Sam & Baby Hang Out

Sam hanging out with his baby doll in a new hat made by a dear family friend in Wales.  His baby doll is newly outfitted also, with a  matching hat.  He was thrilled.  

"Block da Sun!"

At this time of year, in the Northeast, the sun is at a horrible angle for driving, around 3:30 in the afternoon.  This is of course the time that I am picking Sam up from daycare and driving home from work.  He's decided that he hates the sun being in his eyes or on his face.  I hear, "NO!!!  Block da sun!  Sun!  NO SUN!  Go away!" for a good portion of my way home.  If he's particularly tired or grumpy, it comes complete with a temper tantrum.  Not a peaceful way to end a day of teaching.  I bought new sun shades for the windows of the car, then finally remembered sunglasses that we had from last year, that kind of still fit.  I pulled them out and this usually does the trick (if he can get them on or I am stopped at a light and can get them on him).
Notice in the picture they're a little askew.  ; )

                                           This is how we roll.

Trucks or Animals

Trucks are a very important part of Sam's life, he reads about them, watches them, attempts to "draw" them, and talks about them constantly.  He knows the names of at least ten trucks.  We also have books and toys that are not trucks, but they rarely take precedent in his life.  

I've seen a few clear examples of moments where I think I should try to phase out the trucks a little bit, or at least encourage him to engage in other activities or interests.  For instance, when he was sick a few months ago and it was time to take medicine, I was employing other people or dolls to assist to cut down on tears.  

"Medicine time!  Mummy is giving medicine to Daddy!"  I pretend to put it in Chris's mouth.  My Dad also happened to be there.  "Grand Joe's turn!"  "Sam's turn!"

Sam, who was holding his baby doll, dropped it on it's head, and ran into the living room.  He returned with his toy dump truck, "dump twuck turn!"

Example 2:  We were reading "Polor Bear, Polar Bear, What do you Hear?" and Sam was looking at the animals (which once he knew the names of and has since forgotten!).  He came across the elephant (which he can identify but also calls cows elephants currently).  The elephant that Eric Carle illustrated in this book is different shades of grey, with some black.  

Sam:  "Ohh.... elephant dirty."

Me:  "Maybe a little, but I think that's the way the illustrator drew him."

Sam"  "Elephant dirty.  Elephant go car wash.  Daddy take elephant car wash.  Daddy?  Daddy!  Elephant car wash!"

Example 3:  His food now turns into vehicles.  Constantly.  At first it was a little bit cute, now it's a little bit annoying, particularly when we have somewhere to go. 

Sam:  "Mama!  Look!  Back-hoe!" As he drives a piece of waffle across his plate.  

Me:  "Oh, yes, back hoe.  Time to eat the waffle."

Sam:  "Back-hoe- dwive!"

Me:  "Eat the back-hoe!  Time to go!" 

Sam:  "No Sammy eat back hoe!"

Aarghh.....

Example 4:  Sam can identify one color most of the time, and that's green.  However, he can identify colors about 75% of the time if you ask him in relation to a truck or a car.  

"Silver car!  Yelwow school bus!  Gween truck!"

My world is slowly being taken over by trucks, trains, and cars.  

Dog Walking

               This was our 25 minute dog walking activity down the block.

     

I Love How You Think About the World

Me:  "What do you want to do today, Sam?"
Sam thoughtfully:  "Go (on) airplane and train."
Me:  "You do?  That would be fun.  Where should we go?"
Sammy (bouncing up and down): "Airplane!  Train!  Fun!"
Me:  "Are you paying?  Where should we go?"
Sammy:  "Sammy pay!  See Oden!"
Me:  "I would love to do that!  Can we go to a warm beach afterwards?"
Sammy:  "Yes!  Oden, beach!"
Me:  "Let's do that soon."
Sammy:  "Soon.  Morrow."

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Me:  "We are going to buy Daddy a birthday present today."
Sammy:  "Daddy pwes-ent."
Me:  "What should we buy Daddy?"
Sammy:  "Pwes-ent. . .  Sammy eat Daddy pwes-ent"  (with the baby-sign for eat?)
Me:  "You're eating Daddy's present?  What should we buy him?"
Sammy:  "Candy.  Buy candy.  Sammy eat. Yum!"

Sam Cooks

                We made polenta pizzas the other day.  Sam loved the project!

Brooklyn Bound

 Going to see cousin Oden and traveling down on Amtrak.  My favorite conversation of the train ride, "see magnets? Mummy, see magnets, train?"
It took me a minute, he was referring to his Thomas the Train set, where the trains attach to each other by magnets.  He then figured that must be how these train cars were connected.  I had to tell him repeatedly that (thankfully), this train wasn't attached together by magnets.

Paint in a Bag

Found this idea on Pinterest also.  Instead of a messy painting experience, you put two or three colors of paint in a zip lock bag, then tape it onto white paper.  The idea is that the child(ten) will mix the paint in the bag with their fingers and hands.
Sam was having none of it.  He kept trying to rip the tape of the bag and open the bag.  We ended up with the messy painting experience after all, which led to a bath.