Wordless Wednesday

Carter now has to wear a belt if he has belt loops. He looks super cute but has a difficult time going potty.

Elise said Tesla had a baby and she wrapped Tesla's baby up for her.

Sleeping in car line.

Back to school bulletin board at the library.

Carter's favorite thing is doing maths.

Elise's favorite thing at school.

Coffee date at Central Library Starbucks.

Elise adding ice to her hot chocolate that we got her because she said she was cold, haha!

She asked me to take a picture of her drawing she made on the computer.

Resting on the bus ride home.

They tore out the sidewalk so we tried walking through the mud. Elise said it was quick sand mud.

This monster was out scuttling around while I was running. I found the water bottle to put next to it for size comparison.

We've never been to the Blue Whale so we thought we'd stop by for fun.

I love the cute outfits she puts together. This one was mermaid scale dress with unicorn high tops.

Out splashing in puddles.

She loves riding the bus!

Working together to make the pizza crust for dinner.

I made a boring old rectangle house and the kids added all this stuff and made it into an awesome structure!

Summer Reading

This year's summer reading was so much more fun with Carter reading on his own! We found some different beginning reader series he loved. Elise has gotten to where she'll bring a book to Carter instead of me and ask him to read it to her. She's amazingly patient and does a wonderful job, sitting and listening even when it takes him a while to figure out a word. I just love that about her. I also love that Carter will drop whatever he's doing to read to her when she asks. It is super sweet! Read last year's summer reading list here, 2017 here, 2016 here, 2015 here, 2014 here, 2013 here.

Our Favorite Books:

• Petra by Marianna Coppo- This book was so cute. It was about a rock who pretended she was different things and no matter what she was she found a way to be happy.

• Look Up With Me by Jennifer Berne- This book was about Neil deGrasse Tyson. My favorite part of the book was the intro he wrote for it. The kids loved it and Carter became very interested in astrophysicists after reading the book which was really cool. He also made the connection from this book to the book we read about the scientist who discovered Pluto isn't a planet. I was impressed.

• Puppy Mudge by Cynthia Rylant- I always had students in class who loved Henry and Mudge books. We discovered the Puppy Mudge series at the library this summer and they were Carter's favorite. They were easy readers that he could read on his own but were actually really good with a plot and enjoyable story. That's a bit hard to find in early reader books. We recommended these to friends who are also new readers.

• The Backup Bunny by Abigail Rayner- This book was about a stuffed bunny who was the backup for when the boy lost his special bunny. Elise adored this book and wanted to read it over and over. It was a cute book.

• Goldilocks and Just One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson- This book was so cute. Baby Bear is grown up and ends up in Goldilocks' apartment. Not only is it a funny play on Goldilocks on the Three Bears, but it's hilarious because she has Baby Bear sit on a cactus and drink out of a fish bowl. We all loved this and I didn't mind reading it over and over.

• Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang- Elise loved this book. We read it so many times! I liked that the monkey didn't think he was grumpy when he really was. I remember that happening with me as a kid so I know it's something kids can definitely relate to.

• Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung- This was a super cute book about color mixing and about accepting other people regardless of their outer appearance. Elise adored the book and wanted to read it over and over. She enjoyed chiming in with the color words when I read and left them out.

• Crash, Splash, or Moo! by Bob Shea- This was a fun interactive book where you guessed the outcome of different stunts. Carter thought it was hilarious. It was really cute to hear Carter and Elise laughing over the book together.

• The Adventures of Otto Series by David Milgrim- This was another series Carter loved reading. They were easy readers but were actually decently funny.

Wordless Thursday

Getting to touch some animals after the show at Safari Joe's.

Sweet boy snuggling his Big Al in his sleep.

Getting fancy with the train tracks.

Tesla is the best snuggle doggy!

Carter and Emelia drawing with chalk.

Painting with ice cubes.

Gma's Siri jokes were a big hit!

Making homemade pretzels with the bread maker.

Ready to spectate at the Furnace 5k.

Jeremy at the start of the Furnace 5k.

Dad at the start of the Furnace 5k.

Mom at the start of the Furnace 5k.

The kids playing in bubbles at the race.

High fives for Oma during the race.

Jeremy's finishing kick.

Jeremy finishing the race.

 

Ty finishing the race.

Dad finishing the race.

Fun at the Gathering Place!

Jeremy around the 2k mark of the race.

Dad around the 2k mark of the race.

Mom around the 2k mark of the race.

Getting a hair trim.

Elise showing off her hair wax color.

Helping me sew Carter's school patches on his uniform shirts.

Tesla is an amazing snuggler and Carter has been requesting she sleep with him.

Elise brought this book to Carter and asked him to read it to her. She was so patient and sat quietly listening to him even though it took him a while to read it.

Excited for Meet the Maestro!

Elise actually asked to lay down to take a nap.

Since Elise was napping I got some one on one time with Carter before he went back to school. It was wonderful!

When the big kids are at school and you haven't started yet, you get to go out for lunch!

Elise put this wild outfit together on her own.

Ready to open his special 1st day of school book.