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!...