Want vs need

This morning Annika woke up and promptly went into Emma's room to play with toys. Emma was agreeable to that, except for when Annika said, "rancoon!" Emma flew across the room and placed her stuffed chiuhua, Cancun, up high in her closet. Whew. Annika got a bit more frantic with her "Rancoon!" Pleas. So I took her into her room to change her diaper and clothes. She started banging her legs up and down and whining, "want Rancoon!" So I sang a little bit of the Rolling Stones. You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes you just might get what you need.  After pausing for a few seconds Annika said, "need Rancoon!"

Snow Musings

I will have to update about the girls' birthdays later. For now I want to share my thoughts from this snowy day.
Emma had a horse riding lesson this morning; Steve took her. They went with the idea that maybe Emma could stay and help in the barn afterward. we tried once before but it was early in the morning and no one was awake yet. So today was the first day for helping. Steve came home around 10 without emma so I thought something was wrong, but he was only getting her snow gloves and winter coat. Then he came back 20 minutes later to explain that Margie (the owner) told him Emma could stay for 1-2 hours and suggested Steve leave Emma there until noon. Emma seemed pleased so steve came home. (He told me that he took her aside and explained that she was going to be there to work and that she needed to listen and all of that. To which she replied, "Yeah, yeah, I know." We have been getting that response a lot lately. I wish I could have been there to see her lesson and to watch her work.
All morning I kept getting misty eyed thinking about our 7 year old daughter mucking out stalls. I am sure that she would have told me "don't smile!" And this was the first time she has been left on her own anywhere that wasn't church or a play date.  She is getting so grown up. (And yet this afternoon when she was playing Frances family with her little sister it made me smile to watch her riding her stuffed horse around the house. still so much a kid. thank goodness.) Emma, we are so proud of you and amazed at your capabilities and passion at such a young age.
When Emma got home I was so excited to hear about how it went. And Emma of course did not want to tell me. she got a good report according to steve and she told Steve that she would rather muck out stalls then clean her room. Her pants were dirty, her boots muddy and her love of horses even stronger. Emma said that the girls were nice and she could not remember their names. She was the youngest girl there she thinks. Emma is a horse girl all right!

So this afternoon after annika's nap the girls played horse in Emma's room. I was reluctant to leave them alone but Emma seemed in a very peaceful mood so I stayed in the kitchen and checked periodically (and always kept my ears on full alert). They played upstairs with zero incidences for about an hour at whihc point Emma called down and said, "Mama, Annika wants to come down." They were waiting at the top of the stairs, horses in hand. I thought for sure that when they came down the sister playtime would dissolve in tears or anger. They proved me wrong and played so sweetly for another hour. Everyonce in a while Emma would ask me to do something as part of the game and I obliged. I kept to the kitchen to avoid being any inadvertent reason for the game to end. It warmed me heart and steve's too when he got home from running errands. I stole a Twizzler Halloween candy from emma's stash (sorry kiddo!) but shared it with both girls, telling them how much I loved watching them playing so nicely together.
annika was in seventh heaven. She galloped around when Emma said, "'OK, practice riding, Gloria." Emma was so sweet and I think she loved having someone so eager to play her game, mostly following her rules.
Annika and Emma, I hope that you realize someday that as sisters you have a friend for life. Watching you today was just the best. you two are the best. we should take pictures of you two and add them to the quilts aunt Jan made for you. absolutely precious all around-both of you.

Annika is in an indoor soccer class for 6 saturday sessions with other 2 year olds and their parents. today was the second session and it is so much fun. Like the other kids, Annika loves to stop the ball with her hands (crawling on the floor if need be) or carry the ball in her arms. She dribbled the ball for a few steps today and had fun throwing the ball overhead to me when she refused to no longer kick the ball at the wall. She watches the 3 other kids but unlike Emma she does not hang back and cling to me. She will sit by me on the floor for stretching, grab my hand for "duck"ing the ball or running across the court, or let me help her zig zag through the cones. But she listens to the coach, gives high fives, and smiles a lot. at the end of class the coach put all of the balls away except one and they kids (and adults) had a scrimmage of sorts. They took turns kicking/moving/throwing/carrying the ball first to one goal and then towards the other. they played like there was no defense, just an offense that switched sides after every goal. The adults cheered them all on and assisted in goals by shifting the goal as needed. Annika did not mind the clapping or shouting although it did make her stop and look. She happily would run from one end of the court to the other, occasionally touching the ball. It was great fun to watch. When I went in to get her out of her crib this morning the first thing she said was "play soccer today." aw. she did ask about basketball when we were there so we told steve about it and he told her they could play some time.
Annika, you may not choose to play soccer or any sports, but it sure is fun experiencing the newness with you now and sharing something that I like to do too. But No matter what you decide to do, we will support you and encourage you. We look forward to introducing you to new games, sports, activities these next few years and can hardly wait to see who you will become.

Annika and I vacuumed the front room today after soccer (and throwing the ball for the dog a few times- it was too cold for Annika to be outside without her whole winter gear lineup). For a very brief time she did help by pushing and pulling the vacuum with me. then she found it much more fun to scale the couch cushion (that was upright on the couch to keep the dog off) and giggle when the vacuum got too close. steve came home when I was done so I left the vacuum and Annika in the room and went to chat with him in the other. Not that long later the vacuum turned on and we heard a fast-paced pitter patter pitter patter heading our way. I looked over right as I started to move towards the room and there was annika, concern on her face and booking it as fast as she could from the vacuum. I could not stop myself from laughing, which stopped her in her tracks. I turned the vacuum off and still laughing, went to her. I asked her if the vacuum scared her and she said yes. Well if you turn it on, it turns on. I gave her a hug and she quickly went from being concerned to being curious about my sense of humor. Or so I think. She gave some small smiles and that was that. Oh it was too cute.

Annika says her name Hannika, but the N sounds are mushy so it is more like Haahika. So she may end up calling herself Awn-nnika some day instead of Anne-ika like we usually say. Today Emma said she wants to be called Amma. :)