I am holding out hope that Saturday really WILL be a sunny day. My brother and his family lives in an apartment for the time being (well the rest of the month) so the plan is an outside pizza party. I have already run through my packing list for the day trip… playpen, bug lotion, sunscreen, changes of clothes, diapers… the list goes on and just for ONE day. The kids are VERY excited, we have even written it into our calendar with a nice capital “J”.

Just a few days away

The motivation to work today has not been overly epic. Though both of the twins have WILLINGLY worked on their various reading/sight word exercises. Their guessing has decreased though I have taken to covering pictures on pages for some assignments. When they DON’T guess they are finally starting to learn the rules of sounds and letters and letter orders. We lucked out and were given a couple workbooks from the Starfall website. Zander is doing the level 1 and Gavin the level 2. The difference in the two books is not huge but it seems to suit each boy right now.

Reading skills

Further progress has been made on the “other” gift. Gavin especially loves a good ongoing craft project. I am giving them until Thursday night. Then on Friday we will make the cover. I hope I am instilling a true understanding in the uniqueness and love put into a hand crafted gift. I know that I love nothing more than to receive something made by a friend or family member. I just hope those that receive things from this family feel the same!

Speaking of gifts… today we received a special piece of mail! I entered a contest on Facebook and won two headbands for Echo! This is a lady I definitely am getting to make Echo a winter hat closer to fall! They are so lovely. Check out her stuff HERE. I think I will also include her on my side links as well. Great quality and if you look through the photos – beyond cute!!!

So pretty!! I hope to put one on Echo tomorrow

Little good things HAVE been happening since our move here. It has been uplifting for the mind and spirit and managed to make us feel more and more at home. The kids have moved into a good routine… they have more freedom here… I have a nice school area coupled with their very own desk and computer space. Of course all I have on there right now is Starfall but I have left that in Ken’s hands. We are being very conservative with how many games and sites they are able to access… mainly to reinforce the need to NOT spend their lives on the computer, no matter how tempting!

Computer time

Tonight I started work on Echo’s birthday dress. It is a no sew project of course (well except to make the elastic loop), using tulle. I am sure I have mentioned it before. Anyway, because she was born on Friday the 13th we are taking the spooky theme and using the colours purple and black… a nice step away from the pinks Trinity always asks for.

In preparation of our Saturday party we ran out to the nearby mall for a bit of shopping. Ken spoiled me with soft pretzels and each of the kids got something from Dollarama. That is something I love about Dollarama, you get to see what each of the children actually likes… Zander got a game, Gavin a package of dice, Trinity Disney princess stickers, and Emanuel a bathtub frog that lights up! I settled for a spoon dish for on the stove. I still need to find two soap dishes…

Emanuel's frog

Noms

The countdown has started to get us to the end of the week and then some for me too… with cousins over on Friday I want to at least have the place manageable by then (not that I can pull the wool over their eyes by any means… clean yes, clutter free… never) as well as Saturday not being home. I hate to leave on a day trip and come back to a messy house. OH and Karyn is home soon! From Alaska no less! Time to get back to unpacking… card making and whatever else I can busy myself up with.

Echo and her last new shirt