Hug!

Nicholas loves this book called "Hug!" He especially loves that he can read it all by himself.

Jumping Queen

Estella LOVES to jump on the tramp. I am amazed at how well she can hold her own even when jumping with the boys. I used to stand there reminding the boys to jump soft with her, or just make them jump seperately, but she has just figured out how to stay under control enough that I don't even worry anymore. When they are all on together she generally stays as far from anyone as she can, jumps right at the edge where there is the least bounce, and keeps one hand up toward the net so she can grab for support whenever she needs it.

She likes jumping with the boys, but when she can have free reign over the entire trampoline...that is freedom!

This is my favorite with her little pants falling down! I can't keep underwear on this little girl. I make sure she has them on in the morning, but she changes her own clothes so many times a day, I just can't keep track of whether she kept them on or took them off during the changing process. She treats her clothes like toys...she doesn't play with toys...she just trys on new clothes. This girl is seriously a girl!

Reading Buddies

Jackson captured this sweet moment of the boys looking at a book together before church. I love moments like this when they are being kind to each other.

On the subject of reading, I want to record that Nicholas is becoming a great reader. At the beginning of the year he started asking to learn how to read. He was very persistant, so I began him on the same book I used when Thomas asked to learn how to read at age 4. The book is called "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons." It was recommended to me by several friends and it has worked well for us. I spent some time researching different methods before I started Nicholas, but I didn't find anything I liked nearly as much as this one (especially for young children).

Nicholas has loved learning to read. He almost always asks to do his "reading lesson" before I do. He is now on lesson 74 and has started reading the first set of Bob books. With the Bob books, there are three different colors of books in each set. I read each book of one color with him once to be sure he knows all the words. He is then required to read each book of that color at least two more times before we move on to the next color. I think that repitition really helps solidify things.

I have a hard time finding good "beginning reading" books. I think most of them are laughably inappropriate for beginning readers. I like the Bob books well enough, but I would LOVE to find something else to use also. Any suggestions?

Nicholas is so patient and calm about reading. He doesn't get frustrated when he can't remember a sound or when he has trouble figuring out a word. The stories at the end of each lesson are getting really long, but he doesn't ask to stop or whine that it is too hard, even though I can see that it is a challenge for him. He just patiently pushes through to the end. The biggest challenge for him is holding still enough to see the words :) If I can get him to sit on his bottom and just vigorously wiggle his leg, that usually works.

I am so happy that both boys have had a desire to learn to read, and have asked me to teach them. It is so satisfying to be the one that has taught them that important lifelong skill. It makes my heart so happy to see them progressing and learning to enjoy reading. Thomas will now stay up reading "Magic Tree House" books until I come in and turn off his reading light.

Happy reading!

Nicholas Mac

Frogs

A few weeks ago we went on a hike with Jackson's brother's family on the Monument. We all stayed together for a while, but when Estella decided she would rather walk than ride in the backpack her pace was a bit too slow for the rest of the crew. Jamie and I took things Estella's pace, along with Nicholas who likes to examine things along the way. We had almost made it to the waterfall when Estella decided she would just like to sit and play in the sand. Jamie took Nicholas the rest of the way and I am glad she did. Everyone had climbed up to some small pools of water above the waterfall and discovered bunches of little frogs. There were so many that they were fairly easy to catch, so everyone got to have a turn holding them. I was also glad that I had asked Jackson to carry my camera, because he was able to get pictures of the fun.


Nicholas liked looking at the frogs, but he wasn't so sure about holding them.

Thomas was very excited that he was able to catch some all by himself.

Sweet Brynne.

Little frog by Thomas's feet.

Clarissa and Brynne

Newell

Family shot before the hike.

Second Haircut

My sister Kara and her husband stopped overnight on their way home from Utah. Kara gave Essie her second haircut. It looks MUCH better with the ends all even and straight. I watched and asked questions while she was doing it, so I could learn how to do it myself. I think I know how, but I'm not sure I'll dare. Boys haircuts seem so much less intimidating, even though Kara promises that girls haircuts are much easier than boys. I may have to watch a few more times before I feel brave enough.

Smoothies

Jackson makes the BEST smoothies. I buy the big bags of frozen fruit from Sam's club so he can make them whenever he feels like it. I love to see the dark purple nutrition from blueberries going into my children.

Happy 27

I was spoiled to pieces on my birthday. Jackson and the kids made every meal, showered me with gifts, and sang me happy birthday multiple times. My brother, Jake, had been visiting a few days before and he had taken the boys out to get me a card and some fingernail polish. It was a great day.