I got a new phone! I got an Aquos, which is a smartphone, pretty sleek looking. My very first smart phone. I tested out the camera and set it up to automatically "back up" my pictures online, and somehow that picture storage is connected to this blog, so I am able to pull pictures into my blog post that I took on my phone, with no extra effort on my part. So here's some random pictures from this week.
We have been dealing with some discipline issues with Nico that at times have seemed unmanageable. Guy and I decided that it was pretty important to be able to sit down and talk with each other without Nico around, as often as we can, so we can discuss these issues on a regular basis. So far our adventure into parenting has been mostly unagressive, meaning that we haven't really taken an active role in working together to raise Nico with the right sense of self - to be able to make good decisions and not bad, among other things! So on Monday afternoon, Guy and I left Nico with Allicia and went to the Co-op for an hour. We each got a treat. I chose an apple and Guy chose ginger ale. Then we sat in the common area and pulled out a pad of paper, and made a plan. We each left the meeting with action items. One of the things Guy did this week is make some clubhouse rules with Nico. Nico was very responsive to this. Just tonight he kept pointing to #2 and saying "Mommy you have to be polite, you have to tuck me up!" This was part of a bedtime struggle (which has become increasingly more common), in which he had made a choice that led to me not tucking him up. Tucking up means that I put his blanket on him. He had to do it himself tonight, and he was very upset. But he was being very polite when he was trying to convince me to be polite.
Guy and I are both realizing that in order for Nico to learn good manners and clean up after ourselves, that we have to model that behavior. I tell ya what, having a child has grown me up in so many ways, it's the toughest job I've ever had.
Tuesday morning Grandma Salisbury took Nico out again and got him a few treats including another Lego, which him and Guy put together that night before they made the chore chart. Tuesday I drove out to Mountain Home to hang out with my sister-in-law Bambi, and my nieces and nephew. I brought my henna supplies and gave all the girls a henna tattoo.
Made a good dinner on Wednesday night, except we only have one burner, so it took a lot longer since I didn't read the directions very carefully and I needed two pots going at the same time. Whoops! Oh well. Yummy pecan-crusted chicken.
This morning, went to the library and then visited this bridge.
I picked Nico up early from preschool today so we could make it to Kindergarten registration on time. It started at 3:30, and we were there at about 3:20, and were the 2nd people in line. We got our packet of stuff, then we went to 5 different stations so Nico could be tested in Reading, Writing, Language, Color, and Math. The only thing he struggled with is knowing whether two words rhymed or not. That is something we have never worked on, so that wasn't much of a surprise. But he knew his letters and numbers and colors and could write his name. He was quick as a whip. When I filled out the paperwork a month ago, I had told them that I preferred AM kindergarten, but they didn't say anything about that today, so I'm not sure what the plan is yet.
I am spending some of my energies organizing the Clubhouse and trying to get it into better shape so it doesn't feel as cluttered. That has been fun!
Oh, Nico made a card for his friend Lazarus at church, but he couldn't remember his name. So I told him that the next time he sees this boy that he should ask him his name and then we can give him his card. So after Bible Study on Sunday, Nico tells me that the boy's name is Lazarus and asks for the card to give to him. But we didn't have it with us, so we will try next week (if we can find the card!) Lazarus is 2 years old. Nico loves going to Bible Study because he gets to play with his friends and watch movies while the adults talk :) We love it, too, and are making friends.
That's it for now!
