Ryan and Hannah were working on putting the globe that she received as a Christmas present together yesterday.
Daddy: “Hannah, can you go downstairs and get the phillips screwdriver. Do you know what that looks like?”
Hannah: “No, but I know what a Phillips TV looks like.”
Here are the facts – I feel no shame.
Yesterday was trash day and Ryan was out of town. It was 20 degrees.
We have a rather long driveway with a couple of good hills.
Hannah has taken out the garbage plenty of times in warmer weather.
**I told Hannah I would give her a dollar and have sweet cocoa waiting if she would take out our garbage.**
She returned (with Ellie in tow, of course), unbundled all her layers, counted her money, and slurped away.
I felt No Shame as I wrapped my sweater tighter around myself against all the cold air they brought back in with them.
Gee, I even lent her my gloves.
had a quick ballet recital during class today to make up for a canceled performance due to bad weather in December. It actually worked out for the best for us because we were in Florida when it was originally scheduled. She was glad to get to participate even though she recognized how long it had been since the class had practiced.
There was no need to worry. The girls remembered the steps just fine, but what was more encouraging was the grace and confidence that they all carried with them. Their demeanor was confident with terrific posture, strong arms, and most importantly their chins were high and their smiles were beautiful. It went altogether too quickly. I could have watched them several more times…
Again, a conversation in the car…
-”Mom, when I am a teenager will you teach me how to drive?”
-”Yes, Honey.”
-”Great! Then you can show me what all the buttons on the radio do!”
We continued down the road. Gazing out the window, she continued,
-”You know, I used to drive on the rocky road with Daddy when I was 4 and 3 so I really already know how to drive.”
I guess that’s solved. I can check that off my to-do list!
I packed the girls bag today for our trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa (otherwise known as “Kam-ma” and “Kamp-pa” in 3 year-old speak). They needed to try on a couple of different of swimming suits to see which fit best.
They both paraded in their suits for awhile, but alas the December chill set in. They next thing I knew they were back in their clothes.
When they stripped down for their bath I found that they had been wearing their suits under their clothes all evening.
Let’s just say, all of us are looking forward to this next warm and sunny adventure.
Hannah is studying colonial times and the American Revolution in school right now. We are reading the American Girl books about “Felicity”, a young girl growing up in Jamestown, Virginia in the 1770′s. These are extremely well-written books about history, culture, and good character.
Felicity is attending a school were she is learning how to be a proper “gentlewoman”. One very important aspect was the ability to hostess and prepare a proper teatime.
Hannah was all over that. When we had completed the book, out came my antique tea cups. She set her table, wrote place cards, dressed herself and her sister, invited her Dad, and sat down and was definitely “the hostess with the mostest”. She even guided the conversation in the points of the unfairness of the tea tax imposed by the King of England and how we should rally around the pursuit of freedom from English rule and be patriotic.
Here are some shots:
Hannah popped some popcorn and we all huddled together under the blankets to watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on Wednesday night. About halfway through the show, Ellie started talking about Bambi walking all alone without his friends…quickly I realized she had Bambi and Rudolph mixed up…
Sort of reminds me of the time we took Hannah to see Shrek 2 when she was about the same age. She sat happily on my lap – munching popcorn – the entire movie. As soon as the movie was over, she looked up at me and said, “So, who’s Fiona?”
This is a fantastic movie. The other day my girls were playing the portion of the movie where Will and “County” come around asking for work so they can earn some food. Hannah got the point from the movie that they worked first and ate second after they earned it. That is a good point to get.
Ellie is “County” who in the movie always had a hat down low over his eyes. Hannah made up another name besides “Will” since we know that 8 year-old girls do not play boy parts!
goofy
How to motivate an 8 year old…Tell her that if she can get all of her schoolwork finished by tomorrow she won’t have to take any work to Indiana while visiting Mimi and Papa for Thanksgiving for a whole week!
The pencil was flying!
