Before I forget--

On Sunday Gracie was having a tough day.  Up too early that morning, up way too late the night before...you get the idea. She was pooped.  I was trying to get her to calm down and relax so she would fall asleep.
Here is a glimpse into our evening; Me, "Grace, you need to say your prayers." Grace; " Dear Heavenly Father, I am thankful for this beautiful day. And I am thankful for NOTHING. Amen." She was pretty cranky. Then it was, "No Gracie, we cannot read Olivia saves the circus. We already read our bedtime books. I will be glad to read that to you in the morning when you are not so tired." Grace, "I am not tired Mom!" Me "Okay Grace, you are not tired, but it is bed time. So close your eyes and I will tickle your back."  I started tickling her back and thinking about our day.  It felt like the whole day was filled with me saying "No Grace. We can't do that because... Or, No Grace, don't do that."  As I was tickling her back I just started telling her little things. Me, "Grace, you are so good at so many things.  I can't believe how fast you are on your bike. You are so good at sharing your toys.  You were so reverent for at least five minutes in church today (not consecutive mind you!). You are so good at giving hugs." No response from Gracie.  "Sniff, sniff. I have a bugger in my nose, can I go get a tissue?" She comes back into her room and lays back down. Two seconds later she is BAWLING. When I asked her what was wrong she said; "I, I, you, well, that was just so nice of you to say that I am good at ttthhinngs!! WahWah!" And the dam broke. It was bad enough to pull Dad out of the basement at top speed. He comes rushing into her bedroom thinking I was beating his princess.  When Jake asked her what was wrong she said, "Nothing." That's it. She was not about to bother trying to explain this outburst to a man! Even if that man was her Daddy. Jake left the room very disappointed:(  We tried the bedtime routine again. Tickle back, take a deep breath, and she was asleep.

Moving on.  The other day Piglet asked me to take her training wheels off of the princess bike. I said no. I told her to ask Dad when he got home. Gracie asked Dad, he said no. (Last time we took her training wheels off, she wanted them back on in about an hour.)  Jake and I were talking when Gracie disappeared downstairs.  She walked up the stairs and straight out the back door.  Jake asked me what I thought she was doing. I told him I was pretty sure she was trying to take her training wheels off herself. Why did I think this? Because if somebody had told me they wouldn't help me, then by dang...I'll do it myself. Sure 'nough. Jake said, do you think she really could have found the right wrench out of my huge drawer of wrenches. Yep. By the time we got out the door (maybe four minutes) she had already taken off one of her training wheels.  Mom's determination, and Dad's mechanical ability. We are in for a long ride!

Yesterday~~"Mom, Dad and I are sick of hearing you chattin your head off on the phone. We are going for a bike ride. Dad's riding his motorcycle. I'm riding my princess bike. Bye, I love you."

And that, is a glimpse into the life of my 4 year old!