A wonderful day

We had a wonderful day the other day. We didn't have to go anywhere, so we were relaxed and had a lot of fun. We took a walk to the playground and fed the ducks. We saw baby ducks and baby turtles.

There really are baby turtles in the next couple pictures. I didn't notice them at first, but once one of them moved, I started seeing a bunch of them. They are very cute.

They like to sit on the branches. See the light colored almond/oval shape on the branch?

Getting some sun on the rock ...

This one is on the left side of the rock with his head up.

The Piccolo Sisters Restaurant is open for business! Mmmm! Wood chips! My favorite!

Peek a boo!

We also passed a man in a turban and a severely handicapped girl with her two nurses. I was able to have some great conversations with Stephanie based on her observations.

I have been trying to carve out some time during quiet time when Erica is still asleep to start working on homeschooling with Stephanie. I haven't figured out anything really official yet, but I want to start somewhere. We played for a little while (I found a great teddy bear picnic book that has a picnic basket with removable items and she loved that) and then we sat down to play with the lacing boards and spelling boards that Grandma Gray gave us a while ago. She was doing so well with the spelling boards that I had to take a picture. There was an amazing point where you could just see her brain working when she was trying to figure out the difference between the "b", "d", "p" and "q".

The girls finished off the day cuddling together on the chair watching a movie after dinner - very sweet.

A Tale of Two Sisters

A palette is worth 1000 counseling sessions?  Ha ha! We sat down to paint the other day and I was intrigued by how the girls handled their palettes. Erica immediately started mixing the colors. Stephanie didn't mix them at all. I would have expected the opposite to happen since Erica hates to be messy, but once again my children show me how little I know.

Identity Crisis

Is she a space ranger? Or is she a ballerina!?! Erica insisted on wearing the Toy Story PJs AND the skirt. She got really upset when I tried to take the skirt off when she went to bed. So, I let her sleep in it. She was sooooo happy.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Do I really make that many lists? (yes!) I was making my shopping list today when Erica asked to have the pad and pen. She walked around and looked like she was jotting down notes and then sat down at the table and got serious. She sat there for a while making her list. I think I am creating a monster!

More pancake fun

I had fun putting their breakfast plates together this morning. Stephanie asked for a horse and a donkey. I added the heart. I made a smiley face for Erica (turned out to look more like a mokey I think). I also tried making a cat, but completely flubbed it up. I also made ham and cheese omelets. I had some left over ham strips and formed them into little hearts, too.

At least she "nose" what she wants

Daddy came home late the other night and we were just wrapping up dinner when he got home. I asked Erica if she wanted some pineapple and - very clearly - she said, "Yes". I was so surpirsed that she said it so clearly that I asked her a few more times to see if it was just a fluke and each time she said it very clearly. Then I grabbed the camera and this is what I got. How do kids know when you want them to perform??!?!? Daddy comes home right at the end. The girls' reactions are so cute that I had to keep them in.

Peek A Boo!

Erica woke up in a really good mood from her nap the other day. She was very playful. We played Peek A Boo for a while. She was so cute.

Yumiko - if you are reading this, you need to tell your mom that the "Inai Inai Bah" book that you gave Stephanie 2 years ago has now become Erica's favorite book. It is falling apart, but I have to read it to her a few times before each nap and before she goes to bed at night. Thank you!