Swim Lessons

Bella - level 4.   Evie - level 2. Lucky to have both love lessons so much.

Gymnastics Fun Meet 2014

The girls are finishing up their gymnastics for this year.   It was Evie's first year and she loved it.   It was nice to be able to sign them up for their own class that happened to be at the exact same time, that made it really easy on us.  

They had their end of the year fun meet.   Always fun to watch.   Bella was nervous and really didn't want to do it, but did fine once she was there.   Still, she says she doesn't want to do gymnastics anymore because she doesn't like everyone watching her at the fun meet.

2013 Church Christmas Program

Bella's First Kindergarten Show and Tell

Last Friday Bella has her first Kindergarten show and tell.   Recommendations for her day were things related to Fall, the Letter D or Animals.    We chose a keychain that Grandpa and Grandma got her from this Columbus Zoo.  It has a picture of all of us and a dinosaur.    We tried to talk to her about it a little bit, but she just kept saying she didn't want to do it.    That morning she was in tears and was very nervous about her show and tell.  She decided at the last minute to take a different keychain (the one we originally picked actually was Evie's, I guess).   This one had our picture, but not the dinosaur.  So since Dad was in the picture, she said that could be D word.   She was so distraught about it, I decided to e-mail her teacher that morning and give her a heads up.   I received a very nice response from her teacher and decided to post it here.

Hi, Robin,

You are absolutely right—Bella is shy.  She is a sweet and kind little girl and works hard at school.  I do want you to know that she copes well at school and she does not dwell on her shyness or get upset.  She “holds her own”.  She is just quiet.  She always participates in activities when asked to do so.  She did great with her Show and Tell today.  She was reluctant to say very much but I helped her along and she got through it.  Her friends asked her good questions and I think she felt good about it in the end.  I did ask our counselor for suggestions of readings for you and she said she would let me know of some soon.  She also suggested that she could work with Bella in a small group of other children who are also shy.  I will let you know when we get that organized. 

I hope this helps.

Bella's First Homework

Bella completed her very first homework assignment. When she finished and went over to where Evie was playing she said 'oh man, I didn't have time to play because I had to do my homework.' President Obama addresses the nation on Syria in the background.

Bella also cracked me up yesterday when she was singing 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'. She said after the line about 'was against the rules' Bella turned to me and said 'you know, it wasn't really Mary's fault. It was the lamb's.

Bella's First Day of Kindergarten

August 21, 2013

Today was Bella's first day at Kindergarten.  She woke up excited after being pretty nervous up until this point.   Jeff and I both took the day off work.  Jeff made the girls pancakes for breakfast.

We took the first day pictures outside.

  And then headed to the daycare so Bella could ride the daycare van to school, because that is what she will normally do.  Miss Anya at daycare told us Bella is going to be the only girl riding the van so far this year.  She said that means Bella will get special treatment and always pick what seat she wants :)

Bella with Miss Anya - the van driver (and Evie's preschool teacher)

After the van left daycare we drove straight to the school so we could meet her there.   We met her at the dropoff spot and walked her to the kindergarten entrance.   There she lined up with all the kids.   As the line started to move into the school was about the part that I got the most emotional, but held back the tears.   I didn't really see anyone else crying so I was able to keep it in myself.

This was the part that almost got me!

Jeff and I went to the cafeteria with other new parents for muffins and to chat.   The principal was supposed to come in and give us the all clear when everyone was settled in, but he just sort of came in and walked around.   I don't think any of us really knew what we were supposed to be doing, but it was nice to chat with friends and familiar faces that we've met recently.

Jeff and I went home and hung up some pictures and home decor we haven't gotten to.  We also tried to unpack some more in the basement.  Around lunchtime we went for lunch at HuHot.  (The last time we went with the girls it was sort of un-enjoyable, so for now that is a restaurant we will only go to without the kids)

School had early dismissal, so we went back to the school at 1:55.   We met Bella outside as she waited for the van to pick her up.   She was all smiles.   I tried to get her to take a picture with her teacher, but she didn't want to.

The van came and got her and Jeff and I went back home to continue work on the house. Later we went and picked up the girls and took them to Orange Leaf as a first day celebration.

Afterwards, Jeff and the girls played basketball outside and Bella also decided she wanted to ride her bigger bike without training wheels.  She was quite wobbly, so that will take quite a bit of practice.   Evie did great riding Bella's old bike.

I'm just going to write down tidbits so I don't forget:

• Bella's teacher mentioned to me after school that Bella is very shy.  I wasn't surprised.  I'm pretty sure she'll open up as time goes on.
• Bella said she didn't use the restroom all day long.
• Bella said she wasn't sure how to buy milk at lunchtime
• Her friend, Harper, from gymnastics is in her class.   She told me Harper got hot lunch today and that she slept next to her at rest time.   Bella said she laid her rest towel on the hard floor, but Harper got a mat.   She also told me we should call her 'Harper H. from gymnastics' so we don't get confused with her friend Harper from daycare.
• Bella told me she saw Trevor (Petersen) in the lunch room, but he didn't see her.
• Bella said she saw her friend Carson, from daycare,  on the playground.   I asked her if they played together. She said 'no' but she "found" him lots of times.   The way she said it I'm half wondering if she was chasing him.
• Bella said her favorite part was recess.
• Bella thought Kindergarten was 'open' on Saturday and Sunday.  I'm not sure if she was happy or disappointed when I told her it wasn't.

Bella's Gymnastics Fun Meet 2013

Bella had her gymnastics fun meet on Sat. May 18th.   This time she looked like she was actually enjoying it and was pretty proud of herself.  She did the floor routine, vault, bar and balance beam.   Jeff and I were taking pictures and taping with 2 phones and a camera and I think we got a little mixed up on what we were doing. We have two videos of the vault and can't find one for the bar and the balance beam one is a little longer that we are having trouble getting it off Jeff's phone.  

The peanut gallery

Look how proud she is!

The picture is kind of dark, but Bella made a new friend at the meet.   I noticed they were chatting throughout the whole thing, then as we were leaving her dad said to me "The first thing my daughter said when she came up to me was 'I made a friend!'.   It was cute.  Then Bella went to give her a hug and the little girl gave her a kiss.

And, of course, we celebrated at Subway.

Girls Class Pictures from Fall 2012

Bella's Class

Evie's Class

Evie turns 3 tomorrow

This girl is excited to take her Dora cupcakes to school. (and although It looks like she is touching a cupcake here, she actually isn't )

Tues, February 26, 2013

We got Bella registered for Kindergarten today.   She's not too excited about it.   A friend at daycare told her she'd have to get shots before she can go.  I'm not even sure if she will get shots at her 5 year appointment or not, but I told her shots don't have anything to do with school.   She's also very close to her preschool teacher, Ms. Amanda and I know she doesn't want to leave her.

Evie wore underwear to daycare all day today and had no accidents.   She wore a pullup at naptime and it was wet when she woke up, but otherwise it sounds like she went on the potty 10 times.   It seems maybe like we are starting to turn a corner.  She previously was telling me she only goes to potty at school.   She's very excited about her Hello Kitty and Princess underwear.  

I know we haven't been posting, and both girls are doing and saying things every day that I'd love to record, but I'm not writing any of it down.   Maybe I can start taking 5 minutes just to do that!

Would you like to put your head on my chest?

I heard Bella say this to Evie so I ran into the room where they were watching TV and found this.   Love it.

I will be hanging this up in my cube at work

A bunny rabbit by Bella