Enjoying the little things

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." Author Unknown 

 

Saturday, Brian took Emma to Lowes for a Kid's clinic where they built a planter!

Brian said she was so focused.  She wouldn't even take the time to remove her jacket.

Sticker decorating!!!

She's so proud of this thing!  They gave her tomato seeds to plant, but she's convinced that we should plant jelly beans.

 

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Afterwards, I treated Emma to an afternoon showing of the movie, The Croods.  Then she was completely exhausted.  And apparently, covering up with a giant stuffed puppy is way more comfortable than grabbing a blanket.

 

She really liked the movie.  So we went and bought the book!  Then she said, "Hey, I need a bookmark too."  So instead of buying one, I asked her if she wanted to make one.   She was all for this.  So I had her lay on the floor and positioned her like she was swinging from a vine like one of the cavemen on the cover of her book.  Then we printed it, laminated it and added some yarn.  Ta-DAAAA!  A one of a kind bookmark.  Oh she just giggles when she sees this thing.  I think it is so cute!

 

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A little update on our backyard progress!  Brian has been digging up our concrete-like soil and has laid all the sprinkler lines down.  Next weekend, he's hoping to start on the retaining wall, then all we need to do is lay down some sod!  YAY!!!  We might have a backyard before the summer is up! Wooo Hooooo

 

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This week is Emma's last week of swim lessons.  At first she loved it, then she hated it, and now she loves it again.  I'm kind of sad that all the spots were filled for the next class, because I really would have liked to continue with her lessons.  Hopefully, a spot will open up this summer and we can start lessons again.

So instead of swimming each week, we are now enrolled in gymnastics!!!

 

Oh she loves this!  She's already asking to go everyday now.

 

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I finished up my last crochet hat order this week and thought I put a collage together for you all to see just how many I've made.  I counted 40 hats in all!  That's not including the gloves, baby blanket, or baby toys I've made.  Thank you all for your business!!!  I never would have thought this little hobby of mine would have turned into a profitable one.  But I've decided to take a break until this fall.  The weather is too nice to be stuck inside.  Thanks again for all your purchases!!!

 

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The girls are starting to interact more and more.   And it is so funny sometimes!

Brooklyn LOVES to be near Emma.  And she loves to try and snatch her fruit loops!  As you can tell, Emma is not a fan of this behavior!  Oh I love the look on Brooklyn's face in the last photo!  So ornery!!

But they really do love each other.  ♥

 

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Couple of videos for you.

 

Emma has recently discovered a LOVE of dinosaurs.

 

She wanted to find pictures on the internet of her favorites so she could make flashcards. 

 

Then she recited them all back to me, here take a look:

I'm impressed she can pronounce these big long words!  No topic is off limits with this girl.  She is interested in everything!  And I love it.

 

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She saw me working on a quilt this week and asked if she could make one too.  So I had her pick a few scraps of material out and gave her a quick tutorial on the sewing machine.  Then let her loose.  She did GREAT! 

 

I was so impressed with how focused she was. 

The I let her trim off the excess before we turned it right side out.  I finished it off with a top-stitch and forgot to take a photo of it.  She's now curled up in bed with it, so I'll have to take a picture of her with it tomorrow.

 

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One last video for you.  I love this one.  I've been trying to get her to memorize her home address and she's not really been too enthusiastic about it.  So I made up a song with her address in it and she knows the whole thing by heart.  Here listen:

I wish I would have video taped Brian's face when he heard her sing it.  He was so impressed and proud of her.  He couldn't believe she had learned it in one afternoon.

 

Here are the words (set to the tune of B-I-N-G-O):

♪ ♫ ♪

"I know my home address in song

would you like to hear it?

 

(if you know our home address, then you'll know the next few lines.. I don't really want to type them in here)

 

 ♪ ♫ ♪

 

I live there with my mom, my dad and baby sister Brooklyn.

It is really fun.

I have my own room.

With lots of books and toys.

 

I really love my home."

♪ ♫ ♪

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SOAP BOX TIME:

After some recent conversations I've had lately, some with family, some with friends, and some with new acquaintances, I wanted to post this quote. 

 

It's one of my favorites. 

 

I certainly can appreciate the right to express your own opinions or concerns.  And I really try to be open minded enough to at least *hear* out the negative comments or criticisms.  (I love hearing the positive ones, those are welcomed anytime. =D )  And definitely, if you believe my child is in harms way and I'm not picking up on this, please by all means, let me know! 

 

But before you offer someone your opinion or advice, just because you feel like adding in your 2 cents, consider the feelings of that mother, maybe even put yourself in her shoes.  Because more than likely she is doing the very best she can and is probably doubting herself as a parent anyways.  We are always our worst critics.

 

I've never claimed to be a perfect mother.  I'll be the first to admit I make mistakes DAILY.  And I would never try to push our parenting/educating decisions on to anyone else.  How you raise your child is your business.

 

But I do know that our situation is unique. 

I have different challenges as a mother than you do

with different skills and abilities

and certainly different children than you. 

 

But above all, I love my children deeply, with every ounce of my being, and always put my best mommy foot forward for them. Every single day.

 

I know how lucky I am to have them, especially given my medical situation.  So please, think before you speak.  Because what you may think is a harmless comment, just might really upset someone who is trying their best and making the most out of this amazing opportunity of being a mother.

 

end of

SOAP BOX

 

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Well, that's about it from us this week. 

Hope you all had a great week too!

 

Thanks for stopping by.