One week in

Or 5 days down 175 more to go. We made it thru the first week. Crazy schedule of after school activities. It was a little dicey on Friday driving from ballet to gymnastics when Ally asked "mommy what do I do if I am too tired....?" A bit panicked I told her calmly just to do her best and we talked about how sometimes your best does not always look the same. Some days you might not be capable of doing things as well or as fast as other days, but the important things are #1 to have fun and #2 to try your hardest. She did and she had fun for the 3 hours she was there - In the 1st 2 days of team practice she regained a major skill she had lost the month of August while taking some time away from gymnastics to focus on dance and our vacation and her health. But she proudly told me she has her back-walkover on the balance beam back.

Social time with friends is also a huge priority for Ally - she has started texting friends and wants to see them outside of school. Totally understandable and I remember this time in my life talking on the phone to friends. And I wasn't any where near as busy as Ally. But we work at social time - having friends over on the weekends and even a quick after school play date before ballet.

Homework starts this week - looks like a gradual ramp up but as with everything else - we will figure it out.

   




































On Saturday after practice Ally had fun playing in her room by herself - trying out make up taking selfies for Instagram. Typically 2018 behavior for a tween. And she was in such a good mood she let me take the two pictures above.

Then Sunday it was time for church - we took most of last year off from Church. It just didn't feel good to me to be at Church. Ally had a hard time there as well. We supported our church in many ways and Becky still co-lead youth group but we took a year off of attending services. But we still feel its an important part of Ally's upbringing that she attend church school and learn more about our faith.

Typical pouty tween - she so did not want to go and was even less impressed with me taking her picture before hand. Oh the body language; hair covering her face, arms crossed and standing in that pose legs straight.

So of course Becky mocked her.

Which forced some giggles and smiles.

Her hair is back to being very long - I'd love to cut a few inches off again - but its really up to her. She LOVES this shoes - they are silver high top / booties with a wedge heel inside - so they look like normal shoes but really are not. And they make her about 2 inches taller.

Today was a gym and instrumental music day at school. And its raining.
But still I made her pose for a before school picture - year 2 of violin.

I take her to school every morning right now but she walks home and lets herself in the house. Sometimes Becky or I are  home, sometimes not. She is happy with the independence after school. And it feels good to let her have some.