Today at Rose's class there was a dad there. Gasp. She first noticed him at the very beginning of circle time, so she stood fixed in one spot, eyes downcast, occasionally glancing in his direction to see if he was still there. As all the children danced and clapped and followed along with the songs, she stood in the same spot. Eventually she came over to me and hid her face in my neck, occasionally peeking out to look at the man.
After circle time was over, it was snack time, and Rose ran off to choose a seat. Of course the scary man's son also chooses a spot at the table, so the man sits down too across from Rose. Downcast eyes and silent eating begin. "She looks tired", says the man. After a while Rose says to me: "Shy".
Later in the gym she is preoccupied and busy with playing. At parachute time she was having fun and then she noticed him and actually started to rub and cover her eyes. "Are you ok Rose?" says the teacher. "She's just shy", I say.
As we go to get our stuff when the class is over, "shy", says Rose. There has always been the occasional dad at the class, and every week there is a Grandpa, so the only thing I can think of is that this guy had facial hair, like a growing out beard, and this must be what set her off. After the class she kept saying "Shy man-man".
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Conversations with children...
Scene: Mommy attempting to casually bring up that Paige needs to work on cutting with scissors (as mentioned in her Kindergarten Observation...).
Mommy: "Mrs. Lang said that maybe we should do some fun activities with scissors at home this week..."
Paige: "Oh, I'm REEAAALLLy good at cutting with scissors."
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Scene: Tidying up after dinner.
Mommy: "Time for tub tubs tonight!" (baths)
Rose: Crouches down to the floor with pouty look. "Noooooooooo"
Paige: "Tub tubs??! Yaaaaaay!!!"
Rose: "YAAAAAAAYYY!!" Gets up and starts trotty dance making her way for the stairs.
Mommy: "Mrs. Lang said that maybe we should do some fun activities with scissors at home this week..."
Paige: "Oh, I'm REEAAALLLy good at cutting with scissors."
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Scene: Tidying up after dinner.
Mommy: "Time for tub tubs tonight!" (baths)
Rose: Crouches down to the floor with pouty look. "Noooooooooo"
Paige: "Tub tubs??! Yaaaaaay!!!"
Rose: "YAAAAAAAYYY!!" Gets up and starts trotty dance making her way for the stairs.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Kindergarten Observation...
Today Mike and I went to Paige's Kindergarten observation. In JK they don't get report cards, but the parents attend a informal observation to watch the child in the classroom, and then have a talk with the teacher about how they're doing.
So while Grandma and Grandpa came over to babysit Rose, Mike and I walked Paige to school and got our visitor's pass. We went into her classroom and sat in the back to observe (we were the only parents there today). We saw that they hang up their things in their cubbies and then bring their communication folder to a bucket. They then find their name on the floor for the attendance, and then choose a book to look at while Mrs. Lang writes down the attendance and gets some things organized. During attendance she calls Good morning to each child, who then responds with "Good Morning Mrs. Lang" and then returns their book. From then they went on to a few songs, some reading and word recognition activities, and then onto rotating centers about letters and words. The letter of the day was "P" which may have been deliberate, as Paige is the only kid in the class with a name that starts with P.
Paige sat at the front of the group and sure put up her hand a lot, which I was very very surprised about. I had asked her if she ever puts up her hand and she said "only 1 time". Besides that, there wasn't anything I was surprised about. She seemed to get along well with her classmates and she did as she was told. There was a song where the kids got to suggest different winter activities to insert into the song. Paige put up her hand and said "make snow puppies"! Another kid chimes in "I knew she was going to say that!!" which I thought was hilarious, given Paige's puppy obsession, and then fact that she only brings home puppy library books. After her, a little boy Yusuf, who Paige claims talks about trains all day long, says "Make snow engines!". Paige catches my eye with a big smile as if to say "SEE!?".
We were really happy to be able to see the routines and learning that go on in the classroom, because if you took Paige's word for it all she ever does is play puppies at the house center all day long. She never mentions anything else, even if I try to ask her about other centers, or learning activities. I know she is learning a lot as she can recite tons of songs and rhymes, and comes home with letter practicing sheets, etc.
Her teacher mentioned the things she needs to work on which don't come as much of a surprise. She said that she is the child who takes the longest to get ready to go outside. She says she will sit on the bench at the end of the day as if to say "I'm done" and just watches the kids get ready forgetting to get ready herself. I can believe it. She needs to be reminded to get ready constantly. That's just like at home. Sometimes I have to tell her numerous times to get ready, and sometimes I actually think she gets innocently sidetracked and forgets. I don't really know what to do, as it is prevalent during a lot of daily activities...taking forever in the bathroom, walking to school slowly, getting dressed slowly, etc. I think she is just thinking and daydreaming mostly. And at school at the end of the day she is hungry and has to go to the bathroom. She barely eats and avoids the bathroom at school, so she's pretty tired and anxious when we get home before she visits the bathroom and has a snack. During circle time she apparently needs to work on attentive listening if she is in the back of the group. She will apparently get silly and not listen if she is with Bo and Will. If she is in the front of the group she is fine, so she tries to make sure she's near the front. So easily distracted and side tracked. Oh--the other thing she needs to learn is cutting with scissors. hahah. Her cutting is pretty jagged and all over the place....not toooo concerned about this skill.
The other thing her teacher said is that she never puts up her hand or participates as much as she did today. Obviously it was for show with us being there. I won't mention that to Paige but I think I'll really praise her after school for being such a good listener, putting up her hand so much, giving good answers, etc., pretending like I assume she's always like that. Also on today's and tomorrow's agenda--cutting with scissors!
She gave us a form about her observations of Paige in the classroom, the ones above as well as more detailed things--things like following classroom routines, participating and expressing ideas, social development, academic skills, work habits, etc. She checked off if Paige is doing really well, is beginning to do something, or if she needs work at that particular skill. I'm happy to see that she is doing the best in her social skills...sharing, taking turns, not always being the leader, etc. She says that she loves having Paige in her class so I take it that the good outweighs the bad.
So while Grandma and Grandpa came over to babysit Rose, Mike and I walked Paige to school and got our visitor's pass. We went into her classroom and sat in the back to observe (we were the only parents there today). We saw that they hang up their things in their cubbies and then bring their communication folder to a bucket. They then find their name on the floor for the attendance, and then choose a book to look at while Mrs. Lang writes down the attendance and gets some things organized. During attendance she calls Good morning to each child, who then responds with "Good Morning Mrs. Lang" and then returns their book. From then they went on to a few songs, some reading and word recognition activities, and then onto rotating centers about letters and words. The letter of the day was "P" which may have been deliberate, as Paige is the only kid in the class with a name that starts with P.
Paige sat at the front of the group and sure put up her hand a lot, which I was very very surprised about. I had asked her if she ever puts up her hand and she said "only 1 time". Besides that, there wasn't anything I was surprised about. She seemed to get along well with her classmates and she did as she was told. There was a song where the kids got to suggest different winter activities to insert into the song. Paige put up her hand and said "make snow puppies"! Another kid chimes in "I knew she was going to say that!!" which I thought was hilarious, given Paige's puppy obsession, and then fact that she only brings home puppy library books. After her, a little boy Yusuf, who Paige claims talks about trains all day long, says "Make snow engines!". Paige catches my eye with a big smile as if to say "SEE!?".
We were really happy to be able to see the routines and learning that go on in the classroom, because if you took Paige's word for it all she ever does is play puppies at the house center all day long. She never mentions anything else, even if I try to ask her about other centers, or learning activities. I know she is learning a lot as she can recite tons of songs and rhymes, and comes home with letter practicing sheets, etc.
Her teacher mentioned the things she needs to work on which don't come as much of a surprise. She said that she is the child who takes the longest to get ready to go outside. She says she will sit on the bench at the end of the day as if to say "I'm done" and just watches the kids get ready forgetting to get ready herself. I can believe it. She needs to be reminded to get ready constantly. That's just like at home. Sometimes I have to tell her numerous times to get ready, and sometimes I actually think she gets innocently sidetracked and forgets. I don't really know what to do, as it is prevalent during a lot of daily activities...taking forever in the bathroom, walking to school slowly, getting dressed slowly, etc. I think she is just thinking and daydreaming mostly. And at school at the end of the day she is hungry and has to go to the bathroom. She barely eats and avoids the bathroom at school, so she's pretty tired and anxious when we get home before she visits the bathroom and has a snack. During circle time she apparently needs to work on attentive listening if she is in the back of the group. She will apparently get silly and not listen if she is with Bo and Will. If she is in the front of the group she is fine, so she tries to make sure she's near the front. So easily distracted and side tracked. Oh--the other thing she needs to learn is cutting with scissors. hahah. Her cutting is pretty jagged and all over the place....not toooo concerned about this skill.
The other thing her teacher said is that she never puts up her hand or participates as much as she did today. Obviously it was for show with us being there. I won't mention that to Paige but I think I'll really praise her after school for being such a good listener, putting up her hand so much, giving good answers, etc., pretending like I assume she's always like that. Also on today's and tomorrow's agenda--cutting with scissors!
She gave us a form about her observations of Paige in the classroom, the ones above as well as more detailed things--things like following classroom routines, participating and expressing ideas, social development, academic skills, work habits, etc. She checked off if Paige is doing really well, is beginning to do something, or if she needs work at that particular skill. I'm happy to see that she is doing the best in her social skills...sharing, taking turns, not always being the leader, etc. She says that she loves having Paige in her class so I take it that the good outweighs the bad.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Kobo book reader...
Loving it!!
I'm reading like nobody's business. I like that I can have a book in less than a minute, and that I can preview books before I buy them. I did have one issue where i couldn't load it up for about 12 hours, but the crazy thing with all of these gadgets we have at home is that I could carry on reading my book on the iPad, and then when I got my Kobo up and running again, it was at the exact right spot I needed to continue on reading. I heard they will come out with book lending at the end of the year, so I'm hoping more people I know get one so we can exchange books without always having to buy them constantly.
I'm reading like nobody's business. I like that I can have a book in less than a minute, and that I can preview books before I buy them. I did have one issue where i couldn't load it up for about 12 hours, but the crazy thing with all of these gadgets we have at home is that I could carry on reading my book on the iPad, and then when I got my Kobo up and running again, it was at the exact right spot I needed to continue on reading. I heard they will come out with book lending at the end of the year, so I'm hoping more people I know get one so we can exchange books without always having to buy them constantly.
At first the screen seemed a bit grey, as a book page is more of a brown tone, but then i got used to it when I dove into my first book.
I like how it displays the book cover when it is in sleep mode and powered off.
The fancy case I bought for it.
Rosie...
In the last few months, Rose is really turning into a toddler. Her vocabulary has increased dramatically. A lot of her words are very clear, and she is stringing together multiple words, or coming up with complex ideas. She uses the word "Ya" to string things together, as I remember Paige did. Like "Cup...ya drink". Or, "boots...ya on".
She really likes to repeat song lyrics. She has a few favourite songs, mainly from the backyardigans CD's. Her favourite is "A pirate says Arrr". She asks for it in a questioning tone, nodding her head..."Arr Arr a pirate says?". And when she's jumping around in her crib not napping she is often yelling "Racing Daaayyyyy". She loves trotting around the living room in her diaper dancing to the songs.
Lately she has expressed fear of monsters (i don't think she knows what monsters even are...just saw it in a show), and the dark. Sometimes she'll try to go to her room to get something, will get halfway there, turn around and run back saying "ahh dark!", or "ahh monsters". I am really hoping this doesn't turn into a fear. She sleeps really well at night, so I'm thinking it's something she says just to say it.
She's really begining to understand how things work around here. I mentioned "dinner picnic" one night and she proceeded to try to set up the blanket in front of the TV. We were having pancakes this morning and she ran into the kitchen to see if they were in the oven (where i stage them as they're all getting prepared). I just notice that she is really aware of what is going on, can really understand us when we talk to her, and can follow multiple commands.
As for the toilet training, we haven't started. I see the very early signs though. She sometimes tells us when she has just gone ("peeps!"), and says hi and makes kissy faces to try to distract us when she is clearly pooing. She doesn't mind trying to sit on the potty if we think she has to go, but she hasn't successfully gone yet. I'm hoping the potty seats on the toilet will work for her, as the old potty is kinda smelly (long story).
I'm hoping Rose follows a similar route as Paige and gets out of the whiny bad mood stage when she turns 2. Right now she is following me around constantly saying "Upie upie!!!". She used to say up and then changed to "upie"...sometimes saying "E-up"...not sure what that's all about. She is in the "mine!!" stage too, which Paige didn't really do without a sibling at that age. I swear sometimes Rose just walks around yelling "mine!" about nothing in particular. Rose is so clingy around dinner time and meals that I either have to ignore her and carry on with her crying, or put a show on for her with a snack. The show alone doesn't settle her, she needs a snack too--and vice versa. And if Rose has a snack, Paige need a snack and they can't share...Rose just yells "mine!!" and steals everything, so I have to put them in 2 separate bowls.
As whiny and possessive as Rose is right now, Paige and Rose still get along really well. They're always calling each other..."Hey Rose!!" or "PAaaaaige", to get the other to come play with them. They have races down the hall constantly, play in Rose's crib, dance to the music together, and climb up the bed and slide down to the floor. We're thinking of putting Rose and Paige in a room together eventually. At first I wanted them to have their own space, but it may be good for them to share.
It's so neat to watch Rose learn from Paige...things like bumps and scrapes need to be kissed right away and then they feel better, you're supposed to spit after brushing your teeth (even though Rose's toothpaste deosn't need to be spat), walking down the stairs standing up, and so many other little things that she copies.
She really likes to repeat song lyrics. She has a few favourite songs, mainly from the backyardigans CD's. Her favourite is "A pirate says Arrr". She asks for it in a questioning tone, nodding her head..."Arr Arr a pirate says?". And when she's jumping around in her crib not napping she is often yelling "Racing Daaayyyyy". She loves trotting around the living room in her diaper dancing to the songs.
Lately she has expressed fear of monsters (i don't think she knows what monsters even are...just saw it in a show), and the dark. Sometimes she'll try to go to her room to get something, will get halfway there, turn around and run back saying "ahh dark!", or "ahh monsters". I am really hoping this doesn't turn into a fear. She sleeps really well at night, so I'm thinking it's something she says just to say it.
She's really begining to understand how things work around here. I mentioned "dinner picnic" one night and she proceeded to try to set up the blanket in front of the TV. We were having pancakes this morning and she ran into the kitchen to see if they were in the oven (where i stage them as they're all getting prepared). I just notice that she is really aware of what is going on, can really understand us when we talk to her, and can follow multiple commands.
As for the toilet training, we haven't started. I see the very early signs though. She sometimes tells us when she has just gone ("peeps!"), and says hi and makes kissy faces to try to distract us when she is clearly pooing. She doesn't mind trying to sit on the potty if we think she has to go, but she hasn't successfully gone yet. I'm hoping the potty seats on the toilet will work for her, as the old potty is kinda smelly (long story).
I'm hoping Rose follows a similar route as Paige and gets out of the whiny bad mood stage when she turns 2. Right now she is following me around constantly saying "Upie upie!!!". She used to say up and then changed to "upie"...sometimes saying "E-up"...not sure what that's all about. She is in the "mine!!" stage too, which Paige didn't really do without a sibling at that age. I swear sometimes Rose just walks around yelling "mine!" about nothing in particular. Rose is so clingy around dinner time and meals that I either have to ignore her and carry on with her crying, or put a show on for her with a snack. The show alone doesn't settle her, she needs a snack too--and vice versa. And if Rose has a snack, Paige need a snack and they can't share...Rose just yells "mine!!" and steals everything, so I have to put them in 2 separate bowls.
As whiny and possessive as Rose is right now, Paige and Rose still get along really well. They're always calling each other..."Hey Rose!!" or "PAaaaaige", to get the other to come play with them. They have races down the hall constantly, play in Rose's crib, dance to the music together, and climb up the bed and slide down to the floor. We're thinking of putting Rose and Paige in a room together eventually. At first I wanted them to have their own space, but it may be good for them to share.
It's so neat to watch Rose learn from Paige...things like bumps and scrapes need to be kissed right away and then they feel better, you're supposed to spit after brushing your teeth (even though Rose's toothpaste deosn't need to be spat), walking down the stairs standing up, and so many other little things that she copies.
The Grandma Val visit!
Grandma Val arrived 2 days before the wedding. A couple hours after she arrived we headed off to the rehersal dinner. Poor Rosie was sick and had the WORST gas imaginable. I felt compelled to tell everyone I was talking to about the horrible gas, in case they thought it was me. Rose was really really upset all night until she had a gigantic poo explosion up the back, and then calmed down after that. And that seemed to be the end of the illness. The benefit of her being sick was that she slept in--a good thing when Grandma Val's bed was out in the family room, and Rose often wakes up at 6:30.
On Friday we did our usual trip to Mapleview Mall and Grandma Val got to visit her favourite shoe store. In the evening I went for mani/pedis with the bridal party.
The day after the wedding, there was a brunch at Grandma and Grandpa's and then the girls crashed. They were still tired from the wedding the day before. Well, Rose slept, and then Paige was just clearly overtired all day long. I think everyone was exhausted.
Grandma Val and Mike went to work on Monday, and on Tuesday Paige went to school while Grandma Val and I took Rose to her class, and then we had a dinner out at the Vietnamese restaurant. On Wednesday we took the girls to Amazing Adventures before Grandma Val had to leave to go home.
With the weddings and all the events involved in that, it was a really busy visit. Kinda nice to be busy, as there is often not a lot to do in January with a guest around here. We're hoping Grandma Val makes it an annual trip. AND we're hoping to have the basmement finished by next year, complete with a pull out sofa bed and room of her own to sleep in! We normally just lug the futon mattress back and forth in and out of the family room for her to sleep on at night. Then the bed has to be fully remade every evening. And then she has to put her clothes in Paige's room. Manageable, but not ideal. And pretty much impossible for the Pugsley's to ever come visit with Lizzy.
On Friday we did our usual trip to Mapleview Mall and Grandma Val got to visit her favourite shoe store. In the evening I went for mani/pedis with the bridal party.
The day after the wedding, there was a brunch at Grandma and Grandpa's and then the girls crashed. They were still tired from the wedding the day before. Well, Rose slept, and then Paige was just clearly overtired all day long. I think everyone was exhausted.
Grandma Val and Mike went to work on Monday, and on Tuesday Paige went to school while Grandma Val and I took Rose to her class, and then we had a dinner out at the Vietnamese restaurant. On Wednesday we took the girls to Amazing Adventures before Grandma Val had to leave to go home.
With the weddings and all the events involved in that, it was a really busy visit. Kinda nice to be busy, as there is often not a lot to do in January with a guest around here. We're hoping Grandma Val makes it an annual trip. AND we're hoping to have the basmement finished by next year, complete with a pull out sofa bed and room of her own to sleep in! We normally just lug the futon mattress back and forth in and out of the family room for her to sleep on at night. Then the bed has to be fully remade every evening. And then she has to put her clothes in Paige's room. Manageable, but not ideal. And pretty much impossible for the Pugsley's to ever come visit with Lizzy.
The wedding!!
Amanda and James got married on January 7! (pictures below) The weather couldn't have been better. Of course, it was a bit cold, but for January it was really incredible! Amanda was perfectly calm on her wedding morning, and Paige and I joined Amanda, Cheryl, and Maura for breakfast at their hotel at 7:15, before heading off to our hair appointment. It was a pretty early morning for Paige as I had to wake her up at 6:30...sometimes she gets up at 8:30, but it was fun for her to do something so different. We joined the other ladies at the hair salon for our hair and makeup. Paige was perfectly well behaved and sat still while they curled her hair and put her headpiece on. They sprayed a ton of hairspray on her too which I think she was surprised about. After the hair appointment we went back to the hotel to eat some sandwiches and get ready. Paige relaxed with a couple of shows on my phone, just to have a kid moment. After we were ready it was a quick few photos and then onto the limo bus. The limo bus had laser lights, stars, loud music and mutlicolour changing ceiling. Probably a little crazy for Paige. It was a little bumpy in the bus and Paige flew off her seat once. After that I held an arm in front of her.
For the ceremony she walked down the aisle with Amanda and James' nephew Stevie, who is also 4. I think they did a good job and made it all the way down. I was 7 girls behind her, so I don't know for sure what they did. Poor Paige had to pee during the ceremony, so Mike had to take her down the aisle, and then back up when she was finished.
After the ceremony was finished I could relax. Always a bit nervewracking when your child is in a wedding party. Paige is always good in public gatherings so I'm never that worried, but you always never know. Luckily Katharine came to babysit Rose as the wedding was right in the middle of her nap time. She just came over to be in the house while Rose slept. No real reason to bring Rose to the ceremony as she would have been a bit problem. She had just been sick, so really needed to catch up on sleep too.
After the ceremony, Paige went home for a quick break with Daddy and Grandma Val!! Grandma Val was here for a visit too, and was also an invited wedding guest. So much fun! In the meantime I went for pictures with the bridal party. At 4:00, Paige, Rose, Daddy and Grandma Val met us at the hall for family photos. The girls were well behaved during dinner, and got in a lot of dancing between meal courses, and looked cute while doing it. They made it till about 9:30 at which time Grandma Val took them home for bed. They were pretty much done at that point, and apparently Paige was a disaster. Mike went home with Val too, as she didn't know how to get home, and then came back after. The reception was close to our house anyway.
The wedding went off without a hitch! The bride and groom looked fantastic, were clearly overjoyed, and everything ran smoothly. It couldn't have been a more perfect day!
For the ceremony she walked down the aisle with Amanda and James' nephew Stevie, who is also 4. I think they did a good job and made it all the way down. I was 7 girls behind her, so I don't know for sure what they did. Poor Paige had to pee during the ceremony, so Mike had to take her down the aisle, and then back up when she was finished.
After the ceremony was finished I could relax. Always a bit nervewracking when your child is in a wedding party. Paige is always good in public gatherings so I'm never that worried, but you always never know. Luckily Katharine came to babysit Rose as the wedding was right in the middle of her nap time. She just came over to be in the house while Rose slept. No real reason to bring Rose to the ceremony as she would have been a bit problem. She had just been sick, so really needed to catch up on sleep too.
After the ceremony, Paige went home for a quick break with Daddy and Grandma Val!! Grandma Val was here for a visit too, and was also an invited wedding guest. So much fun! In the meantime I went for pictures with the bridal party. At 4:00, Paige, Rose, Daddy and Grandma Val met us at the hall for family photos. The girls were well behaved during dinner, and got in a lot of dancing between meal courses, and looked cute while doing it. They made it till about 9:30 at which time Grandma Val took them home for bed. They were pretty much done at that point, and apparently Paige was a disaster. Mike went home with Val too, as she didn't know how to get home, and then came back after. The reception was close to our house anyway.
The wedding went off without a hitch! The bride and groom looked fantastic, were clearly overjoyed, and everything ran smoothly. It couldn't have been a more perfect day!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Paige's new dollhouse...
I love all the tiny furniture, and the fact that it's all wood...
I love how the bunkbed has a slide, and the staircase has a slide down one side....things that kids would think was fun...
Christmas evening..
As soon as we got to Grandma and Grandpa's we tackled the present mound. It was quite the undertaking.
New sunglasses for when I get contacts...
Apparently something exciting....
Lots of presents, food, and fun!
We brought the girls' jammies and toothbrushes so we could get them ready for bed before we left. They were pretty tired when we left around 9.
We brought the girls' jammies and toothbrushes so we could get them ready for bed before we left. They were pretty tired when we left around 9.
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