On a roll

I realized that I was leaving a lot of our daily fun unsaid...so that's why I'm including random tidbits now..

tonight at dinner, Kayla said "olive" and reached for the olive can. She then ate dinner and grabbed a napkin and wiped her face. Big girl. When andy got home today, she took him to the tv stand and said "ball" so that he'd help her get the ball out from underneath! She's been peeing on the potty 1-3x per day! We are so proud of her.

2 days ago we got hit by more snow! from 60 degree weather to 30s. Ben woke up one morning and looked outside and said "Oh jeez. look at that snow. Where did spring go?" He's maturing leaps and bounds at home and school and has been said to control himself more and more even when provoked. On tuesday, he was in the classroom and mrs. higgins was asking the kids to think who the person of the day would be. She held up the name "Andrew" and Ben said "Andrew it's you!!!" Wow! How he knew, we don't know. We don't have andy's name posted anywhere. He's picking out letters more and more in words (beginning and end) and trying to say the words. At reading time we've been learning 2 words every wed. This week he learned backwards and leaping (to add to gloomy, straight, narrow, crooked, wide, guard). It's awesome his maturity level in group.

2 days

We've had an interesting 2 days. After a full day with the Misra Family (Arielle and Atraiu) (Mommy watched Atraiu and Kayla while Sara worked in Arielle's class and Ben was at school, they joined us for lunch and then Sara went to work and Mommy watched all 4 of us for the afternoon. They stayed for dinner too!) whew!---Ben put himself to bed at 5:30 and then at 8:00 after happily not going to bed, Kayla projectile vommitted all over mommy and the floor. Fun! She then happily ran around again. Ben woke up with a fever. So--today we've been laying low, snuggling lots on the couch with both of us, playing, making cookies, and watching movies. A jammie movie day!

On the positive side, yesterday Kayla added duck to her words and today continued with something that sounded like love you to Andy on the phone and bye. She also spontaneously grabbed food with her right hand (a baked bean) and successfully got it into her mouth! I was washing her left hand. She did it with no hesitation! This is huge! She also enjoyed painting on the easel yesterday and today! She begged and was so happy to be big!

Ben and Kayla

Mommy has realized she has been really bad about posting when Kayla and I are doing things...learning things...etc. So, here is a brief update:

Ben
I love love love cutting with scissors. I'm often found cutting paper, pajamas, strings on various clothing items. I don't like anything rubbing against me...seams, strings, bumps, on socks, gloves, etc. I love drinking chocolate milk. I can count and point very consistently with 1:1 correspondence. I can count out loud really well too---pretty high (over 30). I know all my letters and sounds (I have since around 2), but now I'm getting fascinated with recognizing words/letters in things. I find rhyming and silly books, really really silly. I love chapter books, like Nate the great. I love poems and rhymes that I can repeat to myself. I love running around and around in circles in the house dancing to "I'm going to catch you" by Lauri Berkner. I love mommy's old school songs too. I grab guitars and other instruments and jump around like a crazy man. Someone just gave me spiderman shoes that light up and I love running in circles like a superhero. I love playing with my imagination--dress-up/kitchen/anything. If I'm having a lot of fun, I'll say "say that again, or tickle me again, or do that again". Mommy and daddy here the question "why" millions of times a day....they often have to ask me "why what?" because I keep asking why. I love olives, pizza, apples, ice cream, and peppers---and much more. At the grocery store, my favorite snack is for mommy to buy a bag of mini peppers while we shop and I'll snack on them. I started gymnastics a few weeks ago, and love it! Mommy also started reading time again a few weeks ago (resurrected letter time) and I'm loving that too. I'm super fast on my strider and becoming even more of a dare devil. My pronouns are more pronounced, I'm trying to jump on 1 foot (I can balance on 1), and I'm a monkey. I make the best observations and like to share with mommy and daddy how I do things "first you do this, then you do that". I like to use the word rule "that's my rule" or "the rule is"...I also like to use the word compromise. I come up with very good ideas.

Kayla: trying hard to use more and more words. Today alone she growled like a lion, and spit like an elephant. If you say "where's your head" she'll point to it. Although the other day I said "kayla where is your ice" and she grabbed her head and said head. She calls bananas nanas. She loves loves loves balls. LOVES them. She's obsessed with ben's cars and his play car outside. She's a climber. She tries to rock chairs, any chair to my shock. She stands on tables and chairs. She is more of an observer and deliberate in my speech. She likes to flirt and smile. She's a little sneak and love to think she's getting away with something. She throws tantrums. Lots of tantrums. Ben never did that. She loves to laugh and giggle. She bites me when she has a wet diaper. She's started using the potty---well...and peeing on the floor around bath time. I think she's confused because she watches ben pee standing up. She loves to look outside and bang on the window. SHe loves to play outside and doesn't want to ever come in. She loves black olives. She seems to spill the non-spill snack cup everywhere...everywhere! She loves to hold ben's hand in the car. She's constantly attacking him hoping to get attention. She misses andy so much when he goes to work/class and often calls DADA, DADA from her bed. After being really sick a few weeks ago, she refuses to be in her crib. refuses. So, she sleeps on the futon now. We need to get her a matress. She's got soulful eyes. She's a snuggler and definitely words of affirmation kiddo. SHe doesn't like it when mommy says no or has a stern voice when I'm bitten. She loves shoes. She carries them around with her coat hoping someone will take her outside. She loves dresses, and has begun to only want to wear them.

First Movie Theatre Outing

Patrick and I worked really hard to stop using potty talk at school. We earned marbles in our marble jar. After 3 weeks, we got to go to a movie for the first time. Mommy and I picked patrick and brooke up and then we all went to lunch. after lunch, we were off to the theatre. These are all our excited faces. Mommy made us pose in front of the theatre and after the movie! We had a great time. We watched Gnomeo and Juliet and all of us LOVED it. We had popcorn, candy, and even soda (natural sierra mist) ! wow! Are you in shock. Mommy and brooke wanted to make it a REALLY big deal. We've been working towards our next outing too. such a fun day!

Kayla's first painting

This was Kayla's first time using a paint brush. She LOVED it!

OT

Kayla is doing really great. This is her OT (Occupational Therapist) Ruth. She used to come for 1 hour every week, but now comes for 1 hour every other week. I love her. You can see what I do while Kayla has OT. I get special movie time. Mommy gave up trying to entertain me and pay attention. I'm very patient now...really...I am...but I do like watching movies.

Attack of the Sewing Machine

Mommy sewed through her finger. Yup. Through her finger. The needle was stuck from one side, through the other. It was craft night. Thank goodness Daddy was home too. Mommy and the girls yelled out to Daddy (who was gaming) and finally he got the urgency. He had to get pliars to cut the needle and then while Mommy's friend Kim held tight, Daddy pulled it out. It had bounced off the bone and was bent. He pulled it out in 2 pieces. Yuck! Penny said Mommy should flick people off as she has the perfect excuse. She's practicing below.

Attack of Ben

Ben decide to write/color on Kayla and himself one day ---with dry erase markers. He was so proud of himself--painting on his toes and nails---that all I could do was take a picture and say it looked so nice. Ha!

School

Daddy worked in my classroom 2 weeks ago and took a lot of pictures for a special project. Here is a brief snapshot of my class.

Calendar with Mrs. Higgins

Playing at the sensory/rice table.

Puzzle fun with friends.

My art project.

I'm the special child of the day, so I get to ring the bell.

Lining up for the motor skill room.

We climb over the play equipment.

Playing a game.

Snack Time

Circle Time at the end of the day. Patrick was done...can you tell?

Off we go!