Wordless Wednesday: Day Dreaming

Sweet Dreams (Wordless Wednesday)

Little Bee went to bed tonight with a sore tummy. Glad she was able to finally fall asleep. Hoping she has sweet dreams and feels better in the morning. 

Love my (not so) baby girl.

Bear Sitting is a Big Responsibility

My daughter has asked me to watch her "baby", Jason, while she showers. She's left me a list of things to do. I need to feed him a snack,  cuddle him and put him down for a nap.  So glad she trusts me to take care of her precious bundle. She's a good mommy.  I'm proud of her.

Do your children mother their special babies or animals?

Twisted, Work of a Master Manipulator

Do you have a daddy's girl?  I wouldn't say Little Bee has daddy totally wrapped around her finger yet but she's working on it.

Funny thing is, I know he knows he's bring played.  It depends on his mood and what she's asking for on whether or not he agrees.

This time she just claimed she was hungry to him in that innocent, needy voice. You may know the sound of it.  I knew what was coming next.  She doesn't ask me because she knows what I'll say.

First he says, "Honey you just had some cake".  She says, "But daddy I'm still hungry". This coming from the girl who often eats like a baby bird. She tones her  voice just right to tug on his heart strings. It's like she's starving and hasn't eaten anything besides that piece of cake in hours, maybe days.

Rather than saying ok and offering her a few healthier snack options, he asks what she wants. Now she starts to reel him in. "I don't know daddy", she tells him. Then she pauses as if to think. Then sweetly says, "Maybe can I have a cookie?".  And yes he gives in. 

Ding, ding, ding....we have a winner!!  46 lb, 7 year old destroys 210 lb, 40 year without lifting a finger!  Simply amazing.

And some say it can't be done. Guess they never had a sweet sounding, master manipulator for a daughter. Ha!!

New Addition

Welcome Jason, the soccer playing koala, to our family!  Little Bee got a Build-A-Bear gift card from her older sis and was so excited to finally go on mommy/daughter shopping day. 

First we went to get Little Bee's hair cut because her curls had turned to dreaded frizz at the ends. Just a few inches. Nothing drastic for us in the hair department. 

Then a quick lunch in the food court before heading to get her new friend. It was love at first sight.  She knew she wanted a boy and she was so excited to find him a  soccer uniform. It was calling her name.  She decided that Jason plays soccer just like her.  The uniform has pants, shirt and knee pads. We bought him a pair of cleats too.

The store's staff is so wonderful there!  I admit I teared up as the girl at the "stuffing" machine talked to my little girl. She was sweet and caring. She asked if it was a boy or girl and what his name was. She saw the soccer outfit and asked Bee if she played. It was a great experience. I love the part where you pick out your animals heart and the special routine they do before placing it inside. Melted my heart. Happy memories are written all over this place. The cashier was wonderful too. She talked soccer with Bee while she rang her up and then took all the tags off the clothes so we could dress him at the counter.

It was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. I plan on writing the company a letter about the amazing staff there.  Unfortunately it's unusual to have such a positive shipping experience all the way through.  They deserve major  kudos.

Thank you Build-A-Bear for making my daughter's experience one for the memory books.

****I was not compensated by Build-A-Bear Workshop for this post. We had a wonderful experience I wanted to share with everyone.

OMG, I'm a Soccer Mom!

My daughter has been a figure skater since she turned 5.  This past year she was in her first holiday show and her first competition.  She did well in both and I'm in awe of how she overcame her shyness of performing in front of others.  I am so proud!

Unfortunately, the only ice skating rink in our county closed down in June.  So we had to make a decision.  The closest rinks are an hour a way and we don't have the time or money to be driving back and forth four or five times a week.  It was different when it was ten minutes away.  So, Little Bee has decided she wants to try other sports while goalieboy continues hockey.

Little Bee has decided she's interested in gymnastics, soccer, baseball and cheerleading.  We did gymnastics over the summer and really enjoyed it.  But with cash tight, we've decided to keep that a summer activity and we're on to soccer. 

She's been wanting to do soccer for a while now so this is perfect. I think she'll do good because she loves to run and she runs fast.  If she can coordinate it with kicking the soccer ball she'll be golden.

I'm so glad she's so excited. Today we went out and purchased her cleats, shin guards and soccer socks.  She's already to go for her first soccer practice tomorrow night.  Can't wait! 

Soccer Socks

Shin Guards

Soccer Cleats

Let the games begin!

My Feisty Girl (T-R-O-U-B-L-E)

I have to tell you my 7 year old daughter gives me a run for my money...daily! She is chock full of stubbornness, feistiness and pure gumption. In other words, piss and vinegar. There I said it. Funny thing is she's also sweet, loving, kind and empathetic (though not in this time). She can be as sweet as an angel or as evil as the devil. She drives me crazy at times (honestly, both my kids do) but I wouldn't have it any other way. The traits that push me to the brink of sanity now will be her saving grace when she gets older. She's in the process of learning how to use them properly and if she uses them for good instead of evil she will go a long way in life. I have faith that she will.


All that being said I just have to share some interesting tidbits that have come out of her cute little mouth the last week or so.

First off...remember that prehistoric bug I posted a picture of here? If so then you remember her reaction to it after grandpa swatted it off the tarp. She took a stick to that disgusting thing. When she was done bits and pieces of it were mashed into the grass. Ick! Ironic that she loves most bugs (see my post here). I was partly proud and partly grossed out. She took glee in smashing it. A bit twisted I think. She was proud that she smooshed it. Good thing I know that is not her overall personality. I was like, "It's dead honey, you can stop now.". I believe she liked the fact that she wasn't creeped out by it and I was. It was the thing nightmares are made of. I think the "boy" in her came to the surface at that point. My husband swears that there are times she acts more like a boy than our son. No knocks on him but as I said, she's feisty. She stands up for herself and what she believes in. She is rough and tumble when needed and defends herself well. It's a little misguided at times but we try hard to keep her on track. Thinking back I do laugh out loud. You have to picture this pretty, tiny little girl who barely weighs 37 lbs wet beating this little insect with a stick. It's too much.

We were all sitting around the table Sunday afternoon during lunch and she's telling her Daddy about it. She's like, "Daddy, bugs don't scare me. If I see them I'll punch them in the face and smoosh their brains.". Oh my god, I think his eyes popped out of his head. I think he was stunned and proud of her funny candor all at once. She just went on and on because we all busted out laughing.

It all started because there was a fly in the house and it was annoying her. She told him (daddy) not to worry that she would just punch it in the head so it would stop. I'm sure to some this seems a bit psychotic but you need to hear and see to understand. She's really playing to her audience. When we laugh, snicker or give her that "what is wrong with you" look she just embellishes more. She is a character. She definitely takes after daddy with her warped sense of humor. Dancer girl (my stepdaughter) was just laughing her pants off. I tell you the girls are just like daddy. They like to get people to laugh and will find the way that works best for their audience.

I'm telling you this girl is going to be a handful. Um, well she kinds already is but I'm in denial. Well maybe not since I just admitted to it. She's got the looks and the personality. She is already trying out the bat your eyes at a boy trick. She tries it with daddy and sometimes it works. She claims it works on her boy friends at school. She is precocious and sweet. She's tough as nails. I pity any boy she sets her sights on or any boy that sets his sights on her. Poor thing is going to be in for the ride of his life...I sure hope it's a good one.

I'm going to change her name to T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!

Hang on tight it's going to get wild around here!! Be afraid, be very afraid because I sure am.

Journal Posts brought to you by Little Bee

My kids are journaling almost every day.  Here are some of the entries Little Bee wrote last week.  Not bad for a first grader. I added the parts in (parenthesis).  The only rules I have is that they have at least 4 sentences and there's some sort of conclusion.  We also working on adding details to writing.  I'm very proud that she writes without complaint and enjoys it.

6/27/11

We went to the rail trail with J.  I swam in the pool.  Me and my brother had Popsicles.  He had a green and I had a blue.  We went to the library.  We got magazines.  I spent a lot of time with my cat.  I spent a lot of time with my W(ebkin).  I had a great day.
P.S. I did not spend a lot of time with my brother.

6/28/11

I went to the rail trail with J. again.  I swam in the pool with my brother.  I slept over my grandparents.  I had a great time.  We went to get (Goalieboy's) hearing aides.

6/29/11

I went to my friend R's.  We went in the pool.  I loved it.  We went in her house and played with her toys.  We played with her cats.  They are cute.  We played with her horses.  I listened to my storybook (on CD).  I love my day.

6/30/11

I went on the rail trail.  We dropped of my brother's old hearing aid.  We signed me up for gymnastics.  We picked up K (my sister).  We went to Friendly's.  I had a great day.

Here's an email she wrote her teacher.  I typed most of it since she is still getting use to where the letters are on the keyboard.

7/1/11
Dear Ms. N,                                                                            

You are the best teacher ever.  I am going to miss you.  Are you coming to visit us?  What are you doing for the summer?
I swam in my pool this week.  I've been writing in my journal every night about my day.  I also wrote about my cats too.  I walked on the rail trail every day.  I am reading the book called Mrs. Patty is Batty.  My favorite part so far is they get to wear costumes at school for Halloween.
I hope you are having a good summer.
Love,
(Little Bee)

My Birthday Girl...How time flies

This is the most important little girl in my life!  She is my world, my inspiration.  This is my daughter, Little Bee.
I can't believe she turned 7 today.  I remember being pregnant with her and giving birth like it was yesterday.   I remember she was a cute, tiny baby.  She had a lot of trouble gaining weight her first year.  She is still petite.  However, her personality is bigger than life and she won't let any think that tiny means weak.  I am dedicating this post to her...everything she is and everything she'll be.
 I am so proud of my daughter.  She has so many wonderful qualities and I hope she carries them through life. 
She is:

• Loving
• Kind
• Generous
• Empathetic
• Driven
• Smart
• Sweet

These are just a few things that make her special.  She is a fighter.  She fights for what she wants and what she believes in.  She won't let others push anyone around.  She is stubborn.  She doesn't give an inch at times.  Some would believe these are negative qualities but I have to disagree.  Yes, she drives me to frustration some days because of them but I know they are going to be two of her stronger assets when she gets older.  I hope she never changes.  I hope she always uses her qualities for good and not bad. 
I'm proud of her. 

Here she is at a year old.  It's precious to see her actually sleeping. Truth be told she was colicky her first year and absolutely miserable.  She rarely slept.  I don't think that it helped that my mom would pick her up every time she cried.  My mom was living with us at the time.  Little Bee's favorite place to sleep was in someones arms.  Looking back it's sweet but I'm glad I don't have to relive all those sleepless nights when I was a zombie all day at work from lack of real sleep.  At 7 she is definitely a night owl.  She can stay up later than her brother or daddy.  She will sleep until 9 if there's no school or her brother doesn't wake her up.

Here she is now with her new friend, Princess.  She is confident and full of sass and life.  She is my "boogy boo."  I love my little girl and I hope all her birthdays are filled with family, friends, joy, happiness and laughter.
Mommy LOVES you Boogy Boo!!