Lady Cady

Faith * Family * Life

A History Book – For Toddlers!

I recently came across this book. It’s called The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of the American Revolution and it’s a history/ABC book for Toddlers! I love learning about the history of our country during the American Revolution. It’s one of my absolute favorite time periods to study and so I was excited for this find to begin teaching my two Littles all about it as well! Bonus – they are also learning the letters of the Alphabet. I love effective multitasking…

But back to the book. I’ve become a bit wary of many “History” books anymore, as so much is changed or interpreted and told as “history” rather than the truth of how things really happened. This book though is great! My older two kids, who actually know a lot about this time in history already, often sit and listen when we’re reading them too. They like to add in details that aren’t mentioned. It is a board book after all. 🙂 I love that I’m laying a strong foundation for my kids education. That’s something that’s important to me.

There are two other books in the series as well – The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of Liberty and The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of Economics. I’m sure you can take a guess at what each of them are about. They are great too! So if you are looking for some fun board books for your kids that teach about history, economics, and liberty, be sure and check these books out!

Little Boys

I’m a mom to three cute/sweet/crazy/adventurous boys – well the youngest is still a baby but he’ll be having adventures with his brothers soon enough. Each day brings new surprises (and a need for chocolate…) but despite all of it. I wouldn’t give up even one single moment – even the ones I feel like pulling my hair out. 🙂

Little boys with all their toys,
Their messy faces and their noise.
The jumps and tumbles that they take,
The laundry messes that they make.
In the yard, each dump truck tire,
Sunk down deep in muck and mire.
The flips and flops off my new chairs,
The things they tumble down the stairs.
Their tender kisses and their hugs,
And the way they capture bugs.
The balls that they can’t seem to find,
The rules that they can’t seem to mind.
Pictures of their smiling faces
That show up on my phone in places.
The afternoon of rough house play
And all that they forget to say.
Cars that race across the floor,
The always open back porch door.
Blocks that like to stack up tall
Crumbs all over, oh so small.
Despite the crazy each day brings,
I’d never trade it for the Things.
How boring would the quiet be
Without the boys I love with me.

A Thank You to Fathers

Anyone who is a parent understands what a thankless job it can be at times. We never know how much our parents sacrifice for us or all the many things they do for us. Have you ever pondered on that thought? Moms and dads really are priceless. This poem was inspired by my hard working husband and my own father. And to them I say “Thank You for all you do.”

Fathers do you know how much we love and cherish you?
We thank you for the hard work and the loving things you do.
We thank you for the jokes you tell that keep us all in tears.
We thank you for the hugs you give that chase away our fears.
We thank you for the shoulder rides that made us feel so tall.
We thank you for the books you read when we were oh so small.
We thank you for your patience when you taught us how to drive.
We thank you for showing us the things that we should strive.
We thank you for the pancakes and the summer barbecues.
We thank you for not getting mad at loosing favorite shoes.
We thank you for the things you made for each and one of us.
We thank you for the rides you gave in Glamorous Family Bus.
We know there isn’t any way we can show how much we care.
We hope we never go astray – for you we wouldn’t dare.
For you have loved and laughed and taught and everything you could.
If that’s how much our father’s feel, then why ever would we should?
For in the many quiet ways you cherish and you love,
We also see the perfect love sent down from Him Above.
And in those quiet moments that we very often see,
We come to understand how important you are to be.

This Tender Baby

This poem came to me while – you guessed it – I was holding my sweet 4 month old baby boy and marveling at how glad I am he is here in our family and how much love I have for him. Moments I hope never to forget.

This tender baby that I hold
Is sweet and precious to behold.
His tiny eyes are kind and blue.
He loves to smile and loves to coo.
These little hands and little feet
Are soft and smooth and oh so sweet.
He loves to hold my finger tight
And cuddle up with me at night.
Each day I cherish with delight
Each day I hold him with me tight.

Ugh the Slug

Living in the Pacific Northwest slugs are something I’ve had to get used to as they are everywhere!!! – especially after it rains!!!… Lets just say they are not my favorite but as a mom of four – three of them boys, sometimes you have no choice but get used to these things that fascinate your kids – and are just a part of life. I’ve even been grateful at times when finding them and counting them has kept my kids entertained while we waited for one thing or another to finish. And what else to do? Write a silly poem about them of course. 🙂 Thankfully this is not based on actual events. The original poem was published on my previous blog in September 2012. It has been changed slightly here.

I found in my yard a slimy brown slug.

It was there by the dirt where I dug and I dug.
I scooped him right up with my dad’s favorite mug
and took it right in, that mug with a slug. 

But then he escaped from the mug to the rug. 
And who should walk in? – My brother named Doug.
And my mischievous brother tried hugging that slug.

My mother – quite frightened – yelled “Ugh, it’s a slug!”
“Are you sure it’s no bug?” said my brother named Doug.

“At least that slug is now off my new rug…”
said our mother quite sadly with a bit of a shrug.

From a hug to a jug went that slimy brown slug.
Then in went a plug to that crystal clear jug. 

Said Doug to the slug, holding it snug,
“You’re sure not a pug or a stinky stinkbug,
but I think I will keep you and call your name Ugh.”

From a mug to a rug to a hug to jug 
– So went the life of a slimy brown slug. 

The Friendly Old Collie

We have a big, loving dog who loves to be petted and have her ears scratched more then anything in the world. While our dog isn’t a collie, writing this poem made me think of her and smile as I thought of a friendly old collie receiving all the love and attention he could ever want from four sweet girls – just as happy to give it to him. Because really, what more could a dog ask for!

Polly, Molly, Holly, and Dolly
Sat stroking the ears of a friendly old Collie.
Together they sat and sat and sat
And brushed and stroked and pat and pat.
Never such a day as this
Had the old Collie had such bliss.
Never before beneath the tree
Had anyone been so happy as he.
So grateful was that friendly old Collie
For Polly, Molly, Holly, and Dolly.