Just a Bunch of Stuff.......

Miscellaneous Nuggets.......

Jami had a wonderful birthday. I haven't posted anymore pics because I've not downloaded any yet!! With my parents help, we are really stressing how grown up 4 yr olds can be. Up until recently, Jami could still be counted on to throw unprovoked tantrums at her whim. They are really tired related, but they could happen if she was in need of a nap, was woken from a nap, or was just post nap. That girl takes awhile to become civil.

And, she is known for loudly shouting her disdain of everyone or ANYONE who rubs her the wrong way. That not only includes those of us with more frequent opportunities (like mom, sissy, & grandparents), but extends to friends, fellow church goers, service people, or anyone who might happen to stop & comment on her cuteness when she's in a "MOOD". It can be pretty embarrassing. We have told her that 4 yr olds do NOT do that. I tell her it is OK not to like someone, but those are things you tell mommy in private. She always has permission to tell someone to stop doing whatever is bothering her, but she shouldn't say "I don't like you!" quite as liberally as she does now. The great news is, there have been some wonderful improvements in this area with her.

Truthfully, her moods are becoming more evened out & she seems happy & delightful more often than not. Folks closest to us have just learned to give Jami a little room before engaging her.

Lindsi is doing well. We recently had her IEP for next year's placement. It was recommended that she stay with her top tier class. I thought we could be borderline there, but her teacher has a lot of confidence in her abilities & I'm relieved she won't need to re start again socially. When Lindsi entered the 1st grade, her overall language level was 4 years / 7 months. This school year, she has JUMPED 2 years in language. She recently tested at 6 yrs / 7 months, which put her about 4 months behind her chronological age. She works so hard. I am always proud of her accomplishments.

These next few weeks we are really trying to rack up the rest of her AR (Accelerated Reader) points. She has 42, but needs 50 within the next 3 weeks to be able to participate with (the majority of) the class in a day at the park. She, truthfully, could care less. I care about it. I did not sweat it when she missed the midyear pizza party. The park trip is in conjunction with the 2nd grade class that she is moving up to. "I" want her assumed 2nd grade teacher to meet her in that environment, with the rest of the class. So for the next few weeks I'm driving her to school so she can spend some extra time in the library taking AR tests. And, we are pushing the reading of AR books at home too. When I mentioned this to some of the other class parents, they gave me all sorts of hints & methods to achieve our goal. I'm pretty sure we can do it. Without my help though, it would have been really hard, as she can only check out one book a day & the AR points are .5 each book.

Goodbye 3....Hello 4!!

She's officially 4 today!! Yea!!! Such a grown up girl now. We will do a little family celebration after dance class this evening & then she has a smallish (3 friends + siblings, cousins, & sister) party at CEC on Sun.

More pics later.......

It Was A Happy Easter

Make a Smilebox slideshow Trying something new. We had an enjoyable Easter.........Let's see if this works!!

Tell me if you like the slideshow or just pictures posted instead........

I'm really wanting to get my picyures & short videos onto DVDs, so the girls can enjoy them whenever they want on the TV. So, I'm experimenting (with what little time I have) with different formats. Suggestions welcome.

I usually use Snapfish. They have just started a slideshow format, but there is no way to put it to DVD right now.....yet.......

Our Spring Break.....

Our spring break has come & gone......

I really love having both girls home & doing things with them...but NOTHING gets done in my house while they are both here. I'm going to have to figure out a workable solution by summer time. It's a juggling act to actually work from home & keep them sufficiently entertained. I love summer helpers (tween girls from church & my niece...when she isn't playing soccer).

We did a few playdates, but our big treat was a trip to the zoo. We used to go a lot when Lindsi was younger, because we had an annual pass & the zoo was very close to one of her weekly therapy offices. We quit going there soon after Jami came home. So, it was really Jami's first memorable trip to the zoo (which she insists on calling The Jungle).

Enjoy.......

This week we have Dr appts, speech, & IEP meeting.......I guess the break is really over.

Saturday fun with PBS

Last Sat, our local library in conjunction with the local PBS station brought in Curiou* Georg*. They also set up science & recycle stations within the library for families to enjoy. I think they expected a couple hundred & my guess is there was between 700-1000 people there! They did organize it pretty well & as long as you could stand in line patiently, it was quite fun once you got into the first room.

The girls knew we were going to CG...but I don't think they (or me for that matter) knew exactly what to expect. They were pleasantly pleased when they saw him.
The first activity we did was making your own little tomato pots completely out of newspaper. If you don't use tape to hold it together, it will compost entirely. The secret is adding you dirt immediately...=) And, we got a free package of seeds.
Next the girls tried a water experiment where you "push" drops of water across a tray by "wind" blowing through a straw. They enjoyed that activity & racing each other.
And they had a station where you could inspect top soil. Also a station where you could bury & retrieve objects in very fine sand.
Overall, a fun time.