Possible Performer??

This kid loves to jam to music.  We usually start the day off by dancing and listening to some music videos.  Sometimes I'm allowed to join in sometimes he wants the stage to himself.  If he doesn't want me to jam with him he will say something like 'go get lunch ready mom' (remember the last post... I'm actually making breakfast usually)

So what kind of songs am I letting him dance to... hhhmm probably a lot of unapproved ones (well unapproved by the better parents)... whoops.  Sometimes he wants to jam to the Vacation Bible school songs, sometimes it is Taylor Swift.  Lots of Taylor Swift.  Shake it off and Bad Blood are his favorites right now.  He throws in a Pharell 'Happy' a lot.  He dances like a crazy kid to Bruno Mars 'Uptown Funk'.  Lately, he likes Maroon 5.  I can't argue with that logic.   See what happens is once you start a song on YouTube (or YoubaTuba as Nate would call it) other videos just start playing - that is how Maroon 5 got in to the mix. Once Again I see how YouTube can quickly get kids to the dark side and require lots of oversight.

Nate recently started playing with his umbrella.  Swinging it around, hanging it in various places... bothering the dogs... etc. Well, when I saw him dancing with it I couldn't help but show him the classic 'Dancing in the rain - Singing in the rain' with Gene Kelly.  He loved it.  Kind of cool.  So now he performs with props haha.

Does life get any better than just free styling it with your 3 year old in the morning??  It is fun to have dance parties - I get why all parents do it now.  I should add a lot of his dancing and singing occur while he is jumping on his trampoline.  Remember this all happens pretty early - could it be two night owls produced a a morning owl??? So.Much.Energy.  Don't forget to dance and sing in the morning - Nate won't!

Helping Out

I've read more than once that preschoolers like to help out and feel useful - it builds confidence.  Because of this I try and always think of things he can do.  Things like putting the dishwasher soap in and starting the dishwasher.  Letting the dogs in/out.  Putting clothes in the washer.  Sweeping in the garage.  Refilling the bird feeder.  Putting things in the recycle bin.  Adding ingredients when I cook (yes yes yes I cook... no matter what Kevin says, don't believe him... or maybe believe him, everything is unconfirmed at this point) 

One of the cutest things he helps out with lately though is handyman stuff.  We have been hanging a few pictures up (it only took almost a year of living here.. whoops) and he follows with his measuring tape, hammer and screwdriver ready to help.  Grandma Mimi (my mom) gave Nate a tool set for Christmas and he uses it all the time when he is *helping* out.  His measurements are still a bit off, but he is coming along nicely.  He hammers pretty straight on actually, I was worried about the wall, but the walls haven't been too beat up.

He gets excited when we mention household projects.    Let's hope he keeps that attitude when he has to pull weeds and mow the lawn as he gets older :) We bought a few seeds to put in the yard and I think its warm enough to plant some flowers so I'm looking forward to working with my preschool digging assistant.  I can see how it is easy to not let the little guys help since it does take longer and sometimes you don't even get to finish, but I assume it will all payoff one day and what else do I really need to rush off to...  plus seeing a 3yr old with a  power drill thinking he is fixing stuff could not be cuter.