Monkey in truck

Nakai has been zooming this little guy around for days now.

Toga Wrestler

Doesn't he look fierce? Really. Wrestling has been so on the brain for Nakai ever since our friends Isaac and Skylar last visited! Isaac is wrestling this year and entertained us all with his skill! Apparently, Nakai is also getting a dose of wrestling action at his dad's house....

Sir...Lancelot?

Nakai has been so very, very, very, very, very into being a knight lately. He swears that his name is Sir Lancelot and he rides around with his helmet on his wooden horse, defending the honor of me, a Princess! (hey, at least someone still treats me like royalty..I'll take it:)

Gonna be a rock star?

Perhaps! This was taken on a day when his Papa stopped by to hang out and ended up giving an impromptu music lesson! ahem...okay, maybe he had a little persuasion from me, but really, I did get the wee ones new instruments for Christmas, and everyone knows I'm not musical...

Gotta start 'em early

sewing, of course!
these lacing cards are great for hand-eye coordination
just look at these guys, both gettin stitchy!
makes a mama's heart so, so glad!

I've been knitting a lot lately, trying to hone my skill and all. I also make a point to do it around the children to show them an example of how to fill your down time, your quiet time...to give them ideas of positive ways to be still....

So, on this particular snowy day, Andy and I were knitting while Nakai was building a a marble run and then some connecting flower motorcycles (his own creation). After awhile he announced he needed someone to build for him because he was tired of building. We told him that he didn't have to build anymore, he could take a rest, look at a book, listen to music, try his hand at sewing, or just hang out and talk to us. A short time later, he went and found the basket of lacing cards and brought it over and began to lace...his focus and determination were evident, but it didn't take long for him to get into a rhythm and relax with it. I could hear his breath slow and see his posture relax. He was so proud of his work! And...I was so proud of him:)

The Pitter Patter of Little Feet

feet full of four year old energy

feet quiet and still

i love the pitter patter of little feet. All the time. Even in the middle of the night as they're coming towards my bed....(if they're not already there:)

I know that the sound won't always be there....someday there will be no more pitter patter...and I'm sure I'll miss it when it's gone.

Magnetic wonder

Nakai was entertaining himself on my bed and watching me roll my knotty head after a shower when suddenly he said, "look mommy, my cool race car is in triangle jail"...

Okay, so maybe I'm the only one who is excited about this...not the jail part, silly, the triangle part. Okay, remember weeks ago when we were working on shapes? It's always rewarding for me to realize that retention is taking place! I didn't even have to stage a recall lesson...Yippee!

Nakai loves these Magnetix...little magnets with little silver balls...you build with them...very open ended....I love those little magnets, they are sticking on every metallic surface throughout my house. Those little balls though....they...are another story. They are not used in building structures as suggested on the package. No, no...they are used to zing across the floor as mommy walks by (or anyone else for that matter)....when I sweep and mop, I must first pick up hundreds of those tiny silver balls. Yes, yes, the children could pick them up...if I weren't sweeping and mopping when they were away. They do a great job of tidying up, but somehow these little bitty balls seem to show up in the strangest places.

On a side note, these toys have also been recalled for being a choking hazard...something to do with swallowing them and having them attract to each other in the intestinal wall and perforating it...okay. So, I am hopeful that Nakai decides it's better to play with them than eat them because he really likes them. I don't want to send them back, but...

Teah always put things in her mouth...and still does...at age nine.

We'll see, but for now, they stay.

Sweetie face!

Clay play

We've been exploring different textures and consistencies of clay...today was a modeling clay (as opposed to natural clay, playdoh, play-dough,beeswax, bread dough) It took a bit of time for Nakai to understand that you really have to work it in your hands for awhile before you can create with it. We made snails and nests with eggs in them and a rainbow and then Nakai decided that it would be best if we just made balls!

Chillin with the computer

Nakai loves to play computer games while I sew at the sewing table. We're still hanging out together and we chat and sing and talk about how to make words and listen to starfall books and put together robots on wow wow wubzy. It makes for a chill afternoon. Once we've done errands and some reading, some YMCA time, we're ready to enjoy the craft room and yes, the computer!

Soccer anyone?

Can you see that the shingards are different? And that one is upside down? He's definitely ready:)
look at that action shot!
"wow, it went right past me!"
Puttin on the brakes!

It is time once again to sign up for rec soccer. My children are all thrilled, but none as happy as Nakai! It is his first season to play after being a tag-a-long for two whole seasons. He's ecstatic! When I asked him if he wanted to play, he said, "be right back, mom." He came down and he was ready! He had found the packed away soccer bag and donning two different shinguards and cleats, holding a ball, announced he was ready to go and play soccer with his team! "Where is my shirt and my coach?" He asked.....I then had to explain that though it was indeed time for signing up, soccer was actually still two months away. Poor guy, he was crushed. So, we played soccer together, since he was dressed for it and all...

Puzzle Time!

Somehow I always post my pictures in the wrong order...not sure how that happens. Nakai has suddenly developed quite an interest in puzzles. He's been doing this one that he loves ( from Melissa & Doug) over and over again. Hmmm..maybe add puzzles to his wish list...I'll have to remember that.

Juicing!

He loves to juice! Could do it all day...
Cantaloupe juice anyone?

Box fun!

Nakai played in this recycled box all day long!! It was a tree, then he was in a rocket, from there morphed into robot, etc. He even asked if he could sleep in the box!
Who needs commercialized toys?

Artsy-Fartsy!

Nakai painting an "N" to hang in his room.
A picture frame for Daddy...
look at that concentration, the focus...
Nice!
Gorgeous!

Letter Recognition...

...letter recognition, box play, knitting interest....all of the above! So, Nakai created this game where he has to find the letter (that I should call out) and stab it with the knitting needle! Doesn't that sound fun? So my question is, "why do we purchase toys?" A box and a sharp object kept him occupied for most of the day!

So special!

Shadows

Is he turning into a great photographer or what?!?