Karis' Penmanship

I think Karis now has the best penmanship in the family.

Letters and Faces

Makena has been practicing writing her name, along with drawing her "happy" faces.

Helping Others

Our church has been working with the local Boy Scouts and their Scouting for Food program. We collected rice, beans and canned food to help those in need. Today we gathered at our church to sort and pack up the food.

We took the girls to the event to make them aware that there are people who don't have money to buy food and also encourage them to do what they can to help others. Karis had questions when we talked to her about it which showed us that she was getting it (she wanted to know why Daddy didn't just give them money and asked if she could give her $2 from her treasure box).

When we arrived at church, there were rice and beans all over the floor from the sorting. Karis used the broom to sweep up the mess. Makena dived right in by picking up the beans one by one. She worked on that for quite awhile until she was too tired to do any more.

     

The girls then helped us sort cans by putting them on a cart or up on a table.

   

They took a little lunch break and then kept sorting.

It was a good first introduction to volunteering and helping the needy. Karis said it was the highlight of her day. We hope for more opportunities like this in the future.

A Preschooler's Valentine's Day

Being in her first year of preschool, this was the first time Karis was to pass out Valentine's Day cards. I had my own idea of the kind of Valentine's Day card she was going to pass out to her classmates. It was going to be a goodie bag filled with little bunny cookies and heart-shaped chocolates. The tag was to say "Some Bunny Loves You" with a little drawing of a bunny head. Cute, right? I soon realized that Karis would have no part in making them and that it would be all me having fun with the project. So, I reluctantly put away my selfish plans and let her help me create something of her own. 

We went to the craft store and she picked out some stickers and ribbon. She carried her stickers and ribbon around the house for days until she finally got to design and make her tags. I took her to the store so she could help pick out the treats that were to go inside the bags. She wanted to get everything on the shelves, but we walked away with heart lollipops and Hershey kisses. She helped me count the candy and stuff the bags. I tied them up and they were ready to go! 

Karis came home from preschool with Valentine's Day crafts and a decorated bag filled with all kinds of goodies from her 11 classmates. Being the good sister that she is, she happily shared some stuff with Makena. She then looked through her stash over and over again until it was time to take a nap. 

You Can Find Us At The Tubes

One of the girls' new favorite places to go is The Tubes. It's inside a large church in a neighboring city and it's open to the public every day. It's like a McDonald's indoor play area on steroids. The structure is huge and it has lots of paths and other things to tire out little arms and legs. It's a guarantee good nap day when we go!

There's also a little play area for smaller tikes that Kyle likes to roam. 

Karis made a new friend the last time we went. I'm not sure how it came about. I think he just jumped right in and started running around with the girls. At first, Makena complained to me that "the boy keeps following me!" I tried to explain to her that he was a nice boy and a new friend but she didn't buy it. Karis on the other hand had lots of fun with him. It's unusual that she started playing with him because she usually has no interest in making new friends at playgrounds (plus she's in a "I don't like boys" phase). 

Karis is super outgoing and not shy around adults, but it's a different story when she's around her peers. I've been trying to figure out why. The only thing I can think of is that she was a late talker so it was hard for her in some ways to hang out with kids she didn't know. Most of the time they couldn't hear her when she talked to them because she spoke so softly. I'm wondering if she took that as a form of rejection. I'm trying to encourage her and teach her ways she can start playing with others but she doesn't seem comfortable being assertive and seems quite content playing by herself. I'm hoping she'll remember this positive experience at The Tubes and that it'll encourage her to make new friends the next time the opportunity arises. 

Laundry Day

Karis wanted to help me with the laundry. She usually helps by stacking her and her sister's underwear. 

But this time, she actually folded a lot of the clothes and she did a great job!

Before and After 

  

I love how she's been wanting to help out more around the house with putting clean utensils from the dishwasher away, sweeping and mopping. She'll help until she declares, "This is boring!" or "This is a lot of work!"

Crazy Kid

Kyle has taught himself how to open and close his hands. He does it while he eats, when he's awake in the wee hours of the night, when he plays ... basically all day. His most recent thing is hitting his hands together while doing it. He thinks it's hilarious!

  

  

  

  

Here is a video of him opening and closing his hands, saying "hi".

Today's Pics

Karis didn't take a nap today (I wish she did because both girls are now congested). Derek decided she needed to be punished for not napping so he took her outside to rake leaves. Poor girl had no fun at all. That'll teach her not to nap...

Kyle at 8 1/2 Months

This boy spends most of the day standing up. He can already take a couple of steps while holding onto something. I used to keep him in his footed pajamas all day. Not only was it to keep his feet warm, but it was kind of a modern form of foot-binding. It made it harder for him to stand up on our wood floors in hopes of delaying his ability to start walking. I don't want another early walker!

He is always on the move and getting into stuff! Karis always calls out, "Mom, move Kyle!"

Everything in the mouth! Such a challenge with two older sisters with small toys, crayons, hair clips, etc. 

Curious. I love watching his eyes as he observes people and things around him. 

 He talks a lot!

Mama's Helper

Karis always wants to feed Kyle for me. I let her try it awhile back and the food on the spoon never made it into Kyle's mouth. She asked again today so I gave her one more try. She actually did a good job and I let her feed him his entire lunch. 

Now if I could just teach her how to change a diaper and make my morning coffee!