Eli explains the Pretend Birthday thing

This is Ryan, and I'm putting up a video as a follow-up to Lessley's recent post about her pretend birthday party.

It's about three minutes long, but gives a little insight into the mind of a four year old who randomly decides to throw his Mom a party. The decorations are hilarious.

The Build a Bear Miracle

As previously mentioned Eli had a bad a habit of sucking his fingers.

I decided he was just too old and that he needed to stop. I would talk to him about it and tell him that he needed to stop. Well, about 2 months before he turned four he told me he would stop sucking them when he turned four. I decided to let it go, and see if he really would. Well, his fourth birthday came and went and he continued to suck. I decided I better get serious and do some serious bribing.

We told him he could earn toys, money, dates with mom and dad, a trip to Chuckee E Cheese, and I even told him we could go to Florida (we were already planning on going) if he would stop sucking for a week. NOTHING worked. None of it seemed worth giving up his habit.

A few weeks ago we were cleaning his room and he was putting a bear on his bed that my parents made for him at the Vermont Bear factory (it's like Build-a-Bear) I told him that Grandma and Grandpa made it for him. He of course asked, "how?" (I have never taken him to a Build-a-Bear, I figured that was a store we would stay away from as long as possible). I explained to him that there are stores that you can make bears. He seemed totally intrigued.

Then I had a brilliant idea!!

I asked Eli if he wanted to go to one of those stores and make his own bear. He said, "yes." I said, "If you don't suck your fingers for a week we will go pick out any bear you want." He didn't really say he would stop, but he seemed to be thinking about it.

The next day we just happen to be at the mall. We were walking past Build-a-Bear and so I took him in to show him what it was all about.

He was totally FASCINATED!! He loved the machine that put the stuffing in. We sat and watched 3 bears be filled. I then showed him the outfits and showed him the bins with the limp animals.

That night he stopped sucking! It was a miracle. He literally stopped sucking that day! Occasionally I would catch him in the middle of the night sucking them in his sleep, but when he was awake he rarely sucked them. And usually if he would start to suck, he would take them out himself and say, "mom, I was going to suck my fingers, but I stopped because I want a Build-a-Bear."

Sure enough he went a whole week with pretty much no sucking. (It was actually a week and a half, because we couldn't get there until then. Good thing he doesn't know the difference between 7 days and 10 days).

So of course I kept my end of the bargain and we had a fun little outing to Build-a-Bear. I realized how much like me he is in his decision making skills. He had the hardest time picking out a bear. For days before we went he told me that he wanted the Koala Bear. But once we got there he picked up the Koala started walking toward the machine, then put it back, grabbed the monkey, started walking toward the machine, then changed his mind, went back for the Koala, then changed his mind again. We did this about 4 times. Finally, he made the big decision and stuck with it. The Koala won! ( I was glad because it was actually one of the cheapest ones).

He was in heaven. Although in the pictures he looks so serious he really was so excited. (He's also like me in this regard, as we don't get outwardly excited even though we could be having the times of our lives).

He named him Zupter (don't know where that came from) and picked out some shorts and a camo tent.

When we were done I told him that because he had accomplished such a big task(breaking his habit, not building a bear) he could also pick out where we could eat for dinner. He chose Cafe Rio. Now that is my kind of kid. I was nervous he was going to say he just wanted Frosted Flakes (what he chose for his Birthday dinner).

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Pumping the stuffing in

Washing him up

Making the Birth certificate

Best money ever spent!

He now doesn't even suck his fingers in his sleep. I am so excited. It was almost too easy.

Who knew a little stuffed Koala would cure a 4 year old from sucking his fingers?

Happy Birthday to me?

This morning when Eli woke up he told me it was my pretend  birthday today and that he was going to have a party. I just kind of shrugged it off and said, "ok".

Little did I know he was serious.

He decorated. (He made paper chains, and a picture of our family. He taped those and ribbon and balloons to the wall).

He made and wrapped presents.

He made me unwrap the presents

He organized games.

And he made us all eat ice cream bars and popsicles for my birthday dessert. (He wanted me to make a cake, but I wasn't really in the mood for that).

He was so excited that he planned me a party. He did such a good job and it made me feel so special. I guess he knows how much I don't like my December birthday, so he decided to give me a party in April.

I now declare April 2 my new birthday.

I love this kid!!!

Just because...

they're cute!!

More Bad Habits

We can't just talk about my bad habits. So we will look at a couple other family members bad habits.

Eli's Habit:Sucking!

Eli started his bad habit when he was about 8 months old- sucking his pointer and ring finger on his left hand. Soon sucking wasn't enough and he discovered a little pillow case that had "fuzzies" on it. He then decided that to improve the sucking he would pull the fuzzies off the pillowcase so that he could suck AND rub the fuzzies under his nose. (Yes he is a multi- tasker). Back then I thought it was cute.

One day the pillowcase got lost. I was excited thinking maybe he having no fuzzies would equal no more sucking. I was wrong. He just found a new supplier of fuzzies. His best friend Tiger. (You can learn more about Tiger on Ryan's blog).Unfortunately, he destroyed poor tiger's little mane until one day Tiger had nothing more to offer. So Eli moved on to Giraffe- his new best friend. (Yes, Eli is a fair weather friend).

Now Giraffe is the current Fuzzie Fix. Giraffe's lovely tail has passed the fuzzie test and as Eli sucks his fingers he now rubs Giraffe's tail under his nose. I no longer find his finger sucking habit cute!

Hallie's Habit: Teasing!

Haliie started her habit about as soon as she could walk! She LOVES to tease Eli. She knows what bugs him and she does it! She knows Eli does not like her to touch his giraffe. However, she will on a occasion take his giraffe, stick her fingers in her mouth, and rub his tail under nose. She then finds Eli and shows him that she is doing it. When he gets upset she laughs and runs from him. Yes, it is hilarious, but kind of sad at the same time that a 20 month old can torment her 4 year old brother.

Midnight Madness

I have a bad habit.

My kids ARE NOT snugglers. And I am a snuggler. So ever since Eli was a baby, the only time I could snuggle him was in the middle of the night when he was sleeping. And so my bad habit emerged. Some nights, right before I would go to bed, (usually around midnight), I would sneak in his room, get him out of bed, bring him in my bed, and snuggle, snuggle, snuggle him. He is was such a great sleeper that usually he would  sleep through it.

Through the years I have continued to do this,and have now included Hallie in my bad habit. Only Hallie is not such a great sleeper, and so when I get her out of bed, and bring her to my room and try to snuggle her, she wakes up, fights being snuggled,  and it ends up being a time where Ryan and I laugh at her because she acts so silly. (Because my kids are always sillier when they are woken up in the middle of the night).

Well, the other night Ryan was watching the kids and getting them ready for  bed. He later told me of a conversation that conspired between Eli and himself.

ELI: Dad, I want to wear my red pajamas that match Hallie. (Their Christmas pajamas).

RYAN: Why?

ELI: Because then mom will sneak in my room and get me out of bed. Then sneak into Hallie's room and get her out of bed. And bring us into her bed. (I am pretty sure the last time I got them both out of bed they were wearing their matching pajamas. So I am sure in his little mind it only happens when they are wearing matching pajamas).

RYAN: Ok. We will put your matching pajamas on. (laughing).

So what was a mother to do?

Sneak into their rooms in the middle of the night and get them out of bed, of course.

This is what I wanted to happen:

This is what really happened:

 

The best part is. When I am done playing, I just tuck them back in thier own beds, and the quickly drift back to sleep. No arguing, crying, or fussing.

I love our midnight playdates!

Grow Old With You

 

I had such a fun Valentine's weekend. We started it off by going to our YW/YM Dinner/Dance fundraiser. And it was so much fun. Even though the days leading up to it were a lot of work for us leaders, I think the dinner/dance itself was a big hit, and the youth did a great job. The food was good and the entertainment was great.

Dancing

Everything was great until about half way through. That is when my sweet, adorable, wonderful husband. (Can you hear the sarcasm)? Decided it would be so fun to totally and completely embarrass me. He had the dance stopped, came out on the stage, had me come up, and sang to me "our song" (Grow Old with You. By Adam Sandler). I didn't even know we had a song.

Anyone that knows me knows that the worst thing you could  do to me is put me in the spotlight. Let's just  say he ruined his night. If you know what I mean. :) He can be such a nerd sometimes!

Aside from that it was fun to eat good food and hang out with fun people.

Saturday night we spent playing games and enjoying the company of friends. It was great. I love  Ryan to pieces and it is fun to do things just the two of us, but it was also so fun to be able to spend this holiday with other people.