Stools

To meet people in the church, we try to invite families over for dinner and games. The first family we invited were the Crawfords. Scott (the dad) works in the Statistics department at the University and just started this year. They moved from Texas and brought a house right as we moved and closed on our house. They have four kids, Thomas (9 years old), Alli (6), Hinckley (4), and Spencer (2). Hinckley and Robert are in the same preschool group.We have become great friends with them.

When we had them over, Thomas, Robert, and Hinckley sat at the bar area in the kitchen. I noticed that they were pulling at the weaving on the stools. Since I planned on redoing them anyhow, that wasn't a big deal. Teasha, the mom, helped me figure out how to attach the covering. The fabric is the same material I used to make curtains in the kitchen. We covered it with plastic that make clean up easier. The plastic made attaching it very difficult but we figured it out. It also has two foam pads which makes the stool quite comfortable. I Sanded down the legs and painted them the same color that I painted the laundry room. Sanding down something that is round is also difficult but I really liked this project. Most importantly I love the result. We sit at these stools all the time.

Riding Bikes

Hailey got a big girl bike with (removable training wheels) that I put together all by myself. Across from our house is a church. So afternoon one day, we went across and the kids rode their bikes.

 Hailey figured out her new bike quickly and it amazed me and how well she rode it.

 Robert got the rocket bike and with a few pushes along the way, he could ride around.

 Hannah bounced between Robert's scooter and the trike which is still too hard to pedal consistently.

Another funny thing about Wyoming or maybe just Laramie, is the bunnies. We see bunnies all over the place like you would see squirrels. Every morning there is a bunny or two in are back yard. This bunny was in our front lawn as we rode bikes around.

Random Pictures from September

Rachel, who is about 10 1/2 months in the pictures, loves to play with the recycling. She would get the trash too if she could reach. She is quite a funny girl in the fact that she prefers playing with trash, emptying out her bottles and my wallet above all other toys. It could be due to her siblings taking any toy that she does find, away from her.

 The girls got some clothes from Gramma while there were out there. I just think they are so cute!

 It took us a while to get the internet into our house. So to celebrate the kids took 30 minute turns on the computer. They can play Disney, Starfall, and PBS Kids. Hannah fell asleep right by the computer as she waited.

Joy School

I feel very lucky to be apart of a preschool group. We enjoyed having preschool so much last year, I wanted it continue it for Robert. Also, I knew being new to Laramie, that I needed to make friends and that being a part of preschool will help me to get to know other moms. I think I did it more for me then for Robert.

  

 We hold school twice a week for 2 hours while rotating each week between four moms. We are using the Joy School Program Year 2 that adds a Kindergarten Readiness mini lesson.

The kids are:

 Hannah (when it's at my house or for field trips)

 Hinckley who is 4 years old and just 2 weeks older then Robert.

 Tylita who turned 4 right before we started preschool.

 Mckinlee (Kinners) who turned three during the summer.

We do field trips once a month. It is fun to see their different personalities come out as everyone gets more comfortable with preschool. Mckinlee barely said anything when we started and now in December/January started talking more.  Robert gets very wildly when his friends come that teaching can be a bit difficult. I enjoy being around the children and I also enjoy my break with just Hannah and Rachel.

First Grade

 Hailey goes to Spring Creek Elementary which is within walking distance to us. Nathan takes her to school every morning then finishes the few blocks to the university. Then the kids and I pick her up. Her teacher is Mrs. Miller who is super nice and excited to be there. Hailey also started Speech Therapy for her stuttering. She works on slowing her speech down and using turtle talk. I have to remind myself not to jump the gun and talk for her or finish her thoughts before she can get them out.

Hailey loves school and her best friend in her class is Haley. She did an after-school art class at the art museum for 4 weeks (twice a week) in Oct/Nov. She was sick on her last day and couldn't present her artwork.

Ice Cube Trays

Mom got us a packet of ice cube trays that we could use for snacks. When I got home, I used it for breakfast to help the kids diversify a little. I've used it for preschool also. Ice cube trays have many functions.

Science Museum

We went to the Science Museum and right after we arrived, the started a show about electricity. The presenter was very entertaining and worked well with the kids to get their involvement. Hailey was a volunteer to show the static electricity will repel bubbles. (Her hair also started to stick up straight.)

 

 At the end of the show, all the kids stood in a circle and got shocked. Robert said that it hurt a lot!

 We were building robots for the kids.

 

 Grampa is helping Hailey fish.

 Robert and Hannah love the market section.

 There's Rachel in the Ergo carrier. It seems like she lives in the thing for the first 8 months of her life. I love that she is on my back instead of a front carrier.

 We love bubbles!

 We like going to the science museum to play and discover. Science (and school) can be a lot of fun.