"Simon packy boxes"

I spend a lot of time packing boxes, and Simon loves to help. This past week and weekend we did another big box-packing blitz. Simon likes to look in the boxes and ask me "what elsey fit?" after I've asked him what else will fit. He tends to throw lots of hats and toys and sometimes snacks into the boxes. This week he decided to put himself in a box, and proceeded to try & pack it up closed. I explained that I didn't want to pack up my Simon in a box because I liked to hang out with him too much, and I would miss him if he just got packed into a box till after we moved. Soon after that he looked at me and shook his head "no packy Simon inny boxes. Help mama packy boxes." (Don't pack Simon in the box. Help mama pack the boxes.) Smart kid.

Sorry about this one...I asked for a smile & I got see-food (he was eating banana chips.)

The Snowman

The final product: An angry-faced, ball-playing, sea-shell-featured snowman. Simon was interested and a little sad to watch him melt over the next day or two. By Monday the ground was clear again and the sun was out.

Snow Day - February 16, 2008

New Mexico weather is nothing if not unpredictable. Four days after our 70 degree sunny chalk-coloring day we had a snow day. Actually, it snowed all afternoon on Friday, the 15th, so Saturday late morning Adam & Simon got suited up to "go play snow" while I went downtown to help some friends.

He loves his little snowsuit & boots. Good thing we have them! Thanks to Grandma Jan and Tia Melissa!

Building a snowman with daddy. Pat pat pat, smooth the snow. I think the mittens are from Grandma Jan too. That Michigan family knows just what a two-year-old wants & needs when there's snow!

Tromp tromp tromp. Stomp stomp stomp. Snow is SO fun.

Chalk Day - February 12, 2008

Tuesday is park day. We went to play with friends all morning, went out for lunch with a few of them (and met up with Adam) and then came home. Simon was insistent on staying outside to play - I didn't mind. It was close to 70 and sunny, so I brought out the chalk. For the first (and probably last, since the walls are about to be re-stuccoed) time, Simon was allowed to color all over the walls. He got a little carried away, and colored on my car and his face and the lawn chairs & his bike and anything he saw. I attempted to keep him corralled, but it was great fun. We finally came inside about 4:30pm when the sun got too low to be warm anymore. What a great day!

Mad Scientist (Our Version of Baby Einstein)

Adam recently found some plastic costume glasses that we had for...who knows what reason. But since I've been wearing my glasses more often than contacts lately, and Adam wears glasses all the time, Simon thought these "crazy glasses" were his. Okay with us!

Happy Valley-times Day

Generally speaking, we're not big on Hallmark holidays. Somehow having a sweet & energetic & highly-responsive toddler makes you want to celebrate anything & everything.

You can't see it in the first picture, but in Simon's left arm is a Baby Beans from Grandpa & Grandma - he was giving her (and the bath frog) a big squeeze before bed.

I couldn't edit the eyes of this photo, but somehow it's still darn cute. Daddy hugging Simon hugging Baby Beans.

Simon was SO happy to color in his Valentine's coloring book from Grandpa & Grandma too - since it came early, we had time to color pictures for both Grandma Jan and Grandma Lizzy and mail them before Valentine's Day even happened!

On Valentine's Day, I taught Simon to say "Happy Valentine's Day" before Adam came home for lunch. He also colored a card for daddy. When Adam came home, Simon ran up to the door - card in hand - saying "Happy Valley-times Daddy. Open it." Adam almost got teary, but just laughed & hugged his little valley-time instead.

Simon was so proud of his achievement (learning to wish people a happy Valentine's day) that after lunch he insisted on calling everyone to say it. Grandma Lizzy, Grandma Jan, Tia Melissa, Aunt Becky...and then when we went downtown any time that week he was proud to wish everyone happy valley-times.

Fun With Ban-Daves

Simon got a small cut on one of his fingers. He got so excited about the "ban-daves" that we ended up with no less than 4. We have the "stripey colors heart ban-dave" hand:

And perhaps you can see the edge of the Curious George "monkey ban-dave" on the other hand. Such fun for a two year old!

Snuggy

Simon likes to dress up - this you already know if you know him at all (or have read/seen previous blogs & pictures). He recently re-discovered a handknit sweater my sister made for him when he was born - you may remember seeing the too-small hat pictured on his cheesily-grinning face on a semi-recent blog. (How's that for a hyphen-heavy sentence?) :)

"Aunt Becky makey Simon the snuggy shirt" he kept saying as he insisted on wearing it around the house all day. The sleeves fit right, and it fits around him great, but it's a little short in the torso. He didn't mind at all. It got even sweeter when he found a crazy fuzzy red hat of mine (a second-hand store $1 find!) and happily plunked it on too.

Cheese!

Simon's Crazy Supper

Simon's "Unky Tyler" loves the color orange. He also says that if a person's favorite color is orange, it's an indication that he/she is crazy.

One recent suppertime, Simon insisted on orange foods. Mac & cheese ("noo-nuhs"...means noodles) and mango, and he may have even had orange juice. I guess this was his crazy supper.

February Random

A Simon phrase...no story or context, but it's cute and I don't want to forget to share:

"Mama ooze the back-set" = Mama use/uses/used the basket (like when I'm doing laundry)

And a picture, also no story or context, but it's cute and I wanted to share: