Not again!

We are taking a step backwards (or a step of defiance), I am not quite sure yet.  Sidney has been doing great up until lately.  She has been bold and living large.  She has been swimming at lessons, ice skating and doing gymnastics (not all at the same time of course).  All of this progress came to a crashing halt a couple of weeks ago.  It started in gymnastics, which she is fantastic at.  She was the only 4 year old that could do chin ups, several of them, unassisted.  After several lessons, she started freaking out.  She cried and refused to go.  The same thing started happening in swim. 

Of course, us being who were are, started getting super frustrated.  At one point I think I told her that she would never get in the water again if she did not go to her lesson - really?  No baths - what was I thinking?  Of course, this did not work at all!  Finally after about 3 times of this between gymnastics and swim, we were at our breaking point.  Alas, internet to the rescue.  Kevin did his research and we found a much better approach.  It goes something like this...

Sidney:  "I am not doing it."

Us:  "Sidney, you are not a quitter.  Dress down and join your team.  We will not make you do the activities, but you need to get dressed and join your team." 

At swim this means she must sit on the edge of the pool.  At gymnastics she must sit on the side of the mat.  We sit near her and talk to her about what the other kids are doing.  What do you think will come next?  Does that look easy?  Does that look hard?  Does she know how to do it?  She declares several times that she does not want to participate.  We reply, "Okay, but you are part of the team and must participate by getting dressed and sitting with your team.  Quitting is not an option."  After about 5 minutes of this, she starts to jump in and ends up having a blast. 

Exhausting?  Yes.  Happy?  Yes.  This parenting thing is hard work!

Out of the Mouths of Babes!

As I am beginning to type the post, I am listening to the girls crafting in the background:

Sidney:  "Kendall, you were not supposed to do that."

Kendall:  "I know what you were going to say...great artist's never mess up!"

So Humble!

The other day I was picking the girls up from Grandma Terrell's and the conversation went something like this:

Kendall:  "I am going on a date with Israel."  (Israel is her fifth grade reading buddy).

Me:  "Isn't he a little bit old for you?"

Kendall:  "No, I am 6 and he is 9.  Not too old at all."

First of all, I think she has her ages wrong.  Secondly, I think this is all very normal (I hope!)  My circle of moms email tell me that kissing kindergartners is nothing to be alarmed about.  If this is all very normal - why am I freaking out:) ?

Lovely Sidney!

To continue with my 6 month plan, Sidney got her 4-1/2 year old pictures this weekend.  She is such a ham.  The photographer was laughing the whole time.  This first picture was ALL Sidney's idea (wings and all). 

 

 

 

 

Going Private.

I am going to follow the lead of my friends on this one.  I would just never want to compromise my children by putting information out there that could be harmful.  Also, I use my blog as a scrapbook for the girls to read in the future and have left out many details in the interest of safety.  If you are a reader, please send me your email address or leave a comment on the blog and I will send you an invitation. 

Windows.

The first window is the one in the middle of Kendall's mouth.  She can officially sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."  The best part?  Grandma Terrell knocked this one out:)  It had been hanging on by a thread for days.  It came out while Kendall and Grandma were tossing a stuffed puppy back and forth.  I tried to get her to smile big for the camera, but I was cutting in to her computer time.  This will be a picture for the record book.

I finally finished the great room window treatments.  First came the cornice boxes, then the artwork, but the room still did not feel warm  My mom suggested panels on each side of the window.  That did the trick.  It warmed the room right up.   That is why she is the professional. 

I put some simple tiebacks on each panel for accent.  One of the things that I learned along the way?  If you are going to use tiebacks they should be placed at a third point;  either the lower third or the upper third depending on the look you want.

A few weeks ago we were out and about checking out the thrift stores and toy stores.  I spotted this toy iron and ironing board, which I thought Sid would have a blast with.  She loved it!  The funny thing is that she knew exactly what to do with the iron.  The next thing I knew she had a baby on her hips and was pretending to iron.  I swear she did not learn that from me.  I did not iron with a baby on my hips (do you believe me)?  In fact, if the truth be told I despise ironing and more often than not deem a toss in the drier will suffice.