Making friends

I am really pleased with Madison's progress since she started school!

My initial intention for Madison was for her to become more sociable, meet other kids her age and generally have fun.

This weekend past she was really good! We had some friends over and she was quick to befriend the kids. They were running in and out of the pool, to the playground and then subsequently playing in her room! I was really surprised to see that she was confident enough to get into the bigger pool by herself with arm floaties.

Later we had dinner together, and she wanted to eat with the kids.. no feeding or helping her thank you!

In other news... we finally did it.. moved Annika's cot into Madison's room. Actually Madison was the one who initiated it.. We asked her previously and it had always been a flat NO. So when she asked I thought.. why not?

That was 2 nights ago.. and now I am exhausted!

Getting Annika to sleep wasn't too bad... she would occasionally look up to see Madison but then would settle because she is usually quite tired.. but then she would wake at some unearthly hour like 430Am and of course.. wake Madison up in the process!

And then Madison would try and shush her.. resulting in fully waking Annika up.. OMG.. 2 awake kids at 430!

Last night was a little better.. Annika slept till 6am.. and then they were BOTH up for the day! ARGh... not sure whether to persist or to revert back to 2 separate rooms!

Annika is fast approaching 15 months... when Madison was the same age, I started her in accompanied Mandarin classes. Now I am not sure whether I should do the same or just wait till she's older. I'm thinking maybe next year would be better? Annika wanders alot more than Madison.. not sure she'd be able to sit down for the sessions... but then would that get better next year? Transport/timing is a little tricky too.. maybe Wednesday afternoons when Madison has art, I could take Annika to Mandarin, then get Warni to wait with Madison after art till we're done to go home? Madison would have a 25-30 minute wait though...

As for Madison, she finally finished her group music classes for the year. She had a concert last weekend and it was quite funny. The teacher lined all the kids up to play and when it was finally her turn she was so distracted by the cameras that she forgot to play!! After the concert the teacher treated all the kids to Ben and Jerry's ice cream at the parlour just outside the music school.

She starts individual lessons this Friday evening. I'm not sure she's ready but there aren't any more group sessions for this year. I've paid the teacher for 1 term so we'll see how she copes. This teacher is pretty strict too and I'm not sure if that's good for now. We'll see...