So, if you remember last week's little things post, you know I'm trying to teach Jack his letters. You also know he is so not into it. I found an idea while browsing pinterest one day to use salt trays. Apparently, some little kids like to write in salt with their fingers (you can see the original blogger's post here) and it seemed like a great idea.

So, while Jonah was taking his morning nap (yes, at 16 months old he still takes 2 naps - I got super lucky with this kid) I got out the salt and a tray and wrote his name on a piece of paper for him to copy. Yeah, he's still not interested.

Now, if you looked at the original blogger's post and then look at these photos, you'll see that I used WAY too much salt. So maybe that was part of the problem.

He made one J, and a few shapes, and then he was done with that. He did have a GREAT time just playing with the salt though. It's been three days, and even though I have swept the floor several times and mopped, I'm still stepping in the occasional little pile of salt.

I'm glad he had a great time, although I really would have loved it if this would have sparked some interest in letters, but maybe I should just chill out. I see so many moms whose kids know all their letters and numbers and shapes and heck, I even knew one mom whose three-year-old could say all the presidents' names in order. But you know what? He's just three. It's ok. He's got all sorts of time to learn that stuff. For now, I'm happy to let him play. Isn't that what being three is all about?

When Joey and Abbie were three, they knew all their letters...not the sounds, but they could write them all and they knew how to spell their names. They loved to learn, they were always asking me to teach them things, they soaked it all up. Jack is different. He's SMART, don't get me wrong, he's just a bit more stubborn than the other two. If he doesn't want to do something, you can pretty much just forget it.

I had tried lots of times to get him to let me teach him to write his name, or at least make a J. He refused, over and over. I got frustrated and gave up. Then a couple of months later he was playing with his magna doodle and I asked if he wanted me to show him how to make a J. He said he already knew and then made one to show me! So either he was paying attention all those times I tried to teach him, or Abbie's been playing school with him. Or maybe he learned from Elmo, who knows? Anyway, he can make a J now! There's still absolutely no interest in learning other letters, but hopefully he'll get interested soon.

Playing with cousins is pretty much the best way to spend a summer afternoon. I remember how much fun I had with my cousins and it's so cool to see my kids with my cousin's kids now. They even have some of the same arguments we used to have. Funny how that works.

On this day, it was girls against boys. The girls made a very cute little girls only "clubhouse" in a bush while the boys perfected some stunts on the tire swing. Good times.

It's another "little things" Friday! Up this week are a few shots of my oldest two. I LOVE these photos because they prove that they really do love each other. Joey and Abbie fight like cats and dogs 99.5% of the time, but that other .5% of the time is so sweet!

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you'll look back and realize they were big things.”

I was talking to my Aunt Mary today and I was telling her about how much Abbie loves homework and reading and school, and she reminded me how my cousin Mandi used to be the exact same way and how she would take a blanket and a pillow up in a tree and stay there all afternoon. Then Mary said "and now that's the picture I wish I had!"

Think about it. In 10-20 years, when your child is all grown up, what are you going to want to remember? Sure, you'll want to remember how they looked at each age, but more than that, you'll want to remember the little things: your baby's big bright eyes as he takes in every new thing, your son's raggedy blanket he insists on carrying everywhere, your daughter playing with her favorite doll, your kids playing with bubbles, or splashing in the pool, or whatever their favorite thing is.

So, the next time you're thinking about having professional photos taken of your family or your kids, think about what you're really going to want to remember, and plan your session around that. If you're in the west central Indiana/east central Illinois area, I'd love to work with you to capture your priceless memories. You can contact me or click here for more details.

Now on to the photos: My son Jack wears this cape every day. He LOVES it, even though he's a little bit confused about Superman. He thinks Superman has a light saber in his back pocket. But anyway, he loves to wear this (and sometimes the full costume) and just run around and be crazy, jumping on the couch and sticking his tongue out while growling (to try to scare people - apparently Superman is scary). That's Jack right now, and those are the things I want to remember.





Check the blog every Friday for more of my family's "little things"