Losing a Tooth

My sweet M lost his FIRST tooth! He was so excited and glad to have it out because it was hanging on by a thread!  We don't pull teeth...we just let them come out on their own.  (That was also my cardinal rule as a first grade teacher...I don't pull teeth because I'm not a dentist!)

He got to put his tooth in the special tooth fairy pillow, but he felt that she also needed a special note. He distinctly remembered that his big brother B got $5.00 for his first tooth so he wanted to ensure that he got the same special treatment.

Here is his note:

It says "first tooth" M.

And here is M without his tooth!  He is getting so big...and of course, he was so excited to get $5.00 from the tooth fairy.  Luckily, they all know that after the first tooth, they only get $1.00 for each tooth.  Otherwise, that would be a very broke tooth fairy!

March Lesson Plans

So excited to share our March preschool lesson plans!

We are going to learn about kings and queens, St. Patrick's Day, the ocean and spring.  I keep adding on more things for W's lessons because he LOVES preschool.  There isn't a day that goes by that he is not demanding to have preschool.  He definitely knows all of his letters and letter sounds so I didn't hesitate to do two letters together (Q and K) for queens and kings.  Normally, I would not do this because they sound so similar, but he is ready for it and it fit well with our theme.  

Last month, the kids loved making groundhogs, zebras and giraffes.  I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised with how well they have learned to manipulate small items like gluing on the little eyes and painting with different brushes.  W's cutting skills are getting really good with the daily practice.  He glued on the pieces for the zebra by himself (after I showed him a picture of the example) and I was quite impressed!

Enjoy March and our early spring!

Updates on the Kids

I know that everyone says it, but children grow up so fast...each one of our kids is so special and we love them to the moon and back!  Every night before they go to sleep, we always ask them:

"Who loves you?" And they reply, "Mommy/Daddy and you!"  "How much?" and they say, "More than anything!"  Finally, we ask, "Is that true?" and they say, "YES!"  Even K knows to say yes!

B has been busy swimming, playing basketball, reading Harry Potter, and playing with his Legos.  It took 8 months, but we FINALLY organized all of the Legos from being grouped by colors to put together with directions of each Lego set in plastic containers.  They are loving the new system and can finally spend hours setting up their police station and fire station and pretending to chase the robbers and put out fires.  To hear B and M play, is simply music to my ears.  Here is B swimming in his first swim meet...he didn't place in the top, but he did not DQ in any event!

M continues to follow B in his Lego playing abilities, love of reading (his aunt sent us "How to Eat Fried Worms" and he is intrigued), and playing basketball.  We just watched the UVA v. UNC basketball game and he was pretty sad when UVA lost.  B cheers for UNC while M cheers for UVA because it is where they were born and that seems to be the deciding factor!

Super Bowl FUN!

W LOVES preschool and we have to do it EVERY DAY!!  He knows all of his letters and sounds and is starting to show the ability to start reading.  He loves his weekly music class even though he is really shy.  I think his favorite part is going to lunch at Chick-Fil-A after class!

K is truly a mess!  She is getting close to two so she says no easily, likes to pick out her own clothes and shoes (pink tennis shoes and silver boots are her favorites), and loves her Daddy!  I tried to get her two year photos done and she CRIED for EVERY picture...the boys never did this!  But, she makes up with it in absolute cuteness and the ability to wear bows!!

Daddy got her a special Valentine...a book and bunny - she told him "Love you Daddy!" and "Thank you Daddy!"  She is spoiled rotten!

They are all the loves of my life...

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are so excited to celebrate Valentine's Day!  

I am making homemade heart-shaped pizzas tonight...one of my favorite cooking blogs is Sally's Baking Addiction so check out her recipe for this delicious pizza!  We have chocolates for the kids and we are going to complete our wall of hearts to tell why we love each other.  

And J already surprised me with an embroidery machine!!!  I am thrilled to learn something new! 

I am leaving now to volunteer at my kids' school for the Valentine's Day party.  I am doing this science experiment...I hope they love it!

Love,

K

Basketball Fun

B and M played basketball this winter.  This was B's second season and M's first.  We decided to sign up for the YMCA program here and they really enjoyed it!  B scored a few goals and became really good at defense.  M has two games left and hasn't scored a goal yet, but he can hustle down the field!

B was #22 and his team was called the Avengers!

M was also #22 and he was on the Thunder!

It has been a great season!

PRESCHOOL - February 2017

We had so much fun with all of our activities in January so I can't wait to get started 

with our February plans!  

Here are my February lesson plans!

We are going to study about groundhogs, love, Valentine's Day and the zoo.  I may have gone a little bit crazy on the zoo activities.  This month, I have decided to focus a little more on cutting with scissors, beginning sounds and rhyme, and writing our numbers.  W has been doing so well with the concepts that I decided to do two shapes and colors as well as the numbers 11-14.  

One note- I have LOVED using the free materials from "The Measured Mom" site.  One of the requests from her materials page is that I link to her actual website instead of the activity.  So, I wanted to make sure that I did it correctly.  If you click on a link for that site within my plans, just know that everything is under her "Free printables" tab.  These are fabulous resources!

Our favorites from January include:

Painting snowflakes...

Making our snowman with our names...

Playing with our "snow"

 The ice sensory play was the BEST...so easy and they loved it!  

They were easily entertained for 30 minutes...

 Our penguins...

W and K really do love each other...I'm sure it will be easy to teach about love in February!

Have a Fabulous February!

New Year's in Tulsa, OK

We had a special treat for New Year's...we traveled to Tulsa, OK to meet up with sweet Caroline and David.  The kids were so excited to see their aunt and uncle!  

We met up at a pizza joint and enjoyed some yummy pizza and then ventured to a cute park 

with an awesome playground!

We got to celebrate their BABY BOY that is due very soon!  We had so much fun 

showering them with baby gifts...

The next day, we enjoyed a brunch at Cheesecake Factory and said good-bye!  Next time, we get to see them and a sweet little baby!  We are so excited!!

For the record, Uncle David is the "baby whisperer" because K and W ADORED him 

and they don't really like anyone but me and J...

Aunt Caroline was also adored by the littles!!!

The beautiful sunset on the way home...