Call Day #55, 4/25/14

Before breakfast Eleanor wanted to try a new game she got from friends for her birthday.

I was intentional in taking some pictures of the kids outside this morning. They always turn out better than inside.

 Yes, they really do love each other despite how they bicker sometimes.

That loose baby tooth refuses to come out. I think we're going on two months now. The permanent tooth just keeps pushing it further over and comes in crooked itself in the process.

Love seeing her happy.

I rarely take pictures of school time because I'm too busy in the moment explaining something or reading. Nonetheless, school really is a part of every morning. Here Eleanor's doing her math problems.

Gave Oliver magnets for the first time today.

Bringing magnets to me. Sometimes he chooses to walk instead of crawl.

Some walking. He can go a good bit farther than this shows.

And then there's the part of the day where I didn't take pictures: Getting the oil changed at Firestone and happily passing the time in Sam's and Target while we waited. Thankfully we managed to avoid the worst of the rainstorms as we walked between stores (the reason I intentionally didn't take my camera). Shortly after returning home I made my first ever call to Poison Control after Oliver managed to eat a bit of Soft Scrub that Eleanor left on the bathroom counter while cleaning it this afternoon. The nurse I spoke with wanted to be sure he was taking liquids well (ie throat not irritated), and he drank plenty when I bribed him with lemonade. Not a dull end to the day.

Call Day #54, 4/16/14

Trying out their tin can phone made at our American Girl meeting yesterday. We were reading about Samantha for this meeting and they have LOVED the books. They sit and listen for long stretches and ask for them each day.

They have named their dolls after the two friends in the book.

 Samantha (left) and Nellie (right) joined us for Eleanor's well visit at the doctor today.

Eleanor thought it was great that it was her turn to sit up on the examining table. Wouldn't have been so happy if there had been any shots--she's always very concerned about whether there will be any shots when any of the kids goes to the doctor.

 Back at home we continued discussing the Easter story. Today we talked about how the tomb was sealed because some were afraid Jesus's body would be taken to claim that He had risen. We "sealed up" the opening between the dining room and the playroom with string. They thought it was great fun.

Then they had to act out other parts of the story--a dead body inside the tomb and being guards outside it.

New music this afternoon meant happy skipping/running around the living room.