Preschool U, V, W

 2 pictures from each week as a representation of what we've been learning about...

U for Under and Umbrella

for our movement time we found all the different spots in the house we could climb under.  

And used this idea to make rainy day umbrella pictures.

V for Volcano

we used kits that Gavin and Brielle got for Christmas to make volcanoes.  It was a big hit!

I drew different letters and had the kids spray find all the V's and squirt them with water.  We made lots of baking soda and vinegar volcanos during the week.  And turned our food into volcanoes (i.e. mashed potatoes with lava gravy and rice crispy treats shaped into volcanoes with red frosting for lava)

W for Water

what better way to learn about water than to play in it!

We did lots of different experiments with water, learned about the water cycle and did water color painting.

Soccer

We decided to let the kids try out soccer this year.  It worked out that the kids could be on the same team. (there was a 4-5 year old league; Ethan had just turned 4 and Brielle was not quite 6)


They both loved playing goalie and every time the coach asked who wanted a turn in that position their hands would shoot up in the air.


Ethan mostly loved the chance to hang back and practice cartwheels.  He also spent much of his time on the field dancing and picking dandelions.

But every once in a while he would actually catch or kick the ball.  And then would run off the field to announce to me that he had done it!

Brielle usually payed a bit more attention to the game when she was goalie.

And by the end of the short season she had made big improvements in learning to play.

Direct quote from Brielle's journal: "I like soccer, because you get to have 3 water breaks or maybe 2...I can’t remember.  I like soccer.  I love soccer.  I like to dribble the ball; it’s my favorite thing in soccer. "

Mother's Day

Sunday morning we got together for breakfast as a surprise to Margaret to have all 5 of her kids, spouses and grandkids together.

Annie made the Mother's Day banner in the background.  It worked out that we have the exact number of people in the family right now to spell out Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday Evening all the men in the family were put in charge of dinner.  It was a fantastic meal with steak, chicken, salad, asparagus, corn on the cob and twice baked potatoes.  

I don't have a pictures, but they also made amazing appetizers and dessert.

Ethan kept wishing me a Happy Valentine's Day....close enough.  I think all the women felt loved.

Brielle's 6th Birthday

Brielle celebrated her birthday not just on the day of, but all weekend.  She really wanted to have a sleepover at Grandma and Papa Finlay's house, so invited her cousin Elise for a girl's night.  They were treated like royalty.  They went swimming, had dinner, went  out for frozen yogurt and went to the dollar store to pick out their favorite item.  She then had chocolate chip pancakes, made by Papa for her birthday breakfast.


Saturday night (Brielle's actual birthday) we went to see the BYU Mens' volleyball team play in the finals.  We've been to a few games this season and Ellie has really gotten in to them.  She was excited for the game.

Sunday we celebrated with a family birthday dinner.  She was very specific with her menu request.  Pita Chips and Hummus for appetizer.  Lasagna, Caesar Salad, Breadsticks and Fruit (pineapple, raspberries and blackberries) for dinner.  Chocolate cake with homemade ice cream for dessert.  With contributions for extended family members we pulled it all together.

Brielle decided she wanted a candyland cake this year.  Because it was going to be so covered with candy, I made a pan of rice crispy treats to decorate and then the requested chocolate cake (a texas sheet cake) to eat.

Brielle was very thankful for all the cards and gifts.  She took time to read each one.  Thank you to everyone for making her feel so special!

Brielle 6-year-old Stats

My name is: Brielle (aka Ellie, Bo, Bo-Bellie, Biscuit)
Height: 48 inches (90%)
Weight: 48 pounds (67%)
Sleeping: about 11 1/2 hours (7:15pm-6:45am) still will take a nap when offered (the days we are planning to be up late), but then does not go to bed until 9:30 or 10. 
Words: Reading well.  Started reading chapter books on her own. (such as Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House).  Still has some words that she says incorrectly (which we love).  ie: Instead of leggings-'legbings',  library-'libary', volleyball-'bollyball'
Movement: Rides scooter, bike (with training wheels) and ezy roller.  Is a fast runner.  Is in soccer and starting swimming lessons next week.  Swims across the pool well on her own (as long as she has goggles on, when she isn't wearing goggles she does not like her face in the water.)
Other: Enjoys Kindergarten, except for the fact that she has to wake up in the mornings.  Asked to start piano lessons last summer and enjoys learning to play.

Brielle's Response to her 6-year-old Interview Questions 

What is your name? Brielle
When is your birthday? May 4th
How old are you? 6
Who is your mommy? Megan 
What does your mommy do? She makes dinner
Who is your daddy? James
What does Daddy do? He works to earn money
What is your favorite color? pink...but I like purple better
What is your favorite song? My Favorite Things
What do you want to do when you are a grown up? Be a Veterinarian 
Where do you want to live when you grow up? In a Cabin
What is your favorite food? Tortilla Soup with Grilled Cheese and Chips
What is your least favorite food? Broccoli with pepper on it

What is your favorite animal? Hippos and Zebra

Who does our family love the most? The Warnick's family
Where do we go to church? Azusa 1st Ward

Why do we go to church? To learn about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father

What is your favorite movie? Sleeping Beauty

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Strawberry

Where do you like to eat? Souplantation
Who is your favorite person? Coco
Who is your best friend? Grandma Christensen
What is your favorite book? Little Fish

What is your favorite thing to do? Spend time with Mom
Anything else you want to say? I Like having a Family!
What do you like about being 6? I like that I'm older and have more jobs to do and stuff like that.

Lake Arrowhead

James has a conference every year at Lake Arrowhead for all the Research departments that work at City of Hope.  Thanks to our friend Lisa, the whole family was able to go again this year.  She has a cabin about 5 miles away from the conference center.  James is able to stay with us, and then rides his bike to attend the sessions each day.  

Lisa's Cabin 'Casa Bella'

We went a day early so James could spend some time with us, and he had a break in the afternoons to meet up with us, but while he was in sessions the kids and I did exploring on our own.

Geocaching

most of our time together with James was spent geocaching, something we all enjoy

The kids did great at finding them this time without James and I having to point them out.

While out in the middle of the forest we came upon this beautiful pink tulip.  It stood out among on the brown and green surrounding it.

Good thing the kids come along to get the caches out, they are not always easy to get to.

Relaxing

Hanging out at the cabin we enjoyed some time to read books.

and catch up on sleep.

Hiking

The kids and I headed over to Lake Gregory in Crestline.  We hiked around the lake (just over 2.5 miles)

The kids are good hikers, but enjoyed breaks from walking by climbing rocks around the lake.

And they were very excited at the end to have a chance to feed the ducks and play in the water.

We also hiked along a trail close to the Conference center with James after he was finished.

rock throwing is also a favorite activity

Picnics

We had beautiful views for eating lunch outside (and a family shot, just to prove James was with us) :)

Fly on the Wall-a Wednesday

It's interesting how much life has changed since the last Wednesday I tracked a year ago.  Having Brielle in school has changed our schedule significantly.  Our life is going to change again in a couple months with baby boy coming.  What is the saying? "the only thing constant in life is that it keeps changing"...yep, that's life.


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

6AM-Jogging
At 30 1/2 weeks pregnant I've slowed down a lot so I can't really claim to be running anymore, but I'm still trying to at least jog for as long as I can.  Sometimes I have to do a run/walk depending on how baby is sitting, how I feel, and if I can breath.  This morning everything felt good so I went 3 miles at a little less than a 12 minute mile pace.

7AM-Finishing Breakfast
Wednesday Waffles for the family.  My body can't handle that right now with gestational diabetes, so I had an egg on half and english muffin and strawberries.  Then we're off and racing to get out the door.

8AM-At Warnick House
Walked Gavin and Brielle over to school.  Ethan usually stays with Aunt Megan on Wednesdays while I go volunteer at school, but Elise is really sick and needing to go to the doctor today.

9AM-Volunteering in Brielle's Class
It's fun to see the kids get excited every time I go in the class.  I take the reading groups to the library where we read a book together and then have then take a quiz to answer questions about the books on a computer program.

10AM-Picking Ethan Up
Ethan got to hang out with Papa Finlay while I volunteered.  He is on the mend from having a cold, so was happy to sit and watch a movie while Brad was working from home.

11AM-School Time with Ethan
Working on letter X this week.  We are searching the house together for 'x' shapes, and things that we can use to make the letter, Ethan loves finding things and taking pictures of them.

12PM-Lunch
I'm making one of my favorite standard lunches, a taco salad.  Ethan wanted everything orange...a cheese bagel, cantaloupe and carrot sticks.

1PM-Laundry
Ethan is setting up a game he wants me to play with him while I get laundry started.

2PM-Picking Up Brielle
Brielle gets out at 1:50.  Ethan fell asleep on the way over (not normal, but he's still not feeling great).  I hang out at the Warnick house with Megan goes to pick up the big kids.  Then we need to hurry home to get everything done before a busy evening.

3PM-Working on Dinner
Brielle is practicing piano, Ethan is still asleep.  I'm making rolls for dinner and for James to take to work tomorrow.

4PM-Folding Laundry
Finished getting dinner ready (grilled chicken, spinach salad, watermelon and rolls) since we'll need to eat as soon as we walk in the door from soccer.  Everyone is working on their jobs before we need to leave.

5PM-Soccer
The kids are on the same team.  They have a short practice and then play a game.

6PM-On our way home
James met us at the game so we could come home together.  Margaret came to cheer the kids on as well.  Ethan scored a goal (on accident, but was excited it happened).  Brielle blocked the ball while playing goalie.

7PM-Getting to Stake Center
Ate dinner.  Left James to get kids to bed while I left for Young Women's.  We have our Stake Medallion Night tonight.

8PM-Young Women's
3 YW (and 3 leaders including myself) from our ward earned their medallions this time.  The YW are part of a be'you'ty pageant   They are sharing the talent portion right now.  I love our Young Women, they are pretty incredible.

9PM-Getting Home
Had to stop by Best Buy on my way home to pick up a printer.   Our old one died, probably could have been fixed with new ink, but the new printer was cheaper than buying more ink.

10PM-Helping James set up printer
He's doing all the work.  I'm just reading the instructions to make sure he's doing it correctly.  It has some fun perks that James is excited about with wireless printing and scanning directly to and from the ipad and phones.

11PM-In Bed
Exhausted.  Still have clean up to do from setting up printer, but I told James I'd rather do it in the morning.  Can't stay awake another minute.