Our Kids

Sitting outside in the morning and piper and phoebe are swinging on a chair. Piper is in full-on big sister mode… Was climbing with her, jumping on the trampoline, etc. Cutest thing: piper just started singing Phoebe’s favorite song to her (“Hello Sunshine” — also fun to hear Phoebe say it). Sweet kids.

Piper and Lela had their final piano recital this weekend. It was very exciting and quite overwhelming for some but more on that later. The girls did excellent, better than I expected. They sang and played a song with their class in which the kids did really well. Then they each played their own compositions on a grand piano (kind of different from the Casio keyboard, lol). I was super impressed with all the kids and the music they wrote. I know for us I did not help the girls write their songs at all which makes it all the more impressive. I don’t know what the future holds for the girls and music but I am sure their 3 years with Ms. Annell in the Let’s Play Music program will be a great foundation for what is next.

On the overwhelming front I think that the 1st grade play and then the recital were a bit much for Lela. Although she enjoyed them both and was excited for them both I think they really stressed her out. She spent a good hour or so crying today but I think it was just a venting of emotion. It didn’t seem to phase Piper in the slightest, at least not yet.

Phoebe absolutely loves talking to her Uncle JJ using Apple’s FaceTime video chat.  It’s simple to do — I setup an iPad, push a button, and all of a sudden we’re video chatting with JJ on his iPhone.  Sometimes I feel bad because he has to sit there for anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes holding his phone in front of his face, but most of the time I don’t think he minds.

Phoebe’s reaction to FaceTime will change with every call.  Sometimes she’s just a chatterbox — trying to convey some awesome story or tragedy in her life in her current only-phoebe-can-understand language.  Other times she’s shy — she’ll hide her face, smile shyly, or just giggle to herself and hide from the camera.  All of her reactions are absolutely adorable, of course.  

So now whenever Phoebe sees my iPad, she immediately perk up and say “JJ?”  I know she understands that the iPad does other things than call JJ (because she does those other things on her own after stealing an iPad!), but I’m pretty sure she’s convinced that if it’s nighttime and daddy’s iPad — we’re calling JJ.  

Just before bedtime is a great time to call Uncle JJ.  If we’re doing a no-nap day then by 6:30 or so Phoebe is just done.  Anything could set her off… even a smile from her dad (who doesn’t like those!?).  When that happens… out comes the iPad!  She perks right up and we can make it to 7:30… or 8, or 8:30, or 9… she’s a crazy sleeper these days.  

So a big thank you to the very understanding, and apparently entertaining, Uncle JJ

Well folks I feel like I have been strapped in to a roller coaster this week. But thankfully I did not fall out and I dare say I almost survived:) The girls had their end of year performance for the 1st grade and it was wonderful. Well it was wonderful aside from the part where I was at the fornt of a very cramped room with no way to get out easily with a screaming Phoebe. I managed to get out with Phoebe after about 32 excuse mes’ to all the people in the aisles. I did miss the flute playing but was able to come back in for the May Day Mother’s tribute. The girls and their teacher did such a wonderful job. I was coordinating the set up and all the refreshments so I got exactly NO pictures of the event, OY! Next year I am not going to be the class rep, repeat I will not be the class rep, I will not be the class rep. I adore the teacher but next year I have other fish to fry:) Anyway, 1st grade is rapidly coming to an end and I just can’t believe it. We are working on our summer plans and they look like they will include gymnastics, violin and even a quick trip to San Diego. I’ll say it again, bring on the summer!

Lela would like to learn how to play the violin. This is how she reminded us.

Today I took Landis to ballet with the bigs and Phoebe in tow. All was well, Landis was happy, the girls were watching Landis and Phoebe was all smiles (after yelling at me for about an hour post nap). There was another girl there about the same age as P and L. After a time they started to play together, hide and seek, chase and the like. Say wha???? That is right the girls actually met someone AND THEY LEARNED HER NAME.

Now I don’t know if they introduced themselves or if she introduced herself but they learned and remembered her name. That is a major milestone. I suppose it goes hand in hand with what Ms. F told us at this weeks parent conference. She said that Piper has become chatty cathy in class. She also said that she was glad for it and that she did not want us to talk to her about it (another reason she is so awesome, she sees that this is developmental for Piper and she knows that she can keep it under control). This is really great. Piper wants to take gymnastics and she always has and now she actually may be ready. Exciting times!!

OY! I really, really, really dislike nap transitions. Never liked them with any of the girls. I like them less than potty training and anyone who has done that knows it really isn’t a party. Phoebe is starting her nap transition and it kind of goes like this:

Monday: Tired from weekend naps at 9:30AM after yelling at you for over an hour, goes to bed at 10PM
Tuesday: So tired from staying up so late super grumpy, fights nap, wrestle her to nap, goes to bed kicking and screaming at 915P
Wednesday: Girls have half day, falls asleep in car, sleeps an hour, goes to bed at 1030PM
Thursday: Goes to sleep in car on the way to music class, sleeps 1 hour, goes to bed at 915AM
Friday: Fights nap, yelling, screaming, I drive her around for 30 minutes and finally falls asleep, sleeps for one hour…..we shall see

The crying screaming, nothing makes me happy baby is not working for me. I really don’t think it is working for her either but she doesn’t know it, that is what makes it so frustrating. I say ditch the nap but when we attempt the nap ditching she is some other kind of hot, crazy mess. This is the lose-lose scenario of nap giving up:) This too shall pass I know, I am taking deep breaths, medicating with chocolate and holding on for the ride.

So I have been a super grump lately. I really don’t know why. I have changed up my workout routine and have just been running but not every day. That may be it. Or it may be that my folks are heading back to Texas tomorrow and that could be it. It also could be that I have been self medicating with sugar in the form of brownies and that could definitely be it. Whatever it is I want it to go away.

I have so much to look forward to. I am really looking forward to having my kids home for the summer, I just can’t wait. I am looking forward to a break from the school, volunteering, running the kids here and there and all that. I am looking forward to doing things here at the house with the girls like knitting, modeling clay, painting and of course playing! We are going to plan a couple of trips for the summer and I think we finally will be able to see the fireworks and have at least 2, maybe 3 of the girls like them!

So funk go away and leave me be. Maybe I need a fruit and veggie feast to kick this attitude to the curb. But I still have a few brownies to eat:)