I have to say it's hard to outsmart 4 year old Sydney Marie Stewart because that little girl is incredibly smart. When Joe Bill and I can outwit her we feel like we should give each other a high 5 sign....but, unfortunately for us, that doesn't happen very often.
It was nap time at our house...the truly witching hour for Syd. She hates to go to sleep at night and the thing that she hates more than that is going to sleep during the day.
Recently, after a series of negotiations, it was agreed that Syd could watch a little of a Barbie movie on our DVD and then she'd turn it off and go to sleep. James wasn't offered this privilege because he's younger and, quite frankly, he doesn't negotiate as much as Syd...but then again, who could possibly negotiate more than Syd...unless you're Secretary of State Hillary Clinton....you get the picture.
You can never start negotiating with Syd early enough in the day. I try to nail things down right after she gets here. I have to say that in the beginning she's often amiable in her negotiations. She'll generally agree with something, promise that she'll do it and then go about her way. The problem is she doesn't live up to those promises. She's only 4 so we can't haul her into court...of course, she'd want JB to represent her EVEN IF HE WAS THE PERSON SUING HER...you get the picture.
Back to the story about her nap. Syd acted like she was going to go to sleep. We'd darkened the room and it was quiet. I was nearby and checked on her often. After a while I thought she was asleep but then all of a sudden I could hear music coming from where she was. I could see that she was sitting up. As I got closer I realized that she'd turned on the DVD and was watching Barbie...big mistake for Sydney Marie Stewart. I caught her.
I had to take the DVD away and boy was she angry about that. I put it above the stove. I don't cook so that wasn't a problem. Syd was furious and tried to negotiate, to threaten, to beg and all to no avail. She wasn't getting the DVD back. Her rookie mistake was having the sound up too loud and sitting up.
When I was a kid and wanted to listen to the gravelly voiced disc jockey Wolfman Jack on the radio or talk on the phone AFTER I was supposed to be asleep, I'd be very quiet so my parents couldn't hear what I was doing. My guess is that the next time Syd tries this trick she will have smartened up...she'll probably bring ear plugs that will patch into the DVD and she'll rig up something like that cult classic movie 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off!' I'm guessing that my days being smarter than a 4 year old will be limited!
Be sure to look at the pictures showing that Sydney and James are certainly 'Abel' to have lots of fun this Summer! We thought that they looked darling in their brand new Orange neon 'Abel's On The Lake' tee shirts that our talented young clothing designer friend Paige Winstanley made for The Kids. Paige, who owns the very popular Abel's with her husband Ellis, is Gigi Teague Melrose's cousin.
I told Paige that I'd really liked all the cute neon tee shirts for adults that are currently sold at the restaurant. I asked her if she'd please make some for Syd and James....and we appreciate that she did. The Orange and some cute neon Green ones for kids are now hot items at Abel's. No doubt, Child Fashionista and Style Icon Sydney Marie Stewart and Her Kid Brother James will be trendsetters when they wear them at Summer Camp! (By the way, Syd is helping James do 'Hook 'em Horns!')
I've included some pictures of Syd dancing in a bright raspberry tank top and a multicolored skirt with peace symbols on it. I know that all of the photos aren't perfect but I feel that they'll give you an idea of what Syd looks like when she's joyfully dancing around our house. Also, you'll see her in a fancy pink dress. Syd still loves wearing dresses that twirl.
Syd always comes up with new ways to entertain herself. A perfect example is her having a race with a colorful booster seat strapped to her waist. I know that the pictures are a little out of focus but honestly it's hard to catch some of Syd's creative ideas because they come and go so quickly. Who knows, perhaps Syd thinks that there's a booster seat event at the Summer Olympics and she wants to know first hand how it works!
Syd and James are really sweet together. Syd told me that she wanted to snuggle James so she got on the couch with him while he was watching 'Team Umizoomi' which is currently his favorite video at our house. He'd be watching 'Dora' but I banished her! I couldn't listen to her voice one more minute!
Also, I've included MUSIC VIDEOS of Syd and James singing. One never knows when a kid version of 'American Idol' will air on TV. I'm sure they'd would love to try out. Syd looks very animated as she sings a song in Spanish about the fact that she loves her family. James is doing an aerobic version of the 'ABC' song. Syd gets in the act too. At the end she's pointing out to James that his tennis shoes are untied. That's certainly something that a Shoeaholic like Syd would notice!
Love, D2
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