Preschool Fun

Starting in October, we started a new curriculum for the boys. (My sister and I teach preschool together for our boys who are 6 months apart.) We are using the book, The Toddler Calendar, and we are liking it a lot better than the curriculum we were using off the internet. Some of the activities are a little advanced still for our boys, but it gives us great ideas for projects/skills we can work on. We meet twice a week for an hour and 30 minutes that includes stories, songs, as well as a craft or activity from the following areas: math, science, social studies, taste, listening, and smell. (The stories cover our language area.) It's been difficult to persevere some days when one or both are in grumpy moods and don't want to do the activities we have planned, but we've seen great improvement in them both.

Some of Caleb's projects that he has done.

For most of the activities, Ariane and I do the prep work of the project, and the kids just do the gluing and/or coloring.

One of our science activities today involved experimenting with what happens to the texture of flour when you add water. They had a fun time.

Boys Will Be Boys

We've been experiencing quite a bit of rain this week. The previous week, Caleb had done some swimming in our backyard in the baby pool, and I hadn't put it away yet. The pool filled up about halfway from the rain on Wednesday, and after dinner, the boys wanted to go outside and play as they had been stuck inside all day. (My siblings and I eat dinner together 3 times a week and take turns cooking once a week.) The boys were enjoying going down the slide and ended up with wet tummies and pants. Eventually Caleb wandered over to the baby pool filled with water and started playing with a ball...throwing it in the water to make a splash. My brother-in-law and I joked about how funny it would be if the boys actually jumped in with their clothes on. I told him I didn't think Caleb would do that, when out of no where, Dallin makes a bee-line from the fence and jumps tummy first into the water--shoes and all. Of course Caleb joined in the "fun" soon after.

Best Friends

My sister, Ariane, and I discovered that our babies had the same outfit, so we just had to take pictures before Dallin outgrew his. Caleb was so tired that day that I ended up putting him down for a nap before we were ready for the pictures.

It looks like they're holding hands in this picture! Usually Caleb is trying to beat up on Dallin (actually just trying to touch his eyes and mouth), and Dallin has nightmares of "Monster Caleb". So they're not best friends yet, but one day...

We woke Caleb up for this picture.

Another of Caleb's and Dallin's good friends is Lily, one of our walking pals. We go on a walk every morning so the mommies can get in shape and socialize at the same time. That's how Caleb gets so tan!

Happy Easter!

We enjoyed our Easter day yesterday. When Caleb gets older, it might be more of an exciting day maybe with some Easter egg decorating and egg hunting, but it was just a typical Sunday with church in the morning and a relaxing afternoon. Each year we celebrate by getting together for dinner with as many people in my family as can come. This year we were missing my parents who took a week-long vacation in Utah, so it was just my siblings and spouses. Somehow we managed without my parents :)

Easter dinner
Caleb and Drew

(Kari and Jared's son)
Ariane, Zane, and Baby Dallin

(taken when Dallin was just a few weeks old)

Good News!

I'm a new Aunt! My sister and brother-in-law have been trying to have children for 6 long years. After deciding to adopt, Ariane and Zane are finally proud new parents of a baby boy. They were selected by a birth mom a few months ago and have busily been preparing for parenthood. Dallin was born Feb. 19 weighing 6 lbs. 13 oz. Last night was their first night with the baby (and the first night of many where they won't get very much sleep!) Congratulations Ariane and Zane!

Caleb is celebrating his 1/2 birthday today. He had his 6-month check-up where he was in the 30th percentile for his height, 50th percentile for his weight (18 lbs.), and the 75th percentile for his head count. He's been a sleepy and cranky boy today due to the shots :(