Every day one of the first things Annabel says to me upon waking is, “Mommy, what kind of day it is?” This is Annie-code for “What are we doing today?” Some days the answer is an easy, “Today is preschool!” But when I reply with, “It’s a Wednesday…I thought maybe we’d sit on the couch and not change out of our pajamas,” for some reason she finds that unacceptable.
Instead of just embracing the awesome that is a pajama day, Annabel has ideas. And she wants to go over them, in detail. It always starts with:
“So Mommy. I got an idea.”
I have a feeling that someday in the not-too-distant future, these words are going to make James groan. But I smile and say, “What’s your idea, Annie?” It’s my job to either make the idea happen, or tell her why it can’t.
“Mommy, let’s build a machine.” Usually when she suggests this, I ask her what kind of machine she wants to make, and then I tell her we don’t have the parts. Like, last week she wanted to make a time machine, and I told her we didn’t have a flux capacitor. She accepted that.
“Mommy, let’s decorate a cake.” Have I told you that Annabel is obsessed with cake decorating tutorials on YouTube? She could watch them all day. The other week, I took her with me to Michael’s Crafts. We went down the baking aisle and she FLIPPED OUT. “Mama! Look at the cake stands! Look at that [random baking utensil]! You use that to apply a crumb coat!” It’s like she’s speaking another language. But I’m not an animal, I love cake and we usually make a simple yellow cake to decorate. I really can’t wait until she’s old enough to actually make a cake from start to finish. What a glorious day that will be.
“Mommy, let’s go back to Hawaii.” I really have no argument against this one.
“Mommy, let’s put on a show.” Sounds simple enough, right? But then she needs curtains. REAL CURTAINS, MOMMY! No, curtains that pull with a rope! And they need to hang RIGHT THERE. No, I NEED RED ONES MOMMY! And I need costumes for all of my dolls. WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE DON’T HAVE DOLL COSTUMES?!?!
“Mommy, let’s open a restaurant.” This one is easy, as long as it involves imaginary food and drink. When she wants to start making food, or mixing up drinks (usually milk and water) that she then expects me to consume, things get dicey. She refuses help, but she wants to use the stove and obviously that isn’t happening.
“Mommy, let’s dress up with makeup.” Sure!
Is she a cat? Is she a mouse?
I think I haven’t done a good enough job of explaining how awesome a pajama day would be. An entire day of laying on a couch, under a blanket, cuddling…napping a bit. Totally seems like something a three-year-old and five-month-old would love, right?
Jayme says:
I swear, Annie and Dylan have access to each other’s YouTube history. We made a cake the other day, and Dylan asked me if she could help roll out the fondant (Mama don’t do fondant, it was frosting from the can), and then got mad when the casserole dish I baked the boxed cake in didn’t rotate for ease of applying frosting. She looked at the cake with such disdain. Before she ate it, of course.
suz says:
“You use that to apply a crumb coat”. I literally have tears running down my face. There’s something hysterical about a 3 year old loving cake decorating.
Jessica says:
My kids aren’t big fans of sitting still either. We have no school today and I’m dreaming of doing nothing but I don’t think it’s going to happen.
Leslie says:
My 5 year old’s favorite day is jammie day..it helps that school is every day so it’s a rare treat. We light a special candle and everything!
Kathy says:
You need to watch Disney Channel’s Phineas & Ferb. Every day begins with “Ferb, I know what we’re gonna do today” and follows with all kinds of creative ideas!
Amy says:
We made the mistake of getting hooked on Food Network. Now my 11 year old and 14 year old think they know all about cooking because they have watched “Chopped” and “Iron Chef”. They make creative combinations when they are home from school, and sometimes end up throwing it away. My daughter is not getting the chemistry of baking, and thinks she can just wing it with the ingredients. But, having said all that, they are having fun and do tend to learn from their mistakes. And I remember my Mom letting me do oddball things in the kitchen, too. I try to channel her patience during these times!
Tracey says:
My 12 and 14 year old daughters love those shows as well. Thankfully my girls are great cooks and I do get the occasional treat of a yummy dinner made for me.
Now if only they could learn to clean as they cook…..sigh
Leah says:
Get that kid some playdates!
Annalisa says:
Ah yes, the need to be busy… With my kid there isn’t a pajama day either. Instead, as soon as her clothes go on, we have to go outside. The outside trip might end up being at the park, Children’s Museum, or a play cafe, but we have to be gone from the house part of the day, or else she’s insufferable. If I tell her we can’t go yet because I’m feeding the baby/need to shower/need to do something else that can’t wait, she’ll whine so loudly that the baby will join in. Let’s just say I’ve gotten really good at putting up with whining.
Meg says:
I loved making THINGS as a kid — machines and mixes and generally anything out of flour and/or paper — but I also loved getting to snuggle on the couch with books and the dog. Maybe Rigby needs to help you!
Lea says:
My daughter’s favorite thing is to ask, “Can we go somewhere fun today?” Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, ummm no, not today. When will children learn sitting on the couch and doing nothing is simply GLORIOUS?!
Amie says:
Have you gone to Make Meaning in thousand oaks? They have a cake decorating activity that it sounds like Annie would love. You get a small fondant covered cake and choose from lots of decorating options. It’s pricey but fun as a once in awhile situation and you don’t have to hassle the clean up at home.
Katrina says:
I think in a few more months you are going to find James in Annie’s bedroom wearing a dressy hat and gloves holding a tea cup, and when you say, “James! What are you doing?” he’ll look up at you and say, “See the hat? I’m Mrs. Nezbitt!” (Toy Story)
Yep, big sister Annie is going to keep that boy busy!
Paula says:
If you get a 5 month old and a 3 year old on board for pajama day I think there are some mothers out there that will be camping on your door step with their wee ones.
Mommy says:
My 4 year old asks every day when he wakes up, “What today is it?” and we have to tell him what “today” it is and what that means we are doing. I will be sad when he starts asking what day it is the correct way.
Also, he LOVES pajama day!!
Annie couldn’t be cuter. Your family is so special. Thank you for sharing all of your adorable babes with us.