Avi - 4/30/2018

Avilene ate cheerios and banana for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bite of ground beef, ate whole grain pita bread, ate olives, bite of tomatoes, ate avocados, and two large servings of watermelon.  Nora has been a great example for her many many "thank you's!!"  She says "thank you" after everything!!  It's so cute!  All of the kids were saying "thank you" at breakfast and lunch!  Thank you Nora!  :)

Here's a leftover note from last week.  I unintentionally called Linnea, "Lvea."  Combining Svea and Linnea's names!  Haha!  It actually sounds very pretty.  Messing up names is not real uncommon around here.  You should have heard it several years ago when Lauralea and I were licensed for 12 kids.  Oh man, there were times we'd say the funniest names or say 3 and 4 four names before we'd get the correct ones!!

First picture; Avi likes going off the end of the couch head-first and Atley likes to follow her!  :) Next picture:  Then Avi was sitting on the "bump" (that's what we call it) of the couch reading her book and Atley scooted right up close to her with a book as well.  Then Atley started reading and singing LOUD! You can see in the picture how Avi is now looking at Atley's book like "that must be very interesting book because she is very loud and persuasive with it!!"  :)

Here are a couple more pictures from the morning activities.  Avi said, "Hey!  You wanna do some snow-plowing!?!"  (That's what I call it when they plow around on the floor with their foreheads down.)  The funny part - Hudson and Atley immediately knew what she meant!  And down to the floor they went plowing their way around!!  :)  We did some coloring on coffee filters in the last picture and then sprayed them with water!

Avi - 4/27/2018

Avilene ate a large serving of oatmeal and a bite of sliced apples for breakfast.  For lunch she ate salmon, half of dinner roll, ate a large serving of green beans, and a large serving of mangoes.  As Hudson was coming out for breakfast he asked, "Are we having oatmeal?"  Yes we are.  Avilene added; "And avocado?"  Haha!  Uhh, no.  We've never had that combo!

During story time Avi looked at one of the pictures and said they were "rolling skating."  So cute.  That was too cute and I didn't want to "correct" her except they were actually "ice skating!"  :)  Here's another cute story that's not about Avi, but I think you'll like it.  This morning while I was feeding Baby Svea -  Nora, Avi, and Hudson were also on the couch.  Nora wanted to sit directly beside me and yelled "MOVE" to Hudson and he said, "Honey, I'm not moving.  I'm sitting here!"  Isn't that hilarious!?!  Oh man that was so cute!!  Nora looked at him like "whatever" and started sucking her thumb!  :)  I asked Hudson, "Did you just call her Honey?"  He said, "Yes."  (With a big grin.)

Well I have a couple of pictures from yesterday afternoon outside and the kids have been loving it and so have I!!  Kenzie and Riley were doing bubbles for the kids again and in the first picture Kenzie is in the yellow shirt.  If you look close you can see a bubble in front of Atley and three bubbles in front of Avi.  Nora is on the left of the picture.  I took a lot of pictures before I got a couple that had ALL 4 kids in one picture!!  Avi looks a little warm in the 2nd picture.  She was running and playing hard and it was warm.  I had their water bottles outside - Avi's face always reminds me to get the water bottles!!  :)

Here are a couple of pictures from this morning.  Atley was being a "goof" of course and after they'd waved at one of the parents she was hitting her head on the window and saying, "bonk" every time!  Avi did it once very softly and Nora just watched.  Haha!  Wouldn't it be fun to know what Nora is thinking!  Atley was laughing and Avi was giggling.  The last picture - Atley got the pillows and was pretending to sleep.  (It actually was after lunch and just before nap and she was tired.)  Avi joined her and of course that turned to play.

Avi - 4/26/2018

Avilene ate toasted whole wheat english muffin and oranges for breakfast.  For lunch she ate most of ground beef, a large serving of whole wheat elbow noodles, ate most of peas, and a large serving of applesauce.  At lunch Svea was laying by us in an infant seat and Avi was talking to her.  Avi said, "I'm asking Svea a question."  About what?  She said, "Trampoline play."  Hudson said, "Flying Squirrel."  Then Hudson told Avi, "I watch a movie every night called Inspicable Me."  I said, '"Oh, is that a sequel to Despicable me?"  He said, "Yes."  :)

So here is Avi and My conversation every time after she uses the toilet.  Me; "I'm gonna pull up your panties."  Avi; "Noooo, pannies." giggle, giggle.   :)  Apparently there is no "t" sound in panties!

I took this first picture yesterday afternoon and the kids were having fun searching for and chasing bugs on the garage walls.  Lots of flies and a few box elder bugs.  (It must be spring!) Then they were trying to "get" the bugs with the balls they have.  Let's just say that the bugs were pretty safe!!  This game kept their attention for 20 - 30 minutes.

So here's the story behind the next picture.  Nora was working on the puzzle that Avi is "fixing."  All the pieces are identically shaped, but the idea is to match the tails or heads to the correct animal.  At this point Nora doesn't care or understand that part, she's just happy to get the pieces to fit!!  Nora finished that puzzle, pushed it aside, and started another one.  Well Avilene saw what Nora was doing she immediately had to fix it.  :)  You are a great little fixer and problem solver Avi!!

Yesterday I posted a picture of the kids huddled around Svea.  Here's another picture of everyone looking at Svea and this better depicts what it normally looks like!  This is like a "viewing pen" for the young public to see a baby!!  :)  The last picture is from yesterday and I like the sign that Riley made.  It says; "Come see the Baby!"  Svea is the sweetest baby.  She just smiles ALL the time!  What a doll.

Avi - 4/25/2018

Avilene ate french toast and two servings of strawberries for breakfast.  For lunch she had a large serving of paleo stew with chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, green beans, and carrots!  She ate crackers and two servings of tropical fruit.

So I have to post a picture of the new arrival at Little Treasures!!  Svea is starting full-time today and I put her on the floor just for the picture moment!!  (Atley is looking, but not touching!  Wow!  She obviously knew the camera was on!  Ha!)  Avi said, "We put her on the floor at home!"  Haha!  Well that's not gonna happen here for a few weeks and the picture tells the story!!  :)  Group loves in a Daycare setting can be overwhelming when you're just starting out in life!!  Especially when you're surrounded by 2 year olds!  So again, I want to remind everyone that I have a full house and I will do my best to get the Blogs out in a timely manner (12:30 - 3:00), but the two babies dictate much of the schedule!  Avi was just relentless in her quizzing of me when Svea awoke from her morning nap!  "When did she wake up!?  Why is she still in her jammies!?  We put her on the floor at home!  I'm gonna tickle her!  I tickle her at home!  Why is she on the changing table!?"  Haha!  (Relax Big Sister; I got this!)

Here are some Avi and Hudson conversations from this morning!  Lots of our Special Books we read during Story Time are songs as well!  And several have the notes on the back page.  So a few months ago I made the comment three or four times that "I can play that on the piano" because it only has 5 or 6 notes!  Now, every song and every story, Avi and Hudson ask the same question; "Can you play that on the piano?"  Haha!  Yup!  With one hand!  Before Story Time Avilene started singing "Old King Cole was a merry old soul."  Then Bubba continued with "He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his fiddlers three!"  Good job you two!!  I tried to join in and Avi said, "Hey, I'm singing that!"  LOL!  There was a truck parked in front of the house and Hudson asked about the writing on the side of the door.  I told him it said, "Missoula Water Company."  He said, "I live in Missoula."  I said, "Me too."  Avilene said, "I don't."  Haha!

Avi - 4/24/2018

Avilene ate most of waffle and two servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate baked chicken, bites of whole grain tortilla, ate a large serving of corn, and two servings of baked cinnamon apples.

This first note is from yesterday!  Avi looked at my feet and said, "You have shoes!!"  LOL!  I think this is why she said that: I've been wearing these slip-on crocs all winter and now that we're going outside more I switched to regular shoes.  Cracked me up!  They can be SO observant and the next moment they can't see a toy laying in front of them!!  :)

Avi was looking at my "new" fish tank ($3 dollar fake fish from Goodwill - perfect) and I asked, "Hey Avi, do you like my new fish?!?"  She said, "Can you put it on the floor?"  Haha!  (Answer a question with a question!)  Sorry sweetie, that ain't happening!  It wouldn't last two minutes with two year olds!

First picture:  Avi said, "Hey Lauralea!  Watch this!"  As she's heading to the igloo to jump!  The 2nd picture;  Yesterday Avi was sitting on the airplane and trying to "ride" on it.  This morning she asked first; "Hey Gary! Can I ride on this airplane?"  Nope, same answer as yesterday.  It's not big enough for that.  So she's just trying to stick her foot inside.  Ha!

This last picture makes me laugh!  Avi had build this tall block tower with the little blocks and then carried it across the room!  I was impressed and I asked her if she'd pick it up again so I could get a picture.  She worked hard and tried, but was never able to get it off the ground without it coming apart!  As you can see in this picture it was coming apart in 2 places!!  Thanks for trying Avilene!! You're a good sport!!

Avi - 4/23/2018

Avilene ate kix cereal and two servings of mixed fruit for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of turkey burger, bites of whole wheat hamburger bun, bites of lettuce and tomato, most of avocado, and two servings of cherries.

So here's what's happening today: Hudson is gone until Wednesday.  We did a toy, book, and puzzle exchange this weekend so the kids were busy.  Also, no school today so Kenzie and Riley are here most of the day (until Riley and Cooper's T-Ball game at 4:00) and the kids loved that.  I frequently say, "Way to go Joe!"  Avi says, "No, coach Joe at soccer."  So Kenzie and Riley started calling me "Joe" just to hear Avi say that!  I was changing Linnea's diaper and the kids were still eating.  Kenzie came in just to tell me; "Hey Gary! She didn't say it!"  That's because she probably got sick of it after the first 37 times!  :)

In this first picture I thought it was cute because Atley and Avi were basically using the same approach to check out the car ramps.  :)  Avi heard the camera "click" and she came over to me saying, "Can I see Gary?!?"  She looked at the picture (same one as below) and said, "What are they doing?!?"  Haha!  I don't know!  What are YOU doing!?!

Here are a couple more pictures from this morning's activities.  We did some Dot Painting at Art Time and Kenzie and Riley were carefully working on their borders.  Avi obviously noticed that and she started copying what the big girls were doing - working hard to paint the border.  Nice work Avilene!!  The last picture: puzzles, puzzles, and more puzzles.  There are lots of puzzles in this set and the kids love that!!

Avi - 4/20/2018

Avilene ate a large serving of brown rice and ate her raisins.  For lunch she ate a large serving of hamburger stew with meat, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes.  She had bites of whole wheat dinner roll and ate a large serving of apricots.  At breakfast I always ask the kids "What'd you do last night?" It's one of our rituals and over the years there are some hilarious stories associated with these "disclosures."  Haha!  "What'd you do last night?"  "I play soccer."  "Did you chase squirrels?"  "No, I chased soccer ball."  (She gets extra credit for that answer!)  "What did Momma do last night?" "Watch me play soccer."  "What did Daddy do last night?"  "Watch me ride bikes."  :)

The kids had so much fun outside yesterday afternoon and today is another beautiful day.  We played with bubbles for the first time this spring and the kids had a blast.  In this first picture below you can see the bubble wand in Riley's hand and she's racing back to reload some more bubbles.  :)  I let Kenzie and Riley run the bubble show!

I've mentioned several times how I enjoy watching Avi experiment with different body movements while jumping and running on the mattress.  The latest one - she was on the balance beam, knees bent, leaning forward with head down, arms straight behind her, and blast off!  She looked like a swimmer preparing to dive in for the race.

In this first picture from this morning she's lining up and organizing all these animals.  (About 40 of them.)  She had several of the same species together, starting with the elephants at the far end.  Then you can see several of the white polar bears, etc.  The last picture:  So why jump on the soft mattress when you can land on the hard floor!?!  Made my knees hurt to watch!  :)  Doesn't that hurt?!  Avi said, "No."

Avi - 4/19/2018

Avilene ate french toast and dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate pulled pork, whole wheat toast, ate most of her peas, and two servings of watermelon.  At breakfast Avi was talking about a "black horse."  I asked Avi, "What'd you say?"  Hudson felt the need to answer for her, of course!!  Ha!  "She wants to know if you want to ride the black horse."  I said, "No she doesn't.  That's not what she said."  Avi said, "Yes it is." Haha!  They got me again.  Personally, I think it's some sort of collusion!  :)  My hearing aids are "top drawer" (from Costco of course) and that's not what she said! Haha!!

Avi frequently impresses me with what a good little problem solver she is!!  This morning she was pushing Nora around and around in the swivel/rocker chair.  When she first started pushing the chair it didn't move very well and Avi immediately looked below the chair to see the issue - a stuffed animal on the track - and removed it.  Now that may not seem like a big deal, BUT the average 2 year old will not even look and most (especially the Boys - Ha!) will just push harder!!  I'm married to a Problem Solver so I have great appreciation for that attribute!!  (My first instinct is to push harder!!  Haha!!)

First picture - This is typical Atley behavior, but this time she has an accomplice!  Avilene (on the left) is helping clear the shelves too!!  :)  I always think this looks so cute when they crawl as far back into the shelves as they can!  The 2nd picture; I LOVE this picture.  Avi was looking at me out of the corner of her eye and it was adorable!  Avilene is not in the last picture, but all of the kids were definitely a part of this!  They were playing the same game as yesterday and burying Nora in the chair with stuffed animals, pillows, and doll blankets.  She was enjoying it as much as everyone else.  When I took this picture Hudson was asking Nora; "Are you ok Nora?"  She said, "no."  Hudson said, "Yes you are."  Haha!  (Nothing like affirmations from your friends!!)  Nora said, "oh."

Avi - 4/18/2018

Avilene ate two servings of whole wheat toast and two servings of mangoes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate ground beef with marinara sauce on whole wheat spaghetti noodles, ate squash, and a large serving of fruit salad.  I got everyone their food at breakfast and then informed them, "I'm gonna put Baby Linnea in bed for her nap."  Hudson said, "Ok, that's fine with me."  Haha!!  (Ok, thank you Chairman Boyle: "All in favor of the motion say YES!!")

While I'm writing this Blog the kids are going to sleep.  I told Avi to move her hand away from her binky - one way she distracts herself.  Then to lay still.  Both times she nodded her head (ok!) at me.  Cutie.  It still only took her five minutes to go to sleep.

I took this first picture yesterday afternoon to show everyone that we have been getting outside - not a lot yet - but in the afternoon every chance we get!!  (Still using hoods and mittens in the middle of April.  It's been a chilly Spring so far.)

Here are some pictures from this morning and the first picture depicts about 20 - 30 minutes of play for everyone!  Nora was sitting in the chair and Atley, Avi, and Hudson were piling stuffed animals and pillows around and on top of her.  Eventually Hudson wanted to have a turn they covered him up. He kept telling Avi what he wanted her to do and she started ignoring him.  He finally said, "Avi! Are you awake!?!"  She said, "yes."  He said, "Come bury me Avi!!"  Haha!  She shrugged it off and kept doing her own thing.

Hello!! Check out this last picture!!  Another achievement at Little Treasures; jumping off the top of the igloo.  Hudson did it today too and when Avi saw him do that she wasn't about to get left behind!!  Look at that face; so proud of herself and grinning like crazy.  She was getting some serious air too and launching herself out there pretty good!!  Well done Avi!!

Avi - 4/17/2018

Avilene ate bites of whole wheat bagel and two servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate shrimp, bites of brown rice, ate stir fry vegetables, and ate raspberries.  Hudson started a meal-time conversation with Avi at breakfast.  "Hey Avi, what'd you do today?"  (That alone makes me laugh because he acted like it was the end of the day instead of the beginning!)  Avi said, "I play soccer."  Hudson said, "You play soccer again!?!  (Emphasizing the word again!!)  Avi said, "Yes."  Haha!  Hudson said, "What else did you do?"  Avi jabbered something and I couldn't figure it out so I asked Hudson what she said;  "She said she chased hula hoops!"  So I had to verify that with Avi!!  Is that what you said Avi!?!  "Yes."  Ha!  Nothing cuter than 2 & 3 year old's having a conversation!!  (Sure glad I don't have to deal with adults all day!!  This is way more fun and entertaining!  :)

Lauralea was listening to Hudson and Avilene play after breakfast and Avi finally said, "Bubba!!  Listen to Me!!"  Ha!  That was pretty cute.  I heard Lauralea snicker so she may have been thinking something similar to me: Avi's starting to get more assertive Bubba and she has you figured out!  :)

Here are some pictures from this morning!!  First picture; Avi is waiting for her turn to wash her hands for breakfast and she's keeping an eye on Atley's progress!  But the "hoodie" is the reason for the picture!  haha!  (Not really a hood, but her big collar pulled up over her head.)  In the 2nd picture Hudson and Avi were spinning and spinning with their eyes shut!  And getting very dizzy I might add!  Right after this picture Nora and Atley joined them and just started falling down!  They skipped the spinning step!  Hey, it saves time!!  3rd picture; I like how Avi puts her hands over her mouth like this!  She was looking at a block and animal "creation" that she and Hudson were working on!  In the last picture she is hanging out with Linnea after Linnea's morning nap!  Linnea has Avi's foot.

Avi - 4/16/2018

Avilene ate bran cereal and raisins for breakfast.  For lunch she ate chicken from the chicken salad and bites of lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and peppers.  She also ate whole wheat pita bread, no avocado, and ate her pears.

These first two pictures were taken first thing this morning and every one was doing the "monkey see, monkey do" thing!  Someone took off their socks, so everyone had to take off their socks, and then put the socks in their cubbies!  In the 2nd picture Hudson started scooting across the floor on his hands and knees with his head down like a snow plow!  So everyone had to do it then!!  (The top picture is thin so it doesn't really look like two pictures!!)

This next picture; Avilene and Hudson had turned the yellow bench upside-down and this was their "train."  Avi was saying, "chug chug choo choo, chug chug choo choo!!"  They had filled their train full of stuffed animals and books.  And I guess they wanted to go in opposite directions!  Ha!

I took this last picture after Story Time.  I have several of these books and they are "counting" books and there is a tune that goes with them as well.  This book is titled "Way out in the Desert."  (I also have Way out in the Ocean, Arctic, and Garden,)  Every page also has the number for the kids to find and Avi loves finding the numbers.  Of course we've read them so many times the kids pretty much know where all the numbers are it, but they still love the books.  This page is the mama roadrunner and her "6" chicks chasing lizards.  Do you see the "6?"

Avi - 4/13/2018

Avilene ate two servings of cream of wheat cereal and most of dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of baked beef kabobs with meat, peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms.  She ate bites of brown rice and a large serving of pineapple.  For some reason the cream of wheat stayed very liquid so it was breakfast in a cup and sucked through a straw.  They actually thought that was pretty cool.  Hudson said, "This is really good!"  Ha!  Which means it's worth a picture!!

Potty report:  At 10:00 Avi said, "I gotta go pee Gary!"  And she was dry.  Well done Avilene.  So here's what is developing as a important routine!!  Ha!  (Three times so far, but who's counting.)  She gets into the bathroom, peers into the toilet (it's clean), and says, "Somebody pooped in here!"  I have to ask, "Who?"  Avi says, "My Mommy."  Haha!  Sorry Molly, I probably shouldn't think that's so stinking (pun intended) hilarious!  Ok, now seriously, my opinion about Avi's progress:  She's doing awesome, this is happening on her initiative and again that's awesome and the easiest way to potty train a child!!  (Believe me I've seen it tried with only the parents being interested, not the child.  Not fun.)  The pooping in the toilet will come, but it's totally normal for kids to do only pee or poop as she's doing.  (It's different muscles involved.)  She's young and ahead of the curve (again, my opinion) so I'm thrilled with her progress.  She may lose interest and regain it later, but I'm betting she continues as long as we allow her to lead.

Here are some more pictures from this morning.  Does this first one look familiar?!?  Ha!  I like that I caught Atley in mid-air!  Next picture; the kids LOVE this special field trip (haha) every morning!!  Down the hall squealing with excitement to say hi to Linnea after her morning nap.  They love pounding on the door to announce their arrival!!  The last picture is another group favorite.  Waving at our neighbor "Big Willy" (or as Riley called him "old Billy" -  he and I had a great laugh over that) as he retrieves the mail.  Willy LOVES having the kids pound on the window and wave at him!

Avi - 4/12/2018

Avilene ate two servings of waffle and ate fruit salad for breakfast.  For lunch she ate most of shepherd's pie with meat, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and green beans.  She also ate whole grain tortillas, and her cherries.

Avilene loves Linnea just like ALL the daycare kids love Linnea!  And it's pretty obvious why!!  Linnea loves the interaction with everyone and she never yells or complains about what they do to her.  For example, Nora LOVES to cover Linnea's head with doll blankets, every day, many times a day and many blankets at the same time!!  More than once I've said to one of the kids; "Please move off of Linnea.  Please don't pull on her arms.  You have to be gentle with the baby."  Linnea is no help whatsoever during these times because she's usually laughing!!  In the first picture Avi is telling me that Linnea is spitting.  Yes, she loves to blow and spit!!  In the 2nd picture Avi is using a paper towel to wipe the baby's face.  Thank you Avi!

So here's a picture of the kids going off head-first again!  I guess landing on their heads yesterday while doing this same thing in the same location is a long forgotten memory!!  :)  We also read lots of books today, played in the tunnels, and Lauralea fixed the girl's hair.  (Which will probably not last all day!)

Avi and Hudson were playing in the igloo and I like how Linnea is peeking around the corner in the last picture.  "Hey, what are you guys doing in there!?!"  Here's what they are doing Linnea:  They had all the stuffed animals, pillows, doll blankets, and some dress-up clothes in the igloo!  Hudson was wanting Avi to "cover me up!"  It went like this;  "Avi, can you cover me up?"  She said, "Sure I can. I'll get blankets."  (cute answer)  Well that lasted a very short time as he wiggled and squirmed.  "Avi, can you cover me?"  She said, "I did!!"  He said, "Can you re-cover me?"  (wow - nice use of words)  Avi does a big sigh, then "ok."  You are very patient and a sweet friend Avi.  Then she eventually grows tired of that and is off to engage in something else.

Avi - 4/11/2018

Avilene ate a couple bites of french toast and two servings of strawberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate no "Whole 30" chili with meat, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, and spices.  She had no whole wheat dinner roll, but she did eat her tropical fruit.  Poor Avi!!  She "hit the wall" (totally fatigued) about 11:00.  She just laid down beside the couch, put her head on a pillow, and didn't move until lunch time!  So I got our lunch on the tray and we ate early and she went right to bed and was asleep in seconds after her head hit the pillow!  She was very teary, but didn't melt into tears.  You were brave and hanging in there Avi!!  I took this first picture at breakfast time when Avi was closing her eyes and eating.  (again!)  Hudson had to follow suit so I got a picture of him as well, doing the same thing!  Silly kids.

Next picture;  Hudson and Avilene were standing on their heads on the hard floor!  (There's a nice soft mattress on the opposite side!!)  Getting into this position was a bit tricky and two or three times Avi landed a bit too hard - on her head!  She said, "No more!"  And walked away!  Good choice Avilene!!  You're a smart kid!!  In the following picture Avi stood on some blocks to talk to Linnea while I changed the baby's diaper.  Everyone loves Linnea.  Avi saw Linnea crawling and I think it's the first time she actually SAW her crawling.  Avi said, "She's crawling Gary, she's crawling!!"  She was so excited.  This literally happens EVERY time an infant gets mobile!!  Someone will see it for the first time.  Maybe a month or two months later!!  "Hey Gary!  Nora is walking!!"  Yup.  I'm glad you noticed.  :)

We sang songs, read some books, and here is a picture of the kids doing dot painting at Art Time.  Speaking of reading books like I've mentioned several times I always ask the kids, "What's this book?"  Amazing what they remember!!!  So one of the books today was "Do your ears hang low?"  Avi's answer, "Your ears are long."  Haha!  Love it!!