Keeping Busy

While cooped up inside all day awaiting Hurricane Irene, the girls enjoyed working on an art project. They painted the wood frames the day before, letting them dry overnight. Using glue, they added buttons and sequins. I still need to cover them with Modge Podge to ensure everything stays put.

New Park

Last week we ventured out and found a new park not far from our house. I can't believe we have lived here for 7 years and didn't know this place existed. There are hiking trails, a swimming hole, playground and more. Unfortunately, the bacteria levels can be high at this time of year, so we weren't able to swim. The girls had a great time on the playground and pretending the sand volleyball court was the beach!

Hot Commodity

My girls LOVE pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, so just yesterday I started up a batch (my third this summer). I had intended to halve the recipe, but midway realized I had not. After all the wet ingredients were mixed, I realized I was short a can of pumpkin. Wrapped it up, put it in the fridge, piled the girls into the car and off we went to our local Hannafords (our second trip that day!) Horrors of all horrors, the shelf was depleted of canned pumpkin. There had been several cans earlier that morning. What wierdos besides me use so much pumpkin during the summer?! I checked at three other stores only to come out empty handed. So much for pumpkin muffins until the holidays I suppose.

New Wheels

My sister-in-law had lent us my niece's old bike with training wheels, since my niece is now starting second grade and is onto bigger and better things. We need to return it in a couple of years however since my youngest niece (same age as Pupetta) will need it. We were happy for their generosity and for the prospect of saving some money. The lender bike is quite nice. It's a Specialized and it retails for about $130. A good, solid, bike. One would think Little Miss Sunshine would be thrilled about this bike, but she demonstrated a low preference for it and continued to seek out her beloved princess trike which is too too small for her now. While at Walmart one day, we strolled past the bike isle, and there it was! A beautiful bright pink Hello Kitty bike calling her name. It was just her size, color, and even had real ribbons hanging from the grips. After mulling it over a few days, I convinced Guitar Daddy that it would be a smart purchase since we would only have to buy one for Pupetta in a couple of years anyways. This way, Little Miss Sunshine would have some motivation and ownership and hopefully learn to ride a bike. Then, it could be passed down to Pupetta in time.

Little Miss Sunshine was not just given the bike. She had to earn it. After completing certain tasks, or showing good behaviors, she earned one token (a colored poker chip purchased at a teacher's store). After earning 10 tokens, she traded them in for one Hello Kitty token. After earning 6 Hello Kitty tokens (60 tokens in all) she would earn her bike. It took about a month and a half to earn the bike and towards the end I was more lenient with the token earning as I really just wanted her to have time to practice riding the bike. Finally, trade in day came! I should have bought the bike and stored it, but that would have been too easy. I waited until she had the tokens and then most of the local Walmarts were sold out. We located one online at a store an hour away. We hopped into the car and went out on our drive through rain, thunder and lightening. Finally, we arrived, and all were happy. Even Pupetta who got a new helmet out of the trip.

It's Potty Time!!!!!

Pupetta had he first success on the potty this past week! She actually told me she needed to do "poo poos" and she asked to sit on the big potty. Right away she earned a coveted Abby Cadabby sticker and a Starburst. Later that morning, we headed over to Hannafords and purchased mini marshmallows. This would be the perfect potty treat for her as she LOVES marshmallows. (Grandma keeps a stash for her at her house.) Naturally, she now has no interest in sitting on the potty again, but she will in time. I learned from my first time around with Little Miss Sunshine to be low key about it. My approach was over the top behavioralistic and it included taking data just like a true special educator. Too much pressure!!!!! (on both of us). So, I have told myself to just let it unfold and in time it will all work out.

Little Lamps

"My friends are little lamps to me, Their radiance warms and cheers my ways, And all the pathway dark and lone Is brightened by their rays. I try to keep them bright by faith, And never let them dim with doubt For every time I lose a friend A little lamp goes out.”

Elizabeth Whittemore

How thankful and comforted I am for the gospel to know that our little lamps of friendship NEVER need to go out.

Ten is Tin!!!!!

Ten years ago today - sealed in the Boston Massachusetts Temple. The traditional gift for 10 years is tin. Any ideas? Our babysitter just bailed, so we'll be having a rain check night out I suppose. Now it's last minute throw together a surprise nice dinner. At least I have a card :-) Oh, and hydrangeas are in order for a centerpiece since that was our wedding flower.

First Day

Today was Pupetta's first day of toddler group at her early intervention. Previously she attended a parent/child group where I accompanied her for the duration of the group. She moved up into a group of children a little older and now I drop her off (sniff). To ease the transition, she has the same teacher as she did for the previous group and Little Miss Sunshine had the same teacher as well. Pupetta was thrilled to have her own backpack and head off to "school" just like her big sister. Looking forward to next week.