Perfectionism at its finest!

Oh, Nora.  My little Nora is a perfectionist.  Most often, and in the grand scheme of life, it will be to her advantage, but today, at age 5, it can be very trying for all those around her.  Nora has to do all of her work immediately when she gets home: wonderful.  Nora needs everything all lined up: great.  Nora getting upset at everyone in the house over slight imperfections: frustrating!  Nora has been getting mad at Clara and myself when things are not "right."  "I said to do this...."  "Clara that's not right...."  (Sorry to share your faults, Nora, but the story does have a good ending).  We have tried multiple strategies to no avail, but today on a whim, I declared that everyday she will start with 3 stars and if she yells at anyone a star is taken away.  If she has any stars left at dinner, she gets dessert (a high motivator).  So, about 2 minutes later when they were both at the front door getting hats and coats on I heard Nora yell at Clara about something.  "Nora, you lose a star." ...off to school...pick-up at Debbie's....to the car....I had to run back in for something...back to the car...  "Mom, I lose a star because I yelled at Clara when you were inside"  Perfection: a wonderful thing!  (Thank you Nora for being so honest and for just being you!)

ps.  Both girls are growing out their bangs...Nora's new look.

I LOVE TARGET!

Today was a great day, for many reasons but mostly because I got to stock up on EVERYTHING at a Target in Green Bay!

To think, I use to "try" not to go into Target too often,  I never gave a second glance at things like purses or accessories, and I would race past the movies and book section with my kids so we could stay on task.  Well, my friends, when Pamida is the greatest thing for 50 miles around, you find a love for Target that you never knew existed.  I love where we live, the pros significantly out-way the cons.  However, when you are within range of all the modern conveniences and style of Target....the excitement builds.  I am sure most reading this are thinking I have lost my mind, but the choice of Burts Bees lip balm over plain chapstick is all it takes sometimes.  Today I broke my record spending at Target and I think this picture of Clara says it all.  We were there so long, she made herself right at home with her new headbands, video, and snacks for the ride home.

Lake Michigan last week in the wind.

It was reported that we had at least 10 foot waves.  I know that Manistique had 50-70mph wind, just like the rest of the country. 

Happy Halloween!

Introducing Pippi Longstocking and a Japanese princess.

 We went to our daycare lady's house, Debbie.  She has over 30 monsters/guys on her front porch.  Next to us, the "bride and groom" in the driveway, is Debbie's 16 year old granddaughter, Gabby and her best friend, Shelby.  The girls just love them, otherwise there is no way they would be that close to something so scary!

Walking down the streets of Manistique...

Dance lessons

Not 'dance' or 'dance class,' but 'dance lessons,' according to Clara Cunningham.  This was the third week of the girls taking "dance lessons" and there were great strides this week.  I took these pictures on my phone the first week.  The first two weeks I likened Clara's participation to that of a bean pole.  She was rooted in the ground, not moving her feet in the slightest, but posing beautifully for the camera as you can see.  I always considered her my "brave one," little attention I payed to how easy it is to be brave holding big sister's hand.  Now the youngest class is first, followed by Nora's age group.  Well, my story is on its way to a happy ending because we practice yesterday and today, Clara, as she states "did everything the teacher told me."  Way to go Clara!

Nora loves it, as I knew she would.  The girls are in a class that is both ballet and tap.  I miss the little community ed class that Nora took, but this is a good next step for Nora.  The dance performance review will be in May....stay tuned.

Cunningham's

The weekend before Clara's birthday we did more fall touring with J.R.'s parents and his Grandma Sweitzer.  It was a great day and a lot of fun showing our family new things.

Living in the woods, or at least surrounded by woods, I sometimes take for granted (which I promised myself not to do) some of the natural beauties I get to see every day.    In our area the squirrels are very active, we see deer everywhere, and there are so many leaves falling it looks like a slow-motion movie at times.  And Blue Jays, I didn't know anything about them but I can see they are ferocious and everywhere in the last few weeks.  I see as many Blue Jays as I did Robins in Shakopee.

 

Happy Birthday Clara!

Clara Marie on October 5th 2007

Clara at her 1st Birthday party: 2008.

 Clara at her 2nd Birthday party: 2009

(poor girl, she took an extra long nap that day, missed half her party and woke up in a fog)

 Clara at (one of) her 3rd Birthday parties: 2010

Love the colors

I enjoy taking pictures of my kids, but you must know that I don't love taking pictures of them.  My really passion is for nature photography.  It seems that people who love taking nature photos take a million "fall" pictures every year.  I know if I went through my photos I would find the same type of pictures year after year, but I just can't get enough.  The colors are magnificent around our area.  I try over and over to capture it.  Hopefully I am coming close.

 I must confess.  The picture of the falls is taken by the one who taught me to love nature photography, my dad.  Nice framing Dad.

Fall weekend

This weekend my parents came and Sunday we took a gorgeous trip to "the bridge" and Tahquamenon Falls. 

 

 

We found a new favorite restaurant in Mackinaw City!  (Really we just like the name, next time we will have to have a meal too!)

As Expected...

...Nora was thrilled with Kindergarten.

NOT AS EXPECTED...Clara was very sad to not have Nora with her at daycare.

(I asked her to take a picture with Nora and she refused, I snuck this picture in right after that).

However, by the time we got home, she was all knowing of the world and planning preschool for next week...correction, Clara, next YEAR.

I loved seeing Nora in her uniform today, never did I think I would find it so cute.  I was thinking about it today and I compare it to a 6-month old's swim suit, the first leotard, or the first t-ball uniform.  Kids in their 'new' role with a 'new' uniform is such a milestone.

Nora with Miss Vincent.

Nora didn't say it directly, but I think she was a little disappointed she didn't have homework.  This girl is already secretly planning college.

Remember when...

...it was warm and summer...it seems like only yesterday.  Wait.  It was.  So Labor Day is the (un)official end to summer, but please, mother nature, not so literally.

As I look at the weather across the region I think everyone is freezing, relatively speaking, today as I am going through summer pictures.  Thought I would warm you up thinking of summer times with these of the girls on the boat a few weeks ago.

 

The end of a chapter

I realize that we have been so busy during the month of August that I ran out of energy when it was time to blog our "busyness."  Now that school starts tomorrow, I need to do a quick rewind of our fun-filled August visiting with many dear friends.

Going back a few weeks....we met up with our friends from our Shakopee neighborhood, Joe and Andrea, with baby Ava, in Wausau WI to eat, drink, and be merry.... and play with kids and swim, of course.

Next we had our dear friends Ali and Ryan, with their kids Samantha and Cody here to visit, apparently I was too busy visiting to take any quality pictures of the group...(you might need to send some my way Ali).  None the less, we did visit Munising Falls and take the kids out fishing a few times on the boat.

Little miss independence, notice how many stairs we had to wait for while she "did it herself."

I love this....notice the pretzel rod in her mouth while she held the fish....so what happens when she throws the fish back?  

Then, we took friends, Angela and Ryan to see the Might Mac.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day to see the Mackinac bridge, and visit Mackinaw City--VERY cute and "touristy".  I highly recommend it to everyone, and on you way east, swing by Manistique!  On the west side of the bridge is Lake Michigan and on the east (where we are) is Lake Huron.  The area by the bridge, again where we stopped to play, is Huron Straits.

...what bridge, we have shells to look for...

Two year old feet in Lake Huron.

At lastly, but actually in September, another neighbor from Shakopee, Kathy and her friend Dave came last Thursday and Friday.  They weathered the storms, literally on motorcycle, but we had a great visit despite being inside most of the time.  The girls loved the bike, and helmets of course.