That Crafty Kid

I speak of the magnificent JM of course. Jm is baffling as she loves to tell me "I can't" then out of the blue comes up with these wonderful creations. Perhaps she is just a true artistic spirit and creates when the mood strikes. Perhaps she is waiting for inspiration or a muse.

Happy Birthday Ladybug Girl

JM Age 7

Outfit of choice on her birthday...brown...She wears a lot of brown. And really likes purple and pink. Mia sent the girls boots for part of their birthday gift.

Totally creative and very bright. Always making something, creating a game, collecting something, studying something or telling a story. She is such a playful, imaginitive child and loves her sisters. Not a fan of chores, washing hair or scary movies. Doesn't mind trying new foods and doesn't each much meat. Great reader, great hugger.

Birthday dinner of choice: scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

A gift to me.

The Jewelry Sale

JM makes jewelry all day sometimes and wanted to sell it so bad.  So at our neighborhood garage sale she went out.  I let her sell some baby clothes too.  At first it was a little disappointing but I let some neighbors know via email and we got a few sales. I don't have much patience for this.  2 hours was my limit.  But we had a good talk about how we set up, timing, taking breaks, pricing, choice of venue, and quality of product... So much to say really.  And I think she realized sales is hard work!  The design was way more fun!

Big Sis Goes to First!

Oh she is glowing!

It was Open House night and she was so ready to meet the teacher!

My guess is these pictures will be better than the first day of school because it's evening! This is not a morning household!

I love you beautiful girl! You are such a bright light to me! Glow On!

Bett and Papa with the Duck

Presenting Quacks the Duck

In Longview, JM participated in her first Theatre Camp and Artsview. Six and seven year olds put on The Tortoise and the Hare. JM was Quacks the Duck. It was so cute. JM was in the 'hare's gang' and had to act cool. They were doing it 50's style. Super cute music for the dance and singing numbers.

And we got to perform with L, who is my friend's daughter who we see most summers. They were super cute. I was so proud of JM for trying something new, having no fear and just showing what a kind and fun-heart she has through all of it. The lady who did her make up stopped to tell me how sweet JM was. JM apparently complimented her on her make-up job and the lady was a volunteer and it made her feel good. I love JM for making others feel good, even adults!! That's amazing!

Cool theatre experience for kids. Hope we get to do it again.

My Little Poser

One of JM's favorite things to do it pose with JE. What a doting sister!

A Krispy Kreme Morning

Hubby was out of town and my girls were oh so great, so we went our for a sweet treat when we woke up!

Graduating at Six!

I don't remember having a Kinder graduation...Maybe I did? Who knows, but nowadays, this is what you do! It was all super cute and I am so proud of my JM.

This is JM with her teacher, Miss Flowers (we always thought this was the perfect name for a Kindergarten teacher.) And on the right is her principal. I must give these wonderful ladies a lot of credit for making this school what it is. It seems like such a nurturing place. JM had nothing but good days.

 We especially have a soft spot for her adventure loving teacher. The class got together and gave her a zip line adventure for her end of year gift! I am not kidding when I say she likes adventure! She also of course is an awesome teacher. Everything just "clicked" academically this year for JM and she excelled at everything. I have a big reader on my hands!! If I go back and read what I wrote after her first day of school I can see I was a bundle of nerves in panic mode. And now, after quite a bit of prayer of course, I am quite calm.  I totally felt I was led by God to pick this teacher out of the clear blue sky and request her for JM at the beginning of the year and all the way through I could feel she was the right one to encourage creativity and fun, teach what she needed to know, and keep my little butterfly on track with a loving and positive attitude. I can't say enough good things about this teacher as a parent. And I am so grateful to God for getting JM and I through what is often an emotional year! Considering I was uncomfortably pregnant during the majority of the year, I think the year exceeded expectations!

Learning Time

JE is only 2 months old and the sisters have begun their hard core letter teaching!

Field Day 2010

JC, JE and I visited JM at Field Day.

Our neighbor was her 5th grade buddy.

JC got to ride too. We didn't stay long though. It started raining and they moved everything inside and JC really wasn't supposed to participate so we left before she got too annoyed.

The Aphid Hunt

Well at JM's school they didn't do "Easter", instead they did a ladybug Aphid/egg hunt. Which actually I thought was a nice alternative if they felt they had to keep "Easter" out of it. It went with their bug theme this spring. We went to support our little ladybug and JM of course took JC "under her wing" at school. :-)

Artistic Perspective

Well, I've always thought of JM as very creative. I enjoy watching her craft, make things, color and draw. This is a recent drawing that I just LOVE. She loves to sneak up on family members and scare them (daddy-learned thing) and she totally scared JC who was watching TV in the big leather chair. So, then she drew a picture of the event with a caption. She captured lots of fun details including our entertainment center, stereo and long Australian Didjeridoo instrument on the top!

Now here is one that actually sort of embarrasses her. Who knows why she drew it, but I loved it too and now she thinks its odd I like it. What is it? Well, just imagine you are inside a toilet bowl - now can you tell? That's right, it's a little bottom sitting on the toilet bowl with poop coming down and pee-pee splashing in and bouncing back up. We actually had to explain that the poop was actually causing the water to splash back up, not pee-pee. Yes, odd conversation. What I love about this drawing is the perspective. I love that she drew it as if you are either inside the toilet or perhaps it's a clear toilet? Well, this is one that will make her crazy that I kept!

Another Cowgirl

And of course JM had Texas day as well and got to wear Daddy's 30+ year old cowboy outfit!

What's Missing?

Well, that would be her 3rd baby tooth of course! And she loves her new smile!

Even better in the snow!

Being Verbal

My JC has always been a verbal child. She formed complete and long sentences at 2 or earlier. I always say JM was her teacher. JM was constantly drilling her on words, ie. "Repeat after me". So, now I still have a verbal JC, which sometimes surprises people until they get to know her because she does start off quiet.

So, the cons of being a great talker? Using words you hear and not using them correctly. This is also the highlight of my day. And other times she just uses big words that sounds funny coming out of her tiny mouth. BUT, she uses them correctly!

JC: He didn't go to high school that day so he didn't learn how to ice skate. (I think high school sounded like "ice school.")

OR

JC: Don't swim out into the ocean too far, or you'll get stung by a jellybean!

Then we have the ever-logical JM. Hubby was quizzing her:

Hubby: When JC is 6, how old will you be?

JM: 8

Hubby: When JC is 12, how old will you be?

JM: 14

Hubby: When JC is 100, how old will you be?

JM: Dead. (Let me note here there was no pause and no change in her tone of voice.)

100th Day of School!

Big Hearted Girl

JM and I went to this sort of math workshop at her school. The teachers give you info and advice and games to do with your kids to help them at home. JM is really a good student so I doubt it was needed, but it was good to get some info. Anyway while we are there JM does her normal routine of hugging teachers. Such a hugger. One teacher I didn't know though and I asked JM who she was. Jm said "I don't know, I just see her a lot." Hmmm typical...

So, later the same teacher comes to me and says something like "I just wanted to tell you that I am the special ed teacher and your child has the biggest, sweetest heart. She is so sweet and kind to all the kids I teach!" Well, melt my heart! JM is a sweetie and makes an effort to say hi to everyone she knows. She happens to know most all the special ed kids by name.

Part of her love and acceptance I know is age, and a little bit of her outgoing nature. But, I am convinced she is totally blessed by our bussing situation. I've mentioned before we ride the special ed bus as there aren't many buses at our school, so they just put all the kids that need to ride on one - which in a larger bussing community they wouldn't do. Well, what a way to create a diverse atmoshere. I think they have unknowingly created a great way for kids to interact and see we are all the same even if a little different at times. I give her driver a lot of credit for really teaching them from the get-go how to treat one another. Of course JM is nice to people anyway, so it just sort of reinforced that in this new siuation. My friendly little bug. I also have heard she likes to help push wheel chairs and stuff too.. uhhh yeah, the girl has no limits.

Nothing stops her when she wants to do something. Sometimes when she's bouncing off the walls inappropriately I have to remember it's the same little personality that can't control herself that also can't control herself to go up to people and help them and say hello and offer so much kindness. No hesitation.

Crafty Thanksgiving

The outfits JM made in school modeled by the Nalley sisters. JC, what is that look?

JM at her Thanksgiving feast. JC and I went to watch. And also this is some of her art that was hung in the halls. On the giant turkey each child designed a feather. I am thinking some of them had parental help since it was homework. :-) JM did not. Hers is the bottom left feather. She loves doing art herself.

Birthday at School!

Of course I had to come for JM's first big kid school birthday! Do other moms do this? ha Miss F seemed to think it was normal I guess! haha Or maybe she is just nice! We brought cupcakes and the kids sang happy birthday and Miss F has a certificate, bday hat you wear for the day and a birthday pencil. JM had a super day! I am glad I got to show up. What was funny was I dropped the cupcakes off in the morning and wasn't sure I'd make it in the afternoon for snacks and JM didn't even think it odd that I was back. It's not like I am up there every day! She was thrilled to get to serve sister a cupcake too!