parenting a four-year-old

We were watching a parenting TV program for a couple of minutes this morning when the kids first woke up. It was about 2-3 year olds. Candace was watching intently and making several comments. She said two things that were hilarious, at least to me.

Candace: "This show is about 2 and 3 year olds because they are still learning. 4 year olds are good and they know everything already."

Me: "How should I be a good parent to a 4 year old?"
Candace: "Be very nice and say, 'you may have a treat whenever you want.'"

Aren't you feeling sorry for this guy now?

Little Levi took a trip to the doctors today. He has a double ear infection, bronchiolitis and an underlying reactive airway disease (maybe asthma). We came home with amoxicillin, tylenol and albuterol nebulizer treatments. Poor guy.

Who told me that raising boys was easier?

Who is this? This is our two-year-old, Joshua. What is he doing? Well, he was put in bed about an hour and a half before this picture was taken. We heard sounds coming from the hallway. (I keep the dirty laundry in the hallway. ) When we go to investigate Joshua is standing with his pajamas unzipped and has them stuffed with, yes you guessed it, our dirty laundry. Awesome! This is one funny kid.

kid camera

Candace took these pictures with the kid camera she got from one of her grandma. I let her pick 5 pictures to post on the blog. She's feeling very special that her pictures get to be on the blog. :) What a cutie.

These are cute pictures of Levi. He is playing with Becky in lower one.

A great one of James. He says he looks like he's balding in these ones.

Joshua is a goofball.

This is Levi with Candace's favorite doll.

Candace said...

"Dad told me that Kindergarten is a Garden of Kids. Now I am excited to go to Kindergarten when I turn 5."

"Mom, do you know what a crush means? It means love. ... (a few seconds goes by) ... I know who you have a crush on ... DAD!"

"At recess today, Alison and I were playing Princesses. We had pretend castles and princes. They were our true love and then they did something to make us mad. Our hearts were broken."

Four Year Old Helper

On Thursday Candace asked if she could clean out the fridge. She was very persistent so I gave in. I actually thought it would be a good idea for her to practice cleaning in an area where she couldn't really do something wrong and where she wouldn't be exposed to very toxic chemicals. I was completely floored by how much she did on her own and how good the fridge looked when she was finished. I got a bowl of hot water and dishwashing soap ready for her, gave her a rag and she got to work. She took everything out of the fridge and set it on our kitchen table without a stitch of help from me. Then she took out the drawers and shelves by herself and set them by the sink for me to clean. She then scrubbed the whole inside of the fridge. I didn't lift one finger. It's been two days since then and the fridge still looks great. I have again been impressed by how much these little ones can do if we just give them the tools, some direction and the opportunity. I should have taken a before and after picture, but this is when she was almost done and then the finished product.

joshua

This morning Joshua took the batteries to the remote control and put them in a place that is difficult for him to reach (ie. the short bookcase in our living room that comes up to my stomach). After he did this he walked right up to me and said ...

In case you couldn't understand it, he said, "I put it up high so you don't get it." I guess he must hear that a lot.

pippi longstocking

Our tribute to Pippi. We've been reading a lot of Pippi Longstocking lately. Candace loves the books. She asks all the time if she can visit Sweden and Villa Villakule. She says she'll knock on every door until she finds pippi's house. She thinks it would be pretty swell to have adventures like pippi. Some day we'll have to see the movie.

visit from the kid's great-great grandma jones

Grandma Jones visited from wyoming. It was great to see her.

levi's first sucker

Candace had a Valentine's party at school. Here she is sharing her stash with Levi.

funny kids

A few days ago during lunch Candace found this bag and convinced Joshua to try it on with her. Funny kids. (Ignore the brown smears on the wall behind the kids. I have no idea what that could possibly be. Maybe peanut butter?)

One night Joshua would not stop coming out of his room (even with spanks) until we had put this Snowwhite dress on him. He then promptly fell asleep for the rest of the night.

Levi makes this hilarious face all the time where he pulls his lower lip in under his upper lip.

cousins

Our cousins came over one night and the kids had a blast.

Candace in Wonderland

Today, Candace accompanied me to the college algebra class I teach. She chose to wear her pink, camouflage print snow boots, her blue jeans, and her Tinkerbell shirt with the quip, "I'm all about the glow." Natalie fixed her mid-length hair in the usual fashion with a large pink bow. We brought a backpack for her with some snacks, books, and coloring materials, and we arrived five minutes early to sit her near the back of the classroom (it's a large lecture hall) where she had some freedom to roam, so as not to cause much of a stir. Some of the time she was kneeling down coloring so I couldn't see her, but once in a while, as I was mechanically demonstrating the proper procedure for finding an inverse function, a pink bow on a blonde head would pop up just over the chairs in a new location in the back of the room. I purposely finished a little early so I would have time to hurry her over to her preschool class, but after lecture, some students came to me and asked questions, so I didn't get to Candace right away. When I was through answering questions, I scanned the back of the room for Candace, but I didn't see her. I called her name once, but she didn't respond. I called her again, and when she didn't respond the second time I became worried she had followed the crowd during the exodus at the end of class into the hall and was wandering around lost. I started walking towards the back of the classroom when up stood a groggy-eyed little girl, behind the last row of seats. "I fell asleep," she explained.

We then hustled over to the preschool class in a nearby building on campus. As we approached her classroom, I noted that we were two minutes late. In true Carroll form, Candace reassured me, "It's good if we're late because then we're on time!" Hmm, paradox...

leebanachi figaro

Someone looks so proud of his accomplishment.

Check out those rolls.