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.
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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