Summer Here We Come!

Well second grade and 4th grade are almost over.  The kids are tired of school and the friend pool that is there.  The girl is struggling with friends and the boy is ready to run and swim all summer long.  I have to say that there is a huge difference with boy and girl relationships.  Watching the year progress has brought many things to light.  First, when the boy fights with another boy they hit, yell then move on and are friends hours later.  I wasn't a big fan until I saw what the girls do.  The girl is at home crying every other day about other girls that were her friends and now aren't.  She has so many emotions that she's trying to work through and she still looks to me to solve her problems.  One of the hardest things I have had to tell her is that people suck.  I don't want her to change who she is just to save a friendship.  I also don't want to see her walk around "friendless" as she claims.  I hate not being able to fix it for her.  I'm trying to sit back and give her the tools to work through it but man...it's hard!

Well here comes summer, time to take my kids away from their everyday pool of peers.  I'm hoping with some time away "absence will make the heart grow fonder," as least the sting of friendships gone south will abate.  Wish us luck!

Summer Here We Come!

Growing up

The girl came to me today and asked to call a friend.  "Why" I asked.  She told me she just wanted to talk to this friend.  Next thing I know she's walking around the house talking to 3 friends.  When did 3 way calling come back?  And when did my daughter know how to do it?  

I sat back and watched as she laughed and I heard the occasional "really?"  "no!"

I wanted to quiz her, "who are you talking to?  Is it really that important?  You just saw them at school!"  but instead I sat, watched and listened.  She is growing up so fast.

Then her Dad and I asked if she wanted to help us give her brother his birthday gift and just as quickly  as my "tween"age girl had shown her face my little girl was back.  She hung up the phone with her 3 friends, delivered the gift and is now playing his video game with him.  

I'm currently upstairs while they play downstairs.  As long as they don't see or hear me they will play for hours...I find myself living for these moments.  I can still hear them talking and giggling through the door.  I'll take those happy moments for now.

American Girl store part II

It was a success!  I've never seen the girls eyes light up so bright and so big!  It was a day full of "yes!" for me and fun for her!

She was adorable carrying both of her American Girl Dolls into the store.  She had gift cards and she knew the amount they were worth so she tried to keep count of how much she was spending.  I was proud of how responsible she was trying to be.  We walked all over the store several times! :)

Once she had picked many things out we went to the register to check out before lunch.  The total rang up more than her gift cards were worth.  She looked at me with her big eyes and whispered, "mommy we don't have that much."  Another swell of pride for her keeping track and being aware!  I told her that Daddy and I wanted to get the rest for her.  I think she may have jumped out of her skin.  She couldn't have said thank you or any better!  I got soooooo much love!

While waiting for lunch the girl changed her dolls into their new outfits!  Trying to get those shoes on was difficult to say the least (he he).

Lunch was wonderful and pink!  Everything was pink.  The food was yummy and they had these wonderful conversation starters that we used and laughed through.  I loved saying yes and I loved her beautiful smile.

We got home and she got to relive the whole thing for Daddy there was one phrase that stuck in my head, "Daddy, it was like a Wonderland for Girls!"

I love my girl!

American Girl Trip

Well today is the day.  The girl got gift cards to the American Girl store and we're finally able to go.  It's going to be a Mommy and Girl trip.  The girl is in princess mode this morning trying to hold back her excitement as much as possible and accomplish the tasks asked of her.  She's failing!  She is jumping out of her skin and hasn't gotten a thing done this morning besides prep her two dolls for the trip.

I am a little nervous about the trip.  The girl has never been known for her quick choices when it comes to what she wants.  She also tends to break down into tears when she is overwhelmed.  I just checked out the web site and it looks like the store is 2 stories.  It may be a long day....

And were back!

So the kids are now 7 and 9.  You'd think that over time things may have changed, nope!  They are currently running around the house with cat ears on and tails pinned to their cute little hineys.  As soon as I tell them to clean they both throw into hysterics and run into a room totally ignoring me.  They love having "sleep overs" in each others room.  The girl doesn't enjoy having the mess in her room so in order to appease her the boy gives in and has it in his room.

They are growing up nicely though.  We went to visit my Grandmother "Gram" in the hospital the other day.  While the boy got a bit stir crazy he did pretty well for being there for 5 hours.  The girl however was super fantastic.  She got close to Gram and talked with her, she sat and made bracelets for everyone there and she showed her mature side.

I am very proud of both my kiddos.  I can't wait to keep seeing what wonderful things they do!

Mom goes on strike!

Last night for the millionth time during dinner I heard "I don't want this, it's gross!"  That was enough for me.  I kind of went of the deep end and told the kids I was done, I was no longer cooking. 

The next morning I woke up to the girl and boy telling me to get up, they were making breakfast.  They created a great menu with foods and drinks for me to choose from. 

The boy looked at me and said, "we're trying to get you to cook dinner again."  It might have worked :)

Dinner Time

As I sit in the other room I listen to my two kiddos talking while eating dinner.  The conversation is fairly nice.  Next thing I know the girl is saying, "ha ha you dropped your hot dog, now you don't have one."  Nice kid I know.  I stay out of it and just listen.  The boy picks up the hot dog and replies "I'll just wash it off."  The girl replies, "it will be cold."  He declares in a stubborn voice, "I'll wash it with hot water!"  I still sit here very quietly and listen as the boy heads off to the bathroom, runs water and heads back to the table.  He takes a satisfied bite and declares, "see still hot!"

God I love listening to them!