Duluth Adventure!

Day One: 

We drove up to Duluth, Singing, and playing the Alphabet game the whole time. We stopped at the scenic overlook to see all the things we would see, and the places we would go. Climbing on the rocks on the shore was really scary for buttercup at first, but with help and later got the confidence to start figuring it out on her own. We looked for treasures (sticks and feathers) and mermaid tears (sea glass).

We checked into the hotel- which was a little confusing for her because she thought we lived here now, and was worried about the dogs (who we left at home). We headed down to the pool with a flamingo toy and a life jacket, she played on the stairs and eventually got into the water. with lots of screaming Roman and I taught her how to scootch along the wall with your hands. After we taught her, she ended up scootching all the way around the pool on her own as we watched from the hot tub.

I had her keep a "journal" and draw something we that day each evening:

 Day Two: 

This was a full day! We went to the Aquarium, saw scuba divers feeding sturgeons, pet moon jellies and read all about fish- and played with the awesome lock and dam models of the lakes. In the afternoon we went to the library to kill time before the train ride.




We played in the pool again, she learned she could touch the bottom where the stairs ended



Day Three:

We drove up the shore, stopping at almost every pit stop to look for treasures, and throw rocks in the lake. We walked on the breakwater in Two harbors, ate lunch at Betty's  Pies, ran around at Gooseberry and hiked on the knife river. Ultimately, we raced one of the ships from two harbors, to the bridge to watch it go under. One of the crew members was wearing giant foam hands- better for waving.



I put on my swim teacher hat, and as she cried and panicked sang songs about fish while I held her on her back and taught her to kick. She had her head on my shoulder and we were cheek to cheek but she was so distraught she couldn't feel it. she ended up blowing nose bubbles in the water all on her own later.


Day Four: 

Our final day, we hung out in the hotel until checkout- we had to get our morning swim in. She had a few other kids to play with and she discovered she could touch in a lot more places than she thought. we were essentially playing fetch with a rubber ducky, and another child. she ended up swimming around without realizing it- and telling us how brave and strong she was. It was great! We took a harbor tour on a boat before we left town.




the weather was perfect for Duluth fall, we were there just past peak leaves, and we overdressed bringing our winter coats, hat mittens, and long underwear- but id rather be overdressed than underdressed!

The Crown Of Rightness

Roman and I, just for fun, have a running joke that if one person is wrong and the other is right, the wrong person has to give up their crown, and put it on the others head. Of course, it's invisible. and there is only one crown of rightness.



Well, miss observant Buttercup picked up on this little joke of ours and wants in. She doesn't totally get the rules- that one person has to be wrong, one person has to be right, but that's ok. When she is right she gets to take one of our crowns or one of the dogs' crowns. BUT she will also give you (probably one of the dogs' crowns) if she deems you "Absolutely right!".

Rollerskating

It had been a long week for both of us and I was just looking to have some fun and blow off a little steam. I hear the Roller Rink in St. Louis Park was cool so I decided- that's just what we need, a surprise night of fun and activity- its been so rainy.

I go to meet Buttercup at the bus stop and tell her we are going on a surprise adventure. Everyone was excited. We pulled up to the building with the rollerskating dinosaur painted on the front and walked in. She loved the lights, loved the music, and we got our skates on. Time to start.



In my mind, I didn't see her not knowing how to skate as a big issue. Skating was easier than the bike situation right? and kids learn this stuff all the time. Wrong. We started off on the wall together- Instant tears and "I can't do this". we inch around the half - wall trying to get used to the skates. I tried to stay positive and encouraging but 20min in, after I said "turn of your tears, put your brave face on - This is fun!!!" enough times to make me want to punch myself, and halfway around our first lap I was thinking that this was a terrible idea, and its just making everything works, and its not fun at all.



Minutes later, she was falling over and laughing. A man in a leisure suit and a mustache- must have been there since the 70's, skated over and asked if it was our first time and if we'd like some tips. YES! so he said to keep your feet in a V (backward from downhill skiing) and take tiny steps and practice on the strip of carpet first. DOH! of course.... practice on the carpet. Thanks, Mr!



Soon enough she was jazzed about her own success in learning to skate around. and I was jazzed that she felt success so quickly!

Being Little is Really Hard

Transitioning into kindergarten has been ROUGH for everyone. We are now past the point of "normal' adjusting and acclamation and into- how is Buttercup not understanding how to be around other kids?



Right now, we count it as a good day if I don't get a call from the school.

Keep your hands to yourself
This one we have been working on for a while. I don't know what it is but if people are too close, or accidentally touch Buttercup, she overreacts thinking that they hit her first. We are also working on the basic laws of physics, no it's not my fault you ran into the glass door because you weren't paying attention, I'm not even near you- I'm already halfway to the car.


Don't eat things off the floor
I thought this phase generally was over when toddlers become kindergarteners, but now. Turkey off the bus floor, fertilizer beads off the sidewalk and tacks off the classroom floor are just a few of the things Buttercup has put in her mouth recently. That's leaving off all of the non-dangerous items like sleeves, t-shirt necks, fingers, and toys.

The turkey come back is a handy one to keep in your back pocket. For example: "you ate turkey off the bus floor, you can finish your oatmeal" LOL



Listen to your teachers the first time- all day
Getting sick of hearing yourself say "take another bite" or "brush your teeth" 15 times in a row is not the only reason to reinforce listening. Since Buttercup loves learning new words we are working on Immediately. Listen to the teacher the first time, all the time. If other kids are lining up, you line up. If other kids are sitting quietly, you sit quietly. It seems simple but when you don't care too much about whats happening around you, or what other people are doing it is really difficult.


There is no question that Buttercup is a smart and sweet kid. with all our hard work this summer she is ahead in many aspects. Just finding a new balance to the week, and getting used to being around 17 kids all the time in a very structured environment is so tough!