Baby carrots, anyone?

So we're all at dinner tonight...chatting, laughing, nothing out of the normal. Out of the blue, Lauren says, "OK." Everyone turns to look at her, and she has a baby carrot hanging out of one nostril. I immediately collapsed into laughter. The whole table was hysterical. How do you even begin to seriously correct that kind of behavior? We have yet to figure it out.

A few minutes later, Erin has been let out of her chair and brings in a current favorite book: Teeth are Not for Biting. (Side note: This book was originally purchased when Lauren was 2 as she was well-known for enjoying a human snack...) This book is part of a series of books with similar titles, such as Hands are Not for Hitting. Lauren suggested a few titles of her own: Bottoms are Not for Sitting on People and Noses are Not for Picking.

We will eventually marry her off. We will eventually marry her off. (repeating)

Riding a Bike

Somehow, I missed the memo to teach your child to ride a bike when they're 4. Apparently, it's completely possible. However, when I see others in the neighborhood going into 4th grade with training wheels, I figured I wasn't behind the curve with this. Heck, you barely see kids out riding at all...

I did, however, think that it was time Ellie learned. I didn't really care if it was something she particularly wanted to learn -- I just think everyone should be able to ride a bike. We got her a new bike last year because she'd outgrown her last bike, and the size she needed didn't even allow training wheels. We were stuck learning how to do this, and I was determined that this is the summer to do it.

Last summer, I picked up a bar at Target called a Balance Buddy -- it's reminiscent of the high bar that was on the back of the old banana seat bikes when I was a kid. I got it out a few weeks back and began to put it on Ellie's bike. Ellie was looking at the marketing blurbs on the cardboard that came with it, and said something like, "Am I going to be able to ride in 15 minutes?" as that's what the marketing said. We talked about marketing, and I said she probably wouldn't be able to that quickly. Took the bike out, and sure enough, by the end of the "session," Ellie had pedaled about 10 ft. independently. Heck, I don't even think she cried! We then didn't ride for a while but got the bike out this past weekend.

Weekend snapshot: Eric -- clothes soaked, running tirelessly behind that bike, giving Ellie pointers. Lauren -- pedaling along on her Disney Princess bike with training wheels, patiently waiting for her turn with the Balance Buddy. Erin -- helmet on her little head as she's riding her big wheel with legs up in the air, enjoying the slope of the court as it makes her travel really fast. Me -- trying to make sure Erin doesn't tip over and crack her head open and Lauren doesn't get hit by a car. Ellie -- crying, yelling, stomping.

Ellie, perfectionist that she is, has convinced herself that after trying for 2 times, she'll never be able to ride a bike. There's no telling her otherwise. Now I must add that I gave her an incentive at the beginning of the summer -- learn how to ride your bike, and I'll buy you the American Girl doll that you want. See, Ellie has so much natural ability that she's yet to really have to work hard to accomplish something. I knew bike riding wouldn't be exceptionally easy for her, and I want her to learn the value of working hard at something and achieving it.

I'd go in to change Erin's diaper, Ellie and Eric come in arguing. Helmet is tossed. They're arguing. I'm refereeing. Or maybe I was out with her, in which case Eric becomes the object of the vents and frustration. It was not particularly fun.

So last night, Eric takes her out and she pedals from one end of the court to the other with extremely minimal help from Eric. I was so excited for her! (Of course, I think she was pretty excited too, but true to form, she didn't let on.) And, of course, she wanted me to immediately order up an American Girl doll, except I reminder her that the deal was pedaling in a loop around the court alone, without someone running behind her -- a real, honest-to-goodness bike ride. She's not there yet, but I bet I'll be $100 poorer in the next week or so. Go Ellie! I always knew you could do it.

Math Camp

I'm sure that if Ellie reads this blog years from now, she'll read this entry and say, "...and I'm still mad at you for sending me to math camp!" I'd like to post my defense...

1st of all, Ellie thought this was a great idea months ago when we had to register for math camp, as she'd get to spend the remainder of the day with her friend, Brenna, who she's known since preschool. Of course, now that math camp is upon us, she's still happy to be spending the day with Brenna. As for math camp, not so much.

Ellie, I want to say this to you (of course I tell you this as well)...I know you don't like math, but I'm glad you went to this camp. You are so bright and good at math -- you lack confidence. I don't want you to ever think you can't do something, when all you need to do is work a little harder to achieve. You are awesome, I love you, and I'm proud of you for hanging in there (with minimal complaint).

Love,
Mom

P.S. I know that you're not bringing home all of the papers from camp. I don't know what you're doing with them, but I know there are papers. Moms are smart like that. (Just didn't want you to think that you're outsmarting me...)

On your mark...

So the girls have this fun game that we play sometimes after dinner. They'll stand by the bathroom door in the living room, and I'll give them an instruction as to how to race from the door to the couch and back to the door. It could be something like spinning, walking backwards, crawling, etc. (Erin, of course, has to get in the mix, but she always loses...and gets in the way :-) So last night Ellie and Lauren were racing, and every time Ellie won, we'd say, "And Lauren wins!" It took Ellie a bit to get the joke, although the looks of indignation were quite funny. Once she figured out that the 2nd place person was declared the winner, she started slowing down and letting Lauren win. Of course, then we started with "...and Ellie wins!"

True to form, Lauren immediately resorts to violence. I thought Eric and I were going to die laughing. She comes charging at Ellie, face full of rage, and starts kicking, swinging, yelling...absolutely priceless.

A kiss makes it all better

Erin is interesting to say the least. She just turned two, so she's discovering how much fun it is to be defiant -- likes to throw things, hit people, and just do the opposite of whatever she is asked. She seems to be on the sensitive side, more like Ellie in that regard than Lauren. Whenever she gets corrected by Eric, she comes and tells me about it with the hope that I'll take her side. Whenever I correct her, she gets all weepy and insists on giving me a kiss on the lips - a big, wet sloppy kiss. It's her way of getting back in good graces -- total manipulation. I'm on to her though...(and such a sucker). There's no doubt she's the baby of the family -- most likely will get away with more than the others. (Sorry Ellie and Lauren :-)

Learning to ride a bike

So, I took the training wheels off of Lauren's bike a few days ago and put on this bar called a Balance Buddy. It's an upside-down U-shaped bar that hooks on to the back axles -- seems to give the rider more of a feel of control and balance. I told Ellie that if she worked really hard over the summer and learned to ride her bike, I'd buy her an American Girl doll, which she really wants after reading all of the books. Lauren's bike is a bit small for her, but it's not as intimidating as her larger bike, and we thought it would help her with her confidence.

Sure enough, Ellie got on the bike and within a half-hour, she was pedaling on her own. A bit unsteady, but rode a few car lengths all by herself! I was so proud of her, and as Eric said, I'll always remember when she learned to ride a bike.

Lauren got on the bike on Saturday. I'm pushing her around the court, she stops in front of Hugh and Laura's house, and says, "I've got the toots." Gets off the bike, sticks her bottom out, passes gas twice, gets back on the bike, says, "There we go," and starts pedaling again. What a lady. I think she might just be riding a two-wheeler before the end of the summer.

The boss

So, two nights ago, Lauren is getting ready for bed, and she begins telling me a story about school that day. Now, it's important to note that Lauren has assimilated herself into the grouping of kids at preschool known as the Olders, as they're going to be going to kindergarten in the fall. She will not hear of it that she is technically a Younger.

One of the Youngers, who Lauren has been with since she was 3 mos. old, asked to play with Lauren and her friends. Lauren, who is quite the social leader, told her that they were playing High School Musical, and that it was "inappropriate" for her.

Stopped the story at this point to remind Lauren that this girl is the same age as her, and that her older friends are going to be leaving soon, she needs to be nice to everyone, these are the friends that she's going to have this fall, etc.

I'll be interested to see how Lauren adjusts in the fall. She'll either sink into depression, or be running the show. My guess is she'll be on the school's payroll.

Starting this blog

Well...I guess the reason I'm starting this blog is that I have 3 little girls (Ellie 7, Lauren 4, Erin 2) who amaze me each day with their personalities and humor. Unfortunately, I don't have a great memory, so as the days and years pass, I wanted a way to be able to look back and remember some of the funny and interesting goings-on in our everyday life. Hopefully, I'll keep this up because they're creating memories for me that I'd like to have for a lifetime.