New Pictures of Ashlynn

Does she have to become a teenager?

Isabelle has been going through the "terrible twos", the problem is that she is 4 1/2 . I do not know what is going on, but last Friday night she had the biggest fit-throwing, yelling, screaming, kicking, meltdown that she has ever had. And of course we were in public. Then yesterday she did it again on the way to "school". She will ask for something and when she gets my answer and does not like it, she will keep asking and get more and more disrespectful with each request. Until we are both so mad at each other that we can not stand it. So yesterday, I finally decided that yelling, spanking, or giving a guilt trip was not doing the job. So, I told her she was punished from her babies. She could not play with any baby dolls that afternoon. Well, she went nuts. The babysitter could not believe that was Isabelle when we got there. She was hysterical (of course Amy says that she was an angel all day - it is just with me she becomes possessed). Anyway, so last night she had to survive with out playing with any baby's. She did very good, she never even asked to play with them, but did bring up the fact that she was punished several times. At one point, she came in there and began listing all of the things that she could have taken away if she did not behave. She said, "You could take my dolls, and then my colors and coloring books, then my scissors, then my lipstick, my gum, the TV, my Leapster, and you could not let me hold Ashlynn." Boy did she give me some good ideas. But, she was good all night. Then during her prayers, she said "Dear God, I am sorry for hurting mamma's feelings this morning. Help me not to do that again." I teared up. Of course she was probably smiling and thinking, "Watch this. This will get her." Anyway, I think that may have made her think about her actions, if only for one day!!! I can already see her when she is a teenager - whew!

Then, she got a phone call yesterday from her buddy Sydney. Now, I had no idea that kids could be so close to a friend at 4 years old. They are the best of friends and have been since they were crawling - I know you think I am crazy but the daycare used to tell me that they were always together, and while one slept, the other played under their crib until they woke up, and if one was out the other cried all day. Anyway, Isabelle has been having serious withdrawals since I took her out of Preschool and moved her to a home daycare with Ashlynn. She literally cries to go back, and not because she does not like Mrs. Amy's, but because she misses Sydney. Anyway, she called to see if Isabelle could spend the night. 53 minutes later my 4 year old was finally getting off of the phone. They talked like they were grown. "How is school?" I heard her ask. Then, "I will bring two nightgowns to our sleep-over so you can wear one. What else do you want me to bring?" I could not believe the conversations they were having. (and for almost and hour) At one point I went into the living room and she was laying sideways in the recliner with her legs crossed and hanging over the arm. She truly reminded me of my teenage years. I am scared!!!

First Grade !!!

I know, I know, I have been a terrible blogger lately. Camon has now been in school almost 5 weeks and I have not even posted pictures of his first day! Yes, I did take some. But, for the record it was a much easier first day - there were no tears from momma. Although I think I could have if I had hung around much longer. He was not really looking forward to going back, but that afternoon when I asked him if he liked it, he said, "No. I LOVED it!" That lasted a few days and then he started wanting Summer again. He said again this morning, "Momma, I wish this was the first day of Summer." He has a while to wait for that. But, he has not complained about going or given us any trouble. And he is doing tremendous. He told me that first day, "The best thing is that there is no nap (I will remind him of this when he is a teenager) and the worst thing is there is no snack time." The first week, we got home one afternoon and he asked for a snack. I told him just a minute and I would get him one. He said he would get it himself. I asked if he was sure he could get it, to which he replied, "Mom, I am in first grade now - what do you expect?" Then one of the funniest things that week was that he brought home math vocabulary the bad thing about it is that it was just the words with no definitions, but remember I have a degree in Math and taught it for 7 years. And, besides he is only in the FIRST GRADE, right. Well, sure enough there was a word that I was not sure of the definition - "pattern unit" - so as we were reviewing his homework I came to that and paused. I finally had to admit to him that I was not sure what that was. TO which he replied, "That is easy. It is the part in a pattern that repeats." Duh! I thought. Then he said,"I have already learned too much in the first grade." It was so cute. He has actually made a huge turn around with homework. Last year, it was torture. He would go on for 40 minutes about an assignment that might take him 5. But, this year he never complains. He sits down, does the assignment almost without any assistance, and finishes very quick. He is also doing great in school. He has only gotten off of "green" one time and that was for working ahead of the teacher on an assignment. I can not complain too much about that - he is just brighter than the other kids and does not need to wait for them - HA! Anyway, he is having a great year. And, we stared AWANA at our church this year and he is so excited about studying and learning scripture (he said as long as he does not have to get in front of the church to say it). He asks almost everyday if he can practice for AWANA. He is just doing great. I am so proud of him!!