Settling in

Popcorn party!

 During the first week of school both Hailee and Jeff's teachers started a class challenge to earn a movie/popcorn party for good behavior.  They earned scoops of popcorn everytime they did things well.  In the end Jeff's class got their party but Hailee's didn't.  Hailee was so devestated!  She laid on the couch and cried one day when her teacher took two big scoops out of their jar for being naughty.  Every day her happiness depended on how the popcorn was coming along.  It broke my heart that her first weeks of school were so stressful so we tried to make up for it at home by earning a family movie/popcorn party.  And we had no problem reaching our goal. :)

 The girl's cousin, Liesel, gave Rachael some of her clothes that she wasn't wearing anymore.  Hailee and Lydia found something that would work for them too.

 Hailee and Rachael started a dance class in September.  Rachael was super shy and nervous the first day and stood frozen in her spot the whole time.  The next week I bribed her with donuts to get her to move.  It worked!

We dressed Lydia in one of the girl's leotards when we went to watch Rachael and she seemed to think that meant she belonged in the class.  She spent the next few months participating in every class right next to Rachael.  We quickly discovered that dancing was her thing!  She LOVED dance class and was more attentive than some of the 3 year olds.  Their sweet teacher went along with it and included her in everything.  It was so fun to watch!

Sweet success!!!

And how do you like these made-over bars tools for the new house?  I got them all for next to nothing and then painted and recovered them.  The kids loved that the white ones rotated.