He's Growing Up!

The other day before Aiden left for school, he pulled his tooth out. He tucked it away in his tooth fairy pillow, and he waited. The following morning he joins the party bed (Yes, when they wake up on weekends, they often come to our room and climb inside.) and waits for his siblings to leave (Thank you for that, wise one!). When it is just Aiden and his old mom and pop, he declares, "Well I have proof! There is no tooth fairy. I lost my tooth yesterday morning and I put it under my pillow and this morning, I had no money. (smile)" Mitch and I bust up and then know that he is growing up. He is 10 now despite his mom wanting him to stay little. I know that he has only one more year of elementary school. I know that very soon I am going to be a drag and the lady who just does not get it. I dreaded for the beginning of this period, but he is still a terrific kid, and we will keep him all the same. He waves his age of innocence off exubberantly as I cling to it and let go only because I can not hold on any longer, but I am sure that this too is a part of growing up. I have many milestones ahead, but for some reason, this one almost creates a tear in this woman.

Birthday Present for MEEEEEEEE!

We bit the bullet and finally "invested" (I like to call it that; makes it sting a little less) in a nice camera. I have wanted one forever, so we picked up a new SLR and I've been playing ever since. Thanks honey. Now I get to take more pictures of you! Here's some samples of my tinkering.

It's the Most Elf-a-ful Time of the Year!

Yup, can't resist these dance things. So, get it while it lasts - they go down in January. Check out the whole family getting in on the action with these two Elf Yourself videos:

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/nkxIuUV4iQsKTT8LOiGB

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/ftAkgR8hfbkcRd30EZmp

H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S ! ! !

The Dukes Are in Vegas

Well we are the good ole boys. Definitely meaning harm. Not getting in trouble with the law, unless I could get the kids to say that Mom IS the LAW, but I think that will never happen. This year we dressed as the Dukes. Aiden was Luke. Grey was Bo. Gage was Crazy Cooter. Jace was Sheriff Roscoe. Cooper was Boss Hogg. And Brooke was Daisy. Mitch even joined in on the fun as Uncle Jesse. I dressed as Miss Emma Tizdale, but for the Trunk or Treat, I could not handle the itchy wig so I dressed as the General Lee. Mitch piped the theme song through the CD player and I walked the Dukes around. Everyone LOVED their costumes if they were 30 or above. The kids and teenagers did not get it. Apparently Mitch was mistaken a time or two as Santa. Las Vegas needs a little Hazzard County flavor. YEEEEEEE HAW!

PRESCHOOL PALS PLAYING PUNKY!

We had a fabulous two weeks in preschool. The culmination of our fun was our Halloween party. Of course, I almost forgot to take pictures, but I remembered in the final moments. Here they are with silly faces to capture the moment. I love teaching preschool!

Brooke is a Beauty!

Sleeping Beauty!

I know I have shared what a well behaved baby that we have, but she even puts herself to sleep. Over the last few weeks, I have found her asleep in a corner of the family room, on the couch, in my closet under the clothes and behind the shoes (She loves shoes.), and our favorite- in the tunnel of the play structure. Notice the boys are in the background watching her sleep.

Funny girl!

Primary Program

Here we are about to embark for church and this year's Primary program.

It was fantastic! Kim did so well teaching the kids the songs and even getting them to learn sign language signs for one of the songs. The whole audience was still, watching the children sign "I know He lives." Of course there was the kid who talks too loudly in the microphone, the kid who never sings - just waves to his family, the kid who is more interested in what his neighbor is doing than actually participating, but it was what we come to see each year. I remember that Kim and my first Sunday in our new ward after being married it was Primary program Sunday. I remember attending church that week for the first time as husband and wife and looking forward to seeing our own children someday participate in a program. As Kim and I celebrated our 12th anniversary this weekend, it was a special feeling to sit with my two little ones and watch my wife and four older children perform. I love them all so much and Primary program Sunday is a great showcase of it all.

Since it was a special day, we got all jazzy and snapped some photos to boot. Here you go:

Phonemic Awareness at 18 mos.-Amazing!

Brooke making the "O" sound with hand motions

Um, ya. I have been teaching phonemic awareness for about 15 years, and although I knew it was extremely important, I never witnessed first hand with my kids soooo young, that they are able to actually do what we are asking them to do. I have been using Robert Barrata-Lorton's dekodiphucan (not sure how to spell it anymore)for nearly all 15 of these years. I have thrown in a little Jim Stone and various other programs as well, but the principles of sound blending, isolating, etc. came from Barrata-Lorton's research. OK so enough teacher mumbo jumbo...

I taught preschool about a month ago and Brooke sat in during our circle time. I thought she was simply watching the kids but not processing anything that was taking place. The class then reviewed the sounds a few times over the course of the next few sessions, but literally no drill and kill at all. I have not touched the cards in four weeks!

We were reading scriptures a few nights ago and the kids wanted me to have Brooke repeat the words too like Cooper does. I humored them and had her repeat word by word. As she was saying the words, she literally began to do the motions that I superimposed on the sounds. There was NO visual cue at all nor any prodding from me. When I had her repeat the word no, she literally started turning her index finger in effort to mimic the sound "n" (like the propeller of a plane)and then proceeded to raise her hands next to her face and say "o." I about fell off the couch.

I then just did the motions with again NO visual and NO auditory. She then replicated 8 sounds with no help from us. I taught the kids 14. The boys and I were flabbergasted! I have never witnessed an 18 month old with virtually only casual exposure attach meaning and purpose to the sounds! I can't wait for next week when we learn sound blending. I am making her take a turn as well! Simply AMAZING!


Brooke making the "E" sound with hand motions