My Little Builders

Over March Break the building stores around town held some free builds for kids.  My hubby was able to take the girls to a few.  They loved it!  Now I have a bunch of wooden toys that are just delicate enough that I can't throw them into the toy box.

At Home Depot they give the kids fun orange aprons to wear to "protect" their clothing.  Except the arms, and chest, and other areas paint can be splattered on.  Regardless the kids love having aprons "like Grandpa!" (He used to work there, but doesn't anymore)

Both the girls built a wagon and a helicopter at Home Depot and Emma built a Monster Truck at Lowes (and was able to bring a kit home for her sister so they could build with Dad at home!)

I think Dad is going to be stuck finding out when all these builds are in the future.  I seem to recall they happen on Saturdays during Rose's dance time (or really close to it.)  They also seem to be a very popular thing for lots of other kids as well.

I'm glad the girls are enjoying learning different life skills.  They're not very good with the hammer (yet!) but they love giving it a try.  I think real-world experience is the best way to learn (and remember) new skills.  I hope they continue trying new things and enjoying the experience!

Here's to raising well-rounded kids (or at least trying to!!)

~Jess

Spring is Coming and With It, Fashion Show Auditions!

Emma Fall Fashion Show 2015

Spring is fast approaching, and with it the Spring Fashion Show!

Emma will audition in March for a spot walking the runway of the Cataraqui Centre.  The show is April 2nd with 2 "shows" - one at noon and one at 2pm.

I expect it will work much the same as the fall fashion show Emma was selected for in September.  She had fun (as did I) but I remember it being a busy time.

We are hopeful that the mall people will choose Emma again to model something cute for the stores.  I'm under the impression they will choose someone who's "worked" for them before.  That seems to be how this "business" works sometimes.

Besides last fall's fashion show, Emma has not really done much as far as the Mode Elle world is concerned.  She had one "real" audition - you can read about that here - and she didn't get it.  I didn't much think she would as it had something to do with food, and we all know how adventurous Emma is with her eating!

So stay tuned to hear about Emma's next adventures in modelling.  I'll try to take lots of pictures and create posts when I've got something fun to talk about.

We Have An Audition!

Today we had a case of "careful what you wish for."

Over the holidays we were discussing household things, what we'll keep up with (dance, maybe try skating more this winter, and other free community things), and what we might not.  Sadly Emma's Mode Elle stuff is (or was) teetering on the edge.  The idea there was "if we don't get her actually doing anything with it we won't pay the $$$ to keep her registered there."

Well today I received an email from Charline at Mode Elle.  Emma has an audition on Friday!  Of course it's in Toronto, and at 6:45pm it means we have to take her out of school early.  Not really a big deal, and at least it's Friday so not much worry about her staying up too late!

Patrick is taking the afternoon off to whisk her away to this "talent" audition.  I'm a little sad about that, only because it means I won't have the first hand experience to then blog about later.  I am very glad I don't have to navigate my way into downtown Toronto for 6pm on a Friday.

I don't know if this audition would then include shooting the spot as well, or returning at a later date to actually "do" the work.  It would be amazing if it was all done in one go.  We're not lucky enough for that to be the case, though!

I will try to post a follow-up after they've been through the process.  I'm dying of curiosity myself about what goes on.  I know "Dad" won't get to see her audition but at least he can get her impressions right away.  I'll likely have to wait til the next morning, as I might be in bed by the time they get home!

I really hope Emma enjoys this opportunity.  Whether she "lands the role" or not, quite frankly, is irrelevant.  She has increased her confidence like crazy since taking the course at Mode Elle.  She has also expressed a growing interest in theatre which is great since we have a great theatre community here.  Being at the Tett Centre every week (usually twice a week) has allowed us so expand our knowledge of community theatre groups and other artistic things that go on around town.  I want very much for Emma to expand her horizons, and explore things that are interesting to her.

So stay tuned - I will follow up in some fashion with another post.  Until then, wish us luck - not only with the audition, but the travel time too!

A Comparison Of My Daughters: Age 4

I'm going to do that thing that no mother should ever do: compare my children.  (To each other, not to anyone else's children...)

For the last few months I've been amazed by Rose and all the things she's up to.  So much so that I am constantly comparing her (in my mind, of course) with how Emma was at her age.  They are almost complete polar opposites.  It's astounding to me.

Emma at 4 - With 1 year old Rose peeking out the window.

Emma was always my quiet girl.  Well, once she got over being the baby that cried ALL THE TIME.  She was never a chatty kid.  She's 7 now and she's more chatty than before but still very content to sit and listen to what's going on around her.

Rose, on the other hand, was a quiet, easy-going baby, and now she never stops talking.  Just yesterday we watched Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and she talked through the whole thing.  "Who is that?"  "Where are they going?"  "When does Harry get his owl?"  "Is that person going to teach them?"  "That's a lot of children!" and so on.  I actually had to walk away, she was way too distracting!

Rose at 4 - always playing

The junior kindergarten experience is vastly different between the two girls.  To be fair, kindergarten education has changed since Emma started.  Rose is now having full-day everyday class where Emma went every other day and alternating Fridays.  Regardless, I think they would have had different experiences without that change.  They are vastly different kids!

Rose is now "air writing" everything she sees everywhere.  People's shirts, billboards and signs anywhere, and if words show up on tv.  She is so interested in letters (and numbers) and especially the ones in her name.  We have to trace words in every book we look at and she talks about the letters and the sounds and all that "academic" stuff all the time.  Emma never was interested in letters the same.  It was a struggle to "work" at school stuff with her.  Now (at 7) Emma likes words and reading and all that, but at 4 she had no interest.

The other big difference I'm seeing is the after school conversations.  Emma always told us she never did anything at school and it was "boring."  Rose, on the other hand, will talk for ages about who was at school and what they did and who was mean and all that.  I don't always understand what she's talking about, but boy does she talk!  She loves her class and her teachers and it really shows.  Not that I think Emma didn't enjoy her days then but she would rarely talk about it without considerable prodding from us parents.

I find it so fascinating that two little people who sprung from the same gene pool can grow and learn in completely different ways.  Life is a constant social experiment, especially when kids are involved.

Do we treat the girls differently?  Likely.  They are different people with different needs.  Rose needs the affection and cuddles and constant physical contact (especially when she's tired) while Emma is content to colour quietly or watch videos or movies alone, and without asking a million questions about what's going on.

We are fortunate that despite their differences (or because of them?) they are fast friends.  We don't really have "real" fights around the house.  Well unless they are with us parental people.  Sure, feelings get hurt (more often Rose's) but Emma knows how to work things out and give in to Rose when she's about to have a meltdown.

I'm intensely curious to see where the girls go from here.  Will Rose be fluently reading by age 5 1/2, due to this early interest in letters?  Will they stay emotional (and verbal) counterbalances to each other?  This raising kids business is way more interesting (and challenging!) than I ever thought.

Share your household's dynamics with me.  I love hearing other families observations of their kids and their differences (or similarities).  Post your comments below for me to marvel over!

Family Fun Update - Fall Season 2015

We have had a busy fall season.  The beautiful weather this week is truly a treat.  It does make me a bit nervous though.  I think we may pay for this warm and sunny stretch soon enough!  But while the weather holds nice I thought I'd craft up a post about the things we got up to this fall (so far!)

Every year we do a corn maze.  This year was no exception.  Late in September we took a drive to our favourite apple orchard with a fun (and educational!) corn maze.  Wynn Farms had a great maze again this year.  The maze theme this year was Bees - how they help the apple trees, and what goes on in a bee hive.  Emma was able to write down the letters for the "secret message" and read parts of all the signs.  It was a fun day!

That same weekend we took part in Culture Days.  Emma and I participated in a workshop creating art using items from nature.  I was very impressed in the work created by all the participants!

I won some tickets to Disney on Ice when that came through town.  Emma and I got to go since it didn't start until Rose's bedtime.  It was great fun, but I really could not get over the prices of the snacks and stuff - wow!  That bag of popcorn in her hand cost us $15!  Maybe that's because of the tiny bag they put it in (that was lost the next day in the house somewhere...)

We are doing dance every Saturday morning still, and this season Emma's dancing Wednesday nights for 2 hours.  This past weekend there was a little excitement when a toddler pulled the fire alarm just as Rose's class was starting.  We got to go outside and watch the fire trucks pull up - an adventure for the little ones for sure!

Thanksgiving was excellent this year as well.  Two delicious dinners and two lovely weather days.  We've been spoiled by going out to a family friend's for Patrick's family dinner - they have a huge property, with a big garden and a barn, a "pond" and, if the weather's right, a fire pit.  Not to mention a giant house so we can all pile in and eat when the time is right!  I made "grandma's buns" to take this year and they went over really well.  We even managed a family photo!

Emma had a Halloween birthday party.  It earned it's own blog post here.  We had a lot of fun, but a bunch of kids in our small house creates a little tension.  Next time - less children I think (and maybe not Halloween themed!)

Patrick and I went to local theatre production of The Rocky Horror Show.  That was a good time.  We even went in costume.  I also crafted a blog post about our costume creating here.  There are also pictures of the evening on my Facebook page Modern Moms Life - you may have to scroll down a bit, but there is also an album of our Halloween costumes and yard decor if you're interested!

Speaking of Halloween, that was a great night!  The weather was nice, the girls got to trick-or-treat with friends this year, and the yard looked great!  I actually saw one family where the kids were scared to come to the door.  Made me a little sad, but also impressed by our Halloween-ness!  Now we have more candy in our home than we have ever had before.  Anyone one have ideas or recipes for using up tons of candy??

Well I guess that's a pretty long recap of what we've been up to lately. If you want to hear more specifics about any of these topics, request it in the comments please!  And also let me know what fun things you've been up to with your families this fall season.  

PS - it's so nice out today I went for a walk after hanging my clothes on the clothesline, and I saw fresh dandelions and 2 robins!

Emma Turned 7 Last Month - Now I'm Planning A Party

Emma, my now 7 year old, has a birthday in early September.  In the past, party organizing has gone fine (and by fine I mean we'd generically invite all the kids in her class and hope they don't all show up).  This year was different.

September got away from us very quickly.  The later school start this year, as well as Emma joining a modelling and talent agency, and busy weekends led to us being busy most weekends in September.  She even participated in a fashion show at the local mall.  She enjoyed every minute of it.  But as a result we kinda skipped over the school-friends birthday party.

We did have a lovely party for family and friends (it was more an end-of-summer party for us than for Emma, but she did get gifts from grandparents etc.)  She enjoyed that party, and I did invite some of her friends but not many came by.  So this year we decided to throw a Halloween birthday combo party.

It's getting hard to ask her to narrow down the guest list.  She has one boy best friend and then every one else she invites is a girl.  I have no issues with that, but sometimes she thinks she should invite more boys (after we've discussed all this and created the invitations).  And some years she leaves out people I would have totally thought she'd ask.  It's so interesting what goes on in their young minds.

We are pretty much all set.  Costumes are decided on, house and yard mostly decorated, cookies are baked (but not yet iced - job for Friday night or Saturday morning), snacks decided on (but not totally purchased), loot bags created and living room fairly tidy.

The party is Saturday.  We are expecting 9 or 10 kids plus my two.  This feels like a lot to me.  Plus my kids have been sick this week.  Emma started on Sunday and seems pretty much over it now.  She went to her 2 hours of dance class tonight, so I'd say she's better.  Rose has it now - threw up once and is just off and on feverish, with cold symptoms and extreme (cyclical) tiredness.

Today was my day to get most stuff sorted out for this party.  Then the school called to say Rose needed to come home.  Somehow I still managed to pull off most of what needed doing.  I did think I'd like to go to the grocery store, but we didn't get there today.  I was most excited to get cookies mixed, rolled, cut out and baked all before sick girl got home.  She went straight to bed, so I had most of an hour to stay productive.  And it mostly worked out.

Saturday morning will be finishing decorating and getting the table set up with treats while hubby takes Rose to dance (and hopefully Emma decides to go with so I can have more productive time!)  There will also be last-minute tidying, and mummy-dog making for dinner with the party kids.  I'm feeling more organized with this party than I usually feel for these things!

If you have any tips for kid parties (or Halloween parties) please do share - like game ideas or other easy to prepare fun snacks.  I have a few days yet to finish organizing myself - and everyone else!  And stay tuned to see how everything turns out.  I'm sure another blog post will occur - maybe with photos!

If I don't post again before - Happy Halloween everyone!  We're planning on a great time this year!

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!

First Modelling Gig - My Little Pony

On Wednesday last week I got an email from Charline at Mode Elle.  She outlined a fun opportunity for Emma, but it was happening the next day and also Friday afternoon.  Now I know I've said a million times that I'll happily leave work to deal with these modelling or acting things that come up, and Thursday evening I could have managed, but with it being a holiday weekend there was no way I could easily have left the store in the middle of the afternoon on the Friday.

Luckily Patrick was able to rearrange things so Emma could get to both shows.  This event was at the local mall (Cataraqui Centre) so getting there was not too traumatic, and Rose tagged along on Thursday evening.  Well, guess what?  The event organizers wanted Rose to model the clothes as well!  I didn't know if she'd do it.  The first show for them was 6:30pm and Rose is usually 85% ready for bed at that time.  

Thursday Evening Show

This is how the show went:  The Moblees opened the show (which was free in centre court of the mall), then the girls came out in their My Little Pony clothes, and afterward there was a My Little Pony show.  Each of the girls had been given a little pose to do on the "red carpet" but from the looks of it, Emma and Rose gave each other strength that first night.  Still super cute, but not quite confident models yet.

But then fast-forward to Friday afternoon - they were more confident (and less tired!) and they had a lot more fun.  Part of it, I'm sure, was that they were at the mall for 2 hours before the show on Thursday, but had a much shorter lead time Friday.

Friday Night Pre-Show

Both Rose and Emma performed better Friday afternoon.  Rose walked out without clinging to Emma for dear life, and Emma managed to have a very professional looking model pose on the "red carpet."

Rose's Pose

Emma's Pose

When they were done with the show, the young lady Twilight Sparkle had the models come back up on stage for a promo pic.  The girls were beyond excited for that!  Emma even understood that that meant they may use this picture for advertising purposes.  She's dying to get into commercials or magazines!

My Little Pony Fashion Show

I'm actually quite sad that I missed all this excitement with the girls.  I'm not very disappointed that I missed being at the mall with 1000 toddlers and their parents.  We've been to some of these shows in the past and it's just crazy busy, loud, and exhausting.  I am very glad the girls had a wonderful time, especially Rose who really had no idea what was going on.

Emma is now looking forward even more to the fashion show the mall is putting on in two weekends.  She made the cut at her audition and will be modelling something in two Saturday's time.  One of her cousins, who is new at Mode Elle, will be modelling as well.  I have managed to take the time off to get her to the rehearsal for this one.  And, dear readers, I plan to craft another nice long blog post with photos during or after that event and it's rehearsals.  So stay tuned!

Emma's First Audition

Tonight Emma has her first audition.  Sadly, I have to be at work, so Patrick will take her.  It's here in town, and it's for the fashion show at the mall.  I know, it's not really a big exciting deal, but I think it's the perfect first audition.

I hope everything goes smoothly for her.  She almost froze up when she did her end-of-course performance.  She told me afterwards it was because Rose shouted "That's my sister!" and pointed, and Emma did not want her doing that.  For this audition I don't think she has to perform much, just do a runway walk, so she should be comfortable with that.

We are going to put her in her pink polka dot dress.  She wanted to wear it this morning, for all day.  I said no.  Then I had to lay it out for her: What if you do painting today? or play outside in the dirt? or spill your lunch?  (This is how my thought process goes every morning when dressing the kids - or helping them dress themselves)  She thought through the logic and chose some "play clothes" for the day.

We also had the joy of a morning shower for Emma before leaving for day care.  That went much more smoothly (and quickly) than I had imagined.  Hair combed out beautifully and everything!  I'm almost dreading the days I'll actually have to blow dry her hair and try to do something with it.  That will require purchasing a hair dryer and/or curling implement.

When I dropped the girls off at day care I gave Emma so many instructions I'm sure she's forgotten them all already.  Put your hair up when you're eating!  Wash your hands any time you do anything!  Don't play in the dirt!  Don't paint or marker on yourself!  Brush your teeth when you go home to change!  Make Dad take your picture when you get there!  And HAVE FUN!!!  (Standard Mom nags.)

Stay tuned for more updates on the mall fashion show front.  I think they take most of the kids who try out.  I know the Quinte mall posted a giant list of all the people they wanted - one of the boys who was in Emma's "class" at Mode Elle made the list, so there's hope!  I think it'll be a week or more before we hear back.  The show itself is Sept 19th, so I'd expect to hear by early next week.  I'm going to have to take the Thurs afternoon before off as that's fitting and rehearsal.

I'll be watching the clock anxiously all day today.  6:00 won't come fast enough.  I really, truly hope she has a good time!  Send me some good vibes in the comments

Toodles!

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!

Summer's In Full Swing - And Busy!

Alright - summer is in full swing and I feel like I need to take back some of my "summer is relaxing" comments I made in my previous post. ("Summer is Here - Let The Relaxing Begin")  Summer definitely sends out it's relaxing vibes, but I'm coming to realize life is just as busy (if not more so) now than during the school year.

I still have to go to work - that is the least relaxing part about summer, so far, for me.  The kids do daycare - some days - and camps and other extra curriculars.  Plus we're doing a cottage week, there there's some days at Grandma and Grandpa's (while hubby and I go to Toronto for a few days), and Emma is at a day camp this week.  And she's still taking her Mode Elle course on Tuesday nights.

And then there's the around-town family and friends stuff we want to do.  Kingston Buskers Rendezvous is on tap this week - we will likely go Thursday night, and then I'm meeting another mom friend on Saturday to do more kid-oriented Buskers then.  There are the Movies in the Square every Thursday (except this week because of the Buskers) which we have not gone to yet - they don't start until it's dark, which is getting on to 9pm this time of year.  Another few weeks and we'll try to catch one or two movies.

We've been filling our weekends with other around town things, like Taste of Kingston, and a free Fort Henry visit as part of the Pan Am celebrations when the torch was here.  The girls want to get to a beach this summer,; I haven't managed to get into Nanny's pool yet (the girls have been a few times); and then there's just the fun outdoor time at home with the neighbour kids.  I think those are the best days, when the kids are just outside somewhere and I can just sit on the deck, read a book, hang out the laundry, and then maybe relax with a drink.

What do you get up to in the summers?  Are your weeks a busy as mine?  I don't yet feel so busy I can't deal with it - so let's hope that doesn't happen!  Now that the girls are older a busy summer is much different than when they really do need 24/7 supervision.  I'm enjoying this summer so far, but it's not quite as "relaxing" as I'd imagined!

Toodles!

Summer Is Here - Let The Relaxing Begin!

Okay so I really don't think relaxing is any more or less likely to happen in the summer.  I am just eternally happy that the intensive dance rehearsal/recital schedule is done.  And school is almost done.  I may even be able to re-set my alarm to give me 10 more precious minutes of sleep in the mornings...but Rose will still be up nice and early.

Our weekend went very smoothly.  Dance was watched, food was eaten, kids had fun - success all around.  Our next big job is replacing a section of our fence - although we're turning that into a backyard party as well (hopefully!)  We already have the fence all down, and the post people are coming next week to do the posts.  Canada Day is our fence party day - family is rallying around (and maybe a neighbour or two) and we'll have lot of eats to keep everyone fuelled.

Now Monday nights have no required pick ups.  I just get to go home after work - I'm not sure how I feel about that!  I was enjoying the no-rush, get-there-by-7 feeling of my Mondays.  Sometimes I took a walk, sometimes I read a book, and every time I didn't have to put Rose to bed.  It was Rosie-Daddy night.  Not sure what she's going to think about that either!

The only weekly thing we have on now is the Tuesday night Mode Elle business.  Emma's photos are this Saturday so I have to go through her clothes and pick out something cute (because not everything she owns is cute...) for mix and match with whatever stylist is there to make the final choices.  I may even have to get out my ironing board.  Yikes!

I feel like Emma's already super excited for her Dance Camp - she gets one full week off from school then she's there for a week (which required some work schedule tweaking for pick ups and drop offs) learning yet more dance and having a mini recital at the end.  I can't get over how much she loves it there!  It's a good thing, I know.

Anyway, gotta get ready for work - somehow that doesn't change much during the summer!  Leave me a comment about your summer schedules, or what you're looking forward to doing with the kids and family.

Toodles!

Four Year Old Battles

I think Rose is going through the Frustrating (or Frustrated) Fours.

Four Year Old Rose

I can't answer any of her questions right, and I don't make her food right, and everything she says she changes her mind right after I've done what she asked me to.  For instance this morning: "I want an english muffin with one side regular butter and one side peanut butter."  So terrible mother I am, I made her an english muffin with one side regular butter and one side peanut butter.  She ate the regular butter side and then had a fit because "What I meant by peanut butter was more regular butter!"

I don't know if anyone out there has tried to remove peanut butter from other food items - sometimes it's possible to scrape it off toast, but english muffins, with all their tiny holes, are a lost cause.  So she just threw a fit and refused to eat it.  Ok, well I guess that's what I'm having for breakfast now.

Why does this happen?  Lately I'm getting a lot of "What I meant by no (or yes) was actually yes (or no)"  This makes it very difficult to actually talk to Rose about anything.  Anyone else go through Frustrating Fours with their kid?  I know this is happening now because she did not have "Terrible Twos" and I am being punished for that.

Anyway, if you have any ideas/tips/tricks to deal (or combat) this stage, please please share them.  Or even just some stories about how this happened to you too so I don't feel totally inadequate!

Toodles!

Rose "Graduates" From Imagine Dance

This weekend we had the pleasure of attending Rose's ballet class recital.  The 3 year old class is called Imagine Dance.  She even got a diploma for "graduating" from the class.  The sea of little pink ballerinas (with 2 small boy dancers, not so pink) is so cute!

Imagine Dance Recital

We brought all the grandparents, as well as our daycare lady and her daughter (who's our babysitter - an arrangement that works fabulously for us!)

After the recital we invited everyone back to the house for a luncheon.  I really like using the word luncheon.  It makes me feel fancy.  Anyway, it was a nice day, hot in the backyard, and we had sandwiches, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip and fruit and cake.

Rose With Her Rose and Diploma

Everyone in the family is greatly looking forward to next weekend when Kingston School of Dance is having their end of year performance at the Grand Theatre.  We have 10 tickets (in 2 groups of 5) so everyone we know can come watch Emma dance in 2 numbers this year.  And it's funny, we actually know a bunch of people who have kids dancing at this school this year.  I'm really looking forward to the event next Saturday.  We are having a to-do after that recital as well.  BBQ with people bringing things.  Should be a great time as well!

The Studio Has Beautiful Exposed Walls

The pictures I am posting here (on Blogger generally) are unedited, not usually cropped photos of what we took wherever we were.  In case anyone is wondering.

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!

Power Outage Causes Bedtime Struggles, But All Is Resolved

Tonight Emma had her Mode Elle modelling/talent class.  Took Rose to a few stores, and changed her into jammies (in case she fell asleep in the car on the way home - she woke up at 5am today) while we waited big sis to finish.  I got a message from my neighbour asking if my power was out while we were "shopping."  Of course I wasn't home so, no idea!  Then hubby calls 10 minutes later to tell me he stopped at home between his day job and evening work and guess what! - The power's out.  Guess neighbour was right.

Kids were kind of intrigued by the idea of no power, until I explained to them what that meant.  No tv or movies when we get home (we wouldn't have done that anyway, as it's Rose's bedtime by the time we get home); no nightlights (catastrophe!); and - horror of horrors - no toasted english muffins or anything else that requires cooking.

The power was not on when we got home - nor was hubby still home to assist the power-less bedtimes.  The battery backups in the basement were beeping like crazy, and Emma wondered why the dryer was buzzing so often and, wait a minute, it doesn't take batteries, does it?  Sometimes the way her mind works astonishes me still.

Anyway, Rose got to bed okay - it was dark, she was worried about it, so we had to find flashlights because the light from the hallway was just not good enough tonight.  I actually managed to find a few, some with rechargable batteries - and luckily there were a few with enough charge to last a few minutes at least.  Once she accepted the scenario she was asleep quickly.

I was starting to get worried - Emma was wearing the battery down on my phone playing games and I was not really looking forward to straining to read by candle or flashlight as the sun went down.  My big plans for the night were blogging and having a Palm Bay while watching tv - with a chaser of going to bed by 9:30.  I know, exciting night, right?

Well, wonder of wonders, the power came back on about 15 minutes before Emma's bedtime.  So she finished wearing down my phone and then she went to bed - not much fuss, just a story and then some reading-on-her-own time.  So now I am living the dream, drinking my Palm Bay and watching some tv while blogging.  Life is good.  And it's not even 9pm!

Toodles!

Is It Swimming Weather? or My Kids Are Crazy!

My kids went swimming today - today is June 7th - no one even looked at the temperature in the pool because us grownups are too cold blooded to even think about getting in.,  Although, the car did say 22 degrees (Celsius) that is nowhere near swimming weather to me!

Sundays are usually good days.  Nanny takes the girls to church, then they often go to their aunts to play with awesome young cousin with a sibling cousin on the way.  After that (while cousin naps) they go back to Nanny's for movie or swimming (when the weather is nice) or park play, then we all gather there for dinner.  Tonight we had pork steaks with corn on the cob, rice and salad.  So delicious.  The kids even ate some.  That's a feat in itself some days.  Everything is quiet upstairs now (8:30 pm).  Time for Mom and Dad to sit quietly and unwind, watch tv, and try hard not to eat snacks we don't really need because we had a perfectly delicious and calorically dense dinner.  I'm about to fall asleep, but I think that's more due to the wine I had with dinner, than the time of day.

Next weekend is going to be more busy, as will the next 2 weekends be.  Dance recitals abound, as well as following family gatherings.  Luckily my families are happy to help out, bring foodstuffs, and help to tidy.  I'm hoping the weather will cooperate for the next two weekends as well.  If it gets hot we do always have access to Nanny's pool to cool off after a hard day's work!

Toodles!

Shopping Success!

Emma is a great shopper.  I'm so surprised we had such a smooth day out looking for shoes and clothes.  We were done by noon!  She got stuff she needed (and some stuff she didn't) and I even got a pair of shoes that were on 70% off!

Now the girls are outside playing with their friends, I've got laundry hanging outside and we have a batch of spaghetti sauce in the slow-cooker.  It feels like a productive day.  Although now we have to start thinking about dinner - steak and corn on the cob - because lunch was a long time ago...

Toodles!

Tomorrow We're Going Shopping!

Somehow my weekends are rapidly filling up this month.  With the end of our extra-curriculars and the end of school, time is counting down like crazy.  I just realized that this is the last free weekend I have to take Emma for a new outfit and new shoes before her talent headshot photoshoot at the end of the month.  So while Patrick takes Rose to ballet, Emma and I will troupe around town trying on all manor of clothes and accessories.

I don't think Emma has clued in to the idea that she won't be doing her free art at the Tett this week.  I hope she doesn't catch on, I really don't want to spend then entire day out and about.  I like the girls having their weekend afternoons at home, outside, with their friends.

Emma thinks we're just going to go to the mall - I don't think that's the best place for her to find shoes.  We already tried WalMart but she's between sizes there.  I guess actual shoe stores (I miss Kiddie Kobbler) will be on the agenda tomorrow.  I just know that narrowing down choices will be quite a chore.  And truthfully I don't even know what we need for this photo session.  Because she's a child we have to take all clothes, shoes and accessories, but there will be a stylist there to help her put together outfits etc.

I'm looking forward to this excursion as an opportunity to actually talk to Emma about the endgame of this modelling and talent course.  She says she wants to act more than model (so far).  I'm unsure if she even knows what acting actually is.  Today she had to stand up in front of her whole school - she raised the most money for her Jump Rope for Heart - and she seemed to think it was a little terrifying.  I will say that I think she is less self-conscious and shy than she was, but whether that's just growing up, or this course has something to do with it I have no idea.

Anyway, if anything exciting happens on our adventures tomorrow I will be sure to share them, but until then...

Toodles!

Weekend anxiety

I felt a bit stressed out this past weekend.  Patrick was away Saturday, the girls didn't go to church Sunday, and I just felt so disconnected with everything.  I was at the end of my monthly "visitor" and the weather was all over the place and I had a few acute bouts of my "mom anxiety"as I like to call it.  You know, when you can't handle anything, especially related to your kids.  Like when they tell you they feel sick and then you're constantly "on" just waiting for the moaning and groaning or "Mom!  I'm gonna throw up!" and you can't sleep or do anything that requires attention because half your brain is occupied thinking about where the closest toilet is, or any other receptacle for catching the mess.  Ya, fun times.

My first "mom anxiety" involved taking the girls to the Tett so Rose can have her dance lesson.  The Tett Centre is a fabulous Kingston resource for anyone interested in arts.  Every Saturday they have a free drop-in session with an artist who has a studio in the centre.  It's kid oriented on Saturdays, but they are supposed to be running more adult geared stuff too.  Anyway, I can drop Emma off at art, then go upstairs with Rose and then go back to art while Rose is dancing.  For some reason this week being separated from Emma for so long (Rose and I were early for dance so we sat upstairs for a long time) caused me distress.  And I know, in my logical brain, that she's totally fine and she does this every week - the artists know her and know we are up at KSD - and there are other dance sibling there with and without parents, but my "mom brain" wouldn't stop dwelling on any- and everything that could be going on in the art area.  Of course, when I got down there she was fine and had done a ton of stuff,

Next item in the "mom anxiety" world was the sprinkler.  It was hot Saturday afternoon so we had the sprinkler out.  Lovely neighbour girl was visiting, got her swimsuit, everything was fine but I couldn't deal with the fact that they were barely in the sprinkler.  So I wanted to turn it off, but that made everyone mad.  So I tried to sit and read my book while they played willy-nilly in the yard and on the climber and in the sprinkler, but I could not focus on reading.  The girls were great, they played fine, they asked for freezies, they told me when they were done, but that still didn't quiet the nags inside my brain.  Maybe part of it was knowing I couldn't "tag out" and let Patrick watch them for a bit since he was working.  I don't know, but I do know that I could have been inside as I usually am when they're playing, but for some reason having the sprinkler out really amped up the anxiety.

There were Sunday episodes as well, but I don't want to bore you with all my personal issues.  I just need to talk about them sometimes.  Believe it or not it helps the anxiety to talk about it.  Especially to people who I may not even know, because who cares if you're judging me and my ridiculous brain?  Oh wait, my "mom anxiety" cares...

Toodles!