Three of Jaymi's favourite things - school (& friends), cats, and taekwondo!

Oct. 12/11

..... her flexibility

She is so physically flexible and energetice, and fit.  It's awesome!

Although I really hate watching all of the new things she discovers she can do on the monkey bars with her friends.  It makes me nervous!

Oct. 13/11

..... her seriousness about schoolwork (while in school, anyway)

Jaymi takes her work seriously while she is in school.  When it's time to do schoolwork, she can always be seen with her head down, pencil working away.

Oct. 14/11

..... her braveness

She is putting her hand up in taekwondo to answer questions now.

She is speaking up when she wants to ask the teacher in school a question.

That's awesome - she is getting much braver now.

Oct. 15/11

..... the effort she puts into taekwondo

They are taught at taekwondo that you should always do your best.

They are taught that you should be "happy but not satisfied" with each accomplishment.

And Jaymi gives her all in the class, for sure.

She does what she is supposed to do, quickly and with as much strength and speed as she can.

She recently entered her first taekwondo tournament.

She entered in the sparring category, the forms, and the weapons category.

She had a fantastic time, and won three medals!

Oct. 16/11

..... her decision to grow her hair this year.

Mark and I have always liked her hair longer.

But in January she wanted it short and we finally said yes.

Now she is trying her hardest to grow it...very impatiently....and it is.... slowly.

Oct. 18/11

..... her nuturing nature.

She came out of her room one night and was worried that Socks had possibly swallowed something he shouldn't have, and was in pain.  She heard him crunching something, then she said his eyes were very wide.  She worried that he was hurting.

I checked him and he was totally fine.

I love that she worries about him like that.

Oct. 19/11

..... her imagination

Jaymi has begun writing a book of her own.  She is fascinated by the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, and has read almost all of the books, and recently she decided to write her own story, using the Warriors characters and history.  I just love the vocabulary she is using and the way her imagination comes out in the story.

Oct.20/11

..... her excitement about her birthday.

Jaymi is planning her birthday.  She isn't letting me do much on my own - it's all her!

It's a Warrior Cats birthday party.

And she DOES NOT want presents (from her friends).  She wants her friends to bring a $3 donation and an item for the SPCA.  None of the money will go to her - it's all for the SPCA.

I love her idea!

So we are making sure that she has a fantastic birthday party and gets presents, of course, from family members.

And we will go to the SPCA and give in the donation, visit the animals and 'tell' them about it, and Jaymi says that will be her present - the warm fuzzy feeling she'll get from making the animals happy.

Fun = cats, science, food, taekwondo, toys, and friends :)

Sep. 18/11

..... her ideas of places to go

Jaymi loves cat shows.  Every time she hears about one, we HAVE to go.

She was excited to learn that our cats can actually enter one, if we choose to do that.

And she won some raffle prizes from this one too!

Sep. 19/11

..... the things she learns from Mark.

Like pouring whipped cream directly into her mouth.

Yep...that must be a Daddy thing, right?

Sometimes you just have to shake your head.

:)

Sep. 20/11

..... her curiosity

We found this amazing science kit, where you get to use test tubes, beakers, droppers, etc., to make various concoctions to taste and drink.

Jaymi had so much fun with it.  We made things that foamed, things that crackled in your mouth, and things that blobbed together.  Fun!

Sep. 21/11

..... her ability to figure things out

Another great find - this circuit board kit.  She spent a loooong time putting together various designs of circuit boards, to light up a bulb, start a motor, etc.

She even tried a few of her own designs.

Sep. 22/11

..... her love for mango (right now)

She thinks it's hilarious that I don't like mango.  At all.

Yuck.

The reason it's hilarious is because since I always tell her that she has to try new things, and re-try things as well, when she insists that I should try mango over and over, I do (trying to show her that it is possible to eat something you don't like, and you WILL survive).

Yuck.

Sep. 23/11

..... her giggles during taekwondo

It was Bring-a-Buddy Day at taekwondo, for a Child Safety Seminar, so she brought Saegeas - one of her best friends right now.

Whenever she spars with another friend, she (and they) just smile and giggle the whole time.

:)

Sep. 24/11

..... her love

I love that she says, "I love you" all the time.

I love that she says, "I miss you" all the time.

I love that she loves me so much.

Sep. 25/11

..... her love for all things 'cute'

She likes little things because they're cute (like this cake pop).

She likes pathetic things because they're 'cute' (like the SPCA cat with one ear and the wilted deformed Christmas tree you see at the store).

Sep. 28/11

..... her dialogue.

I love listening to her conversations.

Jaymi: "Mommy, you HAVE to come and look at how cute Socks is right now! Mommy, Socks is just being so cute again. Mommy, I think Socks thinks he's in a cute war and he's winning. If he was in a cute show, he'd win. Oh, I can't resist you when you have your head down, Socks. Aw, Socks, you are one tired kitty, aren't you?"

"Mommy, I bet if you and were in a war together, and we brought Socks and the other people saw him and went, 'awwww' and said 'you win!'. It would be so funny if Socks won the war for us. And then if we went to the bathroom and Socks stood on the toilet and if he was toilet trained, and he peed in the toilet. That would be funny. And wouldn't it be funny if we left the bathroom and Socks was just following behind us, silently? And everyone said, 'where is Socks? I haven't seen him anywhere?' and he was right behind us. That would be so funny, wouldn't it?" ;)

Sep. 29/11

..... her love for massages and back scratches.

This massage chair demo at the mall is always a hit with her.

Oct. 1/11

..... her friendships

Jaymi and Saegeas had a fantastic playdate the other day.  They have been begging for a playdate together.

First Jaymi invited Saegeas to a Bring-a-Buddy night at taekwondo.

Then Saegeas invited Jaymi to Awana Bring-a-Friend night.

Then they had a 'real' playdate on a weekend.

They gave Socks TWO sponge baths,

rode down two steps on our main floor, sitting in plastic under-the-bed storage containers,

played cats and puppies,

and had so much fun!

Oct. 2/11

..... her awesomeness.

This is Jaymi's official Gr.4 photo.

I decided this year, to take one myself instead of spending the money on the ones through the school.

I think it turned out pretty good!

Oct. 3/11

..... her sense of humour with Socks.

She'll often be telling me a funny story about Socks, when he reaches up and places his paw over her mouth, as if to say, "Please stop talking about that".

She thinks it's so funny, and she'll just stand there, letting his paw stay there until he's done.

Oct. 4/11

..... her collection of 'germs' (stuffed microbes)

I found a new one for her (the one on the left - halitosis/bad breath).

So now her collection includes:

halitosis

tuberculosis

cholera

2 platelets

the flu

a red blood cell

polio

algae

the common cold

syphilis

strep throat

a brain cell

and a giant brain cell, not pictured here.

Sep. 9/11

..... her physical strength

This girl is strong!

All this taekwondo training has made her so strong, physically, and very fit too, I think.

Anyway, she was awarded her blue belt last week, and is already thinking about the next belt (High Blue - blue with a black stripe)

Sep. 10/11

..... how she's not growing up too quickly

She still loves bouncy castles and face painting, and fairs and pretend play.

I love that she isn't trying to be older than she is, and that she is staying innocent.

There will be many, many years for her to be more grown up.

Sep. 11/11

..... her memories

Every year since Jaymi was very young, we have gone to a fair called Metchosin Day.

It has always had this thing where you line up FOREVER to take a 5-minute turn on a mini-excavator and you get to work the controls, dumping and scooping and turning.

She has always wanted to do it and remembers it as a tradition now.  I wasn't sure, now that she is almost 9 years old AND not into construction at all (like she was when she was little) whether or not she would want to do it this year.

She did!

Sep. 12/11

..... her academic ability

She is so smart and such an academic little girl.

She is in Gr.4 this year, and her first spelling test went well - 18 out of 18!

Sep. 13/11

..... her whimsy

New t-shirt she picked out from Zellers :)

Sep. 14/11

..... her endurance

Sep. 15/11

..... the way she wakes up in the morning

If I have to wake her up for school, it's actually quite nice.  She's so cuddly and warm and cute.

And now she wakes up with Socks purring in her ear as well...she opens one eye and pulls him close to her to give him a big hug.

:)

Sep. 16/11

..... her excitement about moving up in levels.

She was excited about getting her new ballet clothes to begin grade 1 ballet.

In another 2 months as well, she'll begin rehearsals for the Nutcracker Ballet!

Sep. 17/11

..... her responsibility.

She is excellent at taking care of Socks (and Cookie too).

It's routine for her now.

In the morning, she cuddles him, checks his dry food, changes the litter, puts his collar on, and feeds him his wet food.

After school, she greets him as soon as she gets home, plays with him, feeds him his dinner later, and sometimes even trains him.

At bedtime, she takes his collar off, puts him into her bedroom, checks his water and dry food, changes his litter, and settles him down for the night.

Once or twice a week, she gives him a sponge bath.

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.

May 14th/11

..... her endurance

She participated in a kickathon at taekwondo. It was awesome! Everyone did as many kicks as they could do in one hour, to raise money for BC Children's Hospital. Jaymi & Gina together, did over 2,000 kicks.  She was so exhausted afterwards.

The kickathon raised over $900!

May 16th/11

..... her dedication to her interests

Jaymi has been learning about cats (her favourite thing right now) by reading lots of cat fact books. She has read about how to train your cat to be walked with a harness and leash, and is determined to teach Cookie (our Savannah cat).

May 17th/11

..... her friends

It was Bring a Buddy Day at taekwondo class, so Jaymi brought Connor :)

May 18th/11

..... her ability to have fun in the midst of not-so-happy times

We stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, for our one-night stay in Vancouver this week (Jaymi's first post-op MRI this year). She LOVED the house!

May 19th/11

..... her enthusiasm

Jaymi is such a great traveller. She loved walking around on the ferry deck (coming home from Victoria) and looking at the anchor, the ocean foam, the waves, and the dock. She was fascinated by everything.

May 20th/11

..... her carefree-ness

We had a fun downtown day (after a week of stress!) - Booster Juice & a Cobs treat, Value Village, and some playing outside in the sprinkler for the first time this season!

May 21st/11

..... her ideas

She has been doing a lot of reading up on how to train a cat to be walked on a leash, and we agreed that she could try to train Cookie. This picture is Cookie's first walk - she didn't do too badly!

May 22nd/11

..... her influence on me

Going for a walk with friends, from church to a restaurant for lunch. Jaymi suggested that we walk instead of drive.

I love it when she pushes me to do something that is good for me.

May 24th/11

..... her fitness

Practicing a form at taekwondo.

She is so strong and fit right now - I love seeing it.

May 25th/11

..... her unique tastes

Making a snack of graham crackers and almond butter.

May 26th/11

..... her generosity (sometimes)

We gave away some Canucks Jeans Day posters that were leftover from our fundraiser. The kids were thrilled to win these, especially with the Canucks doing so well in the Playoffs!

She is still learning to be generous, but sometimes it just pops out of her.  She was glad to make some kids at the school happy, by giving these away.

May 28th/11

..... how she's not afraid of healthy things in treats.

Jaymi loved these zucchini cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting and sprinkles :)

May 29th/11

..... her love for animals

We went to the Pet Expo on the weekend. It was so fun! Tons of cute pets to see (we SOOOO wanted to adopt a cute little Abysinnian kitten or a teeny Sphinx kitten), free stuff to get, draws to enter, and fun!

Jaymi's big love right now is animals...cats especially.  She just loves everything about them, and plans to work at an animal shelter when she grows up.

 

May 30th/11

..... her resilience

I have no idea (and neither does Jaymi) where she got this black eye. It's obviously half-healed by now, and it's funny - it looks like she has makeup on when I look at her.