Swamp Adventure, Part 1

I signed Bronwen up for a "Swamp Adventure" class that will meet every Wednesday for two hours throughout March. The class is for kids ages 2-5 and focuses on plants and animals found in, well, the swamp. Today was our first class, and it was a bit hectic to say the least. We arrived and got a chance to look around at different snakes, lizards and turtles in terrariums. Once the class started, we learned that today's class was all about trees. The kids first completed an art project:



After the art portion was over, the teacher took us all outside for a walk around the swamp to look at different trees, leaves, and roots. Here Bronwen is looking around:
Smile!
Finally back inside for a snack and a chance to touch an animal that lives in trees--a snake! I was so proud when Bronwen touched the snake very gently. She loved it so much, she even purchased a little wooden snake from the gift shop. I asked her if she wanted a bigger one, but she told me no, that this one was "just my size."

March!

Today begins the Toddler Swamp Adventure class, and I am really excited. I'll bring my camera, and hopefully the batteries will hold out.

Bronwen recently has begun making up songs and games that only she can sing/play. I'm having a great time listening to her creativity. Yesterday when we went to T.J.'s parent's house for dinner, she was adamant that we listened to her constant chatter in the back. It went something like this: "Listen everybody, listen to me, I see something, you know, that is kinda like a stump; I see something that is like a fountain. I also, you know, see something that is like a cow." The "you knows" are definitely a new addition to her vocabulary, and she was using them in the cutest, most informative way. She really was reiterating that we knew. :-)

The game was basically her version of "I Spy" except she was telling us exactly what she was seeing. So cute.

Then when we got home she was making up all sorts of songs--one was about getting on a rocket ship and playing in her Mom and Dad's bed.

Lila clapped her hands March 1st. She did it once, and hasn't done it since. But I saw it. Here is another trick Lila is quite proud of--and I don't mean putting her shoes in her mouth.



Yesterday I showed Lila how to put the eggs in the "nest" on her barn. She played this game for 30 minutes straight.



Someone wanted to join in...



And finally, Lila wanted to demonstrate her new high-five technique:

Amazon Delivery

Thanks to Aunt Jana for the Amazon surprise that we received yesterday. Bronwen loves her books, but I'm not sure you realized what else we received--I couldn't find it listed on the packing slip.

February 23/24--Milestones

Lila can now give high fives and wave.
She also will give big, wet open-mouthed kisses.

Bronwen has completed her Statue of Liberty look, by using a small ottoman as her pedestal. She figured this out on her own. Costume is foam SOL crown, small milk bottle toy as the torch, and SOL book as the tablet.

I wanted to get a picture of her, but she ran off saying, "I don't want my picture taken!"
Oh well. The statue has spoken.

Valentine

Funny Randomness

Our cat Cassie loves hanging out in and around our bathtub. This is her preferred corner, and it freaks me out every time, especially if I am going to the bathroom, which is over to the right of the pic, and she turns her head to watch me. Creepy...
This morning I went in to get Bronwen--sweetest child still has not figured out she can leave her room in the morning. Well, either that or she is just happy playing alone. Hm. Reminds me of someone. Can't think of whom right now... Anyhow, I heard her talking in there and ventured in. She handed me a plastic envelope (her new panties came in it) full of torn up pieces of some play cards she has. I looked at her and said, "Why did you tear up your cards?" I asked in a quizzical way, not in a mad way, because quite frankly I was getting tired of these card everywhere anyhow. She looks at me and says, "I was trying to recycle them." My reply: "Well Bronwen, recycling is taking something old and making something new out of it, and you tore these cards to pieces." She looks at me expectantly and says, "Well, make something new Mama."


And finally, Lila has really been in to taking things and putting them in containers. In fact, I am impressed with her fine motor skills. She takes fairly small toys and puts them in small canisters, then dumps them out and does it again. I wasn't overly surprised when she started attacking my laundry, taking it out of the basket. When I tried to get it on video, however, she was no longer interested in the game.

10-Month Proofs

For those of you who don't have Facebook--Mel you know who you are ;-)--here is a link and preview:
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