Day 89

Ali did not want to go to school today. For a while, she wouldn't give a reason. She had already figured out that, due to the rain, there would be mud on the playground. Last time there was mud on the playground, she got yelled at for being in it/near it. That was tough for her!!!!!! So she was preemptively nervous about that situation the day before school.
Today, she was upset about the fact that one kid in particular always gets in trouble at school. She can't handle it when other kids are in trouble. Poor little girl! Little adult in a 4 year old body is tough!

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Day 88

We went outside on our porch to watch the rain, and it turned into running through the puddle.



Emmett was sad the next morning when it was gone :(



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Day 87

Ali showing her new haircut, hairdo, and sparkles on her cheek. Cute little girl...


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Day 86

Ice cream with the fam :)



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Day 85

Pic from our day at my grandparent's farm this weekend. Emmett climbed up in his lap on his own and Ali can actually understand what he says. This is already further along in a relationship with him than I was at their age...






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Day 84

Easter egg hunt at the park with my MOPS group

Day 83

I can't imagine a more severe punishment for a people-pleaser parent, than to parent a child who is SO NOT a people-pleaser.


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Day 82

I love how slow our life is (sometimes I am way bored, though). I want this life for my kids, but it isn't fully the life I would have by myself. I love that they ran around in the front after dinner. It turns into Emmett choo-chooing and Ali running with her cape on. Then Emmett messed up the neighbor's yard clipping pile. So he needed to sweep it back up. They spent the next 20 minutes sweeping and having fun doing it. And Emmett practiced jumping over the pile. Over and over and over... I often feel alone. Not many kids are also out during the day. They are at daycare. They aren't outside at night b/c they're busy getting ready for the next day. We rarely are busy. Sometimes I wish we were, but really, I'm content :). I guess if I was busy, I wouldn't have time to feel alone...


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Day 81

Emmett playing with Molly. I can't believe how long he sat there with her and how long she sat still with torn-up paper towel pieces on her back before she shook them off.


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Day 80

Emmett found a toad today on our walk. He touched it and was quickly grossed out by it. I touched it with a leaf so we could observe it do something besides sit in fear. Em started touching with a leaf and got to watch it hop.



I tried to get a picture of emmett with the toad, but it hopped away. He had fun playing with it..


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Day 79

Can I just take a moment to celebrate? I remember when Ali was a toddler and she didn't eat a whole lot. She would scream when it was time for breakfast. Scream at lunch. Scream at dinner. One snowy morning that I knew I was going to be stuck inside with her all day, I decided to put nutella and sprinkles on a waffle and make it look like a donut. She excitedly ate it. Then she wanted chocolate waffles all the time. So I started making waffle sandwiches with a little almond butter (she can't stand peanut butter) so I could have something she would eat for lunch. One day, she ate 11 miniature waffle sandwiches. Fast forward to today... I have been out of waffles since Tuesday and no one is starving. Emmett doesn't really eat them, but he doesn't really eat anything else either. My mom found a train sandwich cutter and he was excited to try it. Today I made their lunches without toasting any waffles :). I made a nutella and almond butter train sandwich for em, and Ali chose turkey. They both had some apples, cheese and strawberries. I feel like I have come so far and am feeling thankful for all the progress :)


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Day 78

It's funny. My new routines/guidelines have brought back to me my kids that play together. Really, I mean Ali. She is learning the hard lesson: if you don't want to play alone, play what someone else wants to play. Valuable lesson...


Here she is dressed like a skunk... Ready to spray :)



Notice the high tech stripe I made???


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Day 77

My brother and sister-in-law had a baby last week. Isn't he a cutie?? I'm still dying to get my hands on him. Maybe this week...

Day 76

This last week has been full of new and uncomfortable situations for me. It's tough always being the new girl. And, I feel like I've been looking for my peeps ever since we moved to Colorado. I had a group, until I changed jobs. Then I had a baby and had to start over a little. Then I had another and it changed again. Then I moved to San francisco and I found out just how hard it is to find friends for yourself but also your kids. Then we moved again to Dallas. I didn't think it would be as hard here, but it is still hard. It is nice to see family who already know and like me AND my kids, but it sure would be nice to have more closer to me. I know it's coming, and I'm tired of waiting. And I'm tired of feeling like the odd man out in a group. I wish I was as secure in myself as my daughter is with herself. I can handle a little bit of feeling "on the outs", but it get overwhelming when your "reserves" have also been tapped. I really like who I am, but sometimes, I get confused :)



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Day 75

We were at the Arboretum this week and the kids were playing going up and down some stairs. At the top of the stairs, Emmett leaned over the wall and spit. I'm not quite sure that the spit actually landed on a lady's head sitting on a bench below him, but she felt something land on her head and saw him spitting. She got on him and made sure he felt bad for spitting. I could tell a few moments later that he felt really guilty. I was annoyed at the lady for laying into him, but I could tell that he needed to apologize so that he wouldn't feel guilty anymore. I took him down there. He told her that he was sorry and he didn't mean to spit on her. She was very nice and gracious and instantly, he felt better. He even asked her if she wanted to play with him. Later the woman gave him a package of skittles she happened to have because she was so grateful for the apology. I was so thankful to see the guilt on his face and be able to recognize it. I knew he didn't need to carry that around all day. He is a sweet boy that made a mistake, but the lady didn't see that until he humbly asked for forgiveness. Forgiveness and grace are very powerful. Thank you Jesus that you are both of these because in my flesh, I am not.

"Your past can be like sidewalk chalk if you will dance and pray for rain".... But you have to dance and pray for rain first. I hope my kids learn this.
Here they are hot and tired:


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