2014 Soccer Pictures

 U10

 U9

Name Recognition

This week, Kate and I have focused on the letters in her name.  

 I wrote her name on a large piece of paper, and she used watercolor paints over the letters.

 She liked the Scrabble Cheez It crackers.

 I put this tray out for her, and she really enjoyed placing the little glass vase filler marbles over the letters of her name.  They are flat bottomed, so they stay put, and she likes that she can see the letters through the pieces.

She didn't have the manual dexterity to squeeze the clips on to the card stock.  We'll save those for another time.

I saw these little alphabet cookies on a friend's Instagram post (thank you, Susana), and got some for Kate.  She thinks they are super tasty and every opportunity to point out letters is great!

Kate had to show me the letter and name it before she could eat it.  Sometimes she confuses A and E, but she does well with the other letters in her name.  She also likes to be silly sometimes and purposely tell me the wrong letter with a sly grin on her face!!!

We had some play-doh lids in the cabinet, so I wrote the letters of Kate's name on them.  She played with these for a while and really enjoyed spinning them.

Here are two videos of her spinning and calling out the letters; I love when she points out that the T is upside down:

She is an eager learner and reminds me of Collin at this age because she often asks to "do homework".

Talk Like a Pirate Day

I was so happy that I saw something about Talk Like a Pirate Day before it was too late this year. I like silly little holidays that give us a reason to have some fun.

For breakfast I made pirate pancakes.

I made Collin's pancake extra chocolatey,

and the girls' pancakes extra fruity.

I also sent some Pirate's Booty in their lunches along with free printable pirate jokes.

Here is my favorite pirate joke:  How much did the pirate pay for his earrings?  A Buccaneer!  Ha ha ha!!!!

Y is for Yellow

 I drew this Y on cardboard and Kate painted it yellow and added yellow masking tape.  Boo helped.

 A yellow scavenger hunt.

 Kate stuck yellow tissue paper onto a contact paper Y.

 Lemon scented play dough

 Kate made lemonade.  She really enjoys juicing the lemons.

Our final yellow activity was making yellow cake pops.

We have officially completed the entire alphabet!!!  That doesn't mean we are done learning or will stop doing alphabet activities.  Not at all!  This was just an introduction to the alphabet.  Kate enjoys learning and I love being her teacher!

Kate's Birthday Party

Grandma Susan hosted Kate's third birthday party, and we all had a wonderful time!  

Kate's cake came from Pattie Cake, and it was a vanilla cake with vanilla filling (Kate's favorite flavor).

That is one HUGE Minnie Mouse balloon!  It is still hanging around our house, and I have jumped a few times when I walked around a corner or into a dark room and saw it out of the corner of my eye!

Minnie came to celebrate with us!  Kate was thrilled!!!

Minnie's helper played music, made balloons, and gave the kids tattoos.

Dad even got a balloon sword!

After Minnie left, it was time for cake!

The above picture is my absolute favorite of the entire day.  Kate was so excited about her birthday, her cake, everyone singing to her, and everything else about the party; the look on her face conveys all of her excitement and happiness, and I just love how precious and sweet and innocent and full of joy she looks in that single picture!  

Kate opened all of her presents and we headed home.  After getting into a new nightgown, Kate started playing at her new easel.  I mentioned that it was time for bed and Kate yelled, "I'm not tired!".  Less than two minutes later, she was fast asleep.

I think her third birthday was absolutely perfect in every way!