Talmage continues to excel at gymnastics. His teacher has been encouraging us to check out another gym that has a competitive boys gymnastics team. We finally went on Wednesday. The owner and boys pre-team coach evaluated him and offered him a spot on the Pre-Team. Talmage was very excited. They didn't evaluate him for team at all becuase you have to be at least 6 years old for that. He loved working out with so many boys. He's never seen so many boys doing gymnastics at one time because his current gym doesn't have a boys team.
In the past few weeks Talmage has reached some of his gymnastics goals including doing the middle splits. I'll have to take some videos soon.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Old Pictures
Sometimes it is fun to look at old pictures of the kids and see their personalities and goofy faces they still make. I thought I'd share some with you.
Talmage at ten months.
Talmage at ten months.
Anya at eight months.
Talmage (11 months) pulling out the hard drive (with dad's supervision).
Anya pulling out the pots and pans.
As I look through old pictures I also realize that the kids have always loved being with each other and Talmage likes taking care of his little sister.
Waking up after napping on the couch.
Cuddling in Talmage's bed after nap time.
Talmage (2 yrs) feeding Anya (5 months).
Talmage (3 yrs) feeding Anya (1 yr).
Reading The Book of Mormon together on a hot day, in their underwear/diaper.
I sure like my kids.
As I look through old pictures I also realize that the kids have always loved being with each other and Talmage likes taking care of his little sister.
Waking up after napping on the couch.
Cuddling in Talmage's bed after nap time.
Talmage (2 yrs) feeding Anya (5 months).
Talmage (3 yrs) feeding Anya (1 yr).
Reading The Book of Mormon together on a hot day, in their underwear/diaper.I sure like my kids.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
This is a random compilation of a few of my favorite things.
Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green
I love green. I love all the emphasis on "being green" lately because it makes finding things the color green so much easier. I think I must be green deprived here in San Antonio. All the houses in my neighborhood are tan, the grass is dead brown, the trees all look dusty and pale... So I decorate the inside of my house green, green, green. I wake up on a green pillow case, step out of the shower onto a green bath mat, dry with a green towel, brush my hair with a green handled brush, go downstairs to my green living room and water my house plant that I'm trying to keep green with a green watering can as it sits in a green pot. Perhaps I'm in need of a trip to Washington to get a green fix. But I'll wait till the flood waters recede and it warms up a little.
Speaking of green... we now have recycling in our area. Hurray!! We love recycling. Today I heard the recycling man coming around at 7:30 am. I was up but not presentable. But how presentable do you have to be for the recycling/garbage man. So ran the recycling bin down the driveway, in my socks and pj's, just in time to hand it to the man riding on the back of the truck. The kids cheered for me from the garage in their pajamas. The recycling/garbage man just looked amused. My favorite thing about recycling is the kids and Aaron don't mind getting rid of old papers as much if it's going into the recycling. Finally I can clear out some old papers and get rid of the kids school work. Talmage was an especially bad scrap paper hoarder. But not anymore.
This book, First Language Lessons: For a Well Trained Mind, by Jessie Wise, is my Language curriculum for the kids. This is the book I have used to teach my kids to memorize poems, the definition of a noun, pronoun, verb, sentence . . . This book has short lessons that move quickly and don't require a lot of set up time. I have really enjoyed using it.
This is my new find! I have checked this out from the library a few times and will soon purchase it. It is called, Phonics Pathways: Clear Steps to Easy Reading and Perfect Spelling, by Dolores G. Hiskes (edition 9). After going through a few of these lessons and playing the printable games contained in this book my kids are already better readers! In fact Aaron and I have learned a few things. This book is meant to help students of all ages.
Another favorite is when Anya (3 yrs old) uses words like transparent and brim. Also when she is dancing around like she has to go potty, I'll ask her if she has to go potty and she says no. So I ask, "Then why are you dancing?" She nearly always responds "For joy". She cracks me up!
Aaron is my all time favorite though. He is amazing. Sometimes I wonder if there is anything he can't do well.
Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green, Green
I love green. I love all the emphasis on "being green" lately because it makes finding things the color green so much easier. I think I must be green deprived here in San Antonio. All the houses in my neighborhood are tan, the grass is dead brown, the trees all look dusty and pale... So I decorate the inside of my house green, green, green. I wake up on a green pillow case, step out of the shower onto a green bath mat, dry with a green towel, brush my hair with a green handled brush, go downstairs to my green living room and water my house plant that I'm trying to keep green with a green watering can as it sits in a green pot. Perhaps I'm in need of a trip to Washington to get a green fix. But I'll wait till the flood waters recede and it warms up a little.
Speaking of green... we now have recycling in our area. Hurray!! We love recycling. Today I heard the recycling man coming around at 7:30 am. I was up but not presentable. But how presentable do you have to be for the recycling/garbage man. So ran the recycling bin down the driveway, in my socks and pj's, just in time to hand it to the man riding on the back of the truck. The kids cheered for me from the garage in their pajamas. The recycling/garbage man just looked amused. My favorite thing about recycling is the kids and Aaron don't mind getting rid of old papers as much if it's going into the recycling. Finally I can clear out some old papers and get rid of the kids school work. Talmage was an especially bad scrap paper hoarder. But not anymore.
This book, First Language Lessons: For a Well Trained Mind, by Jessie Wise, is my Language curriculum for the kids. This is the book I have used to teach my kids to memorize poems, the definition of a noun, pronoun, verb, sentence . . . This book has short lessons that move quickly and don't require a lot of set up time. I have really enjoyed using it.
This is my new find! I have checked this out from the library a few times and will soon purchase it. It is called, Phonics Pathways: Clear Steps to Easy Reading and Perfect Spelling, by Dolores G. Hiskes (edition 9). After going through a few of these lessons and playing the printable games contained in this book my kids are already better readers! In fact Aaron and I have learned a few things. This book is meant to help students of all ages.Another favorite is when Anya (3 yrs old) uses words like transparent and brim. Also when she is dancing around like she has to go potty, I'll ask her if she has to go potty and she says no. So I ask, "Then why are you dancing?" She nearly always responds "For joy". She cracks me up!
Aaron is my all time favorite though. He is amazing. Sometimes I wonder if there is anything he can't do well.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Mr. Nobody
This is Talmage reciting a poem called Mr. Nobody. He astounds me with his memory. You'd think that after five years with him I'd get used to it. This is a three stanza poem with tricky words but he memorized it very quickly. My favorite line is "For, prithee, don't you see,". Who says "prithee"? It's cute when Talmage or Anya uses it. When Aaron heard Talmage saying it he asked me "What does that mean." (it is a archaic way to express a wish or request). Luckily for now prithee is only used in poems. If Talmage starts using it in conversation we'll have to help him choose a "normal" word to use. After all I do want people to understand him, even if his vocabulary does include archaic words.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Another Collage
When I try to take a nice picture of the kids they are all over the place with their little personalities and I want to share all of the cute pictures but don't want to bore you with essentially the same picture over and over. So I've collaged them. I hope you enjoy.
Matching Tie Fetish
It's contagious! Aaron has caught the matching tie bug from Talmage. This Sunday before Aaron left for meetings he brought down a dress for me to wear that would match his tie. Not what I had planned on wearing but I humored him. He was so pleased with himself. And of course Talmage matched his tie to Anya's dress, both bright red! What am I going to do with these boys?
Talmage is still loving his suit. He acts so mature in it. He carries a small notebook and pen in his makeshift inside breast pocket "for taking notes". In primary I caught him hanging his jacket over the back of his seat when he got too warm-- like he was in elders quorum or something. I did also catch him pull off his shoe and smell his sock-- very odd but acting a bit more his age. I do love seeing my kids in primary because for the most part I forget they are there and then I'll all of the sudden notice their sweet little faces. Anya loves being a sunbeam. She is one of our 24 new sunbeams.
Talmage is still loving his suit. He acts so mature in it. He carries a small notebook and pen in his makeshift inside breast pocket "for taking notes". In primary I caught him hanging his jacket over the back of his seat when he got too warm-- like he was in elders quorum or something. I did also catch him pull off his shoe and smell his sock-- very odd but acting a bit more his age. I do love seeing my kids in primary because for the most part I forget they are there and then I'll all of the sudden notice their sweet little faces. Anya loves being a sunbeam. She is one of our 24 new sunbeams.
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