Ballet Class

Today was Clementine's first day of ballet class.  She was so ready to start dancing.  I didn't even have to help her stay in, she didn't cry, come out, get nervous about being in a group of little girls she didn't know or anything else.  She just listened, followed directions and had a wonderful time skipping and prancing around the room.  When Bea started I remember she cried and had to be convinced the entire year that she wanted to go until she did her performance and then she hasn't complained since, but Clementine shows no signs of complaining and has transitioned beautifully into her own little class.  I am so proud of her and there's nothing cuter than watching chubby Clementine hop and spin around the dance floor.  She really is an angel and I love her very much.  What a blessing she is in my life. 

Chicken Chase

Rock-a-bye Chickie

Clementine is afraid of most bugs, including butterflies, and is pretty timid when meeting new people and in new situations, but one thing she is not afraid of is giant chickens with large talons.  Who would have guessed. She's also very good at catching the chickens when even Henry gets frustrated.  To help Clementine be gentle with the chickens we rock them and sing "Rock-a-bye Chickie".  Someday I'm going to enter her into the Chicken Chase at the Rodeo and maybe she'll be the Chicken Queen. 

Photogeina

Once again, dirty face!

Clementine is the photogenic one of the family.  Bea has her moments where she looks gorgeous, but can easily look quite scraggly, mainly because she has my same hair consistency(fine and thin) which rats into a giant nest after even just sitting in a car seat.  Clementine, on the other hand, wakes up from naps and in the morningwith perfect, slightly wavy tresses that are reminiscent of Rapunzel.  Unless there's a sucker stuck in her hair(happened more than once) I never have to brush it out to make it look nice.  I have some friends who just have that one child that is a natural in front of the camera and I feel that's Clementine.  I can never even decide on what photos to post because they all look totally perfect and she has a slight permasmile. 

Model pose

Easy smiler

Sweet farm girl with popsicles

Got this one on the move.  I wish it was in focus.  Love those dimples!

Manners

Happy and dirty farm girl

Clementine is at that critical stage where she can understand everything, can say just about everything she needs to say, but chooses to whine and cry for stuff first before I stop her to tell her to say "please" and "thank you, mommy".  I have been grooming her for a long time making her do the signs, but now she's speaking the words and believe-you-me, I make her say them every time.  I will still have to remind her for a few months, but hopefully she'll follow her brother and sister and ask "may I?" when she wants something and say "thank you" when she gets it.  I'm big on manners.  Just as it is not easy teaching Bea her alphabet now instead of at 18 months when it takes one month, I think it takes a lot of time to teach kids manners later on.  I'm also going to make it a big part of my home schooling curriculum and I have the Etiquette Bible so watch out kids!

Prayer

Here she is reciting her Alphabet

Clementine said her first prayer the other day.  She folded her hands and said the last word of every sentence I told her to say and then said "amen" at the end.  She is growing up so fast right now and I feel like this is such a great age to mold her little character and her dedication to the Lord.  She copies everything she sees and I'm so grateful that she is understanding that we say prayers at the dinner table and before bedtime.  When we mention prayer, she runs over, lays flat on the ground or kneels and folds her arms during the prayer. 

Last week, for the first time ever, all four(three) kids were kneeling and being reverent for the family prayer.  It was a literal miracle! Violette was at least quiet and not blowing bubbles.  That was a great moment.

Clemmie's Babies

Clementine loves to accessorize, especially with her babies.  She loves to sit in her little bench seat and watch ABC show together with her baby friends.  Love this girl.

Darling Dishwasher

Girl Colors

 Clementine is my new go to girl for unloading the dishes.  When I open the dishwasher to unload she knows exactly what to do.  She hands me the breakables and she puts all the girl colored plastic stuff in the girl drawer and the boy colors in the boy drawer.  She even knows where all the utensils go.  She's growing up right before my eyes. This time Bea got involved and I didn't even do a thing.  I love my girls!

Boy Cups

Happy little helpers