First Time Christmas Caroling

Not counting the times she sang carols for dance at nursing homes, this was the first time Anna Claire or I went honest-to-goodness Christmas caroling. I define this as bundling up and enduring the cold, walking from house to house and singing in a group.

We went with our small group leader and their kids, and some of the teachers from The Red Barn.

We did it up right with hot chocolate, lots of layered clothing, song books, and "candles" to light our way. We froze, but it was worth it!

AC and Lucas - small group buddies!

I want to go to Signature and Walking Horse.

Anna Claire is without a doubt her Meme's grandchild. She has that same caring spirit and always wants to do for others. I wish I could say the same about myself, but I am more selfish than I would like to be.

This morning before church, Anna Claire had a giant stack of papers that she had already plowed through, with art complete on each one. I said, "You sure have been busy. What are you going to do with all of that art?"

She said, "We can take it to people who don't get cards for Christmas, like Signature."

I asked her if she'd like to go somewhere like Signature or Walking Horse, and she said, "I want to go to Signature AND Walking Horse."

So that is on our agenda tomorrow! So proud of this little girl with her servant attitude at such a young age.

The Nutcracker

After seeing how much she fell in love with this nutcracker, I bought her a little one as a souvenir. She's carried it with her everywhere today. She told me this afternoon she wants to marry the Nutcracker one day and that he will turn into a prince just like he did for Clara. :)

I can't tell you how much fun it was to watch Anna Claire at The Nutcracker Ballet. She was beyond thrilled to go to the ballet and to watch her facial expressions during the show was priceless.

I told some friends we were taking her and they worried she would be too young to enjoy it and that it would be boring for her. Not the case at all! She loved every part of it. I am so glad we made the choice to take her this year. In fact, I can't imagine a more magical age than this age...the age where Santa and the Easter Bunny reign supreme. The Nutcracker is right up there for her now.

Grandma and Freddie took us and it was a wonderful trip and experience. They even rented a van so we could all ride together. It was all so thoughtful. We loved sharing this special night as a family.

"Billing Statement Enclosed"

Anna Claire and I were in the kitchen making cherry Jell-o when out of the blue she said, "Billing statement enclosed."

I just turned and looked at her and said, "Why do you say that?"

She pointed to a piece of mail on the counter and said, "Well that's what this mail says right here, see? 'Billing statement enclosed." It's right there!"

Oh yeah, she can read anything. I forget sometimes!

Ellie's Birthday...On Stage!

Ellie's family created a stage for the girls to perform on and they were able to use real microphones!

I really thought Anna Claire would be too shy to get on stage, much less to perform. Boy was I wrong on both counts! She really belted it out and knew all the words to both songs!

All girls dream about being a star on stage and today their dreams came true! Thanks Miss Bracey!

AC has tons of makeup at home, but she has never done makeup with her friends before. They had a ball.

We just let them go to town with it. Why not? It washes off. ;)

So cute to watch them. I'm so glad Miss Lisa made me go in.

Not sure how well you can tell from this picture, but Bracey made little nail polishes out of marshmellows and microphone cake pops. The ice cream cone for the microphone's base was filled with skittles. So cute!

Here's the food spread. She made star-shaped pizzas since our girls got to be stars today!

Taking a Candy Basket to Granny

I've been trying to think of ways to teach AC what the holidays are really about, but then she teaches me: 


Anna Claire and I were talking one day last week about her friend Amy's granny going to Rehab. Granny broke her hip, just like Meme, and had to have surgery to have it replaced. She's in rehab now to help get her up and going again.

A few days later she asked me again to tell her why Granny was in rehab, so I did. I explained that she broke her hip and had to have surgery for it just like Meme.

Then she declared we would go visit Granny, take her flowers in a vase, and a candy basket just like meme had. Anna Claire was very specific about the kind of candy that needed to go in the basket: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Trident gum, and little boxes of raisins. She said that way Amy can have some candy whenever she visits her granny.

Well, how could I say no to such a request? We went out to see Granny on Friday and it was a really nice visit. I think we all enjoyed it. 

For Anna Claire and me, it had been several months since we'd been to a rehab or nursing home, and I think we've actually missed it. When you go somewhere every day for months, it becomes a big part of your life. I enjoyed seeing some of the nurses and techs who had helped my mom when she was there. 

Granny asked us to please come and see her again and I do think we will. She did tell Paige, Amy's mom, that she was horrified that we saw her hair in such a state. I think she looked great though!

Tough Love

My number one priority for the past few weeks has been to make sure Anna Claire feels loved. Important. Valued.

For those who follow my blog regularly, you're already aware how proud we are of Anna Claire's kind and loving heart. She is the most compassionate and considerate child that I know, and possibly the most compassionate and considerate person. That is why it is breaking my heart to watch my child go through this terrible phase where she questions her value in our family and going to great and surprising lengths to vie for our attention.

We realized it could happen, but after the baby had been with us for a couple of weeks, all was going so well, I really thought we were out of the woods and dodging that bullet.

Week 3 seemed to be the turning point, where the green-eyed monster reared its ugly head. It started with potty accidents at school. Anna Claire has been potty-trained since she was two, and has not had an accident in over a year, but the past few weeks has had several.

She also started throwing tantrums, throwing down in the floor, screaming inconsolably for no apparent reason.

The hardest to take though has been her blatant disobedience. We will ask her to stop doing something and she will look us right in the eye and do it again. We will ask her to do something and she goes about her business as if we have said nothing. Who is this child?

Well, Larry and I have talked about this and talked about this. What should we do? We know WHY it's happening. What we don't want is for her to feel like she's being fazed out or any less important. That's what's so tricky. Because at the same time, what hasn't changed, is that we're parents who have very high expectations for our child's behavior. We don't want to lower the bar.

So far, our solution, though risky, has been to crack down. We have started taking privileges away, and also offering incentives. We didn't let her play in her soccer game Saturday because of unacceptable behavior. It was harder for us than it was for her. She made peace with the idea after several hours. But what it accomplished, was showing her we meant business.

Now we only have to threaten to take something away and she straightens up out of fear that we mean it.

Anna Claire has also spent more time in time-out the past few weeks than she has her entire childhood. I'm using it because it's necessary and effective - it gives her space and time away from the baby. Time-outs seem to happen most often when I'm nursing the baby. Baby sister is getting big time attention, and Anna Claire acts out, just to see what I'll do about it.

Anna Claire can be too rough or too affectionate with her baby sister. Madeline is so tiny, and I am in super-protective-Mommy-mode. Anna Claire will pull the baby's arms (too hard, in my opinion). She has thrown a paper wad at her head. I've caught her several times waking the baby from a deep sleep. She has waved chopsticks in the baby's face. She has laid on the couch by me and the baby, kicking like a bucking bronco, almost kicking her sister in the head.

Anna Claire was my little helper, present at all diaper changes, baths, and feeding sessions, but I have found it easier, better for and safer for all involved, if I can take care of these tasks myself. For now. The baby is too small, and I've learned the hard way that the baby is safer, and Anna Claire is a much happier child when I can take care of these tasks when she's not around as often as possible.

The past few days have been much better and happier for all involved. I started following Larry's advice: don't get angry, just take care of the behavior...it's just our job.

And I was getting angry. I was angry that our sweet little girl was turning into someone I didn't recognize and I was scared of it becoming permanent. I didn't want to lose that sweetness. But I realize now it's not lost. I saw it today. She just needs constant reassurance, hugs, kisses, and time with us. Validation that nothing has changed about our feelings for her. It's not going to be an easy road, but it is getting a little easier each day.