They love each other

I was able to take a whole week off and be home with the kids for Christmas break. I am so thankful for this time with the kids. Some of the time David is home with us, and sometimes he is working. But for a good two weeks. I get to be the primary caregiver, the one that plays with them and cares for them. One that gets frustrated and the one that laughs with them. I'm so grateful for this!

Christmas is great! I am blessed by being able to spoil the children. But the best thing about this time this week has been seeing truly how much they really like each other and love each other. Yes, they fight. I think all siblings fight, Or I choose to believe that. But I also see them able to be each other's best friends.

They play together pretty nicely. Of course Ellie likes to be in charge as she is the oldest and take several serious. But with that, she shows how she truly loves her siblings. She's always willing to help them and look out for them and teach them. She is even willing to let Max make rules now and again and some of their make-believe games. I found these lovely note from her to Max telling him how happy she is that he is her brother. It melts my heart!

Today Max and I were sitting on the couch watching Ellie do her magic show. They were laughing and giggling with each other and something or said along the lines of oil she loves you Max. And he looked at me with the most perfect happy innocent and honest eyes and says "I know she does mommy." It's even better that she loves him so much that he is that confident and happy in that love that they share as brother and sister. 

As for Clair, they both love and adore her. Ellie is always willing to jump up and help clear. When she falls, Ellie is usually the first one by her side. If it's not Ellie, there's a good chance it's Max. Clair is also learning to go potty right now, and Ellie has spent large amount of time in the bathroom with her supporting her teaching her, keeping her company, reading to her. If Clair is sad, her siblings are often the one she wants to comfort her. 

Through the daily ups and downs and busyness of life it is truly hard to know if you're doing things right with your kids. When I am able to step back and see how much they care for each other, it's a sign that I feel like we are doing some things right. This is the best Christmas gift of all!!!

Max art

Max loves to make big pieces of art. Scissors and tape are always involved. He's crazy about tape. 

I have a hard time keeping up and dealing with all the collection in the house. I'm glad he has fun; but I'm running out of space. 

Here's one we put up a while ago. 

Big girl

Last night when I got home from taking Ellie to the doctors David me and said you need to go deal with our youngest. Now, keep it in mind David rarely says this. And I asked what was going on I was slightly pleased when I found out that Clair wouldn't stop putting on underwear. Apparently, she has decided it is time to be a big girl and ditch the diapers. 

This girl has been and what she was doing and her diapers are good for five months at this point. She peddled on the potty before bath for fun. But she hasn't been interested. At one point I was trying pull-ups and aiming for potty training but I gave up realizing it would happen under her terms and on her time. 

I told her she could wear underwear when she got up in the morning. And so we did. Usually she has went through in the morning but today she was dry. The girl did have two accidents in the evening, but, I think that's probably because daddy doesn't really like this potty training thing very much and mommy was not very attentive tonight , feeling under the weather. 

Girl had a great day and her underwear. She Peed in the potty six or seven times. And she can't wait to put her underwear on again when she wakes up in the morning. It's her terms in her time!

A bad dream

Clair was fighting with Max about putting their shoes away properly in her "bad dream" last night. Isn't that sweet; this is a bad dream at the innocent age of two.

I went in to her because she was crying and she started tattling on Max straight away. 

I hushed her as I laid down beside her and told her it was a dream. We snuggled face to face and she quickly drifted back to sleep. 

A "Tale"

Tonight after watching Max pee Clair announced that she too wanted to go pee standing up. I explained she couldn't , only boys can. Her response, "I don't have a tale on my bottom."

I smiled and said that's right. You don't have a Penis, only boys. "Yup. Daddy has a tale too."

She's so funny!

Max the builder

Max has really shown his love for combining building an art recently. His creativity with Art continues to grow. His interest in being a good artist also continues to grow. The other day he was asking us for help in how to draw a reindeer as he created a whole scene with a house in Santa sleigh and reindeer on the roof. He really wanted it to be just right. And he was proud of himself when we worked through something that he felt turned out pretty good. 

Over the weekend he started to build some elaborate houses with the Legos. Here is one he pulled together that he was very proud of. Of course his sister wanted to be in the picture too. And of course with Max's kind heart, he didn't mind at all.

Clair and puzzles

Claire has been pretty interested in puzzles for about six months. For her age, she does a really great job with puzzles. If you set her in the right direction she'll figure out how to connect things. She uses shapes and color for clues. And she has patience to sit there and really figure them out. All of this is impressive, and the funniest thing is when she's done, she thinks it is appropriate to lay down on the puzzle and enjoy it in all it's completed glory! I think Ms Sarah taught her this, but I can't be certain. The girl can come up with some great ideas on her own as well. 

Christmas tree decorating

The kids convince me to allow them to put the tree up before the end of the Thanksgiving weekend. I was having a rough end of the weekend and I went along with their spirit and excitement. I am glad that I did.

For most years I have done my Christmas tree myself. David might hang one or two. Last year Ellie was a great helper and really started to get into it. Max still struggled with interest last year. Much to my surprise was how eager each of the three children were to help this year, including the two-year-old who probably felt she could do the whole tree by herself without anyone else's help.

They all did a really great job. Max and Ally were very patient. Claire on the other hand thought it was her right to grab any ornament she wanted and hang it anywhere she wanted. She humored me and showed some patients at times being willing to wait for a couple seconds. But when she was told flat no she was attempting to hang up your glass ornaments, there were several meltdowns on the floor in full 2 year old spirit. 

Overall the tree was set up, fluffed, and decorated within a few hours. The growing family that is my new Christmas tree decorating team was quite efficient. It was fun. And of course, we listen to Kenny and Dolly's Christmas in the background while decorating. One day the kids will either hate that CD or recognize it as mommies Christmas tradition. The verdict is definitely still out! 

Pack rat

Today as I'm watching Ellie attempt to shove her lunch box into her backpack I finally ask "what is in there?" (Voice slightly agitated)

Response, "Books."

Me, "you need one book to read on the bus,"

Irritated Ellie responds with exasperation at that thought, "one book?!?!?!"

But then I realize it's not only the books. The bottom of her backpack looks like a trash can, literally it is filled with papers, trinkets, water bottles, trash, pens, treasures, more trash, rocks, and so much more. I just started grabbing handfuls and removing it. Ellie wasn't pleased. 

I do not understand how she lets this happen, it's disgusting. But, she is just 8. I should be more patient and attempt to teach her how to organize, except I'm not sure if I know how to organize and stay organized. 

As I'm looking through the pile of papers I have deemed trash to try to rescue one thing that had her most upset, I found, amongst all the trash, these nice cards and notes for us. I am reminded how sweet she is and how much she loves us. I hope my moments of crazy don't outweighs the moments of love. She is a special girl, even as a pack rat. 

Love my Ellie!