Forty-Nine Months of Preschooler Chandler

 Another day at the Boston Nature Center, this time talking about dirt and examining worms.

The Chandler explains.

A little painting with mud and pine cone.

Chandler never entirely warmed to the activity.

Forty-Nine Months Fun Fact

• Disposition:  Chandler has been Challenging lately.  It is Tiresome.  Lots of "I am the Boss!"  I don't know where this is coming from, but I wish it would go back.  I thought bossiness was the three year-old's purview.  Lordy.  Maybe it won't be so awful when she goes to school?  Except I'm sure it will.

Eighty-Eight Months of First Grader Frances

Eighty-Eight Months Fun Fact

• Maturing: It continues!  Lately she's done things like help me make my bed, rather than climb on it mid-make.  And she'll go get a lovey for Chandler if she hurts herself.  Miracles, miracles.
• Not Maturing:  It continues, as well!  The child can start sobbing at the drop of a hat, if she doesn't get her way.  We are trying to encourage other ways to communicate disappointment.  I do not want her to be the kind of college student who expects crying in professors' offices to improve her paper grades.  I understand disappointment can be hard to take, but she needs to try out some of the other tools in her toolbox as well.

I like blue...

...and these girls.

No one seemed to mind Frances's rather broad take on the dress code.

Just Another Saturday at the Ranch

She wanted to be sure everyone saw the dog.  See the dog.

I'm trying to improve the girls sleeping adaptability.  Specifically, I'd like them to be able to fall asleep in the same room, so Chandler has been sleeping in Frances's room on weekends.  She also likes to just hang out on her mattress and "read" about giraffes.

Completely normal Saturday.

Devils' Den

Our second day in Arkansas, we spent with Mark's parents and the third day we went hiking in Devils' Den with Mim and Linda.  It was hot, even for Arkansas.

That's Mom, Mim, Chandler, Frances and Linda.

No, Chandler doesn't have a shirt on, because it was hot.

 Chandler made touching the waterfall look like such fun, Frances decided to give it a try.  This is a familiar pattern with these girls.

The aunties were very good sports.  Linda even gave Chandler a shoulder ride when she got whiney (it was uncomfortably warm for the Massachusetts girls).  It was such good fun.  Almost enough fun to make me wish we lived there (but did I mention it was hot?).

We Went to Arkansas!

And Mimi took a lot of pictures.  Our first full day was spent at Linda's, riding trusty Count.

Chandler was thrilled to get on, but then looked a little skeptical.

She cheered up.

Then Frances' turn.

My new favoritest picture:

And Chandler, again.

And Frances, again.

The girls could have gone on all afternoon.  Once they had worn out one (admittedly elderly) horse, Chandler tried to talk Linda into putting her on another horse.  The other horse was bred for racing and trained for hunting.  Linda gave Chandler a firm "no," but we had to admire Chandler's determination and grit.

Another Wednesday

We started our Wednesday with folding laundry, or, in Chandler's case, pretending to read while I folded laundry.

Then we went to the Boston Nature Center, so Chandler could roll around in the snow with a bunch of kiddos.  There was a more formal activity planned, but the kids were happy literally rolling around in the snow.

After the adults got cold, we headed inside for some snow ice cream.  We even made it chocolate-flavored, but it wasn't a big hit with Chandler.

I guess that's not terribly surprising since she's not a super fan of the real stuff.   That's alright.  It let me check off an item on the list of stuff I mean to do but never get around to actually doing.  Thank you, Boston Nature Center!  And, man, am I ever going to miss this phase when Chandler starts school.