Learning Hour

Some time ago (I know--it's been a long time since I've last posted) I started "Learning Hour" for Abigail and her cute friend Chloe. "Learning Hour" is simply that-- an hour each week that we get together and dedicate to letter learning.  Having a name like "Learning Hour" just makes it all the more fun and official and suddenly instead of feeling like I was making Abigail sit down with me, it became fun and exciting for her and even better to have a friend there too.  For me, it has been a wonderful experience to be "teaching" again and to do something that I love.

Abigail and Chloe painting toilet paper rolls that turned into Octopuses 

Every week we learn a letter (we started with the letters in their name and then moved on from there) and its sound, read a book where that letter sound was a predominant theme, practiced writing the letter in various ways (dry erase board, making it with popsicle sticks, magna-doodle, and so on), and then did some sort of letter page.

 I've kept all of the pages we've made in a binder and over time we've almost made an alphabet book of our own.

Chloe and Abigail eating "O" shaped things like Oranges

Practicing writing

They love these little clipboards and small pads of paper

"F" is for flour

F is for Frog

It has been really fun for me to think of different activities they can be involved in and to sometimes even dig through my old files for ideas.  There is something else besides "fun" though that these little learning hours have accomplished for me--not sure how to quite describe it except to say it has been really very good.

It has also been really fun to have that one-on-one time (or two on one time) with Abigail and her sweet friend.  We've tried to do Learning Hour during Lucy's nap so we really do get an uninterrupted hour of learning.  Then when the hour is done--the girls just enjoy playing together.

Lucy woke up for this "Fairy" fun of "F is for Fairies".  I love that Lucy kind of looks like a fairy here in her pink everything.

 These two really are such sweet and wonderful friends.

Magic Word

Today at lunch* Abigail asked for her sippy cup of water:

Me: "What could you say to ask for that?"

Abigail: "Can I have that water?"

Me: "I'm thinking of a magic word that will help me want to give you that water"

Abigail: "Abra-cadabra!!"

Me (laughing): "That is a magic word. I was thinking of please."

Abigail: "Pleasy-pladeesy!"

What a girl, what a delight!!

*Today's lunch was no normal lunch as a dear friend, Anne, was here in Atlanta presenting at a medical conference, & did a lovely thing of renting a car and coming to our house for a most wonderful visit and lunch. Anne and I experienced Vienna together--and other great cities--during a semester abroad. She is an amazing person who radiates a love for life & adventure that is captivating. She is such a great person and friend.

I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home

Glad as I can be

Clap my hands and shout for joy

And get thrown as much and as high as daddy can last

While Lucy isn't yet talking, she makes a clear "again" noise/sound/syllables/word which comes out about 1 second after landing.

And hug him tight like this.

--Lyrics used from "Daddy's Homecoming" from LDS Primary Songbook #210.

Lucy's Second 1st Birthday Celebration

Lucy Mae turned ONE in November....but due to that nasty stomach bug we all caught, her celebration with friends was re-scheduled to a few weeks later at the beginning of December. We had a really fun night celebrating Lucy and celebrating good friends.

Lucy and just a few of the many many shots taken trying to get a smiling picture.

(please note the cupcake dress... we were very cupcake themed this party).

The decorations! I was super lucky when a really good friend lent me a whole bunch of her cupcake decorations to use (including the giant cupcake seen above). Then I had such fun making Lucy's banner and lots of little cupcakes for the kitchen cupboards. We were cupcake central for a few weeks after the party.

We are so blessed to have so many wonderful and good friends for Lucy, and for us (the grown-ups).

The menu: chicken wings (provided by Costco), and then homemade: cornbread, macaroni and cheese, salad with pecans, craisins, & apples, and...a must for any child birthday-- mini-hot dogs. Personalized "Happy Birthday Lucy" water bottles and capri-suns.

And..of course, the cake!!

I blame the iphone

So I blame my iphone for lack of posts lately. I used to post in large part as a way to let grandparents see the cuteness of the girls...but now, I simply click one button and movies and pictures are sent instantly their way. I'm trying to find a balance.

But, speaking of cuteness...well, maybe more like random cuteness. Tonight Abigail was sitting on my lap during a Christmas concert I took her to. She was eating some fruit snacks when I looked down to a pile of all the purple fruit snacks in a pile. She told me she always saves those ones for very last.

Funny girl.

Being Thankful

It was a Happy Thanksgiving...everyone was happy and finally healthy and we spent the day with friends. Living far from family has given me a new gratitude for good friends and good people who are and who do become family in a way.

Everything I made for our Thanksgiving feast reminded me of someone I love: Grandma Rowan's rolls remind me of my Mom because she taught me how to make them, Yellow Pineapple Jello reminds me of my Grandma because she taught me how to make this, and Andes Mint Coookies remind me of my Mom and Abigail because my Mom taught us how to make these when my parents were here for Abigail's baby blessing.

It was extra wonderful to have Tyler home for a few extra days. I am most happy when we are all together--Tyler, Abigail, Lucy and I. Family is what I am most thankful for--- eternally thankful and words can't even begin to express these feelings of gratitude that fill my body.

I squeezed in some Black Friday shopping--although at a decent hour of 8:00am.

And--I squeezed in some creative projects to help our home be filled with "thankful" reminders.

Created by me....tips and advice given by Tyler when solicited.

Created by me, inspired by this.

There used to be 3 pumpkins here...but Lucy got a hold of one.

When the Relatives Came

My sister Becca, her husband Derek, and their darling daughter Hannah came for a visit. Visits are rare treats around these parts and we soaked up the time we spent getting to know Hannah. Our time was really mostly spent playing and hanging out.

We played and played and played. Hannah was in love with all the new toys our house offered and Abigail was in love with her cousin Hannah. Abigail kept saying things like, "I love my cousin Hannah" and became her little buddy the whole time. She was also quite protective of Hannah as Lucy, unfortunately, was in a biting stage.

Check out those cheeks. Check out those eyes. Adorable.

We kept oohing and ahhing over how small Hannah was. Compared to Lucy, she is so tiny and light, even though they are only 3 months apart.

Playing here, playing there.

A walk on the Big Creek Greenway.

Seriously--isn't she cute?

Hiking Sawnee Mountain all bundled up.

We fell in love with this little girl and

Abigail took right to Aunt Becca and got tons and tons of snuggles while she was here. (Abigail just came in while I was working on this post and said, "Can they come again on a airplane to see us?).

It was a great visit, even though much to our complete sadness, Lucy came down with an awful stomach virus and it then passed along to Abigail and Rachael. Thankfully, somehow, Derek, Becca and Hannnah all escaped coming down with it as well and were nice enough to help take care of the girls when I (Rachael) was too weak to do much of anything.

Between sickness though, we were able to do lots of talking, playing, walks, cooking (including Derek teaching me how to make homemade chicken stock), eating, and enjoying watching the girls play together.