RL, the capable Kindergartener

While taking Rachel Lee to help in Kate's class during centers I have been struck with how capable she is at completing the Kindergarten tasks. She cuts, glues colors, and sits very well. Kate's teacher has even commented on how nicely she follows along in a book the class is reading, by staying on the same page and sliding her fingers under the words on the page. This week they were looking at the estimation jar and Mrs. Danko reminded the kids that inside the jar there were items, but the items were less than 20. She then took everyone's estimation, and some kids were saying, "100!" The teacher asked for a lower number, something less that 20, and sometimes she got a different number and sometimes she didn't. When it was RL's turn she said, 14. Turned out that there were 16 items in the jar and Rachel Lee was the closet! Not only did she get a number less than 20, but she was only off by 2 items. Lucky guess or genius? Only time will tell...

Counting with Kate

Today I was going over Kate's homework and noticed that she had counted by 10's correctly except for one spot...10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 70, 80, 91, 100. I was so confused...I have heard her count by 10's to 100 soooo many times. I mumbled it under to my breath to myself...80, 91, 100...and then I heard it... 91-100 she elongated the "one" in 100 and says 91-100. I asked her to count by 10's and listened carefully...Yep...just as I thought...seventy, eighty, ninety-one, hundred. . I got out the 100's chart, showed her the mistake and she laughed and said, "Well that makes a lot of sense!" Sure does, baby girl. Sure does.

Tap Girl

Oh, not only is the beauty a ballerina, but she is also a tap dancing machine...just look at her serious pose. This girl means business!

Cookie Party!!

We wanted to have some friends over to make and decorate cookies, and whew...what an adventure!! It started with a friend or two, then turned into 4 girls plus my 3 girls for a baker's half dozen...if there is such a thing...

Olivia, Hannah, Janetta, Rachel Lee, Kate, Hannah and Sophia all cutting out their cookies...

...Janetta, Olivia, Hannah, Kate, Rachel Lee, Hannah and Sophia all decorating cookies (unfortunately I burned a few cookies...it might have had something to do with the 7 little girls running around....)

And I had to throw in that last picture because it looks like Hannah is throwing gang signs...it makes me laugh :)

It just so happens that all these girls happen to come from Christian families. Three of the girls are in Hannah's class, and the other Hannah is in Kindergarten (but not in Kate's class). What a blessing that God has given us some Christian friends in a public school! He never sends us out alone!!

Grow Where You're Planted

We've lived here for over 6 months now, and when I walk into a school function or a group setting I still feel like the new girl. And it moves me to compassion for my girls who are still creating friendships. It's hard to move and be new, and frankly sometimes I get tired of putting myself out there and trying to find a friend...or two...or three...

And then I remember that God planted us here. It was not a place Jeff and I were dreaming about, and it was not a place I ever thought I would be, but here we are. And we know that God brought us here...and so I need to grow here.

As we began growing our seeds this year preparing for our garden I feel especially reminded that growing can be painful at times, but it brings about good fruit. I pray that as we grow here in our new home, in our community and at our church that we would be able to bear good fruit for His glory.


 

Upcycle

What to do with all those old, broken crayons...melt them together and make cute little multi-colored crayons!! SO fun!

Basketball for Hannah

Each year we let the girls sign up for one activity. This year Hannah chose basketball. Her logic: last year she did soccer and baseball, so it was time to learn a new skill. Of course. Let's just say the girl has skills... And Jeff has agreed to be the assistant coach since no one else volunteered for the position. And the team gets a bonus assistant to the assistant coach as well: Kate. And although this one is sometimes an assistant to the assistant assistant coach, she really is just more of a distraction... ...but she sure is cute!! Way to go Hannah!! You're a natural!

Reading with Dad

The girls love chapter books. Jeff has read them the entire 7 books in the Chronicles of Narnia as well as a few other chapter books. The girls love it when Jeff reads to them, and as he sets the book down they sigh and complain to try to get just one. more. chapter. This particular night I was struck by how cute they were all piled together on the couch and then I noticed sweet Rachel Lee totally passed out in Jeff's lap. It was a moment that I want to remember for forever. My girls, happily being read to by their caring and loving father. We are so blessed.

Twinkly Toes and Twinsies

The girls love dressing in the same outfits, and the ones handmade by Grandma Sue are so special. So, one morning, as the girls were getting ready for school they coordinated wearing their cowgirl dresses with their sparkle twinkle toes. Rachel Lee was the only one who could wear the hat to school since you are not supposed to wear hats to school unless they are to keep your head warm. I know the day will come when they each want to wear their own style clothes, but until then, these days when they work together to coordinate their outfits I feel such pride in my cute beauties!

Ballerina Kate

Let me introduce you to Ballerina Kate. She is shy but loves to follow her teacher's directions. She looks lovely every move she makes. Here she is, my little ballerina:

I Like to Dress Myself...

Red and white stripes, pink and purple frilly skit, aqua capri leggings, white socks with black shoes all completed with a dog backpack facing forward so she can access the stuff inside... ...and her smile makes it all look AMAZING!

School Moments

As star of the week, Hannah had to put items in an estimation jar for the class to estimate. She decided to be tricky and place one large rock in the middle with all kinds of tiny little rocks on the outside. Then the kids would guess really high numbers because they would think the container was full of teeny tiny rocks. She was so excited to trick them! The only problem was that she was dealing with first graders who consider numbers like 100 or 200 large. It turns out that there were 180 rocks in the container, and Hannah thought they would guess in the 1000's. Guess the trick is only as good as the audience, and the trick was on her because they were surprisingly close. ;) And here is Kate...for some reason I have to sneak up on her so she won't give me the poochy lip duck-face. She always makes me laugh!!

18 Years

18 Years ago this month, on January 12, Jeff and I started dating. It's hard to believe it's been so long since we started dating, and then I see pictures of us 18 years ago and can't help but feeling what cute young fools we were. I hope that God protects and provides for each of my girls with a man as sensitive and caring as Jeff.

Sleeping Angels

This is the last night that my sweet Rachel Lee is two, and the beginning of 3 with her. She slept with a Santa hat on, all kinds of books and dolls, and of course her favorite blanket. So much of this picture shows what she likes and who she is... And here are my other angels fast asleep...Hannah, who gives everyday all she has is passed out...Kate who enjoys a slower pace of life is dreaming peacefulling all bundled up just like Daddy left her after he sang to her. Sweet, peaceful, rejuvenating sleep.

Saving The Least of These

It has been raining here for almost 4 straight days. This is new to us: rain in San Diego was more like sprinkling and usually only at night time when we were sleeping. Rain in Boston was throughout the year, but not days straight. But, we need the rain being in a drought for as long as California has been as state, so I am gratefully enduring days of rain. On Thursday the girls wanted to go puddle hopping at the school, so we geared up grabbed our umbrellas and headed to the school in search of the perfect puddle. While we were walking there Hannah told us about a puddle on her playground which they named the worm puddle since there were worms in it. She told us we couldn't jump in that puddle or we would hurt the worms. When we got to the school she showed us the puddles and we had a conversations like this: S: Hannah, I think those earthworms are actually dead. H: Dead?!? They can't be...I see that one moving. S: Well, I know that earthworms breath through their skin and I think if they are surrounded by water they can't get enough air. H: Oh no! I need to save them! Then she began busily grabbing the earthworms one at a a time and running them to the field and throwing them in the field with a well wish, "Be free!" "Live long!" "Stay safe!" or "Make great tunnels!" Her compassion overwhelmed me. She spent the entire time searching out other worms and saving them rather than running around and splashing. She was aware that there was a need and she gave her time and energy to bless and love. I know that Hannah comments that she wants to be a police officer when she grown up because she wants to help people, and these days I am struck by her compassion on all living things. I would not be surprised if she picks a profession where she can help others and love others, and I feel completely blessed by her heart full of compassion for all of God's living things (and here's hoping that she also shows it towards her family and sisters which is sometimes more difficult!).

Party #3 for my 3 Year Old

My Dearest Rachel Lee, I can hardly believe you are three. Three seems to be the beginning of a new phase of your life as a preschool who is capable of so many things. You enjoy dressing yourself, getting your own snacks and drinks, playing games, writing R or L, beading, playdough, barbie, and anything your sisters are doing. You do not like when your sisters are at school and often ask, "Is it time to get the girls?" during the school day. They are your favorite playmates. In fact, your love for Hannah and Kate is amazing. I often walk into your room in the morning and find you snuggled in bed with one, or sometimes both, of them. Although you admire them, you also have your own ideas and your own way of doing things. People are quick to point out that you have a mind of your own, and for that I am very happy. You know how to ask for things your want, assert yourself, as well as follow and cooperate with others: you are simply amazing. You love eating a variety of good foods, but you have earned the nickname "One bite" from your daddy because you want everything but then only take one bite of everything, making all the food on your plate officially yours. You love to take one bite and say, "I'm gonna save this for later" then your confidently walk over the fridge place the food somewhere and walk away. I often find a half eaten crackers, apples, bar-bars, or bananas randomly in the fridge and know that you are saving it for later. People often mistake you for being older than you are because of how well you communicate. You no longer say things like, "Help Ma! This is inside outside" or answer me when I call by saying, "Him I am"...no these days you say, Help Mom! This is inside out," or "Here I am!" On one hand I am so glad you are so quickly learning the correct ways of speaking, but at the same time it makes me realize how quickly time is passing with you, and how much older you are. And speaking of how old you are, when you are asked how old you are you reply with some goofy answer like, "5" or "1." We are participating in a study abut vitamin D through Kaiser, and you were interviewed about your age to which you said, "5" and when asked are you a boy or girl you said, "Boy" and when asked your name you said, "Mommy." I'm pretty sure any results from us are going to throw the study! But we laughed together as I tried to get you to say the correct response, but you just giggled and persistently answered incorrectly. You are such a joker, and bring so much laughter to our family. In fact, just this morning you offered Hannah a strawberry from your cereal. She said she wanted it and then you proceeded to dump the entire spoonful of rice crispies and strawberry into her bowl of cherrios. It made us all laugh so you then pretended to dump into Kate's bowl...such a funny kid! You see my dear Rachel Lee, you are your own person who is deeply loved by our family and who deeply loves her family. I am so lucky to be home with you and have some quality time playing, running, laughing and reading with and to you. I treasure this time and know that all too soon you will be heading off to school, and off to great places. Thank you for being my big girl baby. I love you to the moon and back, over and over and over.

Party #2 for my 3 Year Old

We celebrated Rachel Lee's birthday with family, but I still wanted to do a small thing with friends, so I invited over the Friesen family. Rachel Lee likes playing with Adam, their 2 year old, so I thought it would be enough to make cake and have pizza. I also chatted with my cousin, Brian, who lives in the area and he and his wife, Kelley came over. Right before the party started, some neighbor kids noticed by peeking over the fence that Jeff was hanging up a pinata. Jeff decided to invite the neighbor kids as well, so it turned out to be a HUGE party with 11 kids!! Fortunately it was a lovely evening and we were able to crack open the pinata, make the cakes in the cup, eat pizza and decorate the cake all before the sun set. Happy birthday, dear Rahel Lee! You are surrounded by love from family and friends!!

Reconnecting with Old Friends

A perk to living in Northern California again is the chance to reconnect with old friends. Megan and Amber are dear friends from Azusa Pacific days, and were in my wedding as candle lighters. Amber now has 3 kiddos and works part time and a teacher, and Megan is living in Lodi as a middle school Biology teacher. We enjoyed a warm day at the park chatting and catching up while the kiddos all played together nicely. What a blessing to be near old friends again!!

Dear Friends

Right after we returned from southern California for Christmas, we had dear friends, the Leader family, come and stay with us. It was fun to be with familiar friends and just be real together. It almost felt like we never left San Diego...almost...