Call Day #76, 7/26/14

Eating breakfast with her doll.

Even though it is Saturday, Eleanor wanted to do a handwriting lesson today. She is working on writing part of a Bible verse each day and on the fifth day she gets to pick a fancy paper on which to write the whole verse in her best handwriting. Unfortunately, she wrote with a yellow ink pen so you'll just have to imagine good six year-old handwriting.

The girls asked to go to the museum today. We spotted turtles in the water and watched them for a while.

Climbing a dinosaur.

Lunchtime.

That sweet face! Love it even when it's covered in peanut butter and jelly.

 Helping little brother wash those sticky hands.

More fun after lunch. Oliver pours beads at what the girls call "the Nerd table" because it reminds them of the candy.

Eleanor experimenting with rhythm. You can make your own sounds by moving the blocks around and can hear it played back to you, changing the tempo as well. She thought some of her music sounded like the African drummers we heard at the library a few months ago.

Leaving the museum with lollipops from the gift shop.

Oliver wanted some too and made that loudly known on the way home. Eleanor shared with him then and all three kids plopped down in the kitchen to finish their candy when we got home.

Oliver was enjoying getting licks from both lollipops. And Eleanor and Claire thought it was hilarious when they both offered him theirs at the same time.

We've been listening to "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" on YouTube because I had the song in my head and thought they'd enjoy listening to a new song. The clip I picked had lyrics displayed and Eleanor took the time to go through the video, pausing it to copy down each word. She ended up with lots of pages of lyrics.

Eleanor holds up her lyric pages and Claire dances as we listen to the song again.

Sometimes a bath is the best way to clean up after a messy dinner.

Upset over a tiny bug that was floating in the water and got on his hands.

A moment later he couldn't even find it. When I asked him where it went, this is what I got. It's his "I don't know" gesture.

Call Day #75, 7/24/14

Playing with letter tiles before breakfast. I gave her some to put in alphabetical order then she wanted to do the whole alphabet.

  

 We started school this week because the kids asked to. So, we're on day 3 of Pre-K and 1st grade. Claire's excited that she is old enough to have a name for her level of school. I wasn't fully prepared to start school this week, but I had some preschool workbooks lying around that Claire is happy doing. Oliver happily joined her as he loves getting his hands on any sort of writing or coloring tool at the art table.

Eleanor picked this table in the playroom for doing her math this morning.

After school, the kids were having fun with Mr. Potato Head. Oliver knows teeth go in your mouth.

More Mr. Potato Head dress up.

We went to the library, and Eleanor looked for the books they were holding for us. Alphabetical order practice!

Oliver knows in which corner the puzzles are kept. He often wanders over to them and starts undoing them all while we check out!

He found Eleanor's book about Thomas the Train and looked at it the whole way to the parking lot. Pointing out Thomas to us.

The girls redeemed some of their summer reading points for prizes: mini flashlights and a magnifying glass.

All morning Eleanor asked to "do exercise" which meant walk on my treadmill. It's so fun and exciting to them.

Teaching Oliver to play golf.

He clearly got the idea. He spent lots of time hitting the ball with the club. Later, he didn't want to stop playing with them at bedtime. I ended up putting the club in his crib and handing him the ball as he lay down on his tummy. I think he fell asleep with it in his hand.

Helping make pancakes for dinner.

Eating pancakes with chopsticks.

After dinner, we tried to go to the pool but we couldn't swim because there was thunder in the area. We did end up running into friends and playing for quite a while at the playground together. Plus, Eleanor found out that there was a trophy waiting for her for doing swim team this season. A fun surprise for her!

Call Day #74, 7/17/14

This morning we went with friends to the Observation Park at the airport. Great little place for watching planes take off and land. Eleanor shows Oliver the planes.

I don't know how old he was last time we went, but I don't remember him ever paying attention to the planes before. Here he is taking it in right after we arrived.

He had the funniest expressions--a mix of concern and delight!

Sweet siblings.

They were all cracking up together.

Love these three.

Watching.

There's also a sand play area. This was where we actually spent the most time.

Building "a volcano."

We are glad to have friends from Boston (from our very own street!) living nearby now.

How's this for a reading spot? I love that this is all you can see of her! Instead of reading ON the couch, she took the back cushions off, threw them behind the couch, and then wedged herself between the couch and the window.

Eventually she did sit up.

After an early dinner, we went to the pool. Claire is really good at putting her head under the water to try to touch the bottom or to just swim, but she always emerges like this.

Posing.

Oliver's spot. Standing on the stairs, pouring water.

We were almost the only ones at the pool! There was another family there and Eleanor was happy to race her friend from swim team up and down the pool. Back stroke.

Stopping to catch her breath/rest on the side of the pool.

Claire wanted to swim to deeper waters too and made a few trips with Eleanor.

Oliver kept wanting to play with the water fountain.