Eight weeks

Life is pretty normal so not always a ton to write about.

On Wednesday Sissy started wearing underwear all day when we are awake.  We are pretty excited to cut back on our diaper purchasing, but it is causing for a little extra laundry during the week.

Yesterday we had our 2 hour family visit.  Since court was on Tuesday we had to make up the visit time even though bios skipped court.  I really wish that the bios would take care of their lice issue so that the girls would not have to do all their visits outside in the park.  Some of these days are super hot and there is no real shelter to play under so they are just baking our kids.  They have started to bring snacks and drinks, but we are now having to deal with sugar hyped toddlers as they bring Kool-Aid and "Fruit" snacks.  Our house is water and fruits and vegetables.  *sigh*

After the family visit we decided to take the girls to a local event.  It was a festival of sorts with craft areas, game areas, and gardens at a local historical home (giant facility).  We did okay.  The crowds weren't too scary.  We actually sat and watched a magic show for a bit.  This all pushed dinner back so by the time we ate (around 7) we were monsters.

Today marks 8 weeks.  We did our typical Friday night Mexican, but added Squirrel's mom.  The girls love having her around.  After school and before dinner Sissy was having a "meltdown" for no apparent reason and declared to Squirrel that she needed to sit in the "calm down chair" and put herself in it and gathered her self.  It is interesting how these simple things get absorbed.  We don't put them in that chair very often, but when we do we are firm, but gentle.  It is not a scolding, but a matter of fact we need you to gather yourself.  There is no minimum and no maximum time and it works for both of them.

When I began writing tonight I asked Sissy to go to bed.
At the end I found her asleep here.  Only feet from us
at the bottom of the stairs.  Poor girl refuses to admit
she is tired and can fall asleep anywhere.

After dinner Bug was pretty tired and actually crashed early.  Squirrel's mom was visiting and we got some nice time.  Sissy was allowed to be a "big girl" and we got a game out (Stay Alive).  Up to this point we have not understood games or taking turns.  Tonight we caught on.  It is amazing how we are picking up on a few things.  Sissy also mastered her colors this week.  Next week we will work on shapes.  We are also going to keep working on chewing with your mouth closed for table manners.  At school we have been learning some not so great habits so we are constantly working on extremely good habits at home.  Sissy has also mastered how to ask politely for things without whining.  This was for our sanity.  Up to this point is was "I want ..." in a terrible whiny/demanding voice.  We would redirect and say a complete sentence back and ask her to repeat (not always successful).  "May I have some more milk please?"  Just the other day she started to automatically use her polite sentences.  This simple change is making incredible differences and especially at meals.

So, eight weeks in and the consistency is proving to work.  There are many things that I was skeptical about that with a try prove to be fruitful.  I would have never imagined that a calm down chair would really be used.