And a Star is Born!

Stella and Randy visited the golf course this weekend and a photographer just happened to be there taking shots for a story about golf.  You can read the article here.

These great shots are all courtesy of the Watertown Times online news.

Claire with friends
at the birthday party

This wasn't all fun and games though.  Saturday Claire was invited to a birthday party in which Stella very much wanted to attend.  As parents, it is hard to see your kids sad, and it's also hard to explain to siblings who are such great playmates that they do need to separate from time to time.  We could have called the parents and asked if Stella could come along too, and it probably would have been just fine, but we opted to take advantage of this teachable moment instead.  After a few tears because "Mom, Kennedy is my friend too!", Stella was a good sport about it, and even asked if she could buy a present for the birthday girl too.  We promised Stella she would do something fun with daddy after he took her to his basketball game and low and behold, she chose golf.  (What a lucky daddy!)

When the news about the front page of the Watertown Times came we went online to show Stella the pictures.  Perhaps we made too much of a big deal about it because Claire's feelings were a little hurt.  She was sad, insert tears here, because she didn't get her picture in the paper too.  Once we reminded her she was able to play at the party with all her friends, she cheered up.

 We also had a yard sale over the weekend.  This is a picture of just the shoes! Most of these were handed down from their four cousins, a few were bought for them new, and Stella had a ball helping set up the sale.  We gave each of the girls $15 from our profit, although Stella helped out much more than Claire.  This was a fun way to start talking to Stella about fractions, and how coins add up to one dollar.  We also allowed them to spend their own money at the store afterward.  This was not so easy for Claire-Bear, she wanted toys costing more than what she had, but she'll get there!

Saturday afternoon Mom headed back to SUNY Potsdam for a senior recital for one of the students she's worked with.  The girls happen to know Luana from Gymnastics.  Since we were afraid the concert was too long for them to sit quietly they did not attend, but daddy brought them by afterward so they could see her all dressed up and congratulate her.