Learning New Things

We are always learning new things around here. Yesterday Grace practiced dribbling the basketball... She LOVES to try to play any sport. She must get that from her aunt MA cause y'all know how I feel about it. ;-) Anyway, she would bounce the ball over and over and over and we would count to 30 or by 10s to 200 or whatever. It's great what a 3 year old find wonderful!

And not to be outdone, Jack figured out how to climb in the little rocking chair yesterday too. I put the back end of the rocker under a sofa so it wouldn't rock so much, and he climbed right in! He has been working on getting in this chair for a while and was SO proud to do it!


He also figured out how to get out (pretty gracefully, I might add). And he climbed in and out over and over.


Until....


He stood up. Which was apparently the most fun of all. And then I had to work with him to teach him not to stand in chairs (good thing G was taking a long nap). I think he got the message... For the time being, anyway.

I think it is just a wonderful privilege to get to watch these kids explore and discover all kinds of new things each day whether they be big or little. When I ask my mom about raising my sister and I she always gets a little misty eyed and just says "it was a joy! It was truly a joy!" I never understood that till now. I never understood a lot of things till I had kids... And I'm only 3 years into it! I'm a little scared of all there is left to learn! Ha! But I am so thankful that I can echo her feelings of parenting. Although it's the hardest thing ever, it is truly a blessing from the Lord... and a joy!

Knock knock

Who's there?

Carol

Carol who?

Carol-cell

Is that a Paw Paw joke or what. ;-)

Jack had his first carousel ride today. He rode an alligator. I think he enjoyed himself. Grace rode the red white and blue eagle. She called it the "tech bird". Ha!

Here is our semi-awkward iPhone photo...

Good times were had by all. But good naps were not had by all (ahem, Jack, ahem). Hopefully a good nights rest is in store for all... With a chance of rain!

Little Lessons "I"

This week we did little lessons about the letter I. Here's what we did...

Day 1:
"I" is for insects.
We talked about different insects and drew pictures of them. Then we made butterflies. We mixed red and yellow paint to make orange. First we painted half a piece of paper. Then we folded the paper in half and pressed the paper so that each "wing" would have the same pattern.

Then I drew a butterfly outline and face (per Grace's instruction) on each butterfly, and we cut them out.

I did one...


And Grace did one :-)...


Then we made letters with Q-tips again. I really think this is one of the most helpful ways for Grace to learn how to write her letters.



Day 2:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

This was our bible verse this week (it starts with the letter I, get it). So we made a puzzle with this verse on it. I wrote the verse and then Grace "illustrated" (get it, Another I word) the verse. Then I cut the cardboard into a puzzle.


Grace enjoyed this so much that we did another...


And another... And another. :)


I discovered that a 2 or 3 piece puzzle was just about right for her to do on her own.

Day 3:
"I" is for illustrate and "I am Grace"

We made an "I am Grace" story. Grace wrote an I at the beginning of each sentence. Then I would finish with what she told me. Then she illustrated the list.


I am Grace.
I am a big sister.
I like to eat macaroni and cheese.
I like to play with trucks and markers.
I like to sing big-a-big-a-boog. (hmmm...Silliness, silliness;-))



Day 4:
"I" is for ice pops and instruments.

We made ice pops first off...


We were going to have in ice pop party on Friday morning, but our "frerigerador" broke and so we will have to try again later. Grace is not going to let me forget this.


Then we made instruments.



Grace cut pieces of paper and glued them to a milk carton. Then we wrapped rubber bands around it to make it into a "guitar".


We also made shakers out of toilet paper tubes and pop corn kernels.


We painted them with red and yellow... It still makes orange!


Grace had a lot of fun with this day.

Day 5:
"I" is for Ice cube.

Well, we were supposed to have an ice-pop party, but due to the unfortunate freezer situation we just read the new American girl catalog together instead. :-)

Afterwards Grace really wanted to do something crafty, so I thought up this little project really quickly...

I drew a cup on a dark piece of paper and she glued ice cubes (and colored the water) in it. Then we counted the ice cubes.


What can I say, It was Friday and I was out of ideas.

Then I let her cut and paste, and she was more than pleased.


I was feeling pretty good about our week. Then we went for frozen yogurt tonight. It was a beautiful evening and we ate outside. Grace dropped her spoon on the ground, and I got her a new one. About 5 minutes later she was looking under the table. "Yep!" she said, "There are ants down there now! And ants are insects!" I was more than pleased and asked her what letter insects started with. She said "N". Haha!!! Oh, well! We had fun!


What a blessing it is to spend each day with this kiddo. :-)

Long Sleeves

We went outside today and had to wear light jackets. Did you get that? I said jackets! Long sleeves! Warmer clothes! Hoodies! Yay!!! I am SO thankful it is not 100 degrees (or 90) anymore! Yay for fall!

And just so were keeping it real around here... Take a look at these little darlings...


This was today's picture. Pretty nice, don't ya think? The picture from 2 days ago would have looked quite different. It was in the 90s then... Perhaps that had something to do with it. Too many months of 90+ and anyone will get a little cranky. You know as a parent when you just have one of those 30 minute or hour long time spans where it's like everybody falls apart all at the same time and the only thing you can do it make it through the experience and try not to laugh the whole time. That was two days ago when I thought it would be a nice idea to take the kids on a short walk before naps. Oh if I had only known what we were doomed for when we left the driveway. Grace on her car. Jack in his car. It ended in me yelling at G because she didn't get over to the side of the road when a car was coming. Her totally falling apart. Screaming. Crying. Screaming. Crying. Me carrying Grace on my hip. Carrying her car in the same hand. Pushing Jack with the other hand. All. Up. Hill. And Jack falling asleep during the screaming and crying. Jack falling asleep and hitting his head on the blue steering wheel horn of his red radio flyer car. Jack hitting his head but not waking up. Just honking the car horn with his forehead. Again. And again. And again. For approximately three blocks (which under normal circumstances doesn't sound like much. Trust me. It was a lot.). But you know, we all made it. Nobody is worse for the wear. And let me tell you that on our walk today Grace Nida girl followed the proper rules to a Tee! Ha!

2 Little Monkeys Jumping In A Crib

Do you see the love here?
There is most definitely love here.

A Cape For Corduroy

I guess since he got his button fixed and pocket sewn on there really was just one more thing he lacked...

Now why didn't Lisa think of that?!?

Peekaboo!

Jack

LOVES


This


Game!

And I do too!

If You Give A Kid A Camera...

You're bound to get some interesting photos. Grace is really into taking pictures lately. She has a play camera that she brings everywhere. It doesn't really work, but she pretends it does. She brings it to the store and takes "pictures" of pretty things she sees. She also runs around the house telling us all to "say cheese" so she can "get a good one". Her camera used to flash, but jack dropped it one day and the batteries started falling out easily, so I had to take them out. It's just not as cool anymore since it doesn't flash.

So this morning she got a hold of my iPhone and started taking pictures. I thought I would share what I found when I looked through the pictures tonight...

Mommy...

Sleeping Papa...


Daddy...


School work...


She took about 10 just like this of her "ant picnic". Sometimes it just takes a few tries to get it right, ya know.


Her tool box...


Her rocking chair...


The kitchen table...


The wall...


The kitchen floor...


Granny...


The LR floor...


A suitcase...


Her tricycle...


Markers...


Her Bible verse book...


Someones feet...


And, of course, a box of tissues...


Maybe this isn't really that funny to anyone else, but I was cracking up looking at all the things she decided to take pictures of... Especially the ones of the people. We surely "cheese" when Grace says "cheese"!