Saturday, May 30, 2015

See ya later kindergarten!

I can't believe Tori is already done with Kinder!  It just feels like yesterday that we were so nervous about how she would do, if she would make friends, and if we had prepared her enough.

I think he last year she has grown up so much.  She can read so well compared to just 9 months ago when she had to sound out almost every word.  Now she breezes through level 1 and level 2 books.  She had no problem making friends (that's what kids do best!).  And she has become independent and more responsible.

We will definitely do things a little different next time around.  The lists on Pinterest were way off from what we experienced. Kindergarten is way more intense these days.  I remember learning my letters, numbers, days of the week, ect.  Kids are expected to already know these things.

Here is my list of things you child should know before kindergarten. 

1. Know all the letters and their sounds.  Be able to sound out unfamiliar short words. 
2. Know how to spell and write at least their first name, first and last is even better. 
3. Start learning sight words (like is, am, but, it, etc).  Tori had to recognize and spell 50 sight words by the end of the year. They had a SPELLING TEST each trimester on the words they had been practicing.  This was definitely the hardest part for her.  
4. Be well on their way to counting to 100 (and be able to do it counting by ones, twos, fives and tens).
5. Be able to dress themselves (tuck in shirts, do belts, put on their own shoes and coats).
6. Be able to open common prepackaged foods (milk container, apple sauce, gogurt, ect).  There is only one or two adults supervising lunch so the little ones can't rely on help.
7. Understand how they will be going home each day.  We did a mixture of after school care and car rider so it was very important we told her each day how she was coming home.
8.  Know how to sharpen a pencil!
9. Understand time limits.  Tori struggles with this still, she likes to take her time with everything.  Introduce timing devices before kinder so you child understands what they mean.
10. Know how to use scissors.  The kids are expected to already know this when they start school and they use them almost every day.
11. Learn to love books and reading.  Don't get rid of your "baby books" just yet. They are great material for new readers.  Rereading familiar books is great for confidence and word recognition.  Have your child read to you EVERY night!  Just do it!  They have to practice reading every day to stay on track. 
12.  Start having your child write stories.  Tori refused to write words she didn't know how to spell at the beginning so she was writing very little in class.  Once she understood that it was ok to spell things wrong she started writing wonderful stories.  Writing a story and illustrating it starts almost immediately in kindergarten.  This was one of the biggest surprises to me!
13. Your child should be confident in themselves. They should know that they are going to be learning a lot and that they can do it. They need to know you are proud of them and that they are doing a good job.  Positive reinforcement of learning should start way before school starts.

Once they start school a whole new world openes up for them.  Prepare to be amazed at how quickly your baby will learn!  I am so proud of this little girl and everything she has accomplished this year! 

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

"I'm soooo hungry"

Oh my, I can sympathize this this mama bird! 😀 why is it that offspring go from content to starving in 2 seconds flat?!?!  They don't care if it's the first time you've sat down for the day, when they decide they're hungry (even though you may have just fed them a meal that they normally love but have decided that today they don't like rice!) you must either feed them or listen to the squalking. 

It's a good thing they're so darn cute!!! 



These little guys are hiding in the holly bushes on the side of our house.  My minions love seeing how much they change each day. Baby birds are so ugly they're cute!

Monday, April 20, 2015

Chilly mornings

Like mama like daughters..... We hate cold feet!!  (Yet we don't like to wear socks or shoes)

In the winter I find them like this frequently.... 

In the spring we love open windows but mornings are still too chilly!!  Nothing like a toasty fire to warm up those tootsies!
 
We are a "we like it warm" kind of family. We are happy when it's 76 in the house. (72 is too cold!).  Yes, we most definitely live in the wrong part of the country. Yes, you are quite right, we should live in the south.... Near a beach.... Or maybe right on the water.  But until then we will dream about summer and keep warming our toes how ever we can.🌞



Thursday, April 16, 2015

Pants Optional

Now that it's getting warm Liam has decided that he doesn't need to wear pants when he's outside 😝 Thank goodness we have neighbors that would think it's funny!!!  

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Fashionista

This little girl puts together outfits so much better than I do!  I told her to go up to her room and get dressed and this is what she picked.  White long sleeve top, denim vest, black leggings and leopard flats!  Minus the rainbow socks, her fashion sense is on point with the looks I see on pinterest.  Maybe she can teach me!! ☺️

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Comeback??

I am not great with sticking with things.... Home renovations, project ideas, and especially diets.  I tend to take on many things at once and don't always finish what I started. Hopefully many of you can relate!  I have not blogged in 😳 almost 2 years!  Last time I blogged there was no blogger app, no emojis to sweeten up a post and the kids were still "babies."  A lot has changed in the past 2 years and I'm not going to try to revisit everything I've missed but I will start back up fresh!  

Here is my trio now!  Tori is 5 and finishing up kindergarten and the twins are 3 and in the preschool room in day care.  These moments are few and far between but they are what I will miss the most when these three get big and are too cool to cuddle together. 💕 

 
(Lizzi refused to take a paci as a baby but all of a sudden at age 3 she wants to use her baby doll's pacifier.  It's not even a real one, it has a short hard stick like piece that goes in the doll's mouth.  It's well hidden now so hopefully that little phase is over!)