Hello Everyone.
Sometimes we are as much amused by the questions of pre-schoolers as we are perplexed by them. What must be going on in their little heads, we wonder.
Consider the other night, for instance, as I was putting my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva to bed. She was snuggled under the covers, talking quietly to herself as I sat on the end of her bed, when it suddenly came to her. She sat right up and asked, "Mommy do smiles go up or down?"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
To Eat or Not To Eat ...
Hello Everyone.
Let me tell you the little guy is taking after Daddy. My 11-month-old son Milo loves to eat, so much so that he'll follow us around if we are carrying something he thinks might be worthwhile eating. Today, he shadowed my wife Kathleen into the kitchen and when she opened the door to the refrigerator, he promptly climbed in.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Let me tell you the little guy is taking after Daddy. My 11-month-old son Milo loves to eat, so much so that he'll follow us around if we are carrying something he thinks might be worthwhile eating. Today, he shadowed my wife Kathleen into the kitchen and when she opened the door to the refrigerator, he promptly climbed in.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Monday, April 28, 2003
The Hand That Feeds You ...
Hello Everyone.
I was preparing supper in the kitchen when he walked in, a wooden puzzle piece in each hand. My 11-month-old son Milo was happy enough chewing on his possessions, however he was clearly indicating his desire for something more tasty and satisfying. Wanting to keep going with supper, I offered him a breadstick to tie him over.
He looked at the breadstick and at the two puzzle pieces. Slowly he transferred a piece from one hand to the other, carefully gripping them both in one hand. He was then free to accept my offering.
"What a clever boy!" I thought to myself.
Happy as a lark, Milo walked off, breadstick in hand chewing on his puzzle pieces!
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
I was preparing supper in the kitchen when he walked in, a wooden puzzle piece in each hand. My 11-month-old son Milo was happy enough chewing on his possessions, however he was clearly indicating his desire for something more tasty and satisfying. Wanting to keep going with supper, I offered him a breadstick to tie him over.
He looked at the breadstick and at the two puzzle pieces. Slowly he transferred a piece from one hand to the other, carefully gripping them both in one hand. He was then free to accept my offering.
"What a clever boy!" I thought to myself.
Happy as a lark, Milo walked off, breadstick in hand chewing on his puzzle pieces!
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Storyless ...
Hello Everyone.
From time to time I find myself pressed for time and thus storyless. Today would be one of those days. I'll be back with a new story tomorrow and in the meantime, why click and enter to you hearts content.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
From time to time I find myself pressed for time and thus storyless. Today would be one of those days. I'll be back with a new story tomorrow and in the meantime, why click and enter to you hearts content.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Break 'n Enter ...
Hello Everyone.
The film started with a long pan of a picturesque landscape in medieval England. The rolling hills marked by stone fences, where ripe with crops and grasses. It was an idyllic scene that is sure to attract dreamers of any age and especially my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva.
"I want to go there..." she remarked with enthusiasm pointing to the television. "When we break in there, that's where I want to go."
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
The film started with a long pan of a picturesque landscape in medieval England. The rolling hills marked by stone fences, where ripe with crops and grasses. It was an idyllic scene that is sure to attract dreamers of any age and especially my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva.
"I want to go there..." she remarked with enthusiasm pointing to the television. "When we break in there, that's where I want to go."
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Monday, April 21, 2003
Do Bunnies Lay Eggs?
Hello Everyone.
Yesterday we had our annual Easter egg hunt. It was a struggle to get my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva to finish her cherished peaches for breakfast, she was so anxious to get started. Of course, having already eaten the ears off her solid chocolate Easter bunny may also have played a part in that!
On our way out to the yard, Neva, bounding down the stairs, basket in hand, was precise about what role each of us was to play in the hunt.
"I'll be the picker. Mommy, you be the keeper. And Daddy, you are the finder."
"And what will Milo do," I asked about her 10-month-old brother.
"He can watch out for dinosaurs."
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Yesterday we had our annual Easter egg hunt. It was a struggle to get my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva to finish her cherished peaches for breakfast, she was so anxious to get started. Of course, having already eaten the ears off her solid chocolate Easter bunny may also have played a part in that!
On our way out to the yard, Neva, bounding down the stairs, basket in hand, was precise about what role each of us was to play in the hunt.
"I'll be the picker. Mommy, you be the keeper. And Daddy, you are the finder."
"And what will Milo do," I asked about her 10-month-old brother.
"He can watch out for dinosaurs."
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Prized Pocket ...
Hello Everyone.
Neva was very excited about her pocket full of "treasures". Having helped our neighbor Nancy clean up the perennial gardens that encircle our building, my 3 1/2-year-old daughter had accumulated a small collection of found objects and stored them in her coat pocket. She instructed that it was not to be washed.
The coat was covered in mud splatter, the bottoms of the sleeves stained an earthy brown. It needed to be washed. So, my wife Kathleen carefully removed the collection: one piece of twine, two snail shells and one blue bead.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Neva was very excited about her pocket full of "treasures". Having helped our neighbor Nancy clean up the perennial gardens that encircle our building, my 3 1/2-year-old daughter had accumulated a small collection of found objects and stored them in her coat pocket. She instructed that it was not to be washed.
The coat was covered in mud splatter, the bottoms of the sleeves stained an earthy brown. It needed to be washed. So, my wife Kathleen carefully removed the collection: one piece of twine, two snail shells and one blue bead.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
First Words ...
Hello Everyone.
If you have been a long time subscriber you may remember the excitement surrounding my now 3 1/2-year-old daughter's first word. For those of you who don't know or remember, she said "Quack".
A few days ago, my 10-month-old son Milo spoke his first true word and once again, we find ourselves overjoyed. My wife Kathleen and I have been repeating Milo's first word endlessly each time we speak to him, or each other, or the folks next door.
It may not be a measure of our parenting skills but when compared to Neva's first word, it is definitely more useful for everyday conversation. So, I leave the last word in today's story to Milo, who is already waving both hands:
"Ba-ba".
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
If you have been a long time subscriber you may remember the excitement surrounding my now 3 1/2-year-old daughter's first word. For those of you who don't know or remember, she said "Quack".
A few days ago, my 10-month-old son Milo spoke his first true word and once again, we find ourselves overjoyed. My wife Kathleen and I have been repeating Milo's first word endlessly each time we speak to him, or each other, or the folks next door.
It may not be a measure of our parenting skills but when compared to Neva's first word, it is definitely more useful for everyday conversation. So, I leave the last word in today's story to Milo, who is already waving both hands:
"Ba-ba".
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Monday, April 14, 2003
Thinking Ahead ...
Hello Everyone.
"Remember Neva," I warned, "there will be a day when Milo will be able to say 'yes' and 'no' to tell you what he wants."
Our 3 1/2-year-old daughter had just taken a toy from her 10-month-old brother and though he did not protest, we wanted to explain that someday he likely will. "In fact," I continued, "he's more likely to say 'no' before he says 'yes'."
"And he might say 'no' alot," added my husband Bob.
"And then," finished Neva, "he'll be able to say, 'No, no, no! That's mine. Mine, mine, mine! I had it first. Mine. That's mine. I don't want you to take it. I had it first and it's mine. No, no, no, no, no!'"
Um, well, yes ... someday.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
"Remember Neva," I warned, "there will be a day when Milo will be able to say 'yes' and 'no' to tell you what he wants."
Our 3 1/2-year-old daughter had just taken a toy from her 10-month-old brother and though he did not protest, we wanted to explain that someday he likely will. "In fact," I continued, "he's more likely to say 'no' before he says 'yes'."
"And he might say 'no' alot," added my husband Bob.
"And then," finished Neva, "he'll be able to say, 'No, no, no! That's mine. Mine, mine, mine! I had it first. Mine. That's mine. I don't want you to take it. I had it first and it's mine. No, no, no, no, no!'"
Um, well, yes ... someday.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Friday, April 11, 2003
Television ...
Hello Everyone.
I knew my not-yet-literate 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva was watching too much television the day the volume was off during Wheel of Fortune and she called out:
"Turn the volume on! It's the Mystery Round!"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
I knew my not-yet-literate 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva was watching too much television the day the volume was off during Wheel of Fortune and she called out:
"Turn the volume on! It's the Mystery Round!"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Thursday, April 10, 2003
Hey, Doodle Doodle, the Cat and the Poodle ...
Hello Everyone.
We were recently at a kid's birthday party where Mother Goose was a special visitor. She and her puppet Honker were telling nursery rhymes. In order to egg on the kids, Honker would say the wrong words: "Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet eating her cheeseburger."
When Mother Goose asked the children if anyone knew the right words, my 3 1/2-year-old daughter, jumping up and down for a chance, was happy to recite for us all:
"Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet
Eating her curls away!"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
We were recently at a kid's birthday party where Mother Goose was a special visitor. She and her puppet Honker were telling nursery rhymes. In order to egg on the kids, Honker would say the wrong words: "Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet eating her cheeseburger."
When Mother Goose asked the children if anyone knew the right words, my 3 1/2-year-old daughter, jumping up and down for a chance, was happy to recite for us all:
"Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet
Eating her curls away!"
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, April 09, 2003
He Ain't Heavy ...
Hello Everyone.
Neva loves her brother, really she does! Although you can often find my 3 1/2 year-old daughter yanking toys away from 10-month-old Milo, pushing him down from the breakfast table, defiantly shouting "No!" when he has one of her markers, or simply yelling louder than him because she can't hear her movie, she does have great affection for him.
Like when she tells him, "It's okay, Milo, we all do that," when he stubs his toe on the door. Or how she always wants to hold his hand, especially when they're in their car seats. Or when, just out of the blue, she gives him a little pat on the head or a kiss on the cheek.
We were in the kitchen getting breakfast ready. I had Neva asking for peaches and Milo pulling on my pants, whining for something else. I was not quite fully awake and had the attitude to match. In an exasperated tone, I told Milo he had to be patient and wait while I made his cereal.
Without a word, big sister Neva reached over to my stash of pacifiers (a.k.a. breadsticks) and gently offered Milo something to eat.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.comcom
Neva loves her brother, really she does! Although you can often find my 3 1/2 year-old daughter yanking toys away from 10-month-old Milo, pushing him down from the breakfast table, defiantly shouting "No!" when he has one of her markers, or simply yelling louder than him because she can't hear her movie, she does have great affection for him.
Like when she tells him, "It's okay, Milo, we all do that," when he stubs his toe on the door. Or how she always wants to hold his hand, especially when they're in their car seats. Or when, just out of the blue, she gives him a little pat on the head or a kiss on the cheek.
We were in the kitchen getting breakfast ready. I had Neva asking for peaches and Milo pulling on my pants, whining for something else. I was not quite fully awake and had the attitude to match. In an exasperated tone, I told Milo he had to be patient and wait while I made his cereal.
Without a word, big sister Neva reached over to my stash of pacifiers (a.k.a. breadsticks) and gently offered Milo something to eat.
Happy sweeping,
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.comcom
Tuesday, April 08, 2003
Garden Guessing ...
Hello Everyone.
Editor's Note: Due to the ice storm that knocked out power, a large number of subscribers did not receive Friday's issue. As such, we are reprinting Friday's story.
My 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva and I planted our vegetable transplants today and unlike last year, she didn't re-arrange all the markers that identify each variety.
Even though her hands are small it doesn't mean she is better able to get those tiny seeds into the plastic pots full of dirt. Trying to pick up a single seed and negotiate it into the appropriate place was difficult. Often checking her hand to make sure the seed was still there, she inadvertently would drop it, usually over another pot or somewhere on the ground.
So this years garden should be an interesting array of too much of one thing and too few of others. For instance, broccoli and cauliflower plants look extremely similar. Whether the plants that will soon be coming up are either one will only be determined sometime in mid-summer when the heads form. And since I always plant extra seed, I may end up with too many plum tomatoes and too few cherry tomatoes.
Nevertheless, Neva and I truly enjoyed working together, getting dirty and talking about how exciting the springtime is.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Editor's Note: Due to the ice storm that knocked out power, a large number of subscribers did not receive Friday's issue. As such, we are reprinting Friday's story.
My 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva and I planted our vegetable transplants today and unlike last year, she didn't re-arrange all the markers that identify each variety.
Even though her hands are small it doesn't mean she is better able to get those tiny seeds into the plastic pots full of dirt. Trying to pick up a single seed and negotiate it into the appropriate place was difficult. Often checking her hand to make sure the seed was still there, she inadvertently would drop it, usually over another pot or somewhere on the ground.
So this years garden should be an interesting array of too much of one thing and too few of others. For instance, broccoli and cauliflower plants look extremely similar. Whether the plants that will soon be coming up are either one will only be determined sometime in mid-summer when the heads form. And since I always plant extra seed, I may end up with too many plum tomatoes and too few cherry tomatoes.
Nevertheless, Neva and I truly enjoyed working together, getting dirty and talking about how exciting the springtime is.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, April 02, 2003
Mr. Who? ...
Hello Everyone.
The fella who owned our building up until last week is the only person I have ever met who would be appropriately referred to as crotchety. He makes no bones about it and confesses to being both grumpy and miserable. And though he may have shown kindness towards my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva his sourness was never far from the surface.
The new owners arrived a few days ago with a construction crew in tow and one of the contractors shares the same name as our old landlord. Neva and I of course took the first opportunity to snoop, I mean, introduce ourselves. A few minutes later, having returned to our apartment, I overheard Neva telling my wife Kathleen about our recent adventure.
"We saw Dennis downstairs," she said. "You did!" Kathleen responded, rather surprised to hear this. "A different Dennis, Mama, not Mr. Cranky Pants" Neva elaborated.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
The fella who owned our building up until last week is the only person I have ever met who would be appropriately referred to as crotchety. He makes no bones about it and confesses to being both grumpy and miserable. And though he may have shown kindness towards my 3 1/2-year-old daughter Neva his sourness was never far from the surface.
The new owners arrived a few days ago with a construction crew in tow and one of the contractors shares the same name as our old landlord. Neva and I of course took the first opportunity to snoop, I mean, introduce ourselves. A few minutes later, having returned to our apartment, I overheard Neva telling my wife Kathleen about our recent adventure.
"We saw Dennis downstairs," she said. "You did!" Kathleen responded, rather surprised to hear this. "A different Dennis, Mama, not Mr. Cranky Pants" Neva elaborated.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Tuesday, April 01, 2003
For Peat's Sake ...
Hello Everyone.
My 9-month-old son Milo and I spent a good part of the day preparing countless plastic pots in which to plant my seeds for the summer vegetable garden.
I washed the pots and Milo watched. I moistened the growing mix then stuffed it into the pots. Milo watched. I arranged the pots neatly into the trays and Milo still watched. I cleaned myself up but I didn't watch.
And there was Milo soaking wet ... covered head to toe in growing mix ... spitting out bits of peat moss.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
My 9-month-old son Milo and I spent a good part of the day preparing countless plastic pots in which to plant my seeds for the summer vegetable garden.
I washed the pots and Milo watched. I moistened the growing mix then stuffed it into the pots. Milo watched. I arranged the pots neatly into the trays and Milo still watched. I cleaned myself up but I didn't watch.
And there was Milo soaking wet ... covered head to toe in growing mix ... spitting out bits of peat moss.
Happy sweeping,
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
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