Showing her steer

MJ has been showing steers for about two years. I think it was the 2006 Western Idaho Fair when she dragged three lead ropes around all day, combing them, brushing them, tying them up. Ever since then whenever she finds some twine and a small tree branch, she pretends she's showing. That's all this little girl needs-that and a big imagination to have hours of fun. Some days she ties the twine up, gives it a bath, combs it out and fits it. I even have gotten in on the fun of showing in the yard. (No picture evidence of that yet, though. :) ) Today, Emma and I sat in lawn chairs and watched. She was having so much fun, I didn't have the heart to tell her she was standing on the wrong side. Oh well. She's never said anything about wanting to show a real animal. Right now, she's content with her twine and a stick. Gotta love it! Um, she's never mentioned showing a horse...maybe I need to put that thought in her head. Won't Josh be thrilled!

Cook in training

Today, I was folding laundry in the living room and MJ was outside enjoying the warm weather. I noticed Emma just puttering around the house playing. She'd found some food items and was working on something. Then she went over to the kitchen to play some more. It was neat to see her play by herself. So many times MJ is in the picture. And she can be a little dominating. MJ is a great big sister. She tries to help Emma and takes care of her. My little mother hen. Um, I wonder who that sounds like?! I think maybe I have a little experience with being a bossy big sister too! While the girls do get along most of the time, it was nice to see Emma doing just fine figuring things out on her own. 

Last swim lesson and lessons for Mom

Mackenzie had her last swimming lesson on Feb. 29. I was a little bummed that the last day they just played and I didn't get any more pictures of her floating or trying to swim, but here are some nonetheless. And she did have lots of fun playing around. One of the days was safety day, so she'd been telling me what she learned, like not to go where you can't touch. Josh came to watch her again, which she was excited about. She latched on to this noodle and just kept floating and swimming about. We girls stayed after class and did family swim again so Emma could be in the water. Again, she had a really good time. We even went into the big pool because MJ could use her noodle to stay afloat. It was much easier on my legs than having to crouch in the baby pool! Mackenzie passed her class and will move onto Level B. She's been in Level A the last two sessions, which was just what she needed. I think next time, she'll have grown  more and her body will be ready for moving her arms the right way and kicking. She's still pretty little to try to get everything coordinated all the time. I was just glad she showed progress through the weeks and had fun. Plus she's learning the respect the water. It was neat to see how much she had grown since last year's class.

Sometimes I get a little excited thinking about if she's learning enough, fast enough, will she be ready for school?, etc. I worry about if I've taught her enough, given her enough opportunities. Then I step back and think, okay, she's only 4. She is learning things at her own pace. She never ceases to surprise me with what she's picking up on without me sitting down trying to get to read and write every day. In fact, just the other day, she started making her "Ks" in her name the right way. She had been having a hard time with it, but it just clicked and she got it. Now, she's more excited to write her name, and it's a long one! All the letters seem to be getting better too. I just want her to enjoy her childhood, learn self control and good manners, and how to think about others more than herself. So, as I reflect on her finishing this swim session, I can also relax a little too. She's doing fine.

Little cooks in the kitchen

I think I've mentioned how both of the girls love to help me in the kitchen. MJ usually gets her bench and pulls it over to where I'm working and asks to help somehow. Emma now has started bringing anything she can find to boost her up to the counter too. She finds the stool, if MJ leaves it temporarily or she'll pull a dining room chair in the kitchen. Lately, she's been dragging over the little cooler Josh uses for vaccines. This night, I decided I really could work faster without little hands, so instead I gave Emma a spoon and pie plate. Well, she had a blast just playing with all of it. When MJ walked in and saw how much fun Emma was having it got her creative juices flowing and she said they had to have food in those pans. MJ would tell Emma, "Here, you make this, now stir it around. Yeah, Emma, just like that." Before I knew it, we had this big crazy food mess in the kitchen, but we were all together. They were having fun and I was getting dinner on the table a little faster. 

The week at our house

It's been a good week around here; can't complain much about anything. The girls went to a new babysitter on Tuesday so I could work on some upcoming projects. The girls had so much fun; Mackenzie didn't want to leave when I came to get them. It's nice not having any deadlines this week, but I have found if I take them to a sitter once or twice a week, I can still get stuff done and have more time with them on the days we are together. 

Wednesday morning we went to story hour at the library. Then we played at the park for awhile before we headed to get their haircuts. We're all really ready for spring and warm, dry weather. We've had a few nice days of high 40 to 50 degree temps, so that's a welcome relief from the big winter we've had here. No complaints about the moisture though. I know it will be nice once the grass greens up. MJ talked to the hairdresser the whole time. Tonya just laughs and visits back with her. Emma did pretty well while her hair was trimmed too. I sat her up there and she looked so cute. Her little blond head and puffy cheeks stuck out of the top of this huge cape. I wish I'd had my camera. She kept looking in the mirror and smiling that huge grin. It probably took only five minutes to trim her hair, but she was pretty squirmy by the end. She doesn't like anything in it right now, so I try to give it a little curl and call it good. When we got home, MJ and I baked some cookies to send to my Granddad in Kansas. She also colored him a picture too. 

Josh left Thursday a.m. for Kansas. He and his dad are going to a cattle sale. We'll miss him, but glad he gets to make the trip. He'll be totally in his element. The girls and I spent more time outside today. It was another nice day. Emma and I were spectators as Mackenzie showed her steer. (Orange twine she drags around and pokes at with a stick.) The three of us walked down the road to get the mail. MJ was so excited the road was dry and we didn't have to try to walk around the mud. Emma and I stopped on the way back to the house to check the horses water. When we got back to the yard, MJ was lying out on a towel with three popsicles. She was waiting for us. This kid is really ready for summer! 

Monday

Today, MJ and I had dentist appointments. After a rather long wait in the waiting room, we finally made it back. MJ went first. She did so well. This was her second cleaning. She got to watch the end of Ice Age. She just chatted away with the hygienist. (Imagine that?!) The gal said she didn't have ANY problem spots. That was exciting for me, as she pretty much brushes her own teeth, so I had hoped she'd been doing well at it. When it was time for my x-rays and cleaning, Emma went out front with the receptionists. She was happy as a clam sitting with them. Although, she did come back with four bracelets and a toy from the treasure chest. I guess she needed a little bribing at times. (I did drop them back at the desk when we left.) MJ sat in another chair and watched part of Cars. I was proud of the girls this afternoon. While we're trying our best to teach them good manners and to behave in public and at home, you never know what even given day will bring. Sometimes kids will be kids.

Tonight the girls and I went to our weekly music class. The program is called Musikgarten, and it's music education for ages birth to whenever. This is our third session we've done. Mackenzie has always enjoyed music class, and Emma gets more into it all the time. She's always bebopping to whatever tune she hears. Tonight was especially neat as she really started participating in class. She stomped around and clapped to the music. When we used the wooden sticks, she followed directions and hit them the way the teacher showed. Somedays it's hard to believe she'll be two soon. I guess I'm not quite ready for my baby to be a full-blown toddler yet. But, it is also neat to see her do more things now. There was another family in class, and she kept going up to the Dad and sitting on his lap. It was so cute. Luckily, he didn't seem to mind. 

Growing up

Tonight Mackenzie asked me to rock her after we read books. The girls are still pretty good at the bedtime routine of listening to the children's radio program, brushing teeth, reading books, saying prayers then going to bed. But lately, she's been asking to rock more. As long as she asks before she's tucked into bed, I will indulge her. And I'm so glad I do. It seems we have our best conversations then. Not that I don't enjoy talking to her throughout the day, but there is something special about the time we have sitting in the dark in the living room, rocking and talking. I just love it too that even when I forget to say it's time for prayers, she'll say, "It's time to pray Mom." There are moments when I feel rather inadequate at talking about and explaining God to her. And then there are times when I feel by his grace, I have been given the words to express the love he has for us and for other people. Tonight was one of those nights. And as I hummed a lullaby and tickled her back (another part of the rocking routine), I just looked down at her little face and felt overwhelmed at how fast she is growing up. She is this amazing little person that Josh and I have the privelege of raising. When I stop and take the time to think about it, it is quite overwhelming in a wonderful way. What blessings we've been given.