Hi Neighbor

Watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

Ok.  We've had Amazon Prime for years.  It's necessary for how much we buy online.  We knew about the video service, but never used it.  Finally, Brian set it up and WOW, how exciting.  It has great shows on it compared to Netflix.  But most of all, I was thrilled to find Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.  We had talked about the possibility of it being creepy compared to today's standards.  However, I was pleasantly and overwhelmingly happy when I turned it on that is WAS NOT!  It's still a great show.  It's calm, concise, slow and has totally appropriate information and topics for preschoolers, I'd say even into primary school aged kids.  Both girls have revealed that they "like Mr. Rogers" and "he is really nice."  They have even learned all the songs he sings (they have already watched about 9 episodes).  They have seen a few of the new Daniel Tiger episodes on PBS and relate the puppets to that show. 

The shows topics are great!  So far we've seen a piano being played (that happened to be the first one we watched...oh the coincidence!), a planetarium, penguins on display, trumpets being made and played, Peggy Flemming ice skating (yes, they are old) and some others that I can't recall right now.  But the stories, the dialog, the music are all perfect for the girls.  I said this to a friend about the show already, while I know times have changed and things are me edgy today, I don't think the process of growing up has or the things that kids need to learn and how they learn them.  From songs to manners, the show has great value.  And while yes, it's a television show, it hits the marks of a slow, well rounded, open minded, thoughtful with emotions and caring childhood. 

As an adult watching it now, it's kind of sad to realize that Mr. Rogers plays all the male voices for the puppets in the Land of Make Believe.  He's King Friday, Owl, & Corny.  The only really weird puppet is still Lady Elaine, but her looks match her character, which is a grumpy old lady.  The woman who plays Lady Aberlin is still beautiful and pure in my eyes. 

I found this cute blog and thought it had some interesting facts about Mr. Fred Rogers:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/16416/15-reasons-mister-rogers-was-best-neighbor-ever

This show will be a new staple for us...Amazon has 7 seasons.  Hooray for solid programming. 

Math ++++

 

Paige's teacher is focusing on math for a bit now as it appears Paige is confident in her sounds and words.  Mrs. Hart says that Paige definitely is getting the concept of addition, but now needs to work on recognizing the actual symbols for the numbers.  We will work on that this weekend.  But I'm so excited about her work that she brought home today.  She's adding!!!  I really hope they both follow in Dada's footsteps when it comes to math, it will be much easier for them in life if they do.   

 

Piano Lessons

 

Since Paige isn't burdened with the rigors of kindergarten this year, we thought it would be a good time to introduce music to her to "activate" the music part of her brain, which we know can lead to so many other positive things in learning.  I found a class through the City that I thought I would try that taught piano.  BUT THEN!  I received a note from school offering piano lessons at school taught by the school's music teacher who has her Masters in music and has been teaching since 1986.  And they were a reasonable price.  I was so excited about the coincidence and the convenience! 

 

Paige started on Wednesday and said that, "Mrs. Pearce could teach her anything she wanted."  Which I took as she really liked her.  Then when Brian got home she was really excited to show him her "music book."  After dinner Paige and Hailey got out their instruments and laid the book out to play music.  I think something was struck!  While I have very low expectations and simply want her to be exposed to music and the thought it includes, I'm excited that her first experience was fun and good.  I hope it stays that way.

 

Paige's 1st "Music Book"

Playing music with book open

Woolly Bugger

He graced our lives and gave us joy for 10 wonderful years.  We are so honored to have had our Woolly Bugger in our lives to bring happiness and tail wags every day and for every occasion.  We will always love him and he will be forever in our hearts.  We know he is now pain free and will always be watching over our family.  These are only a few of the moments we had with him; I could go through pictures for hours.  He really was THE BEST dog for us and our family.  We miss him. 


I loved him from the moment he licked my toes.

Sleepy, growing puppy



Reunion with his litter

He loved the snow!



And was curious about everything

Handsome puppy

I loved him.

Handsome Boy

Spoiled boy

Loved Dada on his Bday

Loved Mama on her bday



Woolly's 1st Christmas

Excited for his toy on Christmas

Always a rooter

Handsome Airedale

He loved the pool and to fetch his ducks

He was so great with the girls. 

Always there to unwrap a gift.  Rooter. 

Always next to me in all my moments. 

 

Woolly with Hailey.  He was THE Best


So little he could stand on the dishwasher!

5 year well check for Paige

Paige had her 5 year well check last week which went well.  The doctor checked her health and asked about her progress.  She was given a clean bill and does not need to return until she is 6 years old!  Dr. Suhda was inquisitive as to if Paige was starting kindergarten.  My reasons seemed to suffice her.  Those reasons being, Paige was only 4 yrs old when the school year started, Brian and I had decide a couple years ago that she would not start early, Paige needs to be 5 years old and not burdened with the rigorous curriculum of kindergarten these days, both her Montessori & Waldorf teachers recommend she wait another year, plainly, she's not ready and we don't want her to go.  Childhood is precious. 

Her measurements were as follows:

Height: 42 3/4 inches = 65%
Weight: 40.7 pounds = 60%
Blood Pressure: 109/70

Things that Paige is doing include maturing.  Her play is more advanced.  She has sympathies and empathy's in her play with toys.  She can dress her dolls very well.  She loves horses and playing ponies  She enjoys coloring, drawing, painting & stickers.  She creates a story with each picture.  She really likes to draw suns, hills and people or animals.  She also likes the Tinkerbell Fairies and likes to pretend she is a fairy or mermaid and thankfully, still loves to play Barn.  She also likes to pretend to be a dog or cat.  But mama only allows a nice dog or cat.  She loves butterflies and all animals.   

Academically, Paige is coming along.  She can write her name and many words, knows all of her sounds and is beginning to read.  It is difficult for me to get her to do these things.  I'm very interested to spend time with her teacher to know if Paige willingly does them at school.  She is very good at recognizing numbers and is adding and subtracting numbers 1-5 very well and can count to 20 and understand the values. 

Physically, Paige is an excellent swimmer and can climb, run and swing like any 5 year old.  This year she is in dance which includes ballet, tap and tumbling.  She is doing well with it, but most importantly is listening to her teacher and following directions.

As a person, Paige is a true leader.  I find it amazing how other children naturally gravitate to her.  She's plain FUN!  Her smile is adorable and her excitement about things is entrancing.  She does like to whine still, but it is improving greatly.  She likes to give butterfly kisses by touching and rubbing noses with me.  She loves to challenge me when I need to tell her "no" but is getting better at accepting it as an answer.  She is full of spirit and fire, but also so sweet and loving.  I cannot imagine my life without her in it...EVER.  I love her. 

Here are links to her past well checks:
http://bandkstwogirls.blogspot.com/2012/08/4-year-well-check.html
http://bandkstwogirls.blogspot.com/2011/08/3-year-well-check.html

Princess Slippers

This pic is just funny.  Hailey does not always fall right to sleep at night.  So I usually stay in her room with her a bit to get her to settle down and then leave with her still awake.  Some nights so goes right to sleep, but others, she will play around a bit.  I still always check on both girls before going to bed myself to make sure they are breathing and comfortable.  This is what I found the other night...

Princess slippers on her feet!!!!

Tooth Fairy is coming!

When we returned from Durango, Brain discovered Paige had a loose tooth when he was brushing her teeth.  It's been over a week now and it was time for it to come out.  But in the meantime, Mama scurried around town to get material, lace and ribbons for Nanny to speedily create a Tooth Fairy Pillow.  It turned out adorable.  Pink is currently Paige's favorite color, so it is a pink, of course.  I'm so thankful for my mom's seamstress talent. 

Then I called Papa this morning to get the expert advice on how to pull it out (he is a retired dentist).  He recommended a topical anesthetic, put dental tape around the tooth and then pull quick.  She was so ready for it to come out today.  I text Brian to stop by the pharmacy to get the "stuff'."  He came home early and gently pulled it out quick.  She was so excited and really happy to have it out. 

She asked the Tooth Fairy for a crystal.  The Tooth Fairy brought some little plastic gems, a gold Sacajawea dollar coin and Silver Dollar, and a crystal (looking) butterfly on a necklace.  (The Tooth Fairy HAD to leave $$$, even though Paige has no idea what money is used for.)

I found a cute poem to put next to the pillow too. 

On a side note, from this mom's perspective, I knew it would happen early since she got her first tooth at about 4 months old.  It took me a few days to accept that it was really happening so early.  She had just turned 5!  But she was so excited about it that I couldn't help but be excited too.  It's a fun part of childhood.  I am certainly enjoying every moment of hers, and her smile is super cute with the little space!

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First Day of Fall semester 2013-14

 

Because we have a modified year round school year, the girls started school on July 31, 2013 this year.  They both will attend Adobe Montessori and be in Mrs. Hart's class.  Paige will go from 8:30am-11:15am T/W/Th and Hailey will go the same times but on Tues and Weds only.  Paige's time will increase as the year goes on to prepare her for a kindergarten schedule.  We are so grateful for such a great school and excellent teacher.  Have a great year girls!    

 

Hailey

Paige

In front of school with sun in their eyes

We love Mrs. Hart!

Ice Cream Birthday Party

 

The big day finally arrived for Paige's Ice Cream Birthday Party!  We had 11 children and 23 adults present for the party.  Me, oh my!  We had swimming, face painting by Nanny, the ice cream truck came, a story about the Ice Cream Fairy, a piñata (which was broken by Dada and all the kids could run for the treats), and cupcakes.  Auntie did all the cooking for it too which included cookies, fritatas, muffins, and cream cheese pinwheels.  It was a busy morning but filled with fun, friends and memories for our Big 5 year old!  

 

Future King

This post is a little out of order.  But I think it's apparent my love for the Royals.  I was so excited to know that Duchess Kate was pregnant and the arrival of the little Royal was fun to anticipate.  I was secretly hoping for a girl since with the new law no matter what the gender, the first born would succeed the thrown.  A queen would have been a great thing.  But, nature did it's work and gave Britain a future King!  I especially love that Kate exited the hospital still bearing her baby bump, because as we mothers all know, that bump is still apparent for a few months.  And I know in particular that extra weight is no fun to try to get off after breastfeeding is over.  I applaud her.  I wish the new mother and father health and joy for their family and welcome His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis. 

Also, it's a great birth date!  Brian was born on the same one 40 years earlier!

On 7/29/13

Paige's actual birthday was our first day back from vacation.  So we had a nice morning playing with her new horse and dollies and then went to dance class.  Auntie is in town so she went too.  After dance class we made a trip to the cupcake shop where she got to choose her favorite cupcake.  She picked the pink strawberry flavored one.  After dinner and once Nanny was home form work, Auntie and Nanny came over to sing and have cupcakes.  Auntie also brought a BIG package of stickers for Paige to open. 

 

Loves to have us sing to her.

Stickers!

Yum!

7:28am on 7/29/13

 I've been trying to catch the girls each year at the exact moment they were born.  Paige was born at 7:28am on July 29, 2008.  We gave Paige a horse to go with the American Girl knock off dolls, which she had asked for, earlier the morning of her birthday this year.  She was very excited to have it and play with it.  This is her at 7:28am on July 29, 2013.  I can hardly believe it's been 5 years since Brian handed her to me after delivery.  She is growing into a wonderful little girl.  

Here's some links to her other birthdays:
http://bandkstwogirls.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-29th.html
http://bandkstwogirls.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-29.html



40!

 

Brian hit a new decade this year.  His sisters planned a wonderful beach party for him at his parent's house.  It was a fun day filled with river splashing, (dogs!), family time, (dogs!), kids, (dogs!) and food (and dogs!).  We had a great time catching up with this sisters and being at his parent's house.  Happy Birthday My Love!