Silverware

Christmas is packed away. Waited later than usual this year since Todd was gone over New Year's. A little strange with this being the 1st Christmas in this house. I loved my Christmas decorations and feel more sad than usual as the house is so bear. Felt even more strange as I was tucking the stockings away and folded A's stocking to be stored until next year. Only not sure where she will be next year. I guess my "best case scenario" is that her grandparents get the new house and grandma gets her job. She told me that she looks at the picture of A that we gave her for Christmas every day as inspiration. I hope that they can get their lives together for A and that she can go back. I hope that we will be able to continue to see her and that next Christmas she can come visit and her stocking will be waiting here for her. I truly believe that all of that is so attainable.
I love having a 4 year old help me with chores. Well, almost always. Yesterday I asked her to help me empty the silverware and she went into a 10 minute crying spell. I'm thinking that the big kids really had rubbed off on her and that helping with the dishwasher must really be something awful. Lucas even offered to help here. Finally she dried the tears and tackled the job. One spoon into the drawer and she says"Nina, this is fun." Geez, one more person to add to the drama of the stanfam. She fits in so well. Since then she has emptied the silverware at least twice. Yes, I need a commercial sized dishwasher. She says that it is just like playing the matching game she got for Christmas. I love a cheerful worker! She joyfully put away ornaments, emptied trash, and anything else I assigned her. Hoping that she will rub off on the older kids but doesn't seem to plausible at this point.
She continues to thrive and will get to start preschool on Monday. I am so excited for her. I'm excited for me, too. I love getting to go to Trietsch. So many friends that I get to see. So many to add to the mix of loving this lil girl. I know she will love school. She is so smart and will learn so fast.