The Best Christmas Gift of All!!



This is our Grace.  She is the best Christmas gift we could have.  She was born on December 22, 2001.  Just over a year after we lost Angel.  There was a peace when she showed up. Our first baby born at home.  Our long awaited and much anticipated, healthy baby.

She is growing into such an amazing little lady!  She is caring, compassionate, goofy, silly, loving and tenderhearted.  She cares about everyone and everything around her and has such a zest for life.

Grace is becoming a wonderful artist.  This is a new skill that she has found and is working hard on perfecting.  She loves to spend time drawing pictures and is starting to create more detail in her work.  We are enjoying the creations that she makes and so are some others who are fortunate enough to have a picture shared with them.

Grace is finding her own sense of style now.  She is getting older and is very confident with anything she chooses to wear.  She chose this hat on one of our trips to the mall...she had a whole store to choose from and this was her choice.  She has a wonderful fashion sense that is her own.  She also loves to help others, Grace feels such a sense of being by helping someone with a craft, or by opening a door.  She thrives in this area.

Happy Birthday Grace!!  Life wouldn't be the same without you in our family.  We love the humour and compassion you bring to us.  You have an amazing outlook on life and will go far with your amazing attitude!!  We love you lots:-)



End of the School Year

I both love and dislike the end of the school year...

No more having to be up and ready early in the morning, but now the kids are home all the time and needing to be able to entertain them...lol...I am kidding, I love that school really is almost done.

I love that the kids come home with their school work and projects, and I thought that I would share this from Cutie Pie...I will have to scan the pic and add it at a later date...

The 3 Bullys

This book is dedicated to my sister Pooky
Illustrated by Cutie Pie

The 3 bullies

On a Thursday morning a kindergarten student named Alisa was playing on the playground with her friends.

They were playing tag. When the kindergarten children were running they bumped into a bigger student. Then the guy said "you beter run little kid". Alisa tried to say sorry but the big guy ignored her. So Alisa and her friends kept playing their game.

The next day the little kids were playing a different game. Another little student ran in to the guy again. He said "you beter run or I'll hurt you". The little kids say, "you bully!" The guy said "what did you say?" The little girl said, "you bully". The bully tried to punch the little girl. But another girl named Cutie Pie (she used her own name) said "STOP!" Cutie Pie ran and helped the little child. Then the little girl said, "watch out! The bully is chasing you. Run!"

But Cutie Pie said "NO!" Then Cutie Pie talked to the bully and said " you should stop bullying people because do you want to be treated good right?" The bully said "yes." "Then treat the other people good."

The bully said sorry to the little kid. And they made a statue of Cutie Pie ito remind them to never bully.

The End

The next page is what I need to scan...it is a colouring of the statue of herself...the hero!!
Too Cute!!

Tough it out Tuesday...

Today I did a day shift at my placement. It is the first time I have done any kind of day shift since my kids were born (I think??)

See those 2 sweet girls in these pictures - they make me as a mom question this whole new part of my life...really, these girls kinda make me feel like I should be staying home a little while longer.

Why you ask me?

Well...let me tell you. You may remember the episode that happened back in January at the nursing home. Remember, where Faith had a seizure really bad that she was catatonic (from the Ativan?)

That was when I went to work even though I thought I shouldn't have gone? I got over that and I am actually thankful that I went through that.

So, today - I have a day shift, like I said, my first one in a LONG time. I had a great day, I got to see how the house was run at a different time and felt like I actually did something!! I did laundry, cleaning, packing lunches, spending time with clients, and all that fun stuff.

I went to pick up Faith from my friends house and was told that Faith had a great day...but she also had a seizure. It was just small, less then 20 seconds, and very minor - but still - and this time there were no regular circumstances surrounding it. She was awake before and after and didn't seem to have any sign of a fever.

From my friends house I called home and found out that Cutie Pie had broken her arm while at school during the day. Which meant, no T-Ball, so I didn't have to rush crazy to get home, but still, she BROKE her arm!! Hubby got the call from the school and he orchestrated everything, called my parents who took her to the doc for xrays and splinting...

Oh, and just for fun, while my friend and I were outside chatting about the day - there was an accident in front of her house. All we saw of it was the one car spin out of control and end up in someones driveway!!

What a day? Makes you wonder if there is some higher power encouraging me to stay home just a little longer? I am enjoying work too much, and being out of the house, so that isn't going to happen...it is just one of those things:-)

Anyhow, my exciting day...we counted today and there are only 17 days left for me in this placement and then I am done. I need to pass the final exam and then I am a certified PSW!! I have enjoyed this a lot and am looking forward to school again in the fall:-)

Good Night!!

Wordless Wednesday - First year for ball :-)

Cutie Pie plays ball:-)

See other Wordless Wednesdays here!!

Insight into her heart...

Cutie Pie has been doing really well in school this year. She started out rough, but has really improved and is starting to take a lot of pride in her completed assignments and tests. The other day she brought home a 12.5 out of 15 test mark and was ecstatic...You may remember some of her other work here or here. Too funny if you ask me...

Yesterday the assignment she brought home was a writing paper. She was happy that it was neatly written, had earned a sticker and there were no spelling mistakes:-) I read it and was reminded how her heart is so different from my other kids;-) In her own words...

Family

My favorite people are my family. My sister Angel died when
she was born. I can never get her out of my heart and she died 9 years
ago. I never forgotten about her since I was born. I love my sister
a lot. I love my sisters and brother too. That make's a total of 8
people in our family. I love my my sisters because we have fun
together. I love my brother because he helps me a lot everything I need
help with. I love my parents because they snuggle up with me and read me a
story. Then I read it to them. Then I go to bed. My family is the best.

She has such a tender heart:-) She is adamant that we have a family of 8. If she hears us tell people that we have 5 kids she always corrects us and says we have 6...no matter what. I think it is cool that she seems to have that connection even though this happened before she was even born:-)

If you were a fly...

Inside our van today...



Cutie Pie "Mom, yesterday when I was at the library with grandma, I couldn't dry my hands. There was a machine there that said napkins cost .25. What a rip off!!"

The Bullying Dilemma...

I homeschooled for 6 years, Mr Hockey and Princess started school in Grades 7 and grade 3/4 and Cutie Pie started in Grade 1. This year I wanted to homeschool Cutie Pie, but really struggled with all the "life" things on my plate. So, she went to school 2 weeks into the year.

Last year, there was a boy in Cutie Pies class who would constantly chase her and try to kiss her. She was not ok with it and the teacher handled the situation fairly well. I believe it did stop, mostly, during the year and all was well.

This year, Cutie Pie ended up in the same class as this little boy again. Now I wish I had of spoken up in the beginning and had her or him switched.

Yesterday we got a call from the teacher informing us that Cutie Pie was being "tormented" by this little boy. To the point that she stood outside the classroom yesterday, in tears, scared to go into class...oh my goodness!! He has been hitting her, pushing her and spit in her face yesterday. I am so happy that Cutie Pie is confident enough to let someone know. I want to deal with this boy myself!!

I phoned this morning and talked with the teacher a little more in depth. She had given him a warning and then when that didn't work, she phoned his mom, who was not home...she told me that she was going to be letting the office know about what has been happening and if it started again she would be sending him to the office. They would deal with it and potentially he will be suspended if it doesn't stop.

The mommy in me wants to pull her out of school and homeschool her again. I want to protect her at all costs!! There is this joke that I heard through the homeschool community all those years...about socialization...That if we, as homeschoolers, wanted to socialize our kids the way they are socialized at school, we will just take them into the bathroom at lunchtime and tease them and take their lunch money...funny? Well, now that is a reality for my kid in the school system...

Apparently the teacher thinks that it is starting during the walk from breakfast club to school, and suggested that Princess take Cutie Pie under her wing a bit and keep her away from the boys...we will see how that pans out. I could keep them home from breakfast club, but don't think it is fair, or right, to teach the kids that when there is a bully situation we need to run away from it. We shouldn't have to be the ones to change...

Which leads me to my other thought. I really wanted to suggest to the teacher that these 2 be separated during class time. Even having one of them moved to the other grade 3 class. But, I don't want my kid to have to change...she should not have to be penalized for someone elses actions...

Which is why I probably won't pull her out of school again...unless it becomes obscenely unbearable (like my big words? That is how you know I am upset!!)

I hope that this boys mom takes this seriously. The rest of his life, and how he will behave, is dependant on how this situation is handled at home...that is what I believe anyways...I know his mom is a single mom and they have a younger child (toddler) and I think it would be an eye opener to have to find care for him while he is suspended...maybe that is what it will take?

I am planning on going to the school this afternoon to walk Cutie Pie home...should I talk to this kid in my "mom" voice? Do you think that I should encourage Cutie Pie to walk away from him and say things like - I am not allowed to play with bullies? Do you think this will put a target on her back even more? I don't know what to tell her to do...there is only so long that you can ignore it...I plan to follow up with the teacher next week to see how things are going, and what has changed or not changed...

I am just kind of stuck on suggesting the right thing to do...how have other people dealt with it? She is such a sweet kid, and has the worlds biggest heart...it breaks mine to see her hurting like this...

Cutie Pies Holiday Reflections

Cutie Pies diary entries from the Christmas holidays...used with permission from Cutie Pie herself;-)

Dec 21 2009

Today I split my toe open. I got 2 stiches in my toe

Dec 22 2009

Today I split my head open I did not have to get stiches but I got specile purpple glue on my head

Dec 23 2009

My brother woke up puuking in our tolat

Dec 24th 2009

This morning my mom is puking in the toilet. Tomorrow is Christmas and I hope nothing happens.

Our holidays in a nutshell...as seen through the eyes of an 8 year old...

Silly Kids Photo Contest @ 5 Minutes For Mom

(Pooky and Cutie Pie making mud pies!!)

5 Minutes for Mom is having a Silly Kids Photo Contest...I just had to enter, but had to decide which one picture I would use.

My kids are so silly, it was hard...

"Hasbro is sponsoring our Silly Kids Photo Contest, and has an exciting prize for our winning photo: $1,000 to use towards classes and/or education material for the child(ren).

Hasbro will also award a prize to our second place photo: $300.00 to use toward classes and/or educational material for the child(ren)."

If you have a silly picture that you want to share with the world (and have a chance at this awesome prize!!) Post it and leave your link over at 5 Minutes For Mom!! I am going to enjoy checking them all out!!

Summer Fun!!

Well, it has definitely been too long. We have been on vacation (yes we actually took a holiday that didn't include a tent, or cooking, or anything like that!!) and now that I am back, I need to get back on board with my blog!!

I have a lot of things to share, but will do them one at a time, so I have lots of things to write about and don't end up wth writers block:-) (good material you know)

First of all, we made it almost through the entire holidays without any injury, but in our lives, that would be too easy, Cutie Pie managed to break her arm this summer....

She had gone out with a friend and was riding her bike. She apparently didn't see the pole in front of her and hit it.

Me, being that AWESOME mom...told her to suck up the pain. There was no swelling, no redness, obviously there was more drama then pain...

We ignored the complaints for 2 days and she went to play at the park. She fell down, on her arm again, and came home screaming...

So, I suggested we go see the dr (more to appease her then for anything real) and apparently the bone was broken.

I saw the x-ray...let me tell you...I am definitely in the running for the mom of the year award!!

I felt so bad and told the dr that I couldn't believe it was actually broken, and she consoled me by saying most parents would not have even brought their kids in. There were no outside signs so really, there must be nothing wrong...

I still felt like crap!!

Anyhow, we went back today to have the arm x-rayed again and it was so cool to see that the new bone is re-growing. How awesome are our bodies!!

The dr suggested we keep the cast on for 1 more week, just to give the new bone some time to strengthen...

So, no swimming for Cutie Pie for one more week...she was sad. I am glad that we actually had it checked out:-)

So, there is the first story of many from this past summer...come back for more!!

I never got a call from the school...

Today was report card day. I do like reading them over and seeing how well the kids did. This term they all did very well. Along with her report card, Cutie Pie (7years old) brings home her terms work for us to look over and do with whatever we please...

1 piece of work took me by surprise and now I wonder what the teacher thinks of our family...

My Favourite Song - A Prompt Response worksheet.

Prompt
WHAT is your favourite song?

Response
My favourite song is Schools Out because it reminds me of school out.

Prompt
WHEN did you first hear this song?

Response
The first time I hard this song is when I went in the van.

Prompt
WHO else likes the same song?

Response
My dad likes this song too.

Prompt
WHAT is one special part about this song?

Response
The best part in the song is when the shkool is blown in to pesas.

Prompt
WHAT is the message of this song?

Response
The message of the song is thers no more school.

Prompt
WHAT would you tell other about this song to get them to listen to it too?

Response
I would tell others if you have a favourite song choos shkools out.

And then it was all reiterated into a real paragraph...all of it!!

Wow, I wonder what they think of us now? And I wonder why she wants to be homeschooled???

I am glad that they don't take things like this seriously as a threat to the school...LOL!!!

Letter to the tooth fairy...

So, the littler ones here still believe in the tooth fairy. The older ones play along for the sake of them...Cutie Pie has been losing teeth like crazy (and having them pulled) and she just lost one on Friday...

Now, at our house, the tooth fairy is on vacation regularly. She goes on holiday over the weekends and even takes some surprise holidays without us knowing...

Our kids have come to the understanding that there is no point putting out a tooth on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday...there will be no money in the morning;-)

Call us bad parents...or whatever you want...but it works for us, you see...Our memories are getting worse...did I tell you that our memories are getting worse? Sorry, I see I repeated myself...

Anyhow, so today is Monday and for what we know, the tooth fairy is in business tonight...but...oh no, the tooth has now been lost...so Cutie Pie writes a letter instead...can you tell we have been through this before? This was done with no prompting from anyone...just her, money talks to our kids!! LOL!!

Here is the letter, spelling and all...

berue tooth fare. I am mising my tooth It came awt on friday. I cant find It I luked evrewar I c*nt (put a "u" for the star...for real...) find It It is vare harde to finde.

Translation: Dear Tooth Fairy. I am missing my tooth. It came out on Friday. I cant find it. I looked everywhere. I can't find it. It is very hard to find.

She is so cute...hopefully we remember before we go to bed!!

Why I love watching other peoples kids...

So, Cutie Pie had her friend C over to visit the other day...C belongs to Cheri...Cutie Pie and C get along really well and they have some very unique conversations and ideas that are definitely blogworthy....this is the email that I sent to Cheri in the middle of the day...

So, the funny things today were...

1. Cutie Pie and C came downstairs with a box that had holes in it...I asked what was in it and they said I would have to wait for the story first. So, C held up Cutie Pies notebook and started reading the story...it kinda went like"Cutie Pie caught 1 fly and it got away then Cutie Pie caught the second fly and it got away" and it went on like that until Cutie Pie caught one that didn't get away. All this time my 2 year old niece and Pooky are sitting on the floor listening to her...Then at the end of the story they showed us all the flies...I had said not to open the box or they would all get away, but C informs us that they won't go anywhere because they are injured...why are they injured? Because Cutie Pie caught them...

2. We are sitting at the dinner table and I thought that it would be cute to write the story onto the blog page.... C says "I did it in handwriting" and Cutie Pie says "that is why I couldn't read it". So Cutie Pie goes to get the book and I looked at the page!! It is so cute...She has some beautiful handwriting that only she could read. It was big swirls all attached. Cutie Pie asked if it was real handwriting and I said that yes it was!!

3. Things seem really "ODD" to C now? When they were having their watermelon after lunch they started eating around the same time, but C says"That's so odd, Cutie Pie started before me and we are at the same spot!!" then she continued using the word ODD...I thought it was funny!!

It feels like it has been forever!!

My life has been crazy here since school has been out and I haven't had much time to get to the computer at all. So this post will be a mish mash of the last few weeks activities!!

Faith is doing amazing. She is behind with some developmental delays, but that is expected with a long hospital stay. She is still doing wonderfully, she now claps her hands when she hears music, she is very ticklish and she is rolling over both ways now, from her tummy to her back and back to tummy!! That was a huge accomplishment right there.

Now, if you have read my blog for a while, you will remember that Faith pulled out her breathing tube and never needed it again. We had near heart attacks at that moment...and it hasn't failed that she has done it to us again!!

Faith has decided that she no longer needs a feeding tube. I was in Toronto at a service and had decided not to stay for food, and also not to help a friends parents with their move, my friend and I were just going to head straight home. We were partway there when I got a phone call...

Pete was frantic, he was getting the kids ready to swim a bit and came in to get Faith last. He was freaking out because she was chewing on her mic-key button...not the way it is supposed to be used.

I had to get Pete to calm down so I could talk to him properly. I told him what to do...empty the balloon first, which had almost nothing in it, then rub the end of the button in the stomach juices (nice, huh?) and pop it back in. I said that I would be there soon. So we hung up.

Then the phone rang again. He said the button wouldn't go back in...so I told him to just wait until I got home, which wasn't too much longer.

When I got home I rubbed some lubricant on the end and tried to put it in. He was right, it wouldn't go in. So, we left my friend here with the kids and we ran to the hospital. There were 3 people in front of us at triage, so I told the volunteer that her tube had come out and the hole was closing up and we needed to be seen right away...

We were, and after triage we went to sit in the childrens waiting area...we couldn't really see anyone right away and then this lady...I am sure she was crazy, came out of nowhere and "welcomed" us to the waiting area...ummm...ok. At this point I was trying to figure out if it would be rude to leave and sit somewhere else, but we decided that it would be more interesting there:-)

She was telling us that they had been there for almost 3 hours already. Only, there was no one else with her...then she told us that her husband and kids had gone for a walk. When they got back, I couldn't really tell who was sick and who wasn't. I know if I go to the hospital with a child, I do not make it a family outing...anyhow...

The nurse came to us within 10 minutes and asked when Faith needed to be fed again...and we explained that she is only fed at night time now and drinks as much during the day as possible. I am not sure if I blogged that already or not...but she was ok until then.

We were taken back right away and as we were leaving the waiting area, the crazy lady said "well, aren't you lucky" and that is when I wanted to scream at her and say...yeah, I am lucky that I am here with a child who needs a tube to be fed...I hate when people don't think before they speak!!!

As we were walking past the nurses station, they told the nurse who brought us in that there were no dr's to see patients right away...mhmmm...but, they must have called one down for us specifically and the first thing she said was..."wow, this is healing quite nicely". That was the last thing that I wanted to hear...seriously. She then informed us that they really don't deal with these things over the weekend and try to get Faith to eat her whole feed instead. If she doesn't, call the other hospital on Monday and see if she can be seen...

So off we went to start this new journey. The one where there is no more beeping, no more tubes, no more medical tape, no more feeding bags...wow, we got rid of a lot of things when that tube came out. Now to see if we can get her drinking enough...

When the dietician came on Tuesday we told her what happened and Faith actually gained an ounce!! I have never been so happy about such a small amount before, but it meant that Faith was going to be fine.

As I type this, Faith is almost done her second cuppy for the day. She needs 3 to get her full feed, and I am thinking that today may be a 4 cuppy day!! This is so exciting...It is like she just knows when she is ready!!

Now, for us and heart attacks...Yeah...

And a funny tidbit to end the post...hubby went in for a special procedure the other day...if you know me, you know what it is...if not, just think...we have 5 kids already!!

In the van, a few days before the procedure, Cutie Pie asks...

CP: Wouldn't it be fun to have twins?
Me: No, and we aren't going to have any more babies
CP: Oh yeah, when is daddy getting fixed?
Me: On Friday
CP: Are they going to put him to sleep?
Me: No, he just goes to the office
CP: Are they going to cut him open?
Me: Nope, he just goes to the office
CP: How long does he have to stay in the hospital?
Me: Not at all...we just go to an office
CP: How many stitches is he going to get?
Me: I don't know...
CP: Can he die?
Me: No, he won't die...

Kids are so honest!! I love it. And daddy is recovering fine!!

More later, cause there is way more going on here then that!!

The tooth story...finally

Well, Cutie Pie had waken up that one morning last week...came running downstairs screehing and screaming at the top of her lungs...she was just a little bit excited...I have to get used to living with so many little girls in this house...

She showed me that her tooth was loose and I gave it a quick wiggle and indeed it was. I suggest she wiggle it a bit more to make it fall out before school...we have lost many teeth and definitely would lose one if it fell out at school...

She insisted that she didn't want it to come out at home because at school you get a little treasure chest to keep your tooth in to bring home...and that was a huge novelty...so, she had a piece of soft bread for breakfast, and wouldn't go near anything else...had to keep that tooth in...

Off she went to school and Princess had picked her up after school...we had quite a bit of snow and there was no way I was maneuvering a double stroller on our sidewalks...

When they came home Princess and Cutie Pie both told me that 3 kids had lost their teeth that day...it must have been save your tooth for school day...

...and sure enough she had a little, plastic treasure chest with her tooth in it...and the tooth fairy even remembered to come to the house that night...what a shock...(refer to my previuos posts about the tooth fairy!!)

All is well on the homefront!

Yup, things are still going here. Everyone is doing well and we are getting into our daily grind again. I am tired of the snow, but really, who isn't? I can't wait until spring...

My 6 year old, Cutie Pie, must have a heart for the nations. I told her that she was going to be going on a trip this weekend to Quebec. We don't usually tell our kids until very close to the date, but since this is a big trip for her, we told her much earlier. She woke up every morning, for the past week and has asked when she was leaving for Mexico...

She has also asked some interesting questions lately, today's question was...when we die do we still go to the bathroom...she is such a deep thinker!! And she was also asking about our bodies turning to dirt...and will it hurt her eyes??

I am also a bit perturbed with the big plastics controvery going on...you know BPA in the bottles and formulas and stuff...I think when people hear something some tend to just run with it and start to freak everyone else out...it is interesting when you have a whole different perspective on life and I look at my situation where Faith has no choice but to have a plastic tube inserted in her tummy, she has to be fed by a plastic feeding bag and machine, I make her formula and keep it in bottles (it is a nice way to measure the formula) and she is using liquid formula...because the hospital told us that powder was not a good choice...granted I could pump if I could find time every 3 hours to keep up with her...but the point is, when people have a choice it is different, do your research and find out the benefits and the risks...what is bigger. I know for us, the benefits obviously far outweigh the risks and we are thrilled at technology...anyhow, there is my rant for the day...

Faith is crying so I gotta run...by the way, if anyone has used cloth diapers and covers with them, which covers have you liked best? I was thinking of going the route of knitted soakers, but was not sure if they work well or not...please I need advice!!

What gender is this gingerbread person? WW

Cutie Pie's gingerbread creation...

Cutie Pies cute things...

Ok, here is a lighter post...I have to post this stuff, cause they are just so funny and definitely need to be shared!!

I had been pumping some milk out for Faith...tmi, I know, but Cutie Pie was fascinated by the machine...this pump looked old, I mean the thing looks quite barbaric...but, I was trying to do a little bit, so Faith could get at least a bit. Every time I went to set up the machine, it was announced by Cutie Pie that mommy was 'milking' again...yup, cause I am a COW!!

Because of the pumping, she was also exposed to my 'parts'...you know which ones...she asked one day "am I going to have boobs when I am older?" and what else could I say, I told her she would have them one day...it reminded me of Lala and her daughters obsession...Cutie Pie also told gramma when she went over there one day, just out of the blue, that she was going to have boobs when she is a mommy...

The other day Pete was scratching his ear. Cutie Pie broke out in laughter and just couldn't control herself...Pete asked what was so funny and Cutie Pie responded with "you just gave yourself a wedgie!!...she meant wet willie!!

She asked another day if we were going to have breakfast with Santa this year...I said probably not, since we just didn't have time to do much. She got all upset because "I have to see Santa...he is going to recognize me from the summer when I visited him at Santa's Village!!

Then last night, we all headed out to get our flu shots...it is the first time she has ever had a needle...well, we did talk about it and how it will feel and that it really wasn't that bad...hm...you would have thought that we were killing her...it ended up taking 4 of us to hold her down. She sat on my lap while I held on tight, then Pete held her head and kept it turned away from her arm, another nurse came and held her arm and the other nurse held her elbow while she poked her...then she cried for almost the rest of the night, except when she was colouring...but took frequent breaks from that to wail really loud so the whole gym heard her!!

Also last night, we were talking at the dinner table and she says "my friend told me at recess that when kids go to jail they have to do lots of homework, is that true?" I just laughed...I couldn't answer her at all...

Just some tidbits from the last little while.

How time flies...(or how fast our kids grow up)

So, the first full week of school has gone just wonderful, for all my kids...even me!! It has been really nice to enjoy some one on one time with Pooky for a change. We have a great routine started that I hope will last for the entire school year and it is so not stressful!

Cutie Pie has been enjoying making new friends and learning lots and lots. Every night she has a book that she 'reads' to us, all about the word IN. She is so proud of the fact that she can do this on her own. The other day, I overheard her counting to 10 in french. French is the one subject that we didn't do while homeschooling, and I knew she could count to 10 in spanish, thanks to Dora...but I asked her if she had learned the french in school and sure enough she did. She is such a sponge and just seems to be soaking everything in...

I guess with this part of growing up and growing independent, she is also learning what she likes and doesn't like.

My nephew goes to the same school and my sister was there picking him up. She saw Cutie Pie and said "Hi" and CP just flicked her hair the other way and walked away from her. Shafted...by a 5 year old...This seems to have hit earlier with her then it has with any of the other kids...

A conversation we had the other night consisted of this...

Me: Gracie (Cutie Pies real name is Grace)come here
CP: My name is not Gracie, it is Grace
Me: Sorry...Grace, come here

So, she is growing up. She is not my little Gracie anymore, and yet she still is...and if you call her Gracie, in public, you may get a hair flick and a look of disgust...

Whatever possesses them???

So, you all know that we are in the process of trying to sell our house. I have never been much of a housekeeper, but have gained some OCD tendencies during this process. Someone could walk through the house in the next 5 minutes and it would look like no one lives here!!

Yesterday, for lunch, I made chicken strips and noodles. I can't eat tomato sauce right now, cause the heartburn just kills me afterwards, so I mixed the noodles with cream of mushroom soup and shredded cheese. It was DELICIOUS and I will be making it again.

I gave both Pooky and Cutie Pie a bowl of noodles to start with and was going to give them the chicken after they were done the noodles, since I didn't want to dirty too many plates.

Pooky was eating hers up real good until Cutie Pie says 'I don't like mushrooms'. Um, this child has eaten mushrooms forever and has never complained. But now, both the girls decided that they didn't want the noodles.

Pooky has figured that when she doesn't like something she just scrapes it into the garbage and it is gone...problem solved...we are dealing with that now...

Here is the conversation that transpired at lunch then keep reading for the ultimate shocker!!

CP - I am done my noodles mom, Pooky is throwing hers in the garbage
Me - Did you throw yours in the garbage too?
CP - Oh, no, I ate mine
Me - (I wasn't born yesterday) Look me in the eye and tell me that you ate your noodles
CP - (looking guiltily in my eyes) I ate mine
Me - If I go into the kitchen and look in the garbage, will I see more then I gave to Pooky?
CP - No, you won't, I ate mine

So, I go and check the garbage, and there are a total of 8 or 9 noodles in the garbage, which is all Pooky had left, when she realized she wouldn't like them.

So, I guessed that Cutie Pie had actually eaten her noodles...THEN...

I was walking through the house to make sure it was clean and ready for the next onslaught of strangers to walk through and guess what I found???

NOODLES...

Yup, in the pantry, hiding behind my hubby's beer case, in the corner.

What possesses children to do things like this?

Oh yeah, and on the way out of the house, I noticed a half eaten apple in a shoe in the hallway and when we got home, I saw a chicken strip under the tv table...

So much for myt OCD housecleaning...