Our little dancer

Last night Reagan stayed up later than all the other kids because she took a long nap. Recently she has been into dressing up or wearing dresses everyday. Last night she put on one of her dress-up dresses with high heels. She said, "mommy, dance!" So I finished what I was doing and I put on some classical music and started dancing with her.

AFter a few minutes she said "mommy, shoes." and pointed to where I keep my shoes. So I go and get some 'dress up' shoes of my own.

So we dance a little longer and she says "Mommy, dress."

So I put a light dress on for her and we keep dancing.

I try and cherish these small moments with each of the kids. I want to remember them because I know they are whizzing past me. And I love how Reagan reminded me to take time to just, dance! :)

Shady

Ellie and Olivia went with me to do the laundry yesterday. Olivia wanted to stay in the car while I went in to get the clothes out of the washer. I told her I didn't want her to stay in the car b/c there are a bunch of shady people walking around.
"Do you know what shady is?" I asked.
"no." they replied.
"it's when your not sure if a person is good or bad but you get a feeling they are bad." I said.
after a moment of silence Olivia says, "Shady rhymes with Katie!"
"ha, ha, You're right Olivia!" I say.
"The opposite of shady is plain." Ellie says
"hmmmmmm.... I guess you could say that" I can't remember if I said it or thought it.

April 27

On the way home from Target Ellie says,
"I wish my life were different."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I wish I didn't spill my drink all over my carseat" Ellie replied.
"Well," I say, "life is full of struggles and trials and things we can't control. The sooner you realize that the easier your life is going to be." (I'm the real pessimist I know....but it's true!)
Ellie replies, "I'll try to do that as fast as I can."

Reagan wanted to go potty on her training potty seat. She sat down and said 'Not working!'

This is my attempt at a schedule. If there is anything I have learned over the last few years is that a schedule changes with the seasons, or the day, or the hour, depending on so many unpredictable upsets. But this magnet system seems to be working great so far. I'll keep you posted on how it's going in a few weeks...

When Olivia is done dancing she moves on to more exciting and death defying acts like lining up toys and jumping over them. I can't predict if she will be more into cliff diving or sky diving when she gets older? probably both.

The girls will entertain themselves for a long time if I put on some classical music. They will dance their hearts out for a good hour. Of course Olivia sneaks a little kiss to her brother...

I taught Ellie how to play the world's famous duet. She can play both the bottom part and top part. Not sure what's next. I'm not the best piano teacher. My patience is not something to brag about, nor to do I even know where to start. But I'll start with what I know, easiest first.

Reagan loves to hang with her buddy Bear. Whenever she is bored with what she is doing or done playing with her sisters she goes and sees what her always faithful friend is up to.

I walked in the living room to find this the other day. Reagan has been so gentle and loving toward Sears. She has never shown any jealousy or animosity toward him. She will say on occasion 'hold you, put baby down.' which means 'Hold me, and put the baby down!'

Easter 2010

We dyed Easter eggs on Good Friday. Reagan discovered how much she enjoyed the taste of a hard-boiled egg. Our red dye was pretty weak. But we made the best of it and had a great time. On Easter we spent the morning doing a few Easter egg hunts. After Sears did one for the girls they insisted on doing one for us (Sears won it of course). We went to church at poiema. Then spent the afternoon and evening with the Lopez family who we met doing Cares Team.