Bye, Bye Paci

We cut the ends off of the girls' pacifiers. We are a pacifier free house now. Well, let me clarify. We have two "broken" paci-s in the trash can in the girls' room and they put them there all by themselves.

We have thought about taking their paci-s away before, but we just haven't followed though with it. Honestly I think I was more attached to their paci-s than they were. Always knowing that I could just slip them their "mute buttons" (as my sister calls them) when things got a little crazy. Always having a back-up plan.

Well, a few days ago Camryn busted her lip pretty bad and it was quite swollen. Swollen enough that she couldn't get suction on her pacifier. Instead of freaking out, she just dropped it and said, "broken". And that was it. No fussing, no crying. Just said "broken". So then Walt and I started talking and decided that maybe it was time to say, "bye, bye paci". So since I'm on Christmas break now, it was as good a time as any just in case it didn't go well.

While me and the girls were at the store today, Walt cut a hole in the end of both pacifiers and put them right back on the dresser. When I got home, it was time to put the girls down for a nap, so we went in their bedroom and I gave them their paci-s. They both noticed right away that there was something wrong, but tried to suck on them anyway. Immediately they pulled them out of their mouths to get a closer look at what was wrong. So I asked them if they were broken (that is what they say about anything that isn't working right) and they said "yep". So I said, "if they are broken, then we need to throw them away." So they did! They hopped out of bed and tossed their paci-s in the trash. Needless to say I was kind of in awe.

Kristin proceeded to check the trashcan about 20 times. She would reach in the trashcan and get her paci out, look at it very carefully, then say, "nope, broke", and throw it back in the trash. She would walk a few steps away, then walk back to the trashcan and repeat. Camryn asked for it a few times, but Kristin would say, "nope, broken". I was dying laughing!

Tonight when it was bed time, they asked for their paci-s, but I just reminded them that they were broken (they check the trashcan to be sure), then off to bed they went. They both tossed and turned more than normal, but not a single cry for their paci. Amazing! I think it was just lucky timing.

Now if they would just use the potty. One thing at a time...

Craft Time

There are so many fun crafts that correspond to winter time. Christmas ornaments, foam figures (reindeer, angels, Santa, etc), garland...just to name a few. Craft time is our new favorite past time. The girls favorite thing because they get to make all the choices and my favorite time because they are happily occupied with almost no help from me. I get to sit back and enjoy the looks on their faces, the deep concentration that it takes to place noodles on glue, and the pure joy when they complete a work of art.

Cam's first snowflake

Kristin's first snowflake

Since craft time began, it has evolved in the following ways -


At first I was in charge of the glue. I placed small dots of glue strategically around their foam pieces and they were then given various things to stick on the glue. Then one night I was trying to make dinner during craft time. I made the rookie mistake of leaving the glue within reaching distance of Camryn. I turn around to find her covering her paper with glue. Literally covering. At least a 1/4" deep. I started to freak out, but I was trying to stir something so I just let it go and decided I could always clean up the mess later. Well huge surprise (even though it shouldn't be since we all know how OCD the girls are), there was not a single drop of glue off the paper. These girls can glue!

Camryn applying sequins

Kristin deciding which glue dot to attack next

The glue queen herself - Camryn

Kristin loving the glue

Dead silence at the table - they were concentrating so hard

At first I only gave them very small amounts of craft items (example: 5 sequins at a time). But then I realized that they could keep busy for LONG periods of time if given enough supplies. So now I line up several small bowls filled with all kinds of things (noodles, pieces of ribbon, crayons) and let them have at it.

Cheerio art - it is hard to see the cheerios, but they are all over the coloring book page

At first only one type of craft was allowed at one time. Now it is basically a free for all. And they love the freedom to do what they want. And I love watching the strange things they do. Wondering why they pick one shape/color of noodle over another. How they match all the colors on certain things.

Kristin showing off her noodle snowman

Camryn showing off her noodle shapes (square, circle)

High Heels

Apparently it is innate for girls to know how to walk in high heels. They clomped up and down the hall several times before trading shoes and clomping some more. Do boys do this? It isn't like I said, "hey girls, come put on mommy's shoes". They got them out of my closet. Nature vs. nurture. Camryn in pink, Kristin in purple.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

Even if it is on your head. The joy of suction cup bowls. When you try to pick them up to drink the milk out of the bowl and they suddenly become unattached.

Lounging

Walt was filling the bird feeder and looked into the window to see this -

That would be two girls who dragged their little purple chairs over to the front window sill to prop up their feet and watch daddy feed the birds.

Having some juice, watching some birds

We aren't weird...everyone sits in the front window, feet up without clothes on...right??