Kennedy

I'm always amazed at how observant Kennedy is. Last week after ballet class, we went to the little framing store next door. She noticed a painting up on the wall and pointed out that it's just like the one Kathy and Tim have in St. George, but it's not exactly the same. True enough, it was a work by the artist Fritz. When I told my mom the story she remembered being amazed at Kennedy's ability to see cars just like the one I drive (a Honda CR-V), even in other colors, but know that it wasn't my car when she was just a little over a year old. She's very good at the search and find books like "Where's Waldo" and it got to the point where our villains and princesses game was getting too easy for her. Now we play it more like 20 questions. There's nothing like Disney characters to build a child's capacity for logical reasoning, right?

Monday night she was playing by herself in her room. Kennedy had set up a school and she was the teacher. There were about six different Montessori-like works laid out. She wanted to show me how to do the Pink Baby work. First you take all the blankets out of the basket. Then you spread out the biggest one, making sure the "U" is facing up, in the basket. Next you fold one of the smaller ones to make a pillow. Then you carefully put in Pink Baby. Then you cover her up and tuck her in. Then you have to prepare her food by laying out the place mat, bowl, spoon, and bottle. It was all very deliberate and well planned.

Last night Kennedy decided to do her own workout while we had our training session with Jake Phippen. She must be paying attention when we're down there because she was doing some pretty advanced stuff. I was amazed to see her doing the same steps we do back and forth over the little bench. After dinner I suggested we go on an adventure to the Christmas Utah house. Macy was so excited by the music and light display! Kennedy was convinced that this must be Santa's house. She said the Santa in the second story window looked just like the real one, and she waved every time he looked out or walked by. It's actually a projection, but it does look very life-like. I tried to ask her "doesn't Santa live in the North Pole?", but it didn't seem to matter. That was Santa in the window, and she was excited because she was on the nice list. We aren't too sure which list Macy is on yet.

School week

Monday, November 28

Macy had a good morning. She worked on the perception board, read books, and used the dress up clothes. She was very snugly today; she wanted to sit in a lap and just snuggle.

When I took Kennedy into her classroom, it was so cute to hear the kids saying, "Kennedy's back!" I guess they missed her while we were on vacation last week. After school, the girls and I got to meet baby Jonah for the first time - that's what they call him, "Baby-Jonah". He's a sweet, little guy. I was relieved that holding him didn't stir up any kind of crazy ideas of wanting a newborn. I'll be happy to be an aunt to any new babies born in the family. Just as well, the girls didn't want anything to do with him.

Tuesday, November 29

Macy had a great morning. She played with the farm, paper cutting, read stories, and played with the tutu.

Wednesday, November 30

Macy had a good day. We got to play outside today. She enjoyed being outside until she got too cold.

Thursday, December 1

Macy had a great morning. She worked on play dough and played in the gym.

Thursday was windy all day. The newspapers said it was the strongest winds blowing through Utah since 2000. Gale-force winds, reaching 90 mph in some areas, flipped semis, uprooted trees, ripped off roofs, and downed power lines. After we met with the home inspector at our new house (it feels funny to say that!), we spent some time at the Nelsons' since Kari, Rainier, and Jonah are leaving on Monday. Kennedy still didn't want to hold him, but she was much more interested this time. She had her own "Baby Jonah" (but told me, "it's just for pretend, mom") to take care of.

Toddler weekly report

Monday, November 14 - Macy enjoyed making an apple turkey today. It was a lot of fun.

(She had eaten off all the marshmallows and raisins from the toothpicks by the time I picked her up.)

Tuesday, November 15 - Macy had a good day. She painted, played outside, and wore the cowboy hat. (Kennedy's class did a brief Thanksgiving program. The kids were supposed to sing a song, but it turned out to pretty much be a solo by the teacher. Then Ms. Theresa read what each of the kids is thankful for. Kennedy said, "my friends and family." I tried to get her to add something original and more personal to the list, but that's what she wanted to stick with.)

Wednesday, November 16 - Macy had a great morning. She wore the pink tutu under her dress today. She did really well on our earthquake drill today.

Thursday, November 17 - Macy had a great morning. She spent a long time with the farm animals. She lined them up on the shelf and would move them around and line them up again. She also played outside.

My Macy

Macy no longer joins us in bed every night. In fact, it's been a while since she has. I know I was anxious for her to stay put in her own room, but now I miss the routine we had established. I miss our middle of the night snuddle. She seems older, less and less like a baby, and there's not even much toddler left to her anymore. I miss that too. She's speaking so clearly and in full, complex sentences. She can carry on a great conversation. She loves to tell jokes. She loves to sing and dance. She loves to pretend she's a baby cat. She loves to go to school, and she loves to be asked "how was school today?". She also asks me "how was work today" everyday...even on the weekends when we are together the whole time.

She loves her sister, and they play together in some imaginary story where one is the mom and one is the kid, or one is the princess and one is the fairy godmother, or one is the chef and one is the customer - and they take turns! She loves to watch movies. She loves to play with/bother/try to scare Loki. She loves to do art projects, especially if they involve painting, cutting, or gluing. She loves to dress up in all sorts of outfits and costumes, but usually her motto is the fancier, the better. She likes to try to get dressed all by herself. "No, I do it!" is something we hear her say often. Usually she's wearing Kennedy's sparkly shoes or cowgirl boots - and on the wrong feet.

In the morning Macy is instantly awake. She does not need to ease into the day. She says, "is it good morning time?" to make sure it's OK to be up. Sometime she just gets up and runs out of her room, like she doesn't want to miss a minute of excitement. On the other hand, it can take her some time to wake up from a nap (she still sleeps up to three hours almost every day), and she often wants to sit in a lap and be held before she's ready for more action.

She's constantly spilling her drinks. We try not to use cups with lids, but because of that, Macy and I have to clean up lots of messes. Sometimes she knocks them over accidentally. Other times there seems to be clear intent. And other times, she is just walking, or dancing, or running with a beverage in hand and sloshes all over the place. Luckily she's usually willing to help wipe up.

Macy is bossy...mostly to me...or maybe it just feels like it. "Mom, get me a tissue!" "Mom, I need a snact!" I am constantly reminding her to use nice words, be polite, ask with good manners. Then I usually get a grin and a, "PLEASE!" Then she's right back to her demands. She also has a temper and can get really angry - mostly at Kennedy. And then she starts hitting and screaming. That's not my favorite side of Mace.

Macy loves to make a good mess. She pulls all the books out of the cupboard, all her clothes off the shelves in her closet, all the hair ribbons out of the bag, all the blankets and pillows off the bed. I had to bribe the girls with the promise that we'd make cookies if they would clean up their room. It started well, but eventually Kennedy kicked Macy out because she was making too much of a mess and not helping. No wonder my house is never clean for long.

Yes, she can be a handful, but I sure love that girl! I just wish she wouldn't grow up so fast!

School Report

Monday, October 31

Macy had a great morning! She wanted to wear the tutu and she was willing to take her costume off to do so, but finally agreed to have the baby kangaroo wear the tutu.

I went over to the school to watch the kids in their Halloween parade. They all lined up and marched through the gym. Kennedy looked so cute in her costume. I love that my mom saved the vest and chaps all these years - the star badge on the vest says "ANDREW".

Macy's class did their parade on the playground so the little kids wouldn't be overwhelmed. Mace marched around a few times holding her tutu-wearing joey, but then she was ready to go to Pamp's for her lunch and nap.

Tuesday, November 1

Macy enjoyed the new books we brought out today. She also enjoyed our circle about apples and we're very excited about the apples grandpa brought in today.

We picked lots of apples from Grandpa Ray's tree over the weekend. Jake threw away our big bags full (hey, I had plans for those...), but there were plenty that Pamp brought to school to share with both Macy and Kennedy's teachers.

Wednesday, November 2

Macy had so much fun watching the Togo dance group in the gym today. She danced around the gym the whole time we were there.

When I asked Kennedy what she thought of the dancers from Africa, she complained that they were too loud!

Thursday, November 3

Macy had a great morning. She enjoyed our applesauce we made yesterday for snack today.

Friday, November 4

Today is Grandpa Brent's birthday.

We took him to dinner at one of his favorite places, Crown Burgers, with Ben, McKenzie, Ira, Eliza, and Huck. Grandma Sue and Beth are still in Las Vegas helping Kari out with baby Jonah. Kennedy also had her ballet/tap class, so Macy and I read an "I-Spy" book over and over in the lobby while we waited for her. Both the girls love searching for the hidden pictures on every page.

Thank goodness it's Friday again

Monday 10/10 -

Macy looked at books in the book corner, worked on the sucker stick job and the hair brush job. She had a great Monday.

Before class started this morning, Kennedy got to show me a couple of jobs. We worked together to build a couple of block castles, and then I had to leave for work.

Monday is pizza day for Kennedy. I love that I don't have to send a lunch for one day. It's hard to think of things to pack because her class is nut-free. For leader of the day, it's also rice-free. Boy, am I glad that we don't have to deal with any serious allergy issues! When I picked up Kennedy from school today, her teacher said that she and Lucy were having trouble getting along, a "love-hate relationship" she called it. I guess Lucy was teasing and name calling again.

Tuesday 10/11 -

Macy had a great day. She worked on pasting and practiced climbing outside. We talked about community helpers today in circle.

This morning Kennedy showed me one of her favorite Spanish jobs - it's a color matching puzzle. She insisted on doing it in rainbow order.

We've been so lucky to have the wonderful hand-me-down clothes from Eliza, but I couldn't resist the dresses she wore today and yesterday when I found them on the sale rack at Old Navy for $2 and $4!

Wednesday 10/12 -

Macy had a great job. She worked on art projects, the sucker stick job and looked at books.

Somehow Kennedy got syrup in her hair from the pancakes I made for breakfast. For school I put it up in a messy bun, but she had to take a quick bath before ballet. Kennedy and Macy love taking baths together. My favorite is when they get undressed after dinner and dance around the kitchen naked, singing, "shake your bum, bum, bum! Now spank your bum three times!"

Thursday 10/13 -

Macy was a busy artist today. She enjoys working in the art area of the class. We had our first fire drill today, and Macy did a great job listening and following directions. Macy is always a busy girl in the classroom, she had a great week.

We went out to dinner with Jake's family. He was convinced that his dad was going to disclose a terminal illness, but I thought there was a more happy reason for getting together. I was right, and I even guessed the news - each of the kids was given some money from the sale of Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's house. What a kind and generous gesture. We are so thankful for our families and all that they do for us.

Another recap post

Monday 10/3 -

Macy enjoyed working on puzzles and walking on the balance beam outside today.

Kennedy learned about vertebrates and invertebrates in dance studio today. She said that they got to dance like frogs, which are vertebrates. Most of our dinner conversation tonight was taken over by a game of "vertebrate or invertebrate" - we were only stumped once...by a shark, which I had to look up to see what it is (it's a vertebrate.)

Tuesday 10/4 -

Macy was a very happy girl today. She enjoyed looking at books and working on the stacking job.

After the girls and I got home, Jake announced that he had decided he was going to buy them bunkbeds on Saturday. Why? because he thought this would solve the problem of resistance at bedtime and getting out of bed in the middle of the night. I wasn't pleased that he would make such a major financial decision without me, and besides I thought it was a little extreme.

Wednesday 10/5 -

Macy had a lovely day. She figured out how to paint and not just water!

After school, I took the girls to the toy store to get a new princess alarm clock. This was my (less expensive and more practical) solution to the bedtime challenge. Of course they always love an adventure to Toys'R'Us ("the princess toy store" as Macy calls it because she is always amazed by the mass quantities of Disney princess stuff - especially her favorite, a princess piano.) We got the clock and a new umbrella for Kennedy, which she immediately put to use in the pouring rain - and then somehow broke by the time we got home (argh!) After ballet we had a quick dinner, the girls took a bath, and then the clock got to work its princess magic.

Macy, who normally gets out of bed several times right after we tuck her in because she says she "can't see" (in the dark when her eyes are supposed to be closed), was excited to turn out the lights so that she could see the castle glow and change colors. They also loved being able to push the buttons to make Cinderella dance with the prince and hear two short stories.

Although Macy still got out of bed in the middle of the night for her usual "snuddle," the clock did the trick! I was also better about getting up and taking Mace right back to her own bed. I know part of the bedtime problem is my fault. If I can scoot over and make room in our bed, that's usually preferable to getting up in the middle of the night.

Thursday 10/6 -

Macy worked on the ball job and water jobs, she also played in the gym. She had a great day.

(I heard that Macy thought she needed to take off her socks in the gym because that was the rule at The Little Gym. So far she's lost two barrettes and a pair of purple socks - the first of many things we'll have to remember to search for in the school's lost and found.)

Friday 10/7 -

No school today. The girls spent the morning with Grammie and Pamp making crockpot pear and ginger applesauce. Macy wanted to play the iPad after I finished work. She loves Plants vs. Zombies. Pretty soon Pamp, Kennedy and I heard Macy singing a little song (to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell): "The sombies ate my brain, the sombies ate my brain, hi-ho the cherry-oh, the sombies ate my brain!"

Kennedy had ballet class - she's really improving quickly with her twice a week schedule. I love the class on Friday because it's so much smaller. It was only Kennedy and one other girl this week. Macy and I had a nice time coloring princess pictures in the lobby. She got excited, tilted her head, and said, "Mom, I hear something!" every time she recognized the music coming from the dance studio.

When we got home we did some cleaning and then were walking out the door to go get sushi when I got a call from my parents. Their basement had flooded and they needed some help. We spent the night pulling out soaking carpet and pad from their rumpus room. Luckily the girls were occupied by a Curious George movie on the iPad and then some tasty pasta that Pamp threw together.

Saturday 10/8 -

We watched the Utes on TV lose to Arizona State University. Everyone was hoping for their first PAC-12 Conference win, but we'll have to keep waiting. Kennedy drew this picture all by herself, and the girls love to put on those big, red foam fingers and cheer for the team.

Kennedy, Macy, and I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with our favorite recipe - the best cookies ever! I have to stop doing this because both Jake and I lack any type of self control when it comes to this treat. The girls also love to eat the dough, probably more than the finished product.

Sunday 10/9 -

We went to the zoo because it was finally a sunny day. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it wasn't crowded and we could let Kennedy and Macy run around as they pleased. I was sure that they would crash when we got home, but no luck. We pulled out some Halloween decorations and made a few paper crafts. I escaped for a few minutes of peace and quiet - if shopping at Target really counts for peace and quiet. When I got home, I was greeted by two crazy girls jumping on the couch waving to me from the front window. What a sight! We finished off the week with dinner at my parents'. They had made a recipe from the morning paper, something called Sputnik Chicken that I'd like to try again. Maybe later I'll do a post with the three recipes from this week - it can be the start of recipes I want to pass on to my girls someday.