2 boys at daycare who love Star Wars, and must play it often, because Mo really knows the characters, the plot, the premise......so scary. Lately, she wants to be Luke Skywalker, and have us be the bad guy (Darth Vader)....now, don't be fooled, Mo stays true to the "playing mommy" that she loves so much..........just look at the picture.


So, the balloon is the light saber.....and Luke Skywalker is protecting the baby......because for some reason Darth Vader wants to take the baby. It is funny to see her weave her interests together in a way that makes sense to her.

Also, this weekend, we went to a birthday party with a Star Wars theme.....on the way home.....as Mo was opening up her Star Wars crayons.....she said "Star Wars is ADORABLE."

Slumber Party

Mo has wanted to have a sleepover with the twins from daycare for a while now. Keep in mind, the twins are 5, and have been on sleepovers before. They had been talking about it, and Mo totally bought into the idea of sleeping at their house. For about 2 weeks, when I would arrive at daycare, all 3 girls break out in choruses of "Please, can we have a sleep over, please, please, please."

So, we gave in......for several reasons......first, Mo really wanted to do it. We talked it over, she knew what a sleepover was (you have dinner, then you sleep, then you have breakfast). Plus, she was so excited....it was all she talked about for 2 weeks. But the real reason......I wanted to sleep in so bad on a weekend morning, it wasn't even funny!

So, we took her over on Saturday night. She packed her bag, and ran into the house, and started playing right away. We said our good-byes....and left. We had a wonderful dinner, and went to see Avitar. So far, so good.

We were about 30 minutes away from finishing the movie....when we got the first text....."Simone misses you, and can't sleep." .......followed by "She wants to come home." So, just as the final battle scene was starting, we left the movie theater to pick up our homesick little girl. She wasn't crying or anything, she just couldn't sleep in someone else's house. She wanted her Mama and Mema.

On the way home, Mo said "Playdates are so much better than sleepovers."

Funny Valentines

This year, we made home-made valentines for Mo's friends at daycare. They have a small party, and even though I don't believe the kids really have any clue what valentine' day is all about.....THEY LOVE THE CARDS......THEY LOVE THE EXCHANGING OF CARDS.....Mo is all about it.

Here are the valentines we made......please note, I am not the craftiest person (I want to be, but I really am not. That is why the edges are a bit messed up).....and I only had to make 7 of these, so I could afford to be more ambitious than if I had to make 25.


I traced the heart on poster board, and then poked holes around the edges. Mo then used yarn to "sew" the heart. Each card looks different.


It took all week to make just 7 of these. Mo was only into doing 1 or 2 at a time. We also made heart soap (leftover from a school project I brought home and made it).

Mo is ready to give her valentines to her friends. I know she will have a great time. I just wish these holidays were frozen in time. She is at such a great age, I am not ready to let any of these moments pass.

feelings....

I love my job, I really do, but on days like today, I wish I was a stay at home mom or at the very least, I had a job where I could go in an hour late and no-one would care. As it is, our mornings are so scheduled and so early, that if any one thing happens, we are screwed.

This morning, I woke Mo up and carried her downstairs....she didn't want to wake up. She REALLY didn't want to wake up. She just started crying, and yelling that she wanted to go back to bed. She was really upset....didn't even want to be held. I finally got her to sit in my lap, and I just rocked her, and tried to soothe her. I asked her if she felt ok, her response....."I am feeling fragile."

Out of the mouth of babes. She was fine......just feeling fragile. I totally know what she means. Those days when it just doesn't seem worth it to get out of bed. As a grown-up, I can deal with it, and just go on with my day. But when you are 3, it is not so easy to deal with those feelings.

What I wanted to do was to take it down a notch this morning. Take our time getting ready, maybe even have some playtime or a special stop at the coffee shop. But, I can't have a class full of kindergarteners waiting for me.....so that was a no-go. As it was, everything ended up fine....after about 10 minutes of some cuddling, Mo was ready to eat breakfast.

But, it just hurt my heart to see her feeling 'fragile' and not be able to take care of her the way she needed. The way I needed to care for her.

Sick Day

Not for us, but for our daycare provider, Shirley. Yesterday, when Shirley called to say she was sick, Scout and I had to think fast. We decided that Mo would go to school with me for a little bit in the morning, and Scout would go to work get some stuff done, and then come get her and take her home.

Some people would think taking your small child to your kindergarten classroom wouldn't be that bad. Mo is 3 (and a half), she should be able to just fit right in, right? Except, half of my kindergarteners are already 6, and the rest are just about to turn 6. So, the age gap is pretty huge. Also, Mo doesn't understand that she has to share me with all the other kids. When I am reading a story to the class, she wants to be in my lap (where she always sits when I read a story)....she wants to talk to me when I am giving directions to the class, and doesn't want to wait.

I think if I had a regular job, it may (?) be easier, I could set her up with a video, and call it good. But, for some reason, I have a hard time balancing being a teacher and a mom at the same time.

Overall, she did very well. While the kids were working on their reading work, she was working in playdough and the dollhouse. She loved the outside recess, and the little girls in my class loved playing "mama" to her. It all worked out.....it was just an interesting day.

Making it up as I go along....

A week or so ago, Scout and Mo were playing birthday party for her baby. This is a game that we play ALL THE TIME!

Scout asked Mo, "How old is your baby?"

Mo answered "One."

So, Scout goes to put 1 candle on the pretend birthday cake. Mo says she wants all the candles put on the birthday cake.

Scout: " That's not how it works. You have to match the candles to how old the baby is."

Mo: " That's not how I work. Put 'em all on there."

Good Friends, Good Times

Some dear friends of ours came over last month with their darling daughter, Baby R. Mo LOVES it when Baby R. comes to visit. She loves on her, kisses her, wants to be the mama. I think Baby R. loves Mo too, her smile is a mile wide when Mo plays with her. So sweet.