Dentist
Monkey and Bug had their first ever dentist visit this week (no cavities--whew!). I'm so glad I found a pediatric dentist! Their very kid-friendly office even had windows between the exam rooms. This struck as a bit weird at first until the 8ish year old in the next room started making silly faces at the girls and let them watch while the dentist checked his teeth. He also played peekaboo with Goose while Monkey and Bug were getting their own teeth looked at. We had a bit of rough start in convincing one of them to actually get in the chair and open her mouth, but the dental hygienist was amazing. She explained every tool, she demonstrated on their baby dolls (lack of teeth notwithstanding), and narrated every step of what she was doing. Monkey, Bug, and even Goose were soaking it up like sponges. Although Goose didn't get her teeth checked, she insisted on having a turn in the big chair too. Goose definitely seems to be our little extrovert: while her big sisters in typical fashion didn't want to move more than a foot from my side, Goose walked up to a dental hygienist and held up her arms to be carried, then moved happily from one hygienist to another while we waited for the dentist.

Cleaning
Bug's favorite job to do is cleaning the toilet--and this week she was able to tell me and perform every step of that task (with close supervisin, of course). That's the great thing about using homemade cleaners (mostly castille soap, baking soda and vinegar), not only is it eco- and wallet-friendly, but the entourage can get in on the "fun"! Since scrubbing the toilet involves a baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction, it's actually a pretty fascinating task for a couple of 3 year olds. Monkey prefers scrubbing the bathtub and shower. This task involves her stripping down, being handed a rag and a bowl of soft scrub, and just going at it. She's one happy--and very clean--girl. We haven't actually brought Goose in on this yet; I think her sisters were about 18 months old and mostly over the chew-on-everything stage when I started getting them to do a first round of scrubbing the tub. This week Bug also discovered a new favorite job: vacuuming the stairs. I suspect this is mostly due to the novelty of our new vacuum, but it does have an extension that's basically a small vacuum head the right size for her to push around. Of course, I have to get the vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs for her, and at this point vacuum all the missed spots (with Monkey and Goose close at hand investigating/getting in the way of the whole process).

Homeschool Playgroup
Last week was the first week that Goose has been able to walk by herself at the gym. She is one happy (and completely fearless!) kid. Her usual activities are picking up a basketball, throwing it, chasing it, repeat or finding a soccer ball, kicking it, chasing it, repeat. She's obviously been watching the big kids closely all these months, because this week she insisted on having a soccer ball to kick (the volleyball I tried to hand just wouldn't do). Goose is definitely going to require more close supervision than Monkey and Bug, who stick to sidelines or at least far from the big kids. Goose, on the other hand, wandered straight into the middle of an actual basketball game involving 4 or 5 preteens! She was utterly fascinating and whisked her away just before she got her head bonked by a ball coming through the basket! Monkey and Bug usually play with balls and hula hoops, but this week somebody pulled out a bag of jump ropes. They were too big for the girls to actually jump rope, but the were perfect for making shapes, numbers, and letters on the gym floor.
Library Day
The entourage has usually been interested in doing puzzles and getting me to read books at the library, but this week Monkey perused the shelves and picked out most of the books. She got some good ones!
The Star of the Circus
Andrew's Loose Tooth
Mother Goose
Sheep Blast Off
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
Shout!
Over in the Castle (a counting book; like Over in the Meadow only with knights and dragons, lords and ladies)
Should I Share My Ice Cream (an Elephant and Piggie book)
Read Me a Fairy Tale (renewed; it has 14 stories!)

Trucks and Star Wars
You'd think I had three little boys! The entourage have watched Bob the Builder for all their morning snuggle times this week, including one special that involved footage of real trucks and workers building a real house. We reminisced about watching the workers build the houses down the street. Recently they've also spent a good bit of time playing with their own trucks, building roads (lines of masking tape throughout the playroom) and sorting out what kind of trucks they have (trash truck, cement mixer, tow truck, etc.). Star Wars has also been popular lately. The Yoda and Darth Vader bobble heads got lots of playtime as did the light sabers. Bug even figured out how to get into her Yoda costume by herself (followed by the introduction: "Yoda I am.") Then at the grocery store, they were picking out fruit snacks for their treat: originally they picked up a box with Dora--until they spotted Star Wars! Dora got dropped like a hot potato.