Amelia’s New Pet
November 21, 2009
Amelia received a fish bowl and gift card to a pet store for her birthday from Grandma Sharon. She chose a blue betta and named him Dan.
Nutmeg gets even more enjoyment out of the fish than Amelia does!
Dan brings a lot of cheer to our kitchen! I make sure to move him when baking to avoid flouring him!
We often catch Nutmeg drinking from the fishbowl.
Several times the cat has dislodged Dan’s plants and we find them floating at the top.
Amelia lost her third tooth!
She is most often found reading!
The first week in November was parent observation day at Amelia’s dance studio. We both attended to see how much she had progressed and if she was enjoying herself or not. We only had a week after this to decide if she would continue, as recital/costume fees were coming due already even though the recital isn’t until the end of May.
She does what she’s told, but she’s not into it–clearly bored and would rather be elsewhere. However, she really wants to be in a recital because she thinks once she has participated in one, she will be a ballerina. She doesn’t enjoy her lessons at all, but has been suffering through it to reach her end goal. Part of me thinks that’s really good for her, a great life lesson–so much of life is suffering toward a worthy end.
However, the recital/costume fees were really ridiculous, plus the monthly lesson fees do add up, and she enjoys her ice skating SO much more, and those lessons are SO much cheaper…and her teacher said she could tell she’s really disinterested…the three of us went around and around…finally Ben did something I never would have come up with…
He offered her cash in the amount of 1/3 the remaining cost for the year. I said, “You don’t give that kind of money to a six-year old!!” First she said she didn’t have anywhere to put that much money. Then I had to explain what kinds of things one could purchase with such an amount. She took the deal and a few days later asked if it was enough to get an American Girl doll. It is. She’s thrilled. Ben thinks he made out great on the deal, and so does she. Go ahead and judge us; we’re doing the best we can!
Ben took Amelia to an orchestra performance for children. They were encouraged to wear costumes, and beforehand were given the opportunity to try out some instruments.
Amelia, Miki and I went to Springdale Farm for a field trip.
So who is her second American Girl Doll?
we’re still in negotiations. free shipping ends tuesday, so we should know soon…
Maybe the dancing will prove profitable if she advances in ice skating to that l
. Gr. W.
level ? Dancing calls for patience whereas ice skating has a much stronger
movement and speed
The compromise Ben made sounds fine to me since everyone seems pleased. Gr. W.
I gave our beta fish to a friend with a cat…they lasted about 1 hour!
It looks you had a trip to Highland Park in these pictures as well. The rock Amelia is sitting on looks like the one near the rhododendrons.
good eye!
Early odds would suggest putting everything on the Nutmeg–the fact that Dan is still swimming is no small miracle and I would start referring to “him” as lucky Dan
I think Ben’s idea for the dance fees was a great one! Offering kids the choice on what to do with money is a great way to teach them. Somebody on facebook last summer mentioned something about letting the kids pick between going to a baseball game and buying Wii Fit (comparable prices). I thought that when possible, these types of decisions we can give our kids really teach them the value of money and how to make choices.