Avi - 5/31/2017

Avilene ate a couple bites of french toast and ate strawberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bite of salmon patty, ate whole wheat dinner roll, taste of squash, and ate banana.

This is just an FYI for all the Daycare Families:  Tomorrow, June 1st, a new girl is starting at Little Treasures.  Her name is Atley and she is one month younger than Avilene.  So it's going to be a bit busy around here - at least until the end of the school year.  Then the Cline girls have different activities planned for the summer.  And Reid will be "very part time."  A different child always changes the dynamics of the daycare somewhat so I'm just letting you all know the Blogs may run a bit later than they have been.

Look at this picture!!  First day on the nap mat!!  She did totally awesome even though she was excited and wanted to keep lifting her head up and look around at the other kids on their nap mats; "There's Reido, Sophie, and Bubba!!  And now I get to sleep here too!!"  Nice job Avilene!!  :)  It probably took her just 5 - 10 minutes to fall asleep.

Avi did some coloring on coffee filters with markers today and then we sprayed them with water.  She was acting like it was "dot painting;" just pounding away with them!  Haha!  Here are some more pictures from this morning's activities.  Avilene was looking at this book and she's almost always so gentle when Nora comes to see what she's doing.  Hudson and Sophie were putting dress-up clothes over their head so of course Avilene had to give it a go!  Hudson was saying, "Look at me, look at me, look at me....."  Avi started saying, "at me, at me, at me."  In the last picture she made it to the blue balance beam and was thinking about standing up, but decided that's still a bit too scary!!  She's wearing a headband with a shirt draped around her neck.  I like how Sophie is keeping a very close and concerned eye on Avi's progress!

Avi - 5/30/2017

Avilene ate toasted whole wheat english muffin and ate banana for breakfast.  For lunch she ate a bite or two of pork chops, ate whole wheat toast, ate roasted beets, bites of roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes, and ate applesauce.

We did a toy, book, and puzzle exchange this weekend and Avi was a busy little girl this morning.  When she first arrived she was watching Lauralea out the window helping her daughter Missy with her car.  Avi kept saying, "Lauralea, Lauralea, Lauralea..."  However, as soon as Lauralea came in the house and over to the gate to say "hi" then Avi was acting all coy and cool.  Haha!  Cracked me up!

These two pictures in front of the mirror crack me up!!  She was totally entertaining herself and making herself laugh!  So cute.   Then Avilene was crawling up the steps to the blue balance beam.  She slid off and Nora happened to be in the exact right or wrong spot!  (I guess that totally depends on your perspective!!)  But she softened Avi's landing regardless!  Avi kind of landed on Nora's side and Nora howled for only a few seconds.

 

Here's a picture of Avilene struggling to get on some dress-up clothes - but she soon managed to get it on and she was ready to play.  Sophie loves to dress-up and Avilene was getting some clues from watching her!!

 

Avi - 5/26/2017

Avilene ate oatmeal and pears for breakfast.  For lunch she ate tilapia, a few whole wheat elbow noodles, a few green beans, and ate applesauce.  I have my phone set to sound like "crickets" when there is an incoming text and it went off at breakfast.  Avilene was looking all over the place and said, "bird, bird."  And she was pointing toward the window!!  :)

I've been reminding her that "Grandma and Grandpa" are going to pick her up today.  The last time I said that she looked at me and pointed at Hudson and said, "Bubba."  Then she pointed at Nora and said, "Nora."  I think she was saying, "How about we talk about people I can see right now!!??"  Ha!

Here are several pictures from the morning activities:  There are only 3 kids here today - Reid and Sophie are gone.  Avi found the "cook's hat" and this was the first time!!  Isn't this cute!?  We're doing the toy exchange this weekend so at least she found it one time!!  Ha!!  Everyday someone yells, "Mail's here!" and they all go to the window!  In the 3rd picture Avi was bobbing up and down peeking at me and it was cute.  The last picture is Avi being Avi and running around Blind again!!  "Hey!  Who put the igloo here!!??!!"  She even experimented with the steps to the balance beam with her head covered with that silly purse!!  What a goof!!

Avi - 5/25/2017

Avilene ate whole wheat bagel and peaches for breakfast.  For lunch she ate pizza we made ("we" means Lauralea).  Whole wheat pizza crust, hamburger & sausage, tomato sauce, mushrooms, olives, peppers, and pineapple.

There is only ONE movable object in the Daycare Room and that's the swivel/rocker.  This morning Baby Nora was trying to hang on to the chair and pull herself to a standing position when Avi was spinning the chair.  :)  That did not end well!  Ok Nora, let's move to a different spot to practice standing!

I took this first picture shortly after Avi arrived this morning when she and Bubba were having a blast running and peeking at each other.  Avilene was yelling, "Bubba Bubba Bubba."  The 2nd picture may look a bit more calm, but it really wasn't that way!  They were still cheering, squealing, squirming, and laughing!  In my world there is not a more beautiful sound than the sound of children enjoying life!!  :)

Lauralea was taking turns doing "walk walk, trot trot...." with the kids this morning.  I like how they are all watching and waiting for their turn.  You can also see in the picture that Lauralea has fixed ponytails in Avi and Sophie's hair.  (Baby Nora got her first ponytails this morning too!  Soon after I took this picture!)

This picture depicts Avi's favorite activity this week; spinning and twirling with a piece of cloth.  She uses the doll blankets or any of the dress-up clothes.  She happens to be using one of the play aprons in the picture.

Avi - 5/24/2017

Avilene ate whole wheat toast and peaches (in place of grapes) for breakfast.  For lunch she ate some pork roast, toasted rye bread, carrots, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, and I didn't give her any fruit salad  - hoping to prevent diaper rash.

Avi had a typical morning for her - in a cheerful mood, lots of activity and movement.  At Story Time she was snuggled up against me on the couch and may have been a little tired because she usually squirms at least for awhile before she settles in for the rest of the stories.  Today she just sat there so relaxed and never wiggled!  I love it when she snuggles; doesn't happen often enough!!  :)  Then she and Sophie were playing in the swivel/rocker chair when I took this picture.  Here's what I like about this picture: Sophie is focused on the mirror and Avi is straining to get this sucker rocking!!  Typical!!

Avilene was having a blast doing the "dot painting" at Art Time today.  I love this picture of her and I want you to notice the perfect dot painting form!!  She's "two-fisting" it, holding it high, and bringing it down with authority!!  :)  Well done Avi!!

Here are a couple other pictures from today; Avi, Sophie, and Bubba were all "standing" on their heads.  I like how Sophie and Avi are holding their arms in the air.  In the last picture Nora and Avi are having a discussion about the colors and designs in the poster.  :)

Avi - 5/23/2017

Avilene ate toasted whole wheat english muffin and banana (in place of dried prunes) for breakfast.  For lunch she ate half of stir fry chicken and vegetables, ate brown rice, and oranges.

Avilene was being her cute adorable self this morning; dancing, spinning, twirling, standing on her head, jumping on the mattress, thinking about jumping off the blue balance beam, but deciding to just crawl off, laughing at silly things, jabbering at me when I was reading books, holding a doll blanket and spinning with it, giving loves to Baby Nora, and loving it when I laughed at all her antics!!  Notice in the 2nd picture how her left index finger is pointing straight in the air.  :)  She is such an awesome fun-loving little girl - what a treasure!!

How cute is this last picture!?!  Silly Avilene!  I had put her hat on the "right" way, but she adjusted it and this was the result and the cute part was how she just left it this way and continued to play for probably 20 minutes.  She can hardly see out of her right eye!

Avi - 5/22/2017

Avilene ate cheerios and banana for breakfast.  For lunch she ate some taco salad; ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, ate olives, avocados, and most of her cantaloupe.  When we were at the window waving bye to "Daddy Andy" Hudson said, "Bye Andy."  Avi said, "Andy!"  Ha!  So cute.

The kids played on the mattress and I love it when they all play together like in the 1st picture!  Avi likes to be in the middle of everything, but she mostly likes to just keep moving.  So if the activity slows down she just keeps on moving!!

Avi had been watching Sophie and Bubba play on these shelves and as soon as Sophie moved somewhere else Avi moved right onto the shelf.  She peeking over the edge to check on Hudson!  They were pretending to nap, but Avi wasn't really into that game!!  Haha!

Here's a picture of Avi looking at herself with a head covering.  Shortly before I took this picture Avilene had been going across the room with her head covered up - running blind - and banged right into the gate.  She didn't even whimper!  Geez!  That could not have felt very good!!  :)

We also played outside for awhile this morning and Avi was in one of the play houses.  Sophie and Hudson frequently use this spot to make and serve "ice cream."  I think Avi was doing something similar, but I couldn't understand what she was saying.  However, she is definitely saying lots of words now!!

Avi - 5/19/2017

Avilene ate brown rice and banana for breakfast.  For lunch she ate lots of salmon, ate dinner roll, and peas.  (I withheld the corn and mango in case it would irritate her diaper rash.)  I said, "I'm sorry you can't have mango, Avi Nelson."  Hudson started chanting; "Avi Nelson, Avi Nelson, Avi Nelson."  :)

When we are outside playing I've "trained" the older kids to point out the dandelions and I dig em out!  Yesterday Kenzie said, "The Babies aren't much help finding dandelions!!  They just bring the flowers!"  :)  And she's right.  Avi and Hudson understand the game - "Here's a dandelion!"  But they don't realize just walking across the yard holding the flower isn't proper procedure!!  Haha!  They are in the early stages of this important training!

Lauralea had some extra time before she left for work today so she fixed the girls' hair!  She's a pro and I love it when she has time to fix hair.  And she makes it look easy!!  I've included a picture of Sophie's 4 ponytails to prove my point about Lauralea being the hair pro!!  She said, "I just love little girl's hair!"  Yes, I know!!  She's had many years experience to perfect this!!

Avilene was playing with a purse and I said, "Hey Avi, that would make a great hat!"  She immediately put it on her head and started strolling around with it!  Haha!  Hudson heard that and he got a hat as well - except now it became a much more dangerous game!!  :)  Actually they were both amazingly careful!  In the last picture the kids are watching a "battery powered" hamster that Riley brought with her today.  For those that don't know - Riley is here because it's Kindergarten Roundup at her school so the present Kindergarten Class gets a day off!  (Riley's hair is in a very pretty french-braid.)

Avi - 5/18/2017

Avilene ate whole wheat english muffin and oranges for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of chicken and cabbage combo, ate whole grain tortillas, and ate baked apples with cinnamon.

Reid was in the bathroom going potty and Avilene was at the gate waiting for him to return. She very plainly said, "Reido doe-n-potty."  (going potty)  Nice sentence Avilene!!

I have to journal this because it doesn't happen a lot, but I certainly treasure the moment when it does happen!!! Avi came running across the room with her arms stretched above her head to where I was sitting in the chair and gave me a huge hug.  She was on her tippy-toes and hugging tight.  It lasted at least 15 - 20 seconds and in Avi's world that's a LONG time.  Super precious and awesome!

What a blast to have our Nora back today from her Denver trip!!  Here are 2 pictures of Avilene hugging her and Nora was loving every minute of all the attention!  Nora arrived during Breakfast time and everyone was madly cheering!  In the 3rd picture all 5 of the kids are on the mattress having lots of fun.  Reid was pestering Avi with the stuffed bunny and dangling it in front of her!

These last 2 pictures crack me up!!  Avi played with the animal masks several times this morning and was putting them on by herself.  She has the (bear) mask on backwards and she was examining the sole of my shoe.  The last picture is a "goat" mask and I love the floppy ears!  So cute!  I was grabbing the camera and saying, "Please don't take it off, please don't take it off."  :)  And she was waiting - kind of froze in place!!  Haha!!  Thanks Avilene!

 

Avi - 5/17/2017

Avilene ate half of french toast and ate strawberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate turkey burger on whole wheat bun, ate tomato, avocado, no lettuce, and ate tropical fruit.  Hey, while I'm thinking about it, just a reminder to bring Avi's immunization record so I can update mine.  Thanks.

Lauralea was leaving for work and taking turns singing to the kids on her lap and Avi was saying, "Walk walk..."  It's one of the "song games" Lauralea does with them.  I think it's hilarious because Reid will want a turn, but he has to sit the opposite way of how Avilene is sitting in the picture below. He's just too big, so he sit's facing out!  And even then Lauralea can only "bounce" him on her knee for a few seconds!!  Haha!!

Avilene was playing in front of the mirror again like yesterday - see picture on yesterday's Blog - except today she added another move - on her knees.  Silly Avi!  She loves it when we laugh at her and she kicks it into overdrive!!  She was also watching Reid play on the mattress and balance beam and she thought about mimicking him and sliding down head first!  See the 3rd picture: (Notice Reid in picture too.)  Reid is saying, "Come on head first, head first...."  It apparently just didn't feel safe and she wouldn't do it! Which, in my opinion, shows good sense!!  :)  Good job Avi!!

We did some "golf ball" art and here's a picture of what that looks like when Avi is rolling those golf balls around.  We used to do this with 1 golf ball and no lid - I now use 4 golf balls and a lid!!  And it goes much faster!!  :)  There were times before using a lid when painted golf balls were rolling across the floor too!!

Avi - 5/16/2017

Avilene ate bites of toasted rye bread and ate two servings of banana (substituted for grapes) for breakfast.  For lunch she ate some of ground burger, whole wheat elbow noodles, peas, and ate her applesauce.  She is doing so well feeding herself with a spoon now.

It's only Avi and Sophie at Little Treasures again today until the Cline girls come after school.  Avi was here for probably 45 minutes by herself.  So Lauralea and I were having fun getting her to say different words.  So CUTE!!  (Really cool words like "Avi, Gary, Lauralea."  Haha!)  I asked her; "Do you love Lauralea?"  She does the cutest big head nod.  :)

Speaking of words, she brought me some books and gave the command: "READ."  Ha!  Yes Master.  I was reading a line from the book that said, "My Baby likes to celebrate birthdays..."  Avilene said, "Happy Bir-day; Happy You."  And she was essentially singing it!  Nice job Avilene!!

Several years ago Lauralea and I would do formal developmental evaluations and I remember the section on "physical" and the large motor/small motor development.  One of the questions was about their ability to walk backwards.  This morning Avi was running at the mirror, going up against the bar, pushing off and essentially running backwards.  (Similar to what she was doing when I posted the picture in yesterday's Blog.)  I would say she has that conquered!!  Not walk backwards, but RUN backwards!!  Her large motor development continues to impress me!!

I took this first picture when Avilene and Sophie were playing the xylophones and Sophie was singing, "Mousey mousy in the housey."  Avi preferred to turn her's over (see 2nd picture) and make noise on the "ribbed" part.  A few minutes later they were playing at the sink with the food toys - cakes, cookies, and brownies in this food set.  Sophie said, "Gary, I have to go poop.  My brownies and cookies are cooking.  Can you keep an eye on them so Avi doesn't steal them."  Ha!  ok.

Avi - 5/15/2017

Avilene ate kix cereal and mixed fruit for breakfast.  For lunch she ate half of pork roast, ate half of crackers, ate most of carrots, and ate her cherries.  She was mimicking what Sophie was saying at lunch, "More crackers, more crackers."  (As she's sitting with a cracker in each hand.  Haha!)

I have a note leftover from last week.  We were playing outside and I was showing the kids a big (not too big, but probably more than an inch long.) ugly beetle on the patio.  Sophie didn't like it and was kind of freaking out (staring to scream), Reid said, "kill it already!!" and Avilene went over to look at it and slightly pushed on it's head.  Cracked me up.

We did a toy, book, and puzzle exchange this weekend and Avilene was busy from the moment she entered the Play Room!!  I like this first picture how she's checking out the back side of the pop-up toys; "how are these things assembled and how do they work!?!"  In the 2nd picture Sophie said, "I'm popping these up for Avi to push down."

Avi was running to the mirror, laughing at herself, then running off.  She did it 3 or 4 times and I managed to get a picture!  Little cutie.

We read lots of books and also did some painting at Art Time.  They started with a brush, but quickly switched to just using their hands.  (By the way, Sophie and Avilene are the only 2 kids here today - until the Cline girls come after school.)  Sophie was also putting on some tutus and wanting Avilene and I to watch her dance.  She said, "Just watch....and then you can clap when I bow."  Haha!

Avi - 5/11/2017

Avilene ate toasted rye bread for breakfast.  (I withheld the dried plums!)  For lunch she ate most of pulled pork sandwich, half of peas, and half of cantaloupe.  I'd laid Nora down for her nap and turned on all the sound machines while the other kids were finishing lunch.  Avilene (still sitting in her highchair) started singing; "Night night Bubba, night night Bubba."  Then she switched to Reid; "Night night Reido."  :)

Lauralea is frequently leaving for work while the kids are eating breakfast.  And she always gives everyone a love goodbye.  She hugged Avi, who then pointed at Hudson and said, "Bubba."  (Ok, it's Bubba's turn.)  She hugged Hudson, who then pointed at Nora and said, "Nora."  (Ok, it's Nora's turn.)  It was so cute!!  Just more of those routines than I always talk about!  They (routines) are so important to the children as it builds trust and security and makes the children feel safe!

Well it was nice to have our resident entertainer perform for the kids today.  Reid asked me yesterday if he could bring his "kendama" to Daycare today.  What?!?!  After 10 attempts to understand what the heck he was talking about I had to refer to Google for the answer!!  (That's a hint just in case you too have no idea!!  Haha!)  I took the picture below as he dazzled an appreciative crowd!!  :)

Reid was spinning Avi and Hudson in the chair.  I took this picture just before they started and it looks like a serious discussion.  Maybe Reid was giving a Pep Talk about what to expect during take-off and landing!!

Nora had been trying to crawl between the Big Panda bear and the wall (see picture below) and it was kind of narrow and she was getting stuck - yelling, muttering, and causing a commotion.  Avi raced over there to see what the heck was the problem with her friend Nora!  Sweet little girls!!  :)  I think I heard Nora tell Avilene; "That Gary person just keeps taking pictures and laughing at me!"