Pictures Are Back!

Today Claire's pictures came back (isn't she a sweetie pie?!) I totally forgot how cute I did her hair that day. You can't tell but she's actually wearing a velvet green dress with white fur trim on the cuffs & hemline. I put green satin ribbons in her hair (old school!)

My baby is growing up so fast! Where did the time go? I LOVE the school that she goes to. The front office is staffed with friendly and security-minded people who are genuinely looking out for the safety and well-being of your child. Those qualities are hard to find in a public school now a days.

This is the third Spelling test she's come home with that she got 100% plus the bonus words! She spelled "carbon dioxide", "carbonated", "December" and "surface". For a second grader those are pretty advanced words. Clara is a bit more advanced in reading and spelling. She's on a fourth grade level.

She's almost on track with her math work. She's come a long way with math. It's been a struggle but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger as my husband always quotes at least four times a month.

James woke up this morning bossy! Carly and Hannah (day care kids) were pretending to decorate the day care Christmas tree and James came rearing through the door shouting, "Carly, what do you think you're doing? Stop putting those things on our tree!" He starts tearing the scarves and ribbons off the tree like an old Grinch. Hannah elbowed him and he starting boxing her in the back with his fists like he was working out at the gym! I yelled, "James!" ,he stopped and was huffing and puffing. "We were all fine out here until you came. Get in the house!" I closed the door and left him steaming in the darkness of the laundry room. Ten minutes later he came out a different James.

He participated in the letter writing lesson to Santa. He wanted Santa to bring him a helicopter and a Spiderman web shooter. He decorated his envelope with gingerbread men. It was so cute!

We also went to visit Santa Claus at Washington Square Mall yesterday. All the kids did great except for Logie. He sat there with a dazed look on his face with his tongue hanging out. I remedied that real quick; I pop the passy in his mouth. The picture turned out good.

Phil cooked dinner tonight; roast beef, fried potatoes, garden salad with mini corn muffins.

It was so good! I was so stuffed I couldn't move. Plus we went to bed late last night and got up too early so I'm feeling the lag. The kids and Phil baked & iced sugar cookies and put sprinkles on top.

Logie played with his arch nemesis, Talon. He loves hearing that boy scream. Anything Talon has, he has to take. If I ask Talon to do something, Logie always beats him to the punch. He pushed Talon out of the chair and under the pretend kitchen area table and as he sat down in the chair he started rubbing his feet on Talon's head as he squealed helplessly from under the table. Logie has a lot of skills to learn (so does Talon, he has such a small vocabulary) but I'm grateful that he does express himself vocally, physically and socially. Nobody messes with Logie at the day care. Till tomorrow! nby

Below is our Pool Project. We did this last year and now we're enjoying it! Watch the journal below and witness how one man took a plot of land and transformed it into a homeowner's dream for his family.