The Woes of Childhood

A few days ago I was in my kitchen cleaning up when I heard Brooklyn talking to herself in the living room. She does this quite often. What's really funny is when she's mad at me she goes storming off into her room muttering to herself about what a mean mommy I am. Once she gets the door to her room closed her voice changes from her whispered hisses to normal talking and I really get hammered. I would feel bad about it if it wasn't just so darn funny! As it is I try to ignore these kinds of tirades hoping they absolve themselves!

So back to my original story. I'm in the kitchen (because I basically live there. Not cooking really, mostly cleaning up after Jace who thinks he needs to be eating 24/7. Seriously.) and I hear Brooklyn talking to herself again. I perk up my ears and really listen. Brooklyn, in one of her most sad and dramatic voices is saying "I never asked for this. " Deep sigh. " Why did I get such chubby cheeks?"

At this I peeked around the corner to see Brooklyn looking in a hand mirror with downturned lips and big eyes staring at her reflection. I about lost it. I knew it wasn't funny. But it really was. So I rearranged my face to go talk to her. I started out with the spiel all good mommy's tell their children. It went something like this.

"Brooklyn, you're beautiful and perfect just the way you are!"

And then I gave her a brilliant smile.

She wasn't buying it. "But mom, I have chubby cheeks!" Like that was the worst thing that could happen.

So then I lied. "No you don't Brookie. You're just right."

At this she glared at me and grabbed two chubby fistfuls of cheek. "Yes I do. See."

I began backpedaling. "Well Brooklyn, look at my cheeks. They're chubby too." I blew my cheeks out to make them really chubby. "We're just a family of chubby cheeks."

Another bright smile.

And that was the end of it. And I'm really starting to wonder how to prepare for the teenage years. If I can!

Happy Birthday to our Abby! Abby's big day was December 14 and she turned 6 years old! This is Abby and Brooklyn with their birthday dresses from Grandma Dena. Brooklyn actually got a dress for her birthday on her birthday but it was too small. So Grandma came to the rescue and brought these two out for Abby's birthday. The girls absolutely love them!

Here's our birthday girl raking it in! She's reading her birthday cards because she can!

Here are the kids plus Grandma Suzette. Abby didn't have a very specific request for her cake (after I shot down the castle and monster theme) so we just did easy peasy! As long as it's pink who really cares?

Things about Abby now that she's 6!

She started Kindergarten this year and loves, loves, loves it!

She comes home from Kindergarten extremely tired (meaning grumpy!) after her hard day at school (she goes a full day).

She loves to draw and some of her favorite things to draw are her family, herself and Brooklyn as superheros, fairies, princesses etc.

She has started piano lessons and had her first recital 2 days before her birthday and did great!

She always wants to be in charge of her younger siblings (and I'm not talking babysitting, I'm talking bossing around!)

She also loves playing with Brooklyn and she can get Jace to laugh harder than anyone else.

Skirts and tights are a must - unless it's really cold out:)

If Abby could have one wish granted it would be to have real wings that could make her fly.

To my favorite Abby in the whole world - WE LOVE YOU!!

November Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to me!! And to Brooklyn! But first we'll tackle my birthday (which won't take very long!). My birthday landed on a Saturday this year and we celebrated by Darren going hunting:) My man did not fail me and brought me home a nice plump goose to take care of. Or I should say several. Since it was birthday I refused to touch them and went back to baking my cake! Anway, while I was baking my cake, my girls were over at my neighbors house baking me cupcakes. Surprise! Suffice it to say we had plenty of cake! Aren't they beautiful?

I invited Bat Girl and Wonder Woman to my party and they were a hit! I bought these costumes at the after Halloween sale at Walmart for $4,99 and was so excited for the girls to wear them. Abby loved hers from the get go. Brooklyn broke down in tears when I showed her Bat Girl.

"You want me to wear that black costume? But it's all black!" Sob, sob, sob.

Anyway, I told her that she was only invited to my birthday party if she was a superhero.......

(Oh, relax, I wasn't really going to hold her to it. But it worked;)

And now, she loves being Bat Girl. It's hard not to with me singing the Batman theme in the background! So here are my Super Girls!

Happy Birthday! I'm not sure why Darren didn't join us in this picture, but he was there.

Now moving on to Brooklyn's Birthday! She turned 4 years old and has been looking forward to this birthday for a long time!

We had Grandma Suzette, and Pa (my mom and dad), and Grandma Lu and Grandpa Sim (my grandparents) over to celebrate.

This is Brooklyn's new coat from Grandma Suzette and Pa and her new boots from us. And no, I didn't ask her to pose for me. These things just come natural to her! Very conscientious of fashion and looking good!

Here's Jace, Abby and the birthday girl. Grandma is holding Jace - sorry for cutting off your head mom!

Brooklyn asked for a rainbow cake - again! This is the 3rd rainbow caked we've done in our house and the second for Brooklyn, so we decided to use skittles instead of frosting this go around for something different. Brooklyn loved helping make the rainbow.

Things about Brooklyn at age 4:

As I've said before, she loves looking "beautiful". She can spend all morning getting dressed up, fixing her hair, putting on her play make-up, etc.

Jeans are not an option.

She wants to go to school very badly.

She loves going to our neighbors house to visit and would go every day if I let her!

She just reached 40 lbs and has graduated to a booster seat.

She is very tenderhearted and can get her feelings hurt easily.

She's our most cuddly child by far. And also most dramatic! She has facial expressions like you wouldn't believe!

She loves going to the gymnastics open gym every Monday.

She is getting more picky about what she eats (she used to eat anything) and at the moment hates anything with noodles.

.

Pink is her favorite color.

.

She loves watching Tinkerbelle movies, Barbie movies, and Scooby Doo.

.

Painting fingernails is a favorite past-time.

.

Happy Birthday to my big 4 year old! We love you!