Merry Christams!

Christmas has come and gone. As usual we did our family gift exchange on Christmas Eve. I think everyone was pleased with what they got. Belle got a bb gun from Tren. She was loving it!!









This year for Christmas, Belle asked Santa for a Barbie Jeep (power wheel) Polly Pocket stove and sink, Twin Babies, and a Barbie House. Most every time she was asked what she wanted she would say "a barbie jeep". Santa checked craigslist but even then, with Santa's budget, that jeep wasn't rolling down our chimney. Belle and I talked about her list and I asked her how she would feel if she didnt get everything she asked for and she said she would be sad, but probably okay with whatever he brought. So, Santa came and brought a Polly Pocket Jumbo Jet.





She was so excited about it. She came in to my room, and Im not sure how long she'd been awake, but she knew more about this plane than I did. The middle part coming out is actually a runway and you can put a Polly into the boots that are there and then turn this knob and the Polly walks the runway and turns and goes back through the doors. It is quite the jet. After presents and a bowl of oatmeal, she got dressed and headed to her dad's to see if Santa made a stop there too.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Oh the Recital!!

Well, last night was the ballet recital and it was great! Belle looked so pretty. Melissa (Belle's dad's girlfriend) did her hair and make-up. She knew Melissa had glittery make-up and she sure looked sparkley and glittery. Her hair was very nicely pulled up and her cheeks were rosey. Belle looked absolutely adorable!



She did such a great job on her two dances. The only thing she could have done differently was not look at her teacher over to the side, but face the audience more. Other than that she did very well and seemed to be one of the better ones in her class. There was TONS of little dancers. Belle asked when she gets to dance on stage again. I think this is going to be a very good thing.

I got Belle some yellow roses and left them in her room for her to find when she got home. She was so excited. Her dad also got her some pink roses. And Grandma Bernice got her a pink one too.




Here is a link to her 2nd dance on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0aIxNwJ8JQ

Enjoy!!!

Ballet Recital

It's official!! Belle's ballet recital is:

Monday, December 21st

7:00pm at the Emmett Junior High

$3 per person / 5 years and under free (I will need to double check that, but I'm 99% sure)

A note came home from class last week giving all the juicy details! And, her costume came home!! I canNOT wait for this recital! It is going to be something else to see Belle dancing a practiced routine.

I hope you can all make it! Please let me know if you are planning and I will attempt to "save" seats for as many as I can.

Just a little taste ... here is the costume.

The Truth

After talking with Belle and Becky last night, there was a mis-communication. Belle had asked Becky if she would "pick them up today" and Becky said yes. Now, in Becky's mind, she was thinking at the bus stop so they wouldn't have to walk all the way home. In Belle's mind she thought at school. This is why she was not wanting to get on the bus to go home because she thought Becky was getting them.

Hector (applesauce victim) was showing Belle alien toys that were scary looking to Belle and she didn't want to have bad dreams. So, in her defense, she through applesauce at him.

After we had talked about the things she had done at school, I told her she wasn't going to be punished because there was a misunderstanding and because she already was punished at school for the sauce. Then I looked at the little braid I put in her hair every day and it had been cut! Strangely enough, there is a girl in her class name Grace and she let Grace cut her braid. Now Belle has a small, little section of her hair that is about 2 inches shorter than the rest. She will be raking and bagging the leaves all by herself tomorrow or Sunday. I don't like punishing by working, but she doesn't like working and we were going to bag the leaves together this weekend, but since she was naughty, she'll do it alone. I told her if she ever lets anyone cut her hair again when I'm not there, I will be shaving her head. She didnt like this and sobbed for a long time. In Belle's dramatic little ways, said everyone will call her names like "baldy" and then she would come home crying everyday from school. I said "that will probably happen, so I wouldn't let anyone cut your hair." A bit harsh, yes, but I think she needs some fear put in her.

What a night.

Grounded at 5 years old?

At 3:30 today I received a phone call from Butteview. They wanted to know if Belle was supposed to ride the bus home, because she had told Mrs Montgomery that Becky (the sitter) was picking her up at the school today. They werent sure if they should keep her off the bus, because they didnt have a note from me saying to do this. So they called. I hadnt heard anything from Becky so I told them to put her on the bus. After this phone call I decided I needed to put a stop to the bus problems. I wondered if I should be extreme and ground her. But what exactly will I ground her from? Polly Pockets? Barbies? What kind of chores can a 5 year old do that she will HATE!? I just dont know. Then around 4:00 I get the following email:

Emmy: Belle asked me to email you, because she got in trouble in the lunchroom today. Another student had some toys in his pocket during lunch and he kept showing them to her. She told him she didn't want to see them. Anyway to make a long story short, Belle threw applesauce at him. The cook brought them to me. I took his toys away until school was over. Belle had to clean up the mess for the cook and write her an "I'm sorry" note at recess. Belle and I talked at recess and I believe the problem is solved and she will not do it again. She felt really bad. When she went to the rest of recess she was smiling.

So, any suggestions? Im not really sure what to do or how to handle this situation. She's only 5... I was scared to death to do anything naughty at school. The worst thing I can remember doing was being naughty at church and my dad made a paddle that day and I got a spanking I'll never forget. But. Spanking these days is abuse.

What to do.... What to do....

Hen in the house!

Tren and I were able to get Henry on Thanksgiving day. Strangely enough, we got Rooster Thanksgiving day, 2 years ago. I bought an Extra Wide baby gate to try and cage him in the kitchen during the day while I'm at work. That wont pay off till he's a smidge bigger...

He was so quiet and scared...

It took him a while to get used to Rooster. She wanted to play all the time. Any time he'd move a muscle, Rooster was in her play stance crowched down to the ground. Hen didnt really get it at first. Now they get along and play and Hen even barks and growls at Rooster.

He is doing good with the potty training. He will go 90% of the time when you take him out to go. He gets a little treat for going and he loves them! Once he's big enough to go in and out the doggy door, I think we'll have the potty training under control.

Tonight, Rooster Hen and Belle all were playing. Henry keeps up pretty good.

He looks like the one who's judging the tug of war!

And what do you think my most favorite thing about little Hen is?

That little tail that wiggles and wiggles. Its one thing Rooster doesnt have and Im SOOOOO happy Hen does.

Big Rock

Last night I was driving home from work. I had just barely turned off Highway 44 on to Highway 16. I had reached about 65 mph and a huge farm/semi truck comes barreling down the road. Right as he passed me I hear a really loud "thunk!" and I reacted and ducked my head. I then looked up and my driver's side front window looked like this:






A rock flew up from the truck and smashed into my window. The point of impact on my window was about where my head was. If the rock had gone through, I probably would have been hit in the head/face and more than likely wrecked my car. With it being right after work and so many other people on the road, I probably would have caused an accident. I pulled over and shoved the glass out so it wouldn't keep blowing out and end up all over in my car and me.

What a joy. But I'm so happy the window was all that was damaged. I must admit, big trucks make me a little anxious now.