Lucas Reviews Children's Books - Part 1

It is time to clean out the bookshelves. I am now ending bedtime with Lucas by reading one of the "Old" books and then asking him to review it. You Are My I Love You written by Maryann K. Cusimano Illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa

Scoring - 1 to 5. 5 is best.
Lucas' review: Artistic Score - 4 Stars out of 5 Story - 3 stars "I think a one-, two- or three-year-old would like it. It is a good cuddle book."
(Note: I prompted "cuddle." I will refrain from prompting him in the future.)

Jan Brett's Gingerbread Baby is next on the review list. Lucas ... "I think anyone up to five years old will love this book. When their moms or dads read it, they will start to lick their lips and get hungry. The artwork is definitely a 5 out of 5! It will make you laugh! Like the part where the Gingerbread Baby ties the two girls heads together."
Only negative: "I don't like the name Matti though. It sounds like Maddie."

Lucas feels that both are worth buying. Give them a read!

I haven't been here in way too long

2011 - first post in forever

Kids are diving into summer with the swim team.
Olivia hurt her foot last night ... x-rays were negative. Hopefully, she can limp around Kennywood later.

Manager Pitch baseball was a blast. The boys did great. They learned a lot and 10 of 11 figured in an out so far. I need to get Jack B into the action during the playoffs.

Wifey turns 40 in 6 days or so ... so get out the black arm bands

image for Sharepoint

I can't figure out how else to get a public photo for a work website

I need to start using this again

Gene Therapy

My mom has suffered from leg cramps at night for years.
It seems I have inherited this malady.

When complaining about it to her the other day, she recommended Ivory Soap.
"What?" I asked?
"Rub Ivory soap on your sheets. It works."
"That is ridiculous."
"Try it."
So I did. And the cramps went away. I finally looked it up on Google and found this at Snopes.com: http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/legcramp.asp


The book I just finished reading, Peace Like a River, mentioned an old man w/bad arthritis who would put his hands in a bee hive every now and again.

Something I will need to try some day.

Pebbles and Bam Bam

Lucas and Olivia dressed as cartoon characters that they only know from a tee-shirt.
Wendy did a great job making their adorable outfits.

Cardiac and Dominoes

The kids have a stretch and grow class at school. They learn about the body in this class.

Olivia pointed to her heart and said "Cardiac" and then pointed to her tummy and said "Dominoes".


Note: She says "cardiac", daddy says "tummy"

Pledge of Allegiance

Lucas has just learned the Pledge of Allegiance.
His teacher is awesome.
Miss Peggy breaks it down phrase by phrase and makes sure the kids know what it means:

Lucas: “pledge means promise”
Lucas: “indivisible means you can see it, like air.”
Miss Peggy: “no air is invisible, indivisible means you it can be broken”
Lucas: “you can’t break air, so air is indivisible”

Summer shots

Some photos from Kennywood ... Olivia is so shy ...

Will You Still Read to Me When I'm Twenty?

Olivia turned three in July, so she we read her 3 books at bed time.
Lucas turned 5 on Monday (9/22) "HAPPY DAY-O" so he is now up to 5 books.

Wendy and I told the kids that this Book a Year thing is going to stop soon.

While walking him to his bedroom last night, Lucas asked, "How many books are you going
to read to me when I'm twenty?"
"When you're twenty, you can read to yourself ... like mommy and daddy do."
"No, I want you to read to me."
"We'll see Lucas, we will see ... "

You're Making My Hand Dizzy

Olivia and Lucas held opposite ends of a jump rope. Lucas started to whip his end around in a circle causing Olivia's hand to keep pace with the rotation.
Olivia said, "Stop it Lucas. You're making my hand dizzy."

Fun with Magnifyers - Wendy Is Quotable.

For the umpteenth time I neglected to securely fasten the cap to my allergy medicine.
Wendy demonstrated the proper technique and said, " Child-proof caps for opening the bottles and adult-proof caps for closing the bottle, I guess."


A few weeks ago, the family went the daycare Olivia and Lucas attend. Lucas' preschool class has these cool magnifying sheets:

Olivia emerges from the shadows

It is tough for our sweet little petunia to get a word in edge-wise with Lukie-duke around. Also, I guess the second child is doomed to repeat a lot of what her big brother says ... especially when words, phrases Lucas says draws a reaction.
It is now Olivia who puts the word "head" after everything she says ... "you're a broccoli-head" etc.
Lucas drove that one into the ground a few years ago ...


On to Olivia's quote:

Mommy was coming the knots out of Olivia's hair when she hit a few snags. After much tugging, Olivia said, "Mommy, you are pulling my brains out!"

Less Kissing, More Lucas Time

Early Saturday morning, mommy and Lucas were sitting on the couch. I leaned across Lucas to give mommy a good morning kiss.
Lucas tried to intercept our lips with his hand and said, "No."

" Why don't you want us to kiss Lucas?"
"Because you spend less time with me."

signed the Passionate Parent

Digging to China

REALITY CHECK

Like every red-blooded boy, Lucas loves to dig in the dirt. At pre-school, Ms M said to Lucas, "You are going to dig all the way to China!"

Lucas replied, "You don't dig to China, you have to fly on an airplane."

Issues, Counting to 13

4/24
I HAVE ISSUES
Lucas patted his chest and said "Look Daddy, I have issues!"
On his chest was a sticker with L.A.W. I explained initials to him.
"In-issues, initials, I like issues better, it is easier to say. I have issues!"


COUNTING TO 13
Lucas as reported by his pre-school teacher.

Ms. T said that Lucas was counting on his fingers and continued until he finished at 13.

"Why 13 Lucas?"

He showed his fingers as he counted to ten. Lifted one foot for 11. The next foot for 12. And then said, "I had to count my penis too, because it is hanging there."

Everything and Cool Metal

Everything.

I was reading to Olivia last night ... Tiny Too Little is a mouse in love with a giraffe. He stacks up a thimble, a match box, a cabbage, a tea cup, a watermelon, a candle and a cupcake to try to reach his love and give her a kiss. With each page, one of the items is added and all the preceding items are repeated ... I pause and point and let Olivia join in.
When I got to the last item on the stack, I pointed at the cupcake to have Olivia begin the list again. This time she hesitated, so I prompted her by saying "What did Tiny Too Little stand on?" She sighed and said, "Everything!"

Cool Metal Comfort
Lucas - 4/8

Lucas sleeps with a small fire engine. About 5 inches x 2" x 2". Mommy was reading to him, but he was distracted b/c he couldn't find the fire engine.
Lucas said, "But I need something cool and metal to sleep with!"
I found it in our room. He snuggled it up to his cheek like it was a soft teddy bear.
What a boy.

Why did the king lose his head

4/7

At church on Sunday, when reading the Creed ...

Lucas said, "Why did the king lose his head?"
upon further review, ."..Kingdom without end" is what we all mumbled ...

No More Tickers, No more Via

Olivia used to ask if I wanted a "Dora ticker for you, daddy"
But she is now saying "sticker" ...

When she started talking she would say "Via do it" Now she says Olivia ...

They are growing up too fast.

Look for more Olivia posts as she learns to get a word in edge-wise around her brother