We're Alive!

We're still alive! I just haven't had much time/nor much news to blog about! Rylee is on Spring Break this week. We've just been hanging out, enjoying the fact that we've not had to get up and get going each morning and that we don't have anything we HAVE to do. It's been nice and has made me a bit eager for summertime, we won't be on the go all the time!

My parents and grandparents are on their way to Indiana today from Mississippi, they are coming thru this way and taking Rylee home with them. She'll have an extra night with Nina and Papaw until we join them tomorrow evening in Brazil. Saturday is Hally's first birthday party, we're going up there to celebrate! Rylee is super excited to go to Hally's party!

I am off work until after the first weekend in April. I am actually only going to be working one day a week after that. I'm looking forward to that. It will be nice to know that I won't have to put off things at home to go to work AND maybe I won't spend as much money there...since I won't be there as often! I've taken the 2 weeks off though to work on my spring cleaning and some projects that need to be done around the house. I've always got some project in mind!

I am sure I will have more to blog about after the next couple of weekends, we've got Hally's party this weekend and then Ry's first soccer game the following weekend! The soccer game may include video for entertainment!

Spring Parent/Teacher Conference

I met with Ms. Barb last Thursday for our Spring Parent/Teacher Conference. We got a wonderful report again! As I'm re-reading the Summary of Developmental Progress paper we got a copy of, I'm wondering why some of this isn't exhibited at home...

Of course, she is still a little social bug and interacts with other children and participates in cooperative play with a variety of friends. She demonstates self-direction and independence and can follow multiple-step directions.

Rylee can do most of the Large Motor skills they are tested on, skipping is an emerging skill. I'm not too worried about that, I doubt I could skip myself! Well, at least not without making myself fall on my face in the process! As for Fine Motor skills, Ry uses the "tripod grasp" with writing materials. She draws a person with 9 or more reconizable features. (Ms. Barb showed me a pic. that Ry had drawn of a person when they first started at the beginning of the year and then another pic. that she's drawn recently - you can only imagine the difference!) Rylee writes her name using capital and lowercase letters - this is one thing we talked about working with her on at the Fall conference - she was writing her name in all caps (RYLEE) and now she writes it correctly (Rylee)! Rylee can draw basic shapes, hold scissors correctly and cut paper. She can also complete multiple piece puzzles!

Smart bug can recongnize the letters in her name, can name basic colors and shapes and sorts by color, shape and size. She counts up to 11, demonstrates 1-to-1 correspondence, and identifies numbers 1 thru 10. She is also good with identifying and completing patterns.

Rylee expresses herself using her words and sentences. She can answer the "wh" questions and open-ended questions appropriately. She participates in conversations with teachers and peers. She enjoys reading (duh) and interprets meaning from books.

Ms. Barb gave us a list of things that we can work with her on at home as they work with her at school. We are to encourage identification of letters and their sounds - especially the letters in her name. We can promote language development by enouraging her to write the letters in her name and other words. We also want to provide opportunities to explore math concepts within her environment.

It was amazing to see the things that Rylee has done in class and to hear from her teacher all the great ways and things she does in school! We know that Rylee enjoys school immensely, I just hope that continues with her thru the rest of her educational years!

Rylee's Self Portraits

Rylee got ahold of my camera this evening. Among the pictures that she took of random things in their room, she also had this self portraits! Enjoy!

a little peanut butter on her face...leftovers from dinner

She's a funny girl...really cute too - she's gets it from her momma :)

Library Time

We have a great library here in Jeffersonville. It is only about a year old and is super nice! The girls and I went there on Monday and picked out some books - surprisingly, we don't have EVERY book at home! We had some great fun and are going to make it a Monday ritual!

I'm hoping we won't be talked about among the librarians though. Macee pulls books off the shelf fast and I don't know where from and so instead of putting them in the wrong spot, I set them on a table...unfortuantely, someone had to put them in the correct spot!

The girls looking down at our van in the parking lot from the children's area at the library.
BOOK HEAVEN!

Macee beginning her escapade of pulling numerous books off the shelves...

Rylee showing off a book...and excitement!

reading and playing :)

If You Give A Pig A Pancake

Last week I went with Rylee to school and spent some time in her classroom. I read the class If You Give A Pig A Pancake and then we made pancakes for snack time! The kids were so excited about the book - especially when we got to the part about the pig wanting a rubber ducky - all the kids needed to tell me how many rubber duckies they have at home (if some of the kids have as many as they say they do, their parents are NUTS!)! The pancakes were a hit also! I enjoyed my time with the kiddos and am actually looking for another fun something to do with them before the end of the school year!

Busy Bees eating yummy pancakes!

Coach Laritz

Well, I guess we really need to get a soccer ball magnet/sticker for the van now! When we registered Ry for soccer, I also volunteered Marty to be an Assistant Coach. I thought it would be good for him to be involved, he knows how the game is played, and if he is an Assistant, I wouldn't have to make all these phone calls to parents. I had just said this to the other moms while at dance this morning and I must have jinxed myself...we just found out that he is the head Coach...not the Asst.! This should make for an interesting season...and first experience at soccer for Rylee (she is going to LOVE it that Daddy is the coach)! Don't worry, I'm sure there will be blogs and video to come in the future about our soccer stars!

Book Fair

This week Trinity is having a book fair and don't think we've not gotten new books! The girls were super excited to see all the books in Murr Hall today when we walked into preschool!

While we were waiting to register Ry for Pre-K, Macee and I picked out some books to surprise Rylee with after preschool! We also picked a book from Ms. Barb's book request basket for Rylee to give to the classroom!

I'm just hoping that I didn't duplicate any of the books that Rylee picked out from the book order that they sent home a few weeks ago!

Purplicious, Dooby Dooby Moo, Starry Safari, and My Dog, Buddy are the new books that we picked up today to add to our already massive collection!
Macee cheesin' with Starry Safari and My Dog, Buddy!

Rylee with her new books!

We love to read and read each book before nap time today!

Dr. Seuss' Birthday Fun

Today at preschool, Ms. Candace (Lauren's Mommy) read a couple Dr. Seuss books and helped the kids make these fun hats like The Cat in The Hat! She also sent home some really fun color pages!

Dr. Seuss birthday was on Monday and what a great way to share about an awesome author and celebrate his birthday!

Rylee in her hat!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Just Throw It In The Fountain!

The girls and I headed over to Louisville on Monday and did a little shopping. Of course, the main event for them was that each mall has a water fountain within it and they got to throw money into the fountain!

I believe that Rylee threw all of hers at once and Macee, well, she had a couple tries because she kept tossing it onto the edge of the fountain!

The girls next to the fountain/money pool!
Rylee, sitting pretty, watching the water...and the birds flying around!

Macee was too excited to look at the camera - I think she thought she was getting in!

Daddy - notice the title of this blog? Here we are, tossing money into the fountain...made me remember when you coined the phrase, "Just throw it in the river!"

Just Fabulous

I had to take a change of clothes for Ry to keep at preschool with us today. We were getting ready to head out the door when she looked into her bag and says this, "Just fabulous Mommy. You didn't put panties in that baggie." She then started to proceed to her room to get a change of panties all while grunting over the fact that she had to go get some herself. FYI: There were panties in the bag, she just didn't see them - I was trying to keep them discret since they are her panties!

I share this story because I'm reminded each and every day that my lil' ones hear and see EVERYTHING that I say and do and I need to be smart, plus it was absolutely hilarious the way she said it! I also say things are "just fabulous" when in reality they aren't! Sarcasm has been instilled within Rylee...

Rylee's Heart

Rylee made this heart for Marty and I for Valentines at preschool. Since we brought it home it's been on the refrigerator for all to see. Sunday, Rylee said she needed to take a pic. of us with the heart she made.

(I think I'm creating a monster - I, too, think we need pics. of just about EVERYTHING!)

Marty and I with our heart.

(Just be in awe over the cute heart and fact that Ry wanted a pic. of us with it, don't pay any attention to the rags we're wearing.)
Of course, she needed a pic. of Macee with us and the heart too!
We spent most of the time preceeding the picture trying to get Macee to not rip it up or throw it on the ground.

Going to Pre-K

Seriously? There are only 3 more months of school left? Dang, Rylee's first year of preschool has gone by so fast! Today we registered her for Pre-K! In Indiana she would have to be 5 before August 1st to go to Kindergarten this fall. Of course, she's late by 30 days! I've been told that she could be tested and possible start early and I know that Rylee would probably do fine with whatever testing they do (and I'm not just saying that because she's my kid, she is really a smart girl and eager to learn), but we've decided to a year of Pre-K. She will be one of the older kids in her class, but she will...hopefully...also be one of the more mature and prepared ones.

They say that time flies...that really is no lie!

TLC, where Rylee goes to preschool, has a Beginnings Class which is for 2 year olds. We have contemplated putting Macee in this class. I've been told that it is more for the social aspect than the learning. I think this would be great for Macee, seeming as though she isn't really around other kids except for at church, but we'll continue to think about it. I'm not sure that I'm ready for my baby to be in school - don't need to be getting any ideas in my head about another lil' one quite yet!