praise

I strive to use specific and process based praise with the girls. Recently while coloring, I commented on Audrey's drawing. A few minutes later, I heard Claire say "wow sis, I really like how you are drawing green lines".

While Claire is great at doling out praise, Audrey has become quite the little artist. My mom texted me this picture and I was certain that Audrey had help.

My mom assured me that Audrey drew the picture without help. I think this one will be a keeper.

Christmas Fun

Our Christmas celebrations are in full force! The girls helped me decorate the tree this year- I just let them at it. The ornaments aren't perfectly placed, but they had so much fun with it. They spend several minute each day tending to the tree, they love rearranging the ornaments.

They also had a ton of fun putting presents under the tree. I was afraid that they might try open them, but other than rearranging them a time or two they have left them alone.

budding artist

I prefer not to interfere with Audrey's creative process.

bedtime shenanigans

The girls have been resistant to bedtime (and naps) lately. A while back I took a bunch of toys out of rotation, but in a recent moment of brilliance I started luring the girls into their room with "special toys". They had been doing so well playing independently that I decided to let them have a wooden puzzle tonight. Big mistake.

I heard a bit of a scuffle, then Claire started bawling. She can be a bit dramatic, but I figured I better check things out. Both girls were completely naked (a new favorite trick) and Claire exclaimed "sissy tried to hit me!". Audrey was holding the puzzle and calmly responded, "yeah, I bashed sissy". (Side note: where did she ever learn the word "bash"? That is definitely not a Daniel Tiger sanctioned activity!)

Needless to say, I put the puzzle away, their diapers back on, and sent them back to bed. Audrey was just singing the potty song from Daniel Tiger, and is now kicking the door so I can say with a 97% confidence interval that she is once again naked.

claire conversations

Claire: Maybe when daddy wakes up we can go to the mall. That would be fuuuunnn.

Me: What would we buy at the mall?

Claire: Maybe some grapes? And apples?

You have much to learn my dear child...

proud moments

We are in the throes of potty training. I told Claire that I was proud of her for keeping her underwear dry and she responded "I'm proud of me too mommy".

She is also a geometry whiz. I showed her a triangle yesterday and asked her what it was: "well it has 3 sides, it's a triangle!"

declutter day 2

Day 2 of my clutter busting purge went off without incident. It was a little harder to find 100 things to toss in the bedroom, but I completed the project in under 20 minutes.

Next week I'll probably work on some of the stuff that's harder to part with (like shoes) but starting easy should help me build momentum.