The Entrepeneur and the Money Girl

E and the Girl are playing Monopoly.

On a gorgeous sunny day...

Playing a board game.

At least they are on the patio.

I say this tongue in cheek because of three things:

1. I hate monopoly and would rather pull out my toenails than play

2. Its tax season and E isn't around much and I know this will fill the girl's "daddy tank".

3. Did I mention I hate monopoly?

What is cracking me up is that E, being a money man is all about buy it buy it buy it so it can make you money. He is having a run for it from the girl who loves to spend simply because she loves to spend.

Yes, money is the girl's language--it talks to her. Interestingly enough, she "gets" the whole saving it and tithing it stuff. She really does. For years we had three cans in her room, one for spend, one for save, and one for tithe. She gets it alright, she just loves to spend. I suppose what child doesn't love the power that money gives to them. My favorite is when we are in the store and she is asking for something and when I tell her that she can certainly get it but will need to use her own money and she scoffs and says, "Are you kidding me, that is too much money to spend!"

Yeah, she gets it.

The real dividends come here with their time spent together...hearing her giggle because E received "10 dollars for winning second place in a beauty contest" or his groans at having to pay her money for Park Place.

Paint

Ive been painting a bit again...I know dont laugh, but actually I was an art minor in college. Not, mind you that I was any good at it. I was more creative than anything...I liked the ideas behind the art, portraying something through an artistic medium.



When we moved into this house one of the best purchases we made was from home depot. It was a old fashioned picnic table for the pool patio. Durable, All-purpose, and water doesnt hurt it--it's made a great peice of furniture. In the spring and fall we eat dinner out there often. During the summer, it's the perfect peice for kids to eat lunch on while breaking from swimming.



For a couple of years Ive toyed around with painting it...its just raw wood. I finally broke out the paints this past month and have been playing. In the beginning I let any kid in the house at the time I was painting, add their bits to the project. Of course, after they left I painted over them and did what I wanted to do. The girl has protested over this saying its not fair that it gets to be all my stuff. I realize Im probably too firm on this matter, but I just said, "Im the mom and I want what i want...and kept painting" After a small pouting session she got on board and when I gave her a job to do with specifics, she did it.



Ill wet-proof it with some sort of laminate when its all done, but here's the work in progress.



And, for the record, I was not watching the Partridge Family when I did this (Holly!).

Neither was I smoking anything.



Ill post the pics again when its complete!

Claire's Gigglies!

You cant help but laugh too!

"Do as I say not as I do"

"Do as I say, not as I do."

This was a favorite quote of my father's. I specifically remember him saying this to me in regard to smoking. He was a smoker since he had been 16 and did not want to see his kids do the same thing that he had...namely become addicted to nicotine. His mandate of "Do not smoke" was confusing and I remember having this conversation about "Well, you smoke, why cant I?!" His response was "Do as I say, not as I do." (this was also followed by an in house smoking session which cured me of ever smoking...he let me trying under his watch knowing full well that I would, as a child HATE it)

Ive been thinking about how this phrase relates to the girl. She is so much in tune with watching everything I do right now. I know its a sign of adolescence upon us. It makes me gulp and cringe sometimes because I get so off the mark and she is truly right there to call me on it. Its made me contemplate and have a desire to actually be a person of ACTING and not just saying things.

Its much harder though. To put love into practice. To go out of your way to serve someone else. To show it and not just say it. And yet I know the dividends will come back 10-fold.

I was laughing to myself the other day because right now are two books on my nightstand... Everything You Wanted to Know About the First Year and Almost 13. One is about the things that will occur in the Baby Girl's life this next year. The other is about the things that will occur in the Girl's life soon.

I couldnt tell you which will take more effort. Babies are labor intensive and pre-teens are emotionally/philosophically intensive.

Im rambling, but those are just my thoughts for the day...

Baby's First Haircut

My darlingest darling aunt and uncle have been in town. More on her later, but she got a wild hare (pun intended...gafawwww gafawww) to trim up Claire's hair. Claire was born with a full head of hair. Literally, it was long enough to put a tiny briad in it.

As usually happens around 4 months, she has begun to lose her baby hair and started to grow her "real" hair. My aunt took it upon herself to straighten it up a bit so it looks neat and styled.

These pictures truly catch Claire's personality. So giggly!!!

P.S. of course I kept the clippings!

Yes... I know...Ive totally been phoning it in with the blog. Three reasons:

1. We have had family in town...lots of fun and not much spare time.
2. Im totally addicted to facebook
3. Im lazy...writing takes work

Ill get back on the horse soon. xo

Sassy's birthday!