here's one way to publish your own book

The other week we made a cardboard Washing Machine. It's pretty kick ass if I do say so myself.

While we were making the thing, I ended up with several scraps of cardboard box which I gave to Lovie to do with as she pleased. She was excited when I gave the pieces to her but then said, "What do you want me to do with them?"

I told her she could do whatever she wanted--she could color on them, cut them, make play food (cookie), make a book, whatever.

"A book?" She was quite interested.

I folded one of the scrap pieces in half and told her we could put paper inside and that the cardboard would be the outside of the book which she could color and design herself.

This is what happened:

See the squiggly lines in green above the blob? Yeah, that's her "story". She even read the thing to me, flipping the pages and telling me an actual story! It's called "Kashie's Seasons." It's about a girl, Kashie (probably should be spelled Kayshie), who lived Once Upon a Time and who loved going outside and loved the different seasons. One day she got sad though but then she went outside and she was happy again.

Or something.

Seriously though, how awesome is that?! And SO EASY to do (held the paper in there with [pink] tape). She literally "wrote" on each page and drew a corresponding image! I should have her read it to me again so I can "translate" it for the future when she may not be able to read her "writing" because this is one of those things that I will save forever.

a How To and a DIY all in one

As hard as it is to believe, for some time now, Lovie's been throwing around statements like, "What can I do to help?"

At first I was a bit floored.

I mean, a 4-year-old is asking me what she can do. To help. Me. Yet my nearing 40-year-old husband... oh, never mind.

Once I heard her ask me this a couple times, I started realizing that this kid CAN help. Sure it may not go as quickly as if I did it myself, but why not start teaching her when she's more than willing? So I told her that I would LOVE her help loading the clothes in the washer.

She. Was. Elated. 

I told her to stand in front of the washer (loads at top) and I would give her dirty clothes which she was then to get into the washing machine. The first time we did this, it went well. I dislodged her undies and socks from her pants or tights and she just tossed them in the machine; but then I was like, "why the hell can't she take out her undies and socks in the first place?" So the next time she came running to me, shouting "What can I do to help?", I told her we could do some laundry and this time, I gave her pants and tights with her undies and/or socks still in them and instructed her to take them out before putting them in the machine.

This, as I'm sure you can imagine, took so much longer. I mean, a two minute task turned into like a half hour task-- not even kidding. But apparently she's got the point because... BECAUSE she now takes out her undies and/or socks when she undresses! I haven't said one word about doing so, she just caught on from having to do it when she helps doing the laundry.

WHO KNEW?!?

Anyway, the other week she was talking about going into our attic (storage room- heh) and getting a box to make something with. We've done a rocket ship and a wagon in the past but she wanted something different. I'm not sure why, but I suggested a washing machine.

Talk about being elated. (Her, not me.)

The day finally came yesterday. I was finally feeling better (sinus infection/cold from hell) and she was begging to making a washing machine. So why not?

My inspiration came from Pinterest, of course. (I thought the basket in the pin was absolutely genius and after having made one myself, it absolutely is what makes this DIY project a big time success.)

It's not totally complete as I'd like to cover it as much as I can with tape (someone insisted on using some pink because, well, it's her favorite color, of course) or crafting paper, but my girl is happy and that makes me happy.


Yay for super cheap, DIY, fun kid stuff!!

Grow'd Up Randoms

Lately Lovie's been talking about growing up-- mainly, she talks about how she doesn't want to grow up. How she'll be sad when she's grow'd up. I tell her she's got a while before that happens and that she should enjoy being a kid all that she can now. I don't tell her being a grown up sucks ass sometimes and she very well may be sad when she becomes one.

She's also been talking about babies a lot lately. I guess she had a dream one night where she was mama to six babies and now that's what she wants: six babies.

"When I'm gonna have a baby?" she asked one day.

"Oh not for a long time," I answered.

"But I wanna baby now."

"Well you can play with your dolls and let them be your babies."

"No, I wanna baby inside my tummy. I want six babies."

"Wow, six, huh? What are you gonna name them all?"

She paused for a moment to give it some thought before replying, "Christina!"

We both cracked up.

"What else?" I asked.

"Christina [OurLastName], Christina, Christina [OurLastName]..."

Again we both laughed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night at bedtime, she was resting her head on my arm like she does every night and she was patting my boob (they're big). "Mommy, how big is that?" she asked.

Playing dumb, I asked, "What?"

"That!" she said, patting my boob again.

"What's it called?" I asked, curious to see what she knows.

"I dunno."

I chuckled and she quickly said, "It's called 'I dunno'."

"Oh baby," I said, "you mean my breast?"

"Yes, your breast. How big is it?'

"It's pretty big," I answered.

"Well when I'm grow'd up will my breasts be big too?"

"Yes, they'll be bigger than they are now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This morning whilst trying to get her awake, I started rubbing her back as she leaned into me.

"Mommy when I'm a grow'd up I'm gonna pat my baby's back."

I smiled. I was in a hurry, needing to get her dressed and myself dressed to get her to school and myself to work, but after that comment, I had to smile and really BE in the moment. I continued to rub her back and pat it and told her she very well could do that when she was older.