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| We had fun creating large piles of fall leaves to jump into. |
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| Little Miss enjoys water painting. |
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| Avery built race car tracks for his Hotwheels out of cereal boxes. |
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| The Couch Crew |
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| "Record" - Avery keeps track of his high scores by writing them down. |
Sunday, January 5, 2014
November Nonsense
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Silly Siblings
Avery
“magic portion” (potion)
“boa constructor” (constrictor)
Clint was talking to Avery about snow flurries. Avery called it “blurry weather”.
When talking about the pumpkin we carved together as a
family, Avery said that “Daddy took out all the brains. Now it can’t think.”
We bought Avery some new black socks since several of his
old ones had holes in the heels. New socks
sometimes have “fuzz” when you first take them off after wearing them the first
time. Avery didn’t know this. One morning we found him sitting on the edge
of his bed, very still, staring at the floor where his socks lay. Clint asked him “What’s wrong buddy?” With his eyes focused on the black sock fuzz,
Avery carefully said “Um, I think I’m a little scared. I don’t know what those black things
are. They may be germs…”
Avery and I go through his school papers each day. He earns one piece of Nerd candy for
correcting each number/letter/answer that was marked incorrect. He gets especially excited when he finds a
nerd that is clear, missing it’s colorful candy coating. To him, it’s a very rare “crystal Nerd” to which
he keeps a collection of in his sock drawer.
Before picking Avery up from school, several parents quietly
wait outside the door in the hallway as the teacher dismisses each student
individually. One morning, before it was
time to be dismissed, Avery came walking quickly out of the door towards the
water fountain. Upon seeing me, he dramatically
exclaims “My teacher let me go get a drink because it felt like my MOUTH WAS
GOING TO EXPLODE!”
While at the dinner table one evening, Avery nonchalantly
looked at his red fruit juice and explained “This drink reminds me of blood.”
Avery has enjoyed his special classes this year. He was telling me about his music class and
all that he was learning. “Did you know
that violin string is made out of a CAT’S INTESTINE?! I LOVED that part.”
Aileen
“pee-cuh” – tea cup
“kee-cah” – kitty cat
pronounces “baby”
Says “NOoooo” to things even when she really means “yes”
Squeals and runs across the playroom to hug me when I return
to pick her up from the YMCA childcare center, although she has only been in
there an hour.
“bah” – bath
Saw people swimming at the pool and asked me “bah?” (translation:
Are they taking a bath?)
Whispered to herself “Boo bah” as she toddled into an empty
classroom when we picked up Avery from school.
She liked the decorations, which were similar to those that she saw at
the YMCA “Boo Bash” Halloween event.
She enjoys reading Sesame Street books and kisses the
pictures of Elmo.
“boo bah” – be right back
She still loves kitty cats and babies
“gee-gee” – blankie
“Dee?” – drink?
“peeeeee” – please
She is still very sweet, but can be spunky and have a temper
too.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
September updates
Avery
Avery has been learning so much in Kindergarten this year. For example, he can phonetically sound out many 4-5 letter words already. Also, he will talk about new words he is learning, such as the "Gubbermint" (government). In an effort to still keep up with what he is learning and experiencing, we have a daily "Pow-wow" at lunch to discuss the morning. A "pow" is something that happened that he did not like, and a "wow" is something positive he can share. Many days his favorite "wow" part was snack time since sometimes they get to have yummy sweet treats. One instance he enjoyed sharing how his teacher involved the class in making homemade bread. Sharing his "wows" come naturally, yet sharing "pows" has not always been easy for him. Self-control is something he has really been working on at school and at home. This being the case, often his "pow"s have something to do with his trouble in that area during the morning. We think, however, he is slowly showing signs of improvement in this as he matures with age. Overall, we are very proud of him and still delight in who he is.
Avery's disposition is generally pretty happy. Without any reserve, he joyfully shouts and waves from the school doors "Bye my Sugar Plum!!!" to his mommy when she drops him off at school in the morning. Even at breakfast, out little guy sometimes shares his happy dreams that he remembers. He tells us "My brain sometimes takes me on adventures". There are probably adventures happening all day in that creative little mind of his.
Aileen loves having Avery to play with, and I think the feeling is mutual on his end most of the time. When Avery comes home from school, he brings his excitement and enthusiasm to change the peaceful, quiet mood beforehand. There is a bit of an age gap between the two, but he will try to entertain her with his silliness to get a laugh. Aileen likes to have a tea party with the stuffed animal crew, and Avery taunts her by taking them prisoner. So, as with most siblings, we have disputes to settle too.
Aileen
At 18 months, we are starting to see Aileen trying even harder to assert herself. She will tell us "no" to things that she really means "yes" to sometimes, and resists things just for the sake of resisting them. Yet, she is also opening up and becoming more playful, sweet and cuddly. She may not understand what is playing on the television, but if there is upbeat music, she will smile and stomp her foot to dance to it. Her activity is apparent too, and she enjoys dunking the basketball in our indoor toy hoop if she thinks we will clap for her. Now that she notices that she can do more things physically like dunk basketballs, she has also been interested in opening drawers and pulling out items, reaching for doorknobs and locks to turn them, opens closets and piles out the contents, flipping light switches on and off and snatching the TV remote to giggle and run off with it. It is difficult to take her anywhere because she gets frustrated sitting in a stroller or holding onto an adult's hand for very long.
Aileen's language is also taking off now. At the table, she will eye us to make sure we are watching, and then drop a piece of food on the floor and feigns an "Uh, Ohhhhh"..... If she wants juice, she will point to the refrigerator and ask "jooo? jooo? Peeee?! (Juice Please?!) (Her Papa taught her how to take a drink, smack her lips and sigh an "Ahhhhh".) At breakfast, she points to the counter at the bananas and let us know she would like a "bleh blah". If she is in the living room and hears the crackling sound of a wrapper in the kitchen, she runs into the kitchen and says with eyes wide open "Cheeee?" (asking for cheese). (We joke about how she loves to eat and sometimes out-eats her brother). "Momma" has been replaced with a "Mommy". If she hears the garage door, she will ask me "Dada?" as she loves greeting her daddy with happy squeals as he comes home from work. I often wondered about what Avery would say when he was Aileen's age and first learning to talk. Now, Avery talks nonstop and lets us hear the constant dialog running through his brain. Aileen seems to be quieter, but I don't know if it is because that is the way her personality is, or if her big brother does enough talking for the entire family.
Another few things Aileen has grown fond of are animals, coloring and Elmo. She is too curious to sit down for a book for too long unless it has a picture of Elmo or a kitty cat in it. However, she will sit down longer to scribble with crayons, especially the color yellow or red. Sidewalk chalk is even a better option for her since she can get up and move while she creates.
All in all, we have two very different, inquisitive and active children. Although they both are growing at very different rates developmentally, it's wonderfully that as siblings they have the gift of growing closer together as a family.
Avery has been learning so much in Kindergarten this year. For example, he can phonetically sound out many 4-5 letter words already. Also, he will talk about new words he is learning, such as the "Gubbermint" (government). In an effort to still keep up with what he is learning and experiencing, we have a daily "Pow-wow" at lunch to discuss the morning. A "pow" is something that happened that he did not like, and a "wow" is something positive he can share. Many days his favorite "wow" part was snack time since sometimes they get to have yummy sweet treats. One instance he enjoyed sharing how his teacher involved the class in making homemade bread. Sharing his "wows" come naturally, yet sharing "pows" has not always been easy for him. Self-control is something he has really been working on at school and at home. This being the case, often his "pow"s have something to do with his trouble in that area during the morning. We think, however, he is slowly showing signs of improvement in this as he matures with age. Overall, we are very proud of him and still delight in who he is.
Avery's disposition is generally pretty happy. Without any reserve, he joyfully shouts and waves from the school doors "Bye my Sugar Plum!!!" to his mommy when she drops him off at school in the morning. Even at breakfast, out little guy sometimes shares his happy dreams that he remembers. He tells us "My brain sometimes takes me on adventures". There are probably adventures happening all day in that creative little mind of his.
Aileen loves having Avery to play with, and I think the feeling is mutual on his end most of the time. When Avery comes home from school, he brings his excitement and enthusiasm to change the peaceful, quiet mood beforehand. There is a bit of an age gap between the two, but he will try to entertain her with his silliness to get a laugh. Aileen likes to have a tea party with the stuffed animal crew, and Avery taunts her by taking them prisoner. So, as with most siblings, we have disputes to settle too.
Aileen
At 18 months, we are starting to see Aileen trying even harder to assert herself. She will tell us "no" to things that she really means "yes" to sometimes, and resists things just for the sake of resisting them. Yet, she is also opening up and becoming more playful, sweet and cuddly. She may not understand what is playing on the television, but if there is upbeat music, she will smile and stomp her foot to dance to it. Her activity is apparent too, and she enjoys dunking the basketball in our indoor toy hoop if she thinks we will clap for her. Now that she notices that she can do more things physically like dunk basketballs, she has also been interested in opening drawers and pulling out items, reaching for doorknobs and locks to turn them, opens closets and piles out the contents, flipping light switches on and off and snatching the TV remote to giggle and run off with it. It is difficult to take her anywhere because she gets frustrated sitting in a stroller or holding onto an adult's hand for very long.
Aileen's language is also taking off now. At the table, she will eye us to make sure we are watching, and then drop a piece of food on the floor and feigns an "Uh, Ohhhhh"..... If she wants juice, she will point to the refrigerator and ask "jooo? jooo? Peeee?! (Juice Please?!) (Her Papa taught her how to take a drink, smack her lips and sigh an "Ahhhhh".) At breakfast, she points to the counter at the bananas and let us know she would like a "bleh blah". If she is in the living room and hears the crackling sound of a wrapper in the kitchen, she runs into the kitchen and says with eyes wide open "Cheeee?" (asking for cheese). (We joke about how she loves to eat and sometimes out-eats her brother). "Momma" has been replaced with a "Mommy". If she hears the garage door, she will ask me "Dada?" as she loves greeting her daddy with happy squeals as he comes home from work. I often wondered about what Avery would say when he was Aileen's age and first learning to talk. Now, Avery talks nonstop and lets us hear the constant dialog running through his brain. Aileen seems to be quieter, but I don't know if it is because that is the way her personality is, or if her big brother does enough talking for the entire family.
Another few things Aileen has grown fond of are animals, coloring and Elmo. She is too curious to sit down for a book for too long unless it has a picture of Elmo or a kitty cat in it. However, she will sit down longer to scribble with crayons, especially the color yellow or red. Sidewalk chalk is even a better option for her since she can get up and move while she creates.
All in all, we have two very different, inquisitive and active children. Although they both are growing at very different rates developmentally, it's wonderfully that as siblings they have the gift of growing closer together as a family.
September Silliness
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| balloon yo-yo |
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| making snickerdoodle cookies |
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| bite a sandwich in the shape of America |
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| playing dress up |
Playtime
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| Apple juice popsicle |
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| car wash |
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| feeding Elmo |
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| laughing |
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| play doh |
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| pom pom sorting |
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| ribbons and tissue paper |
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| tea party and straws |
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