7 Apr
Rebecca, to the cat: “I saw you chase that bunny, and I’m glad she got away.”
Ava: “Why? If she’d caught her, we’d have a pet bunny.”
Rebecca: “Yeah, I don’t think that would have been the outcome, actually.”
Ava: “What? …oh. Ick.”
Olivia: “I WANT A HAMSTER.”
31 Mar
Ava: “I’d really like to be president, but I honestly don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Olivia, who is certain her career path will lead to the Oval Office: “WHAT? You don’t want be president with your OWN SISTER?”
Ava: “If I were president, I would change the week to be two days long, and the weekend to be five days long, and that just probably wouldn’t work out so well.”
30 Mar
When Ava asked to have her ears pierced when she was barely six, I agreed immediately. Her father, on the other hand, insisted she wait until she was seven. As it worked out (due to party schedules and spring break), she was actually still six—she had her ears pierced on St. Patrick’s Day, just before her birthday. So, after listening to Olivia grouse for two years about having to WAIT SO LONG for her own piercing, I told her that she just needed to wait until the St. Patrick’s day before her seventh birthday. (Ava, of course, takes issue with this technicality).
However (due to party schedules and spring break), it wasn’t until this weekend that we made the trip downtown to Claire’s. Olivia was excited, but obviously so nervous. I told her several times she didn’t have to go through with it, but she insisted. Ava was much help, assuring her it wouldn’t hurt but for a second.
The process only took a few minutes, but something makes me think it felt much longer than for poor Livie Lou.
Good thing two piercers worked simultaneously—given how she winced, I’m not sure she would have made it through the second ear.
She reported, “That hurt a lot more than it was supposed to.”
But a split second later, all smiles.
18 Feb
Olivia asked why Owen tends to get jealous lately when I hold her on my lap. I explained that was normal for babies, then answered in the affirmative when she asked if she used to do the same with Ava. From there, she asked me to tell her stories from when she was a baby.
Five minutes of gushing later, I said, “Olivia, I love you so much. This was just my favorite part of the whole day.”
Livie replied, “It was like the third best part of my day. No, wait, fourth.”
17 Feb
The girls completed their second trimester last week, and we had parent-teacher conferences for both. Ava’s doing exceptionally well in most everything, though her teacher noted she rushes through story problems, sometimes to her own detriment. (Given they all look like this to me, I have a feeling I’m somewhat responsible for any shortcomings here.)
As Ava approaches nine, she’s becoming more and more poised. She’s helpful at home, and only hassles me about my requests for help with chores 75 percent of the time, which is a noticeable improvement over the past year. She’s incredibly independent, and really wishes we’d treat her like the 16-year-old she believes herself to be. Ava has a small circle of sweet friends, and so far we’ve avoided the drama that seems to come around this stage. I desperately hope that continues.
Olivia is basically made for kindergarten, and her teacher reports she’s doing very well across the board. We’re fortunate to have a great enrichment program at our school, and both girls are benefiting from extra engagement in math and reading. Olivia will soon be adding in a component that includes research projects with the school librarian. This is remarkable to me, because at home this child would rather sleep or watch TV than do anything remotely scholarly. She spends the better part of her free time playing computer games and picking fights with her sister, so I’m thrilled she seems to be doing well in the classroom. She has a remarkable sense of humor, but doesn’t yet realize we’re laughing because she’s legitimately funny. She’s mercurial, this one. Sweet as can be one moment, and absolutely furious the next. Never one to temper her emotions, that’s for sure.
We’ve had a great school year so far with snow days, Girls Scouts, gymnastics and playdates. Hard to believe Ava only has two more years left in this school–she’ll move on before Owen starts kindergarten. So, while our days seem complicated logistically now, I know our lives are only going become more challenging as the years go by. Good thing we have these to to keep us focused on what really matters.
12 Feb
With no school on Thursday or Friday this week, class valentines were signed and delivered today!
2 Feb
Olivia’s class celebrated the 100th day of school last week by making crazy hats (complete with 100 stamped dots on each).
Time flies when you’re having fun!
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