It's official. We have yet another Dora fanatic in the house. Natalie has decided that Dora is the best thing ever and she'd rather watch that than play, eat, or sleep. I don't indulge her in her obsession every day but today she's on her 4th Dora (I've been busy!) and is the sweetest, happiest girl ever! Luckily Miranda still likes Dora too (although she never asks for it), so they're both happy at the moment. I love how she says "Tico" (sounds kind of like "taco") and when she sees Swiper, she holds up her arm to stop him from swiping but she doesn't say anything. :) She is also saying a lot more words lately (maybe thanks to the educational value of Dora the Explorer!) and she gets really annoyed when people take her toys away lately! Yesterday at my friend's house, Miranda said that Natalie bit her. My friend asked if Miranda took anything away from Natalie and she realized that she'd kind of provoked her and stopped harping on the fact that she'd been bit. :) I didn't see any marks and I didn't witness the event but I guess I have to watch out for that now. I've never had a biter before, so I'm thinking Miranda might be elaborating the story a bit.
It's official that Miranda has a great imagination and might be turning into a really good liar. She tells me stories every day about her family at the beach. It started with her "other dad at the beach." Now she has a mom and a grandma and a baby sister there. She'll tell me things they've said, things they've done together, etc. She also tells me what her teacher said at her school and who's having a birthday and who brought treats. It is HILARIOUS! She wants to be like Jill so bad, so she has to create stories to rival what Jill comes home with every day. She acts like these things are very real, so hopefully it's just a great imagination and not voices in her head telling her things! :)
It's official that my daughter is a great student in school. We had our first parent/teacher conference yesterday and it was such a highlight of my day/week/month! Her teacher really adores her and says she's always polite, well-behaved, kind to the others, and willing to do anything the rest of the class is doing. Who doesn't want to hear that??? Even when the teacher says, "Jill, you don't have to do this activity," because it's way too easy for a kid who has been reading for a couple of years, Jill always says, "But I WANT to do it too." So she does what all the other kids are doing, plus extra worksheets and things. She has a 1st grade curriculum book that she brings home to read out of every day and this week her teacher started sending her to 2nd grade for an hour every day to read with those kids and do Accelerated Reading tests. She is having a blast in school and my favorite part that the teacher said was, "She knows almost everything I'm teaching in my kindergarten curriculum but she never lets the other kids know that she already knows it. She never acts like she's smarter and she never rolls her eyes at me when I tell everyone to sort their shapes or do patterns. She just does it and genuinely enjoys it." I was so happy that she doesn't act bored or like a know-it-all. My two biggest worries for this year. She's never been a snotty know-it-all kid but I thought since she does kind of know it all that it might be a problem. Guess not! The teacher did say she was running out of things to teach her and that's why she does Accelerated Reading and other things with the 2nd grade class now and she's working on finding new workbooks for Jill to work in. She said Jill enjoys playing and being a normal 6 year old kid, so the teacher said not to worry about her not being in 1st grade this year because the social part of kindergarten is a good building block for school success and I guess she's right.
It's official that I'm a bragging parent. :) Ha ha. This is my full-time job, so it's obviously the thing I focus on most in life. :) I am the PTA's Room Parent Coordinator this year, so I met a lot of the teachers, the librarian, and several office workers yesterday to try and get to know the school. It's such a fun place that I know why Jill loves it so much. I told her yesterday that I was glad she loved school so much and if she didn't it would be SO hard for me to send her off every day. She looked me in the eye and with a very serious look on her face said, "Mom, I will NEVER not like school." Ha ha. I hope that attitude stays throughout the college years. :)
It's official that Ben is a work-a-holic. He came home last night feeling horrible with a high fever. He went straight to bed and woke up for a quick dinner and then went back to sleep. He got up this morning and the fever was gone, so he went to work. Ugh! Allow yourself ONE SICK DAY! He said, "I feel responsible. I need to make sure things get done. Maybe I'll do a half day." But it's after noon and no sign of him, so I think he's staying there!
So that's the update for today. I'll try to post pictures later of our pumpkin patch trip this week.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Positive
I'm dealing with things, my mom is doing ok, and I'm trying to stay positive. So I'm going to update with good things.
We got to visit Ben's parents this weekend and we had a nice visit. The 3 1/2 hour drive there went as well as could be expected. There was only one quick potty break off the side of the road because she couldn't tell us BEFORE we passed the last rest stop for 30 miles! And the drive back was ok with only minor issues. Miranda dumped a half full water bottle on her lap (on accident of course -- "I was TRYING to be really careful!") but we were only five minutes from home, so we all had a good laugh about that. :) So typical travel with kids, I guess.
Ben's sister is moving to Minnesota and stopped by Texas on her way, so it was fun to see her and her three boys too. Ben's brother in Vegas called home while we were there to let us know he's bringing his girlfriend home for Christmas, so we're all excited to meet her!
Jill is still loving school. She started Girl Scouts and her first activity was last week at the roller skating rink. She was so good! No pro of course but, being my kid, I really thought she'd be on her bum most of the night. She wanted me to help at first but then she kept pulling her hand from mine saying, "I think I got it Mom." So she went around the whole thing twice with no help and no falls. Then she wanted some company, so I just walked around with her but she really only fell a few times and we were there for over an hour. I was so proud of her for wanting to try something new (I was always such a 'fraidy cat when learning anything new and if I didn't do it perfectly the first time, I wanted to give up!) and she really did a great job. She is such a sweet and sensitive girl and I can always count on her to cheer me up when I feel like crying. :)
Miranda is as adorable as she is aggravating. I love her like crazy but she sure pushes my buttons every single day. Today I took dinner to a VERY pregnant friend of mine who is on bedrest. I had the girls with me and they wanted to come in. I told the girls I was just going to give her the food at the door and come back. But when I got there, she invited me in to see the baby's room (it is SO beautiful and everything is handmade and looks like it's from a posh baby boutique!). I really wanted to see it and I didn't want to hurt her feelings by NOT going to look at it, so I took a quick 1 minute tour and then told her I had to get back to my kids. The entire ride back Miranda told me that I had lied and she was so upset! :( I faded the speakers to the front of the van and turned the volume up on a great Phil Collins song and blared it the whole way home trying to remember the days when I could listen to something other than Dora or Primary songs. She of course was repeating her, "But you lied!" mantra the whole time. Ugh. She started to tell the horrible betrayal story to Daddy at dinner but I nipped that in the bud! I do love her and she was amazingly well behaved at the grocery store today, so I should give her credit for that. She also asked me why Daddy and Jill weren't home yet over and over again. Starting around 11 a.m. Ugh. :)
Natalie is on the verge of being more verbal. She's telling me exactly what she wants and needs and I just am not bright enough to get it. That's how I feel anyway! She grunts, points, screeches, etc. I can't wait until I can understand her better! She's been saying shoes, socks, ball, and lots of other stuff in French and Chinese, I think. :) She insists on removing her diaper several times a day and I'm getting really tired of that. She is a snuggle bunny and I love to hug her. She and Miranda love to fight and she definitely knows how to let Miranda know to leave her alone! We're working on the no hitting thing. :(
Ben got two new suits over the weekend while we were in Dallas, so he's set to look more like a High Councilman and a Planning Division Manager. :) I'm really busy trying to get the little kids some enrichment, Jill to her piano lessons and Girl Scouts and school activities (field trip this week!), and myself some "Brandi time." I'm going on a temple trip with the RS (morning) and youth (afternoon) this weekend in Lubbock and I'm going to the Time Out For Women conference in San Antonio in two weeks. Lots of baby showers, play groups, and PTA work inbetween. Yikes, I'm tired and I may go to bed now. It's only 8:30. If only... :) Thanks for all the people who commented with nice thoughts for me. Love y'all!
We got to visit Ben's parents this weekend and we had a nice visit. The 3 1/2 hour drive there went as well as could be expected. There was only one quick potty break off the side of the road because she couldn't tell us BEFORE we passed the last rest stop for 30 miles! And the drive back was ok with only minor issues. Miranda dumped a half full water bottle on her lap (on accident of course -- "I was TRYING to be really careful!") but we were only five minutes from home, so we all had a good laugh about that. :) So typical travel with kids, I guess.
Ben's sister is moving to Minnesota and stopped by Texas on her way, so it was fun to see her and her three boys too. Ben's brother in Vegas called home while we were there to let us know he's bringing his girlfriend home for Christmas, so we're all excited to meet her!
Jill is still loving school. She started Girl Scouts and her first activity was last week at the roller skating rink. She was so good! No pro of course but, being my kid, I really thought she'd be on her bum most of the night. She wanted me to help at first but then she kept pulling her hand from mine saying, "I think I got it Mom." So she went around the whole thing twice with no help and no falls. Then she wanted some company, so I just walked around with her but she really only fell a few times and we were there for over an hour. I was so proud of her for wanting to try something new (I was always such a 'fraidy cat when learning anything new and if I didn't do it perfectly the first time, I wanted to give up!) and she really did a great job. She is such a sweet and sensitive girl and I can always count on her to cheer me up when I feel like crying. :)
Miranda is as adorable as she is aggravating. I love her like crazy but she sure pushes my buttons every single day. Today I took dinner to a VERY pregnant friend of mine who is on bedrest. I had the girls with me and they wanted to come in. I told the girls I was just going to give her the food at the door and come back. But when I got there, she invited me in to see the baby's room (it is SO beautiful and everything is handmade and looks like it's from a posh baby boutique!). I really wanted to see it and I didn't want to hurt her feelings by NOT going to look at it, so I took a quick 1 minute tour and then told her I had to get back to my kids. The entire ride back Miranda told me that I had lied and she was so upset! :( I faded the speakers to the front of the van and turned the volume up on a great Phil Collins song and blared it the whole way home trying to remember the days when I could listen to something other than Dora or Primary songs. She of course was repeating her, "But you lied!" mantra the whole time. Ugh. She started to tell the horrible betrayal story to Daddy at dinner but I nipped that in the bud! I do love her and she was amazingly well behaved at the grocery store today, so I should give her credit for that. She also asked me why Daddy and Jill weren't home yet over and over again. Starting around 11 a.m. Ugh. :)
Natalie is on the verge of being more verbal. She's telling me exactly what she wants and needs and I just am not bright enough to get it. That's how I feel anyway! She grunts, points, screeches, etc. I can't wait until I can understand her better! She's been saying shoes, socks, ball, and lots of other stuff in French and Chinese, I think. :) She insists on removing her diaper several times a day and I'm getting really tired of that. She is a snuggle bunny and I love to hug her. She and Miranda love to fight and she definitely knows how to let Miranda know to leave her alone! We're working on the no hitting thing. :(
Ben got two new suits over the weekend while we were in Dallas, so he's set to look more like a High Councilman and a Planning Division Manager. :) I'm really busy trying to get the little kids some enrichment, Jill to her piano lessons and Girl Scouts and school activities (field trip this week!), and myself some "Brandi time." I'm going on a temple trip with the RS (morning) and youth (afternoon) this weekend in Lubbock and I'm going to the Time Out For Women conference in San Antonio in two weeks. Lots of baby showers, play groups, and PTA work inbetween. Yikes, I'm tired and I may go to bed now. It's only 8:30. If only... :) Thanks for all the people who commented with nice thoughts for me. Love y'all!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
I Feel Hollow
My mom called me last night and told me she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is worried about me having a hard time. She is worried that I will worry about her too much. She's worried that now my risk of getting breast cancer has tripled and I need to get checked yearly from now on. She is the most selfless, wonderful mother I could ever ask for and an incredible grandmother and I am so upset that she has to go through this awful, miserable experience of a mastectomy and chemo. But she is a strong, healthy person and I feel strongly that she will be fine. It just REALLY stinks that she has to go through this at all. She's only 55! Please keep her (Nancy) in your prayers please. Thank you.
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