Catch Up...

• So Punky has had a stuffy nose. However, she won't let me spray it or use the aspirator or help her blow it. So I finally told her that she had to stop complaining about it (because she really whines about it) unless she was going to let me help her. She says, "But Mom! I don't like any of the ideas you like!" Hubby and I just laughed.
• We were eating breakfast the other day and Hubby and I were talking. Punky said, "Let's focus on eating, guys!" I think she has heard that at the babysitters.
• Punky has said several times that she will eat turkey on Thanksgiving. I'll keep you posted as to whether that actually happens. I doubt it.

Halloween 2009-Part 1

Punky was a cute black kitty for Halloween...

Will post more pics later, as we didn't get to celebrate with Buddy because Ab was sick.

Rough Day

I really cannot believe how much my 4 year old knows, comprehends, and says. Hubby just said the other night it seems like she is so much older because of some of the things she says. She definitely acts like she is 12 sometimes!!

Well, the other night, I was trying to get her into bed and I asked her to pick out her clothes for the next day. She asked why she couldn't do it the next morning. I told her that it stresses me out in the morning (I am NOT a morning person) and that we need to get it done tonight so that we don't fight about it in the morning. I told her, "Baby, I don't want to fight with you about your clothes, and we really need to move fast in the mornings." She thought for only a second and then said, "No, mommy. Don't worry. We can do it in the morning...I will fight fast!" OH MY! I didn't quite know what to say to that!

Then a few nights later, she was picking out her clothes for the next morning and couldn't decide so I told her to go to bed and we would do it in the morning. She said, "But mommy, I don't want to have a rough morning!" OH MY! She learns so much!

Pity Party for Me

So many times I only think about myself...what I'm going through...what I'm feeling...what matters to me..who I have to make dinner for...what needs cleaned. God has taught me some very important lessons the last couple of weeks, but the one I learned this week was especially hard.

Every Thursday, I get to pick my nephew, Buddy, up from preschool at the same time I pick Punky up. I love it because Punky gets excited to have someone to play with at home and I like to see Buddy actually in school! He is such a wonderful little boy.

Anyway, this past Thursday, I had a pity party for myself. For some reason or another, I left work just a few minutes late, which meant I was going to be pushing it to pick up the kids. Even though they are both done at 11:30, I have worked it out so that I can pick Buddy up about 5 minutes early and still have plenty of time to get in the car line to pick up Punky. Well, I found myself leaving work at the time I should have been picking up Buddy. I am driving in the car, getting frustrated, getting angry at the SLOW cars in front of me, mad at the road construction that is slowing me down. I finally pull into the school lot and decide to pick Punky up first so they don't send her to after school care, etc. It was a mess. I pull into the car line only to see that there is a different teacher putting them into the car, and she is not NEARLY as fast as the usual teacher. Great! Just what I need. I am huffing and puffing and really getting myself worked up. I get Punky in the car and race over to get Buddy. I failed to mention that it is cold outside, and raining very hard at this point. I jet full sprint into the building to get Buddy, running all the way. I pick him up, run him back out to the car, get both kids buckled in and at this point I am done! I am upset, tired, hungry, soaked and totally feeling sorry for myself.

I really don't have those days tooooooo often...in fact many times I get teary eyed after dropping Punky off at school in the morning...I thank God as I am walking to my car that I have a beautiful child to take to school, that my job is flexible enough to allow me to do that, and that God has blessed us financially to be able to send Punky to a private school. I really have a great life. But there are those days like Thursday that the pity party for me begins. I found out just today that on that Thursday morning, one of the moms of a little boy in Buddy's class was killed in a car accident on the way to pick him up from class. In the instant that I was feeling angry and tired and UNthankful, I am sure that mother would have given anything to be in my shoes. My heart is sad, not just for this family's tragedy, but because I missed an opportunity to see the little blessings God has given to me. I hope from now on when I get stuck in traffic or am running late, that I think of this and remember how blessed I am and how thankful I am for what I have, for every day I have here on earth, and for the wonderful people in my life that I GET to care for.

Ballet

So Punky has started her first ballet class...it is for 4-5 year olds. She absolutely loves it. She is in the same class as her little friend from church and it is the most hilarious thing to watch these little uncoordinated girls run and twirl about thinking they are the most beautiful ballerina. I was laughing so hard (she couldn't see me) and I have to wonder how the teacher gets through class without laughing! Here are a few pics...

Punky is a busy bee!

Things have been going good...but busy in our house lately. Punky is REALLY enjoying school and her teacher informed me today that she has a little boyfriend. I asked if it was Will and she said no, Luke. I guessed Will because she talks about him a lot and the teacher said oh yes him too. Great. Two boyfriends in the first month of school. Hubby will love that one...

Punky started Cubbies again this year at church and really likes it. They learn so much for being so little!

She is also starting her dance class tonight...it is called Creative Movements for 4 year olds. What an interesting name! They focus a lot on ballet, and Punky is excited that she is required to wear a pink or black leotard (which she already has) and pink tights and ballet slippers. Her little friend from church is in the same class, so she is very excited. I did find out that I can't really stay and watch them, as they prefer the kids to be focused and not showing off or nervous in front of other people...ME? NOT ABLE TO TAKE PICTURES? WHATEVER SHALL I DO? Don't worry, I will sneak a few...

Big Day-Classroom and Dentist!

Today was a big day for Punky. It started off going to school to see her classroom and meet her teacher. As we were getting out of the car at school, Punky squealed with excitement (literally). Mrs. H seems very nice and we are so excited for school (K4) to start on Thursday. Here are a few pics (yes, I took my camera!)

It was somewhat strange for me, as this was MY 2nd grade classroom when I first came to this school. It seemed so much bigger 23 years ago than it did today!

We also went to Punky's first dentist appointment. I told her at home that we needed to brush our teeth before we went and Punky said, "No we don't mommy, the dentist will clean our teeth for us!" SHE DID SO GREAT! She of course made me go first so that she could watch what they do. When it was her turn she got right up in the chair and was all smiles. She did exactly what they asked her to do, and was so brave! (Once again, my camera was present).

Answered Prayer!

I know I have not been posting very well this summer...we have been sooo busy! I am hoping that with school starting we will get back into a routine and things will get less stressful. We are thanking God for some fun events this summer including a very successful Missionary Garage Sale at church, conclusion of our OT Bible study, a day trip (ALONE!) to Starved Rock, lots of swimming, playing, and summer fun.

Well, today we are going to see Punky's K-4 classroom and meet her teacher. She is very excited. I will post pictures later (of course I am taking my camera).

Anyways, one requirement of starting school is a copy of Punky's birth certificate. I knew that I had one here at the house because we were required to show one a few months ago for her elsewhere. However, after turning the house upside down (Hubby helped too), it was no where to be found. I was dreading having to drag Punky down to the courthouse, pay the fee and wait for another copy. Ugh. Just a few minutes before needing to leave, I decided to stop one more time and pray that I could find it. Punky and I prayed that we would find it ASAP! God totally led me to check Hubby's nightstand (no idea why) and it was there! Not 5 minutes after we had prayed. Punky and I stopped and prayed again thanking God for his help. Punky was actually quite excited. I think I was more excited about showing Punky that God answers prayer than about finding the certificate. What an awesome lesson.

Bible Study

Hubby and I have been in a WONDERFUL small group Bible study going through the old testament. It truly has been informative and eye-opening and we have really enjoyed it. There is quite a bit of homework week to week, but we have really enjoyed spending time together doing it...usually while Punky is sleeping.

On Saturday, Punky was in the other room playing, and Hubby and I decided to relax on our bed and read our study together. We were sitting there and Punky came in a few times to see what we were doing. A few minutes later, she comes in and asks if she can sit on the bed with us. We of course said sure. She comes back in, with her pen, notebook, and Bible and says "I'm going to do my Bible study too!" And she sat on the bed and wrote in her notebook and read her Bible just like us. It was so cute that I had to take a picture.

It just goes to show you that little eyes and ears pick up what you are doing, even when you don't realize it. It is so important to teach by example, and not just by words, especially with children.

She's so much like me!

The other day it was clean up time, and I told Punky she needed to go and pick up all the stuff on the floor in her room and I was going to come and inspect in a few minutes. I asked her a few minutes later if she was ready and she said yes. I went in, and this is what I found:

Everything had been picked up off the floor, but it was on her bed...

...and stuffed in the corner behind the closet door. She is SOOOO much like me!!!