Week-Ends and Book-Ends.

 


Mommy Daughter hair salon date - self portrait (this makes me smile)



Week-Ends



dark underneath!



1.  This week's Endings are combined with last weeks, since I didn't have time to post last week.  Today, my girls and I, had a much needed hair appointment.  We all got our hair done-including some highlights.  Cici and Nini chose red.  I chose my common blonde - but added a darker tone underneath.  My girls and I do not get to go out very often with just the three of us, but we took full advantage and did our hair and lunch.  It is still very hard for me to leave the boys with other people - besides me.  But it is good for them, especially when it is daddy they are hanging with.  I know I must be overprotective, but, not much I'm willing to do right now to change that! 

  

2.  I love the way Nini is entranced with the whole event.



3.  My girls were grounded last week.  There fighting and back-talking to each other was so out of hand.  I couldn't believe it at times. They've been off DS and computer and stayed home unless it was a family event.  It seems like a short-term solution to a problem that, I know, will continue.  I hope that we are helping them learn to love each other - 

sometimes, I'm not so sure.  





 4.  Daddy-Time isn't a very long at our home.  Unfortunately, Mr. C is a busy man and gets home sometimes right as I can't keep the boys up any longer.  He always gets the tail end of their day, which is sad.  We try to make the most of it by letting him spend those last minutes with just the three of them.  It's really sweet.  I am grateful for those weekends that let all of us spend more time together.

 



5.  My little man tie business is just for fun.  I tried a little photo shoot with my little men two weeks ago which ended up in little men crying.  An apple was the only thing that saved the shoot.  Next time, it might help if someone else were taking the photos and not me.  My kids always do better when there is someone else snapping the shots.  I do love this photo, despite the stuffed apple mouth! 

  

5.  Finally we can go outside - here is Mr. T
 checking out cool Nini on her skateboard



  

6.  Math Night at school!



 

Today's consignment finds!

7.  I have been laboring this winter to find good deals on my kid's clothing. I am finding that buying clothes for four growing children is expensive - duh right?  I have been consigning our last years clothes each season and buy at consignment stores.  I've tried ebay, but I find that with shipping, the deals can not be deals in the end.  We stopped at our favorite consignment store on the way home today and found these 7 name brand pieces (some new) for $53.00 and four of them are gymboree.  This averages $7.50 a piece!

Book-Ends



 Distant Hours  by Kate Morton proved to be a wonderful beginning to reading again.  I just haven't read much of any books since my bed rest days where I devoured books daily - just to stay sane.  I picked this book having no former knowledge of  The forgotten Garden -which I hear is also wonderful. To quickly review it, I found most of her character's personalities and thoughts to be written extremely well.  I found her lack of describing each character's physical features a bit annoying, though.  I loved the back and forth between era's and character's fun and it kept me engaged in the book.  I enjoyed it and out of 5 stars would give it a 3.5 and say I am interested in reading her other books.  Next up is...yet to be determined - will keep you in the loop :)

Do you find it difficult to get out on individual dates with your children?

How do you handle fighting between siblings?

When do you start shopping for the next season?
Clothing or shopping advise?!

 







Nini the car mechanic.

These photos are complete classic Nini photos. She's a girl with big dreams and set ideas. She loves to fix things and be the hero. This kitchen set we brought upstairs when friends came over to surprise me with a baby shower. There were several children present and since I am an old sentimental fool and haven't donated this kitchen set yet, it was perfect for the occassion. When the girls returned home, they were happy to see it upstairs. Nini, however, quickly found something that needed to be fixed and went right to work. There was a light bulb that had burned out, but after several attempts to get it, she resorted to asking for her daddy's toolbox. This is her in a classic Nini pose trying to figure out how to fix it. Personally, she looks like the cutest car mechanic I've ever seen!


This photo is another classic Nini, practicing her Ollie I think it's called. A skateboarding move she's been working on since summer. Lucky for me my window backs up to the driveway and I was able to watch her from the window practice her moves!

Check out these books:

For girls like my daughter, this book is really special. It talks about Amelia Earhart when she was a young girl, about her dreams that seem far-fetched to her family. With every new idea she constantly gets hit with this phrase, "You can't do that Amelia." But Amelia is not deterred, she is set in her ideas and works hard to complete her goals even at her young age. This is a wonderful book to give your girl and wonderful way to give them a role model that we all know accomplished so much in her life. You can't do that, Amelia! by Kimberely Klier.





This book really inspired Nini to read and learn about how to be a good skateboarder. It has great photos and names all the moves and jumps, so she can really feel like she's accomplishing something. She's perfected a few moves and comes to the book when she feels comfortable to start on a new one. If anything, it's fun to see all the different jumps and fun moves. The bok is my DK Publishing.

Do you have a Nini at home?!

A Shrine to Mommy.

I love the little ways that my girls show me their appreciation and love, like this shrine! I left way before they awoke last week for school, as I was due in for a 7:00 a.m. doctor's appointment in downtown Montreal. My Cici takes this photo out whenever I am away for longer than an hour. She has used it so much that we have just assumed that this wedding photo of me from 1993 is hers now! The girls read this post before I published it. When I asked Elise why this photo was on the chair she said, "Because Nini missed you!"

Has there been in shrines in your home?

Help your children with separation anxiety through these links:

Family T-shirts (from London trip)

Celebrate!

Overnight dates with mommy and daddy

Morning Parties

Surviving when daddy's traveling

Confessions of a Ballerina

of your littl Somehow seven-years old has issued in a "no princess" rule, despite the fact that she still owns princess clothes and other items. Instead of princess, it's all about being a ballerina. She's always loved going to ballet, but now her interests, Christmas gifts, are centering around everything ballerina. Here are a few things for anyone es, that loves ballet.

Fiep Linen Ballet Shoes

Personalized Tutu Ballet Tote

Peronalized Initial Ballet Shirt

Ballerina Wooden Pendant

Wrap Ribbon Tutu with Flower

Colorful Ballet Art Print

Ballet Slipper Bow

Vintage Dance Insirations Pendants

Will any of these items inspire your ballerina?

Quiet Enchantment.

This movie is one of my all time favorite movies. It brings a sense of quiet enchantment into your life that is inescapable for days after you see it. Four women, worn out, depressed, and in need of time away from the dreariness of London, travel through separate means to a villa in Italy. They seek alone time guardedly, hoping to find their souls peace they feel they have lost. Slowly they relax to the peace of their surroundings, share moments of quiet conversations, and grow from one anothers experiences. The movie is delightful, fulfilling, and definitely leaves you planning your own quiet getaway to Italy.

Have you seen this movie?

Confessions of a Tomboy.

Nini with new bangs August 2009

My Nini is a self-proclaimed tomboy. She still wears dresses and lets me put an occasional frilly bow in her hair, but her true love are baseball shirts, basketball jerseys, or whatever else inspires her. I've been searching for some ideas for her birthday and Christmas to either get or make - and here are some wonderful items that would inspire any tomboy!

Good Luck Tokens

Personalized Name Signs

Ribbon Spirit Shirt

Personalized Rubber Stamp


Basketball bow


Best Friends Soccer Pendants

Soccer Chic Pendant


Personalized Water Bottles


Do you have a tomboy?
Any other ideas that were not shared here?

A good first impression.

Today, Nini was ready...

...Cici was ready...

...Daddy helped them get ready...

...Mommy got out of bed to help them get ready...

...to make a good...

...first impression at school for their new 2nd grade teacher!

Getting the girls ready for school this year proved a bit more difficult. However, as I've now learned, bed rest and shopping can mix quite well. I had time to search the Internet for the best items for the girls uniforms. They didn't need too many things, as they were stocked on socks, dresses, and skirts. I collected a few quality pieces for this years uniforms:

Gymboree -Navy Blue roll up pants

Pink and Navy Bow Uniform Jacket

Argyle Headbands

Argyle Bows

Land's End -White Ruffle Top

Junior Backpack w/ monogram

Green Cable Cardigan Sweater - Pink shown

T-Strap Shoes with Rubber Soles in pink and blue.

Do you believe in first impressions?

Does your child go to school in uniforms?

Do you think it would make your life easier?

Learning to read with Dick and Jane.

Reading Dick and Jane - in the car.

You just can't put every child in one basket. This is a realization I experience everyday I spend with my two amazing daughters. Perhaps if they weren't twins, I wouldn't have to spend so much time hitting my hand to my for head and saying "duh" - why didn't I handle the situation differently. Sitting in the parent teacher meeting at the girl's school was the first clear answer I had to why Nini was having so much trouble learning to read. "She reads by sight words, or grouped words" her resource teacher said to me, "sounding words out is very difficult." I knew that she had trouble sounding out words, but I didn't realize that reading success for her would entail more memorization and repetition then seeing the sounds put together to make a word. I was told to start working on Dolch method with Nini and began memorizing 220 of the most common words.

Now to the old vintage Dick and Jane readers, do you remember them? Learn to read from them? They've begun to republish this series in chapter book format. Craig found the one she is reading at Borders books and brought it home to her to read. The most amazing thing happened, this book is over a hundred pages long - and she read it in two days. She even read in the car for hours at a time when we headed to Burlington in February. We purchased another one for her to read and she read it one day - and now she is reading like a pro!

The repetitive nature of these books allowed her to use her gift of memorizing and learn many of the words on Dolch list of sight words. It was such an eye opening experience about how every child is different - that when you find the right learning style for your child and they are ready- they'll succeed - like my Nini!

Did you learn to read with Dick and Jane?
Have you heard of Dolch?

Or any other methods like this one?

5 weird or random things about me...

Here goes...I was tagged by my sister at half full life to mention 5 weird or random things about me. I new that I would never complete this tag if I didn't ask Craig - since he knows me best. I'm sure my sister could add to this list but here are five random or weird things about me...

1. I have a propensity to leave the cupboard doors open in any room with cupboard doors. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't bump my head or run into them, but I do.

2. I belch, burp - whatever you want to call it - a lot. I have a hard time digesting my food, so this must be a way my body deals with - sorry no video!

3. Just thinking about eating a Popsicle that has a wooden Popsicle stick inside of it - makes me nauseous.

4. According to my husband (this something I don't notice) I can't say crayons. It sounds something more like "crains".

5. I do some sort of high pitched cackling thing, perhaps known to most as a giggle, when I am on amusement rides and when I am skiing. My husband loves to make fun of this!

This was such a fun tag! Let's see, I pass this tag to Laura, Noriane, Nicole,Marie, Wendi, and Amanda L. I have been having to replace my side links because they disappeared last week. I hope that if you are a blogging friend who's name isn't on my sidebar - that you'll be so kind as to let me know. I don't want to loose track of anyone!

Do you find that your husband or other half can pick out those quirky things about you more than you?

A New York Minute...7200 of them.

Minute 1-1440:

Their was a song that one of the men in the Avonlea Village sang recalling something in his childhood as a "perfect memory". I truly enjoyed the song and the idea that their are perfect memories within my childhood that I will always remember with great happiness. I remember this day on the beach. We drove down from Montreal on Tuesday after repacking and picking up the dogs. We dropped things off at the cabin and then headed to a nearby state park on Lake Champlain in NY. I remember enjoying the sun, the sandy beach and it's warmth; however, after looking at this photo, I can see that this must be a "perfect moment" for my daughter. Look at her face - she is in heaven!

And this one...I know they love to swim and love to lay in the sand and get warm -but these photos are just so telling of just how much they love it. I think this photo is one of the funniest from our vacation - do you think they are enjoying themselves?

After a great afternoon at the beach, we took a quick spin to this covered bridge. That's Nini, Cici, and Craig in the window! We ended the day with a campfire and smores!

Minutes 1440-2880

Whiteface Mountain: Our first stop was to hit White Face Mountain and the gondola ride that takes you from the bottom of the ski area to the top. The woman running the photo booth at the top of the mountain asked us almost immediately if we had done any cross-country skiing this winter. We said that we had and she quickly said that she thought we looked familiar. She remembered us from this and last years cross-country skiing trip!

Highfalls Gorge: Right after our gondola ride to the top of Whiteface, we headed to Highfalls Gorge where a waterfall awaited us. Craig was in a rather spritey mood making this little pose in his "play" vest that matches the girls. He did not get his monogrammed - which I wish he would have - it would have been cute to get a photo with the girls and him in their vests. The waterfall was nice to look at and a fun and easy hike for old and young. They have information signs throughout the walk which he children can read and answer questions. If they get all of the questions right, they receive a small souvenir from their gift shop. It's a great idea! We drove to Lake Placid for a picnic on Mirror Lake, a promise to swim that we had to squash because it was getting late and their were just too many people wanting to swim. We hit a few stores along the way home and ended the day cooking steaks on the campfire and watching SYTYCD (or at least some of it).

Minutes 2880-4320:

July 3rd started with clouds and lots of rain. We had planned to go to the beach, but changed our minds with the new weather and headed across Lake Champlain into Sharron, Vermont the birthplace of Joseph Smith. It was pouring down rain when we arrived. I got out with Sassy, since she hadn't visited here before and was going to at least take a photo of her at the monument. I grabbed our beach umbrella and headed out with her to snap some photos. There was an Elder who was coming out with some umbrellas and when I said we were just going to take some photos and knew that Craig and the girls were in the car - headed down to our van to convince them to get out and visit! It was a really cute gesture and although the girl's faces look like they are not enjoying themselves, they loved talking to the Elder and telling them all about their adoptions story! It was quite sweet.

later that day...

We drove back up through Vermont to Knight's State Park on the VT Island stretch in Lake Champlain. The park was having a firework celebration on the 3rd and we thought we would check it out. The park is one we have visited for swimming in other posts. We were completely in a state of enjoyment as the parks planning committee did a great job of putting together a small enjoyable, community celebration. The girls had a blast running around their fields...

Sassy, apparently, could not find any other sweatshirt in all of Maine; so we ended up looking a bit like twins. I wasn't enthralled with this photo as Craig seemed to be in taking it.

The evening ended with a great display sunset and display of fireworks. We enjoyed $4.00 half rack of ribs, easy parking, and easy exiting. It was a very, very fun evening and a great ending to a day that started out with rain and cloudy skies!

Minutes 4360-5760:

July 4th started and ended with beautiful weather and perfect temperatures. We celebrated the 4th in Lake Placid, NY and arrived in town around 1:00 p.m. We parked ourselves across from the fireworks display area, which was located across the lake. I really wanted to dress the girls and myself in the same shirts and found some fun and cheap options at Walmart.

We all took turns saving our seats and viewing the activities from a concert, to shopping, to parades. Before the sun set, I took the girls swimming in Mirror Lake, we ordered a pizza, and finally enjoyed some fantastic fireworks on over the lake.

Minute 5760-7200:

Saturday we headed into Vermont again to go to Alburgh Dunes but decided on a different state park due to the large amounts of people using this beach and park. We headed back to Knight's State Park and enjoyed a day of sun and kayaking on the beach. The water wasn't as nice as I would have liked, but the girls didn't mind and the kayaking was fun. Craig took it out for most of the time while the girls, Sassy, and I enjoyed the beach. We did get a chance to take the kayak out; the girls individually with Craig and together. When I returned from my stint in the kayak, the girls were eager to help me into shore. The photo above is of Sassy attracting much attention from the children playing in the water, the were talking to her about why she was sitting out in the water, and about all the things they were collecting. It was really sweet! I like to call her photo above retirement! We headed back to the cabin to start collecting our things, washing clothes. We ended the day with a campfire, roasted hot dogs, smores, and Craig beating us at our annual canasta game.

Parting and home

The girls are dealing with some separation and attachment anxieties tonight as they had to say goodbye to Sassy. We took her to the airport in Burlington where she caught her flight home and we headed back to Montreal to end our vacation. I loved every minute of it! I hope you enjoy the photos and links and hope that if you are a regular on my site, or a lurker to please comment - I would love to hear from you!
It's almost three in the morning and I'm finally posting my last vacation post! I will have a summary and link to all our photos soon! Take care everyone and thanks for commenting :)