Avi - 07/30/2021

Avilene ate a large serving of oatmeal and ate baked cinnamon apples for breakfast. For lunch she ate most of hamburger stew with meat, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, and carrots. She ate whole wheat dinner roll and most of fruit cocktail. 

Avi spotted a vehicle driving by and said, UPS truck!" Then she realized it wasn't so she started reading the letters on the side of the truck. "Nope, not UPS, F, E, D, E...." and it went out of sight! Good job Avi! I never saw the truck, but now I knew it was FedEx. :)

I already told Molly this, but lately when I'm harassing Avi - or sometimes she'll say it just to harass me - Avi will say, "My Mom's gonna fire you!" It's so cute and funny. Makes me laugh. Maybe she'll say it to her Kindergarten Teacher! Haha. (I know, I know that's not funny! But it is.)

First picture: This is also something Mommy Molly saw yesterday, but I wanted to post it as well because she's wearing the exact same thing again today after getting back from Swim Lesson. She has on 5 shirts counting her own and 4 shorts counting her own!

Here's a couple of pictures before the girls went to Swim Lesson. So this first picture: The 3 "Big Girls" were wanting to do some 'elaborate jumps' and some little guy was making that difficult. They moan about it and I always remind them: "This is the Daycare Room and if he's (or Cal's) bugging you then move out to the Preschool Room and the Little Ones are not allowed there. Which doesn't solve the jumping problem, but I still use it. Haha. Second picture: So they moved on to the Preschool Room. And that's why I keep using the phrase. It keeps working. The three of them started creating some great pieces and then it was time for Swim Lesson.

Avi - 07/29/2021

Avilene's decision was decisive and quick; "No Breakfast!" Haha. French Toast and dried Plums. For lunch she ate two servings of pulled pork, ate whole wheat toast, peas, and three servings of watermelon. 

I already told Sylvie this, but yesterday when Avi told Nora that Sylvie was coming to pick up the girls Nora was so excited. She said, "I love Sylvie! She's my best friend!!" Haha. 

First picture: Just for something different the girls were enjoying having these little square note papers to draw and color on. Second picture: Avi and Nora are discussing the different patterns/examples to follow when creating with these little magnetic building pieces I have. They are talking about the possibility of doing them and the level of difficulty. 

Next picture: Avi was wanting to draw and color on this drawing board and NOT have to hold it. That was just too much work. Haha. Then she was showing me how she could color or draw without even having to hold it or look at it. Haha. Last picture: I love how Avi interacts with Miles and he loves her too. She really enjoys him and in this picture he was obviously trying to get her feet. 

Avi - 07/28/2021

I'm a bit slow getting these Blogs started because Tate - lawn mowing wizard - gave me a 2 minute warning that he was coming today. :) Text: "I'm on my way!" and he lives 2.0 minutes away and that's when he walks. Ha. I usually have everything moved and ready for him. Sometimes there are lots of Daycare equipment on the lawn. Anyhow it's all good.

Avilene ate whole wheat toast and two servings of mangoes for breakfast. For lunch she ate two large servings of ground beef with marinara sauce on two large servings of whole wheat spaghetti noodles. She ate a small serving of cauliflower, and ate fruit salad. 

Just letting everyone know we're not having Science with Lauralea tomorrow. She's having to go to Plains again to take both Parents to the doctor. Atley heard me saying that and she said, "Lauralea's Parents are Super Old!" So apparently there is Old and Super Old. :) Additional Notice: Our Science with Lauralea classes will be done the end of August; when the 3 older girls go to Kindergarten. This has been SO popular with the older girls and we've all appreciated it so much. Anything Lauralea does she gives maximum effort and actually it will be nice to take this off her plate. Thank you SO much Lauralea!!  It was fun and we all learned a lot!

Yesterday afternoon Avi asked for the eggs again and everyone was gung-ho to hide and seek eggs again!! First picture: Nora is laying on the mattress waiting for the kids to find her eggs. Avi is basically doing all the looking. Ha. Miles watched Nora hide an egg in the hole on the steps. :) Svea is just standing around acting very cool. Haha.

Next picture: Avi said she was making something for me to hang on the wall in the entry room. So we'll see if that really happens! She says that and then usually changes her mind and wants to take it home!! Last picture: Avi pitched in without me even asking her and was helping Miles get the last bites off his plate. Nice work Avi. 

Avi - 07/23/2021

A couple people have asked how my State Inspection went yesterday so here's the answer to that if you're interested! I had zero deficiencies which of course is what we always strive for. I was trained MANY years ago by the best - Lauralea - and it was mandatory to have ALL our ducks in a row. Now I try hard to follow that same routine primarily so I don't get a deficiency and embarrass her!! That's my favorite joke I always tell the inspectors because they all know who she is. Haha.

Avilene ate two big servings of cream of wheat cereal and two bites of dried plums for breakfast. For lunch she ate bites of chicken, bites of brown rice, no broccoli, and ate pineapple. 

First two pictures left over from yesterday morning. Science with Lauralea was short and sweet as she had to go to Plains and the kid's had Swim Lessons and Tennis Lesson. So we did a couple of quick demonstrations of "pressure" and briefly talked about how it works in this context. Lauralea had about 5 inches of water in this bucket and was swinging it around and around not losing a drop due to the pressure that centrifugal force created. Second picture: Using straws and paper we made little rockets to shoot off with air pressure from our blowing into the straws. Lauralea was shooting her rocket at me!! :)

Last picture: As you know coloring coffee filters has been the popular thing here the last few days. It always fascinates me how the kids will do something over and over for a few days, but then not touch it for weeks and weeks. 

Avi - 07/21/2021

The reason for this note is to inform everyone there will be NO BLOGS tomorrow Thursday the 22nd. The State ChildCare Licensor will be here doing an in-home thorough inspection after lunch during the time I normally do the Blogs. Blogs will be back on Friday the 23rd.

Avilene ate bite (her idea) of French toast and two servings of strawberries for breakfast. For lunch she ate two large servings of Whole 30 Chili with meat, peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and spices. She ate whole wheat dinner roll and two servings of tropical fruit.

Avi was showing me a burn on her hand, but she couldn't remember what burned her. Finally she said, "That thing that warms up food!!" Microwave! "Yes, that's it." Good job of describing it to me Avi.

Here are some pictures from this morning. Waiting at the window to wave bye to Nora and Miles' Dad. Second picture on the patio after getting back from Swim Lesson. I was saying something silly and she was giving me the "eye roll" like "geez Gary! You're SO lame." Which of course makes me feel successful! Haha. Last picture: Stinking little cotton-tail bunny rabbit leaving his turds in our lawn! Maybe it's good fertilizer for the lawn, but Miles is just a little TOO interested in it!! 

Avi - 07/16/2021

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

Yesterday we remembered to check to see if the salmon are running and if the bears are feeding in Katmai National Park in Alaska - my favorite web cam to check on - and sure enough there were LOTS of fish trying to jump up the falls and the bears were feasting. I think the kids love to watch that almost as much as I do!! Speaking of yesterday, this first picture is from yesterday afternoon. Avi likes to balance the goodies on this ship, but I was impressed with how uniform she has everything!! I think there are 15 or 16 pieces to pile on there and you did a great job Avi.

Next picture; Atley and Avilene double-team drawing on Nora's paper.  Second picture: Atley spotted a deer outside the window and they enjoyed watching it eat in the yard. They commented about it eating the yellow flower off a dandelion weed.

Next picture: Batman sprinting across the yard with the other kids trying to catch up. :) Last picture; So I turned around and here's Avilene advancing to the top of the climber. Seconds later she was perched up there all proud of herself. I decided not to post that picture; it was kinda scary!! "Ok, Avilene! I don't want to climbing up there. If you fall off and break yourself I would be in big trouble." :)

Avi - 07/15/2021

Avilene ate two servings of blueberry bagel and ate peaches for breakfast. For lunch she ate a large serving of hamburger & sausage pizza with meat, tomato sauce, pineapple, peppers, and olives. She ate whole wheat pizza crust (we serve on the side) and bites of pineapple on the side.  

First picture: Eyeball stickers have been the lasted craze for yesterday and today! Nora started creating some "aliens" and everyone was on board for that. Nice alien picture here Avi!! 

Next picture; Avi was the self appointed "Captain" of this ship!! She was bellowing out orders and there seemed to be a unanimous case of mutiny with the exception of Cal who remanded loyal! Thank you Cal! You no doubt will receive some sort of commendation for staying aboard!! :) 

Last picture: Five out of the six kids are gathered around the home of a couple of roly-poly bugs. I'm sure it's pretty dark down that hole, but this was their choice for observing the bugs. Ha. Miles was not allowed to look because he apparently wanted to grab it and run. :)

Avi - 07/14/2021

Avilene ate two servings of whole wheat toast and ate grapes for breakfast. For lunch she ate bites of pork roast, no one had whole wheat tortillas as I forgot them in plain sight on the counter - ha, she ate no potatoes, ate carrots, and fruit salad. 

First picture - The mattress cover frequently comes off; sometimes on it's own and sometimes with help from the kids. Avi, Nora, and Atley were taking advantage of a loose cover to dink around and roll up in it. When they saw this picture they said they were making "mountains." Second picture: Avi worked hard with these legos and came up with a nice creation and she said it was a "gymnastics gym." :)

Next two pictures; Nora made a request for a "unicorn" and this is what Avi came up with. She works hard and gets lots of detail in her pictures. She added a "moon, stars, and a shooting star." Last picture: Avi "finally" talked Nora into sharing her "super hero" mask and cape outside this morning. 

Avi - 07/13/2021

Avilene ate toasted whole wheat English muffin and a bite of dried plums for breakfast. For lunch she ate half of chicken, ate brown rice, no broccoli, and ate mandarin oranges. 

First picture: (Left over from yesterday afternoon.) We have several fans set up because our central air is having issues and it's a hard time to get someone here for a service call. So in the interim we have fans and the kids have been taking advantage to create a couple of new games. Flying these pieces of paper around kept their attention for a long time. Ha.

Next picture: Nora has been doing so good with her front flips and working hard on them. Avi joined her and added another dimension to the routine!! Warmups!! Before EVERY jump and flip. Haha. So here's Avilene giving Nora a head's up what it looks like. Ha. 

Next picture: Avi was working on a picture for Nora, or maybe she was just helping Nora with her picture. I could never figure out exactly what they were doing. Haha. However, here's what I do know: I'd asked Nora to not suck her thumb in the Preschool Room and Nora is trying to figure out what to do with her hands while watching Avi. :) Avi took a quick break to pick her nose and Nora yelled, "Avi!! Please do NOT put your boogie fingers on my paper!!" Haha. Last picture: Avi making a pretty good bridge! Miles tried this too and almost got his butt off the mattress. :)

Avi - 07/12/2021

Avilene ate cheerios and bite of banana for breakfast. For lunch she ate ground beef, whole wheat pita bread, two servings of olives, ate avocado, and two servings of watermelon. Breakfast conversation: Avi was talking about the lake and said, "Hudson was pulling my life jacket down with me in it!" Atley said, "It's a good thing you survived!" Haha. Avi also talked about seeing a "stray cat on the dock" and mentioned it 3 different times!!

We had a great vacation in southwestern Washington and we stayed in a very unique little "hidden house." Lots of little road trips exploring in and around Mount Rainier National Park and Mount St Helens. And lots of hiking trails. A good time of relaxing and rejuvenation. 

First two pictures: The kids asked to color these snack trays and as you can see from these two pictures, Avi worked very hard at coloring hers! Well done Avi!! I love the effort you give!!

Next picture; So what did Avi want to do outside this morning? Snuggle with Gary. Haha. Fine with me; I missed you too Avi!! Then Svea wanted to snuggle too of course so here's a selfie of both girls; snuggling with Gary. Love these Nelson girls!! :) Last picture; Avi showing off her balancing skills! Avilene: Please do NOT break yourself at Little Treasures!! Or anywhere else!!