July 16/11

..... I love her toughness. 

Jaymi got to be in the parade for Langford Days in July, with her taekwondo school.  It rained pretty hard that morning and it was still raining (although, barely) during the parade, but this group didn't care.  They walked through the whole parade, soaked by the end, but wearing t-shirts, no jackets, and no umbrellas!  So many of the other groups were huddling under umbreallas or with hooded jackets protecting their heads from the sprinkling rain.  Not my kid - she's tough!

:)

July 17/11

..... I love her endless imagination.

We bought a new garbage can and before I knew it, she was begging to play with it before we began to use it.

It was hilarious to see this blonde ponytail flopping around at the end of a rolling garbage can.

She had the best time with it!

July 18/11

..... I love the 'girl' things I can share with her.

When she asked me to blow-dry her hair recently, after a bath, she asked me how to keep her hair from flipping up at the ends.  She likes her hair very flat and straight.  

I found myself teaching her (while lying in bed) how to flip her hair from one side to the other, and smooth it down, so that it doesn't bunch up at her neck.  

It's fun to teach her 'girl' things. :)

July 19/11

..... her good reasons

Jaymi attended an SPCA summer camp last week - a full day, week-long camp.

She loved it so much.

But even more, she loved a couple of cats that were up for adoption.  She begged us to adopt one of these cats.

But these aren't just everyday, cute cats.  They were the ones she felt that no one will adopt because the kids even called them "ugly".

One cat had one ear.

And one cat was born with brain damage.  His brain has trouble with the message the tells him where the floor is, so he stumbles a lot.

But get this - here was her completely serious reason for why she should adopt him.

She said, "we have kind of the same thing in common - with the brain.  And I can help him because I understand."

How's that for a good reason for adopting that cat?

July 20/11

..... her compassion for animals.

In SPCA camp her group learned a lot about animal testing, and the companies that do it.

She is constantly checking products now, and telling us all about the companies we have to boycott and the ones that are okay to buy from.

July 21/11

..... her simple interests

I love how something simple like an inflatable oblong exercise ball (that cost us 50 cents) was the source of so much fun last week (and still is)!

She found a ton of different things to do with it!

July 22/11

..... the spot in her heart for her daddy.

When he says yes to dancing with her, or doing one of her made-up games, or watching a performance of hers, she just lights up.  She loves him so much, especially when he does something that an adult doesn't usually do (like dancing on the front lawn).

July 23/11

..... I love how everyday things can be exciting when you change one thing.

We found this 2-person tent for $2 at a garage sale and it made everything so much fun for Jaymi!

She wanted to eat dinner in there, start a club in it, play with the kitten in it, eat freezies in it.........

July 24/11

..... the way she's growing up

No, I hate that she's growing up - way too fast!  But, sometimes I look at her and I just love how she's growing up so beautifully.

July 25/11

..... her consistency with what she care about.

She has been amazing with this new kitten, Socks.

And she insisted on helping him out by comforting and holding him during his vet visit for vaccinations.

I know that she had a hard time doing this, because she doesn't like watching any animal get hurt AT ALL.  But she did it!

July 26/11

..... her sense of humour (again)

Jaymi had a playdate with a friend (at our house) and they were outside playing together.

Suddenly, my doorbell rings and I open it to be faced with this - a walking, giggling garbage can.

This went on quite a few times.  They thought it was hilarious, and especially when they walked around and bumped into things.

:)

July 27/11

..... how well she plays with her friends

July 28/11

..... her friends

She has such a variety of friends, and she plays with them all so differently.

Some are quieter, some are louder.

Some are leaders, some are not.

Some like to play "doggie" or "cats", some like to colour, and some like to bounce or build forts.

July 29/11

..... her willingness to stop for a picture once in a while.

I've been taking pictures of Jaymi since she was born, so of course, she's sooo used to me snapping pictures of her.  And I like the fact that if I ask her to stop for a second and look over at the camera, usually, she will.

I am 6 months into my 365 project about my daughter, Jaymi.

So here are more of my daily things that I appreciate about her.

July 3/11

..... her fearlessness

I was watching a video with her (from one of our favourite sites - www.dump.com - with family-friendly videos) of the world's steepest (and one of the fastest) roller coasters (in Japan), and she was thrilled watching it.  As soon as it was over, she exclaimed, "I want to go there!"

July 4/11

..... her accomplishments

I love that she has completed 5 belts in taekwondo so far, and is still committed to going all the way to black belt.

I love that she has earned a role in the Nutcracker ballet.

I love that she learned to read at age 3, and is still an avid book lover.

I love that she is always learning new things and looking for new things to accomplish.

July 5/11

..... her complete 8-year-old-ness.  I made that word up, obviously.  ;)

What I mean, is that when she is with her friends, it's so cute to see her getting excited about playing 8-year-old games and talking about things that 8-year-old girls talk about.

July 6/11

..... how her sense of responsibility is so strong when it comes to cats.

Our new kitten is her responsibility - her kitten - so she is in charge of changing the litter every day, feeding the kitten wet food twice a day and keeping the water fresh and dry food bowl filled.  She also makes sure the kitten has play time and recently, "Cookie" time (time to meet our cat Cookie to get used to each other).

She also has learned (by doing it with Mark) how to clip a cat's claws.

And she scours her room weekly to make sure that there are no choking hazards or anything else that can hurt the kitten, since it lives in her room most of the time.

She takes her responsibility seriously.  She left us these specific instructions when leaving for a two-night stay with Gramma.

July 7/11

..... her nurturing instinct

..... The day she came back from Gramma's house, she slept for part of the night like this, with Socks curled up against her arm.   They were so adorable together!

July 8/11

..... her independence combined with caution

I have always loved the fact that Jaymi has always been a cautious kid, but not overly cautious.  She isn't afraid of much at all, but is cautious and has always obeyed the rules about sticking with us, not wandering away, not running through parking lots or across a road, etc.

I asked her to walk to the car while we were at the library, across the parking lot to get books from the car, and I was testing her.  I watched her as she looked both ways a few times, made extra sure that no cars were coming, walked properly and alertly to the car, and did the same on the way back.  I was very proud of her.

July 9/11

..... her courage (again)

Jaymi ran into a pole in a playground last Saturday afternoon and ended up needing 3 stitches in her eyebrow area.  It was a pretty deep cut and we had to go the ER to get it stitched up, for many reasons.

She was pretty scared when it came time to put the freezing in and the stitches, but she stayed still (squeezing my hand like crazy) and she was awesome.

I think she learned that it wasn't quite as scary as she anticipated it to be.

July 10/11

..... her playfulness

She is a great age to have a kitten.  The kitten needs to be played with and Jaymi is quite willing to do this, every day.  She told me that running around with Socks is actually good exercise for her!

July 11/11

..... her sympathy

Jaymi gave Socks a 'sponge bath' (with a wet washcloth) but didn't wring the cloth out AT ALL, so Socks ended up entirely too wet, and shivered for quite a while.  Jaymi was so caring and helped him dry off, comforting him while he did.

July 12/11

..... her appreciation for being thrifty

Earlier this month, I came across a deal at www.clearlycontacts.ca where they were offering any pair of glasses for free - just $10 shipping (plus, about $2 handling charges).  I was skeptical, but thought it seemed worthwhile ordering an extra pair for Jaymi.  I have her prescription in my purse, and just plugged in the numbers on the order form, chose a cute pair of glasses, added a scratch coat (an extra $10) and submitted my order.  I didn't say anything about it to Jaymi, in case the glasses didn't turn out right or didn't show up.  Less than a week later, they showed up.  And they're perfect!  She can see perfectly through them, they fit wonderfully, they're so cute, and she loves them!

AND, they came with a nice little case, a cleaning cloth, a drawstring bag, and a teeny tiny screwdriver.

What a great deal!

July 13/11

..... her sentimentality

My mom has had a Sit 'n Spin at her house since Jaymi was a baby, and every time we visit out east, Jaymi loves to play with it. Even though it's a toddler toy, she still loves it and managed to figure out how to have fun with it. So when we saw this one at the Salvation Army for $2, I said 'okay' to buying it. She loves playing with it!

July 14/11

..... her thought process

We have been learning about Cleopatra at home, and it has brought up quite a few new topics and questions!

For example:

- Cleopatra married her brother (which made Jaymi comment that 'they' wouldn't let her marry Daddy, in that case, would they?)

- Cleopatra's younger sister got married, got bored with her husband, and had him strangled

- people were regularly beheaded (she thinks this is incredibly mean, and at the same time, incredibly funny)

- people can leave things to people and instructions, in a will

- they mummified the dead to preserve their bodies

These last two points, prompted Jaymi to announce that she wants her body to be preserved, along with our cats (if they're dead by then) which will be preserved and laid one on each side of her body.  She also would like to leave her electrical tape & clamps to Mark, her hairbands to me, and donate half of her money to the pound and the other half to the SPCA.  

And she wants to be buried next to Grandpa (Mark's dad) - she says this is because she's never had the chance to know him.

July 15/11

..... her ideas

Jaymi has been dancing with Socks recently.  She puts on music, holds him, bounces him around a bit and he just goes completely limp!  His head droops down, his paws droop down, his legs go entirely limp, and he just hangs there.  It's hilarious!

The end of Gr.3 and the beginning of our summer

June 19/11

..... her similarity to her dad!

Jaymi is so much like Mark.  And although it drives me crazy sometimes, I love that she is like him.

They are both perfectionists.

They are both extremely stubborn.

They both have the same sarcastic streak and sense of humour.

They are both so smart!

They are both disorganized and scattered sometimes.

They are both so distractable.

They are both the loves of my life.

:)

June 21/11

..... her love for school.

She especially loves being with her friends, now that she is older.  This picture was taken on a field trip to a garden, during the last week of school.

June 22/11

..... her love for pretty things.

These are new shoes Jaymi just got.  She is wearing out shoes more than anything lately!

June 23/11

..... her courage to try new things.

Jaymi auditioned for a ballet this year, and she got a role!

She will be in a real ballet with a real ballet company in December.

She will be a snow flurry in The Nutcracker.  She went through an hour-long audition process and was so happy when she got in!

June 24/11

..... her recovery this year.

Her teacher awarded her a certificate of courage at the awards ceremony.  It is still unbelievable to us that she had her second brain surgery, still lives with a brain tumour, and has now graduated from Gr.3.

She has accomplished so much this year, besides recovering from surgery.

She has run a 1.5K, earned a role in a ballet (and finished her Primary year in ballet - ready to move on to Gr.1 ballet in September), made up for 3 months of lost time in taekwondo and has now earned her purple belt, and has also done a lot of growing socially & emotionally this year.

June 25/11

..... her enthusiasm

Ever since we discovered McHugh Rd we just HAVE to visit it when we are nearby!

June 26/11

..... that she likes to get wet.

It's so much fun to have a water balloon fight with a kid who WANTS to get wet.

June 27/11

..... her fun ideas

We declared this week "Fort Week" after Jaymi built this fantastic fort.

She has hung out in it, read in it, played in it, and eaten meals in it.

We ate dinner in it on this day.

June 28/11

..... her adaptiveness (recently)

Jaymi has never been great at accepting other people's ideas, but this year she has improved so much with it.  She let me change up her fort and tweak her ideas, and she liked the changes too.

June 29/11

.... her perseverance

I have been wanting to do a study of Virtues for a while now, and decided to do it this summer.

We began with Perseverance for two reasons.  One - because she used a lot of perseverance building her fort (it took hours and kept falling apart).  Two - in taekwondo right now they are discussing perseverance as well, so it fits right in.

One of the activities Jaymi is doing is lifting these cans (as weights) a certain number of times every day, and increasing that number.

June 30/11

..... her sense of responsibility.

Okay, here is the newest member of our family.

We adopted the cutest, tiniest kitten two days ago.

Jaymi named him Socks.

He is nine weeks old, he is very playful and very cuddly.

He is a rescue kitten (he was fostered after he was born from his mother - a cat found in the wild).

He is Jaymi's kitten and right now (until he is big enough to meet the other cats) he lives in her room.

She feeds him his wet food twice a day, she makes sure his dry food is filled up and his water is fresh, and she empties his litter every day.

She loves him so much, and is so amazing with him!

July 1/11

..... her sense of tradition.

She insisted on going to Fort Rodd Hill as we do every year, and we always take this family picture as well, on Canada Day.

She feels that tradition is very important.

July 2/11

..... her artistic ability

Jaymi has been wanting to be an artist for years now.  (She also wants to be a black belt in taekwondo and to work at an animal shelter.)

She loves to paint, draw, and colour.

She is turning her room into a cat-themed room right now, so she painted two canvasses for her room.