new tricks

there are some new tricks going on here that are so cute i just needed to document for myself if nothing else.

m. has been picking things up from the floor and bringing them to me. but just to make sure i really know its for me, he will walk up to me, lift my hand and put it in the open palm position before placing the object in my hand. so i respond thank you, and then hand him the sock, block, towel, toy, etc. back. he responds by grabbing my hand, putting it in the open palm position again and placing the object back in my hand. this can go on for hours with a toddler. its a wonder i get anything done around here!

k.'s latest trick is called hoarding. it really doesnt matter what he hoards, just so long as he has a collection. in the bath he greedily collects all the foam letters, looking around to be sure his brothers are not at arms length. and the real treat, if poor m. has what he wants he uses brute force to get it. on several occasions this week he has pulled m. down from a standing position to have a better grab at whatever m. is carrying off. i predict k. will walk soon just to keep up; as we do not tolerate this particular method of "hoarding" toys.

f. has been making his own board games during free-play art session at school. each day he comes home with a new one full of tiny pieces and elaborate rules (which apparantly exist only in his head). pretty soon he is going to catch on that these games disappear each night. not to worry, they are just replenished the very next school day. [and eventually j. might catch on that i blame him for anything that disappears in this household] today f. came home with a board game and the pieces were old bottle lids (LOADS of old bottle lids). this kid will never need a wii, he will just make his own out of some old trash and a bit of construction paper.