KID TID-BITS

My Grandma Dot sent $5 to each of the big kids, and $2 to each of the little girls.  Yesterday, we made a trip to the dollar store, and each kid picked out one thing for themselves and one thing for a sibling.  Anna for Julia (and vice versa) and Caleb for Nat (and vice versa).  It has been so much fun to see them get so excited about sneaking around with these little, dollar gifts.  This is the first year we've had them exchange gifts, because it always just seemed like more stuff [for us] to buy.  Today they especially enjoyed shutting eachother out of my bedroom and wrapping their gifts. 

Bananna bought herself a soft, little stuffed monkey, whose arms velcro around her neck.  She named it "Natalie."  No explanation necessary. ;)

For reasons unknown to me, Nat has taken to declaring herself to be a princess.  She has always corrected us, when we call her silly nicknames.  For instance, "Natalie, are you my little peanut?" 

"NO, I'm not a peanut.  I'm Natalie White."  But today, I heard someone say, "Natalie, you're funny."  And her response was.  "I'm not funny, I'm a PWINCESS."  And again tonight, when someone called her a "meanie," she declared, "I'm not a meanie, I'm a PWINCESS!"

Pook is totally delicious.  I wanted to eat him up all day.  He still has four, mean teeth coming in on top, but he seemed more himself today.  Although he's been ABLE to crawl for some time, he's doing it more often now.  A couple mornings ago I set him on the floor by my bed after nursing him, and he crawled out into the den to see all the other kids.  It's kind of an army crawl, and he goes particularly fast on the slippery hardwood floors.  Yesterday he pulled himself up, using a kitchen chair, and the kids went wild cheering for him.  "Mom, Luke is STANDING!"

JuJu is at my favorite, favorite age for teaching.  All forms of learning are fun, and she wants to know about everything. . .And if I have a song for it, it's even better.  We're currently working on a 'planets song.'  She seems to be my biggest music lover so far. . .or at least most likely to stand on a chair and 'perform' a song.

I was very encouraged today, with a quick recovery that Caleb made, from total frustration, while doing schoolwork.  He is a bit of a perfectionist and can get overwhelmed by new concepts.  He mistakenly believes that he should know how to do everything.  He'll say, "I don't know HOW to do this."  And I'll say, "Yeah, that's why I'm TEACHING you."  Fortunately, he catches on really quickly, and then he's not overwhelmed anymore.  Today he learned how to do long division.

Bananna decorated the Christmas tree again.  Last year I think we did it together, and then when it fell, she redecorated it.  But this year, I put on lights and wooden cranberry garland, and maybe two ornaments.  She could tell you exactly how many I put on.  She takes great pride in having overseen the whole project. 

This week she prefaced a comment with, "This is totally random, but. . ."  I can't remember what the comment was, but I had the sudden feeling that I was keeping company with a 20 year old.  She's a cool kid.

Something nice to say about all 5?  Yeah, today was good day. :)