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Tatum’s FIRST conference

I cannot believe I am attending my first parent conference at Tatum’s school. It’s weird to be on the other side of the table since I’m used to being the teacher!

When we arrived, her teachers, Miss Kristin (and asst. Miss Hailey) were beaming with smiles. First, they showed me her tracing had improved since January (she’s been there two months now)
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Then, they got into the meat of the conference: How they see Tatum! I was proud to hear that she is one of the kindest in the class. They said she plays with EVERYONE, not just Robert. In fact, she shares and often will go up to different groups of kids and play. She’s not afraid, and she’s also filled with compassion if one has a problem. IMG_2632

They also said she has a HUGE vocabulary and will tell very creative stories that make them all laugh. She also is one of the first to come to the circle and sit in the front criss-cross applesauce and listens without interrupting. (HOORAY! All the hard work is paying off!!!)IMG_2628

I often have wondered if there will be fruit after all the “practicing” we do at home with her behavior….being kind, attentive, and QUICK to listen!
Also with her letters, numbers, shapes, and colors! She is way ahead supposedly. IMG_2631 IMG_2630 IMG_2629

They had ZERO issues to share with me, only to tell me she’s extremely bright, kind, and very funny.

I continue to pray for guidance and wisdom in raising her. The key for me is keeping it fun too! I want to challenge her, but ultimately, I want her to shine the light of Jesus in all she does. The school is doing such a great job in reinforcing what I value at home. Thank you Paradise for Tots, Miss Kristin (right), and Miss Hailey (left)IMG_2603

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Inspiring Me: The Walls show it

And so…since the last drawing I did for Tatum was a giraffe, I asked her what she would want next. I’ve done words of wisdom , Tatum flowers, and  She picked the babies and Coti (fail!), and so now she wanted Minnie and the gang. I found a cute picture of them in a baseball book with all the characters. However, it was really small, and they were wearing baseball gear. The colors were all off, and I did not want it that tiny. So I proportioned it up, changed their outfits and VOILA! (Well, not really voila..more like “voi”laaaaaaaaaaaa (days later)) Getting the lines just right and the expressions perfect was the trick. I found it was all in their eyes!

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I enlarged it at the copier and framed it today! Here you go my darling! (I am using the same frame and matte from IKEA. Makes it easier and they all match!)

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Tatum’s first Leap Day Eve


No, this is not an official holiday, but since it was Sunday, and the Dr. Seuss show was cancelled, I wanted to make it special.

They put a bouncy house right outside of church to make sure we don’t get into church on time.  Seriously, what is that about!? You’re running to get to church on time and your kid sees the holy grail of bouncing. You say, sure, two minutes, but we are not doing it after. Ha. Two minutes in, I’m thinking, what have I done? I’ll never get her out of there. So, I finally use the “Tatum, be quick to listen if you want to go to the train park later” strategy. She stopped.

IMG_2563 Looked at me.

Looked around, and then….

BINGO. Out!

And so we do end up going to the train park after and met our dear friends Amy and Mark and little Jack.
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Tatum wanted to show off her Artie shirt and also give Jack a Daniel Tiger book. That train park never gets old and friendships never grow weary. We adore them.

Our LDE (Leap Day Eve) ended with a bunch of splashing and hosing things…especially mommy.

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Inspiration Hour

Tatum inspires me. She influences me to be my best self in all ways. How does she do this? Her imagination, which is prompted by events that take place during her day, creates such fun for me to watch. For example, she was sad that the Dr. Seuss show that we were to attend was cancelled. Apparently this affected her hopscotch game which she was to play during “naptime.”
She arranges books to make a path, and then has her “friends” play with her. When I went in to get her from this quiet time, I found her reading book upon book.
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She said, “Mommy, the hopscotch game was cancelled, so I am reading instead.” OH! Well, that is a brilliant idea! IMG_2573

The things she thinks of to do during this quiet unstructured time inspires me. Yes, she makes a huge mess, and she we clean it up, yet the cookies she bakes or how she dresses up her dolls or writes in her “journey” (a little notebook I got her)… they all make for a creatively wired kiddo.

And how has it helped me be more creative????? Stay tuned.

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Artie Dootie

Tatum has been begging for a Star Wars shirt. How she knew about Star Wars at all is amazing to me, but I agreed if she earned the stars on her chart. The day came, and the shirt arrived. R2 D2, the little droid, reminds me of my little gal, so I opted for this one. She calls him “Artie Dootie.”

Of course, she had to wear it to bed and then to school the next day. She couldn’t wait to show her friends and Miss Kristin. 
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Old friends; new additions

Evelyn and Bob were fixtures in my life about 10 years ago. In fact, their walk with God was such an attractive quality. Evelyn was working at Scottsdale Bible, and we became friends through the church. Bob…oh, dear Bob. We have been friends for a long time, and our friendship will always be there. He is now a missionary in Costa Rica and is back in town for a bit to get re-situated. Now, 10 years later, we are all a bit wiser and some of us have additions (like kiddos and spouses)

Evelyn decided to have a pizza party at her house so we could meet her “additions” and also celebrate friendship. Bob came and made it even better.

Homemade pizza filled the air and Ev’s husband was busy working in the kitchen. He’s 100% greek and believe me, his cooking is incredibly authentic. Tot helped roll the dough with Alexander.

 

 

 

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Eventually she got more help from the master chef.  IMG_2511Soon she was on her way to add the toppings and then some!IMG_2513Food Network is going to have to watch out with this Tot’s cooking! More importantly, we had a great time with our friends. I’m so grateful for them. (and so is Tot). All of our “additions” just make our friendships that much stronger. XOIMG_2517 IMG_2518 IMG_2519