The Chairs

The chairs ...

can't be placed at the table 

because Huck will climb onto the table and teeter dangerously along the edge. 

can't be placed along the opposite wall/counter 

because Huck will climb onto the counter, sit on the stove, and play with sharp knives. 

can't be placed against the sliding glass door 

because Huck will climb onto the chair and beat the glass door with some heavy hard object ...  a can of soup is a good example. 

can't be placed alongside the pantry cabinet 

because Huck reach up from the chair and pull down every the glass jar of drygoods in his reach

can't be stashed in the middle of the living room ... just not practical

can't be thrown away 

because eating dinner while sitting on the floor is slightly messier than eating at the table. 

I'm not sure where we actually put the chairs really matters 

because Huck simply moves the chairs wherever he wants.

Benefit of life in a very small house ... 

it can be cleaned top to bottom in 1 hour (or tidied in 15 minutes)

and you can always hear your kids (good thing right?)

Downside of life in a very small house ... 

no where to stash those darn chairs

Current Family Life Phase

Della ~ CanI CanI CanI Please CanI CanI CanI

Huck ~ Extreme observation and exploration what can I get into?

That was a Close One!

One of Della's current favorite phrases

Wow! That was a close one!

Said when she ... 

 jumps off the bed and narrowly misses the door frame

 steps off the edge of the step-stool and lands unexpectedly on the floor

 looses her grip while climbing her bookshelf

slips in a puddle when running

looks up just in time to avoid ... something

As it turns out, in our home there are endless applications for this phrase 

 and Della is very good at pointing out the near-misses

I wonder what that says about our parenting style? 

PS ~ she's barely 3 years old. 

 We supervise her daredevil stunts

We make sure helmet and gloves wearing is a positive mandatory requirement

We carefully explain the risks and discuss the potential consequences 

(more often than not in regards to something she should not do to her brother ... 

such as push him down the slide)

We remove all the obvious weapons and dangerous props

We lovingly kiss and place a princess band-aid on her boo-boos 

and we let. her. play. 

Della ... 

I only hope you learn from each "close one" 

and continue to enjoy growing Bigger. Stronger. Faster. 

I also hope that your Brothers innate cautious personality will balance your fearlessness 

as soon he'll be the only one able to keep up with you. 

Shower Mischief

As a parent sneaking away to take a shower can be a gamble

what will you find when you emerge from your steamy refuge?

I figure as long as everyone is alive and unharmed then I won the gamble. 

This time Della managed to retrieve her Disneyland photo album 

and extract every. single. picture.

she was happy to describe the memories each picture presented 

and was somewhat helpful in returning the photos to their proper home.

Do you think this may have been her version of a hint? Disney Trip #2?