Attention Span of a Two Year Old (second attempt)

Kathy, I hope you're able to view the video now.  I'm not sure what happened.  I checked to make sure it worked....

 

I've been trying to video Raina and it is nearly impossible.  I know my sister has been patiently waiting for some recent videos.  However, every time Raina sees me with my camera she stops what she is doing and insists on "see".  I finally managed to get a short little clip of her feeding her baby before she came to see what I had recorded.

 

There are days I find it next to impossible to accomplish anything with Raina constantly getting into mischief. Today was one of those days. First she was begging for "Dora music"...translated as wanting to watch a Dora movie. I allowed her to watch for awhile. As soon as the movie was over she began whining and begging for more. I tried to convince her to help me dust, but that only works when Malia is "helping". Then she began getting into everything, still whining...eventually I found the perfect solution.
Last night the boys completed their session of TaeKwon Do, and as has become the custom, each kid got to pick a treat from the Osler General Store. Raina picked a ring pop. She didn't finish it last night...and I couldn't have been more grateful! I put her on a stool with the ring pop and a National Geographic Magazine. It kept her occupied for more than a half hour!! And as a result my house is as clean as can be...for the moment!

Boots 'n Bar

As you know Raina wears her boots n' bar for nap time and at night time.  The task of keeping them on her feet has been an ongoing challenge.  It began with her slipping her feet out of the boots.  We learned to tighten the buckle as much as possible and tie the boots very tightly.  This worked for a short while.  Then the little monkey learned to untie the laces and slip her feet out.  Being that smart parents that we are, we began tying the laces in a double knot.  It wasn't long before Raina learned to strategically loosen the laces so she could once again slip her foot out.  We soon learned to buckle and tie the boots in the exact way every night...so tight I worried about it hurting her feet.  Once again this worked for a time.   Before long before this little monkey once again outwitted us...she learned to untie a double knot!...in a jiffy too!  She began removing her boots n' bar before falling asleep.  We have now resorted to the good ole duct tape!  It works...usually.  Raina has managed on a few occasions to remove the "ticky" (sticky) tape. 

I can only imagine how comfortable it must feel without the cumbersome boots n' bar.  I really began hoping that Raina could soon quit using the boots n' bar...afterall, she only wore her splint for about half as long as we had been told she would need to wear it.   She recently had an appointment with her orthopedic surgeon and the only question I had was "When can we stop using the boots n' bar?"  As I suspected, Raina will be wearing these irritating things till she is 4.  That's a long time to figure out how to remove the duct tape quickly and frequently...I'm already scheming, trying to stay a step ahead of this intelligent child!

Recent Projects

I recently finished some projects I had started ages ago.  I began this project shortly before we received our proposal for Malia.  I am embarrassed to admit it took so long to complete this project...but that's what happens when something much more important comes into our lives.  I made 18 placemats and love that I am no longer using a bunch of mismatched/Christmas placemats all year long!

The second project was to sew a shower curtain for my main floor bath.  This entire bathroom has taken years to complete.  We wanted a claw foot tub and about a year ago we finally installed all the plumbing...which is ridiculously expensive!  I really wanted a shower curtain to fit this tub, but couldn't find anything in our little city.  We had been using a simple and cheap shower liner...which looked awful.  I used some fabric bought years ago at a clearance sale...for a ridiculously low price...and matches my bath perfectly!  I love it when I get deals like that!  This was a very simple and inexpensive project and I love the end result!

Yellow Belts

Last week we tested for our yellow belts in TaeKwon Do.  We all passed...and we couldn't be prouder!  We had to break a board as part of our test...something which stressed all of us.  I knew the boys and Martin would not have a problem but I would never have thought that I could do that.

I was a little too slow in catching Morgun break his board.  :(

 Martin has been the brunt of a lot of teasing this past week.  His wife soundly beat him in every aspect of the test...yes, I am bragging...just a bit...not because I think I'm good at TaeKwon Do, but simply because it is SOOOO much fun bugging Martin!  Seriously, who would have thought I would do better???  We won't mention that a few weeks ago, at a local tournament Martin placed 2nd in sparring (against green and blue belts) and he and I faced off in our patterns...and yes, he beat me!  Nor will we mention, that Martin is truly better in every aspect...except in handling the stress of testing...:)

Attention Span of a Two Year Old

I've been trying to video Raina and it is nearly impossible.  I know my sister has been patiently waiting for some recent videos.  However, every time Raina sees me with my camera she stops what she is doing and insists on "see".  I finally managed to get a short little clip of her feeding her baby before she came to see what I had recorded.

There are days I find it next to impossible to accomplish anything with Raina constantly getting into mischief.  Today was one of those days.  First she was begging for "Dora music"...translated as wanting to watch a Dora movie.  I allowed her to watch for awhile.  As soon as the movie was over she began whining and begging for more.  I tried to convince her to help me dust, but that only works when Malia is "helping".  Then she began getting into everything, still whining...eventually I found the perfect solution.
 Last night the boys completed their session of TaeKwon Do, and as has become the custom, each kid got to pick a treat from the Osler General Store.  Raina picked a ring pop.  She didn't finish it last night...and I couldn't have been more grateful!  I put her on a stool with the ring pop and a National Geographic Magazine.  It kept her occupied for more than a half hour!!   And as a result my house is as clean as can be...for the moment!

Amazing Grace

Today I turned to one of my all time favorite songs for comfort and strength.   It is a song I turn to for many reasons.  It reminds me of two of my biggest prayer warriors who have passed on.  Amazing Grace was my Grandpa and my Moms favorite song.  It reminds me to be a prayer warrior for my kids.

 Today I turn to it is because I am hurting for one of my kids.  He has been bullied relentlessly for the past few years and it is really beginning to take a toll on him.  Yesterday, an incident happened that left him shattered.  Needless to say, I am shaken as well.  I hate seeing my kids hurt and wish I could take it all away...but I can't.  So I pray.  I pray that my kids will turn to God's amazing grace for comfort and strength.  Would you please pray...for my son...and his mama as well?  Thanks!

Project Hopeful

My sister Kathy shared this video and I simply had to post it...it says too much to ignore.