Cheese and Pam

Well it's been a full on week or so here at Betsy's. Miss Liongirl finally started her much longed for ballet classes.  Not only has she been wearing a tutu every possible day for weeks, she has been sleeping with the ballet bag every night. And most surprisingly, she agreed to let me do something with her wild nest of hair, because that's what ballerinas have to do.

The best part, is now I have real leverage because  that ballet class is gold. Yes, ballerinas do have to brush their teeth, yes ballerinas must wipe AND flush every time they do a wee and most importantly ballerinas have to control their wild nests of hair and produce either piggies or a ponytail. GOLD I tell you, only four sleeps to go.

Roboboy on the other hand is having a hard time settling into Grade 1.( It didn't bode well when on day two he asked to go back to prep so that he could have a nap).  He manages to hold himself together all day.......until I get there and then it ALL comes out. All afternoon. And it's not pretty. I did feel for the poor kid when I discovered that his little 5 year old soul is doing the same curriculum dished up to grade twos last year and the first topic in his science journal was " External Features" of animals. In his scratchy writing. Cripes.

So we have been spending all our outside of school time trying to do things that help us relax. Calm down.
How about making our first chatterbox, with a bird theme. Then testing it out on little sisters who think every thing we do is just very impressive. She tends to copy him word for word. If we ask her how her day was at kindy, she puts her hand on her hip and says " My day was QUITE good". Word for word.

She does have a few of her own words. The sort that I wanted to record for posterity sake, because they are too cute.

Mama, I neeeeeed Nax. (what the?) NAX, I NEED NAX! (Oh, you mean SNACKS?)
Mama, I need Nuggles. (ok now I get it) You need snuggles?
Mama, lets have a pikpik. ( a little picnic with a rug?)
Mama, can I have a sandwich pweeese? (what sort minxy?) Cheese and Pam. ( he he he - Ham)
Can I watch Angeleeeenja Ballerina? ( makes me think more of Angelinja the Ninja ballerina)

If we are really out of sorts, best to whip up a quick cubby. Or "Dreamhome" as Roboboy has been calling it. A nice vintage sheet, some crochet rugs, and all mama's recent projects.

The cat is impressed, she thinks it is all for her benefit. I can't help thinking about everything I need to move before I start painting that exact wall. But it seems to helping, with the calming down part. As well as a few good books, that usually helps too.

Grateful for one child being in a happy place. Hopefully back soon with two calm children and some op shopped treasures. May the force be with all mothers of grade 1 children, as I think we are all needing it.