Expectations

VBS was awesome this week!!  Madi enjoyed her cooking class especially because she was able to eat what they made each day and also get snack time after it.  She learned some really great snack recipes and they made a recipe book so we'll try to do some of them next week.  The songs were also fabulous and the girls have been walking around the house doing the motions and singing a ton.  Their attitudes were also excellent all week long and they've had some really great days.

Madi has been talking constantly about the house you guys will eventually build in the Philippines.  Not sure what spurred it, but she has wanted to draw out design plans for her bedroom and has lots of plans for it.  She has been talking a ton about her tv system and how to put in a computer game console and do it wirelessly.  She's very excited to get her bedroom and live on the ocean.  We just nod our heads and say "Cool."  Not really sure what to say about it to her other than "sounds great!!"

She's also been talking a ton about what she wants to do in middle school.  She isn't very excited about fifth grade after hearing others talking about what they get to do in middle school.  So I talked with her today about being content where she is and looking forward to the things she'll get to experience this year.  We talked about some of those things.  She has very big expectations for middle school.  I told her that fifth grade will be an awesome year for her and to enjoy her opportunities.

She has been talking tons about where she'll be after December, where you'll be working, asking tons and tons of questions that I told her I don't have an answer for - but that if I did, I'd let her know.  We talked about the plans that I know that you do have.  That I know you're coming in December, but that you'll leave again in March for graduation and to support Marcus in his run for mayor or whatever position he's going for at that point.  We also talked about how money is tight and that the boys won't be coming in December.  I thought she already knew, but she didn't.  I told her I could be wrong, but that the information I had was that they weren't coming.  We also talked about how you'll have a test to take here in America when you get back and that your plan is do the Air Force Reserve on weekends starting in January.

I may overshare.  Sometimes even do that with Riley.  But I find that if kids know even a sketchy outline of a plan, they can be assured that they will be taken care of and safe and secure.  Riley already asks about Kinder and when she's starting and what it will be like.  So we've talked a lot about that with her.  Just facts and things she can be sure of.  Madi said she felt silly about asking so many questions about what is going to happen in the next year.  I told her that she shouldn't feel silly.  That she just wants to know she'll be safe, secure and taken care of.  And that she can be assured that she will be.  I told her that I'd let her know what I know when the time comes.  She'd been asking so many questions about the next year and I just wanted to be sure she knew where everything stood so that things weren't a surprise when you came in December and then returned a few months later.  I told her that you will be back for good after graduation/helping Marcus campaign and that at least for now, that is the plan.  She understood.  She was quite sad about the boys.  She was especially sad that you didn't answer her call or her message that she sent you earlier today.

Tomorrow is a very low-key day.  Don't know what your plans are or what you're up to, but we'll be home all day and we'll be sure to have her iPod on so feel free to call if you have time.

Extreme Days

Tomorrow starts VBS!  Madi's breakout class is cooking so it will be fun to see what she learns!  So we'll be gone from 7am until noon (as I am a crew leader so we have to get there early).  Back to waking up at 6am and having earlier bedtimes for this week.

Madi has had a pretty good week.  She was able to go swimming at my parents' house today for an hour or so with Riley.  All of us went swimming at their house a few days ago and it was a lot of fun!  They start swimming lessons in a week which will be fun for them as well.

Amazing Piano Website

As I teach piano students, I've been looking for blogs that other piano teachers keep and found this one.  Wow.  She is amazing!

http://colorinmypiano.com/

And knew I'd forgot the website if I didn't put it somewhere I'd remember to look!  Can't wait to try out some of her ideas!

Too Much Dora

Julia has been in a Dora mood these days.  She has only seen one or two episodes of the show, but simply loves her.  We have several Dora books that we've been reading each night.  She loves to find the green turtle in one, talks all about the Mami and Papi and compares their clothing each night, asks over and over to read the book about the eggs.  But I think we've had too much Dora.

Last night Jules woke up at 4:00am.  Actually she was probably up much earlier as I finally heard her at 4:00am and could barely hear her in our room.  When I got to her room, she was wailing.  Her face was wet, she had big tears and was doing the sobbing breathing where she's trying to calm herself, but is very distraught and worked up.

I held her and then rocked her in the chair.  While I was rocking her, she put her arm out - somewhat shakily.  Looked like she was reaching for something.  I said "Jules, are you reaching for something?"  She said tearily "Swiper no swiping!  That's my Grandpa!!"  Poor Jules had a dream that Swiper was taking her Grandpa and she was very sad.

So I spent the rest of the night trying to calm her down and she finally fell asleep on me.  So sweet!

We're Back!

Has been a very great two weeks of vacation time with Grammy, Poppi, Tripp, Kathryn and Ranny.  Oh and Dozer, the great big dog that likes to sit on her lap when she's on the couch!

Madi had a blast spending time with them.  Poppi said that she and Grammy would spend lots of time reading in bed next to each other.  She was able to go see the show "Annie Get Your Gun" with Poppi and also went ice skating at the Galleria.  We got to see the video footage and she did a really great job!!

Today they came over our house and we watched (or at least had it on in the background) her new favorite movie that she has seen at least ten times with them:  the 1985 movie - CLUE!!  She can practically quote the entire movie!  I love that she gets the sarcasm and really wity humor in it.

Then we all ate out at Buca for a Father's Day Dinner.  Was really great to spend time together.

Madi started writing a book while she was with them.  So since my mom has published an e-book for the Kindle before, I'll be using her knowledge to help Madi publish her book as an e-book.  Think it'll be a fun summer activity for her!  She already has written the prologue and first two chapters.

This week will be a very calm one.  Or at least it is on the calendar!  We'll plan out some fun activities that we want to do this summer - some science projects, new recipes, painting activities and places we want to go.  Then we can figure out when we want to do them so we make time for them.  We're having Madi do three days of math and two days of writing her book.  She chose to do one or two sections of IXL on Mondays, FasttMath on Wednesdays and Fridays and work on her book on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Will help keep her skills up through the summer!

We have VBS a week from tomorrow.  Can't wait!!!

Two Weeks

Madi is at Poppi and Grammy's and spending the next two weeks with them.  I have no doubt that they'll all enjoy their time together!!  We went over everything she packed a few times - had to make sure she had pjs as I forgot to check on them the last time and she didn't have them.  She was looking forward to going.  Should be a great couple of weeks for her!  And for them!