Question of the Day

What single event in the life of a first grader makes her choose to wear her favorite cardigan with her dad's reading glasses while wishing we had the foresight to buy gray hair spray and curlers??

Dressing like she is 100 for the 100th day of school

Briggs Says...

Briggs is continually cracking me up with the cute little things he says.  He's got lots of cute mispronunciations and misconceptions and misunderstandings.  He's at a really fun (and funny) age.  I know that some of these may not translate well into writing, but I want to archive them here to help me remember this time in his life.

Briggs has cute little ways of saying lots of things.  He calls lollypops "wallypops" and his humidifier is his "sumidifier."  He says "lello" for yello, "farkley" for sparkley, and "sings" for things.  He also sometimes drops first syllables of words, like saying "brella" for umbrella and "struction cones" for construction cones.

Briggs often makes one syllable words into two syllable words by saying the "-ed" at the ends of words.  For example, he will say "I bonk-ed my head" or "I dropp-ed my cup."

Briggs likes to help in the kitchen.  If someone is cooking in the kitchen, Briggs will say, "I want to help make."  He doesn't say "make dinner" or "make cookies" or "make lunch."  Just "I want to help make."

The other night, we were talking about Paris and Europe.  Briggs was confused, thinking we were talking about carrots and syrup.

Briggs loves to make his sisters laugh.  Unfortunately, he has realized that "potty talk" always gets his sisters giggling.  He is now constantly talking about pee-pee and poo-poo and tooting and bottoms and being naked and shaking his bootie.  He has also learned how to make himself burp at the dinner table.  I blame his Y chromosome.

If Briggs is playing with something breakable or one of his sister's special things or something really small, I often tell him to be careful with it so it doesn't get lost or broken.  The other night I was putting Briggs's lotion on him after bath.  He said, "Don't put lotion on my tummy."  When I asked him why I couldn't put lotion on his tummy, he said, "Because it's small and special and glass."

Briggs gets many of his clothes as hand-me-downs from his cousin Liam, who is 7.  The other morning Briggs told me, "My shoes are too tight so we can give them to Liam."

The other day I was telling Adelie that she was going to Melody's house for a playdate.  Briggs asked if he was going to.  I told him, "No.  Only Adelie gets to go."  Briggs responded, "Maybe I can go when I'm a girl."  I guess he's blaming that Y chromosome too.

I love this little guy and all the ways he makes me smile.

Those ways include the pajama-rainboots (on the wrong feet)-balloon ensemble.

Learning Time

I recently made an alphabet matching game to help Adelie recognize her lower case letters and match them with the upper case letters.  She played a game of it yesterday with Zach.  After the game, we had this conversation:

Me:  "So who won the matching game?  Did Daddy win or did you win?"
Adelie:  "I won.  I think I got 71 cards."
Me:  "I don't think you could have gotten that many.  There are only 52 cards in the game, so you couldn't have gotten more than 52."
Adelie:  "Oh yeah.  Now I remember.  I think maybe I got 60."

I guess next I have to make a math game.

Childhood

It's easy to fill up our children's lives.  Birthday parties.  Playdates.  Family outings.  Sports.  Activities.  Homework.  Art projects.  Structured family time.  As a parent, I often feel compelled to make sure I'm helping my kids create memories or build skills or foster relationships.  I often feel like it's my responsibility to make sure their childhoods are filled with fun, happy memories.  And then my kids remind me that they are very capable of creating memories and building skills and fostering relationships all by themselves.

Staley and Adelie spent over 4 straight hours this afternoon setting up and playing doll hotel.  They had the best time!  It wasn't my idea.  I didn't help them figure out how to arrange the furniture.  I didn't suggest decorations or scenarios.  I didn't show them how to use scrap materials, headbands and bandanas to make doll clothes and bedding.  I wasn't involved in their play.  They worked together to create a whole new doll world in the basement.  They helped each other, shared, compromised, and had a great time together in the process.  This is memory creating at its finest, and it never would have happened if I had planned out their day for them.  Sometimes I need the reminder...

...that this is what childhood is all about.

Seven Years Old

As hard as it is to believe, my Staley is already 7 years old.  As is my tradition, this is my yearly blog post about Staley at her new age.  At 7 years old, Staley is 46.5 inches high and 48 pounds.  Clothing sizes vary at this age, but she is primarily wearing size 6/6X/7 clothes and size 12 shoes.  Staley has lost 6 teeth, although only 2 of her adult teeth have come in.  Her teeth are very close together, so we are going to see an orthodontist next month to determine how we can make enough room for her adult teeth.  Staley is in first grade with Mr. Garber as her teacher this year.  She is currently enrolled in Stage Kids (preparing for a spring performance of Mulan, Jr.) and Broadway Dance (a new class Staley is trying instead of her show choir).  She also attends Awana on Wednesday nights at a church here in town.

So many missing teeth!

Likes:  Staley loves school.  She loves singing, dancing, and performing.  At home, she and Adelie often put on costumes and perform original plays, generally directed, designed, and starred in by Staley.  Staley enjoys cooking, arts and crafts, drawing, writing stories, and generally engaging in creative pursuits.  Staley and Adelie enjoy playing American Girl dolls and Barbies together. She loves imaginative play--playing school, house, pet hospital, hotel, fairies, mermaids,...  It doesn't take toys for Staley to create her own fun. 

Staley and Grace

Staley loves to read and can often be found reading to her brother and her sister.  She is an excellent reader, and current books/series that she's been reading are Beezus and Ramona, the Wellie Wisher books (to Adelie), and the Horse Crazy series.  Zach is also reading the girls the Frog Princess series.  (They are on the 7th book in the series.)  We don't watch TV or movies very often, so Staley doesn't really know what shows are on.  If we do watch a television show, it is generally Dora, Paw Patrol, or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which Staley still readily watches with her brother and sister.  She remains very sensitive to "scary" movies and shows, but she really enjoys the American Girl movies.  Staley loves to play games.  Favorites include Apples to Apples, Ticket to Ride, Shut the Box, Spot It, Tumble, Authors, and Connect 4.  When we get to play outside (it seems like its been forever), Staley enjoys riding her bike, riding her scooter, climbing trees, and doing monkey bars at the playground.  She also loves to swim. 

My little reader

Staley is generally a good eater, eating most everything I make except for veggies.  She really likes grill food, tacos, pizza, many casseroles, meatballs, pancakes, fruit, and most sweets (except cake).  She is pretty adventurous now with eating hot lunch at school most days.  Staley's best friend from school is Reese, who was in her class last year.  They generally play together at recess and go to Awana together on Wednesday nights.  Staley has a wide circle of other friends that she spends time with at school and church and Stage Kids and in the neighborhood.  Her siblings and cousins still remain some of her best friends.

Sisters make the best friends.

So do cousins!

Dislikes:  Staley is still sensitive to many things.  Although we rarely have clothing drama like we used to, Staley is still picky about her clothing.  Unless it's required for a play or performance, Staley will not wear jeans, tights, shirts with appliques, lace, or anything binding, itchy, or uncomfortable.  She is sensitive about having her teeth cleaned/brushed, shots, and splinters.  When it comes to pain, tough she is not.  Staley does not always like when things are not her idea, although has been getting better about that in some ways.  She does not usually cave to Adelie's ideas or younger playmates, but will sometimes concede to older playmates (like older cousins) or me.  Staley continues to demonstrate anxiety about new situations or settings.  She does not handle it well if we are not somewhere to pick her up immediately when something is over or if something isn't going how she expected it to.  She often is in tears if she doesn't see us during the closing time at Awana or if our Sunday School class gets out a little after hers.  She also still has a weird anxiety about a movie/show ending and the credits beginning.  Staley does not like vegetables.  She will not wear a life vest or floaty.  She is sensitive to smells, often complaining about smells that no one else is aware of.  Although Staley still has her sensitivities and anxiety and a mind of her own, most of her days now are free from tears and drama. 

Skills:  Staley may not be the most coordinated child, but she is very determined.  She can ride a bike without training wheels, do all the monkey bars at school, swim pretty well, and jump rope.  She draws pretty well and has nice handwriting.  She loves to do craft projects, and has recently learned to make rubber band bracelets and tie crafts. 

Staley making rubber band bracelets.

Staley is very helpful and independent.  She can cook with very minimal assistance (mostly for the oven and making sure she is measuring the correct amount), supervises clean up time, will help set/clear the table, can remove her sheets, and is a great help with her siblings.  Staley and Adelie play really well together, but Staley is always very sweet and helpful with Briggs.  She can get him into and out of his crib, and will try to help him get his socks or shoes or coat on.  Not only does she play well with her siblings, she also reads to them, supervises them, and gets great enjoyment out of the cute or funny things they do.  She will even make them behavior charts or provide them positive reinforcement for doing something good or nice.  She is just a great big sister!!  Staley gets herself dressed, takes her own bath/shower, brushes/flosses her own teeth, combs/parts her hair, and coordinates her own outfits.  (She still sometimes needs prodding to move things along as quickness is still not a strong suit.) 

What a great big sister!!

Staley remains very bright.  She is able to read almost anything, although still loves to be read to.  She masters math facts very quickly, and can do addition, subtraction, simple multiplication, and simple division.  She can also tell time on a analog clock and is beginning to learn money values.  Staley learns things quickly and has an amazing memory.  For Awana, Staley has already completed a book and a half this year.  She memorizes her verses very easily.  For example, she memorized the books of the New Testament in about 5-10 minutes and the 23rd Psalm in about 5 minutes...and then remembers them weeks later.  She also has no problem memorizing lines for her plays, often learning all her lines within the first week of getting a part.

Reading to Adelie

As a quintessential first child, Staley is a rule follower and a pleaser.  She never wants to be in trouble and is quick to point out when others are not following the rules.  Staley is still quick with an excuse or an explanation or a shift of the blame when she is getting in trouble.  She has a mind of her own and knows exactly what she likes and doesn't like.  Staley is very sweet and cuddly, still liking to sit on my lap, cuddle on the couch, give me hugs, and hold my hand.  She gets excited when I come to help at her school.  Staley is more happy to be at home than on the go.  Even though she enjoys school and Awana and Sunday School, Staley is never too sad about missing activities if it means she gets to stay home.  With her anxieties and sensitivities, I think home is just a safe place for her...and I love my little homebody.

Time flies and 7 years has gone by in a blink.  So much has changed, but many things about Staley remain constant.  She has always been my sweet, sensitive, loving, smart, helpful, independent, amazing little girl.  I can't wait to see where this life takes her!

I sure do love my 7 year old!!

The Dentist: A Tale of 3 Kids

Once upon a time there were 3 kids who had to go to the dentist.

The oldest said, "I don't want to go to the dentist."
The youngest said, "I don't want to go to the dentist.  I want you to play with me."
The middle said, "I LOVE the dentist!"

The kids went to the dentist.
The oldest cried quiet tears as she tried to be brave.
The youngest clung to his mother.
The middle was as happy as she could be.

The kids got their teeth cleaned.
The oldest was anxious, fearful, tearful, and held her mother's hand the whole time.
The youngest screamed every time he had to lay back, even though he was sitting on his mother's lap.
The middle didn't care that her mother wasn't even in the same cubicle as her.

The dentist examined their teeth.
The oldest opened wide with fearful eyes and held her mother's hand.
The youngest opened wide so he could scream.
The middle happily complied with anything anyone wanted her to do.

The kids finished their visits.
The oldest picked two prizes because she was scared but did her best.
The youngest picked one prize that he didn't deserve.
The middle picked the messiest prize because that's just who she is.

After talking with the dentist, two of the kids have baby teeth really close together, indicating the probability for extensive orthodontic needs.  The other one is fine for now.

Seven years later, there were 3 kids.  2 of them dreaded going to the orthodontist every 3 months.  The middle one cried because she didn't get to go.

Birthday FUN!

In lieu of a birthday party this year, we instead planned a birthday activity.  And what an activity it was!!  Staley, Adelie, and I were joined by Zach's sister Jill, her two girls, and both grandmas for a girl's trip up to Chicago to the American Girl store.

Instead of driving up to Chicago, we took the train from Bloomington.  It has never been easier getting my girls out of bed before 6 a.m. than by telling them we had to get ready to meet their cousins at the train station.  I wish I could use that as motivation every morning.

The girls had lots of fun together on the train.  We secured this little alcove where the girls could roam and play.  They snacked, visited, played games, looked at the American Girl catalog, and even found the time to write, practice, and perform a play.

There was plenty to see and do, and none of us had to drive in downtown Chicago.  Winner, winner!

The girls were so excited to arrive at the American Girl store.  It's truly an experience!  The girls explored the whole store, making sure to see everything before deciding what they wanted.  Each girl had some money to spend, and everyone was so excited with their purchases.

After all that shopping, we then enjoyed a special lunch at the American Girl Café.  It was so cute! They had chairs for the dolls, each doll got a teacup and saucer, and the napkin rings were hair bows.  

What could be more fun than eating a fancy lunch with your cousins and your dolls??

Topping it off with dessert, of course.

After lunch, we spent a little more time at the American Girl store.  When it was all said and done, we spent about 4 hours there!

And this face says it all.  Such a great experience!

We rounded out the rest of our afternoon with a stop at the Lego store...

...and the Disney store.  I love how the girls took over the little Disney castle to play with their dolls.

Since we didn't want Briggs and Zach to miss out on all the birthday fun, they then drove up to Chicago with my dad to meet us for an overnight while Cathy, Jill, and her girls took the train back.

When you go to lunch with Daddy and Grandpa, this is what you get.  And yes, apparently he ate almost the whole thing.

After checking into our hotel, we met Uncle Ethan for dinner at the Rainforest Café.

Briggs was scared of the animatronic snake...and gorillas...and the thunderstorm that occurred every hour.  Other than that, the restaurant was a big hit.  And it was nice for our 3 tired kiddos who had gotten up early and/or hadn't gotten a nap that we were eating someplace where they didn't have to worry about being too loud or fidgety and where walking around while waiting for dinner was encouraged.

After a good night's sleep and a quick breakfast in our hotel room, we headed to the Museum of Science and Industry to round out our Chicago fun.

The kids really enjoyed the museum.  The Idea Factory was a children's play area that all 3 kids really enjoyed.  They also liked the Fairy Castle Dollhouse, the baby chicks, the fun house mirrors, the farm area, the weather area...  Each exhibit we visited had lots of hands-on fun that the kids enjoyed.

Briggs loved the huge model train set.  He would have been happy doing nothing else.  Zach really liked the submarine.  In the same way that Briggs could have spent hours watching the trains, Zach probably could have spent hours checking out the submarine exhibit.

We filled our morning (and early afternoon) with museum fun before heading for home.  What a great week-end we had.

I think this birthday girl (and her dolls) would declare it a huge success!!