1. Someone once told me about the strategy of the Binky Fairy. The child relinquishes his/her binky, and the Binky Fairy brings them a special surprise in return. I was going crazy over Eva's tight-fisted hold on her binky, despite being 4 now, and so I mentioned the idea. I didn't have high hopes, but she latched onto it immediately and wanted to put her binky outside her door last Sunday night.
I was thrilled and scrambling to find the special surprise without being able to go shopping! I brought up a stack of books that used to belong to the boys, along with a DVD that I forgot to give her for Christmas. She was amazed and excited the next morning. She did wonderfully well for 2 nights, and then the trouble started.
She has been plagued with nighttime fears, crying hysterically and saying she is afraid someone will come in her room, an animal will crash through her window, or that she will die in the night. We have come up with all kinds of ideas to reassure her, including Jack the Guard Dog, the presence of a big strong Mom & Dad, and the fact that her room is way too girly and pretty for any bad guys to want to enter. The fears seem only to be intensifying, and now that Bella is sleeping in her room, she is becoming alternately frightened and irritated by Eva's histrionics. It's 10:00 and Eva only just now stopped crying, after nearly 2 hours. Serenity NOW!
(photo by Jill)2. Lucas and Landon asked us if they could have a sleepover. While our policy is sleepovers only with cousins, we decided to have a summit about it. I approached Marc about it and he said, "I don't have a problem with it. They're practically family." I felt the same way. Ditto with Jill & Randy. Shortest summit ever!
They ended up sleeping here on Monday night, playing here most of Tuesday, and then going to Jill's and sleeping there on Tuesday for the ultimate switch. She brought them back here when she came for Creative Wednesday. They were together for a full 48 hours and were still disappointed when it was time to part ways. I totally understand that.
3. Somehow, I managed to not be crazy and cleaning like a madwoman on Wednesday, even though that was the day Jessie and her family arrived. I guess all of my work in the preceding couple of weeks paid off and I was blissfully calm. That is definitely a first, and most welcome indeed, as Jill came over for Creative Wednesday!
4. Max made some jazz cds for my grandma, who shares his musical tastes, and then he made her a darling card in Photoshop and sealed it with the sealing wax he got for his birthday. I love every bit of this.
5. I don't usually have good lunches, but Jessie and I had the most delicious lunch yesterday! We got the idea from Cooking Light: tuna mixed with light mayo and celery, layered with radish slices, avocado and sprouts on homemade wheat bread (miracle bread). Seriously scrumptious. Also cucumber spears and Rainier cherries. We were both in heaven.Jessie told me how to use miracle bread to make hamburger buns, and we did that for dinner (basically you just shape it into buns and bake it for a shorter amount of time). So easy! So delicious! Marc said he doesn't know if he can go back to regular buns, and with bread this easy, he won't have to.
6. Marc found my keys! He was walking out to his car and he saw a little something silver glinting in the bushes. I was totally amazed, as I had pretty much given up hope of finding them (they have been lost since last Saturday). He is lobbying for this coup to definitively put an end to the use of the term "man-looker" in our house.If I actually survive the next 24 hours, I'll be back to report on my visit with Jessie and her family so far...
17 comments:
I think the Binky Fairy is a brilliant idea! I'm glad the first 2 nights went well, but what in the world with the following nights? It baffles me that a 4 year old with a very cushy life can be so full of fears. Where do they come from?? I would be all for reinstating a "Sweet Dreams Binky" if it meant everyone could get some rest!!
That lunch actually looks good to me, can you believe it?
Hooray for Marc for finding the keys! I think this is a case of serendipity rather than the end of "man looking" because he wasn't actually looking for them at the time.
Ahhh, that lunch DOES look good. I love your food photos.
I like to make hamburger buns too, and hot dog buns (I have a tall can and one end is round and the other end is squished oblong to make our hamburger/hotdog bun cutter).
I hope you're having a good week and am glad you took the time to post.
I'm also glad Max likes sealing wax....there is just something so "Puff the Magic Dragon"-ish with "sealing wax and other fancy stuff". I like it, too.
Getting rid of pacifiers is absolutely no fun. We talked it up for weeks and then had our kids actually cut the tip of their pacifiers off and throw them in the trash.
I also love that bread recipe. We just had hamburgers with these buns just the other night too. I made the full recipe and made two pizza crusts and a batch of "hot pockets" at the same time.
I think the sealing wax is so cool. It certainly adds a special touch to a letter.
I love the monogram. What perfect initials for such a thing, it looks awesome!
That sandwich is close to one of my most favorite sandwiches of all time...I also make my own hamburger buns and have never looked back.
That sandwich looks delicious!
Hurray for finding the lost keys...I've done this before and it is not fun worrying about where they are and replacing all the keys!!
Here's a thought for Eva. Have you tried a special spray bottle (filled with water) that you tell Eva is a special spray designed to rid her room of all bad guys, scary dreams, etc. Each night give a few squirts and hope that it works. I'll be hoping and praying that it works for you too!
You could also try a little glitter on her pillow, doorknob, etc. and tell her that the Binky Fairy came to check on her. Maybe she could pick out a special night light or something to help. Hopefully, it's just a phase since she's now in a big girl bed and let go of the paci.
I love the sealing wax! It's so Prince Charming!
Your lunches always look great and I sometimes wish I could come to Creative Friday, if only just to eat lunch. :)
The Binky Fairy paid John a visit many years ago. It worked like a charm until, after a day or two of enjoying his new fire truck, he decided he wanted to leave it out and trade back with the Binky Fairy. He was my hardest one to get off of the Binky.
That lunch looks fabulous! I'll have to try the miracle bread with wheat flour.
Oh--and "man-looker" is about the funniest term I've ever heard! I agree that most men are very poor lookers/finders of items lost, but acquiesce that Marc does deserve kudos for finding your keys. I'm going crazy because I can't find my Bluetooth wireless earpiece for my cell phone. It has been missing since the power went out last Monday and I can't find it anywhere! I need Marc to come and look. . . .
oh the bane of the binky. ethan will be four in november - and is still heavily attached. i'll be honest, i'm SCARED to try and get rid of that thing. the rest of the day is manageable, but going to bed at night, oh man, i depend on that thing for sleep as much as he does.
i hope you find something to help her SOON and get some rest!
the binky fairy is brilliant! we may get a sippy cup fairy soon...
how sad that she's so scared at night!!! the k man is afraid to be downstairs on his own- and i cave every time he wants to sleep upstairs with me. sigh.
have a great time with the sister!!! :)
I have been looking for something more interesting to do with tuna. That lunch looks great. Healthy food are so colorful and visually pleasing. You know, if someone else would go to all the effort, I'd much rather eat healthfully every day. Bad food is just so much easier to find, prep, and prepare.
Alex still has his binkie and a DREAD the day that we decide to take it away. We potty trained him last week, so the time is rapidly approaching, but that's going to be a tough one. He has already decided that the binkie fairy is going to bring him a digger that has buttons that make noises, though. So maybe if I find one it wont be so bad after all!
Yummy tuna! I love a good tuna sandwich. I'll have to make up a shopping list and give it a try.
Alex still has his binkie and a DREAD the day that we decide to take it away. We potty trained him last week, so the time is rapidly approaching, but that's going to be a tough one. He has already decided that the binkie fairy is going to bring him a digger that has buttons that make noises, though. So maybe if I find one it wont be so bad after all!
Yummy tuna! I love a good tuna sandwich. I'll have to make up a shopping list and give it a try.
Luckily we didn't have to go through the binky thing... I thought it is usually a fairy easy transition... obviously I know nothing.
How nice to find your keys. My parents found some of mine YEARS after I moved out of their house.
That lunch looks so great... but all of your lunches do...
Ohhh i love the binky's on little ones...great story and hopefully she will just resume life as a big girl now... love the lunch and great to find those keys...that is a big one to lose...but in the bushes....oh my! Glad you found them, I have a couple of keys missing with no luck of finding them. You know...EVA is a taurus like me and we share the same birthday and sometimes we are stubborn!
Oh, too bad the binky fairy was just a temporary fix. When Avery had this problem, we told her the binkies moved to France, which, obviously, wouldn't work for you since you are moving to France. :) PQ had major night time fears when we were in Montana -- it is exhausting (for the mothers!). I hope you can find a solution, soon. Does she have a little nightlight? That's the only thing that helped Phoebe.
Max's sealing wax is amazing! I just love that photo. And I also love the photo of your lunch! I will have to try your miracle bread.
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