Luck o' the Irish

When I picked Kennedy up from school yesterday, this is what she told me, "Mom, I've changed my mind. I don't want a restaurant when I grow up...I want to be an Irish dancer!'

I was shocked! Apparently during the day, the kids had a special St. Patrick's Day treat and got to watch a performance by a local Irish dance group. It made quite an impression on Kennedy. She really "liked the way they moved their feet and did those kicks." I would assume that she was also very interested in the fancy dresses. I did some searching while I was at work today, and I found a class that's not too far from our house. The next session for 3-5 year-olds doesn't start until May, so we'll see just how serious she is about this.

We've had some nice weather, so the girls have been playing together in the backyard. They draw on the patio with chalk. Kennedy scoots around in her little car. Macy follows Loki around the yard. And somehow they managed to climb up on the swing all by themselves.

I went to a parent teacher conference for Kennedy. She's doing very well in school and is especially strong/interested in: creative projects, especially when they involve cutting, coloring and gluing; learning Spanish letter sounds and vocabulary; number and counting jobs; writing - she has excellent handwriting which she puts to use by signing all her work "KENNEdY MACY MOM dAd" or copying words out of books (which she started doing all on her own at Grammie's and Pamp's); and puzzles. Her teachers really like her and they say that she's a happy and compassionate friend to everyone. The kids want to sit by her, play with her, and notice when she's not around. She's very tender (often downright sensitive and can be set off by the most random things...hmm, it sounds like she got that emotional gene from Grammie and me - funny story about that: Miss Lorena said that Kennedy was crying the other day, so she tried to ask what was wrong. Was someone mean? No. Did she miss her mom and dad? No. Kennedy said, "I just feel like I need to cry.") As the year has progressed, Kennedy has become much more comfortable in the class and is willing to try everything. I guess she needs to work a bit on greeting her teachers in the morning. I think she just gives a quick wave and then gets right to work. They get that she's more of a quiet, introspective kid (seriously, she's a mini-me in so many ways) and they love that she is a good listener, stays focused and works hard. And, it's only once in a while that the teachers have to separate Kennedy, Mae Mae, Lucy and Amelia for being too silly or too loud.

Better late than never

You can finally see my wrap up of 2010 - a little late, I know! I'm working to get caught up again. And a happy new year! and several posts after that, with still more to come...

New pets

Sometimes Macy likes to pretend she's a puppy. She'll crouch right by my legs, look up at me and start panting. Then she expects to be scratched behind the ears, patted on the head and told, "good puppy!" It's a little strange, but I indulge her because she's just so darn cute! One of her favorite books is Mo Willem's "The Pigeon Wants a Puppy." Macy can just about recite the whole thing with me - just like Kennedy did when she was this age. Maybe it was the story that gave her the crazy idea to be a dog...

The other day Kennedy was acting like a cat, so Macy started meowing, too. At dinner that night she was licking her applesauce off her plate and later began to lick Jake's arm. She had been licking my arm the same way maybe a week before that. What a girl! She wants to be a princess one day, then our pet the next. Go figure!

My princesses

Kennedy graciously shared her new princess dress up clothes with Macy. Aunt Kari and Uncle Rainier sent some click-clacks, a purse and gloves, and jewelry for her birthday. The girls were having the best time putting on their new fancy things at Grandma Sue's.

They looked so cute and were more than happy to pose for a few pictures. Macy said, "Mama, I pitty?" Yes Mace, even with your frizzy morning hair, I sure think both you and your sister are pretty.

Kennedy is really getting interested in dressing up. We might have to find her a few more options, but she can be pretty creative with the stuff in her closet. (another sign she's growing up: she doesn't call it a "close-it" anymore.) She talked me into dressing up with her over the weekend. I found some crazy outfits for myself. Jake tried to take my picture when he caught me in a black and pink butterfly sarong (from Mimi's travels, of course) and Kennedy's fairy wings. I stripped down as fast as I could to avoid his ridicule, but I couldn't get the wings off in time!

Macy is the real girly-girl in our family! We're still dealing with her requests to "wear my pwincesses" around the clock. When she wakes up, it's usually, "Mama, want my bacelets! Need my purple tick-tacks!" So I have to find the bracelets, necklaces and shoes. The earrings and purse have opened up a whole new world of accessorizing. She our own little Fancy Nancy.

Say what?

A funny story from the other day when my dad took Kennedy to school:

Kennedy: "Look, there's the triplets. There are two girls and one boy. I bet their mom was out to here (gesturing at her belly)! And I also bet she had to pee a lot!"

And another wise insight from Kennedy, "Mom, that's the way life goes. Sometimes you make it and sometimes you don't." (that is, make it to the potty on time. Yeah, that's what happens when you always leave it to the absolute last minute!)

Oh, Kennedy! You're too much.

Macy's getting to be a little chatterbox. Her language development is amazing to me. She speaks in full sentences and has a huge vocabulary. I love to hear her little voice, even if sometimes it's a bit bossy and often includes either whining or demands - "Mama! Milt-a-chair!" or "Sit by Mama!" or "Mama, carry you." (which I love because Kennedy used to say this exact same thing.) Sometimes she even says, "Poor Macy!" Lately she likes to whisper things like, "Psst, Mama. Quiet. I seeping!" When we're home, she always wants to have "My Tenny's doll" and "My Tenny's Soopy" (Snoopy, which is really a little blanket with a pink poodle head) - these two toys are the object of most of the fights between the girls. Macy gets that they are Kennedy's, but she also thinks they belong to her. Tenny is a great big sister and usually will let Mace have a turn with them.

Macy's turn

We finally got Macy registered for a class at the Little Gym. Kennedy started when she was ten months, so Macy has some catching up to do. It must be hard being a second child! Pamp has taken Macy to her first three classes, and I'm told it was a rough start. She started crying when the walked in the door, and had no interest in going in the gym. She said over and over to her pampy, "Go outside, please!" while tears ran down her cheeks. She had to be carried through the warm up, she was shy and wouldn't participate with the teacher and other kids, but halfway through the class she started to warm up a bit. She got down to do some exploring, and even walked across the low beam on her own. By the time the balls came out, she was ready to be engaged. When it was bubble time, Macy was right up there will all the other kids, loving every minute of it.

Week two went a little better, but there was still some hesitation about the whole thing.

This week, pamp reported, she was all smiles and giggles. Maybe next week I can skip out on work for a bit to see it for myself.

Kennedy's also been taking a class there this semester. She's on her own with the two teachers and other kids, and she's clearly the smallest and youngest - the class is for 4-6 year-olds, but I figured she's close enough. Well, Kennedy has no problem keeping up. Her teachers say that she's doing great! It's a workout - they have the kids moving the whole hour. She runs, jumps, swings, climbs and balances. And when the class is over she says, "Mom, I'm all sweaty!" I think she's heard me say that a time or two after my workouts. She's also exhausted, but that doesn't necessarily translate to an early bedtime.

Odds and ends

Here's what Kennedy has been studying in school lately: Africa, Van Gogh, Mozart, Animal Kingdom Classification, Santa Lucia, and Day of the Three Kings. One of the dads brought in a couple of brains for the kids to see (he's a researcher at the university). Kennedy had no interest in putting on the gloves to touch the brains, but she liked just looking at them. One of her music and dance teachers stopped me in the hall the other day. She said what a great job Kennedy does, and how she listens well is always so focused. We got the same feedback from her new Little Gym teachers.

Kennedy decided on her own to clean her bedroom, tidy up the office and pick up in the bathroom while I was doing an Insanity workout. She also helped me make brownies for grammie's birthday/super bowl dinner. We made a batch from a Sneaky Chef recipe with spinach, blueberries, oatmeal and wheat germ. They were actually very good!

We made some Valentine hearts to hang around the house. Kennedy and I decorated them while Macy was napping, and we hung them on ribbons in an arch in the doorway between the living and dining rooms. Macy loved seeing the dangling hearts when she got up. Then we made a few more with Macy to hang in the front window.

And speaking of windows, we finally ordered our new blinds! They should be here in about a week, and then Jake and I will attempt to install them ourselves - I have no doubt in his abilities, it's mine that are in question. We're getting cellular shades with the cordless top-down/bottom-up option. I'm very excited to check this one off the home to do list!

Macy seems to love the following - this girl has some very strong opinions:

1. Be with mom/sit with mom/be carried by mom/hold hands with mom/play with mom...And call out, "'ere are you mama?" if she can't find me. And then, "Oh, there you are!" when I'm found.

2. Saying "no"/running away when asked to do something/giving dirty looks when she doesn't get what she wants (is this an early start to the terrible twos?)

3. Wearing her "tick-tacks" (click-clack princess high heels)

4. Kennedy's doll/Kennedy's puppy/anything that Kennedy is currently playing with

5. Eating sweets - chocolate milk, cookies, brownies, cake (even my sneaky vegetable versions), ice cream, bunnies (little bunny shaped graham crackers)

6. And we can't leave off her daily request to "Watch Buzz! Toy Story 3!" She gets a cute little smile on her face when she says it, and then she'll say, "Yes!" in a coy little voice if you ask her if that's what she wants to do. And, she can't watch Buzz without her Bunnies (see #5). She likes to say, "There's snake my boots! Woody says." And she yodels like Jessie, "ya-da-he-hoooo!"