101 Uses For Paint Tape

The heat of late summer contrives to keep us indoors as much as possible, so desperate times call for desperate measures. In order to give the kids, mainly Ben, something fun and different to do, I used blue paint tape--the kind you use to tape off your walls when you trim--and put a “city” on the floor in the foyer for them. It was quickly named “Radiator Springs” in honor of Ben’s favorite movie and toys “Cars”. This has been good for literally HOURS of entertainment by all three kids...who knew?
My oldest “baby” is going to Washington D.C. next week and I am starting to realize just how long he is going to be gone and how much I am going to miss him! I am so thankful that he has this opportunity, what a blessing for him. But at the same time...it’s so far and so long! I know that he will have a wonderful time and will see and do so many things! He is a definite “history buff”, so this will be quite an experience for him!
We started a new program with Ben this week called “Accountable Kids”. This is a behavior modification program that is implemented one step at a time. So far it is going remarkably well. Ben is motivated to complete tasks, follow the rules, set limits on himself, and is rewarded with privileges. We are only on the first step, but by the time the whole program is implemented he will have a complete behavior system in place to help him stay accountable for his own actions. Rewards like allowance or shopping in “Mom’s Store” (much like Grammy’s Treasure Chest that works so well), dates with mom and dad, etc...will help reinforce good behavior. The program also suggests that all the children in the household be on the same program to help motivate the child needing modification, so I am thinking of ordering Gavin and Luci a set as well. I will keep you up to date on how our system is working. For anyone interested you can see the program here: www.accountablekids.com

Luci

The little three year old you see in the picture is growing by leaps and bounds. She can jump, she can dance, she can count to 12, and can almost say her ABC’s. But, the most enjoyable of her quirky three-year-old developments is her ability to send us into fits of laughter with her words. I always say “I’ll never forget this”, but the fact is that some memories are faded out by new memories and there are surely things I don’t remember anymore. So, in order to preserve, and of course to share...here ya go!
This morning Luci was sitting by my side and leaning her head on my shoulder when her daddy walked by and loved on her with a kiss to the top of her head. She responded to this by telling him to get away, she only wanted mommy! He acted properly offended and left the room. I said to her “We should be nice to daddy! We love him!” Her response came in a whisper: “Daddy is handsome! He is ACTUALLY a prince!”
A couple of nights ago I had put her to bed, tucked in with all of her stuffed animals and her special blanket. A few minutes later she was up opening her door asking for a kiss. I obliged, put her back to bed, and told her it was time for sleeping. She got up again, and again, and again.... Until finally she was so sleepy that she could hardly keep her eyes open as I put her back to bed. She then said, as her little fists are rubbing her eyes: “Mommy, there is something wrong, I can’t see my eyeballs!”
Another night this week the same scenario happened with her getting up and down after she was put into bed along with her new Build A Bear puppy named Bubbles. After getting exasperated with her I opened the door and firmly told her it was time to sleep! She responded: “But, mommy, my puppy’s feet are cold and he needs some slippers!”
Here are a few other ‘one-liners’ that she uses with frequency:

“Be patient!”
When all tucked into bed with her menagerie of animals: “Thanks mom, now I have all my things!”
“I’m not Luci! I’m a (fill in the blank)!” elephant, butterfly, princess, puppy, kitty cat, etc.....
And with as much gusto as a three year old can muster, and very much like a teenager: “I’m going to my room!” How many years do you think we’ll have to listen to that?
So, there is a glimpse into my sweet, beautiful, three year old girl’s heart. Her daddy is a prince, she has an incredible imagination, she doesn’t like going to sleep, and she’s content surrounded by a zoo of stuffed animals!