Faith paints

Faith can write her name all by herself.

She wanted to help me paint the hallway.

And she painted her name.  Such a smart girl!

More birds for Queenie

Today Granddaddy and Grace went to Petsmart.

And came back with two new birds for Queenie's birthday!

The kids loved those birds.  But I promised she could visit them at Queenie's house soon.

Horseback riding lessons

Grace is now taking horseback riding lessons.

Faith couldn't wait to watch.

Grace did surprisingly well at her first lesson.

I can hardly believe she's riding a full grown horse all by herself! 

By the end of her first lesson she was riding like a pro.

Before she dismounted, we let Benjamin ride, too. 

I don't think he's going to want to take lessons anytime soon. 

Something new to ride

With David traveling for work, Grace and Faith found a new purpose for his suitcase.

A wheeled carry-me-on!

Squash a frog

Today we found a little green guy sitting on one of our flower pots.

Benjamin noticed him right away.

He grabbed him and gave him a good squeeze before tossing him off the deck.  Poor frog.

Fine motor skills

Today we  made "Spiny-o-saurus" dinosaurs.

I drew a shape on the back of a cereal box.  Benjamin smeared paint on it.

Then I cut it out, added an wiggly eyeball, and gave Benjamin some clothespins.

Adding and removing clothespins should help develop those hand muscles needed later for writing.  This school stuff is turning out to be quite fun for everyone!

Faith is learning to read

I found a fantastic website today called This Reading Mama.

And I was completely blown away with all the information she provides online for FREE!  So today, Faith and I started "school" at home where I am going to attempt to teach her to read.  This Reading Mama provides curriculum that looks quite similar to what Grace learned in kindergarten - sight words, phonics, fine motor skills, and numbers and patterns.  Faith is over the moon excited to start reading just like "Waycee" (Gracie.)

Pretty flowers for her favorite teacher

Grace adores her teacher.

So she gave Mrs. Lambert some tulips for Valentine's Day.  Super sweet.

Asleep

I put Benjamin to bed and he pitched a fit!

And finally wore himself out and went to sleep in the hallway at the top of the stairs.  He looks like a sweet little angel...

Such a pretty boy

Benjamin sees his sisters always wearing hair bows and headbands.

So I guess he's decided that he needs to wear them, too.

I must say he is a pretty boy.

Walking in my shoes

Benjamin is extremely fascinated with shoes.

Today he found mine.

And thoroughly enjoyed walking around the house wearing his Momma's running shoes.

A beautiful day

Today was one of those days.

Where it is just so beautiful outside that words cannot express.

So you just take a moment to appreciate the beauty and enjoy every moment of it.

Daddy sandwich

The kids wanted to make a Daddy sandwich and "squash" him.

Grace claimed to be the whipped cream.  Faith was the cherry on top.

And Benjamin got to be the mustard.  Yum...

 

Riding a Tonka truck

Children are so inventive.

They constantly find new ways to play with their toys.

The latest is riding Benjamin's Tonka truck down the driveway hill.

Grace, sweet girl that she is, always pushes them right back up the hill.

Much to the delight of her siblings.

And occasionally she will go for a ride herself.