Kindergarten Update

I feel like our little kindergartner is about ready to graduate to first grade. Does she not look like she's about 13 in this picture? She's outgrown all of her pants, insists on wearing booties instead of running shoes, can write sentences, and is way more mature than I can handle right now.

After a difficult start to kindergarten, I'm pleased to say that things have finally smoothed out and that Collins now enjoys her days at Lacy Elementary. Whew! That had me worried for awhile. She really likes her class and has a new-found confidence about all these skills she has accrued.

For example...her reading is really coming along. She recognizes so many words now which means she enjoys our nightly reading sessions more because it is easier for her.

She has learned how to write sentences to go along with a picture that she draws. This one made me laugh because she honestly admits she likes home better than school because at home she can watch TV with her sister.... :)

Her favorite thing to do is to draw the pictures...

I thought her writing on this Dr. Seuss assignment was really good. She has been practicing a lot at home. She'll take a notebook in the car with her and write away in the backseat as we head somewhere.

This is awesome...When I am a hundred years old, I will "have white hair and I will have 11 grandchildren and a can." Not sure what the can part means, but loved what she wrote and that she is going to be really fancy with red lipstick and earrings when she is old! 

Art is her favorite "special" these days...thought this was a really cool piece that she created.

And she can do some pretty impressive things on the playground right now including spinning at dizzying speeds. She and Reeves mastered the monkey bars a long time ago so now they are moving on to tricks above the monkey bars...

In a few weeks, these soon-to-be first graders are going to be singing to the incoming class of kindergartners. Hard to believe the year is almost over and even harder to believe all she has learned. They sure do cram a lot of skills into their first year now, but with that comes a real sense of accomplishment. I'm really proud of Collins and how much she has grown since September.

Little Chef

Addie has taken a real interest in helping me in the kitchen. And unlike Collins, I think she enjoys doing it for reasons other than "taste testing"!

She has her own spatula that she must use and a new apron too. We talk through the ingredients, she helps me measure and pour, and she is a very good mixer. I think she is learning something in the process, and I think it encourages her to try different foods.

Of course if honey or chocolate chips are involved in a recipe, she definitely requests a "taste test". :)

I have enjoyed our time together in the kitchen lately!

Fun Run

Lacy's Spring fundraiser is a Fun Run, and Collins and her class really got into it this year. Every day she would ask us, "Can you log on to funrun.com?" She really wanted us to donate so she could win some cool prizes. But the cool part was actually watching her run. We pledged per lap, and she ran 45 laps!

Getting ready with Mrs. Dalrymple's class...

Ready, set, go!

 

 She and Reeves hooked up and started running laps together...

Every time she passed the start line, she got a new bracelet...

She earned a lot and was pretty proud of herself...

Collins and her cute class...afterwards she said, "I know why they call it a Fun Run...because we ran a lot AND we had fun!". :)

 

Basketball at the Beach

"Long ride to Wrightsville Beach. Tummy hurts. Fluffy too." Love Collins' account of our "long" road trip. :)

Once we actually made it to the beach, Addie kept asking Collins, "Collins- do you like basketball?" And without waiting for a response, she said, "I think it's BORING!". That summarizes last weekend's trip to Wrightsville....lots and lots of basketball! After all, it is March!

The weather was terrible (rainy the first day and cold the next) so we occupied ourselves indoors by watching the first round of the tournament (so fun- go Heels) and also by playing with the baby...

getting creative with the new slide from Gigi and Pop Pop...

making scary masks...

and doing some Easter decorating.

We did eventually make it to the beach...

 

where we made sand angels...

 sand thrones...

played in the water (Mom did not encourage this)...

got in the dunes...

 collected shells...

 had a sword fight with sea oats...

and took Luke to see the ocean for the first time!

It was so relaxing, there was even napping involved! We all needed a vacation- so glad we got to spend some time at one of our favorite places!

 

Did That Really Just Happen?!?

If I didn't have the pictures to prove it actually happened, I would have thought I dreamed it snowed. That's how quickly it came and went! We woke up on Sunday morning to find white stuff falling from the sky. This was hard to believe because earlier in the week it was 70 degrees. But sure enough, it was snowing so the girls threw on their snowsuits and I started making the pancakes.

They played on the sled, built a "winter house" out of logs, and had a great time...

And then just as quickly as it came, it disappeared and the warmth reappeared. Later that afternoon, we all went on a walk/bike ride and Collins quickly shed her coat. Then we had to ask ourselves, "Did that snow really just happen?!?". Crazy March weather!

Three Months for Luke!

Time is really flying by this third time with Luke. Can he really be three months old already?

Yes, this wiggly, smiley and cuddly chunk of adorableness is acting every minute of his age these days. He has become so fun and interactive all of a sudden! He smiles all the time, coos back at you in response if you talk to him, and is grabbing things left and right. Our recent photo shoot is proof of the wiggles/grabbing/smiling...

 

 

 

See what I mean?!? We are having so much fun with this little boy. Here are some other notables from his third month...

Already into 6 month clothing if you can believe it!

This boy is strong. I tried the Bumbo out of curiosity, and he could actually sit in it and hold his head up. I didn't think he was supposed to be able to use it yet (and technically he is not), but I'm telling you he has that head under control and has some muscle in those legs! (following after his Dad and Grandpa).

 

He is content for longer stretches now. He can sit and play in his frog chair for a long time as I fix dinner or as the girls play outside. What a relief!

We are trying a new thing...napping in his actual bed! He will only sleep for about 30 minutes at a time so far, but hopefully we will work our way up.

His sisters adore him...they really get so excited to see him and love talking to him and giving him kisses. I love seeing their love for him.

What else do I love? Baby snuggles at night! I consider them my reward for a long, hard day of work...

Month three has been a really great one- can't wait to see what month four holds for our Lukey.