We learned about property rights today. Upon returning from the gym & Kids Klub, Zachary took a small Buzz Lightyear figure out of his pocket. "Dis is da casa," said Zac. I knew it was his way of saying, this toy belongs at our house now. "No, Zac, I'm sorry, pero Buzz pertenece a Kids Klub, no a la casa." (...but Buzz belongs to Kids Klub, not at the house.) Zac tried one more time: "Mom, dis is da casa." "No, we need to take it back to Kids Klub. We need to get you your own Buzz toy that you can play with at the house. "Mom, go 'asio!" ("'asio" is short for gymnasio which is Spanish for gym) "No, Zac, we're not going to take it back to the gym right now, we'll take it when we go back on Thursday." Zac reminded me several more times in the next few days that the Buzz toy was going to go back to the gym, and on Thursday we took it back.

7/12/2010

Monday Mommy and the kids went to the central library -- it is the biggest public library Mommy has ever been to. On our way to the kids' section, we passed the reflecting pool with glass elevators at one end, and opposite the elevators were stairs going to the next level up. In the kids section our three were delighted by round tables with little chairs with PUZZLES on them. They each rushed over, dumped out the pieces and began putting them back. The kids check out the things available to play with at the library -- Christopher especially liked a music game on the computers, and Chelsea tried it out, too. Zac, of course, barely stayed in one place for more than a few seconds and Mommy was constantly checking to make sure he wasn't wreaking havoc. Yes, I think we managed to annoy the librarian a little bit. Sure, it was the chldren's section, but Zac is quite a handful! The bathroom in the kids section had little potties and a stool to get up to the sink and wash hands. Once we tired of the kids section, we went over to the elevators and practiced elevator and stairs safety, and practiced staying together. Up to the landing, hurry, scurry, went Zac and Chris. Mommy and Chelsea followed behind, Mommy calling out to Chris & Zac, "Esperen....Esperen," (Wait....wait.) Once Mommy and Chelsea arrived at the landing, off go Zac and Chris, up the second half of the stairs, and then racing to be the first to push the elevator call button. Chelsea hurried behind them, trying to get to the elevator call button before her brothers.

In the afternoon, we headed over to the AZ Science Center. Upon driving into the parking garage, the kids yell, "Tunnel!" Mommy replies, "Es parecido a un tunnel, per es un estacionamento de coches." (It's like a tunnel, but it's a parking lot.) We headed into the Science Center. First, the kids each sent a coin spiralling into the "black hole" donation drop. Zac leaned over the edge to watch the coins spin away until they were out of sight. Then Chris and Zac spied the colorfully painted refrigerators in an energy conservation display. They were disappointed to discover that the fridge doors were screwed shut and did not open. Next, Zac spied the US Airways exhibit -- part of an actual airplane hull is there, with actual airplane seats. We went in and were educated on how to fly a plane by a video of a real pilot. Then we went down to the lower level and Zac and Chelsea played in the preschooler playhouse, while Christopher spent more than 20 minutes controlling the playback of a video on how a house was built. After a while Zac left the playhouse, and had to go check out the toilet cut in half, and the display about hot and cold water in homes, and to be chased back when he thought he could leave the area without his sibs. (Not going to happen; it is imperative that we stick together. Next, the kids knocked down some pretty impressive towers made of jenga blocks...my little destroyers. Chelsea and Chris built stuff out of foam blocks; while Zac flitted from one activity to another. Then we headed to the bathroom. Cool - blowers that dry hands by placing hands beneath them, and no, no one leaves the bathroom until we are ALL ready to leave. In the area about the human body Christopher was fascinated by the colorful ball that a science center employee was showing off -- it made a cool helmet, and kept changing sizes! All three handled the grey matter -- a model of the human brain, in a clear plastic skull. "This is a brain, you have one in your head," said Mommy. Then off to the physics area -- Christopher's favorite spot was the blowers with the balls that floated above them. Christopher went down a flight of stairs, crawling, head first -- careful! don't fall! Zac and Chelsea tried out the bed of nails, at the same time while Chris didn't quite dare. Chelsea, all by herself, was trying to pull over the big pendulum, and yelled at the child who tried to help her. Zachary flitted from one exhibit to the next, but thought the string strob was pretty cool. Then we headed to the gift shop, and Mom was a bit of a spoil sport -- no we are not going to buy each child a "grabber" when they are using them to "sword fight" and Chelsea can't quite figure out how to use them. No, we are not buying anything even resembling a stuffed animal because we barely have room for the ones we already have. But, yes, we will buy candy for the ride home! We headed home, in the heat, after each child was buckled in and had a small stash of Tropical flavored "Dots".

This was a good Monday for Mom & the kids!

7/18/2010

Chelsea let Mommy comb her hair. It looks soft and lovely and lies flat when it is combed. She preened and pushed it back. "You are beautiful, Chelsea," says Mommy.

Zachary came into the family room with three cups of koolaid. "'Ere Chris," and he hands one to Christopher. "Baby," and one is given to Chelsea. "Dis is Zac!" and he sits on the couch and drinks his koolaid.

Christopher gets agitated and starts yelling at Zac, "Zachary get down!" -- who was standing on the other couch...blocking the TV. Mommy began firmly instructing Zac to sit down...while poor Christopher started crying because he couldn't see the screen. Zac finally sat down, and Chris says, "The Zacky, no!"

Chelsea went over and peed in the Froggy Potty. Zac rushed over once she finished and tried to take it to the bathroom for her. Chelsea yelled in protest! Mommy and Daddy spoke up and demanded that Zachary allow Chelsea to dump her own pee. So then Chelsea stood there, holding the pot part of the Froggy Potty, panties and pants around her ankles, ready to head off to the bathroom. Daddy takes the pot from her, and says, "Chelsea, pull up your panties." So she did, her pants as well. Walking to the bathroom with a pot full of pee is bound to go better if the ankles are not bound!

5/25/2010

5/27/2010

Christopher insisted that Mommy give him three bowls of cheerios -- one for him, one for Chelsea, one for Zachary. He distributed them accordingly.

Zachary and Mommy went to the grocery store. Zac had to use the restroom! He found fruit roll ups and sneaked one into the basket. Mom noticed and sent him off to get two more -- we need one for each child, Zac.

Mommy & Daddy were busy on a weekend working on something. Mommy went looking for the kids, and found Chelsea under her bed, saying, "Zacky, no!" He had the laser pointer/digital measurer, which he'd been told numerous times, is not a toy.