Sienna's Big Muscles

Getting in and out of the Van with 2 or 3 kids is usually a 3-or-more step process. So, this morning after taking Grace to school, I was taking the kids inside. First Jim, then go back out to shut the door after Sienna.

When I got out there, The van door (a heavy, sliding one) was already shut.

To Sienna, I asked, "Did you shut the door?"

"Yeah."

"HOW?"

In an 'of course' tone, "With my big muscles!"

Carnation and Mrs. Flowers

Grace and Sienna love to dress up their favorite stuffed animals.

Grace decided to help Sienna name all her animals. Then, as they were all named after flowers, she made their last name Flowers! But, Sienna's bear has no first name. So, Grace brilliantly chose her name to be Mrs. Flowers! She is big enough to wear Sienna's regular clothes, as seen here. (Including panties, much to Mommy's surprise!!)

Sienna has Rosie (cow), Daisy (puppy), Baby Shrek (a girl, and no they've never seen the movie!)

, and Mrs. Flowers (Teddy bear in picture).

Grace has one favorite: her pink pet kitten, Carnation.

Public School

We have finally succeeded in registering Grace in school here.

Some good points include that her reading skills have jumped a LOT. (She had the skills, but had a very hard time finding the motivation to practice at home.) Also, she has been invited to participate in 3 fundraisers within 3 weeks. (I'm very opposed to my 6 year old raising funds for the public school. NOT going to happen, much to her dismay.) And, um, I'm sure there is another good point I can think of... Oh, yeah, all the bad behaviour she is imitating from other children has given us more opportunity to talk about how special families are and how sometimes we see bad behavior from others that we choose not to re-enact.

I was so excited while practicing reading with her yesterday. She was able to read 90% of the words with no input from me! WOW! That was awesome. (We're talking Dick and Jane level.) By the way, I have not seen any early readers as wonderful and simple to read as Dick and Jane. They also display traditional family values. (Every story occurs within a family that includes 2 parents living in the same house. Also, the children play together.)

I Could Have Danced All Night

Friends, I have shocking news: Royal has agreed to take a ballroom dance class with me! (Royal has a phobia of dancing so extreme that it almost turned me against him from the earliest moments of our courtship, but that is another story.)

As my Valentines gift to myself from Royal, we are taking a beginner's class offered through the community. We dance 1 hour each week for 10 weeks. This is something I have wanted to do for years.

Our first class was Tuesday. Wow! It was SOOOOOO fun! And Royal even said he enjoyed it since among the 3 couples there, he was by far the best dancer of all. He is soooo handsome and charming while doing the Rumba! Ahhhh. I just can't see life getting better than this! I think next week I will wear some black heels and a skirt...

Indexed Pioneer Burying Grounds, Monroe CO. NY

Check this out, you Kingsley descendants or Kingsley associates!

http://mcnygenealogy.com/cem/oldpitt.htm

Tightwad Friday: Baby Nose Drops

Jim has had three colds in December and January. We have used a lot of "Little Noses" saline drops. When the bottle ran out the first time, I found the recipe below handy. I just refilled the third time today.

"Saline nose drops are used to clean your baby’s nose, especially when he has a cold or
congestion (stuffy nose). Homemade saline (salt water) nose drops are recommended
because other kinds of over–the–counter nose drops may contain drugs that are harmful to
your baby.

"Making nose drops:
"Saline (salt water) nose drops can be made as follows. You will need to buy a dropper at
the pharmacy [I just reuse my Little Noses bottle, although I do have a clean dropper]:
• Add 1/2 teaspoon of table salt to 8 ounces of warm tap water. (I boil cold tap water. I try to never drink water from the water heater.)
• Salt will dissolve in the warm water.
• Allow to cool before using. (Ya think?)

"How to use nose drops

Place 3–4 drops in one side of your baby’s nose while the head is tilted slightly back.
Suction with the bulb syringe. Repeat on the other side. Baby may cough, sneeze and/or
swallow part of the solution. This is normal.

Saline nose drops can be used whenever needed. If your baby has a cold or nasal
congestion that makes feeding difficult, use the nose drops before feedings.

Homemade saline nose drops should be made daily. (Not mine.)d

Store the saline in a clean bottle and use a clean dropper (washed in hot soapy water,
rinsed well with hot water).