Sponges

Reese is very interested in letters and words. We'll be driving and she'll want to know what a sign says or what this paper says. She basically knows her letters and sounds. We're still reviewing lowercase with some fun games I've made up but all in all we're pretty good there. I decided it would be fun to start very very very simple "reading" with her. I put the " " because its a lot of memorization at this point but you have to start some where!! So, we have some sight words that we've been learning and we make little books and do some shared writings together. She LOVES it!! She sits on the carpet and she pretends we're in school. She calls me teacher mommy the whole time. If there was ever a child who would want to homeschool its my sweet Reese. Saige even takes in the fun and will sit on the carpet for a short amount of time. (She is slowly learning letters this way)

Last night I got out a book called "I Can, We Can" from my teacher books. Its a level A/1 but I wanted to see what Reese could do with it. We did a picture walk and discussed the pictures. I told her the sight words "can" and "we" and we made our pointing finger ready and started. To my amazement she "read" the book. She put her fingers under each word. If she messed up or missed a word she went back and started over ALL BY HERSELF!! I couldn't believe without any "lesson" on self correction she could do it. She also noticed ALL BY HERSELF when she came to the word hop and she said jump that it wasn't correct. We talked about the picture and she was able to figure out the word by looking at the beginning sound and the picture.

I know I'm bragging away but it was so neat!! I had little ones in school who were doing this same lesson, same book at SIX (granted they were struggling) but Reese is doing it at almost 4. Super fun!! I'm sure most four year olds can do this but I am SO proud of her and more importantly she was pretty proud of herself.

What a joy it is to be a mom!!

Meet the teacher

Today was meet the teacher at the girls school. We first went to Saige's room. She didn't want to speak or wave to her teachers this morning. She did get down and play with the babies and look around while I filled out a lot of paperwork. Her teachers seem very sweet and I'm sure Saige will love them. I warned them about Saige but I don't think they believe me. :) I said it in the nicest way possible that she can be a handful. Shes in the younger 2's because of that May birthday. Its so bitter sweet sending her. She said she liked her room and wants to go back to her school but in my eyes she's still a baby so sending her to school feels weird.


Reese is a totally different kiddo this year than last. Last year she didn't speak ONE word for an entire month or longer! Today she went right in and told her teachers "I'm Reese" and started playing. The teachers have a class pet...a guinea pig!! Reese is SO excited about it. From what I understand he's just to look at and they don't let the kids feed him or pick him up. His name is Skeeter. Hes very cute. She has 3 old friends in her room from last year. Her favorite friend from last year is in there too. These two would play animals ALL day. I bet they drove the teachers nuts with playing puppy hehehe!! They have parent readers in her classroom as well!

The girls are very excited to start school again. I am a little sad that they won't be home with me all day. Its weird to think about them being gone all day. I do have several projects I'm hoping to get done (put pictures in albums, CLEAN THIS HOUSE, organize clothes, toys, closets, run errands...ALONE!!!!)

Boo and Ot

We went to see Ot and Boo last week. The girls LOVE going over there. Donna (Ot) is so sweet and lets the girls dress up in her PJ's, hats, scarfs. Here's a few shots. My dad gets the biggest kick out of Saige because shes such a ham.

What a glorious day!!!

Today I woke up early thanks to sweet Reese. Lately shes been up by 630 every single morning. I got some things done around the house and as I was cleaning up the bathroom from last nights bath I flipped the mat into the tub and started getting the toys picked up. To my surprise a lizard (gecko to be exact) was in our bathtub! I believe this is the same friend I saw behind the couch -scared me to death! But today I was even more surprised. AND I was going to have to find a way to catch it and release it. Yuck!! I managed to scoop the poor thing into a bath bag and get it outside.

But when I was outside I noticed the weather was...NICE!!! I don't nearly go outside anymore in August if I can help it. Its hot, muggy and just plain gross. Even the girls say "its hotttt!! Lets go inside!" But today there was a breeze, no humidity and the tempts were nice!! I hurried inside, text a friend and headed to the park. We played outside for about 1 1/2 hours. It was SO nice sitting outside watching my girls play. We all had a great time and I am SOOOOOOOOOOO ready for fall so me and the girls can stay outside for hours and hours. I can't wait to hit the parks, oil ranch, bubbles, chalk and anything else outdoors.

Today was truly a small blessing from the Lord. A cool front! :) I know the heat is about to creep back up but for today we're playing outside!
Hurry fall!!!

Funny things Saige says/does

I'm writing these down because I don't want them to leave my memory...

The other day Saige walks into the room chewing gum. Aaron, myself and Reese were all in the living room so none of gave her the gum. Aaron asks, "where did you get that gum?" Saige says, "from the trash."

Nice...

Today a friend came over. Reese and Saige were both wearing a diaper/panties. I told Reese to hurry and run to get some clothes because her friend (a boy) didn't need to see her in panties. I wasn't in a hurry for Saige because shes younger. When we return Saige looks at me and says, "mommy I need some clothes so Ryan can't see my boobies!"

Saige can say 3 bible verses. There is nothing more surprising or funnier than a little two year old;s voice saying "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you"

Saige will look at Reese and say "Reese Erin Denune, look at me. You need to listen" in the bossiest voice ever.

Today I took a quick shower and when I came out I heard Reese say "Thank you for the gum Saige. Saige said "You're welcome." How nice that they were using manners and being so sweet. And then I thought...how did she GET the gum?? Its on the counter in a jar. She moved a chair all around the kitchen and climbed on it by herself. Lovely. Instead of getting mad I enjoyed it and snapped a picture.

(and her mouth isn't dirty. She had just eaten a little black chalk...don't ask!)




I'm sure there's more and I'll write them down later but she is ONE funny girl! We are so blessed to have her just the way she is.

Guilt

The girls normally do things together. We play with the same people, we all do the same activities. Both girls were involved in gymnastics this summer. Saige was in Mommy and Me and Reese was in preschool gymnastics but they were both doing the same thing at the same time. When we were getting ready for ballet Saige didn't understand why she couldn't do ballet also. Once we got there she was ok but all the way TO ballet she kept asking "I going to ballet too?" and I'd respond with "Yes, we're going to watch Reese do ballet" and she'd say it louder as if it clarify her question, "NO AM I going to ballet?" On the way home she kept saying "when I get bigger can I do ballet?"

Poor Saige.

Yesterday was similar. We went to a school play date for Reese. We were to drop Reese off to play, do a craft and eat a snack. Saige wanted to stay sooo bad. When I asked if she wanted to go to McDonald's for ice cream she said "no I want to do a craft". I finally got her to leave and we went to Target for an icee and huge cookie and she bought her doll baby Abby a new outfit. She was so pleased with it.

But I felt so bad that she isn't able to do some of the things Reese is and she doesn't get why. I'm thankful that she won't remember any of this :)

But today in my Saige guilt of hand me down clothes, toys, and no activity or private play date she got a very cool metal Dora thermos. She was so excited about it. I didn't get Reese one because her lunch kit came with a (not as cool) thermos. Saige napped with it and when I went to check on her she said "I love my new cup! Thank you Mommy".

Guilt gone. Amazing!

Photo Party

We hosted a photo party with My Ideal Photography http://www.myidealphotography.com/
and we love our sneak peek! There will hopefully be more to come but this is a few she has shared on facebook.

It captured a fun place of where the girls are at now. Saige and Reese like to tilt their heads when they are smiling. They say "CHEESE" really loud when they do it. Saige's head tilt will nearly make her ear touch her shoulder. :) Reese sort of does a fake smile now instead of naturally smiling. Its precious. We had a great time taking these pictures.

Beautiful!...

10 minutes

Reese loves to be snuggled. If you are sitting on the couch she feels that's an open opportunity to come sit right with you and snuggle. She loves to lay in bed with us and many nights lately she's ended up IN our bed.

Saige LOVES being rocked to sleep. LOVES it. She hates being put down. It only takes about 10 minutes of rocking before she becomes still. She rubs her baby (a lovey) for a while and then I lay her down. If I try to put her down too fast she protest with screaming and crying. I hate putting them to bed with tears and really whats 10 more minutes in my day.

Some nights I'm tired, I'm stressed and I want that peace and quiet that only bedtime brings. I want to watch adult tv shows, have a conversation with Aaron without being interrupted 100 times but I can honestly say that I love rocking and snuggling these girls to bed. They are so precious.


The days are long but the years are short!!

First Ballet Class

We signed Reese back up for Ballet. She has been going on and on about how she wants to do ballet. I was a bit hesitant at first because of our luck with ballet last year. At one studio the teacher was so mean. No smile, no preschool happiness. Nothing. Like a high school math teacher. Strict and stern. I pulled Reese from that class and we tried another studio. SUPER sweet teacher...until 2 months later I was told my THREE year old needed private lessons. After some hurt feelings we took her out of there too.

I was beginning to think ballet wasn't for us. But Reese wanted to put ballet shoes on and dance. Everyone in this are raves about a certain teacher so we got there on the first day of registration and signed up for this teachers class. Well three days before class starts I hear this better than ever teacher has moved away. Super.

We met her new teacher today and she was SO wonderful! She was sweet, energetic, great with the girls. I couldn't be happier. I know things work out for a reason so I'm hoping and praying her new teacher is just what Reese needs.

Here's a HORRIBLE picture of Reese in the studio. I was competing with mini blinds and about 4 kids in the window. But Reese had a ball. They wore tutu's, played with wands, danced to sweet princess music. She also enjoyed watching herself in the mirror! It was so cute. After class Reese said that she had fun but dancing was hard work and made her tired! (SCORE!!!! hahaha!)

We're a sight!

Tonight Aaron and I took the dogs on a walk while I pushed Saige in a little pink car with a handle on it and Reese rode her bike. Reese was on the sidewalk and Aaron had both 70 pound golden retrievers and I had Saige. We went one time around and Reese begged us to go one more time. So we did another lap. Half way through Reese said she was done riding and wanted to walk and Saige wiggled out of her seat and wanted to walk with her big sister. Poor girls have been couped up because of the 110 degree weather so I wanted them to enjoy their outside time. Finally Saige got tired of walking and I had to carry her, Aaron had the bike on his shoulders and Reese was walking holding one of the leashes for a dog (Allie). We were a sight for sure. I wish I had a picture. Hope fall some very very soon!!

Drawings

Reese LOVES to draw. She asks for markers and crayons all the time. She usually draws animals or people. Heres a few she did today. One is a giraffe and one is a girl-she was practicing making bodies. I think she did pretty good! :)

bows

I got together with Aimee to make bows! It wasn't the easiest thing every but wasn't too hard either. And SO much cheaper than buying them at the store. The pink ones were my first and I think they are a little messed up. But I got it down HA! I plan on making some more and making them a little fancier next time. :)

Allie

Our big golden retriever Allie is really scared of everything but especially thunder. This day she jumped up in Saige's lap and kept nudging her hand for Saige to comfort her. It was funny! After a few minutes Saige said "get her down"

Babies

Saige loves babies. Real are even better for her. She adores Annie and really any other baby she can get her hands on. She even tried to pick up a 6 week old baby at chick fil a not long ago. I'm sure the parents were loving that! She will take Annie's paci in and out. I know Aimee loves us but I'm sure it gets old. I know it does for me. If we go to a play place and theres a baby she won't play but will sit by the baby the entire time. Its so funny/frustrating!

But she also loves her baby Abby (pictured below)!! She carries her everywhere and takes such good care of her. Its just precious to watch! She will be such a good mommy some day!

Oh the fits!

Two year olds are their own kind of beast. The other day Kara and I went shopping-looking. But we went in and out of 4 stores. By the time we hit the third store Saige was done with the stroller. Even her McDonalds lemonade wasn't going to make her sit. Fine. I held her into Ross and tried to put her in a basket. As I lifted her up she screamed about as loud as her little body would allow (it was loud) and then kicked her legs back and forth like a mull. People were staring. I wonder what they were thinking.

So I thought FINE! but she was walking. I was done holding all 28 pounds of her. I put her down and grabbed her little hand. She was having NO part of it. She threw herself down on the ground -crying-and threw her little head back. I heard a loud bang and then got a horrible look from some woman. I won't repeat what was going through my head at the moment bc of that look.

I held her and again tried putting her down. She threw herself down again but this time we were at the back of the store. Reese walked over to her and said "GET UP. WE DON'T DO THIS!" and Then looked at me and said "lets just leave her"! LOL!!

Finally I scooped up my two year old and we left. We still managed to hit Target but gave Saige a cookie to sit still in the basket. She did. Happily too :)


She is such a funny little thing. Even though there are days when we have fits in stores with horrible stares from people I wouldn't change a thing about her. She cracks us up and is really SO sweet! Just very very determined.

Prayers

I have been trying to teach Reese a bible verse of the week. Well, for the last two weeks anyway. But its a start. This weeks is


This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

We've talked about it etc. Well tonight we were in the middle of our prayers when the dogs started barking LOUD. I knew that meant Aaron was home but she didn't. It scared her really bad. She almost started crying. I told her to remember what we learned that we aren't going to be afraid because we know God is with us.

Here was her prayer seconds later...

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for the day. Please don't let me be scared of the dogs barking loud and thank you for mommy because she teaches me the bible.

MELT.MY.HEART!!

I love this kid!

Fun with friends

We went to the Discovery Green Park with Carrie and her crew. The kids all had fun. Saige and Reese kept climbing through one of the fountains-like under the water? I don't know how to explain it. But it was getting smaller and smaller and Saige kept trying to go under it when it was totally impossible. It was so funny! I wish I had a video of it. We stayed for a while until a LARGE group of daycare kids literally swarmed the fountains-all fully clothed! I left my camera but I was able to snag these off of facebook :)