Stage Mother

There have been many times that I have been humbled as a parent, Mo never ceases to remind me just who is in charge (her) and who really has their act together (again, her). I am always surprised when I have one of those mother-of-the-year moments. Our adventure on Saturday was just one of these times.

Mo has been in ballet/tap class since last September. Our year-end recital is in a couple of weeks. She is doing a tap dance dressed as a bumblebee (I know, can you see the cuteness). This past Saturday was picture day. She was to arrive at dance class in her costume with the picture envelope filled out. Didn't really seem like that big of deal.

Also, please remember, I do this kind of thing for a living. I have done at least 2 picture days every school year, for the past 15 years. I organize plays, programs, and graduations. I coordinate field trips and parent events.....still didn't help.

The morning of Picture Day, we woke up early...ate a nice breakfast...relaxed....now, we have about 45 minutes to get ready and get going out the door....plenty of time.

I got the brilliant idea that I should give Mo a bath...her hair will look so shiny in the pictures. I didn't think we spent too much time in the bath, but when we get out, we have 15 minutes left to get out the door.

I ask Mo to put on her new, black tights while I get her bumblebee costume ready. I take it out and I realize that there is a 'stinger' that has to be stuffed and attached (somehow) to the back of her costume.....as I am realizing this, I look over at Mo (who has proudly put on her black tights)....who of course sat in the dog bed while she was putting them on....she is covered from the waist down in dog hair.

I try to brush her off while I am frantically searching for something, anything to stuff the stinger with....my best choice is our stash of plastic grocery bags.....then another frantic search for safety pins to attach the stupid thing.

Now, we are officially late. We should've left 5 minutes ago. But, we are at least dressed.

I realize that Mo's hair is still wet...can't do anything with it until it is dried. The hair dryer has been missing since we moved, so that is out. I decide that we just have to get in the car and go.

As we are driving, I roll down all the windows, turn up the heat, and instruct Mo to shake her head in front of the open window.....I know, stellar parenting....

We arrive, late, covered in dog hair, limp stinger that is halfway falling off....but our hair is dry! I put on her antennae headband and send her into class.....

Can't wait to see these pictures.

Questions

Mo is great at conversation.....she loves talking to people. It is very true that she has never met a stranger.....she really can talk to just about anybody!

We were at the community center for swim class the other night. There is a woman with a bird on her shoulder (if you are from Portland, this is not an unusual sighting)....Mo was interested and went over to talk. The woman was really nice and was telling her all about the bird...how old it was....its history, information about the breed. You could tell she took being a parrot owner very seriously, and was acting as a spokesperson for parrot owners all over the world....

After this little informational talk, I asked Mo if she had any questions. Mo looked at the woman, very seriously, and asked, "Are you a pirate?"

Artist

Every year, Scout and Mo paint birdhouses to go in the backyard. I am not sure how it started, but it is time for this year's creation....

Look at this sweet face....



Also, we had sod laid in the backyard.....it looks so pretty. Will post more pictures when the plants are all in....

Friends, Friends, 1,2,3

Mo has been making friends for ever....she is just very social. But turning three, she is PICKING who she wants to be her friend.... Scout and I have no input at all. It has been interesting.....not knowing some random family, but your child loves their child, and vice versa.....and now all of a sudden, you are getting to know this random family.

We have met some people who have now become our friends....and I am grateful that Mo brought us together.......but I can see the day coming where Mo likes the kid, and we don't like the adults......that will be fun....

We are also smack dab in the 'playdate' schedule. Mo wants to have them....her friends want to have them. They talk about them, make plans for them....and then she gets mad at Mama and Mema when we don't go along with the plans......but overall, the playdates have been wonderful. All the girls we have had over have just been delightful....and they all play so well together.....

just one more new phase to get used to.....

Mo and the twins....

This is her new bestie......We will call her "A" on th blog.....they could be sisters....

Better Bento

Here is the bento from today......it turned out really nice!!! I got some fancy little skewers in the mail with zoo and ocean animals on them....super cute. This picture is much better, as well.


And to be totally honest.....didn't do a bento lunch yesterday....just too much effort....She took mac n cheese leftovers.....

The negotiator

Mo has mastered the fine art of negotiation. I try to let her have choices in many areas of her life....what she wears, what she plays, giving in to the things that it doesn't matter to me.

But some things are non-negotiable....like going to bed, brushing teeth, and eating dinner. But she still tries.....and is sneaky about it too.

Mo: I want a treat.

Me: No, tonight is not a treat night.

Mo: Why?

Me: Because, we had treats last night....we are taking a night off.

Mo: Pretty please, pretty please, pretty please.....cherry on top?

Me: No.

Mo: I will eat even more dinner if I can have a treat.

Me: No.

Mo will then turn on some major puppy dog eyes on Scout. This usually works.

Bento Box Lunch

This weekend, I took this amazing class on making bento lunches for kids. The woman who teaches the class is originally from Japan, and is starting a cooking school to teach people how to cook home style Japanese food.

I learned all sorts of fancy things.....I can turn a hard boiled egg into a bunny, I learned how to make a hot dog into an octopus or a crab. These were the cutsie things....but the thing that really got me going, is trying to find more balance in Mo's lunch. Instead of putting a lot of a just a few things....I am trying to put just a few bites of many different things. To expand her food horizons.

First day, and she ate EVERYTHING in there. Including, food that she normally won't touch.


This bento has.....pan friend tofu squares, edamame and corn skewers, turkey and cheese skewers, cucumber and tomato salad, strawberries, and orange slices. Sorry about the picture quality......cellphone photos are not the best.

So much fun and slightly addictive....I can see a support group in my future.