We've Left The Pre-School Years Behind

Our life is "quiet" right now.  We're well into the school routine, which is going more smoothly than I had imagined it would.  The ballet lessons have been going on for a few weeks, with the girls shuffling around classes so get to the right "levels" for their ages and skill levels.  And I've even made time for baking and cooking a little more often.  Check out my first attempt at making bread!

I feel like the girls are suddenly more mature (most days!) and able to get along without me now.  Okay, not without me, but they know how to amuse themselves.  Some days I even find them reading - quietly on their own, or to each other.  They play with toys, usually together, and then tidy them up when they're done - often without more that one suggestion to do so.  I am eternally grateful for these little things.

The eating in our house is changing now too.  Emma is a little more willing to try new things.  The key, some days, is to let her help out (even just stirring) so she's more interested in the foods.  I made potato soup and after explaining to her what was in it: bacon, potatoes, and whipping cream, she still had no desire to eat it.  After she watched me cook up the bacon, stir in the bits and the milk and cream she wanted to taste it.  Then she ate about half of what I gave her in a bowl - potatoes and all!

Rose's eating (and entire evenings) are much worse right now than I've experienced from her in a while.  She's tired.  School is wearing her out like crazy!  The dinner table is a battlefield, but once you tell her it's time for bed she's happy-go-lucky and bedtime is (usually) a breeze.

The modelling life is quiet now too.  Our "agent" has a rule where she won't submit Emma for anything in Toronto that doesn't pay enough to cover the loss of time (from work) and travel for us here in Kingston.  We peruse the acting submission website occasionally ourselves to make sure we aren't missing anything fun, but a lot of stuff really is not worth the time.  I think we're going to enrol Emma in some community theatre stuff this coming summer and she what she thinks of that.

Overall, life is good.  At the beginning of this post I said our life is "quiet" right now.  I only mean that we don't have a lot of events coming up.  Thanksgiving is our next family function and then we're throwing a Halloween party for Emma's friends since we missed her birthday with the Fashion Show at the mall.  And then, of course, actual Halloween.  Watch for my post about the party and Halloween as the month rolls on!

The busyness I feel right now comes from working, school stuff (like homework that we only have about an hour a night to work on, usually while I'm making dinner), dance stuff, outdoor clean-ups - now that the weather is getting cooler - and the need to get my gardens to bed.  And, I'm trying to make more food instead of buying insta-foods.  That's going ok, but I don't have as much time as I'd like to try more new things!

Readers, are your lives settling into routines now that it's October?  Or do you feel busier during the school year than the summer?  Comment below to let me know how your days are going.  Also I'd love easy recipes for dinners or baking that I can make and share with my family and other readers.  Thanks for visiting!

My Girls Really Are Growing Up Too Fast!

I'm not sure what happened.  I had these little tiny people who needed me for every little thing.  Now I have these giant kids who (I feel sometimes) don't need me at all.  Well unless they want to reach something down, or eat hot food.  But they brush their teeth on their own (with a final check from a grown-up), put themselves to bed (when they're in the mood), and pick out their own clothes and put them on.

Girls at Movies in the Square

 They've also started to figure out that if you stay up late you can "sleep in" the next day.  Emma has mastered this skill, Rose is lagging a bit behind.  This doesn't stop us from keeping her out late once in a while.  Usually she's fast asleep in the car by the time we get home from whatever event we were at.  The Movies in the Square downtown on Thursday nights is a great outing for us.  They love movies, and popcorn.  And if we go in pajamas everyone is comfy and ready for bed the second we get home!

Girls at Fort Henry

We've done much more this summer than we have yet in our family's short history.  Finally I feel that Rose is old enough (she's 4 now) to actually walk around attractions and events without whining every minute.  She seems to have outgrown her need to be carried all the time.  When she's tired, of course she asks, but she keeps walking.  We took them on a hike (without really planning to do it) and they both hiked for 2 hours and the entire time (almost) went on about how great it was and why don't we do this more often?!  It's so nice - Patrick and I used to hike all the time, and I love going to all sorts of attractions and events, and now I feel more confident dragging the kids along.  They are liking to do so much more these days.

I won't say I don't miss my babies.  But these bigger girls are great in their own way.  They still choose to cuddle with me, they do still want my help with lots of things, and now they tell me how nice my skirt looks, or just that they love me with no prompt at all.  Patrick and I made great kids.  I can't wait to see what else unfolds on this crazy journey.

Toodles!

Emma's Ready To Go!

Emma is now officially listed at (with?) Mode Elle.  Her headshots can be seen here.  Or if you keep scrolling (and, hopefully, reading) they will be in this post as well.

 I think Emma's very first photoshoot went very well.  She was nervous (of course!) but the end result is fantastic.  I can't really believe this is my little girl!  She looks so much older.  I think it'll only get better from here!

            

This last photo, we were told, is a great headshot.  I tend to agree, but I'm a little biased!

We overheard Charline booking an audition for a client the other day before Emma's class.  It seems like it's literally about a 2 day turn around and you just have to be ready to go.  They don't really even ask you if you want to go - it's your responsibility to let them know when you're not available. I'm still intensely interested to see how it goes from here.  I guess I'm going to have to be ready to be chauffeur mom once in a while!

I will do my best to keep up-to-date here for anyone interested to follow along.  Please comment if you have any questions or there's anything you want to hear about.  And if you're interested in hiring Miss Emma, we have to go through Mode Elle or we can get in trouble!

Toodles!

Why Do Large 4 Year Olds Still Love Laps?

My youngest daughter, Rose, is a girl who loves physical contact.  Sometimes it's the kind parents like to discourage (hitting, pulling, etc) but usually she just wants someone to sit next to her on the couch so you can cuddle.  It's very cute.

Rose is now 4.  She's big.  I'm not super big.  She really does not fit on my lap any more.  But she still thinks she's a lap baby.  On the couch this is acceptable as I can usually adjust to be comfortable, but at the dining room table, while I'm drinking hot coffee and trying to read my emails (or god forbid type something!) it is much less comfortable.

I really don't want to discourage her love of human contact, but how can I keep her off my lap for just those 15 minutes I need in the morning to eat and catch up with the world?  If she does manage to climb up there she then wants to "make letters!" or "push the arrow!" which is fine if I'm just browsing around, but after about 2 minutes my legs hurt and I have to get up.  Then she gets the computer and I'm left standing, drinking my coffee.  Not quite fair.

I know distraction is best, but the tv is already on, her Dad's lap is somehow inferior to mine, and I'm just a human contact magnet I guess.  Do your (large) kids still insist on lap time?  Do you let them and suffer the consequences? or have you find a solution?  Please do share any ideas or insights you've discovered!

Toodles!