Mom's Craft Closet ~ No Sleeves, Please.

Oh, Brother!  Long Sleeve Peasant Dress with Sash

waiting for the next morning

This week, I finally crossed enough off of the old "To Do" list to make room for sewing.  Sewing is like coloring - therapeutic!  Way back before Christmas, I purchased a few yards of adorable fabric to make long sleeve flannel dresses for Lena & Lucianna.  Following a simple peasant dress pattern that I hunted down on Etsy, a made three new dresses this week and have plans to make a few more - one as a gift.

I have never done long sleeves so this was a fun feat for me, but much to my chagrin, Lena told me, "Mom, it's beautiful and oh, I love the ballerinas...but, I didn't want sleeves on it!"

This...from my rule-breaking child (see this post) - yes, some rules are made to be broken.  Lena's favorite rule to break (but certainly not the only one) is wearing sundresses in the winter.

Sundresses in February?  Fuh-get About It!
(make sure you read that with an Italian Mobster accent)

Her version of "Go put on long sleeves and pants so we can go outside."
In case you missed it...
this ensemble includes the original sundress, a new tutu,
 yes, mom - long sleeves & pants...and a big, I love my outfit smile.

Yeah, it has sleeves, but I admit...I like it anyway!

Modeling the back for Mommy

The ballet print is not my style, but I knew she'd love it and that is what it is all about!  I also did two more in an adorable bird print.  This versatile dress is perfect for everyday...

Sassy enough for your best for dance moves

Good enough for hanging out with your friend, Ariel

Durable enough for running outside

Comfortable enough for bird watching

Cute enough for kissing Daddy

Tough enough for shoveling sand

Playful enough for swinging and singing

Sporty enough for having a pass with Mom

Washable enough for popping blueberries

Enough to get Lena to wear sleeves

Enough!

Jammin' January

Monthly Update!

We began the new year with a new goal - READING!  Lena is showing many of the readiness skills (Link Here for readiness signs in younger children, ages 3-5) to begin reading.  This is exciting stuff for her...she already loves books, knows all of her letters - uppercase and lowercase and most of the letter sounds.  But, she is young and our school routine is not as consistent as I would like.  With two active girls who have different educational needs, finding a good time to work on reading with Lena is tough, but we are trying it out and not pushing it.  To jump start this new learning adventure, we are utilizing a sight words program, You Can Read from 1+1+1=1 that is geared toward young readers and I would like to incorporate phonics and the basics of blending sounds, but we have not begun any formal phonics blends yet.

Lucianna's attention span for school time is increasing but I recognize a need to utilize a more hands-on, exploratory approach with her - I just have to get myself organized in order to allow her to thrive in our school time routine!

I am giving my new Shutterfly Share space a try and will be linking up there for a slideshow of this month's school time pictures.  I had a bit of trouble with my Picasa photos as you may see that some pictures are missing from older blog ...I'll be working on uploading those again (sigh!).

CLICK HERE - Jammin' January School

An Interview with Lena

I found this cute idea on Peas and Thank You, a vegan food blog - it is the only blog that I read every day.   

Lena was so cute when I was interviewing her...to make it official, she even pulled a kitchen stool to our office area to sit in order to set up for the gab session.  Lucianna was a bit young for this scene, but she gave a few answers and then faded off to play with her dolls.


Here are the results of a Q and A with Lena and Lucianna:  

1. What is something Mommy always says to you?

Lena:  Make your heart feel better.  (hmmm. I don't think I've said that)

2. What makes Mommy happy?

Lena:  Love.

Lucy:  Daddy (awww…she’s right)

3. What makes Mommy sad?

Lena:  Doing bad things.

Lucy:   crying

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?

Lena:  Like saying, asghgugknkhahhh!  (hehehehe, little giggle)  That’s silly.

Lucy:   hahaha

5. What was Mommy like as a child? 

Lena:  a little, little girl.

Lucy:  ?

6. How old is Mommy?

Lena:  TEN!  (and showed me 5 fingers)

Lucy:  two.

7. How tall is Mommy? 

Lena:  Let me get the measuring thing, so I can measure you!  (left to get tape measure)

Lucy:  hmm, three, mommy, three!

8. What is Mommy’s favorite thing to do?

Lena:  Be with me, playing in the dollhouse.

Lucy:  I pick blue

  

9. What does Mommy do when you’re not around?

Lena:  Look for Lena!

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?

Lena:  Because you are a beautiful girl.

11. What is Mommy really good at?

Lena:  Playing with us.

12. What is Mommy not very good at?

Lena:  Doing Nothing.

13. What does Mommy do for her job?

Lena:  (put her finger by her mouth in thought and then scratched her head)….SILENCE. 

Me:  You don’t have an answer for that?

Lena:  Umm, do dinner.

14. What is Mommy’s favorite food?

Lena:  Fish.

Lucy:  FISH!  (wow, same answer??  And Lucy was not even on the same floor of the house when Lena answered.)

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?

Lena: Making dresses.

Lucy: Poopy in  the potty, poopy  in the potty!

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Lena:  a billy goat.

Me: Why?

Lena:  Because I like you being a billy goat.

Lucy:  umm, Lucy…

Me:  I would  be Lucy?

Lucy:  me!

17. What do you and Mommy do together?

Lena:  Doing hopscotch

18. How are you and Mommy the same?

Lena:  Like being together with kisses & hugs (then gave me a BIG mooch and big hug)

19. How are you and Mommy different?

Lena:  Like, our hair is different because I have brown hair and you have black hair.

20. How do you know Mommy loves you? 

Lena:  because you are my favorite detail

Me:  Huh?  That doesn’t make sense.

Lena:  Because Daddy is not here and you are here.

Me:  Daddy loves you, too.

Lena:  Yes he DOES!

21. Where is Mommy’s favorite place to go?

Lena:  To the beach!

22.  Why did God make mothers?

Lena:  Because he loves you; because you are special (with a big hug)

23.  How did God make mothers?

Lena:  because you’re special.

24.  What ingredients are mothers made of?

Lena:  a big head and black hair, and cute eyes and pretty lips and big nose!  And big chin and big neck, a big belly, big arms, and big back and big shoulders and legs and toes.  (rubbing each part of my body as she spoke about it...I could really use a massage)

 25.  Why did God give you your mother and not some other mother?

Lena: Because Jesus really really loves you to get someone to help yourself.

26.  What kind of a little girl was your mother?

Lena:  Mean?

Me:  Is that what you think?

Lena:  No, nice?

27.  What did Mom need to know before she married Dad?

Lena:  get your ring on and your beautiful wedding dress.

28.  Why did your mom marry your dad?

Lena:  Because you love him!

29.  Who’s the boss at our house?

Lena:  You & Daddy!

February 10, 2012...need to do this once a year to see how the answers change.  This was fun for both Lena & I, just a simple way to have QT with my girl and get some insight into her perception of our family!  I used the exact same questions from Sarah Matheny's blog, I would like to do it again with some other focuses - like school time, Daddy, sisters, etc.

That's the Ticket!

Consistency.  

For our family, I know consistency is the best answer to encouraging and helping our children become confident, respectful, kind & happy people.  All parents want their kids to "be nice" to others, share, listen, and be cooperative but there certainly is no magic formula to raising a happy, independent child who can interact well with peers - but we all strive for just this.  


I have read and re-read several parenting books, including Alfie Kohn's Unconditional Parenting and Selma Fraiberg's The Magic Years and I admit to watching more than a few episodes of SuperNanny.  Wherever your beliefs fall on the discipline spectrum, I find elements of different child-rearing philosophies intriguing, especially the insight into a child's development of reasoning shared in Fraiberg's book.  But, every child is unique and I truly believe that the majority of content in parenting books only serves to reinforce what parents KNOW they SHOULD be doing; but what we SHOULD be doing, simply put, is HARD.
  
For me, the challenge lies in consistency, especially with my oldest daughter Lena (set turn four next month) - she is much like me in that she is stubborn, ambitious and intense.  All resourceful personality traits when put to good use but they can also be a thorn in one's side if they are allowed to manifest in aggressive forms.  Together, Lena and I are either operating in flawless unison evoking joy or we are stirring the storm clouds which rain down with Lena's tears & Mommy's guilt.  I often find that our struggles come in clusters and I can draw a direct connection between my reactions and her behavior and the cycle that ensues.


This December, my husband and I revamped our reward chart (I know not all agree with an extrinsic reward system but you gotta do what works for you).  We use it in combination with all sorts of discipline from time-outs to positive reinforcement & praise to what I feel is paramount - setting an example through our actions and relationships with one another.


The new reward system included an updated set of positively minded House Rules and a ticket system where Lena can earn tickets when we catch her "being good" - which is outlined by but not limited to the house rules.  When she earns five tickets, she gets to play a Princess game on the family laptop, a coveted treat.


Lena has been very receptive to our ticket system but we have lacked consistency the last three weeks with rewarding tickets.  With a return to a proactive approach along with consistency, we can help her remember the expectations and strive to meet them.  We plan to revive the ticket system ASAP as battles have been brewing recently.  


Though an extrinsic motivator, each ticket earned builds pride and self-confidence as we help Lena to feel good about herself and her actions.  Praising the good deed and occasionally helping her reflect on how it made her feel.  (We do this for mistakes, too!)  Self-analysis is a powerful tool and this post, in turn, is my version of recognizing some mistakes I have made recently with reacting to Lena's behavior in less than acceptable way (cue the Mom guilt). 


Here are snapshots of our ticket system...all decked out in the flavor of the week - PRINCESS:

The Set-Up

The Rules

That's the Ticket!

Stamp it for Authenticity, aka extra fun for Lena!

Remember Mom...she doesn't have to be perfect!  After all, like Mother , like Daughter...
And one of my favorite quotes is...

 "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."

-Katharine Hepburn

Winter Crafts & Activities

Are a Pinterest addict like me? (hence the decline in blog posts)

Check out these seasonal activities before spring arrives and steals the scene:

http://pinterest.com/emilyvirga/winter-activities-crafts/

Despite the weather, we had a Winter blast...

Simple Valentine's Day Stencil Painting - Original Idea Here

This activity was perfect for both girls to do together...it was fun to see how neat Lena's came out and the messy fun result Lucy's picture...perfect examples of their personalities shining through in Art!

Our homemade Valentine bracelets to hand out to all of their friends at storytime (which we attend every Friday at the local library).  Lena was able to put all of the hearts and arrows on the bands once I had them cut out.  This was such a simple, fun, free (I had the felt) way to share a valentine.

Handprint Valentine's for Daddy - Original Idea Here

Happy Valentine's Day Dinner!  It may seem like we celebrated Valentine's Day like it was going out of style, but we just had some simple, family fun...no roses, no lovey dovey husband-wifey cards, no romantic candle-lit dinner.   Mike and I have foregone the commercialized part of Valentine's Day and are enjoying a homemade fuss with the girls!   

 In full disclosure, the girls did get a Valentine's day gift from Mommy & Daddy - who can resist the dollar section in Target?  Lucy is sporting her new bling.

...and new Spring shoes

Lena has seriously developed some coloring skills lately.  She loves her art stuff and is also into drawing her own pictures now, too.  We love to see her creations!

It can't be winter without some sundresses on the couch!

Playing Candy Land with Daddy

Time of Weakness

Who:  Mommy

What:  Weakness

When: 5 AM

Where:  Our Bedroom

Why:  refer to "when"

How:  see Below

After climbing out of her crib, a broken leg scare and an emergent trip to our pediatrician, Lucianna officially graduated to her toddler big girl bed.  

Time to celebrate a milestone?  Not just yet - I digress to explain my lack of enthusiasm over this new stage. 

Confession:  Each night between 2am and 4am, the creak of Lena's door rouses me and I hear her growing feet spatter down the hall.  Mike & I allow her to curl up with us until morning light as we are not only too tired to fight the fight but we also have trouble resisting cuddles.  

Once we transferred Lucy to her big girl bed, she too was enticed out of bed by the desire for early morning cuddles in Mommy & Daddy's bed, which in and of itself is not a problem.  Heck, our king size bed can easily house our family of four plus our fifty pound German Shorthaired Pointer, Hutchinson.  The issue arises when daughter one realizes daughter two is also in the bed - no matter the hour...this IS fun (for them).  

I am NOT a morning person and do not feign happiness as the sun rises, I admit I can a smidge cranky in the morning and I have yet to conquer the feeling of sleep slipping away from me as two bubbly girls giggle and jump on me at 5:30 am.  

So, after deep thought (aka, one minute conversation) the solution that Daddy & I arrived at was simple (or so we thought).  The girls just can't come in to our room anymore - they will have to wait until the sun rises.  We took the time to explain the new rule to Lena and although she was a tiny disappointed, she handled it quite well.  The first night with the new rule led to taking turns returning Lena to her bed; we knew we would be woken up & were prepared - we planned to crack down for a week until a new habit was established.  And so, we did - Lena slept in her bed until 7 am (we had to bring her back to her bed three times - not too bad).

Time to CELEBRATE?  Not just yet.  

Where we succeeded with Lena, we failed with Lucianna.  

How can Mommy resist that sweet little voice at 5 am, "Mommy, I sleep with you now?"  

Yes, Lucy...you found the sweet spot, the time of weakness.  And so, we cuddled.  

Failure?  Maybe, but failure never felt so good as her head curled up on my chest, twirling her hair, sucking her fingers and loving her mama.

Life is a work in progress, an evolving journey where compromising your endgame is not always wrong.