Our house has gone from pretty okay/straight/livable to a disaster zone in which you have to be careful of what you might step on. It's harder for me to fit in everyday pickup during the school year. Thus, I have less time to update my blog because I'm always trying to do another load of laundry, straighten up things that young children have brought into other rooms and abandoned (spoons in the bathroom, shoes in the kitchen, etc.).
Last year, Lou Lou's artwork was entered into the county fair art contest by her art teacher. She won for her grade level, which was wonderful. She had drawn and painted a picture of a clown. This year when the buzz of the fair began, Bear expressed interest in winning a ribbon since his sister had one. We got a paper in his homework folder about entering the fair talent competition. He said he wanted to so we began to get ready for the audition. He was going to sing "Jesus Loves Me" in 3/4 time with me accompanying him. He sang this at church and did a remarkable job. He was so comfortable doing this.
When time for the audition came, he stood up in front of 30-40 other auditioning children and their parents. This was a new place to sing, not near as familiar as the front of our church. He sang it fine, but not with the confidence that he had at church. Later the next week, the school secretary announced the students who would represent our school at the fair. Bear's name was not announced. I didn't like the way they did this, because all the children who didn't make it got the not-so-great news at the beginning of a school day, without the supportive words and hugs of their parents. I would prefer that they call the parents and let them tell their children. Anyway, Bear didn't mention it to me, so I didn't mention it to him.
Earlier this week, Lou Lou began asking me (in the car in front of Bear) when Bear was going to the fair to sing. Oops! I should have brought it up with him in private, and I'll do that next time. When I said that the music teacher had chosen some other students this time, he seemed sad but didn't cry. This was on the way to school. When we got to school, they announced over the intercom during the morning announcements that Lou Lou's artwork had once again been chosen to represent at our school at the fair. They also said one of Bear's friend's names as well as that friend's sister. Earlier this week, they had announced Lou Lou and this same friend as winners of the 1st grade fair coloring contest. All this information in one week is a lot for a six-year old. I called his wonderful teacher just to check on him, and she said he was going to be the very first Star of the Week. She has twins of her own so she understands the dynamics that go along with twins. She made such a big deal about him being the Star of the Week, and she told me she wanted him to feel that everybody had a place to shine.
I worked very hard, maybe too hard, when the twins were younger to make everything fair for them. They completely understand fair but have a hard time understanding when things aren't fair. I"m so excited for Lou Lou because art stuff comes so natural to her. I feel bad for Bear, but I guess maybe it's good for him to experience firsthand that everything's not fair.
This morning, during the announcements, my students were wide open, so I didn't hear what the announcements were about. However, I did hear something about "art" and they once again called Lou Lou's name. Way to go, Lou Lou! Hang in there, Bear!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Boys Actually Do Lose Teeth!
So the Bear finally lost his first tooth. I remember last summer after the twins' first trip to the dentist, Bear wanted me to constantly check his teeth to see if his were actually loose. The dentist had told us that both twins had loose teeth, but Lou Lou's teeth were much looser than Bear's. In fact, I could hardly move any of Bear's teeth at all. In early spring of 2008, Lou Lou lost her first tooth and her second followed shortly. Bear was discouraged, and wondered if his teeth would ever even feel loose.
Last week, it finally happened. On one of my recent checks, I told him that both bottom front center teeth did seem much looser. I offered to pull them when they were ready, but he didn't commit. On Monday of last week, he walked in my room with a zipped up sandwich bag containing his first lost tooth. He said that he kept wiggling it with his tongue all during the school day until it just fell out.
My memories of losing my own teeth mostly surround my PaPa, who would offer me $5.00 if I let him pull my teeth. I said yes every time. I also remember my first grade teacher's assistant pulling a few of my teeth.
Bear's other front bottom center tooth is loose now, so loose that it sits crooked in his mouth, just waiting to be wiggled enough to fall out.
Catching up...Apparently, finding time to update is more difficult during the school year. The twins' school year has gotten off to a great start. They've had just a smidge of reading homework, enough to give them something to do without feeling overwhelmed. They both seem to enjoy reading. This past week, while reading over his story, Bear seemed to get frustrated and not want to do it because it was "too hard". I knew that the story wasn't too difficult for him. Instead, he was just plain tired and didn't want to do it. I suggested to him that he read with different voices. For example, he read one page like a grandma, one page like a monster, one page like his Daddy, etc. This gave him the spark he needed to get the reading done. He's read like that every night since.
My oldest niece, Necie, started kindergarten this year, and just finished her first full week. I haven't actually talked to her because she's always asleep by the time I'm able to call, but she loves school according to her mother, YaYa. I can't wait to talk to her in person about "big school".
This year, Lou Lou started taking dance again. She took when she was four but didn't seem to enjoy it. Now she's taking at a different place. Her teacher is a Christian woman who started a dance ministry called Dance for Christ. Lou Lou seems to have so much fun, and for the past two weeks, they've been participating in some kind of Noah's Ark dance. I'm glad to have Lou Lou with a teacher who has a love for Christ.
Bug has of late fallen madly in love with both of her sisters. She absolutely adores Lou Lou, and has been so sweet with Birdie. Lou Lou has done a good job of including Bug and making her feel special, rather than just being annoyed with her. They're taking showers together, and Lou Lou does most of the work with bathing Bug, which makes Bug feel so big and important.
Birdie is pulling up a lot more lately, and has discovered that she can climb up the stairs. She only says "MaMa" and "Hey". It's amazing how much little babies notice and learn...Whenever Birdie picks up a hairbrush, telephone, headband, etc., she knows exactly what to do with it. She loves all the big kids, and Bear works extra hard at playing with her and trying to make her laugh.
Bear is doing a little better at not aggravating the girls so much. However, last night, he was teasing Bug by pretending to put her baby doll in all the different parts of her play kitchen rather than the baby bed. Of course, Bug screamed "No" and then Bear so innocently said, "Oh, I thought that was the baby bed" with a grin across his face.
Last week, it finally happened. On one of my recent checks, I told him that both bottom front center teeth did seem much looser. I offered to pull them when they were ready, but he didn't commit. On Monday of last week, he walked in my room with a zipped up sandwich bag containing his first lost tooth. He said that he kept wiggling it with his tongue all during the school day until it just fell out.
My memories of losing my own teeth mostly surround my PaPa, who would offer me $5.00 if I let him pull my teeth. I said yes every time. I also remember my first grade teacher's assistant pulling a few of my teeth.
Bear's other front bottom center tooth is loose now, so loose that it sits crooked in his mouth, just waiting to be wiggled enough to fall out.
Catching up...Apparently, finding time to update is more difficult during the school year. The twins' school year has gotten off to a great start. They've had just a smidge of reading homework, enough to give them something to do without feeling overwhelmed. They both seem to enjoy reading. This past week, while reading over his story, Bear seemed to get frustrated and not want to do it because it was "too hard". I knew that the story wasn't too difficult for him. Instead, he was just plain tired and didn't want to do it. I suggested to him that he read with different voices. For example, he read one page like a grandma, one page like a monster, one page like his Daddy, etc. This gave him the spark he needed to get the reading done. He's read like that every night since.
My oldest niece, Necie, started kindergarten this year, and just finished her first full week. I haven't actually talked to her because she's always asleep by the time I'm able to call, but she loves school according to her mother, YaYa. I can't wait to talk to her in person about "big school".
This year, Lou Lou started taking dance again. She took when she was four but didn't seem to enjoy it. Now she's taking at a different place. Her teacher is a Christian woman who started a dance ministry called Dance for Christ. Lou Lou seems to have so much fun, and for the past two weeks, they've been participating in some kind of Noah's Ark dance. I'm glad to have Lou Lou with a teacher who has a love for Christ.
Bug has of late fallen madly in love with both of her sisters. She absolutely adores Lou Lou, and has been so sweet with Birdie. Lou Lou has done a good job of including Bug and making her feel special, rather than just being annoyed with her. They're taking showers together, and Lou Lou does most of the work with bathing Bug, which makes Bug feel so big and important.
Birdie is pulling up a lot more lately, and has discovered that she can climb up the stairs. She only says "MaMa" and "Hey". It's amazing how much little babies notice and learn...Whenever Birdie picks up a hairbrush, telephone, headband, etc., she knows exactly what to do with it. She loves all the big kids, and Bear works extra hard at playing with her and trying to make her laugh.
Bear is doing a little better at not aggravating the girls so much. However, last night, he was teasing Bug by pretending to put her baby doll in all the different parts of her play kitchen rather than the baby bed. Of course, Bug screamed "No" and then Bear so innocently said, "Oh, I thought that was the baby bed" with a grin across his face.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)