Growing kids

Jon asked me to help him hold something outside. He's working on the garage. I wasn't really paying attention as I slipped my feet into some flip flops at the door. Later I looked down and realized they were the ones Dominic had been complaining were too small for him. While a tad tight, they definitely fit me. What has happened to my little boy?!

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He isn't the only one growing like a weed. Today I packed lunches so we could spend the day at the pool. I packed a sandwich, chips, grapes, peanut butter crackers, and some cookies in each lunch. We go to a pool in a neighboring town that provides free lunches to the pool attendants. So the kids skipped the burger, but took the fruit cup, milk, and chips. Caitlin ate EVERYTHING. She then helped a friend polish off a massive jumbo bag of popcorn and ate a few of my carrots. Upon returning home she claimed to be starving so I fed her more carrots and a large banana. We were all going in different directions so had sandwiches again for supper. She ate two sandwiches and some carrots. I have no idea where she's putting it, but expect to be changing out her wardrobe again soon.

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Jon just came inside a bit exasperated, holding a book. Apparently Dominic was reading while he was mowing. I'm a little afraid to see what my lawn looks like after that.

Dominic and Caitlin are in two summer reading programs. And while both of them have always loved books, this has inspired Dominic. If he's not outside, he's reading. He's plowed through an impressive amount of books in just a month and isn't slowing down. I had mentioned several months ago that I wanted him to experience other types of books. He was reading books that were all the same genre. And while there wasn't anything wrong with them, I wanted to widen his imagination and vocabulary. He took me to heart. He's read Around the World in 80 Days, 2 Hardy Mysteries, Judy Bloom, non-fiction about sharks, anatomy, dogs, insects, etc., and several classics. We are also flying through the Little House books at night. We are almost finished with the series. This does my heart good to see my kids fall in love with reading.

Kindergarten graduation

Anyone that's talked to me recently knows my feelings on kindergarten graduation. But just in case you haven't heard my rant, I'll share it now. =) It's the biggest joke. What are they graduating from or to? What have they accomplished in one year of school that needs a whole huge celebration? Shouldn't we at least wait until they have done something? I could go on, but I think you get the point. It's a waste of time and money.

But since Dominic got one and it's combined with the 8th grade graduation that the students are required to attend I sucked it up. She's my last one anyway.

But despite my reluctance baby girl was precious and I'm so proud of her. She's turning into a gorgeous young lady both inside and out. 

Both of my kids won the two reading awards for the school. Shocker! ;)

Yesterday I tested them on two different tests I found online and they are several grade levels above in their reading. Can't say I'm surprised, but it's still nice to know that I've passed my passion on to them.

This next picture is of Dominic accepting his award. I had a board meeting that started at 5:15pm. Graduation was at 7pm and I slipped in the door a few minutes before it started. I left right after the reception to another meeting that lasted until after midnight. So that was definitely not my calmest day. I knew Jon wasn't going to have time to worry about the kids clothes so I had everything picked out and packed so the kids could change at the church. I'm sitting there watching the kids march up and I see Dominic in a too small, inappropriate shirt and paint splattered shorts. WHAT?! Turns out his size 8 church pants are too small and he couldn't get them buttoned. So he just wore his play shorts to the graduation. I felt like the mom of the year! But hey, the kid can read really well. =)

Exciting News!!!

We've been so slammed with work and house issues that I've neglected my blogging quite a bit. But I have to take a few minutes to tell you about Caitlin's exciting news.

She can read! 

Once she "got it" she really took off. So now she reads to me every night. She also has a great memory so I have to switch up the books because it doesn't take her long to have them memorized and then she can fly through as she "reads".

We celebrated with Swedish pancakes. The kids have been begging for them since before the fire. So this seemed like a perfect time to say yes.

Should I be worried or proud?!

It really isn't a question. I'm immensely proud of my son. He's read all of the children's books that we have in our library (keep in mind that I have over 4000 books, one entire wall is children's books). In fact, he's read them multiple times. So today when he asked if he could pick a book out of one of the grown up sections, I said yes. I wasn't anticpating what he might encounter when I let him go pick a book out by himself.

His first choice was a Repairman Jack novel by F. Paul Wilson. This is one of my favorite authors, but NOT a book I want him reading quite yet.

His next choice was W.E.B. Griffin. This is one of Jon's favorite authors. Again, not a book for a six year old.

He finally came out with another favorite of mine, A Walk in the Woods. 

So now he is curled up on the couch reading and laughing. 

What am I going to do with this boy? At this rate he'll be finished with all of the books in the library by the time he graduates from grade school. Guess I'll have to go buy more books. (insert delighted glee). =)

Field Trip

Dominic is learning about authors and illustrators in school. So his class took a trip to the library to learn about how to find books and how the library works.

Then we walked to a local coffee shop that promotes artists of all kinds.

The children had read about a favorite illustrator who worked in a coffee shop.

So they drank their "coffee" while illustrating books they'd made.

It was precious.

 Ms. Beth-Anne bought each of her students an iced hot chocolate.

So I got Caitlin one as well.

 Illustrating his book.

We had so much fun.

Thank you Ms. Beth-Anne.

Some random photos

Just a few random things from last week.

Caitlin has had a runny nose all week because she's STILL cutting those 2 yr. molars.

She doesn't let it stop her from doing what she wants. She just smears her hand up her face and goes on.

So consequently it was really gross by supper time. And even worse, I didn't notice right away and when I did I took pictures of it before I cleaned her up.

I saw the kids in the library reading again. It doesn't matter how many times I see this it warms my heart that my kids share my love of books.

I found some amazing strawberries at the local fruit stand and Caitlin couldn't stop eating them. Dominic was long done with lunch and she was still shoveling them in. So I had her pose for a few pictures. She loved it.

Books

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." 

Anna Quindlen

The Kids

Dominic is smart. I knew that from the very beginning. So why am I so surprised when he shows us?

Today he was reading one of his books. He was carefully sounding out the words he wasn't familiar with.

He asked me what sound th made and then carefully sounded out the word something.

Wow! He just started reading on Monday. How can he be sounding out words this big so quickly?

Then just now he was asking Jon and I math questions. He can do simple addition.

I started 1st grade at 7 (I didn't go to Kindergarten) 

so I was 7 or 8 years old before I could do the things he can do now.

Caitlin takes bear bear everywhere with her, including the bathroom.

He has a toy that she uses for his potty. He sits on it whenever she has to go to the bathroom.

When she finishes going potty she carefully puts away her little seat and bear's seat goes back into the bucket of bathroom toys.

Today I reminded her to flush. She reached over to bears "potty" and made a flushing sound before she put it in the bucket. Then she flushed her toilet.

It started with Dominic a couple of years ago. He asked me to pretend to be a bear and eat him up.

So I would growl and tickle and kiss him.

Caitlin now asks me to "bite" when she wants to be tickled.

She saw the puppies playing and they were growling.

"Mommy, puppies tickle."

She thought the dogs were tickling each other. =)

The kids were being super quiet so I went to investigate.
They were "hiding" on Caitlin's bed. Apparently there was a huge monster outside the window.

This is Dominic scaring it away.

Dominic posing for a picture.
 
Caitlin copying him.


Caitlin is in love with her panties.
I was folding laundry and a couple went missing from the pile.
This is where Jon found them.
 

Updates!

I couldn't stop telling Dominic what a good job he was doing (while reading his books) and how proud of him I was.

Caitlin told me she needed to go to the bathroom while Dominic was reading.

She's potty trained, but still needs help.

When she finished she said

"Goo job Caiwin. I pwoud o you"

Poor little girl was feeling a bit left out, I think. =)

When Jon came home we decided that Dominic could choose where we ate supper. 

After a supper of Taco Bell (the 2nd time this week - it's Monday),

we took him to Marble Slab for ice cream.

Did I say we were proud of him?!

I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!*

Dominic can read.

He was sitting there at the table waiting on me to get out his work sheets.

"Mom, I'm kind of tired of this stuff. I already know my abcs."

So I gave him math and other work sheets.

Then when we went to work on the computer he said the same thing. He was tired of learning his abcs. He already knew all of them and what sounds they made.

So I clicked on the reading link (starfall).

I figured I'd have to help him, but it would be something different.

There are several books that he can read. If he doesn't know the word it will help him sound it out. But he never used the help. He just read through the first book.

By the time he was on the fifth book I was so beyond excited.

I called quite a few family members and we told Dominic that he could celebrate by going where ever he wanted for supper.

We are heading to Taco Bell. =)

So proud of my little boy. 

He's not quite 4 1/2 and is already reading.

*The title of one of his favorite books.

Our week!

Helping make pancakes.

At the Children's Museum

Caitlin found these items in the dress up box. The cape is Super Man.

Then she decided to wear this outfit. She proceeded to wander all over the museum dressed like this.

 

Dominic is a knight.

Caitlin chilling in her high chair while eating supper. Notice the missing shoe?

Grandma told Caitlin to smile for the picture.

Dominic told me that he wanted to play with his skateboards and watch a movie during quiet time. I didn't realize he meant both at the same time.

Dominic was reading a story to Caitlin this morning.

Dominic is doing really well at sounding out words with a bit of help from me. Today he asked me what letters certain sounds made and then I found this by the dining room door.

"Danger puppies must not pass this paper."