Rich the Science Guy!

We have taken Anna Claire to the Red Barn Book Fair every year since she was in the Chicks class, and always to rave reviews.  Last year was a luau. The kids got leis as they came in, and the Red Barn and teachers were decked out adorably.

One year was a pajama party, and from that year on, the pajama element stuck. At least for my kiddo. The Book Fair is usually from 6:30-8pm, so it's about the only way I can manage for her to go, having to be at school at 6:30 in the morning. We eat dinner and bath beforehand, so we can put her straight to bed after the fair.

This year was a science theme which was awesome! The best yet! In fact, if I had known how cool it would be, I would have taken her for the entire show. We arrived at about 10 past 7, so we only got to see a couple of tricks, but they were super fun!

Fun with Dry Ice
One of the activities was for each child to take turns putting their hand into the "smoking cauldron." It had a bit of dried ice in the bottom that created the smoke effect.

Anna Claire told me she was brave to put her hand in the cauldron!

Rich had them blow into the cauldron and the room filled with smoke. Cool!

Book Fair Selections

After the dry ice show, we went to browse for a few minutes while Mr. Rich got ready to make silly putty with the kiddos.  Anna Claire's sweet friend Maggie was there. She loves superheros, and chose a fitting book for herself:: Power Rangers. Of course, then, Anna Claire wanted Power Rangers too. She is so NOT into superheroes, that I found it funny. But she insisted that this would be one of the two books she was allowed, so we are now proud owners of a Power Rangers book at our house. Her second selection was more like something I'd expect my child to pick out: Peppa Pig. She will really like that one.

Larry read Power Rangers to Anna Claire for her bedtime story, and he said there were so many references made in the book that only someone who watched the show would get, that it didn't keep her interest. We question if she'll ever ask it to be read again, but at the bargain price of $3.99, maybe she got some of the answers she was looking for as to why boys are so into Power Rangers at her age.

Silly Putty

As promised,  Anna Claire got to make her own silly putty, and take it home. No need for me to explain how to make it. Let Rich tell you....

I like short sleeves.

Anna Claire has been obsessed with short sleeves for about three weeks now. At first she would not tell us why she was so offended when we presented a long sleeve top for her to wear. She would just say, "It's my secret."

She also must assess the sleeve length of everyone in the room. "Mommy, only you have long sleeves. Me and Daddy and Pop all have short sleeves (insert baseball clap)."

About a week ago she finally revealed why short sleeves are so important to her after I begged her, "Can you please tell Mommy why you don't like long sleeves?" She explained that she has a hard time putting on shirts with long sleeves by herself, so short sleeves were easier for her. Well that makes sense!

Since then, I've tried to pick out outfits with a short sleeve shirt, then topping it with a cardigan or hoodie since we are still in the midst of winter temps.

I felt the need to document this period in her life, because it's really important to her right now, and I think I'll be a little sad when she grows out of this phase.

Mean Girls...at Age Three?

Three-year-olds can have a mean streak from time to time...my child included.

More often than not, though, Anna Claire is on the receiving end of the hurtful comments and actions. And it breaks my heart as a mom, because I can't stop it or control it.

The most common offense is having other girls tell her, "I don't want to be your best friend" or "I'm not your best friend anymore." Or "I don't want to play with you." These words break her heart, and consequently mine.

Several moms and I discussed this issue at a birthday party last April and realized we weren't alone and were all facing this same issue. We talked to the girls' teacher at the time, Sharna, and we all agreed that when this comment would get made to our girls we would say, "Everyone in the Bunnies class is your friend."

Sharna's tactic worked most of the time, but as Anna Claire is getting older, she is less consoled by the "everyone is your friend" fix. So again, I talked to her teacher today in the Ponies class.

She said she sees it too, and thinks the girls say it because they are mad and don't know what to say so they say, "You're not my friend" because it hurts. Her Ponies teachers also tell the kids they are all friends, encourage being friends, to be kind to everyone, and discourage leaving friends out.

I am hoping this is a faze, and that the girls will move through it quickly.

In the meantime, I see a little girl who almost daily has someone tell her they are not her friend or they don't want to play with her... friends she loves very much. And I don't think the girls saying this are being malicious at all. I just wish I could fix it and feel helpless about the whole thing.

Wanting Mommy's Advice

AC has been asking me for advice at bedtime lately.

Tonight she  told me a story about how she asked a friend to play and they said "no" which hurt her feelings, then asked "What if somebody asks me to play and I don't want to?"

I was so proud of her for asking! She is so sweet to flip the situation around and think of how she might make someone else feel if things were reversed.

My answer: "Try saying 'Maybe later. Thanks for asking me.'" She replied "ok!"

Anna Claire-isms

Anna Claire has certain words, phrases and pronunciations of words that I just love to hear her say and have become so precious to hear that I will be sad when she doesn't say them anymore. Better write them down!

When asked what she is doing or to repeat something she said, she replies, "Nuffing!" (nothing) :)

"I can do it myself!"

"I can get a special treat for that."

"What time is it?" then a few minutes later, "What time is it now?"

"When seeing a friend's baby brother or sister, "I wish I had a baby at my house."

"(Daddy, Chippy, Santa) will be so proud of me!"  - Chippy is our Elf on the Shelf. She's still talking about him and asking about him.

"I don't want to wear shirt with long sleeves. I like short sleeves like Daddy."

When climbing up the stairs, "I can go first."

When licking a lollipop or popsicle, "I can 'look' it!" (she can't say "lick":)

Larry and I take turns putting Anna Claire to bed, every other night. When it's one parent's turn, after saying prayers, she will ask for the other one to come back in and give her more hugs and kisses.

"Mommy and Daddy" by Anna Claire

"Mommy has a ponytail with black hairspray. You have a boo-boo on your arm (right arm). You need lotion for that. I put buttons on your shirt, Mommy. This is Daddy. He has eyes and a ponytail and wots of necklaces!"

Funnies

Fun talks with Anna Claire:
 
Topics of child-led conversations with AC today: migration, oil changes, appendectomies (we read Madeline for the umpteenth time), and which is better: Snickers or Milky Way. She concluded Milky Way is best because "nuts get stuck in my wittle teef."

I want a baby too, Mommy:

Anna Claire has, all of a sudden, starting asking many questions about being a baby and what babies do. I think this has a lot to do with the baby boom among mommies of her friends in the ponies class. "Did I spit all over you when I was baby, Mommy? Did I eat ____ when I was baby? Did I sit on the couch when I was baby?" She also stated her friends had a baby at her house so she wanted one too. She says she wants a girl baby.

Garbage man:
 
Anna Claire has become very curious about the garbage man lately. The past few Thursdays, when she asks what tomorrow is and I respond, "Friday," she will inevitably come back with either "Tomorrow is treasure box day at the Red Barn" OR  "The garbage man comes tomorrow!" 

He came up several times in conversation today: Does he have mustache, Mommy? What he look like, Mommy? Is he coming inside our house, Mommy? Does he come while Daddy is taking his shower?