Tracking

Today the Library was hosting another family story hour featuring animals and the tracks they leave. Clarissa stayed home with Quentin because she missed school today (she has been sick since Tuesday and can't wait to go back to school tomorrow) so it was just Kimberly and me. The kids read a book and then followed tracks to see what animal they belonged to. When Kritter Laura asked everyone to find a partner Kimberly, on her own, paired up with a boy who she knows from story time; I thought it was sweet. She then turned and looked at me and said "Mom this is my partner." They did a great job tracking their animal by matching the picture Laura gave them with the pictures on the floor; they were excited to find their animal. They both were right when she asked what the animal was; they had a bobcat! After they got a chance to touch and feel all of the different animal skins they headed over to the table to make a track book. Kimberly was very good at knowing which track went to which animal. She needed a little help on a few of them but was able to have them all memorized. After eating her snack and getting all bundled up Kim ran back into the room and said "Oh no I almost forgot... Thank you Ms. Susanne and Laura. I had a good time!"

Kimberly found her partner!

Following their tracks.

Waiting to talk about the animal they found.

Both Kimberly and her partner knew what animal they had.

Kimberly and her animal track book. We went through them and she knows what each one is.

Oh what a beautiful morning...

Today when I woke to just about all of the snow melted in our yard I was thrilled to think that quite possibly the harsh cold days of winter just might be behind us. Kimberly and Clarissa picked out warmer clothes to wear and I have been in flip flops all day. The sky is blue, birds are singing, and the neighbor kids knocking on the front door around 3:35 is music to my ears. I think its a great feeling after last years early, long, and very snowy fall, winter, and even part of spring isn't going to repeat this year.

While the girls played outside with their friends I couldn't help but sing/hum the song "Oh what a beautiful morning" from the musical Oklahoma. It was one of my favorites growing up and I couldn't help myself. Today has been a beautiful morning and a beautiful day!

Valentine's Day...

I was never very big on celebrating Valentine's Day until having kids. I think that the little things they do to "surprise" us is very precious through out the year. This year was no different and the girls included Quentin and myself in the list of names they wanted to send a valentine to. Kimberly was excited to give her friends their valentines last Thursday and Clarissa took hers to school today.

Clarissa and Kimberly were very excited to get cards, gifts, and, of course, candy from friends, Grandparents, and us (Quentin and me). But the best part of the day was when they both told me that they loved me even when it wasn't Valentine's Day.

"Daddy come see what I did..."

Yes its Friday and Quentin working form home is still awesome for Kimberly to pop in and "check on" daddy while he's working. Kimberly had been playing in her room and came running out. She went to Quentin and said "Daddy come see what I did to my bed!" I know that the girls have made a fort before with the bunk beds but that was with help. It was just Kimberly in there so I was thinking of all the different things she could have done. Quentin said "Wow Kimberly good job." I then asked what she did. Quentin told me I had to come see for myself and I must say I was SURPRISED. Kimberly made her bed all by herself. She even put her favorite animals on it as well. I told her I had to get a picture I went and got the camera and this is what I came back to...

She put on her snuggi and posed with her stuffed animals.

She did a WONDERFUL job don't you think?

Story Hour Thursday February 10, 2011

I've been doing lots of things with Kimberly this year to prepare her for Pre School this fall. She is so excited to start and loves to play school with me. I work with her writing, cutting, patterns, and lots of other things. One thing that I love doing with her is Story Hour at the library. Mz.Suzanne is great with working with the kids and is always able to come up with fun, creative, and NEW ideas. Kimberly has been attending story hour for several years now and has the routine down. When you first show up (after taking your coat off) you get your baggy of letters for the word/words of the day. While I was talking to Mz. Suzanne and organizing our stuff Kimberly was busy spelling her name. She then came over to us (Suzanne and I) with a big smile on her face telling us "Come look at my name. I did it all by myslef!" We were proud of her and happy that she thought to do that all by herself. When spelling the words of the day Kimberly was always quick to find her letters and excited to show everyone that she found the right one.

Kimberly spelling coat! Kimberly then told me

"Mommy coat and boat rhyme, and so does Bee and three!"

Matching and rhyming

(this was AFTER Kimberly was rhyming)

Mz. Suzanne's picture was a green glove holding a hose.

Kimberly's picture was a green glove pointing to a nose.

Kimberly working on her sicker snow man!

She was very specific when placing the stickers on her snowmen.

An Artist

Kimberly is quite the girl and today she realized something that I (as a mom) already knew but its neat to know that she's now realized it. Kimmy loves to paint, color, and decorate things for people. She's always making friends and then making them a Kimberly Original piece of art.

Today she came up to me and said "Mommy guess what? I'm an Artist see!" She then lead me to the office where she had made several pictures and was explaining who was going to get what picture. It was a great moment and all the people who received pictures where happy to have a true work of art.

Dressing to Impress

The last scheduled dress up day is today. The theme focus is "allow (students) to succeed in life, serving in the government, industry, business, non-profit, and educational fields." Clarissa got a brand new dress from Quentin's mom and we planned for her to wear it for dress up day! Kimberly loves wearing dresses too so when I had dress up clothes set out. Catholic Schools Week has been for all of us and the meanings behind the theme's where perfect.

It's A BOY!

Today Quentin's sister delivered her son (our nephew) Madden Gene at 11:29am. He is 7lb 12oz 20 1/4 inches and absolutely precious. We are so happy to have him in the family! We headed up to the hospital to see him and the girls enjoyed being able to hold him. Clarissa even read him one of her favorite stories Brown Bear, Brown Bear. CONGRATULATIONS Brenna and Charlie.

They are missing one other member but he is sick

with the flu. I can't wait to take a picture with all four of them.

Madden enjoyed Clarissa reading to him!

The girls waited and waited for the moment they

could hold their new baby cousin. They are so in love with him.

- - Welcome to the family little man - -

Inside Out

Yay for having school today! and Catholic Schools Week continues with a fun Class Theme day. Clarissa's class chose inside out and backwards day. Both girls loved switching things up while getting dressed and even said that include's socks. I agreed and they look great. I did how ever tell them that after school they will have to change back into the normal way of wearing clothes because we might be going to the hospital tonight to welcome a new member to the family!

Favorite Colors

Well school was once again canceled and so there will be no "St. Patrick's Pride day" this week. I was going to have the girls wear green in honor of School Pride but Clarissa and Kimberly wanted to pick out their outfit today. I usually let them so with the last two days having theme's I thought it would be fine. They just so happened to pick out shirts that are their favorite colors.

Kimberly insisted that we leave her sweat shirt unzipped a little so that we can see Ariel's face. I thought it was precious. Clarissa has been reading books to Kimberly and I all morning. Us girls plan to have girl time all morning with painting nails, reading books, and try not to feel to cooped up.

They picked the colors they wanted. Kimberly loves making patterns so when she asked for one it didn't come to a surprise. Clarissa wanted light pink with Yellow flowers on her thumbs!

Career Day

We are due to get a blizzard and roads are already slick from snow we received last night. So this morning when school was canceled it was no surprise. Sadly Kimberly was going to be missing her story hour at the library and Clarissa missed her "Career Day" at school. Today all the students at Clare's school where to dress up like the career they wanted to be when they got older. The theme focus for today is "Catholic schools give a high level of service to local communities because of the many service projects students undertake 'give back to the community' and 'helping others' are values instilled in every Catholic school student" The school activity was that the students where going to spend time with their family groups completing a service project and traveling around the building listening to speakers who provide service to our community. So what where the career picks? Clarissa is always talking about being a mom and so it was no surprise when she said she wanted to dress up like a mom. And because I love to include Kimberly she is constantly changing her mind on what she wants to be. Princess, fairy, mommy, and doctor are her main career choices but today she wanted to be Princess Ballerina Mommy, but her baby was taking a nap when we took the picture.

When I grow up