Sports Girl Abby

We decided to sign Abby up for a community sports class this summer. The class was held every Friday morning at 8 am for 7 weeks. Abby loved playing the sports (Soccer, T-Ball, and Basketball) and also loved getting to play with some new friends. Friday was affectionately labeled "Sports Day" this summer and Abby became our "Sports Girl".

The class for Holly's age group filled up too quickly so she missed out this time. But she was a great cheerleader for Abby and enjoyed sitting on the sidelines watching.

Abby got her own little sports shirt to wear each week, which made her feel pretty important and special. I was amazed at how old she looked with her pony tail, running up and down the field. My little girl is growing up and I couldn't be more proud!

It wasn't as important to me that she learned new skills in sports, although it is a great way to develop coordination and movement, but I thought the class would give her good practice listening to another adult giving directions. I think the "coach" (the teenage boy shown in the picture above, named Jesse) spent more time explaining to the kids how to line up and wait for their turn than he did actually teaching any sports skills. It was pretty frustrating for him, but entertaining for us parents. One time he told the kids to line up single file behind a ball. The kids obviously didn't understand what "line up" meant because they all clustered closely together in a huddled circle around the ball. I had to laugh. By the end of the class, though, the kids had learned important skills like lining up, taking turns, good sportsmanship, and trying their best.

One or two of the other children sort of bullied the other kids around. Not intentionally, I don't think, but they just weren't respectful of others feelings and sometimes ran over other kids in their carelessness. I was so proud to watch Abby try her best and do well, but not forget her manners and kindness in the process. She has such a kind and gentle heart. I am thankful that she got to have this fun experience.

And Abby Drive??

So tonight I was laying Abby down for bed and singing her songs like we do every night, when she interrupted me and said, "Mommy, where's Gavin's house?" (Gavin is a nursery friend who is having a birthday party tomorrow) I said, "It's by Ethan's park. It's a red house. I'll show you tomorrow." So then she said, "Ok, and Mommy sit in Daddy's chair and Abby drive." I always drive so Abby calls the front passenger seat "Daddy's Chair". It totally cracked me up that my two year old is already asking me if she can drive to her friend's house for a party. I didn't think I'd have to deal with this for another 14 years! What a smart and funny girl. She makes me smile every day.

Abby the Artist, Holly the Canvas...

So it has happened. Abby's art project... No, not in a coloring book or even on paper. This time she decided to go all out and color everything in sight!...including and especially her little sister.

We had just gotten home from the store and Paul put both girls in Abby's room to play while we unloaded groceries. Normally Abby's room is the safest place for unsupervised play time, but apparently Paul let Abby color with markers this morning and she hid them in one of her toy cupboards for later. So the two of them had a ball coloring each other, the table, the chairs, the toys and worst of all...both of their brand new Halloween costumes! The worst part is that the costumes are a size too big for both of them but I can't exchange them now because they have red marker on them. And, of course, they are hand wash only. So I have spent my afternoon giving unexpected baths, scrubbing toys, and trying to figure out how to get marker off of a costume.

This last picture was taken after Holly's bath. It took some scrubbing but I am so thankful the marker came off. For awhile she looked like a poor little battered and bruised baby. I was worried CPS was going to haul me off. :-)

Purple Holly and Pink Holly...

Abby and I were looking at family pictures the other day. Right after we looked at Abby's hospital pictures from just after she was born, Abby started poking her tummy out and rubbing it affectionately. Then she pointed to her tummy and said that it was baby Holly. I laughed and pointed to Holly standing right next to her and said, "But isn't that baby Holly?" So she thought for a minute and said, "No, that's purple baby Holly (Holly was wearing a purple shirt). And this is pink baby Holly (Abby was wearing a pink shirt). "

She's been acting pregnant every now and then and it totally cracks me up! For awhile just after my sister had her baby, Abby walked around saying that she had Kaelyn in her tummy (that's the name of my sister's baby). It's so fun to watch her get older and start to figure out some of these concepts.



And just so Holly doesn't get left out, here is a random fact about her cuteness... She has started saying "cheese" and then posing for the camera. It's especially hilarious because she really doesn't say any other words yet, aside from Ma Ma and Da Da. But ever since her birthday last week when we took a lot of pictures of her, she will just crawl up on Abby's little princess couch, give me the biggest smile, and say cheese.