Gracie's 5 Year Check Up

It occurred to me the other day that I never blogged about Gracie's five year well child exam. She was really nervous about it. She's been with me for many check ups for Jerry, and has watched both him and Bee get shots since the last time she needed them. We were honest with her, and let her know that she should expect to get some at her visit. Daddy recently got a cortisone shot, so he was able to talk with her about what to expect and she took him seriously. He told her "it will hurt, but you can count to ten and it will be done hurting." I was really glad he told me he said that to her so I could use it to make her feel better. I let her sit on my lap for the shots and we quietly counted to ten together. When we reached ten she got a huge smile on her face and she announced "it does feel better!" My big girl didn't even cry! It helped that we had the counting to ten deal plus our doctor's office gives five-year-olds a cold ice pack shaped like a teddy bear, which she promptly put on her wounds. A couple of stickers, and it was like it never even happened!

Apparently it's easier to see the eye exam chart on one foot.

Hearing test

There was no surprise in her percentiles-still 10th in both height and weight. She is now 34.6 pounds and 40 1/2" tall.

Our Evening

Our kids were seriously wound up after such an important afternoon performing on stage, so we had some fun in our backyard.

We are so blessed.

She loves to swing. Pure joy.

Best buds

Recital Day!

I wanted to make this whole day special, so we started with specialized pancakes for each kid. 

Bee loves flowers.

Gracie asked for a heart with arms and legs. 

 This picture perfectly captures my life. Gracie is finally the center of attention, so Bee is trying desperately to hoard in on it, and Jerry's screaming, thinking he's forgotten.

Jerry got a green car with purple wheels.

Enjoying their special pancakes-this was the last two minutes of peace I got until bedtime.

Trying (in vain) to get the girls' hair to curl. 

I gave up on curls.

We came equipped with a backpack full of things to entertain them during the show. Note to self, no beads next time!

Bee listened so well, she forgot to turn to the audience after the teacher showed her to her spot!

My princess

My precious dancers.

Love these girls so much.

Dress Rehearsal

This year was Gracie's second dance recital, and Bee's first. Every night at bedtime, Bee would ask "is tomorrow my dance day?" I think she lived for Thursdays! Gracie was not quite as into it. She was disappointed because her teacher changed on the first day. She was supposed to have the same teacher as last year (who she loves) and we were never told it was changing so she had a big surprise on the first day of class. Some days she'd be excited to go and others she would ask to skip it. We are not allowed to video tape at the actual recital, so I record all the numbers at dress rehearsal so I don't have to spend $30 on the professional video and this way I only have my own kids!

All ready for rehearsal, on our front step.

We have arrived!

They practiced the finale first so we could leave once the kids did their dances.

Bee's first time on stage!

Tap; We Are Dancers

Gracie's whole class.

Bee's class only did one song, ballet to The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Gracie's ballet number is Ballet is Fun

Cornstarch and Shaving Cream

Two of the most used household items for my kids are shaving cream and cornstarch. We use shaving cream to clean up our painting in the tub, and to play with for sensory development. Cornstarch is added to soap, water, and food coloring to make bath paint. Leave out the soap, and it's sidewalk paint. Cornstarch and water make a fun goop to play with. Needless to say, when I saw someone combine these two items on Pinterest, I wondered why we hadn't done that yet! 

Just starting out.

It is really sticky at first. 

REALLY sticky.

As it's played with, it turns more solid-like Model Magic. 

Bee got very into it. Here, she is putting a crown on her Sleeping Beauty.

Since doing this with my kids, Bee has asked for it several times. She loved it. Gracie wasn't as dedicated, and Jerry, quite frankly wasn't ready for this caliber of project. He just wiped it all on the floor. It takes some work to get it into a mold-able consistency, and it can get crumbly after that. Just add more shaving cream and knead it in. While it is like Model Magic when working with it, it does not keep. It just crumbles when it dries out.