Turning Four

Clara started off her fourth year practicing some life skills. After all, it’s never to early to start.

First up was how to climb without falling out of a tree and giving yourself a black eye.

I did not take this picture, as the only thing that I’d like less than watching my family crawl up the side of a wall is doing it myself. Jane and I stayed home while John and Clara were joined by another Dad/Daughter duo for the adventure. So, while I’ve no stories of my own to share I can tell you that the girls came back all smiles and giggles. I heard about how they got to climb “ROCKS AND ROPES MOM!” They showed me just how very high their dads climbed (At least as high as a newly four year old standing on the back of a couch can reach.) and I heard all about how there are “rules about climbing.”

No falling, no black eyes, happy kids. Life skills progressing well.

After a day of play we met John at his work for dinner, cake and presents and Clara worked on life skill number two for the day.

How to open gifts at a wedding shower.

Clara opened each present with her mouth wide and girly squealing sounds coming out of it. Then she’d see what was inside – “I love it! It’s just what I always wanted!”…”What is it?”

I figure she’s about half way there. Which is further than I have ever made it with that particular skill.

Finally I must add that I made Clara a moth cake. It’s been confusing more than a few people, they think they can’t understand what she is saying but it’s true. I made her a moth cake. A Rosy Maple Moth cake to be completely accurate -because I like being accurate and Clara likes chocolate cake with pink frosting – and moths.

The cake looked like this, which I thought was pretty darn good for a moth.

But Clara’s face when she saw it was even better!

In her list of life skills she’s working on she can cross “how to melt her mothers heart” right off, she’s got that one down pat!

Happy Birthday Clara!

Cheerful Noncompliance Strikes Again

Oct3

Clara and I are having a little trouble seeing eye to eye today.

Or you could more accurately say that I am cranky and Clara is cheerfully non-compliant. I must have missed the lessons that Ivy was giving her in cheerful noncompliance but I must say, she has mastered the skill. Also, it seems that cheerful noncompliance turns me from a cranky mother to an insane mother, which is unfortunate for all involved.

Like most insane mothers I tend to talk (read: lecture) more than I should.

After an afternoon (read: two hours) of frustration I was trying to convince Clara to go do something really fun and exciting outside (read: I was desperately trying to convince her to get out of my sight in the nicest way possible). Finally she was headed out the door and I, in my insane mode, had to give her a few last directions (read: I shouted lectures at her all the way to the door from the other side of the house) all which revolved around not letting the muddy dogs back in the house.

Again.

My girl Clara though, she’s super talented. She has not only got the hang of cheerful noncompliance but has also mastered cheerfully irritating compliance.