Motivation

Emma has been taking piano lessons for almost a year now. We have struggled to find motivation for her to practice and really put in effort. For Christmas she got a new bigger, nicer keyboard. She wants a stand and seat to match it. I told her that if she practiced everyday for a month she could get them. She missed three days. Huge improvement, so I decided to renegotiate. She had to practice everyday for two weeks (she was allowed to miss one day) and she could get either the seat or stand. She just accomplished this so I asked which she wanted. She said the stand. I thought that was a good choice. She said " Yeah, because I am pretty good at standing."

Building

I was brushing Mia's hair in the bathroom yesterday and this was our conversation.

Me: Mia, you are really gorgeous. I mean it, and I'm not just saying that because I am your mom.
Mia: Yea, I was thinking that right now too.

A friend once told me that the world tears our kids down everyday, so it is our job to build them up. I guess that approach is better than thinking my little girl is a conceited little brat.

Highlights

I haven't been too good with the blogging lately. Last semester was a killer with 18 units, 3 kids, and a husband. During the break I have been trying to get the house back under control and finally finish the remodel we started during the summer. We are almost done and I hope to be done by the time I start school on Monday. Since I haven't been too consistent with my blogging I thought I would make an attempt today before the real chaos starts again for my LAST semester. That is right; I am almost done!

Emma has been going through some changes lately...uncontrollable rage, uncontrollable tears, sweetness, rage, rage... We have talked about what changes lie ahead and how she needs to attempt to reign in some of those emotions. For now I will take the sweetness as it comes (and try to put up with the rest.) Monday was a holiday and we took a family bike ride which included a picnic. As we were riding Emma said "in case I forget later I wanted to tell you that the best part of my day was right now, spending it with you." Ahhh. When we got to our destination Charlie asked if we were eating at the picnic table. I said that Mia told me it wasn't a real picnic unless we ate on a blanket on the grass. (I love her ideas.)

Today as I started the oven Justin perked up and asked if I was making cookies. I said no so he got up to see what I was doing. "Twice Baked Potatoes?!!!" I nodded and asked if he was more excited for twice baked potatoes or cookies. He said the potatoes. Emma wanted both. Then I go outside and find a plate of goodies on my porch from some friends. I love when you get everything you want. :)

The Dark Side

We all got light sabers in our stockings. The boys got red and the girls are blue. Mia is really good and can kill anyone quickly. It is amazing. I told Charlie about it and he nodded like he wasn't surprised. Then later he fought her and came back a few seconds later saying she had already killed him. :) Emma put a sticker on her light saber so that it is easy to identify. Justin was really offended that she would put a sticker on her light saber and wanted me to make her take it off. He said it wasn't a "real light saber" anymore. I love that he considers it a real light saber and that her putting a sticker on it somehow defiles it. I also love that she personalized it.

Neighborhood Watch

The kids were riding their bikes in front of our house with their friends. Emma ran in the house and said that a strange man was sitting in his car by our house- just sitting there!! We went outside, walked across the street about 10 feet from the car, stretched out her arm, pointed at the man's face, and yelled "there he is! There is the man sitting in his car by our house!" She looked back at me and said "I think his window is rolled down." I smiled put my hand on her shoulder and said "yes, it is, and that man is our neighbor. He lives at the house where he is parked." Emma shrugged and went back to play.

Pick Me!

Emma: Mom, if you had to pick one girl in the whole world to be your favorite daughter who do you think you would choose?
Me: Hmm, Gwendoline.


We have a decoration in the kids' bathroom that my sister made. It says "Jesus loves you, but I'm his favorite." Emma looked at it the and told me that it was a lie. She wants to paint over part of the sign so that it tells the truth. :)


Mia told me she has another best friend at school named Paula. I have never heard of her so I asked if she was in Mia's class. Mia said no, she is in the other class. I asked if she was an imaginary friend. Mia looked at me with the cutest twinkle in her eyes and said "you are so silly!" I liked this reaction because I normally get a "Mom, you're not funny" from Justin.

Inner Animal

Emma: I want to get something.
Me: It's bedtime; go to sleep.
Emma: I want to get something.
Me: (growl) no.
Emma: Wow, Mom. That was a pretty good growl. Now I want you to try it again and try to be really scary this time...go ahead...


A few weeks ago Emma was drawing some pictures. She drew a girl/horse. She wrote a caption that said "Emma, part girl part horse. Wild as the wind."