My Day - #462-470

Miracle's home.(#462) Angelica went to pick her up before watching the girls this afternoon. (#463) The plan was for Miracle to stay upstairs and get some things done while Angelica babysat.  Busy Bee would have none of it.  Busy Bee wouldn't let Miracle out of her sight.  She was so excited to see her. (#464) So Miracle babysat the girls today and Angelica came upstairs.  

There were lots of bumps and bruises today.  First, all four girls went to the splash pad, which we do almost every day without incident now that summer is here.  Today, however, the little girls bumped into each other and Doc lost a tooth.  As in, came out of her mouth and we can't find it.  The good part is that it was a baby tooth, likely ready to come out. (#465) Doc was quite upset about it all.  Then they came home and watched movies before heading to the park to play.  I love summer! (#466) As soon as they came back in the house, Doc bumped into the wall and has a knot on her forehead.  She is a little wobbly but passed all the neurologic tests they would have run at the hospital. (#467) Both my girls having neurologic issues when they were younger came in handy because I have watched the doctors do a neurologic exam so often I knew what to do and what to look for. (#468)

Now they are both making lists for camp next week.  And enjoying each other's company. (#469) And Miracle is dyeing her hair again.  You would think after such a long week we would all be headed to bed.  But it feels SO GOOD to be together again. (#470) I don't think any of us want to waste a moment of this weekend.

Yesterday - #330-337

Last night I gave up on the plan to blog when it was 11:00 and I had been asking for access to the computer for an hour... I decided to go to bed.   

Yesterday was good. (#330) Angelica had to work and it was the last Freemont skate before the rink closes for the summer so I took the girls to the rink and let them skate. (#331) Doc loved it (#332) and Busy Bee preferred to run in the bleachers as usual.  That was good for me since I was tired before the day even began. (#333) We left the rink just minutes before a friend showed up there looking for me.  She had mentioned earlier that she needed a sitter and I said that I could watch the boys if she brought them to me - an hour drive each direction.  Initially she didn't take me up on it but thankfully I outlined my day so she knew where to find me! (#334) We then had the privilege of keeping her four boys. (#335) She met us at the house and Miracle and I took all six kids, age 6 mo to 12, to the park to play.  I'm glad it was a nice day! (#336) Being at the park makes things so much easier. (#337) The only negative is that I forgot that I have a reaction to sunshine so after three hours in the sun my body is achy, I am feverish and my joints feel as if they have been infused with poison.  I probably won't forget my hat again all summer.  

Lent: 3 games

Learning

Hello.  Bonjour.  Hola.  

A lot of time around our house has been spent learning recently.  Both girls are of course doing their high school work.  In addition to that, they are both taking a language course at the local college.  Miracle is learning French in class.  Angelica is learning ASL.  

At home in the evenings we are also learning Spanish.  Monday through Friday, the girls watch Busy Bee (age 2) and Doc McStuffins (age 7) from 2 until 12.  When the girls first began coming to our house Busy Bee knew no English.  She spent the first hour and a half each day pointing to things saying, "Y esta?" and I would answer in English.  Things were a bit easier once Doc got in from school but there was still some struggle for her on English words as well.  Busy Bee has learned quite a bit of English, we have learned quite a bit of Spanish, and all in all we are communicating well now.  Most things come out of our mouths in Spanish, then English, then often with a spattering of sign language thrown in when we are talking to the little ones.  Angelica is doing the best at picking up Spanish.  

In addition to Busy Bee and Doc, the girls watch Baby Girl (age 1) a few days a week. While she is here both she and Busy Bee are learning to share and use words to express their needs.  Baby Girl's mother is autistic so we worked primarily on learning to recognize and express emotion.  Words cannot convey how excited the girls and I were the first time Baby Girl squealed in delight.(#7) 

We have also realized that in addition to learning language, we need to understand culture.  When Busy Bee and Doc first started coming, Doc would phrase everything as a statement rather than a question.  For example she might say, "I can't have that"  rather than "Can I have that?"  Written out it appears to be a statement, but her inflection almost always sounded like a question.  We had to teach her that in English you actually have to ask the question.  Several months later, we realized that stating questions was a cultural norm for her.  

Doc is doing much better in school since coming to our house.(#8)  At the beginning of the year, she went to her ELL class several times a week.  I haven't seen ELL homework in over a month!  That means she has a much better grasp on the English language.  She has also improved in math, spelling, and reading.  

So it seems we have all been learning.  My girls and I are learning Spanish.  Miracle and Angelica are learning another language as well.  Busy Bee is learning English and how to share.  Doc is learning so many things.  Baby Girl is learning to use language and express emotion.  

What have you learned lately?

Balloon Fun

What do you do when EVERYONE (including FigNewTon) is tired of FigNewTon being too sick to play?  Apparently, take a balloon war to her!  

What Could It Be?

Jumping Bean ran up the stairs.  

Breathless.  

"Tricia, Tricia, you have to come see!"  

What could it be?

 Prince Charming?

Maybe.

I don't know.  

The girls would scarcely touch it.

Much less kiss the thing!

Meet Minnie Mouse

Minnie Mouse is 3 and loves to spend time at our house or playing outside with my girls.  

I asked her what flavor pop-tart she wanted for snack:  Strawberry, Cherry or Grape.  

She responded, "Pink!"

Paparazzi

Jumping Bean took quite a few pictures on Friday when we were decorating for the party and a few after the guests arrived.  She had fun, stayed occupied, and is proud of her photos.  When I told her that she did a good job taking pictures she asked, "Did you post them?"  So here they are.

Monet's in the Making... Maybe

Happy New Year!

We spent days creating noise makers, confetti balloons and party hats. 

All for this moment

Happy New Year, everyone! 

Sunshine!

Yesterday was a rare day.  The sun was shining AND it was warm enough to play outside for a bit!