happy hammocks

Last week we put up some hammocks for the children in the yard.  M has a hammock grandma L gave her years ago.  It is made with thin gauge cotton string, so it end up with wide holes where the weave has gotten pulled or stretched out of shape.  So I took a canvas shower curtain and strung it up.  Yay!  Sturdy hammock was born.  M practically lives in it.  I also put up a pink canvas curtain for the smaller children to lounge in.  It's been so fun. 

On Friday the little girl next door came over and showed the girls how they could use the hammock to do leg spins.  I've been trying to get the girls to do this for years!  I did them all the time in 2nd grade so literally for the last 2 years I've been trying to get M to do them.  I know that when I tried to do the tricks when I was in 4th grade, I couldn't do them anymore.  My body was starting to grow so and I was out of practice.

I'm so glad M is having such a happy childhood.  She meets new kids through our activities and gets to have so much fun.  And she's learning to spell and math and play the piano and flute.  Rock on M!  Get as many skills as you can use.  Above all the fun, learn to be grateful and give back.  Be the Santa you wish to see in the world.

I can't do everything myself!

M is so lovely.  I wake her up at midnight to go potty.  It's working well for us.  We got the girls room cleaned up yesterday.  I love how the girls are learning to manage their things.  They love it when their room is clean.  I hope to teach them a habit of keeping their area neat.

Today M was searching for my keys after church as I held a sleeping L.  G didn't help clean up and I heard M say "I can't do everything myself!"

I say this a lot...  I told her, "Hey, that's my line!"

That's my girl.  I'm so pleased with her willingness to help.

new dresses

M got some new dresses for Christmas.  One is a pull over that looks like 2 pieces.  M wears it with leggings so she can still sit like a small person and not have to sit like an adult.  The other dress M got is really a very nice tunic.  I explained to M that it looks long enough to wear with leggings, but since we're a family that wears skirts and dresses to church, she needed to wear a skirt with it.  Harsh!

Climbing

M has money that she has earned and she is the most interested in spending.  She likes to bring her wallet along to the store.  She likes to buy a treat and share it with her siblings.  On Saturday we went to the Greek Festival and she was able to buy her $5 in tickets to climb the climbing wall.  I try to brain wash them that they should spend their money on quality items, like a watch, or experiences.  I strongly discourage candy and junk purchases. 

It's fun to help them see value in experiences. 

New shoes

M has heretofore had used shoes with the exception of a few pair of church shoes over the years.  I feel like play shoes can be second hand.  Church shoes can also be second hand, but if we can't find any that look decent, I'll get new ones, because it's church!

Recently I got some new shoes for M and decided to also order a pair of saltwaters for her.  Her running shoes had the soled coming off and gorilla glue didn't fix it.  When the new running shoes came they were more white than the silver I thought.  Oh well.  The new sandals were visibly worn.  When I called the company they gave me a full refund and gifted us the shoes.  What a nice turn around.  I'm glad I am ok with used things, and I'm ok with calling the company if new items are not in new condition.

c***

M loves animals and is happy to shovel stuff if it means she gets to be with animals.  She's gotten several paid opportunities to pet sit.  Her dream is to work with pets.

I spend a lot of time trying to help her see that she doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to, except everything I tell her to do.  She has to do that.

She can be anything and I hope she develops a healthy sense of autonomy.  It's OK to say "No, I can't do that." and "No thank you."  Unless it's me asking/telling.  I love you M!

choices

I love M.  She is capable of doing so much and having so much happiness.  P and I love to give her opportunities to learn and do awesome thing.

Homeschooling M is different day to day.  Sometimes she doesn't want to do the work and other days she races through it and has the rest of the day to play and create.  For many years she did not have any girls in the homeschool co-ops to play with.  And at church she was usually the only child in her age group also.  The co-op we participate with now has girls and boys of her age.  She loves to hang out with girls and boys.  I love to see her playing sports and having a great time.