making reading fun

Bryce is still enjoying learning to read with me.  We have finished short a and we're almost done with short i.  We are also working on sight words.  We've been using letter puzzle blocks, hooked on phonics books, white boards, and flash cards.  I found a fun idea in a magazine to practice words with water balloons.  It's a hot day today so I figured we'd give it a try.  Bryce loved it! 

 

 

First I wrote sight words and short a/i words on the driveway with chalk.

 

Next I fought the faucet and big knuckles and filled and tied these itty bitty water balloons.

 

Bryce would pick a water balloon, I would say a word, and he would find it and throw a water balloon on it.

 

He was worried the sound of the balloon popping would be loud and scare him, but he quickly got over that!

 

He eventually figured out the fun of a water balloon and got really close to where it would pop so he would get wet!

 

I loved how all the water spots and colorful balloon pieces looked when we were done. 

 

We did a quick clean up of water balloon pieces and then we were done.  So fun!

the season that never ends

We thought last Tuesday was Bryce's last t-ball game since he wasn't going to be able to go to a make-up game this past Saturday.  The make-up game got rained out so they had the make-up game tonight.  He was excited to get to play pitcher one last time.

 

 

Jason ended up being an unofficial coach once the season got started because they needed LOTS of extra hands.  Bryce got to give Jason a gift from the team after the game.

 

We brought Bryce's trophy back so he could get it again tonight in the official ceremony!

 

So not only did Bryce get donuts on Saturday at Krispy Kreme because he was going to miss out on the team celebration, he got cupcakes tonight when they finally got to celebrate the end of the season.  There was another make-up game scheduled for this Thursday, but apparently half of our team has swim team that night so they went ahead and called it a season!

 

Emmy didn't miss out on the celebrating!

 

It was such a great season.  I'm sad to see it end, but really excited for next year!

Emmy loves the water (way more than Bryce)

 

 

our week

We had a fun and busy week.  So much so that I wasn't good about documenting it.  I got some pictures from my phone, my little camera, and Thomas' mom who always comes through in a picture crunch, thanks Barbara!

 

 

Bryce had his last t-ball game on Tuesday so we went out for ice cream afterwards.  However, he didn't end up wanting any, he preferred Jason's coke.  Emmy on the other hand cried every time I tried to get a lick of MY ice cream cone, ha!

 

We went out one day this week (Wednesday I think) and when we returned home, Bryce found this fun surprise on the sidewalk.  It made his day.  There's nothing like a new monster truck for this boy.  Thank you to whoever did this random act of kindness.  We appreciate it!

 

 

Wednesday night at church the kids went to visit one of our members and got to ride on the church bus.  Always great fun!

 

Sweet boy.

 

My mentor and good friend, Donna (standing in white sweater) is retiring from teaching after 34 years.  I was so excited to get together with these girls for a fun night out on Thursday to celebrate!

We headed to Sweet Frog after dinner since we weren't ready for the fun to end.  I sure do miss seeing these ladies everyday. 

 



 

We had a preschool play date planned at the playground on Friday.  However, tropical storm Andrea had other plans!  We ended up heading to Jumpology for some indoor fun!

 

Emmy saw the kids all seated for their picture so she sat down too!

 

Standing in line for the foam pit.

 

They continued the fun at Chick Fil A for lunch.  We were already headed there so I could have lunch and meet up with an old friend who is moving back to the area!

 

Friday night we headed down to Bottom's Up Pizza for dinner with our life group.  I just love the relationships we've made with these girls and their husbands and kids!

This morning we went to the Children's Museum for Rebecca's birthday party (after getting Krispy Kreme of course).  And with my sweet photography skills in the ONLY picture I took at the party, you can see half of Rebecca on the right!

 

The rain finally stopped late this afternoon so we went to Nana and Pap's so the kids could ride in Nana's new contraption she bought for her new bike!

 

Of course Nana hurt her back just days after getting the bike so Jason had to take them on their maiden voyage. 

 

They all loved it!

 

Tonight we went to Kelly and Dave's for a family cookout to celebrate Dave's birthday and Bryce got to stay for a sleepover with Chase!  If you're still reading, thanks for taking the time to catch up on our fun week!

Emmy at 16 months (a day late)

 

What are you up to these days?

 

You are obsessed with your paci and I've allowed it to happen, oops!

 

You want to do everything just like Bryce and this is starting to cause some fights.  And so it begins.

 

You still take a little time to warm up to new situations, but you are very outgoing, fearless, and want to try new things.  Like going down the slide without holding my hand.  Shew!

 

You are still in transition with two naps.  If we skip the morning nap you usually fall asleep while we are out and then you continue to nap in your bed when we get home. 

 

You are wearing size 18 month clothes, size 3 diapers, and size 4 shoes.

 

You are adding more words to your vocabulary (buckle, bubble, wa-wa for any drink, thank you, paci, nut-nut for donut (Just like Bryce), and neck-neck for necklace are just a few).

 

You have 12 teeth.

 

When I say 1, you say 2.  That's the extent of your counting!

 

You follow commands very well and always know what we're talking about.

 

You LOVE to eat.

 

You love shoes and jewelry.

 

You have a great personality.  You crack yourself up and you love to laugh at others.  You are still a very happy, go with the flow girl.  We are enjoying how you interact with us more and more each day.  We love you sweet girl.

end of the season

Last night was Bryce's last t-ball game.  He absolutely loved playing this year.  He was such a good listener and really picked up on the rules of the game.  He can't wait to play next year.

 

 

He could not have been more proud of that trophy. 

 

I love this picture to remember his first t-ball team.  He has his trophy, ball and frame on his dresser and I think he would look at it all day long!

our weekend

I'm finally getting around to posting about our weekend.  My camera battery died as soon as I turned it on Saturday morning so I've been trying to get pictures off of my phone and Jason's.

 

 

We headed to Chase's last soccer game first thing.  Then we went to Bryce's t-ball game.  I'm not sure why this picture is so skewed.  If I set it at original size it's clear, but sideways.  Oh well.

 

After t-ball we headed to the river for a Williams family get together. 

 

It was a perfect day for the river.

 

The kids had a ton of fun and slept the whole way home.

 

We went to a baseball game after church on Sunday.

 

Blue cotton candy tongues.

 

For a  much better picture re-cap of our weekend, you can head over to Kelly's blog.

we've been busy

We went to Jumpology with Chase and Taylor on Wednesday.  They had been before and couldn't wait for us to go with them.  Bryce had a ton of fun and can't wait to go back with Jason. 

 

 

The foam pit was Bryce's favorite part. 

 

They boys had tons of fun.

 

Emmy had fun jumping too!

 

Thursday we met Thomas at the Children's Museum. 

 

Thomas' mom always has her camera.  I'm so glad she's better at remembering to take pictures than I am.  I love Emmy's face here.

 

While we were there we ran into another of their friends from school.  They had such a great time playing.