What He Had to Say on His Third Birthday

His new birthday wheels.

My big man is three now. We were so busy fulsomely celebrating his birthday that I didn't have time to blog about it.

Here is his birthday interview. What he has to say is just as funny as the things on his sister's mind.

Favorites:

cereal- popcorn
vegetable- red pepper
drink- smoothie
toy- trucks
tv show- Calliou
game- Diego
book- Wheels on the bus and dig dig digging
dinner – chicken nuggets
lunch – chicken nuggets
holiday- Christmas
animal or doll – tigers
stuffed toy – bunny
color – orange
toy at school – go down the slide
sport – basketball

What do you want for your birthday? firetruck, Dalmatian and firemans

If you could change your name, what would you choose? Giles

What do you love about each person in our family?
Daddy – building a snowman with him
Mommy – playing with her
Ellie – playing with her too
Colin – play with him too

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? California

What are some of your wishes for this year? I wish for trout (we ended up eating halibut instead. . . I love this kid).

What makes you happy? Ellie

What makes you sad? Ellie too.

How old is your mom? May 2nd

How tall is your mom? big

What is her favorite thing to do? play

What does Dad do for a job? Make dinner.

What is your mom's favorite food? mushrooms

Dad’s favorite food? "chicken balk balk"

What does our family like to do together? Go to the museum.

What are you going to be when you grow up? A fireman and I going to have a Dalmatian that can hop in the truck with me and maybe Ellie can be a girl firefighter.

Who are you going to marry? Uncle Johno

Vote for my Mom!

My Mom is a really great lady. I entered her into a contest to win a day of spa treatments because I think that she deserves a little bit of extra pampering.

I need you to vote for her. You don't mind, do you? Click here to vote. Her name is Joanne Murray. She is #7.

Thanks so much.

Our Waldorf Birthday Ring: An Evolving Tradition

Sorry that this blog has become almost exclusively about kids birthdays.

But the truth is that our actual life is pretty much exclusively focused on celebrating kids birthdays around this time of year (one down, one to go). So bear with me for a few more birthday-related posts.

Last year, I bought a Waldorf Birthday Ring for our family birthday celebrations. I love the idea of a family birthday tradition. But as with all traditions, we have modified how we use our birthday ring over time.

Last year, I set it out on our dining room table as a sort of centerpiece and I switched out the pieces for Eleanor and then Brendan's birthdays. It was more of a look-but-don't-touch -situation.

This year, I put the ring out on our kitchen table at the beginning of April and I have let the kids play with it and change the pieces in and out themselves. I wanted it to be more of an interactive activity.

And touch they have. In fact, Brendan just spilled his strawberry yogurt smoothie all over it (not sure it will ever be quite the same, but whatever).

I added a few new ornaments to signify some of the events of the past year -- notably a blue pram for the addition of baby Colin and a snowman to remind us of the many snowmen Daddy and the kids built during the endless winter.

What She Had to Say on Her Fifth Birthday

Kids change so fast. I am always trying to capture them the way that they are right now. So I photograph them. And I videotape them. I save their artwork. And I have decided that I am going to start "interviewing" them on their birthdays to find out what is going on in those little heads (I want to fess up and say that I stole this idea from Farrah's blog).

My plan is to ask them the same questions each year so we can look back and see how the answers changed (and laugh at all of the funny things they said).

Here is a little snapshot of what Ms. Eleanor is thinking right now.

Favorites:
Cereal- Mighty Bites
Vegetable- broccoli
Drink- water and juice
Toy- Belle doll and my knuffle bunny
TV Show- Dragon Tales and Caillou
Game- Old Maid
Book- Kit Kittredge
Dinner – noodles
Lunch – grilled cheese
Breakfast - cereal
Holiday- summer, Easter and spring
Animal – cat and dog
Doll – Kit Kittredge
Color – red, purple and pink
Toy at school – art area
Sport – baseball

What do you want for your birthday? A rocking chair that rocks so I can rock babies to sleep, more baby clothes.

If you could change your name, what would you choose? Ella

What do you love about each person in our family?
Daddy – building a snowman with us
Mommy – because you always take us fun places
Brendan – because he is so silly with me all of the time
Colin – he is always so smiley and happy

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? Pittsburgh

What are some of your wishes for this year? I will get bigger every day.

What makes you happy? That everybody in my family teaches me new things

What makes you sad? When people push me (Me: "Who pushes you?" Her: "Nobody. I am just saying that.").

How old is Mom? 41

How tall is Mom? 28

What is Mom's favorite thing to do? Play with us.

What does Dad do for a job? Works with lots and lots of phone calls and documents

What is Mom's favorite food? trout

Dad’s favorite food? trout

What does our family like to do together? Play a lot together.

What going to be when you grow up? A mommy and I am also going to be a doctor and ballet teacher and I am going to dance in Swan Lake.

Who are you going to marry? My cousin Finn.

Check back next week to find out what is on Brendan's three year-old mind.

Summertime Swaps

The trees are barely budding and I am thinking about summer already.

I wrote a craft story for the May issue of Chicago Parent with ideas for keeping in touch with school friends over the summer.

You know how it goes. The last school bell of the year rings. One kid heads off to summer camp. Another spends most of the summer at grandma's house. Before you know it, weeks have passed and the kids haven't been able to catch up with their buddies.

If you are looking for a fun (and educational) end-of-school project, check out my suggestions.

Five

Absolutely everything about her is beautiful and bright.
I am so grateful for my front row ticket to the Ellie show.
Happy Birthday sweet girl.

Don't Forget About Those Big Brothers and Sisters

Believe me when I tell you that older brothers and sisters can have some trouble adjusting to a new sibling in the family (I will spare you the details).

I know that I really appreciated when friends and family brought a little something for my older kids when they came to see Colin for the first time.

If you are looking for ideas on how to shop for those big brothers and sisters, check out my story in the latest issue of Chicago Baby.