Sledding and swimming with the gang..we also invited cousin N along for the day of fun!!
N & Tuki
The older 4 & Ve playing with snow in the trees
The sledding troupe
Tuks on the frog slide
Mim
and ve
We also went out to eat at Chinese Buffet and later spent the evening playing and talking at W's home. It was a fun day. We came home late and slept in real real late this morning...ohhh so sweet.
CHRISTMAS EVE DAY
Tuki and Ve playing make-up dressing room
CHRISTMAS MORNING
Tuki & Ve received LeapFrop Leapster2
Leapster game & silly bands
Mim is at an age where she loves money for presents
our little tree...little but adorable and we were good with it this year, esp since the Aussies and cats did it no harm
CHRISTMAS EVENING AT MY SISTERS
Ve receives more play make-up from Grandma
the wee ones trio
Mim pleased and enjoying her second Christmas home
My brother W, his girlfriend J and W's son C (the American 10k record holder, yeah we are a little proud, esp., since he stays so humble)
My niece M (W's eldest child, also the race car driver) and her boyfriend m
My sister M and her husband J
Another Leapster game (the two received 6 total)
beautiful Tuki
Tuki and cousin N playing real nice together all night, my eldest two got sucked up into a movie playing in the other room
Did you see the Moon last night around 10:00pm, Huge yellow half moon real low in the sky...my picture didn't do it justice, but it was a conversation point in our car the whole home from my sisters...and on Christmas Day eve too...
Mim and her Basketball HOOPS team. She received these photos in a Christmas card today. Aren't they sweet!!
The weeks preceding Christmas I was able to make and send out cards and letters, start making cookies and bars, buy and wrap the presents, put up a Christmas tree, BUT with only lights on it. Tomorrow we hope to finally put decorations on the tree and finish baking. The tree is also very small since we wanted to test drive the two Aussies with a tree. So far so good. I placed all the presents from me under the tree last night, and now tonight Santa will be coming.
We, Grandma and us, went to the Christmas Eve service tonight at church, came home and ate an original homemade squash soup...very good I must say so myself, and now we are awaiting bedtime. Tuki is spreading reindeer food outside the backdoor, I am am trying to think of ways to make it look like the food was eaten by the reindeer, Ve keeps stating "she can't wait until Santa comes" and Mim is in her room doing some sort of teenage thing, don't know for sure because the door is always closed.
Tomorrow we will get up early, far too early, open our presents, eat cinnamon buns and then play until we leave for my sisters later in the day.
I must admit I am struggling a tad with my Christmas spirit, not sure why. I think I just need some down time, but probably won't happen until after Sunday. I am grateful that we are not hosting the family Christmas this year. It just may have pushed me off the "over the top" edge. So I guess I still do believe in miracles, most especially the miracle of having a low key day tomorrow....Wishing you and your family one too...
Tomorrow is Ve's birthday, but Marly had shared with us a month ago that Haitians celebrate Christmas on the 24th, and last year we had already decided that Christmas eve would be the day that Ve received presents from me and her sisters. She received many of the same type of items as Tuki simply because she can rarely come up with her own ideas of what she wants. This is one area that I hope Ve will grow into. Knowing herself well enough that she knows what she does and doesn't want. Tho similar to Tuki's, she was way overjoyed at her dress-up clothes and play make-up. Happy Birthday Veve!!!
Birthday girl posing her new Ariel outfit-she did ask specifically for this dress
the two posing together...Ve states when I am taking the picture "We are twins" love it!!!
Mim had a concert on the 20th. Kiki came over to either stay home with the wee ones (bedtime at 7:00pm, concert started at 7:30pm) or go to the concert. Mim decided since he was making a real effort to be here for us, he could go to the concert and I stay home. It was a great idea. I did miss her concert this year, but Kiki took pictures for me.
Mim in the background
Mim has crush on this boy, Bee (that is his real name) on the right, Shhhhh don't tell her I posted this picture...she took it at the concert. I think this is sooo cute. I hear from other teachers that he is a nice boy.
I was on a small blogging hiatus since my computer died and was in the shop. It's now back home in its appropriate parking spot. I have also been extremely busy at school with the 8th graders and the weather unit. Great Unit, BUT very challenging. Starting at 2:55 pm today we will be on our break for 11 days....11 days. Can hardly wait. The one thing I long for the most is to sleep in past 5:00 am for me and 5:30 am for the girls. Slumberland here we come!!!!!!
Only 4 more work days until a good 11 day break...can hardly wait. Everyone is getting squirrely!!!
Tuki's 4k concert was tonight. So was her cousin's N. Tuki's was to start at 6:00 pm and N's at 7:00pm. This morning and yesterday I informed Tuki that when I picked her up from Angie's school tonight, we would go directly home and then she'd go take a quick nap before the concert. She was in agreement that this was good and she was excited about her performance tonight. Kiki was planning to attend as well.
Immediately upon arrival at Angie's school, I could tell she was in one of her moods. She told me she didn't need a nap, and started crying (the indication that she was truly tired and indeed needed a nap) I told her when we arrived home, she would go straight to bed and sleep until I woke her for supper. She bulked, but still slept a good 45 minutes. When I woke her, she started crying all over again. We were 1 hour from the start of the concert and 45 minutes from when she needed to be there. I told her she needed to either stop crying or we would stay home. She kept crying. I even tried to have Kiki talk her out of it over the phone. She wouldn't quit. I informed her we would be staying home.
At 5:45 pm, nine minutes from the start of her concert, she called to me telling me she was ready to be nice.
I went up to her and explained that I was glad she was ready but it is too late to go to her concert. We talked about her choice in being naughty. I also explained to her that I was also sad because I wanted to see her all dressed up and pretty and singing. She was sad. I feel like crying over the whole ordeal, but hopefully she will have learned that she can't act this way and get what she wants.
I know she is only 5, and there will be more concert and dance recitals, but I also know that this performing is "her thang" and she won't be able to have fun with it tonight and we won't be able to watch cousin N perform either. It is all so sad and hard sometimes but lessons sometimes are learned the hard way and I do pray Tuki learned her lesson tonight.
As I am writing this she is quietly in the kitchen pouring herself some cereal to eat for supper...since the hamburgers I made and were left for her, were gobbled up by Rembrandt, who was left alone in the kitchen, when I was dealing with Tuki, and the other two were busy outside.
Her quietness leads me to believe that the lesson perhaps has sunk in.
Sometimes life sucks!!
EDITED : she came to me and said "sorry"
EDITED AGAIN: another round of crying and defiance before bedtime...no lesson learned!?....we'll try again tomorrow.
Mim's BB tourney was canceled, Kiki came over, we played, hiked and walked and threw snow. Later we ate Chinese food. It was a good day even though our plans took a drastic change from the original.
Kik pulling Ve & Tuki
the annual photo of Tuki's hat covering her face
DaVinci playing in the snow
Rem & DaVinc horse-playing in the snow
Rem
Tuki swinging, Heath in the background
Ve attempting to pull Kiki
The wee ones attempt at building a snowman with dry snow.
Mim, Kiki and the six pooches (2 are Kik's and 4 are ours) walking at the WELLS
Ve and Tuki napping in the snow while we walked and yes Tuki really did fall asleep and Ve was pretending. If you have never tried sleeping in the snow all bundled up, you really should try sometime...VERY RELAXING and WARM!!!
Several years ago I read the book "Raising the Spirited Child" thinking it might be Tuki. Upon finishing the book, I decided that it wasn't about her at all. Now I am not so sure.
Listed below are signs of a spirited/temperamental child. I have highlighted the behaviors that Tuki exhibits quite frequently
Here are 10 signs which indicate that this isn't just a phase, more a matter of natural temperament:
1. Slamming doors at a young age - a bad preview of teen years
2. Lack of resilience - the slightest thing will set her off
3. Frequent tears - regardless of the day, there are usually several long crying jags
4. Easily slighted - if other kids do anything perceived as leaving her out, she comes unglued
5. Easy mark - related to the above, she's a desirable target for other kids because for very little teasing investment they can get a huge reaction
6. Lack of emotional control - where other kids her age seem to be able to hold themselves together, she loses is completely at the slightest provocation
7. Very sensitive - of course this is also a gift. She is highly attuned to other people, particularly if she perceives that they need help. She is very sensitive to loud noises, temperature changes, and bright light.
8. Nervous - She is very nervous at night, despite sharing a bed with her twin sister.
9. Easily disrupted - She has very excellent concentration for her age and loves to work on projects undisturbed. If she does get bothered, she loses it.
10. Sweet girl - When she is happy, it's like the sun lights up her face and the entire household can't help but smile.
and
1. Intensity. This is one of the easier traits to spot. The loud, dramatic, ear-piercing shrieks that can be heard from down the street or across the grocery store. There is no halfway for an intense child. They have powerful tantrums, but they also shout with glee and laughter. This is one of the most challenging tempermental traits to manage.
2. Persistence. Spirited children often have a one track mind. Once they have an idea, they are extremely fixated on it. It’s hard to get them to change their minds. They demand more than other kids demand and they never give up. They make it very hard to be ignored or to be distracted
3. Sensitivity. Spirited kids are keenly aware of every little noise, smells, lights, textures, and/or other people’s moods. Big stores can be overwhelming. Getting dressed can be a real battle with these children because they notice every scratchy tag, usually hate socks, and are very sensitive to the way things feel. They really do know the difference between brands of applesauce.
4. Perceptiveness. These kids get sidetracked easily because there is just so much stuff for them to notice along the way and their senses are keen. They see, feel, and hear things that others don’t notice. These kids are often accused of not listening or being unable to focus.
5. Adaptability. Spirited children can be slow to shift gears from one activity to the next. Because transitions occur frequently throughout the day, this can be a significant factor in how your day with a spirited child progresses.
There are some days that we, Mim, Ve and I are completely worn out by her strong emotions. I had hoped it was a phase when young, but I am thinking we will be here for a long while. More nights than not this week I have sent her to her bedroom to work through her tears to no avail. I had thought maybe she was overly tired since starting 4k since she has lost her nap, and that certainly is an issue that we may be addressing second semester (switching her to a morning 4K so she can get a nap), but her extreme behaviors are not always related to being tired, sometimes it is directly related to her not getting her way, which she wants all the time... Lord give me patience, because some days I have none.
so the girls put on a fashion show
I see a future here -beautiful!!
posing for the camera
more posing
wowser!!
and they finished with a concert
Yesterday we had another HOOPS tourney a few hours away. Mim played a couple minutes in the first game, none in the second and about 8 minutes total in the third game. I am still struggling with the little amount of time she plays, and I have talked with the coach to no avail. Mim does get upset when she doesn't play, but in the end she and the team was awarded a big medal for 3rd place in the tourney. It is a roller coaster of emotions for her and me, yet I can't deny that she is getting better at playing, AND more importantly she seems to really like Basketball or believe I would never even consider this nonsense.
Today, after church, we ran to Walmart to pick up dog and cat food....but we had a surprise, ethnic Santa was there AND we received a free photo..can't beat that!!
Later today Grandma will be coming to bring Tuki and Ve their birthday presents. More than likely I will post more post birthday present photos. LOL
DaVinci (red tri) and Rembrandt (black tri) aussies - both Humane Society adoptions
Five years ago today I received the referral of a beautiful bouncing baby girl, and what a girl she is!!
five year 2010
four year 2009
three year 2008
two year 2007
less than one year 2006
