Rachel raconte une histoire

Avant c'est moi qui racontait les histoires, maintenant Rachel le fait assez souvent

SANTA CLAUS AT WORK/ St Nicholas au travail

That was again a real success

avant de dormir

best friends/ complices

I do hope so
j'espere que ca durera toute leur vie

Week of medical appointments: doctor and dentist / visites chez le medecin et dentiste

DOCTOR's
Dr. Cogeshall has known the girls since their first day. No drama this year.. Natalie took first her shoes off and both got measured and weighted.
They got 1 shot and the flu mist this year. Their cries lasted a few seconds and stopped after I mentioned getting a milkshake on the way home.

Vaccinations: une piqure et le spray dans le nez (grippe). Elles ont pleure quand l'infirmiere a fait la piqure mais je les ai calmees en leur promettant un milkshake.

DENTIST's
For the last week, Rachel has been talking about seeing her dentist. This time she sat on the chair alone and watched TV all the time.
Then it was Natalie's turn. As Rachel did, she sat alone and talked to the entist who had a quick look at her teeth. All went well.
Rachel then showed Natalie where the prices were and they both enjoyed their visit.

2e visite de l'annee pour Rachel. Elle n'a plus demande de s'asseoir sur mes genoux -elle a 5 ans!- et elle s'est assise dans le fauteuil et a regarde la TV pendant que le dentiste nettoyait ses dents. Elle devra retourner pour une de ses grosses dents du fond. Ses 4 molaires vont bientot sortir (entre 5-6 ans).
C'etait la 1ere visite pour Natalie et elle s'est aussi assise seule et a fait causette avec Dr. Orlando qui a regarde ses dents. Il etait satisfait.

Hanukkah at home

Meme Frieda sent the girls a special dredel, it was a hit!

daycare at Isabelle's

On the last day at Isabelle's I took a few pictures of Isabelle's helper and the promises

recital at school/ fete a l'ecole

Rachel danced at the school Xmas festival and both girls sang, they were so cute.
Rachel a dance
a la fete de l'ecole et les deux files ont chante.

Christmas is here

The girls helped me to decorate the tree this year.

3 years old!

It still feels like yesterday when I held this little baby which was ours, insisting that she stayed with me for her first few nights, nursing her and loving her. Three years later, not much has changed Natalie stil loves to fall asleep on me and did it again this afternoon. It must be very soothing and I do enjoy it too. You are now 3, talking, singing, dancing, imitating your sister in every way possible. You know what you what but usually give in for Rachel when she gets upset. You love to play together and we like watching both of you.

grammatical mistake

Mom: Rachel, s'il te plait, mets ton pijama
"please, put your pajamas on"
R: I AM

Mom: Natalie s'il te plait, mets ton pijama
N: I "IS"

finally 5

and everybody enjoyed the cupcakes Rachel chose with the special rings, especially Natalie

5 years old

Tomorrow is Rachel's B-day. She will bring cup cakes to her classroom and we will celebrate it at home with papa and Natalie with presents and cake. She is so exited.
Natalie keeps saying that she will be 3 in December.
My babies are growing up

Thanksgiving

We hosted again this year and had a great time. The girls had so much fun with Jocelyne and Lee's son Brian who played with them the whole evening.
Two days later we were entertaining again and had Rina, Sasha and their 2 children Sarah and Ben. The girls got spoiled with presents and attention.
Pictures are on their way

papa et ses filles

mami

Last evening at dinner time Rachel said that she would like her grandma to be here for her birthday

Hier soir en soupant
Rachel: maman, j'aimerais que mamy soit ici pour mon anniversaire
Maman: oui moi aussi ma cherie mais pas cette annee. Mami pense beaucoup a toi et t'aime tres fort. On la verra bientot.

bad words

Rachel and Natalie do know which ones are bad words.
Last evening in the car

Rachel - maman, stupid is a bad word
Natalie - maman, stupid IS a bad word
Rachel - and shut up is a bad word too (where did they hear that one?)
Natalie - yes shut up is a BAD word (enjoying the sound it makes)
Rachel - and caca, pipi are baby words
Natalie - and caca, pipi are baby words
Mom - oui mes cheries and I would prefer you not to use them

Rachel et Natalie savent qq gros mots et savent qu'elles ne peuvent pas les dire mais elles s'amusent a me dire "stupide" est un vilain mot et "la ferme" c'est aussi un vilain mot. Ca me rappelle la chanson "j'ai 10 ans, j'ai 10 depuis 20 ans mais j'ai 10 ans. Et si tu ne me crois pas, dare ta gueule a la recre" de Julien Clerc je crois. On adorait la chanter car on savait tres bien que l'on aurait jamais pu dire ces gros mots dans une conversatin mais la on ne faisait que repeter les paroles de la chanson.

adopted for the evening

Last night we had dinner at Michelle and Jacques', great friends of ours. They had invited their friends Bernard and Robert with their 2 adopted children (Hunter 16 and Anthony 2, same age as Natalie). They had Anthony the day he was born, they are both wonderful caring and loving dads. Bernard, a Montessori teacher, took 2 years off when Anthony joined their family, while Bob kept working as an attorney.

Anthony was shy when we arrived and I asked Natalie to share one of her bears, which she did. The kids ate first and went to play downstairs while we started our wonderful dinner. They made sure to check upon us.

Anthony had warmed up to me and decided to spend most of the rest of the evening on my laps, sharing my dinner and calling me mommy and rested his head on my chest. Natatlie made sure to tell Anthony that I was her mommy but was ok with the situation.
Bernard kept asking Anthony to sit with him but he had found a good place he did not want to leave me. I told Bernard not to worry that Rachel used to do the same things. She would address dads in the park and ask them to push her on the swing and simply would refused my help for theirs.

I have always thought that 2 dads is simply better than none at all. Yossi and Jacques did not totally agree and reminded me that nature is very powerful and that kids do need a mom and a dad. Yes they are right but I still believe that the love of 2 caring and loving either moms or dads is still better than none at all.

Meeting with the teacher - round #2

I just met with Ms Tracia, Rachel's teacher, this afternoon

Shy? She is not at all she reassured me.
among other things, I learned the following about her day at school:
- when choosing challenging work, she often chooses to work alone
- she loves to help younger ones
- she is generally a very happy and out-going child with her peers (Yossi will be reassured now)

Rachel loves her school and always asks me for a few extra minutes to finish playing with her friends in the gym. I then go and pick up Natalie in her classroom and when I come back she is then ready to go home.

talking about cooking

Susan, Elaine, Fiona - congratulations on your cooking.
I like to eat well so I do cook good stuff. But this year I have slowed down during the week (husband says he put on some weight because of my rich dinners!).
I do now cook more during the week-ends and on Sunday morning I even take a class at William Sonoma.

Natalie: Maman takes a class to learn how to cook
I hope it is not really the way she sees it.

Je prends un cours de cuisine le dimanche matin, c'est a 5 min de la maison, et voici le commentaire de Natalie
"maman prend un cours de cuisine pour apprendre a cuisiner"

Receuillement/ Thoughts

Le soir apres avoir lu une histoire, fait des mamours et donne plein de bisous, Rachel me parle souvent de papy Christian et avec les larmes aux yeaux me dit qu'il lui manque
Maman: A moi aussi ma cherie, il me manque terriblement
Natalie: je n'ai plus de papy, papy Christian est mort
Maman: oui c'est vrai ma cherie, mais il peut voir de la haut tout ce que vous faites et voit que vous etes tres gentilles

After reading a story, exchanged zillions of kisses and hugs, Rachel once in a while speaks about her grandpa with tears in her eyes
Rachel: Maman, I miss papy Christian so much
Maman: I miss him terribly too ma cherie
Natalie: I don't have a papay, he is dead
Maman: Yes, he is but he can still see everything you are both doing and is proud of his two grand daughters

Rachel was with me in Belgium this last April. She accompanied us to the hospotal, talked to dad and joined us to the church, to the "crematorium" and to the cimetary. She was always at my side and saw me crying many times. Now she is the one who talks about her papy Christian and somewhat it does bring some comfort.

There are nights when I just cry and re-read messages and letters I received upon my return from Belgium. Sometimes I am so mad at him for leaving us that I try to remember only bad things trying to lighten my pain. All I know is that he lived a full life and enjoyed it tremendously. I am glad for that.

face-to-face meeting with the teacher/ reunion a l'ecole

I met this morning with Natalie's teacher, Ms. Candy. A meeting with the teacher for a child who is not even 3 years old!! I love it

"your girls are so sweet" which parent would not love to hear that?
Natalie is doing so well at school and has become much more independent these last 2 months. The older girls in her class have "adopted" and she of course likes that extra attention. At home she talks about "her" Ms. Kelly (pm assistant teacher) and
Ms. Myrian (pm teacher), and Ms. Candy.
Myrian always puts pins in Natalie's hair as papa does not have much time in the morning to take care of that.


reunion avec la prof de Natalie ce matin.
Natalie s'est bien adaptee a son nouvel environnement et a ses camarades de classe. Elle suit tres bien et n'a aucune difficulte a apprendre et se derouille parfaitement bien. Etant la plus jeune de sa classe, les autre filles l'ont "adoptee" .
Ces derniers mois, elle est devenue bcp plus independante et a l'ecole a appris a mettre son manteau/gilet toute seule. Elle apprend maintenant les sons des lettres et les chiffres tout en les touchant (par example: 1 = 1 graine; 2 = 2 graines,
5 = 5 graines) et de cette maniere concoit mieux que 10 est plus grand que 1 et que 1 est plus petit que 2. C'est la facon Montesorri.

body

Natalie: maman, girls do not have a penis
(les filles n'ont pas de penis)
Mom: non ma cherie, seulement les garcons (no only boys)
Natalie: and they use it to do pipi and caca
(et ils s'en servent pour faire pipi et caca)
Mom: non ma cherie, juste pour faire pipi. Ils ont un autre petit trou pour faire caca.

Rachel went through that phase too, naming every boy in her class adding that each of them had a penis and she didn't.

love

Natalie: maman, I love you to the stars
Rachel: and I love you from the earth to the sky
je vous aime beaucoup aussi

Spanish song, not really

The whole song Rachel sang in the car a few days ago, song that Natalie repeated, had maybe 3 words in Spanish. Rachel made it up and included the few words she knew. But according to her she was of course singing in Spanish and I was not going to contradict her.

morceau de

Mom/moi: "Natalie, tu veux un morceau de pomme?" (do you want a piece of apple?)
Natalie: yes, I would like a piece of apple
Mom: "dis, je voudrais un morceau de pomme" (say I would like a piece of apple)
Natalie: "je voudrais un morceau de pomme
et un morceau de yaourt" (I woule like a piece of apple
and a piece of yogurt)

just the 2 of us

The girls were at school yesterday and Yossi and I stayed home. I dropeed the girls and he picked them up for a change.
We went out for lunch and had coffee afterwards and 1 hour of shopping and .. it felt like the pre-children area.
I was happy to see them back at home at 6pm.

Native French speaking teacher

When I attended the homeroom parents one morning of this week, the director announced that their French teacher had simply vanished. Her husband came to the school asking for her. They found out that she was back in France.
Too bad since the girls liked her and that she had a perfect accent.
Mind you Rachel mentioned a few times that she did not want to speak French with
Ms. Sophia but I was told that she did speak to her during the day since Ms. Sophia was in her class and that Rachel participated at her weekly French class.
I don't think the principal will look for a native speaker next time.
Should you know someone...

La prof de francais de Rachel a disparu. Elle n'est pas venue a l'ecole lundi matin et son mari ne savait pas ou elle etait. Le directeur de l'ecole nous a appris qu'elle etait simplement rentree en France... Apres une telle experience, la directrice n'est pas prete a offrir un tel emploi a une francaise mais prendra plutot une americaine qui est prof de francais. Dommage car les enfants l'aimaient bien.

singing in a different language/ chanson

last evening in the car from the school to the store, Rachel was singing:

Rachel: Natalie repeat after me: "NA KA DI OH PU tomates"
Natalie: "NA KA PU KWE KWO tomates" with the perfect pronounciation and intonation
Rachel: PE DO ZI escuela
Natalie: PE DO ZI escuela
...
mom: Rachel, that's a nice song, in which language are you singing in?
Rachel: Mom, we are singing in Spanish

I wish I could have taped that.


Hier soir sur le chemin de retour, Rachel et Natalie chantaient. Natalie etait tres fiere de pouvoir repeter toutes les syllabes que Rachel prononciat --un peu inprononcables je dois dire
Rachel: Natalie repete apres moi: "NA KA PU QUI QUO tomates"
Natalie: "NA KA PU QUI QUo tomates"
Rachel: PE DO ZI escuela
Natalie: PE DO ZI escuela
....
moi: Rachel, c'est une jolie chanson, dans quelle langue chantes-tu?
Rachel: en espagnol maman

Homeroom parents

I am one. Today was the first time I attended such a meeting with the principal (8-9am). I am glad I took the time to attend. I learned a lot about the school and enjoyed the friendly way Ms. Margaret conducted the meeting with us.
I had not told Rachel and Natalie that I would be at their school this morning and Yossi had forgotten about it and they were quite surprised to see me in the principal office this morning. I made a quick exit and kissed everybody and there was no cries, but simply joy to see mom and have another kiss.

Le directeur de l'ecole a reuni l'association de parents ce matin (2 parents par classse). C'etait ma 1ere reunion et je dois dire que Madame Margaret (on l'appelle Melle Margaret) est formidable, elle a une telle energie c'est incroyable. On est toujours content de notre choix.
Je n'avais pas dit aux enfants que je serais a l'ecole ce matin ne sachant pas ou on allait se reunir. Quand Yossi est arrive avec les enfants ce matin, ils m'ont vue dans le bureau du directeur. Je suis sortie et ai embrasse tout le monde et ils etaient super contents de me voir la et d'avoir gagne un bisou supplementaire.

mathematics @ Montesorri

Friday afternoon the school had a parents meeting where the teachers explained/showed us the way they teach our children math.
Wow I was so impressed by how they leran complicated things in using games.

Calcul a l'ecole
Ils ont tellement de jeux pour montrer aux enfants comment additioner, soustraire et simplement compter.
Rachel compte jusque 100 et elle est tellement fiere d'elle.

portrait of Rachel

in less than 2 weeks, you will turn 5
FIVE, I can't hardly believe it.
love, mom

silent Saturday

I love this picture

trip to the farm/ voyage avec l'ecole

they had a blast
elles ont adore

babby sitter for 2 hours

Last evening we had a cinema event organized by the EU Delegation at the AFI theater in Silverspring. I saw a Belgian movie about illegal immigrants in Belgium. It told the story of a young Russian mother who stays in Belgium with her 5-year old son. It was very sad and I cried of course.
Our neighbour Harper stayed 2 hours with Rachel and Natalie waiting for Yossi to come back home. I heard the girls had a great time.

Nous avions une soiree cinema sponsorisee par le travail hier soir, j'y suis allee et Harper est venue en attendant que Yossi rentre a la maison (oui ca lui prend 1h de route par metro a chaque trajet). Elles se sont bien amusees. Le film belge que j'ai vu etait tres triste: les immigres illegaux en Belgique, l'histoire d'une maman russe qui s'installe en Belgique avec son petit garcon de 5 ans et puis le centre et la deporatation et a lutte pour sauver son enfant.

evening at home/ soiree a la maison

Depuis qq jours/semaines, Rachel adore nous lire un livre le soir avant de se mettre au lit. Elle se souvient un peu de l'histoire et y met un peu de son imagination, c'est adorable. Il faut que je leve la main pour poser ma question
- oui maman
- comment est-ce que la maman dalmatien a su qu'ils avient retrouve les chiots dalmatiens
et ma reponse est souvent en anglais
- the other dogs found them and barked to let them know where they were
mon dieu que ces moments sont precieux. Maman, si tu pouvais etre avec nous pour les vivre ca serait merveilleux.
Avec Natalie je lui fais repeter en francais et elle a plus facile a prononcer les "r".

I used to read books at night before they go to bed but in the last few weeks, things have changed. Rachel now wants to read to us. She remembers some of the story and the rest she makes it up, it is so adorable to sit there and listen to her.
She shows us the book and asks if we have questions and we have to raise our hands if we have questions regarding the page she just showed us. Priceless, I love it

Halloween 2010

voici mes 2 princesses: Ariel et Blanche Neige



This year Rachel wanted to be Ariel and Natalie Snow White

The fun of being at school: lice

Let me spell it : LICE.
The idea never crossed my mind that this could happen. Last week, we were told that one case had been diagnosed.
We did check everybody's hair at home. Rachel had to be treated and had to have her hair combed many times with special metal combs. She was very courageous. She is fine now but these last few days were not fun for none of us..

I was upset and first felt so bad but realized that it was nobody's fault and this is part of being at school I guess. I got even a little bit paranoid and certainly went overboard....

OK, this is my first blog entry for the month of November and I do feel that I can share this issue with all of you without feeling bad about it.
I hope that the others ones will be more fun.

new friends

Rachel and Natalie made many friends at school. Kids are from different countries and have difficult names to pronounce I have to say. But to Natalie and Rachel this is no big deal.
- mom, no it is not Yune, it is YUNE (hear the difference?)
- maman, c'est VIKROUN, no Bikroun
and the list goes on and on

les copins de classe sont americains/francais ou koreens ou bien russes et les filles prononcent leur nom correctement avec l'intonation la ou il faut. Elles accordent bcp d'importance a ce que le nom de leur amis de classe soit prononce correctement.

1st month at Montessori school

Ca fait deja un mois que les filles ont commence l'ecole et elles adorent.
Natalie ne pleure plus le matin et est contente d'aller retrouver "ses amis" a l'ecole. Natalie est la mascotte de la classe, elle est la plus petite et s'est tres bien integree.
Rachel aurait aime aller a l'ecole le week-end passe et ne comprend pas pourquoi elle doit rester a la maison. Elle est la premiere a etre prete le matin.
Le soir, Rachel aime aller chercher Natalie dans sa classe et dire bonjour a
Ms. Kelly et aux autres eleves qui sont aussi "ses amis".

Rachel and Natalie started school a month ago already. They both love it!
Rachel is learning a lot of new things; she has movement, music, drama, French and even ballet classes there. In ballet she is the leader and she enjoys it.
She made a lot of new friends in her class as well as in Natalie's class.

Natalie did finally stopped crying in the morning and best friend Angela (4-year old) is always there to greet her and hug her. Once I arrived early to pick her up and the 2 of them were hugging. I watched them for a few min and the teacher told me they had been doing that for the last hour.
Natalie loves her teachers. She has Ms. Candy in the morning but her favorite is Ms. Kelly, the afternoon teacher. She is simply wonderful and so sweet and all kids love her. Natalie is the youngest one in her class and has become the mascot. She missed one day at school this week, she did not feel too good and threw up on Ms. Kelly. When I took her to her class, the kids ran to her and told her how much they had missed her --how sweet is that.

We are so pleased with our decision to move them to the Montessori school.

old dog

A few dear friends lost their dogs recently and I approache the girls with the issue. I mentioned that Heidi in a few years would not be with us anymore, but that we had plenty of time to enjoy her. They do love Heidi and I want them to enjoy and treasure the precious moments we have with her.
Rachel experienced the death of her grandpa this year and knows that it is ok to cry when we feel sad. Yesterday Rachel wanted me to read her old birthday cards and I choked on one: the last one my father wrote to her. She asked me why I was crying, put her fingers on my cheeks and said: "don't be sad maman, I miss papi too".

thruth sayers

Laurie your post remined me of Rachel asking our mom helper why she was fat. I had to explain her that it might be slightly true but that it hurts the person to hear it. Another time she asked a cashier at Giant who had gray hair why she was old. There was more explaining to be told on both sides.

2e semaine a l'ecole/ 2nd week

Rachel loves her new school. She had sport yesterday and she liked it. When I come to pick her up, she comes and kisses me and runs away to play another 15 minutes with her friends.

Natalie on the other hand has still difficulties to say good bye to her papa and she has big tears rolling down her cheeks when she goes with the assistant teacher.
She has warmed up to the afternoon teacher Ms. Kelly and she follows her everywhere.
Yesterday as I was early, I joined them as they went to the gym and it was nice to see them both having fun.
----
Natalie a encore qq difficultes a dire au revoir a son papa le matin mais ca ne dure jamais tres longtemps. Rachel par contre est tout a fait heureuse et se fait petit a petit des amis. La 1ere semaine c'etait Rubi et maintenant il y a aussi Diora, Yun et Victor.
Mes filles aiment donner des bisous et pour les americains ce n'est pas tjs coutume car ils se donnent l'accolade. Les institutrices se sont habituees je vois.
J'ai achete pour les filles un "lunch box" pour y mettre leur snack de 17h. Natalie a bien sur un avec Dora et celui de Rachel a des princesses.
Rachel aime les cloches qu'ils ont ds la classe pour faire de la mausique.
Hier elle a joue au football, c'est une activite qu'ils offrent le mercredi apres-midi. Son institutrice les a accompagne et Rachel s'est bien amusee. Elle a perdu sa chaussure lorsqu'elle a "shote" dans le ballon, ca l'a fait bien rire.
Rachel ne pleure plus qd je viens la rechercher, elle vient me donner un pt bisou et repart jouer ds la salle de gym avec ses copines.

more sleep for parents

How can we teach Rachel to stop walking in our bedroom in the middle of the night asking for us to put her blanket on. Ignoring her did not work and made it worse, she woke up Natalie. I am hoping that with cooler weather during the night (as the ac is not set on very low temperatures as Natalie always uncovers herself), Rachel will sleep through the night and I will regain my strength. How did I do when I was breastfeeding?

Rachel se reveille et endormie entre dans notre chambre demandant qu'on lui remettre sa couverture... c'est plutot fatigant de ne pas dormir toute sa nuit.

proud papa/ papa et ses filles

photos faites devant la maison
pictures taken in front of our crape myrtle tree in front of the house. We planted in 2005, the year Rachel was born.

ready for school

1ere semaine - 1st week part 2

The girls had a good day and were not in a hurry to return home. I had rushed to arrive there and was there at 5.10pm and we left at 6pm.
They played in the gym and I chatted with the assistants. Before leaving Rachel showed me all the games in her class and told me about her day (poppet show, lunch, new friends).
Natalie was good and had no incident. I was so happy and relieved.
Yossi rushed home too and was happy to hear that they wanted to go there again the next day.

maman, voici un resume du 1er jour:
Rachel etait assise avec une amie a une petite table et venait d'achever son snack quand je suis arrivee a 5h 10. Elle boudait un peu et a voulu que j'aille chercher Natalie en 1er. Elle avait pris part a toutes les activites et avait bien mange son lunch (macaroni et fromage, elle adore). La prof de francais est dans la classe de Rachel cette semaine et Rachel n'a pas voulu parler francais.
Par contre ds la voiture elle m'a demande si maman serait contente si elle parlait francais.

Natalie etait entrain de manger son snack avec une autre petite fille et est acourue vers moi. Elle avait bien mange son lunch (et etait toute propre), etait allee a la toilette sans problemes, et m'avait fait un joli collage.
Le groupe etait alle jouer dehors et elle a retrouve Rachel. Elles se tenaient par la main m'a dit une assistante.

Nous avons retrouve Rachel dans la salle de gym et les deux ont joue avec le train pendant 20 minutes. Par apres nous somme repassees dans leur classes et Rachel m'a montre un par un tous les jeux de dexterite mis a leur disposition.

Apres le bain et l'histoire que je leur ai lue, elles se sont endormies rapidement.

1er jour d'ecole / 1st day at Montesorri

et voila, nous venons de deposer les filles a l'ecole et tout s'est bien passe.
Natalie a voulu que papa la prenne dans ses bras mais apres 2 minutes, elle etait prete a aller avec Melle Liz a qui elle a donne un gros bisous et "a hug".
Ca a pris encore moins de temps avec Rachel, elle a rencontre sa maitresse (Mlle Tricia) et est alle rejoindre les autres eleves assis en cercle sur le tapis.
Nous etions contents de les laisser en si bonnes mains.


Last week was sad.. the girls had to say good bye to their friends at the day care (photos will be posted). But after my Friday "back to school" meeting for new parents, I had absolutely no doubts about the great choice we had just made.

Monday morning, Yossi and I took the girls to their new school, they were exited and Rachel kept saying "let's go guys, we will be late". She had her back pack on (change of clothes) already 15 minutes before we left.
I was nervous the night before and could not fall asleep. I even ironed Natalie's dress at 10pm (I never do iron their clothes - oops!).

We went first to Natalie's class where she saw Ms. Candy her teacher. She cried for 2seconds, Yossi took her in his arms and then we all said goodbye. She kissed one of the teacher assistants and she left with her.
We then took Rachel to her class and after 2 minutes she was gone. She sat on
Ms. Tricia's laps (teacher) with all the other children sitting in a circle on the carpet. "I have a friend whose name is ...", naming the person sitting close to you.

pipi la nuit

Natalie est depuis cet ete propre pendant la journee meme pendant sa sieste mais la nuit est une autre chose. On a eu qq jours ou son lange/pull-up etait sec et j'aurais peut-etre du les bannir a ce moment-la. J'attends qu'il fasse un peu plus frais dans les maisons et vais banir le dernier verre d'eau avant de se coucher.

Since this summer Natalie is potty trained during the day but night time is still tricky. There were days this summer when she woke up dry 1 or 2 days in a row and even woke up during the night to use her potty. I was waiting for her to be dry for a whole week before taking the pull-ups away, but this did not happen.
When she wakes up wet she is sad and always asks me if I am not upset. Of course I am not but I will be happy when pull-ups are part of the past.
Now that the weather is cooler I will work on it again and will maybe ban the last glass of milk she always wants when she is in bed.

friends, brothers and sisters

Last night beofre falling asleep, Natalie mentioned that she liked her friends.
- who are your friends Natalie?
- my friends are Jacky, Taylor, C.J., baby Rachel, and baby Samantha (these are the other kids at the daycare where they go)
Then Rachel said: "no they are MY friends, my sisters and brothers".
it was the first time she referred to them as such.

I felt a sharp pain... as the girls are going to start school next Monday.

marriage/ propositions de mariage deja

maman, Jacky et Jake veulent se marier avec moi, mais moi je vais marrier C.J.
ah oui et pourquoi ma cherie?
parce qu'il est rigolo.

Rachel - maman, Jacky and Jake want me to marry me but I will not marry them, I will marry C.J. (4-year old at the day care).
Mom - ah yes and why do you want to marry C.J. (Colin Jr.)?
Rachel - because he is funny
Mom - you are right ma cherie, marry someone who makes you laugh.

Those things started a little bit earlier than I thought.

tantrums

Maman, comme tu es au loin au Portugal, tu auras de la lecture lors de ton retour. Quand Natalie commence a pleurer et a crier, je me dis que c'est une bonne chose que l'on ne passe pas l'ete chez vous. La petite Natalie qui etait tjs de bonne humeur commence a se rebeller et a se faire entendre (et qd je dis entendre, je suis gentille). Hier soir Yossi est intervenu et le miracle s'est produit (apres une pte claque sur ses fesses) et l'ordre de "DORS MAINTENANT", le calme etait revenu.


REMEMBER I said to say that Natalie was always in a good mood. It has somewhat changed recently.
- Natalie, please put your underwear back on. Do you want me to help you?
I used to hear, "no thank you maman I'll do it myself".
No she says yes, and then says no and when I walk away she starts crying and yelling.

Yesterday evening after spending a great morning at Laurie's, she was tired but did not want to go to bed (at least not in her bed). I offered (big mistake) that she sleeps with me and it did not work either. Rachel meanwhile was coloring and drawing (she does not nap anyore).
Same thing happened at night and there papa intervened, gave her a little tap on her toush and said "SLEEP NOW". It lasted less than 5 minutes and I did not hear Natalie after that. Thank you! (Rachel escaped the noise and went to sleep in our bed).

pony tails/ les 2 queux

maman - fais-moi 2 queux pour que je sois jolie
maman, make me 2 pony tails to be beautiful

drawing/make up & maquillage

You mean the marker is for drawing on paper only? It came off easity with make-up remover.
Natalie a trouve un nouvel usage pour ses marqueurs. Heureusement le demaquillant a tout enleve facilement, je me voyais deja a devoir utiliser la brosse a ongles....

yoga

these yoga poses come naturally to them. The yoga guru must have watched children.....
Je crois que mes filles ont decouvert le yoga

Butterfly exhibition

We went to Brookside Gardens this year again for their butterflies exhibition. Rachel aurait tellement aime qu'un papillon se pose sur sa main.
Nous sommes alles voir une exposition de papillons vivants, les filles ont adore. Ensuite nous nous sommes promenees un peu au parc et avons admire les oies sauvages.