Kid Fun

Play Nice!

Work!

 The little one basks in the sunlight...

 But we actually got a little work done!

Earlier I put a post up about the ugly grapevine that was destroying our yard,

taking up space, and was an awful mess!

The only good thing about it was the privacy...

I'll find another way to get privacy, thank you!

 Roger thought it strange that I asked for mulch for Mother's Day.

I don't know if he knew the work it would take other than 

calling the guy to dump a truck-load on our driveway!

:-)

I couldn't be happier!

I would have done before pictures, but I did not know that I would get so far...

And, it was a two or more week process!

So...as the little girl sits in the sun...

Owen learns to work for a "living."

The harder he works, the more money he can earn...

Is that an okay lesson to teach him now?

I wonder because I know some people who work very hard 

and don't make too much!  :-)

Gabby...

 I don't know if she will really be a gymnastics star, 

but she sure had fun today!

It was her "Spring Show" for her to "show off..."

 Gabby does well with structure...

 But then she's good at going out on her own...

 She can follow directions when her teacher is helping her...

 But then...

when no one is looking...

she just dives on the mat and flies every which way:

 Never thinking anyone is watching

(even though there had to be about 200 people in attendance!)

 other kids seem not to take notice when she skips around and around...

not bothering to to wait in line...

 falling...

 getting up and doing it all over again...

 Time to move on!

I smile...

 so does she.

 

 A "look at me!" type leap

 Each group "marches" to the next rotation.

May not look too fancy, but this is called the Bear Crawl...
I wonder what skill this leads to...

Little busy girl needed to do jumping jacks while waiting her turn.

At least she waited her turn this time!

 and for the finish...

With a flying leap:  Ta-Da!

Gabby has a way of wrapping almost anyone around her little finger.

Coach Amanda is not an exception.

Jumping on the "tram-a-jean"...

precursor to vault.  :-)

I never knew!

I tried so hard to capture little fancy pants

Strutting around--hands on hips, prancing on toes, 

marching from one thing to the next.

Wish I had a better angle...and lens!

"No-not Monkey Flips. We're doing Hanging Spider...

or something like that!?

When she wasn't prancing, she was running!

Doing whatever she wanted!  

Getting the hang of bars...flips

And at the end...!

A Trophy! ( A big one too!)

Gabby, take a picture with your teacher.

Can you hold up your trophy?

Can you smile?

"No!"

Good times.

We didn't sign her up for summer session...

But this was so much fun, and Gabby had a blast...

It made me want to get her signed up again.

Fall...or next winter maybe.

Soon enough.

Owen...

 I have not had time to update about one other thing of Owen's coming to a close.

Kindergarten graduation is in less than two weeks and Sparkies was over two weeks ago.

Growing up in AWANA makes me a proud momma.

 When I grew up, we had awards as they came.  

I don't remember there being a big night at the end to hand out book awards...

But maybe my memory is escaping me.

:-)

 We remembered to wear our vest this year!

 It's especially exciting when your daddy is a leader!

 So exciting that Gabby is already planning to be in Cubbies in September!

 

 Owen got his awards for finishing his book and doing the review too.

Proud boy...I am so glad he loves it

and he feels loved...

is safe...

is cared for...

Thank you Church

Experience, lessons, life...

It's all about preparation:

Make sure everything is in order...

Pretend you know what you're doing and always see if someone is watching...

Never hesitate to get approval from Mom and Dad...

Even if you don't get what the teacher says, do something...

Try, Try, Try again...success just may surprise you...

And after every task, congratulate yourself by saying, "I did it!"...

My little boy is so hard on himself that he can't finish a drawing if it doesn't look right.

My little girl is so stubborn she wouldn't cuddle with me for this picture...

Despite all the frustration...I smile...

One morning, they got up together and didn't even come wake me.

(Waking me or coming to find me is usually the first thing they do.)

As I slowly came to, I overheard a few things:

"Abbra Cadabbra!  Make Gabby Sleeping Beauty!"

I stayed in the warmth of my bed...a bit later, I hear:

"Mom, Gabby's digging in your purse...she found...candy canes!"

Then I was jolted a bit more awake when I heard a clunk on the bathroom floor:

"Mom, I painted myself!" 

Sleeping Beauty with purple feet?

Gabby's stubbornness is spilling over into other areas.

You see, Owen is a pleaser so he gets frustrated when he does not do the right thing.

This little girl, on the other hand, doesn't give a rip...

at least, I don't think she cares much.

She has successfully been going potty, but when she doesn't want to, she won't.

No cajoling, no encouragement, no reward, no threat has worked...

Admiring...

Any suggestions?  

She does find humor in it all.  She has told me on a number of occasions, 

"I need a new butt!"

If this tells you anything about her personality,

I also overheard her "talking" to Daddy on the her "phone,"

saying, "I don't care, daddy!"

Oh baby...3 going on 13!  Yikes! 

Yep, that's a moth!

 I got a call a few weeks ago from Owen's teacher.

She had overheard him with his friends, playing with some money.

She thought the money was fake at first.

And then she realized he had a $100 bill!

What is a 5-year old doing with that???

And, another kid was trying to tell Owen he'd give him $20 for the $100.

Believe me, since then, Owen and I have had quite a few talks about money!

But, before this even happened, I had overheard Gabby and Owen playing "McDonald's."

 He was charging her $99.99 for a happy meal.

If a happy meal is ever even $10 in my lifetime, I will croak from the thought!

After a few horrible night's sleep 

and frustrating "discussions" with a 3 and 5 year old (almost 6),

I needed this post.  

To remember and smile and lower my expectations.

They are so young and innocent. Naive. 

I should go...Gabby is trying to jump off the TV stand as I write this.

Good thing she's sturdy!