Hop On Pop

Javan has always loved reading and we have always loved reading to him

 {3mths old ... just really getting interested in books}

 {14mths old}

 {14mths old}

 {18mths old ... first day of school)

 {22mths old ... he used to sleep with his fave books}

{2.5yrs old}

It's so amazing watching his progression from just looking at pictures and telling us the story in his adorable little baby babble, to wanting to know each letter of the words on the page and then memorizing the words (we couldn't skip words and make up stories just to finish a book cos he would make us start over!), and now he is actually READING books on his own. I am so, so, so proud of him. I was folding clothes tonight and he started reading Dr. Seuss Hop on Pop and he read 95% of it completely on his own. When he had a little trouble, he spelled the words and then sounded them out and then said it over and over until he got it. It was so cute watching him. I helped him with the bigger words but he did it basically all on his own!

{4yrs 8mths}

Love my little bookworm!

~V

Little Lefty

I know babies/toddlers don't show hand preference for quite a while but Ria seems to love to go against the norm of everything! She has shown a STRONG preference for her left hand from very early on. I think it's safe to say that she is 100% left-handed ... takes after my mum or 'Moma' as Ria has now affectionately named her.

~V

Marching Band

The kids were in such a silly mood tonight after their baths. Javan was a little too wired I think. He got his vuvuzela out and was blowing it all around the house. Next thing I know Ria has hers in hand and is following him around. What a racket!

 love these little munchkins!

~V

Sunday Love

~V

Spring Break ... final edition!

Saturday was a RAINY day! We stayed home in our jammies all day until it was time to get showered, dressed and head out to Ria's friends birthday party. Amelia and Sophia (twins) and Clay turned 2 and they had a joint  Micky and Minnie birthday party.

After the party, we went to the mall for a little bit and let the kids play in the play area until it was time for the 2nd party of the day ... I like to call it our monthly 'monsoon' get together. We had a great time at Blake and Alisha's house. Good food and good friends made for a wonderful rainy evening.

 Livi and Ria checking out Jackson's tools

 Claire, Alisha, Bella and Becky

 Kenzie, Javan and Jackson reading

 Javan was worn out!

 Night owls!

~V

Spring Break ... day 5

We changed our originals plans for today when Norma asked me to watch Karen and Josiah ... so Friday was a low key, stay at home and chill kinda day. It actually worked out good cos I got to watch the South Africa vs New Zealand match (Cricket World Cup ... sadly SA lost even after having a remarkable lead but thats a whole other story). We did puzzles and just played inside for a while, ate lunch and then went outside to play once it warmed up a little bit.

I would have to say the best part of this day was the 3hr nap we all took in the afternoon!
~V

Spring Break ... day 4

The weather was not that awesome today but we stuck with our original plans and I am so glad we did cos it turned out to a be a really fun day. We met up with Amy, Kenzie and Livi; and Becky, Kyle, Tucker and Bella in the morning. We walked across the Walking Bridge and then picnicked in Coolidge Park. It was really breezy walking across the bridge but once we got to the park it was fine.

The kids had a great time running around, playing frisbee and playing games with Amy ... she's so great and so patient with kids!

We rode the carousel

 While Bella snoozed!

 and then headed to Clumpies for an ice cream treat

We worked off that ice cream walking across the bridge and then it was time for goodbyes and naps! I actually had errands to run so the kids slept in the car while I ran in out .... hey you gotta do what you gotta do! No worries cos I just pulled up close to the entrances of where I needed to go:)

Once they woke, we went to Earth Fare. Kids eat free Thursday nights so it worked out perfectly for us to stop by there. We did just a little bit of shopping ...

and then it was time to order our meals

After supper, our next stop was Barnes and Noble

We spent a little time playing and reading and then it was time to head home ... we had a really full and fun day. I have to admit I was really exhausted after this day!
~V