Problem Solving at its Finest

At 5.5 years old, Benjamin does not stop to amaze me (almost on the daily) when it comes to his critical thinking and problem solving skills that just flow so naturaly out of him. 

We have a yard sign that is held up with an h-stake. For a few weeks, the bottom cross bar of the h-stake has been broken, so the sign has been leaning. Every couple of days, we adjust the sign, only for it to start leaning within hours. 

The other day, Norm had pulled the entire sign out of the grass to mow the lawn. So Benjamin and I went to put it back together only for it to start leaning immediately. 

So I mentioned to Benjamin how we need a new sign holder (which we actually went to the store last weekend to purposely purchase a new sign holder and we walked out with everything but the sign holder...). Benjamin casually looks and me and says "why don't you just flip it over?"

I was confused for a minute and then realized what he was telling me. 

So we flipped it over and eneded up with the broken cross bar at the top and a sturdy bottom part. 

I mean, I know he's my child and everything, but we all have to agree that was pretty unbelievable for a 5.5 year old problem solving skill. 

Style

 Every few days or so, after getting dressed, Nico will come running to find anyone, jumps in front of them, opens up his arms and says 

"Do you like my style?"

Yes, son. I LOVE your style!

The Things They Say #75

The other day Nico was upset because he had something in his eye. And just like pretty much everything else in his little life, it was A LOT. Everything is always a lot. 

So he was crying and rubbing his eye. He wouldn’t let me look at it to see if I could help. So I just sat next to him. 

As he melted down, he said: “There is something in my EYE!!!”

He kept rubbing his eye and continued: “WHATEVER it is, it doesn’t belong IN THERE!!”

Birthday Month

This month Gracie turns a year and I promise I will sit down and upload all of her monthly pictures. In the meantime, I will just leave this evidence right here that our hands are full.

And because standing on wobbly picnic tables and reaching for little LEGOS is not enough. She has started walking... 

Artist and Insight

In the Summer, Benjamin started taking painting classes locally at the teacher's house. She set up easels on her back porch and everyone had their own little station. He really enjoyed it! 

Dinosaur:

Mountains:

He also painted fish. They are all hangin on his wall next to his bed:

Now that he started Kindergarten, his drawing skills have sharpened so much! Today he brought this picture home. We asked him to tell us about him and he said:

That is me (person in orange to the right), and I am wearing a hat. 

That is Pellet and I am holding him on a leash with his collar

That's the sun at the top and it's a little blurry

Benjamin only new Pellet for little over a year, and it is amazing to see the impact that he left on him. His heart misses Pellet, I know. Because of that and a thousand other reasons, we miss Pellet so much! 

Pandemic Life Through the Eyes of a 3-year old

Benjamin’s school issued each kindergartener a little blue mask. 

Today on the way to school, Nico mentions that there are blue masks like Benji’s at Wheeler Pinea (the daycare).

So I ask him who wears those blue masks.

Nico: the teachers do!!! 

Me: oooh okay! That is great!

Nico: they wear them so they don’t have to smell all the poop! 

Me: I didn’t know that! 

Nico (with attitude): yes mooooom!

The Things They Say #921

Today on the way to dropping Gracie off at school, Nico tells me, out of the blue: “Mami, when I am a growm up, I am going to drink beered AND wine”

Yes son, can’t wait for the day when we all drink beered and wine together.