Miscellaneous Updates

Here's a few shots & some mini-updates on the kiddos:

Emily is the pulling-up-machine now. And, she's even starting to be able to get back onto the ground, too. ;) She loves to eat, too -- everything from kidney beans to cottage cheese. Gotta love it! Here she is crawling under the newly-made coffee table (by Nick!):


[This is not a paid advertisement.] A couple of weeks ago, Ashley finished the 100th (!) lesson in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I would recommend this book for any parent of a 4-6 year old, no matter where they receive their formal education. It teaches the 2 parts of what it takes to read: decoding and reading comprehension, with an early emphasis on blending. It's all scripted too, so you know exactly what to say, even in correcting mistakes. Ashley knew quite a few sight words before we started the program, but this taught her the phonics of it all. Now, she is a readin' machine. :) It also teaches them handwriting and how to write their own stories. She writes letters to friends and family during rest-time each day, calling it her homework. It's very cute.

One other little proud-mama moment today . . . she came up with this little poem while she was outside playing:

The wind, it carries
The sign so high,
Taking me with it
As it flies.

And, here's the big 3 year old taking a trip to 'Great Clips.' Nick calls it 'Mediocre Clips.' Vinny's gaining more and more confidence as time goes on -- he can put on his own socks, climb up one of the "climbing things" at the playground, and has even been using the "potty" this week. Go, Vinny, Go!

'Til next time!