Fun at Scout Meeting

We had another fun night at the Scout Meeting.  It was "Dawn of our Country".  They had lots of fun.   Part of it was that they read out a little play.  The parts were small.  Tatiana read it herself and only needed help with the big words.  She was invited to a Birthday party this Saturday.

Camping this weekend

Boy did we have fun camping this weekend.   It was with the AHG troop.  We shared a campsite with Candice's family.   That was really wonderful.  Tatiana had lots of kids to play with.  It was only supposed to be for one night, but we didn't want to leave.   So, we stayed another night.  Which meant we needed more food, so Candice and I went shopping.  They needed a new air mattress, so we went to Walmart.   They had Halloween costumes at 75% off.  Candice wanted to get some for dress-up.  So, I had to get one for Tatiana too.  This was Tatiana in hers.  She is a cat.  They ended up having an absolute ball in them.  Scotland had been a little grumpy about the silly expense, but the next day he said it had been money well spent.


 

At one point in the evening they were playing chase.  This is the least blurry photo.  You can still see the joy.

This is all the kids except for the teenager.   We really feel blessed that we met such a nice family.   Sometimes we meet a nice child, and then the mom or parents are a flake.  But, they are all super-nice.  The other girl is Macy.  The littlest boy is Max.  I'm a little fuzzy on the names of the older kids.

Heard Museum - Tatiana a mix of her mommy and her daddy.

We have a membership to the Heard museum.  https://www.heardmuseum.org/   I haven't been yet, but it sounds like lots of fun.  It has an area called "Pioneer Village" where it has gathered really old cabins.  The cabins have cheap goodwill pots and pans for the kids to pretend to cook like pioneers.   Tatiana was doing that with some girls.  Then some boys decided to play robbers, and they 'robbed' all the pots and pans.   Tatiana organized the little other little girls into a posse to get the pots and pans back.   She didn't know to call it a posse.  That is so mommy.    The little girls got the pots and pans back.  Then the boys tried to rob the pots and pans back.  Then Tatiana said, "You want them?  Here" and started to chuck the pots and pans at the boys.  That is so Daddy.   She didn't actually hit any of the boys.   That could be either of us, since neither of us can throw.  Then when the boys started to toss the pots and pans back, Tatiana sang, "I have pots and pans".   So, then some of the boys stopped the boy from tossing the pots and pans because that would be giving them back to the girls.   Then the boys started to throw rocks and Scotland stepped in then.

None of the other parents there noticed any of that happening.  They were there and they could have seen if they'd looked up from their phones.  But none did.   They heard Scotland stopping the rock throwing and jumped in then when it was already taken care of.

Second American Heritage Girl meeting

Last night was the second American Heritage Girl meeting.  Tatiana had so much fun!   We walked in late because I thought it started at 6:30, instead of 6:00 pm.  So, instead of getting there 15 minutes early, we got there 15 minutes late.  I don't think we missed much since they were still working on the oath.   Several girls said, "Tatiana!" as we came in.   It was day two of the Photography badge work.   All the girls were sent out with cameras to find interesting photos to take.   We walked to several different areas around the church.   The kids were told to find interesting shapes and get some close up.  Most kids took their mommies cell phones or tablets.   Actually all other girls.   I think using a real camera helped Tatiana to take better photos.  Zooming for example was easier and more intuitive.  There was a girl that was doing a trial meeting.   Her mom had signed up her son for the boy's group and Tracy had suggested that they sit-in on the AHG meeting.  Tatiana was very nice to the new girl.   I really appreciated that.  The girl was really sweet and I hope they sign up.   The mom said that they don't have the money for it, but that girl might want to use some birthday money she just received, but that it would be up to her.  They are homeschoolers too.

One of the photos that was needed for the badge was a blurry photo.   So, the troop went to the Gym.  The kids lined up on one wall, and the mom's had the cameras on the sidelines.  Then on "Go", the kids were to race across and the mom's were to take a blurry photo of them running.   Tatiana's camera was set on 2 second delay.  So, I got no one.  I asked them to race across again since I missed the photo.   Then the other mom's realized what a great idea that was to tire the kids out so several of the moms claimed they needed another try at getting a photo.

Then the kids picked a photo to show to the other kids.  They were to pick one that was very zoomed in and have people guess what it was.  Tatiana went first.   One of the other girls picked a photo that had Tatiana and Danielle, the new girl, running around so they were a little blurry.   Then for the second round the girls were to pick their favorite photo.

Frightfest with Godfather Ty

Yesterday was bring-a-friend free day at Six Flags.   It was the first weekend for Fright Fest there.  We had so much fun!   It was Godfather Ty, Scotland, Tatiana and I.  The only thing that could have made it better is if Margaret had been able to come too.  They had it decorated for Halloween and several employees had heavy monster makeup on.  Tatiana liked to spot the skeletons.   They were painted all different colors which kept them interesting.  The best part for all the adults was that Tatiana usually wanted to sit next to Ty and frequently held her his hand.   She seemed happiest when walking holding Ty's hand and one of her parents.  She would do this sing/skip/dance thing.  The first thing we did (after eating) was go to the big show that they have.   It was really good.   Tatiana couldn't decide whose lap she wanted to sit in.   At 7pm they switched over Adult Fright Fest.  Tatiana wanted to stay to see the scary stuff.  At first she was disappointed.  Although the decorations did look lots spookier in the dark.  Then we walked down a hallway that had lots of fog and the monsters jumped out and screamed at you.  That genuinely scared her.  She was breathing hard and she switched from wanting to see one of the Haunted Houses to not wanting to.  Then she kind of wanted to go in again.  But, we decided not.

Tatiana back home

    Tatiana came back home last night after visiting her Gram and Grandpa since Saturday.   It was lovely.  We sat on the couch together.  At first it was watching an Adventure Time that they hadn't finished earlier.  Then she ate her dinner in the living room.   Then we watched The Librarians snuggling on the couch.  That was nice.
     At bedtime she seemed tired and she asked to skip straight to Boxcar Children.  So, we did.  We almost finished the book we listened to on the way to Arlington.  She really seems to enjoy figuring out the hints that Mystery books leave.   She gets all excited and her eyes light up.   We are listening to the one with Grisly Bear in the name.
    Earlier in the day her Gram and Grandpa dropped her off at the Plano house where Scotland was working.  She was happy to show her Grandparents 'her' bedroom.   Then she went to tumbling and dance.  Then she played with Taylor at the park.  So, it was no surprise that she was tired at bedtime.  I think she knew she was tired, but she wanted Mommy and Daddy time.
    When she had first got to the Farm house, Yogi was very happy to see her.  He laid right at her feet.

Butterflies

Yesterday afternoon I got a skype that she was very excited to get 3 butterflies.   She started out with four caterpillars.  One turned into a butterfly while still in the little plastic cup with a lid, and it couldn't spread its wings.  So I was worried I'd killed it or it would never fly right.  But it and the three still in cocoon were put in the habitat.   It was fine, I was happy.   Then much excitement about that THREE butterflies were out and that they were moving around.  Then later that afternoon, Scotland tapped the side of the tulle near where the butterfly was, and it fell into the sugar water and floated, unmoving.  Tatiana freaked out, "You killed a butterfly".   He reached in a scooped it out of the sugar water.  he was very happy to see it had moved later.  Those are hardy butterflies.  

First game of Clue and first butterfly

A couple of weekends ago, there was a garage sale at a neighbor's house.   We bought a kid's version of Clue.   Clue: Carnival - the case of the missing prizes.  You had to figure out who stole the prizes, when and where.  The young kids version, you don't figure out the Where, just the Who and When.  You are also guaranteed to get to the next room every turn.   The really neat thing is that everyone can play.  No one looks inside the envelope until the end.   Instead at the end of every go-around, everyone makes a guess and they put colored tokens through the slot by the person, and the time that they think.   Then after 5 turns, the envelope is opened, and whoever has the most tokens in the correct bins wins.  Tatiana and I tied with 4 each, Daddy just had one.   It was lots of fun.

Oh, and the first butterfly came out of it cocoon.  Apparently that name only applies to Moths, but the correct term is hard to pronounce and spell.   Much excitement.  They are in the habitat.

First AHG Tenderheart Meeting

Monday was the first meeting of AHG where she was a Tenderheart.   Last year was a sort of introduction to scouting.  This year she starts earning badges, and the meetings have several girls.   It is for 1st -3rd grade.  We got there late because Scotland and Tatiana went to a funeral of one of Debra's lifetime good friends.   He had been friends with her too.  I think he really liked having her with him.   I'd even offered to work-from-home in the afternoon so he could go by herself.   I'd combed her hair the night before, so her hair looked really nice.  She wore my rhinestone headband and a black dress, and black heels with rhinestones on them.

We didn't miss anything at the meeting because they were settling in.  It was on cameras.   She thought it was a little boring to learn the parts of the camera.   But then they showed some examples of Bad photos and improved photos.   When they asked "What might make a bad photo?"  No one said, "Cut off the head".   Then they ran around and took photos of each other.   There was much giggling over that.  Then they did some coloring.  Tatiana hasn't really liked to color lately, but I think since it was entirely voluntary and since the other girls were, she wanted to color.  

The meeting got done early, so several of the girls played outside.   Many were waiting for the boys to finish their meeting.   She played with Macy and two girls that are best friends.  Then when they left, Tabitha came out and they played some more.

Gram Posted:

Susie proudly called Gram & Grandpa to tell us that Tatiana has her own library card.
YEAH!
That brought back happy memories about Susie getting her own library card .

They were on DART train going to Butterfly House in Dallas.

Friday in Rockport

We had another wonderful day on vacation.  I ran out to buy a dozen kolache's and some donuts instead of all of us going to eat at the shop.   It was nice to have leftover kolaches in the fridge.  

Thursday in Rockport, TX

     We had another wonderful day in Rockport yesterday.   I asked Tatiana what her favorite part of the vacation was and she pointed at each of us and said then said "Beach".   She likes spending time with all of us at the beach.  We go twice a day.  We get some breakfast then go to the beach for a couple of hours.   Then we eat our evening meal around 4-5pm, and go to the beach after.   I love the evening times at the beach best because the sun isn't so mean.  Tatiana and I always go out to enjoy the waves.

   During the morning beach time, Judith went out into the water for the first time.  She thinks water temp of 81 F is too cold.  Tatiana was swimming between us.  She remembered how to swim and was swimming very nicely between us.  Then Judith just had to tell her she should keep her head above the water.  Which basically meant Tatiana reverted to a dog paddle.  Scotland got her swimming again later.  Judith then was stung by jelly-fish.

   Judith took Tatiana for some private Grandma-time, That was nice.  Then we went to eat at the Blue Crab.   That was a nice restaurant.  We got the kid's Popcorn Shrimp plate, and she didn't like popcorn shrimp.   The batter on the popcorn shrimp wasn't very good, although the batter on my big shrimp was excellent.  The waiter asked if we wanted dessert.  I said that she didn't eat enough of her meal for dessert.  The waiter sent us home a bag as a surprise for her.  That was sweet.  It was a coconut thing, though.  She liked it.

Then we went to the beach again.  She walked in the wrong direction from where we were and kept walking.  I sent Scotland to get her.  We went into the water and she thought she had a sting on her arm.  I didn't see anything so it might have been because the sting Judith got gave her the idea.  

We went back to the cottage.  Tatiana and I played War and then it was bedtime.

First Tenderhearts Scout Meeting

Between every level in American Heritage Girls is a joining badge.  Tatiana's current level is sort of an intro level for Kindergartners.   One of the things to do for the joining award into Tenderhearts, which is the next level, is to sit in on a Tenderhearts meeting.    We did that last night.   It was lots of fun.  She sat next to Cheyanne, one of her friends from co-op.   They earned the Music Appreciation badge.  They talked about songs they like in their family.  Most of the girls sang or played one, or we listened to one on their mommies smart phone.  Then they learned about the 4 different instrument families.  WoodWind, Strings, Brass and percussion.   Then James, the music guy at the church, gave a presentation on some instruments playing little bits of some.  He was quite entertaining.   The girls sat on the floor while the moms sat in folding chairs.  The moms near me giggled and joked quietly.   Overall, it was lots of fun.  

American Heritage Girls offers the same badges at every level.  For the Tenderhearts, they don't have to do much, so they earned a badge just during that meeting.  For the older girls, I heard that they work all year to earn 6 badges.  I look forward to next year.  The Tenderhearts are for 1st grade to 3rd grade, so many of the girls in the meeting last night will be in her group next year.  I was also looking through the book.   She mostly have the ASL badge requirements done already.   That reminds me.   One of the songs they sang was Jesus Loves Me.  You could tell the girls that took ASL, because they signed along.

Art Awards Ceremony

Tatiana had been in the arts class at the co-op.  None of the art was sent home and instead was kept to be displayed at the Wylie Art Gallery.  

I don't know why that inserts rotated.   But, that is the art gallery where her art was shown.   They had more of those white things in the middle for art work.   The kid's art will be up for the whole month of April.  We all looked at the art.   Then the kids sat down in a circle and the parents stood around.   The Mayor of Wylie handed out the art awards.   Every kid got an award based on what they did best in.  Hers was best color blending.   She had done a really pretty purple rabbit.   What thing that really struck me was that when they called Tatiana's name and her award, the applause was twice as loud as for anyone else.  My child the popular one, who would have thought it?

After the arts awards there were the "teacher awards", basically it was what Cheryl said our kids did well.  Often they were personality related.   When she called Tatiana up, the first thing Tatiana did was give her a big hug on her thighs.  I knew what Tatiana's award would be, "Best Hugger".  It sort of was, but Cheryl tried to make it sound art related.

This is Tatiana when she first went up to get the teacher award.  That is my little hugger.

Photos of Tatiana outside the Opera House

This is outside the Winspear Opera House in Dallas after seeing her first Opera, Bastien and Bastienne.   One of the professional photographers that brought people there for photos, took some photos of Tatiana playing in the reflecting pool.   When the pro first asked if she could take photos of "my girls", I said she could but only the one in the pink polka-dots was mine.   Tatiana had been playing with another girl.   The photographer said, "She was the one I really wanted."   The photographer just e-mailed me the photos.

Tatiana reading to herself

We spent the weekend at home.  Tatiana likes to just play with us at home so we had a home weekend.  Lately, Tatiana has been fascinated by turning on the heated mattress pad on the mommy-daddy bed and then coming later and tucking her legs under the covers.  On Saturday, she wanted to play connect-four in the bed.  She did pretty good.  I think she won about half, because it seemed that we took turns winning.   I didn't give her any help except sometimes acting excited when my next turn would win to give her a clue to look for where I could win.

Later we did the Kiwi crate which was making equipment for a magic show.   Then she gave me some magic shows.  It was sooooo adorable.   The first trick is to take the clear solid plastic 'magic' wand and rub the end with a piece of thick felt to charge it.   Then use the wand to pick little pieces of confetti.    She explains that she is rubbing the wand because "It gets so dirty".  

Sunday evening, we were in the living room.   I was working on the new HTPC computer, Scotland was on the floor putting together Lego and Tatiana was on the couch looking at her Flip-Flap Body book, and reading to herself. It was sooooo adorable.   Warmed a mommies heart.   At one point she said, "Neat, the ear is attached to the brain"  

Later on Sunday, she took a bath.  I asked her what her favorite part of the weekend was, and she pointed to me.

Long Words

Between Tumbling and Dance class, Tatiana usually goes to the park to play with Samuel and Taylor.   A couple of days lately Samuel wasn't allowed because he had demerits at school.   He couldn't go last week, or this week.   Tatiana told Samuel that it is too bad he wasn't there, because "They had tremendous fun."  The adults that heard thought that her use of the long word tremendous was cute. 

At bedtime I am reading from a story book with fairy/folk tales.   We read the story "The Determined Frog."  She asked what determined meant.  I told her it was when you really wanted to do something and you'd keep working on it even with obstacles.   Then I said, "For example, you are determined to go to the Easter Egg Hunt at the Elk's".    She loved that.  In fact, she had to go potty and she took a detour to tell her daddy that she was Determined to go to the Easter Egg Hunt. 

Right now, Tatiana and Scotland are at the Dallas Zoo with Candace and her kids.  They came by the house.  Candace went on about how much her daughter loves to play with Tatiana.  The little girl has declared Tatiana her best friend.  Candace talked about how Macy can play with Tatiana the way she'd like to play but can't with other girls.   Macy likes to pretend and doesn't need toys all the time.  She has tried to play pretend with other girls and they look at her oddly.   But, Tatiana and Macy play pretend all the time. 

A couple of days ago Tatiana and I were on the Trampoline.   I should backup.  Pre-trampoline when I allowed Tatiana to jump on our bed I'd sing this simple song while she jumped and whenever she landed on her butt I'd interrupt with "Mommy Loves You".   She loved that.   When we were on the Trampoline I tried jumping, landing on my butt and then standing up while on the bounce.   When I did that, Tatiana said, "Tatiana Loves You."  We both had lots of giggles at that. 

Last night, I was leaving her bedroom at bedtime she said, "OK, Daddy, Gram, I mean Mommy."  

Scotland always loves it when she gets back from visiting her Gram and Grandpa.   She always sleeps later.  DST extended that out some. 

Don't Spend All Money

Gram wrote :

I send a card about 1x a week to Tatiana. I used to always put in money. But then decided that she expect that. So I started putting in stickers. So after months of stickers only = I sent a crisp $1 bill. She told her parents that "Gram & Grandpa should not spend ALL their money on her !" LOL!

Tatiana's first real original joke.

Tatiana told the funniest joke yesterday.  
I've been trying to drink more water the last few days, so I've been going to the potty more.  When we got home from church Scotland said he was going straight to the bathroom and he'd be there a little while.  Usually when we get home from church we do something as a family right away.   So, by telling us, we wouldn't be waiting to start a game.  Instead I looked up the hours for the Children's Aquarium and Tatiana and I went there.   Then to the Butterfly house which is next door.   So, I was pooped in the evening, and Scotland was eating dinner with Tatiana while I was on the couch.   They had made something and they were discussing playing with it after dinner.  Tatiana said something, then Scotland responded, "Where else would I be?  I'll be right here."   Tatiana said, "The potty" with that smile of a little girl telling a joke.   It was really really funny.

Stock Show

This last weekend Tatiana was with her Gram and Grandpa.  Grandpa had a surprise trip planned to the Stock Show but it was too packed with people.  So, they went on Monday.   On the way to the scout meeting I asked what she did at her Gram and Grandpa's.  She said, "Grandpa and I went to the Stock Show!"   I told her I'd never been and asked what she saw, she said, "We saw some sheep.  Lots of Sheep.  Then Grandpa got tired of sheep.  Then we looked at some cows and I got to pet one.  They had a kid's area so we went to the kid's area.  I saw some baby pigs, baby ducks and baby lambs.   TWO baby lambs.  I saw the mommy pig.   I've seen a pig bigger than that mommy pig.  One inch bigger.  The ducklings didn't have their mother with them.   The baby lambs were cute."

Tatiana wore her paper hat/ears.  Lots of people asked where she'd been and were impressed.  A nice family has a little girl Tabitha, who older than Tatiana that loves Tatiana.  She said they used to go to the stock show but they live so far away now.

eta:  Gram and Grandpa had told me they'd been to a magic show at the Stock Show and asked if she'd said anything.  I'd said no.  So I asked her about the magic show.  She was excited to tell me about it.  When she did I realized she had told me about it but she hadn't said the words, "we went to a magic show".   So, what she said didn't make sense.  The most amazing part according to Tatiana was that the lady folded up some paper and then poured lemonade into it "and it disappeared" said in the amazed little girl voice.  The lady also told jokes.

Loving the bike

Tatiana and Scotland took her bike to the trail in town.  It starts at the park with the onion shed and goes 3 miles.  Tatiana biked and Scotland walked.  The onion shed is apparently where the smoking kids hang out.   They coo'ed over Tatiana and how adorable her entire outfit looks.  Her bike had the basket and bell added.  Brown bear was riding in the basket.  Scotland said the bear was saying, "Weeeweee".  She also wore her biking gloves and knee pads.  Hello Kitty and pink also.   She really loved the bike ride.  I'd gotten home early because I had a headache.  They got home shortly after and crawled into bed with me.
This morning when they were going to leave for co-op classes Tatiana wanted to bike there.  It is close enough but it would take long enough that Scotland would have to wake up early.  They are going to the Allen indoor pool this afternoon.  I know she will have lots and lots of fun there.

First Bike!

Tatiana rode a real bike for the first time and it was wonderful!  It was a big surprise for her.   She got a Hello Kitty bike.  Scotland put the streamers on.   He left off the bell and basket for the first time so she didn't get distracted.  It has training wheels on it.   Her helmet is adorable.  It has big eyes and cat ears and a crown, and its pink.  She was so happy to see it.  She biked around the driveway a little.  Then we loaded the bike and went to the parking lot next to the soccer field.   That was really nice except it had a slope a little steep for a little girl.   You should have seen her giant smile when she first started to go fast.   She was really good about using her brakes.   This bike has two brakes.  Reversing the pedals and handbrakes that are a bit big for her. There was another parking lot nearby.   They walked/biked to it, while I drove the car.  They were so adorable.   She really beamed!   The second parking lot was smaller, but it wasn't so sloped.   The parking lot was sort of arranged in a circle and she went around several times.  We had to stop when I got hungry and wanted to go to the restaurant.   Even then they walked/biked and I drove the car.   She wanted to bike when we left the restaurant, but it was dark.  I keep thinking of her beaming face.  Scotland's face was beaming too.