Rylie (20 months)

I just realized you will be 20 months old soon. Sheesh! Where does the time go?! Your vocabulary is sprouting daily. You can say Air-yo (Ariel), Mommy, Daddy, hello, hi, bye, and stop. You yell stop all the time. And of course you can call people names (thanks to your big sisters) you call them ba-ba (a made up mean name by Cailin) and me-me (meanie). You let me know when you want something to drink by pointing to a cup and when I open the fridge you will call out juice or wa-wa (water).
You are a picky eater. You love all kinds of fruit and yogurt. You know where the snack cabinet is for the goldfish and crackers, your absolute favorite. You don't really like meats. And I have to hide the veggies in your food.
You take one long nap a day. You don't like getting your hair comb or washed for that matter. You sometimes will go off and lay down in your room and can be found just watching cartoons. You sing! It's the funniest thing. We may not be able to make out all the words you sing, but you definitely can guess the tune. The other day in the grocery line you were singing, "Where is Thumbkin?" Just as plain as day, Ariel and I turn around and you are dong the hand movements too. You have been singing your ABC's for the longest, thanks to LeapPad magnet on the fridge.
Teeth have been popping up in your mouth like crazy. You have about 10. You love to run and play. You can race. You say "ready. set. go." and then you will run.
You love books. You bring them to me to read to you. You love turning the pages and occasionally will let me read a page or two to you.
We love you sweet Rylie!

April 14, 2011- Jordan Farms

We took a trip up to Jordan Organic Farm, right outside of Tampa, to pick strawberries. Boy oh boy, was it hot!

Ariel was the champion strawberry picker. In the end, we gave both baskets to her to fill.

And she done a great job.

Cailin had a blast!

And this was her contribution before we gave her basket to Ariel to finish up. These were the net strawberries (minus the ones we had eaten already).

Rylie learned quickly how to pick strawberries.

But she was the champion strawberry eater too.

She ate everything she picked.

April 13, 2011

Cailin, I gave you markers and paper in the car to keep you busy. You literally painted yourself with them. Your hands were blue. Your mouth and teeth were even blue! Your shirt and pants were colored orange though. You had colored so hard that your chest was green. I sure hope those markers are non-toxic!

Monkey Bars

Cailin has gotten pretty good at crossing the monkey bars. She had crossed the monkey bars right before my video, which is why she didn't make it that far on this one.

April 28

Cailin today we read "Murray's First book of Words". It is a book that I picked up from Target in their dollar section. We went over the beginning sounds of words and you did great! I was shocked that you remembered the "p" sound and said that a word that starts with "p" is pool. Great job Cailin!
Rylie I brought you a book that is your favorite right now. It's a nursery rhythm book. You got it in your easter basket. You and I are having fun singing "I'm a Little Teapot", "Pat-a-Cake", and "Where is Thumbkin" to name a few.
The biggest thing that I'm learning is that learning does not have to be linear and scheduled. It just has to be interesting and fun.

April 27 (Ariel)

Today you volunteered to wash the dishes for me. Even though you absolutely hate washing dishes. Your thoughtfulness almost knocked me over. I like that you are so in tune to people's feelings and look for ways to help out. You are turning into a fine teenager so far.

April 27

Cailin we've been practicing left vs. right. When we're riding along in the car, I always ask you (and sometimes you remind me to ask) whether I'm turning left or right. We've also been workng on telling time. You are obsessed with knowing what time it is. You ask me 10 times per day. I have been pointing you to the clock on the stove (it's digital) and you read the numbers to me. We usually discuss whether it's morning afternoon or night, or if it's time for breakfast lunch or dinner. You also want to know when your birthday is and what time you do each activity- like swimming, dance class, or what is it you will be doing today. It's a bit funny!

April 25- Brooker Creek Reserve

Today for my Mom's birthday we all went to Brooker Creek Reserve. I have researched a number of nature parks and put hiking and exploring as a summer activity. I want to so badly to be an outdoor and nature buff and to teach my kids to love and have an appreciation for the outdoors, but this outing did not start us out on the right foot. When I was looking over the website and planning our day, I blatantly ignored the wear long clothes and the need for bug repellent. I was thinking we weren't going to be out there for too long so we wouldn't need those things. Boy was I mistaken! It kind of makes me chuckle to think about it now. We were doing good until my Mom suggested that on the way back we take another path. We were hiking along the path back and happened upon standing water (it had rain earlier that day) and it was like swarm of the killer mosquitos. It was like 10 of them on all of us at any given time. I was ate up from smacking them off the kids. Ariel you swore off the outdoors completely. Cailin you were just plain terrorized and Rylie, sadly you are too young to know the difference.

April 25

Rylie today was the first day we let you feed yourself. I mean you feed yourself snacks and finger foods, but tonight I gave you a fork and a pieces of ham, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and corn bread. You cleaned your plate! We were so surprised because you were the first one to get done eating.

April 12, 2011

Today I brought myself two planners. At first, I was going to use them as lesson plans, but then it kind of evolved into a journal (as well as a planner). I figured one for the little ones and one for the big one.

Rylie, today was the first time you folded your arms. When you were upset at Ariel today at the track. It was something she had done to you. You just folded your arms across your chest and frowned at her. It was hilarious!