The Toy Box Years: Dr. Seuss

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Here in our Toy Box Household, we had a great day celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday!

Nani started off her day with a celebration with her Kindergarten class. When she came home she immediately wanted to show off the "Cat In The Hat" hat that she made in class. She loved wearing it.

Nudgie....not so much.....

Before lunch, we read "The Cat in the Hat" and did a craft. Using the girl's handprints, they drew Thing 1 and Thing 2. Nani added the fish in the bowl too. (At first glance it kinda looks like a duck head floating in a bowl....)

After lunch and a brief "Quiet Time", we played the Dr. Seuss game, "I Can Do That". I was so excited to find this at our local thrift store for $2.99! We simplified the game a bit for Nudgie when it was her turn. She seemed to have more fun crawling under the "thick-a-ma-stick" than actually playing the game. But Nani and I shared a lot of giggles as we played.

For dinner, we read "Green Eggs and Ham" and I made a ham & cheese quiche dyed green. For dessert we had "The Cat's Hat" - which was layers of strawberry jello and whipped cream. I even put a little purple food coloring in Nani's milk which she drank through a silly straw.