Reading

I'm not going to lie.  I wasn't one of those moms that read to my child everyday when she was an infant.  I was lucky if we got one complete book finished a week.  She had NO interest in books.  In fact, when she started preschool last fall, story time was the area where she struggled the most.  She didn't want to sit still that long.  And if she didn't want to do it, she was not going to do it.  She is head-strong, this one.  One of the reasons we loved her teacher, Ms. Lyndi, so much is because she never worried about it.  She was patient with her and in a few months time, she had fallen in love with books and was participating in story time.  Since this time, we read about 20 books a week.  In fact, when I go pick her up from summer camp, she is usually sitting in the reading area flipping through books.  It makes me smile.

She has recently fallen in love with Mercer Mayer's "Little Critter" series.  She loves to listen to the narrated versions on the iPad.  So when Chick-fil-A started giving "Little Critter" books away in their kids' meals, she was elated.  Her favorite is this one. 

Let me add that this child has a remarkable memory.  Her mind is like a steel trap.  You tell her something one time and she never forgets it.  Never.  I can never make empty promises or just tell her something to get her to be quiet, hoping she will forget that crazy thing I just promised.  She never forgets.  She gets it from her dad, the brainiac in this family.  So it shouldn't be surprising to know that after reading this book about 5 times, she had it almost completely memorized.  I have tried to tape her reading it at least ten times, but haven't been able to get a good recording.  But the other day in the car, she started reading it and I was able to get it.  I didn't tape the whole thing.  I was afraid that the file would be too big to fit on the blog.   A few tidbits:  She repeats the second page a few times.  She was determined to get it right.  You may or may not hear me mumble something about the car in front of me.  You might not be able to understand a word of this.  I understand it because I also have the book memorized!  

I wish I had gotten the end.  She always ends each book with "Amen" instead of "The End."  Close enough, right?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Gaby

Sweet snuggles with her beloved giraffe, Gaby. 

Gaby was a gift from Nina when we visited the zoo on her 2nd birthday.  She picked out her name all on her own after watching her favorite episode of Doc McStuffins.  She sleeps with her every night.  I never would have imagined that she would choose the giraffe to be her most favorite, but I'm happy she has something to soothe her.

Play

Lately, all she's wanted to do is play...

Play with her Strawberry Shortcake house.

Play with her Higglytown Heroes puppets.  

We love and miss you all!

Neighborhood Adbenture

I'm keeping short and sweet.  I'm tired.  And she's sick.  101.7 fever at bedtime.  

Today we took a little walk around the neighborhood.  She said we were on an "adbenture".

So big.

We love and miss you all.

Missing Her Daddy

Someone really missed her daddy while he's been gone.  It's only been three days but you would have thought it had been 3 weeks.  

He brought her candy and a souvenir.  She was very excited!

Floors are Done!

The floors are done!  Hallelujah! I have spent the last 5 days trying to keep my girl out of the floor guy's power tools.  I'm exhausted and tired of having a stranger in my house.  Plus, with all the sawing and banging of hammers, it was impossible for AC to nap.  She hasn't had a nap all week.  It's been harder on me, I swear.  I'm just wishing, hoping, and really praying that she will go back to napping tomorrow.  We shall see.  

Here is a picture of the floor in this room.  It looks so much better than the carpet.  I had to lay a big quilt down in front of the couch because we don't have rugs yet.  That area already has a few scratches from AC and Gracie.  I'm on the hunt for a cute, cheap rug.  Cheap being the most important.  I know that it will get ruined in a matter of months, just like my carpet.  Toddlers, furry dogs, and messy husbands are really hard on things!

This girl is sleepy, but she approves of the new floor.  It's much easier for her to do her ballet moves.

In other news:
TMI (too much info) alert: AC pooped on the potty AT SCHOOL today!  This was the very first time. She's done it about 10 times at home but never at school.  I'm not sure why she decided today was the day, but she did it.  I made a huge deal of it in hopes that it would convince her to make it a permanent thing!

It is so, so, so, so, so hot here.  And even more humid.  Ugh.  I hate it.  I'm going to leave it at that.

Yesterday while I was trying to keep her occupied and out of the way of the floor guy, AC and I decided to paint.  Below are our finished products.  The one on the top is mine.  I started out trying to paint balloons put changed to stripes.  AC was watching me and painted the bottom picture.  All by herself.  I think it's pretty incredible.  She has an artistic side, for sure.

We love and miss you all!

New Floor

We are ditching our carpet and are thrilled about it.  The installation began today and it looks so much better!  AC thinks it is pretty awesome.  In fact, she actually said, "These new floors are awesome, Mommy!"

We hope it is all finished by Thursday!

In other news, AC started summer camp today.  While it was a little sad walking down the hall and passing her old room, I am comforted by the fact that her new teacher is just as wonderful as Ms. Lyndi.  She is the one I had been praying for.  Very loving and very patient.  Ms. Rebecca.  Or just "Miz Becca" as AC calls her.  She also has 4 friends from Ms. Lyndi's class with her in summer camp class. She had a good day.  She wasn't super thrilled to be in a new room or with a new teacher but she had a good day all the same.  She has said several times today, "I miss Ms. Wyndi.  I really wuv her."  I'm hoping she begins to get excited like she was with Ms. Lyndi.  We shall see.

I can't believe it is already the 11th of June. Where has this year gone?  It doesn't feel as if it could be 1/2 over already!

Working On It

Just a reminder...

Source

First Summer Beach Day

Today was the first of many "Fridays at the Beach" for us.  We met a few friends there and played for almost 4 hours.  

Making a pool for her Barbies.

Digging a big hole with Sadie

She loves the beach!

She played on the sand for the first 3 hours.  She said the water was "too dangerous."  Just as I was packing up all of our stuff, she decided to put her float back on and venture out in the waves with her new 9 year old best friend, Ashley.  I couldn't get her out of the water after that.  We stayed another hour.  Finally I was able to bribe her with ice cream and we made it home.  As much as I want to come home, there are many perks to living here.  Being able to get in my car and be at the ocean in less than 30 minutes is one of them.  I'm certain we will miss this some day.

End of the Year Bash

AC's "End of The Year Bash" at school.

Up first was musical chairs.  She was in the final three.  Along with 2 other 4 year old boys!  I was so proud of her!

Then came Freeze Dancing!  She was hysterical!

Then a bounce house.  She hated it.  The bigger kids were jumping too hard and she couldn't stand up. A 15 minute meltdown began.

Then the trackless train.  She loved it!

The came Italian ice.  She was pouting because she had to get off the train.

Finally, her most favorite thing all day.  A huge slip-n-slide.

Jumping off after her first turn.

It was 92 degrees here today.  And very, very humid.  But she had a fun.  In the car on the way home, she said to me, "Mommy, I had wots of fun today!"

Pre-K 2 = Done

Today was the AC's last day of Pre-K2.  That is 2 year old preschool.  It's hard to believe that 10 months have passed since that very first day.

  August 20, 2011 (24 months old)                           June 6, 2012 (34 months old)

 Then                                                                        Now

She doesn't understand that today was the end of her time in Red Door Class.  Next year, she will be in Blue Door or Brown Door Class.  She doesn't understand that Ms. Lyndi won't be her teacher anymore.  But I do. And today, I'm sad about it.  Life goes on, things change.  That's the way the world works.  I just pray that next year will be as wonderful for her as this year has been.  

Tomorrow is the "End of the Year Bash."  There is no school, but we will be there at 9 am to enjoy a slip-n-slide, bounce house, trackless train, and ice cream bar!  Pray that it doesn't rain...she is sooooo excited!

Brunch and Bubbles

AC's teacher hosted "Brunch with Mommy" today.  It was very, very sweet.  She had food and punch and a gift bag for each of the kids.  Inside each bag was a jump rope and bubbles.  She also included a place mat that she made for each student.  Each place mat had a picture and the student's name.  She wanted them to continue practicing writing their names this summer.  She also included a photo album in each student's bag.  The album contained pictures of that student throughout the year with captions she had written herself.  On the inside cover was a note from her.  

I cried.  I'm crying as I type this.  I can't really put into words just how amazing this woman is and how much we will miss her.  My baby is better for having loved her.  Our lives are better for having known her.  

Our friends, Makayla and Joanna

AC and Sadie conversing about noses, apparently.  

Mommies and their babies

Best Friends

She wanted to play with her bubbles when we got home.  So we spent a few minutes in the driveway blowing bubbles.

Tomorrow is her official last day of school this year.  I'm sure I'll cry just as much as I did the very first day.