March 9, 2009 - Just Monkeying Around.

Kids get crazy when they are all cooped up during the winter don't they?

Recently, we purchased new beds for the girls. Gabrielle had been using 1/2 of Nicholas' bunk bed - so we moved Sam out of the toddler bed and into the bed Gabrielle had been sleeping in. Therefore, for the first time in 5 1/2 years - I have no children in a toddler bed.
I sold one of the beds to a friend of mine, and the other one I listed as for sale on the Savings Angel website. I got a buyer and brought the bed downstairs to get it cleaned up and disassembled for the new owner. Sam decided the bed was great fun with no mattress on it. I couldn't believe how well he was balancing on those tiny bars. He would steady himself and then slowly stand up like a pro.

(If you didn't notice in the previous picture - we are trying to potty train Sam and for some reason the crazy coot prefers to run around in his underwear than to have pants on)
Anyway, later in the afternoon this is what I walked into the living room to find.

They then proceeded to do somersaults from this pose
and can both successfully land on their feet.

March is Reading Month!!!

ARRR You Reading??

Each year at the kids' school they pick a theme for March is Reading Month. This year's theme is pirates and there catch phrase is ARRR you reading? The kids are challenged to read 15 minutes a day and if they do this they can turn in their reading slip and be entered for a drawing each week. They also have had special days both at school and after school.

Monday, March 2 - Dr Suess' Birthday was READ A HAT DAY!
Nicholas wanted to borrow a hat of Paul's and looked very cute in his cycling hat. We were having a hard time finding a hat that Gabrielle liked, but Monday morning before she went to school we decided to take READ A HAT DAY literally and made her a hat out of newspaper. She loved the idea and was joined by Allison and Sam in the activity.

Paul reading to the kids.

Thursday, March 5 - Dress like a pirate Day!

March 5 was also Family Night. I forgot my camera though and was disappointed that I did.
I got to take the kids to school and they were able to hear a local author read the story he wrote and also see the original artwork from which the book was made. Then we went to the cafeteria for a hot dog supper, followed by MAKE YOUR OWN BOOK. We purchased a kit which contained a sprial bound small scrapbook with about 10 pages, a glue stick, and a whole bag of fun foam, textured and printed papers, googly eyes, and a marker. They worked on their books for about 30 minutes or so and have been working on them periodically every since. After that, we went back to the library for a very eccentric and lively story teller. She was very good and kept the kids attention for about 30 minutes. I hope they get her back next year - she was great.

We have also had:
Read a T-Shirt Day
Read a button pin day

Also coming this month: Bring your stuffed animal to school and read to it day Talk like a pirate day Read a pirate poem day

They also have been given activities to do at home like read to a younger sibling, read to a stuffed animal, have someone read to you, read a newspaper, read a recipe and read a comic book. The kids are having a great time.

February 22, 2009
Three Down - One to Go...

We don't put much pressure on our kids to be potty trained at night. We figure they will eventually out grow it. However, once they start to have occasional dry nights we have a traditional goal that we set with them. When they wake up with a dry pull-up for 7 nights in a row then they get to spend the cost of a package of pull-ups on a toy of their choice. Then, they start going to bed in underwear and we don't buy pull-ups anymore.

Allison achieved success....and as promised, we took her to Toys R Us to pick her toy. My girls are into Snap N Style dolls - which are similar to a Polly Pocket but are made for little girls (bigger parts and pieces). My girls were both thrilled to find that they now have Snap N Style Pets. So... Allison picked Co-Co the dog, complete with doggy dish, doggy bed, hair brush and two outfits.

Way to Go Allison!
(only one left in diapers, and we're working on that one)

February 19, 2009 - Beach Day and Luau Family Night!

Each year at the kids' school they fill the winter with special days, like beach day, pajama day, pirate day, etc. This was beach day at school, following by Luau Family Night at the school. They have carnival games for the kids and pizza and pop for the families to have dinner. The kids had a great time wearing summer clothes during the day and playing the games at night.

Throw the golf ball in the bucket.

Waiting in line for the bean bag toss

Fish Pond

The kids also got entered in the door prize raffle. They announce the winners the following day at school when all the kids are there. Unbelievably - both Nicholas and Gabrielle came home with door prizes the next day. I couldn't believe it and they were very excited to have their names drawn out of all those kids.