Avi & Svea - 10/15/2018

Avilene ate a large serving of turkey burger, ate whole wheat hamburger bun, ate avocado, bite of tomatoes, and ate cherries for lunch.  We ate lunch a little early because Avi said she was hungry (so was Linnea) and had not eaten anything today - not even before going to the doctor for her flu shot! Then she changed it; "I ate some spaghetti."  (That was last night because I saw the picture. Ha!)  So I told her, "Momma said she'd ate a little waffle."  She said, "I wanna go home so I can eat some more of that waffle."  Haha!  Well let's just eat lunch now!!  :)  Then she was telling me something about Sylvie.  (Sorry, but I don't know how y'all spell her name!  I'm practicing the y'all thing because I'm anxious to head to Louisiana in a few weeks!)  Anyhow, I was teasing Avi and said, "Sylvie who?!?" Avi said, "Sylvie is my sister."  I said, "She is!?!"  Avi; "Yes.  Can you believe it!?!"  LOL!

We did a toy, book, and puzzle exchange this weekend and the kids were busy all morning.  (This includes rotating the preschool trays and books as well.)  Avi seemed a bit over-the-top busy, but apparently somebody loaded her up on sugar!  Haha!  First picture: Avi said, "Will you wash me Atley?"  Haha!  "Sure!"  Atley was cooperative, but I'm not sure what purpose the tomato served in the cleaning process!  :)  Notice that Linnea is intently watching the procedure!  Following picture - They were each wearing a mask - Avi had one of the three little piggy masks and Atley had a horse.  Avi looked at Atley's mask and asked, "Is that a wolf mask!?!"  Uhhh, no.  We did have a wolf mask with the 3 Piggy masks, but I'm not sure what happened to it!!

Last two pictures: Avi can just barely fit into these reversible animal/bug jackets.  Lady bug on outside and this one has rabbit on inside.  I like how Avi is looking up at "antennas" hanging down. Last picture; Doing preschool trays.  Avi still has on the ladybug jacket.  :)  She was using the syringes and moving water from one bowl to the other bowl.

Avi & Svea - 10/12/2018

Avilene ate oatmeal and two servings of baked cinnamon apples for breakfast.  For lunch she ate most of hamburger stew with meat, carrots, green beans, and hashbowns.  She ate half of whole wheat dinner roll and ate a large serving of apricots.  Here's a picture of breakfast meal time.  The conversation this morning was so hilarious.  First Avi, then Nora; "Hi Atley!"  "Hi Atley!" "Hi." "Hi." At least 4 or 5 times just like they'd not seen each other recently!  (They'd been playing for the last 45 minutes!)  Then Atley kept saying, "I like pineapple."  Uhhh..it's baked apple.  "I like baked apple."....2 minutes later...."I like pineapple."  Uhhh..it's baked apple.  "I like baked apple.".....2minutes later...."I like pineapple."  You get the idea!  :)  The funniest part - she only had maybe two bites of those baked apples that she "liked" so much!!  :)

Next picture: Avi was wanting to sit in the chair so I told her she needed to ask Nora if she could sit there too.  Nora said, "yes" and I told Avi to tell Nora "Thank You."  So of course Nora immediately said, "Thank you Avi!"  Haha!  And that's what it's like Teaching Toddlers!!  Following Picture: Svea responding to Lauralea's morning greeting!

Last two pictures; Avi was lining up these little people and counting them.  She got "12" and that's very close!  (11)  I was impressed.  And they had fun doing some play dough.  Avi did lots of different activities and preschool trays, we sang songs, and did sign language again.  Shortly before Nap time Nora was getting tired and repeatedly pestering me about something; I can't even remember exactly what it was!  haha!  Anyhow, I said, "We've already talked about this and I'm not going to keep answering you."  Avilene finished it for me; "Over and over!!"  Haha!  Cracked me up!  (Avi's heard the same thing once or 30 times.)  

Avi & Svea - 10/11/2018

Avilene ate french toast and dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate pulled pork, whole wheat toast, half of peas, and ate watermelon.  I got a new router installed last night so the Blogs are up and going today!!  From yesterday: At breakfast Atley said, "More fla-mango."  She wanted more mangoes!  Avi, being silly, said, "I want more flamingos too!"  :)

This first picture is from yesterday as well.  Doing some preschool trays.  Everyone is loving the additional opportunities this has provided!  (Especially me!  Haha!)  I like how Avi will occasionally keep an eye on what Atley is doing and give hints, encouragement, and instruction.  Atley was doing some matching with colors and shapes.  Avi looked up and said, "Try to find the yellow one."  (That's the one Atley was missing.)

Our parent/provider meeting is tonight, but yesterday Avi said, "My Mom and Dad are coming here and check how I did on preschool."  So cute.  This morning Avi heard me talking to Lauralea about my daughter in Louisiana; "The Dr broke her water about 6:00 this morning."  Avi said, "Who broke her water bottle!?!"  LOL!  Also this morning: Lauralea had reached out her hands to Linnea to see if she'd be okay with Lauralea picking her up. Linnea whipped her head the opposite direction!  We were laughing about it and Lauralea said, "Linnea gave me the cold shoulder!"  Avi said, "Does she have a cold shoulder?"  :)

Here are some pictures from this morning.  Linnea and Svea playing near each other.  The big girls (and Nora - haha) doing some water painting.  Avi tracing circles.  And last picture; Svea just being her beautiful clone-able self!!  :)

Avi & Svea - 10/9/2018

Avilene ate two servings of toasted whole wheat english muffin and two servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate shrimp, half of brown rice, bite of stir fry vegetables, and ate raspberries.

First picture: This is what Avilene started doing the moment she arrived Building with the duplo blocks.  I'm so impressed (and always have been) with how hard Avi works.  It's fun and fascinating to watch her.

Next picture: Linnea was happy to see Svea and kept pointing at her saying, "Baby baby baby......baby baby baby."  Svea had a toy in her hand and was holding it out to Linnea.  That is very common at this age as I'm sure you've seen it many times.  However, babies really don't expect or want you to take what they are holding.  Linnea reached to take it and Svea wouldn't turn loose of course.  Linnea was a little dismayed and momentarily whimpered, but basically said "whatever" and wandered off to something else.  :)

Last two pictures: Lauralea was able to be here for over an hour this morning and did some preschool trays with the kids.  Avi did several trays and in the ones below she is working with shapes and also doing some art.  Also, even if Avi wouldn't wish Daddy a happy birthday this morning, she was still telling her friends that it was her Daddy's birthday!  Little Turkey.  We sang songs, read books, and did some sign language.  Avilene is a whiz with the signs I do.  I've added a couple of new ones and will continue to add more.  She easily knows at least 25 (including colors) so far.

Avi & Svea - 10/8/2018

Avilene ate half of bran cereal and half of raisins for breakfast.  For lunch she ate two large servings of chicken, ate whole wheat pita bread, ate olives, bite of tomatoes, half of cucumber serving, bite of peppers, most of avocado, and ate pears.  (This lunch was originally intended to be a chicken salad, but I serve the items separately and they seem more inclined to try them that way.)

Avi didn't get in the gate and she was already asking to do some preschool trays.  And she worked on a lot of trays and preschool activities this morning.  The first two pictures are good examples.  The first one has an item glued in the bottom of the 5 sections and the kids match the items with the ones in the white container.  The second tray is an activity practicing tracing lines with dry erase.  Avi was working on these and Atley asked, "Can I do some trays too Avi!?"  Haha!  "Uhhh..Atley, it's breakfast time, but I would be the person to ask for permission for doing preschool trays."  Avi was so engrossed in doing her tray that she didn't even hear when Atley asked her that.  :)

Next picture of Svea after her morning nap playing at one of the toy shelves.  I"m going to try to video Nora and Svea when Svea gets up from a nap.  Nora gets so excited and squeals with delight!  She's beside herself with happiness and it's the cutest thing!

Avi has been working at these legos - actually I guess they are technically duplos - the legos are smaller.  I have some legos in the preschool toy shelf rotation, but the kids are still a bit young for those and they prefer these.  Avilene was working on these for a couple days last week and started right back in again after breakfast.  Look at her great creation; LOTS of hard work here.  There are little legos people too and Avi will study their expression and ask me about it.  "Why is she making that face?"  Well she has on work clothes and she's serious about her work.

Avi & Svea - 10/5/2018

Avilene ate most of cream of wheat cereal and ate dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of baked beef kabobs with meat, peppers, pineapple, and zucchini.  She ate brown rice and a large serving of pineapple on the side.

Atley did one of our "signs" so I asked her if she wanted to do some sign language and see what she remembered.  Avi said, "Can I remember them also?"  I loved how she worded that sentence!  Yes, of course you can join us too!  I did the sign for "friend" and Atley couldn't remember that one.  (I saw Avi doing the "friend" sign this week and asking Atley; "What is this Atley?")  So I used a sentence for her to finish; "Atley and Avi are good......"  Atley said, "Girls!!"  Haha!  Great answer, but that's a different sign that we also do!!

We've set up a "nose wiping" station for the "older" girls; with a mirror, box of tissue, and a little garbage can.  This morning Atley said, "Gary! I have a boogie!!"  Ok, go to the wiping station and take care of it yourself.  Avi said, "Gary! Can I wipe off my finger?"  What's on your finger?  She said, "Nothing."  LOL!  "No."

First picture: Svea frequently stops at this spot in front of the mirror to say hi to little miss cuteness in the mirror!!  Next picture: Avi and Atley were "hiding" from "monsters" in the igloo and Nora was happy to take the monster role!  She was giggling and peeking at them and they were squealing and pretending to be scared.  Then they were doing some running games back-n-forth across the room which started by jumping across the mattress (next picture: look how much air Avi is getting) and sprinting to the step in front of the window and back again.  Even Linnea was trying to keep up!

 

Last picture - this is what it frequently looks like from my perspective when I'm feeding Svea her food.  (Today it was sweet potatoes and corn with infant oatmeal.)  These three girls are always saying they want some on their plates or they want a bite.  :)

Avi & Svea - 10/4/2018

Avilene ate bites of waffle and ate fruit salad for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of shepherd's pie with burger, green beans, carrots, and sweet potatoes.  She ate whole wheat tortillas and ate cherries.

This first picture is from yesterday afternoon.  Avi wasn't directly involved, but she was fascinated by the light spots moving back-n-forth across the wall and floor.  I don't know what to call Atley's shirt material, but all these sun spots you see in the picture were reflecting off of Atley's shirt!  She was standing on the step at the window and I showed her what happened when she moved.  She soon figured out she could control them and she was wiggling back-n-forth.  Nora saw that and decided she wanted to try it too!  Haha!  Nora said, "My turn!!  My turn!!"  And started moving back-n-forth!  Sorry Sweetie, but that would only work if Atley let you wear her shirt and we're not going there!!  So we'll just have to enjoy this light show!!  :)

Avi was doing these large exaggerated steps across the room.  She said, "I'm doing big steps!"  Yes you are.  Apparently she was impressing herself as well!  She said, "I can't believe it!"  Haha!  Then she was trying to boss Nora (which never works very well - ever - ha) and kept trying to take a cup out of Nora's hand.  I said, "She's playing with that cup Avi!  Why do you keep trying to take it from her!?!"  Avi said, "Because we're having gym class!"  Haha!  "Well Nora wasn't aware of that and I really doubt she wants to join your gym class!"  (And by the way, just because you're wearing a headband doesn't make you the gym teacher!!)  :)

Lauralea spent quite a lot of time - probably an hour - doing preschool activities with the kids this morning.  Here are three pictures of some of those!  Avi doing letters of her name, then doing letter stamps (with the ink pad), and in the last picture she is drawing lines from the "green star to the red dot."  This is like a "dry erase" book - Avi erased her work and the next person can then use it too.