horse camp

Big Sis attended a 4-H Beginner Riders' Horse Camp this week. She had a great time and now she REALLY wants to take riding lessons.

Big Sis petting Booger while he's being cleaned up after riding lessons.

On the last day I wanted to take some pictures of Big Sis on a horse. L'il Sis wanted in on the act. And she had no fear. When I stopped her from climbing through a fence into a paddock, her response was, "But, Mo-om...." She was determined to pet Savannah. Look what a stretch it was for her to pet the mare's nose!

Then she insisted she wanted to ride the horse. The instructor was nice enough to let her have the first ride. Then, L'il Sis wanted more and couldn't understand why she wasn't getting another turn. Hm, maybe because you aren't even supposed to be here!

Then I managed to get some pictures of Big Sis on the thoroughbred. After all, that's what I was trying to do in the first place!

not exactly on a roll, but close

Things are still not going well but wanted to share the latest. L'il Sis wanted to wear a nightgown tonight. I reminded her that she could wear one when she used a potty like a big girl. Then I had the brainwave to show her the pretty Tinkerbell nightgown that Grammy had gotten her some time ago but that she hasn't been able to wear. A few minutes later, L'il Sis announced she wanted to pee in the potty and ran off to the bathroom. She sat there while I went about doing other things. Suddenly, a commotion from the bathroom. Both girls are talking. L'il Sis is saying she peed in the potty. Big Sis says she's not sure if it happened or not. By the time I get there, L'il Sis is standing up and looking in the potty and, sure enough, she'd done it! She flushed the toilet saying "Bye-bye, pee!" but then had to flush it again and say it again because the potty hadn't been emptied into it yet.

She got to wear the nightgown to bed tonight.

Potty, Schmotty

Well, it was a small victory but I'll take it.

This morning, I started using the timer and making L'il Sis sit on the potty at 30 minute intervals. She was fine with it. She didn't mind sitting on it as long as nothing happened. This is the same child who was informed a few days ago that if she peed in the potty she would get chocolate. Then, to be sure she understood, I asked her how she could get chocolate. Her first answer was "Reach for it." I told her, no, and again asked how she could get chocolate. This time she thought about it, her finger tapping against her lip, before answering, "A ladder!"

Anyway, L'il Sis was on the potty and after a bit she started fussing and wanting to get up. She wanted her pants back on. This is a sure sign that she is about to pee (in her pants). So I forced her to sit on the potty. I held her firmly and tried to get her to calm down, but wouldn't let her get up. She peed. In the potty. Wasn't too thrilled about it, though.

I praised her and told her how proud of her I was and what a big girl she is. She wanted to dump it in the big potty herself. So we did that. She was a little afraid of the flushing so I didn't push it and did that myself. I had her wash her hands and gave her M & M's. Again, I told her I was proud of her and wasn't she proud of herself? She said no.

I think I feel another headache coming on.

random quote

I ran across this quote recently. I'm not sure who said it. But I'm thinking about posting it, prominently, somewhere in my house:

"Children are paparazzi. They take your picture mentally when you don't want them to, when you don't look good, and show it back to you in their behaviour."

Fun in the sun...

We took the girls down to Topsail and went to the beach there. After playing in the sand for a little while, Big Sis started wading and I got her to put her swimsuit on. Then, she REALLY got wet. She didn't go in too far, but crouched down so the water could get her wet to her shoulders and even her hair was wet (at least the ends).

L'il Sis just wanted to play in the sand although she insisted on her bathing suit before we even left the car. At one point, she was rolling around in it. Yes, she was. She should be well exfoliated tonight. Despite all efforts from Grammy, Mommy and Big Sis, L'il Sis wanted nothing to do with the water. In fact, see the picture of her in a bucket? The bucket had water in it and that was about as close as she intended to get to the ocean.

After about an hour and a half, she finally got brave enough to let her toes get wet. She got knocked on her butt a few minutes later and then insisted on holding my hand. Less than half an hour later, there was no stopping her. She kept wandering away, not so much deeper as sideways from me. Getting braver and braver, nonetheless. Both had a great time. I got a bit of a sunburn.

Dancing Queen

My mother in law came down on Saturday afternoon so we could all attend a graduation dinner. L'il Sis had not napped AT ALL, despite best efforts. So I was a bit nervous as to just how quickly we would need to exit in case of a melt-down. But she did really well.

There was a DJ. And L'il Sis danced and danced. Girlfriend boogied until she just couldn't boogie anymore. Okay, it was more like until her mama said it was time to go. And... she was the ONLY one dancing. This 3 year old was the entertainment, the floor show. Everyone seemed to be getting a huge kick out of her. The fact that she had an appreciative audience only encouraged her. She made sure they appreciated her. At one point, she kept yelling, "Look at me! Look at me, peoples!" She had some moves, I tell you. She'd be dancing (with rhythm) and suddenly do a ballet move.

I'm not sure how long she danced but it had to be over 30 minutes straight. Then she took a short break to inhale a piece of cake (refueling?) before dancing some more. Big Sis wanted to dance but didn't want to do so in front of everyone. She tried to make Grammy come dance with her, but Grammy said nothing doing to that. But L'il Sis, not an inhibited or embarrassed bone in her body.

Oh, AND she kept pulling her dress up. Good thing she had matching bloomers on. And yes, I tried to get her to stop. So did Big Sis. For all the good it did. I guess sometimes the urge comes over you and you have to flip the dress up. She also did a lot of hair flipping.

Of course, I forgot to take either a camera or camcorder so have no record of it. Sorry.

recipes

My apologies to OTJ for being remiss about the recipe. To atone for that, I'm posting 2 veggie recipes that my kids both love:

Korean-style Spinach
1 bunch spinach
1/8 -- 1/4 tsp. salt
1 -- 1-1/2 tsp roasted, (kind of) crushed sesame seeds
1-- 1-1/2 tsp. sesame oil
1/4 -- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 -- 1-1/2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. Korean beef broth powder (this is optional but really helps)
(*these amounts are to taste)

Clean spinach. Blanch spinach (Boil large amount of water. Place spinach in boiling water. Stir to get all spinach into water. Return to boil. Remove spinach and rinse in cold water.) Squeeze out as much water as possible. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. (The best way to do this is by hand.) Serve either at room temperature or cold. (Can be refrigerated and served later.)


Broccoli
Steam fresh broccoli. Drain. Drizzle with sesame oil and soy sauce.

Yeah, I know. Calling this one a "recipe" is kind of stretching it.

Popeye

Last night, I made Korean style spinach for dinner. This is something Big Sis has liked for a long time. L'il Sis usually won't try it. Finally, when the meal was almost over, she finally tried it. And liked it! At one point, she said, "Tasty!"

Also, lately, when I tell L'il Sis to do something, usually more than once, she responds with an impatient, "I yam! I yam!"

Smile.... It's catching

I'd been having a bit of a crap afternoon. Plus, it was rainy. The girls and I were coming back onto the base when I noticed that one of the Marine sentries seemed to be having a great day and wanted to share his enthusiasm. As he waved each vehicle onto the base, he gave them a warm, "Have a great day!" When our turn came, we had to wait a bit for a car that needed to cross our lane to turn around. Then the Marine waved us in, saluted, and shouted out, "Have a fan-TAS-tic day, ma'am!" My mood immediately lifted.


I commented that the Marine had a lot of enthusiasm. My 6 year old, in a supremely patient voice used to speak to the mentally challenged, "That's what Marines do...sometimes." But then, this is the same child who told my sister (as they were coming back onto base and my sister was looking for her ID), "Don't worry. I know them. They always let me in."