Joyeux NOEL

I will make my own craft!

This little preschooler is always busy, she has "schedules" just like a grown-up!

But we are not talking about the schedule that she gets up at 7 am, brush teeth and is ready for bed at 8pm, with a mom as an artist, quite a contrary, Noel's daily routine may be a shock to other parents.  No, we are talking about her activities here - violin, drawing, reading, math, religious study, playing house, online games and yeah, never too young to play - she is a facebook user too!  One of her activity books is a craft book, honestly, it's more of a project for her to do with a babysitter than me; but today (a horribly cold spring day) when she suggested that we should do some craft, I agreed.

But little did I know, it's not your usual kind of craft, Noel actually "made" her own craft book... take a look, and read her writing...

"HOW TO MAKE A WAVING KID?"

"PULL HER ARM AND SHE WILL WAVE AT THE SUN"

Noel is just to creative for her age, this "craft book" makes me laugh every time I see it, even as I am writing this blog! 

 

And of course the craft project did not happen, because I am not as creative as my daughter, the thought of making this "proposed project" happen is beyond me!

let me sing you a song

...and please tilt your head to the left for a minute and half! 

thanks to our lovely babysitter Jessica!  

"mommy, see what I did when you are away..."

"Jessica taught me to dip my brownie in the milk!" Noel says, "...and I love it!"

and watch me show off.....

what a great young reader

A brand new story that Noel has never read before, so it's definitely not from memory.  Even I was amazed how well and smooth she reads the story.  She did a great job on the previous reading, which inspired me to video this session.  As always, GOOD JOB, Noel!

I can spell....kind of

Ever since Noel starts reading, she wait for no time taking on writing.  This smart cookie is doing well, but spelling is still early for a 4 year-old; and when she could not spell the right word, she comes right to her mom for answers (yeah, like that is very helpful :)  )

Noel has her own facebook and a journal, along with a "handy dandy notebook!"  Like many of us, she cannot wait to go on her facebook and play games, instead of looking at it as something negative and stopping her from doing it, I try to make the best out of it - teach her to read, write, and communicate with others there.  For those of you get the messages from her, no matter if the messages make sense, or not, yep, they really do come from Noel.

In the beginning, Noel would write/type messages that might not make any sense to you, but if you ask her, oh, yeah, it makes "perfect sense" to herself.  and lately, she is determined to do better..... " mama, how do you spell 'what', 'how' why' 'speak'  'lights'  'know'.....etc?"

It was super exciting for me at first, then it gets old, she would even come into the bathroom while I am in the shower, asking for the spelling of a new word.  That's it, so I borrow the "handy dandy notebook" idea from Blue's Clue.  For words that she asks a lot, I just write them down and she can look them up anytime!

 

Hey Noel, are you going to be a spelling bee one day?

children of the 21st century

Do you remember the age you were first introduced to computer?  I don't.  But I do remember it's not when I was 4 years old!

message on the computer screen

...it really makes you realize, it's 21st century, there is no more message in the bottle!  ha!

simply....meals

As little girl's requested, cinnamon toast with butter, peach and mozzarella cheese slices for lunch, note that the food is now in "slices" rather than sticks or cubes, because "someone" said that she is all grown up and needs the food cut in "big girl's way." 

(note: fruits like apples which are very firm, we still go for sticks rather than slices, at 4, at least in my house, we still watch for chocking hazard.)

A simple twist, meal time is a lot more fun and enjoyable.  I just now need a way to get her to eat greens.  Who ever says that getting the babies to eat various veggies will help?  Noel used to enjoy all kinds of vegetables, peas, green beans, carrots....and let's not forget her love for zucchini, but now at 4, broccoli and soybeans are the only greens left on her menu (that she would eat.)  Kids, so unpredictable!

not your candice olson

Noel's mama and auntie Sarah love Candice Olson, she is just - divine! 
But Noel has her own design sense, and as she gets older, we have our debates often on where things go in our house, especially, her toys.
So I went online for a while, and when I turned around, oh... how lovely, I have something on my nicely cleaned and polished hardwood floor.
Mom: " what is going on here?"
Noel: " it is my side walk, my colorful side walk...(and knowing exactly what I was about to say, she continues)....and this is where it belong, we are not moving it."
Okay, one thing I truly want to know, it's what Candice's house look like on the daily basis, or hourly basis...really.

Well, since we cannot clear up this "eye sore," let's do something with it.  Time for a perspective lesson, with the help of the camera, Noel actually enjoys playing with the game... pretty cool !

my piggy bank

Remember Noel's short-lived love affair?  It kind of slipped away for a while, and in the last few months, piggy made his way back into Noel's life - the little girl has been asking for a piggy bank!

And I have been looking for that perfect one, not just any piggy bank, but one that is 1) unbreakable 2) transparent so Noel can see the inside of the piggy 3)a cool color.

Simple?  Why don't you try it?

This weekend, we finally found it at the "Container store."  Noel was sitting in the shopping car and suddenly yelled with joy - "mama, the piggy bank!!!"

She picked out this special one and we are all set for the "money management 101 for preschooler!"

As now, she has one little quarter in it, a hard earned first deposit (she got 3 immunization shots in the doctor's office today for her check -ups)  It's a reward for being so brave.

Some people still ask me: " how did you come up with ideas to 'educate' Noel?"  "do you have a home school curriculum?"  The answer is NO.  Noel shows me when she is ready and what she is ready to do, I simply follow her developments.  So now she is telling me she wants a piggy bank.....and what can I throw in there?  Teach her what money is and how it works.

Hmmm, perhaps she will save up enough to buy me a Christmas present this year?!