The Terrific Three's

I took the time to post about Lydia's birthday party but I wanted to take a moment to expound on the joy she is in our home and the fun it is to have a three year old. For Lydia's birthday dinner I told her she could have anything she wanted. Her requests were for Tuna fish sandwiches or Macaroni and Cheese! Boy they sure are easy to please at this age. Lydia was also excited all day about the pink "tabloons" (balloons)! Although it is hard for me to believe that she is three years old, I am actually really glad she is three. To me, Three is Terrific! People often label ages, like the "Terrible Two's," which by the way I disagree with. I think they should be called the "Trying Two's." Although they are difficult they are not terrible. I think age two is very trying but also a very fun and entertaining age. So far age three seems Terrific! Yes, like most three year old little girls there are more emotions and "drama queen" episodes (really I thought that was supposed to come when they turn thirteen, not three)but there are also delightful discoveries, sincere inquires, tender expressions of love and massive creativity!

Lydia's personality is in full bloom. She is all GIRL; loves Pink, Princesses, Tea Parties, Baby Dolls, Dancing, Singing, wearing dresses and bows in her hair! But she is also very adventurous and curious enjoying activities like bike riding, roller skating, tree climbing (or tree attempting), playing at playgrounds, in the sandbox and dirt and meeting new animals. She has recently developed a massive interest in art and art projects. She is constantly asking if she can make a craft and coming up with some very creative creations. Her favorites are using paints, glue and stamps!

Lydia is our big Helper! She is so independent and yet always wants you by her side. She is overflowing with compassion yet still likes to label things as her "specials" so she won't have to share them. She can sense when someone is in need and will often volunteer to help before you even ask her to. Yet, sometimes she is more help than you can handle, as is often the case with her little brother who will cry out for us to save him from all of her "Helping!" She loves to help do the dishes and clean the house. It is fun to have her work by my side but occasionally it takes me twice as long to get things done due to all the "help!" It would often be so much easier and more efficient to do things on my own but when she so sweetly and sincerely offers I don't have the heart to say "no!" I guess she is learning to love to work. Here she is helping with the dishes!

 

She recently started her first chore which is helping to unload the silverware into the appropriate places while I unload the dishwasher. I can hardly wait until she is big enough to do all the dishes. Doing dishes is one of mine and Dan's least favorite things to do. How ironic that it is one of her favorites!

Lydia's compassion and sincerity are so sweet and admirable. She seems really in tune with others. For instance, our neighbors are trying to sell their home and their very aged grandfather comes over daily to help fix up the house and keep the yard looking nice. He walks hunched over slowly with a limp. Whenever Lydia sees him she comments, "Mom he looks so sad." I once attributed it to that he might be lonely with his family gone so far way. She now always says, "Mom, there is our poor, lonely, sad neighbor. We should smile at him so he will be happy!" Her good example has motivated us to stop and talk with him often. Now Bill is our friend! Last week she even suggested that we share some of the oranges we brought back from Grandma's house with him. She helped me pick them out and put them in a bag for him. He was very grateful and on our way back to the house she said, "Mom, I so happy. Now our lonely neighbor won't be sad because he has oranges!" She said it so loud that I know he heard it and I think I saw him crack a smile!

Age Three is terrific because they are so honest and inquisitive. Yes honest, inquisitive and loud! It is a common occurance for us to be at a store and have Lydia ask in a voice far from quiet, "Why is that man walk so funny?" or "He has a big nose!" My favorite is, "Mom, why she not smile today?" We're working on the whisper! Although there are obvious challenges from having a child who speaks exactly what she is thinking, there are also great blessings that come from such. One example is being a part of her heartfelt prayers. The following is a direct quote from one of Lydia's prayers, "We thank Thee for monkey's and animals, Santa, polka dots, towels, books, Mommy, Daddy and Emmett. Thank thee for snow, fruit snacks, pig tails and please bless Grandma and Grandpa. . ." She really is thankful for all of these things and she reminds me to be grateful for the little things. One of those little things I am thankful for is to be the mother of a three year old!

Three Cheers for Three Years!

February 18th, 2009 was the cause for much celebration in our household as our sweet little Lydia turned Three Years Old! She is now very good at holding up three fingers and telling people that she is three years old! Dan and I still look in disbelief when she does so, where have the last three years gone?! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital in Albuquerque and it is hard to remember our lives with out her. We Love Lydia and she lights up our lives!

We've decided to celebrate birthday parties like I did growing up. Every other year the kids can have a friend birthday party and then the next year they can have a family party. Seeing as how last year we had a family party we decided that Lydia could have a friend party this year. She chose the theme . . . DORA the EXPLORER! We actually had a lot of fun with it and now looking back we'll remember how much she loved this bi-lingual character! We bought Dora decorations and then followed Lydia's suggestion that we go on an adventure. I drew silly little maps that told us which places we had to go in order to stop Swiper the fox from getting the Birthday Cake. First we watched part of the Dancing Dora movie!
Lydia and her cousin Jacie dancing like a snake with Dora!

 

Jacie, Lydia, McKenna and Samarrah. These girls sure look like they're into Dora!

 

Robert and Garrett. The Boys were almost too cool for Dora and watched from a safe distance on the stairs!

 

Luckily no one was too cool for pin the tail on the donkey!

 

After pin the tail on the donkey we had to go save the map! He had tried to carry all the candy and blew up into a balloon. The Pinata was a "Big Hit"(pun intended)!

 

Up to Bat!

 

After we came back inside the kids ran to the kitchen to stop Swiper from swiping the birthday cup cakes. Emmett on the other hand had no interest in cake, he was just so excited to finally have a turn with the bat!

 

It took Lydia three tries to blow out all the candles. Rather appropriate for the age! The birthday bash was a blast and Lydia did such a great job of giving everyone big hugs and thank you's after each gift. Although when her friends went to play with the gifts she was rather 3 and reminded them that these were Her presents! She did however send out thank you post cards afterwards and I was so proud of her for using her manners. Here are a few of her favorite gifts from her big birthday! A Dora umbrella from her cousins and a darling flower watch her Aunt Trisha made!

 

A Dora doodle pad from her friend Robert Vega and a darling Spring jumper from her best friend McKenna Dahlquist!

 

It was funny because later in the week Lydia asked if she could wear her "jumping jacks dress?" I had no idea what she was talking about until she showed me and I suddenly remembered I had called it a jumper. She hadn't forgotten!
Of course her lovely Ballerina clothes from Mom and Dad and her set of Pretty Princess dress up shoes from Grandma and Grandpa Bush!

 

Thanks to all for making it a memorable day for her and for us!

Return of the Rebel!

That's right, it has been over a month since my last journal entry. My excuse is because I have once again become a rebel. No, not a journal writing blogging rebel, but a DIXIE REBEL.Yes, after seven years I have returned to the Dixie State College campus but this time not as a student, I'm a faculty! I must admit it was really strange when I went to get my picture for my faculty ID and I sat down in the room where I used to give tours of the campus as an Ambassador years ago. Although some things have changed, many have not and my mind was flooded with memories of why I love this beautiful Dixie Campus!

I have been teaching a class in American Sign Language. It is a 1020 class and I love it! The teaching part is really fun but all the preparation work and grading is really over rated. Two weeks ago I gave a midterm and spent the next few evenings staying up until ridiculous hours of the night grading 28 student videos and tests. Needless to say I will make the final easier for both their sake and mine! This however is my reason for being so far behind in writing. I used to take advantage of a little quiet evening time after the kids were in bed to write in my journal. That rare little quiet time has now made way for grading and class preparations. However, this week is Spring Break and I am determined to take a break and get caught up. So if you feel overwhelmed with the intended onslaught of entries to come just take your time and read them at your leisure! This Rebel is ready to go. On your marks . . . get set . . . Go!