Last Week of Summer

Or at least Piper's summer vacation.

Although to be fair, the crisp mornings are a bit crisper - fall is coming for sure.

School starts next week and we're living it up.

More canning has left me lame on the right side. Excruciating pain in my heel that radiates up the back of my leg into my hip.

I know it's from baby, not stretching or walking enough, etc. the canning just sent me over the edge.

So I've been getting creative to entertain so I can stay off of it as much as possible.

Which with two kids under 3.5 is impossible.

We got this amazing tree house from a friend.

Piper was using it as a fairy doll house and it's not even put together.

Her one dance class was enough to send her into a bling frenzy.

Piper has entertained herself by dressing up her sister.

She doesn't mind!

Today Piper asked for a snack on the deck. I gave it to her saying, rember this is not a toy. Eat it or bring it back to me - don't make a big mess. Moments later I find bits of her snack in her watercolor paints and all over the floor and table.

Me: Piper ?!? What did I say about playing with your food and making a mess? Clean it up, it's all over the deck it will attract ants.

Piper (as she climbs off her chair and starts cleaning): Don't get too mad Momma. Kids make messes some times you know,  it's fun to make a mess. I like ants. Don't worry, I'll pick it up.

First Class

With Piper getting older and showing interest, I thought it was time to check out the kids' dance class.

While it's a belly dance class, it's more about poise, creativity and fun.

Not the bling and shaking most commonly associated with belly dance.

 

First we had to see if she could follow direction.

And she did great!

Distracted a bit by the presence of her buddy Saoirse (who came to watch), she popped back and forth between watching with me and dancing.

But considering the other two girls are 7 and 9 years old, I think she did very well at nearly 3.5.

Harvest

I hate to admit it, but summer is winding down.

Oh sure, we still have some fun in the sun to be had this year. But the first of yellow leaves and crisp mornings don't lie.

Piper's drawing is at an all time high. And not just the blue eyebrows she gave her sister today.

She's drawing elephants and cats, but still her favorite is spiders.

Oh, and her own eyebrows.

Something has happened in the last week.

Her communication and understanding seems to have deepened.

And while she's always been compassionate, she's emerging a bit out of the " everything is all about me" 3 year old state. She notices when her actions affect others. 

The only harvest at our house.

The lone tomato that survived.

Grandma Les planted it in May.

 Yum!!

Thank goodness for that pacifier!

Moxie is teething like a mad woman, but give her the paci and she's cool 85% of the time. She only uses it for teething days and rough evenings.

She's striking her 3rd nap most days so it's a long time to even an early bed time.

 

Moxie is a favorite of the little girls we know and love. Saoirse calls her Mox, and cries when we leave. Speaking of crying there on the left is Amalie. She's Kiahi's little sister and she looses it over Moxie. She's a baby doll kinda little girl and she wants to be Moxie's Momma in a very bad way. I can't blame their obsession. Her laugh is infectious and she loves other little kids so much she's just giggles and smiles.

Piper's first attempt at make up...

With a new big kitchen I've been canning with Piper. Peaches a few days ago. Apple butter today. She helps with the prep and entertains herself while I finish. She seems to get it. We talk about eating with the seasons. I tell her: peaches don't grow in the winter, so we store them now so we can enjoy them when it's snowing outside.

Next up is more of the same and some tomatoes.

The open house for the new school was yesterday. It was awesome. I think it's going to be incredible. It's going to stretch her a bit, but I think that will be good. It will be an incredible base for when kidnegardner starts.

Watch What You Say and updates from The Growler

Welp- it's official...

Piper is all ears.

After Piper demanded to play in the front yard in a snotty way:

Me:"Piper, I need you to stop being nasty when you talk to me."

Piper:"I'm not being nasty momma, I'm being assertive."

I'm sorry?

What?!?!?

I mean, I'm proud- but what????

Later Moxie and I hung on the floor and Piper ran into the kitchen saying,

" Later Loosers"

I nearly choked.

" where did you hear that Piper?"

"At the store, a boy said it at the store."

Okay then.

She went on the rest of the day asking me about what was meant re: other conversations I had had with people in her presence.

Erie, and a great reminder that she's a sponge and until she old enough to grock some of the topics it's best to keep my conversations as benign as possible. She was confused. Worried.

And in some cases? very amused.

On lighter note we've been keeping busy this week with no school.

Adventures with Mimi, epic play dates...

Our space is seeing a lot of action.

And Josh was worried the swing set wouldn't see use...

Piper is on a mission to help me introduce books to Moxie.

Oh yes, Moxie...

She started growling.

Teething has become more intense.

And at every meal she was becoming increasingly pissed off.

Lunging at us and staring at us eating.

So we gave her a couple of bites of very diluted brown rice cereal.

She loved it! Swallowed it down and seemed quite content.

We haven't done any since, but I have a feeling she'll be eating early.

Lots of outside time since the bugs have been at bay.

Welp- soak up that summer Miss P, because latest report is that Montessori school starts Sept. 2!

Looks like a lefty to me!