I don't remember how I learned this concept...

so I'm having some trouble teaching it to Big Girl. How did you learn that it wasn't cool to cut in line? She keeps cutting in front of the boys so she can stand next to her friend at swim class. This often means that, as soon as she gets out of the pool, she cuts right back to the front of the line to stand next to her chum. I call her on it, and her swim teacher does too, but she seems oblivious and/or clueless so far.

She's quite the daydreamer in swim class, too - she gets caught up in her own thing and doesn't always pay attention. Meanwhile I'm sitting over to the side watching her, just waiting for the teacher to ask her to do something, at which point he will have to explain it to her again. When this type of situation arises in my own classes, I find it exceptionally frustrating. I think it's a developmental thing with Big Girl, as opposed to the unabashed slackness I see in the college classes I teach.

Big Girl has this wonderful imaginative personality, and she's easily distracted - and since this is quite different from the way I function, it's a bit tricky for me to know how to help her while at the same time respecting her individualism and spirit. This is something we'll have to work on. I try to think about it in terms of the way I get completely caught up in a book, to the point that I'm unaware of anything around me. She seems to make this shift quite easily when she's enjoying herself, and her timing doesn't always match the expectations of adults around her. Suggestions welcome!

Quiet day at our house

The kids and I are enjoying a quiet day at home. I'm planning to do some work on ye ol' dissertation, and Big Girl has some serious coloring plans, as usual. Two was busy stealing her crayons and looking for trouble before I sent him to his room for a nap. It's gray outside, so maybe we'll get rain. Big Girl's herb garden could use it. So far she has harvested two jalapeno peppers and three cherry tomatoes. The cilantro is dying - it started blooming before I noticed and nipped that in the bud, and so now it's dying off. I may try to replace it if there's any more left in the stores. This happened last year as well, but I wasn't able to find any plants this late in the season.

I have the cutest little leotards and pink ballet tights hanging on the drying rack in the kitchen. Big Girl starts dance camp - and another swim camp - next week. I'll have to figure out some way to make sure she gets there on Thursday, since I'll be having my surgery that day. Her little pink leather ballet shoes are adorable, and I'm making her some cute bows to wear in her hair (with her bun!) using some bears wearing tutus. I'll post pictures when I finish them. I need to post a picture of the bow I made her for the 4th of July as well - I was very pleased with how it turned out!

Yesterday the kids and I got a birthday gift for my mom, plus an early anniversary gift for Hubs. We found a local couple who sell on etsy - she sews things, and he makes bird houses and bird feeders. I got a ladybug house for my mom, and a bat house for Hubs, plus a bird feeder for Big Girl to paint for our backyard. Everything seems really sturdy and well-made - I was impressed with the workmanship. The man had several bird feeders that he had already painted, in the colors of various college sports teams, plus a cute John Deere one that Two would have wanted had he seen it. I need to read up on ladybug houses before deciding if we'll paint it, too. I'll be back later to share that information, plus some info on bat houses, with you, dear readers.

*le sigh*

Vacation Bible School is over. I think everyone - teachers, youth, and kids - was exhausted by today. My kids are passed out, which isn't so unusual in Two's case, as he's a big fan of naps still, but Big Girl actually told me she wanted to take her nap before swim class, so I know she's tired from all of the activity. I won't say that it went entirely smoothly, but next year our church will likely be holding a separate VBS (we had it at our place but combined with another church that's in the midst of construction this year), and I've learned a lot of lessons to apply for next time. And the kids had a lot of fun, which is the most important part.

This weekend we have a big family reunion. Fortunately it's in town, so no traveling required, and I think it will be a lot of fun. Rumor has it that there will be a bounce house for the kids, so Big Girl will go crazy and bounce until she has to be pulled away due to pending heat stroke. There will be many relatives who will be delighted to entertain Big Girl and/or Two, so I'll have the chance to engage in some adult conversation, too. I'll have work to do, since my branch of the family is helping to host this time, but I'm still looking forward to it.

At present, I'm sitting in Hubs' recliner while a box fan blows on me full-force. Lights are off, teevee is on something mindless, and I have a few hours to relax before Big Girl's final swim class. She doesn't know it yet, but I got her a gift to celebrate her excellent work over the last two weeks in swimming. She will love it, I know, since she enjoys playing with my old ones when she's at my parents' house. It's a My Little Pony, a purple unicorn named Rarity.

So, so proud of Big Girl!

She's so enthusiastic about her swim lessons. So very different from me! She's eager to get in the water and try anything the teacher asks her to do. She doesn't have perfect form or get it on the first try every time, but she isn't the least bit reluctant about the pool. She's so brave compared to some of the other kids (who are reluctant as I was when I took swimming lessons). She's always raising her hand and volunteering to jump in and try something after the teacher demonstrates, and she smiles and claps with excitement for her classmates, too. Two went with us today - my mom has been keeping him during previous lessons but today she didn't feel well - and he screamed her name and cheered for her and was generally adorable and supportive of his big sis. Big Girl has a fearless streak that she certainly didn't get from me, and I am completely proud and delighted by her progress during this first week of swim lessons.