Update on the Kiddos

Jonah

Jonah is enjoying Kindergarten. He has been reading pretty much since he started. He came into Kindergarten well-prepared, having already known what most of the letters sound like. The Spaulding phonics program his school uses is doing wonders for him, and he is sounding out more hard-to-read words. He reads Dick and Jane books every night, almost all by himself! I'm pretty proud and excited that he can read and that he likes it. He hasn't told me much else about Kindergarten, except that he likes Music, P.E., and going to the library. I was able to go in a few weeks ago as a volunteer, and from what I can see, he is doing pretty well at school. I'm not sure if he is making friends or not, but Jonah isn't really a people person, so he might just prefer to play alone.

Other than that, Jonah is loving Let's Play Music, a pre-piano program he is in. He is still into Star Wars, Waldo books, and art projects. I can't believe he's going to be 6 soon!

Eden

Eden is still loving preschool in Miss Amy's class. She is a goofball and charms everyone she meets. She still needs to learn her alphabet- she only recognizes the letter E, which she thinks is her name. I'm going to try and start working with her using the phonics program from Jonah's school.

Eden is going to play T-ball this fall. After last year, I figured I would put her in so I didn't have to hear any more whining about why she couldn't play while Jonah was. I think she'll like it, and even if she's no good, it might help get some energy out!

Eden gave her first talk in Primary a while ago, and she did a great job.

Levi

Levi just had a screening appointment to get tested for speech. His articulation is far worse than the other two kids' was, so I'm pretty confident he'll make it into the program. He made it past the initial screening, and now we have to do all the paperwork and go back in the next few weeks. They are usually pretty quick with the process, but since there's a two week Fall break, we might have to wait a while. I hope he gets into the program. It would really help him out, I think. It's nice that Eden already goes, so he could ride the bus with her. Levi has pretty much grown up with the bus coming to our house to pick up either Jonah or Eden, so I'm sure he'd adjust fine.

Levi is also going to be playing T-ball, and I'm sure he'll love it!

Levi is still addicted to his favorite toys/characters: Fred from Scooby Doo, Prince Phillip, Sir Tyrone the knight, elephants in general, and his green car. Maybe it's a third child thing- like most things get taken away from them, so they hold onto their toys like they're pieces of gold :)

I-Spy Swap!

I participated in an I-Spy fabric swap a while ago, and now I am hosting one on my craft blog! If you love to sew or quilt or know someone who does, come check it out!

Levi's 3rd Birthday!

Levi actually turns three on Wednesday, but we decided to have a very small get-together on Saturday evening instead. The kids were excited to see their Grandpa and Grandma Shirley. Levi wasted no time in showing Grandma the crown I made him for his birthday.
Grandma and Grandpa brought Levi a Spiderman balloon, which he loved.
Levi wanted to have a Backyardigans party, since one of the characters he is obsessed with is Sir Tyrone. Of course I couldn't find anything with Tyrone as a knight, so he settled for just plain old Backyardigans.

Pablo came to the party
as well as Uniqua
and Tyrone.
We ate some dinner...
and opened presents. Levi asked for a watch this year (this kid is into the most random things!) and lucky for him, I found a digital Tyrone watch at Party City for 2 bucks! Perfect!
He got some Toy Story, trains, and Star Wars loot.
But his favorite toy of all was...
a plush Prince Phillip and sword from Grandpa and Grandma Willard. He had to have it next to him as we sang "Happy Birthday" in a very bad key, chosen by Eden.

Video temporarily unavailable- Blogger bug!

Then we devoured the Tyrone cake.
Happy Birthday, Levi! We love you and can't imagine life without you! You sure keep us smiling!

Tired...

I finally read The Hunger Games. In around 15 hours. If you haven't read the book yet, my advice is not to start at 8pm like I did. I went to sleep that night at 3:30am. Basically, I was a vegetable with a headache for the next day or so. It's nice having the kids in school, because it gives me a chance to take a nap if need be.

I guess I'm not the only tired one. I found Levi like this today...
I am now on to Catching Fire. I forced myself to do some painting before I could start it, so last night Peter and I finally painted the part of my stairway that has been two-toned for the last, I don't know, year? If you've been to my house, you know where I'm talking about. We are getting there slowly but surely! I still have some touching up to do, and the top half of a tall wall. Maybe I can get myself to do it before Mockingjay!

Another CA Trip

*Warning* Lots of pictures ahead.

Last weekend we went down to Carlsbad for my cousin's wedding. She actually married one of our best friends, so we knew both the bride and the groom really well, which was really interesting and cool.

Heather and Brockton got sealed in the San Diego temple by my grandpa. It's always great to go to a live sealing, but it's not often that I get to witness my grandpa perform a sealing, especially for a family member. And it was also really special because Peter was with me and we got married in that temple and maybe even in that sealing room.

I am so glad we went because it was just so much fun to see both sides of the wedding. Here are Brock's siblings with my mom as we waited for the couple to come out of the temple.

Peter and our niece, Mikayla.

My amazing and totally rad grandparents
So glad Kira came!
Aunt Lisa- the coolest aunt EVA!
The temple still had some scaffolding on it, but this spire was looking beautiful...
Heading down to meet Heather and Brockton...
Mr. and Mrs. Chappell, looking gorgeous.
Yvette, the mother of the the bride, with Kira
My family

I was so happy to see my cousin Michael! I miss and love this dork so much. It had been years since I had seen him.

My parents and the Chappells have been best buddies for years.

It was a beautiful wedding, yummy luncheon, and a great reception. I was having too much fun and eating too many tortilla chips and guacamole to take many pictures. But Eden insisted on having a picture with the "princess" before we left.
The next day we caught up on sleep and hung out at the beach. Levi was not having a great time. He wanted to go home, and I have to admit, it was a little cold. He started having fun when we buried his feet in the sand.The kids played around while Peter built a sand castle and my parents went down the beach.
Um, where did Eden get those hammies? So jealous of those. Seriously, she could be a gymnast.

Jonah and my dad went looking for shells...

while Kira made a sand mermaid.

It looked better in person, but here it is!

That night we hung out with a bunch of family and played a few hands of silent partner. It's always fun to see everyone. I think we need another Ron Packard reunion, especially since I was on my mission during the last one!

Congrats to Brockton and Heather!

Jonah's First Day of Kindergarten

Jonah had his first day of Kindergarten last week. He has been super excited, although I don't think he understood why school is now called Kindergarten. I guess I don't either. He is already adapting though, because he loves telling people that he is in Kindergarten.

I tried to take some pictures before we left on Thursday. But there was a mantis on the side of the house and the kids wouldn't stop staring at it.

"Come on, Jonah, let's take a picture."

"Um, boys, look over here."

"Hello?"

*Waving arms and whistling*
"Jonah, show me your Star Wars folder."
Bingo.
Eden was going no where near that mantis. And here he is on the way in to school. Looks pretty happy.

I tried to ask Jonah about his day when he got home, but I couldn't get much out of him. He said that they colored and there is a boy named Rocky in his class. The next day, he was so excited to tell me about P.E. Earlier, I had explained to him what P.E. was. He told me that they kicked some balls and that the P.E. teacher kicked a ball and it hit him in the head and he cried. But his teacher gave him a hug, and he liked P.E. He was totally animated the whole time he was telling me this, even about the part where he got hit in the head! So funny.