Alaina and the Hawkeyes

I got to take this wanna-be cheerleader to the U of Iowa Homecoming Parade on Friday. (Paige was a a birthday sleepover party.)  We had a great time.  It's definitely a perk of living so close to the University, that we get to experience a lot of Hawkeye activities.  Here she is in front of the Old Capital Building. 

It's a fun parade.  All the local high school bands march, the athletes all walk, and it ends with Herky, the cheer squad, and the Hawkeye marching band.  

Pure joy on this sweet girl's face!

And all her dreams came true as she posed with a couple cheerleaders. She even got to hold their pom poms.  She claims they were very sweaty.  Ha!

One more....

I was watching Titanic this afternoon for about the 10th time.  It ended right at the girls' bedtime.  We were talking about the movie and I mentioned that I had probably wasted about 2 days of my life watching that movie.  (Sad, I know.)  Then Alaina says, "Did you watch it in black and white back then?"  No, baby girl, I did not.  She went on to tell me how Nana told her about only having a radio and no TV.  She is something else!

The Things Alaina Says...

While listening to her new favorite song by For Kings and Country called Priceless, Alaina was wondering what priceless meant.  I told her it meant that something means so much to you that you wouldn't sell it for any amount of money.  Our conversation went a little like this:

Me:  You are priceless to me.  I wouldn't sell you for any amount of money.
A: Not even a million dollars?
Me: Not even a billion dollars, not even 10 billion dollars.  I love you too much.
A: What about 100,000 billion dollars?
Me: Nope.  Look at it this way.  Would you sell Mommy for a billion dollars?
A:  Yes, because I'd still have Daddy!

Well played, Alaina!

Here's another one:

A: Mom, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Me: Ah, don't you think I've already grown up?
A: No.........Nana hasn't died yet!

She doesn't think you grow up until you are a grandma.  Funny girl!

One more:
A: Mom, I'm not trying to be mean.  I'm not, but sometimes it looks like your going to have another baby.  Not to be mean.  I'm not trying to be mean.

I got her message loud and clear.  (And we had a little discussion about how we use our words to uplift and encourage others.)  Oy! This girl!

Stats

Here we are another year down.  I am still trying to keep all this info in the same place.  Here are the 2016 Paige and Alaina stats.  The physical gap is closing as they get older.  There is now only 5 inches and 5 pounds separating them.  The personality gap, however, is still as wide as the Grand Canyon.  But they are becoming the best of friends which warms this momma's heart.  They insist on sleeping together in Paige's twin bed every night and my favorite sight each day is looking in on them sleeping inches from one another so peacefully.  My greatest blessings definitely do call me Mom.

Paige stats:
Age - 10
Height - 144.2 cm/56.75 in/4ft 8 and 3/4in = 80%
Weight - 29.5kg/65.1lb = 25%
BP - 112/64

Alaina stats:
Age - 8
Height - 131.5cm/51.75in/4ft 3 and 3/4in = 65%
Weight - 27.55kg/60.7lb = 60%
BP = 112/58

Sleepovers

One thing I would go back and do different, is to never start letting my girls attend sleepovers.  It isn't something I thought too much about, to be frank.  I had fun at them as a kid.  It started out harmless with families that we know well and trust, but then, there are girls at those sleepovers who ask, and pretty soon, I wish I had never said yes to any of them.  So far it has been fine We are learning as we go and talking about what to do if certain situations would ever come up.  So if you have littles and sleepovers haven't started yet, think it through.  Here's what I would change.  I would let them go, but pick them up at 10pm instead of having them stay all night.  They would get to be there for all the fun, but then come home for a good nights sleep.  I would do this across the board, no matter who it is.  Yes, I am the parent, and I won't always say yes to sleepovers if I'm uncomfortable.  I just wanted to put it out there, that I would do it different from the start next time.

It's morning...Right?!

So last night Mark and I rented a movie to watch after the girls went to bed.  They'd had a few late nights and busy days so it was an early to bed night...7:30 (gasp).  We got them all tucked in and started our movie in the basement.  Around 8:30 we heard little footsteps on the main floor.  I yelled up to see who was up.  No answer and we heard footsteps run back upstairs to the bedroom.  I thought whoever it was just needed a drink.  Which is nothing new.  Next thing we know, we hear footsteps again and this time Alaina appears on the steps coming down the basement.  She is completely dressed and asked what we were doing and why Daddy wasn't at work.  Little Miss thought she had slept all night, came down and opened the shades (the sun hadn't set yet, so there was still light), got dressed for the day, and was wearing a big smile.  She had NO IDEA it was still evening. We sure got a good chuckle.

Alaina doesn't really care to be laughed with, so she is not super fond of this story yet.  We keep telling her she needs to learn to laugh at herself.  Someday we will read this and all laugh together.

The Stats

How are my girls 7 and 9 already?  Here are their stats for this year.

Paige age 9 -

Height: 138cm/4'6 and 3/4" (75%)

Weight: 26.6kg/58.75lbs (25%)

BP: 104/74

Alaina age 7 -

Height:  124cm/4'3/4" (50%)

Weight:  22.7kg/50lbs (50%)

BP: 106/72