It's been awhile since I've updated. I'm drowning in research for my Research Designs class. I taught four days in my first sub job (loved it--can't wait to go back). Last weekend was totally devoted to Jake's basketball tournament. There are not enough hours in the day to keep up with everything--it's been a busy couple weeks. And February is supposed to be one of our slower months!
Tournament
Jake's basketball tournament last weekend ended his season . . . and they won the whole thing! It was a crazy close game--they one by only one point against their arch rival. The boys were estatic, and it was so good to see what good sports they were and how much their hard work paid off. The coaches chose Jake to the trophy to bring back to the team--he was the only one who didn't score any baskets all season. He tried so hard and took lots of shots, but so many of them bounced back out or just missed. But he never gave up and gave his best all the time. He's unsure if he wants to play again next year--much of it depends on whether or not his coach will be traveling up to JV with them or not.
Jake's friend's older brother had a deal with him. For two years, he has cheered Jake on and encouraged him, promising to carry him around the court and cheer when Jake got a basket. Sadly, that time never came. After the game, he came up to Jake and told him to keep trying and not give up . . . and then picked him up, carried him across the court, and celebrated his lack of baskets :). Jake was thrilled. And people say teenagers are self absorbed.
Afterwards, we went to Applebees with a couple of the families to celebrate. Jake told me he was so proud of his medal because "we actually earned it . . . we didn't just get it for playing." Out of the mouths of babes. He wore his medal to school the next day and presented the trophy to Mrs. Fennessey.
Makeover
On a whim, I took Emma to get her hair cut. It came out quite a bit shorter than I asked for, which should make putting on her wig quite a task. But it's SO easy to take care of, and it has made our mornings much more pleasant. Then the next day, after months of pleading, Emma got her ears pierced. She chose little blue daisies (only because they didn't have purple and she wanted a dark color that would show up "so people can see them), and she didn't cry at all. They did both ears at once, and she flinched for a second, said "Ow," and then bounced around the store looking at earrings for later.
I was not going to let her get them pierced until she was much older, but she's responsible with her things and really likes to accessorize herself. That's not me, but I want to respect who she is and what she likes. The rule is small studs only until she's a teenager--I conceeded on the earrings, but she's an active little girl. Active little girls don't wear dangling earrings.
She loves her new boots from Gram. She's taking longer to get ready when we go somewhere because she likes to pick out just the right outfit, fix her hair, and add some chapstick. She told me she was happy to wear the brown boots with this predominantly black outfit because of the brown in her skirt, but she did wish she had "earrings that matched." She is well on her way to being a tween--but thankfully, she does not like Justin Bieber at all.
And a Room Makeover
Emma likes to keep all of her Irish stuff in one place, and she likes to display her medals. Originally, I had them all hanging on pushpins. Not only did this put a million little holes in the wall, but I ran out of pushpins. A length of ribbon and a pack of mini-clothespins rectified that little issue. And, we can also pin photos or other things to the ribbon. We are out of space in the corner, so I think we'll need to add another row. I was a little worried that it's shrine-link, but she likes to look at all her stuff and doesn't seem to have an overinflated view of herself. I let that worry go.
Sentences
For the first time, Emma had to write sentences with her spelling words. She came up with the sentences all by herself, and she only needed a little help with the spelling of a couple of the bigger words. I scanned it because her handwriting is so "first grade perfect" here, and I have a feeling that won't last.
Footie Jammas
That's what we call blanket sleepers. Owen refused to wear them last year, so I only bought him one this year. Of course he loves it and wants to wear it all the time. But, he'll only wear them with socks on--he doens't like the feel of the elastic on his ankles. We bought a new shelf for his room last month--he finally has some toys of his own, and we needed a place to keep them. He likes to play with his sharks, whales, and dolphins almost every night before we tuck him into bed.
Sibling Togetherness
As the oldest, Jake tends to set the tone for how the kids interact with each other. This year, he's been much more welcoming of Emma and not nearly as vivious to her. There have been lots of times we've found them on the couch together playing video games or all three of them in his room building with LEGO (not his kits . . . the family LEGO brinks that everyone is allowed to have).
We've had many weekened mornings like this. Owen likes to get dressed as soon as he gets up, but the other two will stay in their pjs all day if we let them. The settle together in Jake's room in front of the heat; Jake plays the game and Owen and Emma watch. They'll do this for an hour or so sometimes.
Girl Scout Cookies
We picked up our cookies on Friday. While I chatted with our cookie mom, Jake loaded every box into the car without complaint--which just goes to show what the right motivation will do for his willingness to help. We got them home and into the house (even Owen carried a box) and the sorting began.
Jake took charge, reading the list and the cookie types. Emma was the workhorse, grabbing all the cookies and handing them to Jake to put into piles. And Owen stood on the chair and looked at the cookies and told me he was hungry about two hundred times.
They were all rewarded for their efforts with their choice of cookie snack.
Owen and the iPod
Owen uses the iPod a lot. In fact, until Doug's recent obsession with Angry Birds, he used the iPod more than anyone in the family--including me (and it's mine!). We let him use it whenever we are somewhere that we need him quiet and focused. Since we've learned that he has difficult focusing himself and being quiet on his own (hopefully at least for now), with all the places he gets dragged around after the kids, we offer him a little help.
And he can maneuver through the iPod like no ones business. He can find his shows, all the games he wants to play, and he even knows which games he can't play unless we're at home (they need a wireless connection). He loves to play preschool games with matching and colors, watch Spongebob, and play Angry Birds.
I'm sure people judge us when they seem him absorbed in it, but it works for us and for him so we go with it. He's usually only allowed to play with it if we're out somewhere, so scenes like this are rare (but I let him play with it yesterday because he asked so nicely)
This photo is so Owen. Outfit he picked out himself--including last year's pants that are starting to get short. Dark socks. Crossed ankles. Hanging out in front of the heat "like Jake does." Little thumbs on the screen.
In fact, as a result of Owen's love of the iPod, I bought a new case for it called at Otterbox. Three levels of protection and well worth the 30.00--which is much cheaper than having to replace the iPod if Owen breaks it. He is very careful with it, however--we take it away if he doesn't follow the iPod rules, and he is well aware of that.
Note: We did bring the iPod to Mass last night but did not use it. Owen doesn't usually go to Mass for numerous reasons. But last night we went down to a Mass for Doug's dad and there was no nursery. Owen had to be taken out twice and lost his TV privleges for the rest of the day due to his refusal to not slide and throw himself all over the pew and talk loudly when he knew he shouldn't. We could have just given him the iPod, and he would have sat and played a game the whole time. But I didn't feel like it was appropriate in church. Maybe I should have? It would have made Mass a lot less stressful for me. But he also has to learn to control himself and do what he's told.
In Owen's defense, he was terrible at Mass--in fact, he's been worse before. I did praise him for his good behavior moments (he tried singing along with one of the songs which was so sweet it almost brought Doug and I to tears--though we have no idea what he was actually singing), but when I say sit up, I expect him to do as he's told and sit up.
And all that stress is why he doesn't go to Mass . . . or why I don't think any young child should be at Mass. But that's just my opinion--and it's not a popular one so I don't bring it up much.
