Avi - 11/22/2019

Avilene ate oatmeal and several bites of baked cinnamon apples for breakfast.  For lunch she ate hamburger stew with meat, green beans, carrots, and potatoes.  She also ate whole wheat dinner roll, and two servings of apricots.  At breakfast Avi started raving about the breakfast: "I really really really like baked apples."  Then pointing to the oatmeal she said, "And I really really really like this!" Atley started repeating the same thing and pretty soon it became a contest about who could repeat the word "really" the most times.  Haha.  "Really really really really really really like this!!"

I already posted this in Svea's Blog, but I'll do it here as well.  I want to say thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement for me to go to Louisiana during Thanksgiving week.  This is so wonderful for me and I'm really looking forward to traveling there tomorrow.  Thank you all so much.

First picture: Avi brought this book from home and it's a "hidden pictures" book.  I have several similar books for the toddlers and more advanced ones for the preschool.  The kids do like these as they have to search the pictures.

Next picture: Avi and Atley playing the "Lady Bug" game; every day this week.  Avi had to plead a little bit to get Atley to play it today.  Haha!  Last picture: She asked if she could feed Callahan again this morning.  She was being so gentle and sweet to him.

Avi - 11/21/2019

Avilene had no French toast and ate most of dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate two servings of pulled pork, two servings of whole wheat toast, ate peas, and strawberries.  Avi and Atley still ask questions every day about where the food comes from.  They love that "food" game.  This morning Avilene asked me where eggs come from.  I told her from chickens and then I told her that some people eat duck eggs.  Oh man, she laughed and laughed and said, "NOOOOOO!!"  Haha.  She's pretty good at figuring out if I'm teasing her or not.  (And I tease her a lot!!) But this time I wasn't teasing Avi.

First picture: Working with some pretty cool interlocking wooden blocks I got for the Preschool room.  Second picture: Avi looking at the picture guide after she'd finished the puzzle.  The puzzle wizard at work.  :)

Next picture:  Here Atley and Avi are playing the "Lady Bug" game again.  Atley was trying to tell me she'd "won" the game.  (Of course Avi had an entirely different translation!!)  Anyhow, Atley said, "Hey Gary, I've beat myself at the starting line!"  Haha!  Well that certainly sounds painful!!  Last picture: Atley just makes the 'airplane flying by' an event!  Every day.  "It's an airplane!"  It's an airplane everybody!!"  (Her voice is Loud and hard to resist!  Ha!)  And they all go running to the window like it's the first plane they've ever seen.  Cracks me up.

Avi - 11/20/2019

Avilene ate whole wheat toast and grapes for breakfast.  (I wasn't sure they were coming for breakfast and I didn't have enough frozen mangoes thawed out!)  For lunch she ate two large servings of ground beef with marinara sauce on whole wheat spaghetti noodles, no cauliflower, and ate two servings of fruit salad.

This first picture is left over from yesterday afternoon, but they were playing this same game again this morning and it looked exactly like this.  I introduced them to this game months ago and eventually put it into the toy exchange so they have access to it and play on their own.  They are doing pretty well with it and mostly following the rules.  (I heard Avi saying this morning; "That is NOT how we play the game Atley!" Ha!)  I like the cooperation that I'm seeing as well.  They are definitely growing in that area.

Avi asked, "Gary! Are you talking to yourself!?!?"  Yes, I am.  You caught me.  Haha!  Happens all the time.  Another Avi note; I frequently ask Avi and Atley for help with lots of different things and they love helping.  And I'll give different instructions and see if they can follow.  Avi totally nails it almost all the time.  Not super hard stuff, but enough to make them stop and think for a moment.  For example; I asked Avilene, "Please turn on the light switch (3 choices on this panel) closest to the door."  No problem.  :)

More pictures from this morning: Avi jumping and Atley waiting for her turn on the "numbers game."  That's what Atley and Avi call it.  I call it the "dance game."  You should watch Avi do this; she's quick with seeing the numbers light up and knowing where they are!!  Last picture; Feeding Callahan this morning and she even stopped mid-puzzle and asked to feed him.

Avi - 11/19/2019

Avilene had no whole wheat bagel and ate three servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate three servings of shrimp, ate whole wheat toast, stir fry vegetables, and raspberries.

This happened yesterday afternoon: Avilene was coming out of the bathroom and said, "My toots are dry!"  Well I guess maybe I should be sorry to hear that, but I have no idea what it means.  So tell me Avilene, "What does dry toots mean?"  Avi said, "I don't know."  Hahaha!  "My Mom said that the other day."  Atley had a great suggestion; "Maybe you should put lotion on them."  LOL!!  I have several pages of "daycare kid quotes" collected over the years and this will be a new entry.  Ha!  If Lauralea and I ever get bored I just pull out the kid quotes.  :)

First picture: Avi was whispering to Atley and that never did prove to be successful as Atley kept saying, "I can't hear you!  I can't hear you!"  Avi was trying to give Atley some pointers on proper movie theater etiquette!!  (This started because of an earlier conversation about the movie "Frozen II."  Coming to theaters near you!!)   Avi said, "Atley, you will have to be quiet in the movie theater!"  Atley said, "I will."  Avi said, "You can talk when you get back to the car!"  Atley said, "I will."  (It sounded like she was taking a pledge!)  Then a bonus bit of info from Avi; "And when Christmas comes the grinch will come out! It's a movie."  :)

Next picture; They love watching the garbage workers and race to the window every time they see them or hear them.  And they know the sound!  At the breakfast table Atley said, "I hear the garbage truck!"  She was right.  Last picture; Avi putting together another puzzle.  The girl loves her puzzles and she's very good at them!!  We were reading a book at Story Time about "opposites."  I said, The opposite of "high" is "low," the opposite of "on" is "off."  So what's the opposite of dark?  Avi said, "Scary."  Haha!  No, but that's a good answer.  d

Avi - 11/18/2019

Avilene ate most of bran cereal and ate raisins for breakfast.  For lunch she ate chicken, whole wheat pita bread, two servings of olives, bite of tomatoes, and two servings of pears.

Here are some quotes from Avi today.  Atley was looking at a book and singing (loudly) while Avi was pounding on a drum.  Avi was disgusted because "That is NOT a sining book!!"  (The name of the book is "I Spy."  Avi said, "That is a 'look and find' book!!"
Then Avi was telling Baby Miles about the "bean bag" game.  I asked her, "What did you say?"  She replied, "I am talking to Miles!"  Haha!
At lunch I was talking to Svea when she was trying to stand up in her highchair.  I said, "If you fell out and hurt yourself that would make me cry."  Avi laughed and scoffed; "You never cry."  Yes I have cried and I do cry.  She could not wrap her head around that concept!  Haha!

First picture: Lauralea and I went to a wonderful Child Care Conference this weekend at Fairmont Hot Springs and in the next picture you can see the "door prize" that I won.  Atley and Avi had lots of fun with this.  The bean bags are shaped like the holes - square, circle, triangle, and rectangle.  (You can see Avi's square bean bag hitting just at the bottom of the square.)  We did a toy, book, and puzzle exchange this weekend and the kids were very engaged and busy.  I love it when it's that way!  Second picture; Avi with some food toys.  Those wooden eggs look pretty realistic!!  Last picture;  Avi practicing her architectural skills with some building block I got.

Avi - 11/15/2019

Avilene ate two large servings of cream of wheat cereal and ate her dried plums for breakfast.  Just an FYI - She Loves that cereal.  For lunch she ate a bite of chicken fajita with meat, peppers, onions, and spices.  She ate bites of brown rice and ate pineapple.

This first picture is left over from yesterday afternoon and at first glance it's just the three girls looking at Baby Miles.  But it really wasn't that at all.  Here's the story; See the music toy stationed over the top of the baby?!  That was the main attraction!!  Haha!  Whenever the music would stop Avi and Atley would compete to reach the buttons and restart it!  Then of course Svea came over and was trying to reach it too!  Avilene said, "Svea you cannot reach over there. When you get 4, then you can!"  Haha!  Atley said, "Well I am 8."  Avi said, "No you are not 8! You are 3!"  Atley's mournful reply, "Well I'm TRYING to get bigger. "  Haha!  So stinking funny.  Second picture: Avi and I were having fun vigorously rubbing the back of her head across the couch and seeing how crazy we could get her hair.  She was roaring with laughter.  Haha.

Next picture:  Avi and Atley asked if they could play with the "Dance Game" when they saw it in the back room.  They love going to the back room when Callahan wakes up from a nap because they can look at all the toys in that room.  And they do a great job of only looking and not touching.  This game helps them recognize the numbers and react.  Once they get that down, then it does 2 numbers at a time; one for each foot.  Avi was calling out the numbers (when they light up on the screen) to help Atley recognize them.  Last picture: Building with the blocks and making a bridge.

Avi - 11/14/2019

Avilene had no waffle and ate three servings of fruit salad for breakfast.  For lunch she ate a bite of Shepard's Pie with meat, green beans, carrots, and potatoes.  She ate whole wheat tortillas, and ate three servings of cherries.

These first two pictures go together.  Avilene is in the igloo in the first picture.  She was ordering Atley and Linnea to place the blocks in a strategic manner until the entrance hole was completely covered.  Then she told them to "go count and then come find me."  Haha!  So they went around the corner, covered their eyes (haha - no peeking now!), counted to ten, and went to find Avilene.  And there was something about the way they dismantled the blocks that wasn't quite right either.  Avi was bellowing out more instructions from inside the igloo.  Haha.

Next picture: As you can see by all the pieces of paper on the table Avilene is working very hard with the scissors.  And this wasn't just random cutting.  She was making "shapes to show my Mom and Dad" by following some lines she was drawing on the paper first.  She works very hard at most everything she attempts.  I love that.  Last picture; Avi keeping an eye on what Atley's reading and giving Atley input - whether she wants it or not!!  haha!

Avi - 11/13/2019

Well the Blog for the Birthday Girl!!  Hard to believe she's already 4.  Happy Birthday sweet Avilene!

Avi had no French toast and ate three servings of strawberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate two servings of whole 30 chili, with meat, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, tomato sauce, peppers, and spices.  She ate two servings of whole wheat dinner roll, and she ate her tropical fruit.

It rained yesterday afternoon and we played inside and here are a couple pictures from that time.  Atley was burying Avi with stuffed animals, doll blankets, and dress-up clothes.  You can see Avi's hand reaching out and touching the wall.  :)  Following picture; They make it look like it's a "posed picture," but they were just playing and I took it at the right time.  They were having lots of fun. (Just in case you missed the obvious!  Haha!)

Next picture; Avi and Atley like to watch the light on the baby bottle warmer and tell me when it goes off so I know it's warm.  Last picture; Avi writing a letter on the paper and then she was cutting it out. And of course she wants to take it all home to show Momma!  :)

Avi - 11/12/2019

Avilene ate toasted whole wheat English muffin and two servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bite of pork chop meat, two servings of whole wheat toast, two servings of beets, and three servings of applesauce.

This first picture is leftover from yesterday afternoon after the kids woke up from their naps.  And the testing continues!!  Haha!  This isn't about Avi, but I think you'll like it!!  I overheard one of Lauralea's questions and Atley's answer.  "What happens when you drop an egg?"  Atley said, "It hatches."  Haha!  Well at least her answer was related to chickens/birds!!

This morning Avilene was looking at Callahan and started yelling, "Gary! Gary! Gary! Cal's got some spit-up on his shirt....boogie in his nose....and legos in his mouth!!  Haha!!  Well thank you Avilene! That pretty much covers all of Callahan's issues!!

Next picture; Avi at the breakfast table and she was telling Baby Miles about her sweatshirt and the "Little Pony" on it.  She was rocking his baby seat with her foot.  Then she started telling me ALL the details about "movies at Grandma's house."  (The Little Pony movies, Chipmunks, etc.)  Which ones are on the upstairs TV, which ones are on the downstairs TV, and which movies are on both TV's.

Last picture; Avi was using an erasable marker and tracing lines of various shapes and roads.  Then she got interested in just studying the pictures on each page.  I love her inquisitive little mind!!

Avi - 11/11/2019

Avilene ate whole wheat Chex cereal and peaches for breakfast.  For lunch she ate ground beef, bites of whole wheat hamburger bun, bite of avocado, no tomatoes, and two servings of mandarin oranges.

Nora is here today (that's possible because Linnea is gone) and she was trying to say something to Avi about seeing her at the birthday party last night.  Here's how it came out: "I saw you when you were little in the pool."  Haha!  Avi was NOT impressed and sounded totally offended!  Haha! "I am NOT little!!"  :)

Lauralea doesn't have to work today so she was doing some testing on Avilene and Atley.  Two girls are about to turn 4!!  Some of the questions had to do with what's "real" and "not real."  Or "alive" and "not alive."  So here's some Avi logic; She asked, "How can the tree be alive?  It doesn't have any eyes."  :)

Here are some more pictures from this morning's activities.  We spent a lot of time doing the testing and they frequently watched while the other person was being tested too.  First picture; Playing with the game; "give the dog a bone."  Middle picture; this tray involves counting the dots and finding the clothes pin with the right number on it and attaching it to the stick with that number of dots.  Last picture; Avi wanted me to take a picture so Momma could see what she made with the legos.  

Avi - 11/8/2019

Avilene ate a large serving of oatmeal and a few dried cranberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate two servings of tilapia, ate whole wheat elbow noodles, half of green beans, and ate applesauce.

Lauralea walked past Avi and noticed she was working on a hard puzzle and commented; "Wow! You're working on the hard one!"  Avi IMMEDIATELY responded loudly; "I don't need help! I don't need help!!"  LOL!  Ok ok, you intense little critter!!  (My words, not Lauralea's.  Ha!)  That made us laugh.

This first picture is from yesterday afternoon when Avilene was playing and experimenting with the tray full of various magnets and metal pieces.

Next picture; Avi and Atley were doing some stickers and they also made creatures with the "slime." While they were doing this Avi said, "Atley, I saw Monty riding a grizzly motorcycle right down the middle of the field; where the football players come out!"  Atley, quite uninterested in that bit of information said, "oh."  Haha!

Next picture: I caught her right in the middle of her somersault.  And the following picture makes it look like she's VERY impressed with her own antics!  Haha.  Last picture:  "Hey Gary, Look at the ladder I made."  :)

Avi - 11/7/2019

Avilene had no whole wheat bagel and ate two servings of peaches for breakfast.  For lunch she ate hamburger and sausage pizza with meats, peppers, pineapple, olives, and tomato sauce.  She had bites of whole wheat pizza crust (which we serve separately), and ate pineapple on the side.

Yesterday afternoon Avi was freaking out and yelling, "Gary! Gary! Gary!"  What?  "Svea is on the igloo - the top of the igloo!!"  Haha!  Yup, that's old news.  She's been jumping off the top all week.  That is so typical of this age group; they see something, but may not really SEE it.

This first picture is also from yesterday afternoon.  Avi did this activity using the magnetic shapes, patterns, and metal tray to create whatever design is on the pattern.  You can see the one she's holding is a person bouncing the ball.  She is so good at these kind of activities which uses the same cognitive abilities as doing a puzzle.  She sees the shape or opening and quickly recognizes what goes next.

Pictures from this morning:  Well speaking of puzzles this is the first activity that Avi chose to do this morning.  She loves this puzzle, but she now has it totally mastered and can do it quickly.  And it's not an easy puzzle.  Like I've mentioned previously it's an alphabet puzzle and the capital letters go right to left.  Or you can do the small letters left to right.  She likes doing the small letters.  She dumped it all on the floor and I said, "You'll have to turn those all over for the small letters."  Avi said, "I know, I know, I know!!"  Haha!  And she does know.  I've ordered at least 15 challenging puzzles for the preschool.  Next picture;  She also read some books several times and spent most of the morning in the preschool area doing activities.  Last picture; She's working on the magnetic shapes just like in the first picture.

Avi - 11/6/2019

Avilene ate two servings of whole wheat toast and ate grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bite of pork roast, ate whole wheat tortillas, sweet potatoes, and two servings of fruit salad.  At the breakfast table we were discussing the names of baby animals.  "Chicks, lambs, calves, kittens, puppies," and lots more.  "What's a baby goat called?"  Avi said, "I don't know."  Hint; "It's the same as you!"  Avi said, "Cat Boy!!"  LOL!!  That hit my funny bone!!  Yes, Avi baby goats are called "Cat Boy."  :)

First picture: Avi was looking at books and asking, "Will you read this book to us at story time?"  I was trying to get her to grin for the picture and so I said, "Only if you say I love Gary!!"  Hey it worked!  Look at that cute grin.  :)  Second picture; Cat Boy dressed in blue (I confirmed the color with Avi - ha) reading "Little Boy Blue."  So speaking of books during story time I asked, "What's the name of this book?"  (Toy exchange book and we've not read it for over 16 weeks.)  The name is "Bill Grogan's Goat."  Hint; "Bill" Avi said, "Bill Gross Gruff."  Hahaha!  Well you're on the right track and that was a super good guess.

Last picture;  This was the first time Avi did this puzzle and I helped her it done.  This is obviously a "stand alone" jigsaw puzzle without a built-in boundary.  Just like the ones for "old people."  Ha! Nice job Avi.  She loves it.  I didn't count the pieces, but it's in the 24 - 30 range.  Lion King puzzle.

Avi - 11/5/2019

Avi ate toasted and buttered whole wheat English muffin and half of dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate chicken with stir fry vegetables, half of brown rice, and ate mandarin oranges.

I took this first picture shortly after Miles came.  He now knows what it's like to be a "zoo animal" as everyone is peering at him.  And he's behind the fence for his own protection!!  Haha!!  Atley is laying on the couch peering over the edge.  If you zoom in you can see Svea in the mirror.  She's standing on the mattress - not happy - because she wanted to be on the igloo where Avilene is at.

Next picture; Atley asked Avi if she'd help her with the puzzle.  So Avi said ok, and this is how it went;  You do the puzzle Avi while I play with this other activity!!  Haha.  It is a challenging puzzle and it's much easier to just let Avi do it.  Following picture; Then they were playing with the doll house and accessories and Atley added a "cow hat" to her attire.  Haha!  She makes me laugh!

 

Last picture: Avi asked if she could feed Callahan and I said, "You might have to take off the cow mask."  Haha. "Why?!"  You knew she asked me that!  Because it might freak him out at close range! However, he's such a mellow little dude that he didn't care at all.  Haha.  So cute!