Grandparent's Day

Happy Grandparent's Day to the most wonderful Papa, Nana, Grandpa, Grandma, GGma, Granny, and Great Nana in the world!

Coralville Library Wee Read

Sylvia has been going to the Coralville Library Wee Read since she was quite little. I would take her during the summer months and my mom and dad continued taking her and Eric while I was working at preschool. The librarians do a wonderful job keeping the kids' attention with songs, books, finger plays, and rhymes. Although she wouldn't always participate while at the library, Sylvia always sang the songs, etc. at home. Wee Read is Thursday mornings, so Sylvia will now be at preschool during story time. Here are a few pictures from Sylvia's last couple of weeks at the library. I loved watching her give thank you hugs to Miss Linda and Miss Becky each week. She also made for both of them to say thank you. Sylvia recently got her own library card so I know we'll be returning on a regular basis to check out books. She is allowed to check out three books at a time because she is three-years-old. After I explained that rule to her she thought she should be able to check out 3 1/2 books because she is 3 1/2.

Squire Point

Our summer list included a hike at Squire Point. Dan and I have always enjoyed going for hikes around the lake. It's fun to have the kids join us now...although we do move a little slower.

July Boating

Sylvia loves tubing but wasn't quite ready to try her own tube. I think we'll give it a try next summer.
Eric had his first tubing experience with mommy. He seemed to like it but signed "all done" when he was finished.
Sylvia also tried out the bobsked with grandpa. After many attempts to get her to sit forward and hold onto the handles, she ended up holding on and sitting backwards. I think she liked to see grandpa behind her.
Eric's favorite place on the boat is the driver's seat. There are lots and lots of buttons for him to push as well as a steering wheel.
Sylvia is feeling more and more comfortable on the boat but she still likes to snuggle up next to someone when it's moving.
It's always nice to have some extra help with Eric on the boat and I don't think grandma minded
We stopped for a swim and grandpa and Sylvia made it all the way to the shore.
One sleepy boy at the end of a boat ride.

Sylvia's 1st Day of Preschool

This little girl was very excited for her first day of preschool.
Firedog got to come to school with Sylvia today.
Standing by her coat hook.
Sitting by friends, Samantha and Elizabeth, at the start of the day.


Quotes of the day...
Sylvia was dancing around the house and singing this morning. "I'm going to go to preschool. I'm going to go to preschool. I'm going to go to preschool, because it's lots of fun."

As we got in the car after preschool Sylvia told me, "Eric doesn't know what to do at preschool but I do."

While playing with Eric at home after preschool I heard Sylvia say, "Eric, I'm so excited to see you."

Sylvia told me, "We read a book called Bear is Scared." She was also singing "Five little hot dogs frying in a pan. One went pop. Four little hot dogs..."

First Day of Preschool Interview
Where did you go this morning? - Preschool

Who got to go to preschool with you? - Firedog

Who is your teacher? - I don't know.
Do you remember her name? - Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Fink
Did you have any other teachers besides Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Fink? - Yeah
What was her name? - I don't know.
Do you remember who was at the art table? - Mrs. Berends

What friends are in your class? - Samantha
Any others? - I met maybe Abby or someone

What did you play with in centers? - What's centers?
What did you play with in your classroom? - Light beads at the light table and I played with the ice cream.

What did you do at recess? - We played with some things.

What did you have for snack? - Those little tiny things. I don't know what they called them. A friend brought those cookies.

What books did you read? - I didn't ready any books, but I poured my own juice with the little pitcher and someone.

Did you sing songs? - Yes

What was your favorite things about preschool today? - Recess

Did you go potty? - Yes, two times.
Did you ask your teacher? - Yes, that's what you do at preschool.

Do you remember what your Bible story was about today? - "About Jesus. And there was a man there and he didn't want the people to see Jesus."

Summer Veggies

Sylvia and Dan did some container gardening this summer. Here are the fruits of their labors.

Sylvia showing off her green beans along with her new elephant watering can.


Surrounded by her container garden full of tomatoes, carrots, basil, and green beans.

The yummy dinner we made with homegrown tomatoes and basil.

Sylvia was so excited to eat all the vegetables from her garden. She now loves tomatoes. We can't wait to have a full garden in our new backyard next summer.

18 Month Erickson

This boy is such a joy...and a handful. Erickson has now been a part of our family for 18 months.

I love and want to remember...

how easy he is to put to sleep at nap and night.
getting lots of hugs and kisses...especially after diaper changes.
the look on his face when we try feeding him something he doesn't want.
his determination...to get into small places and climb everything.
how he learns through doing.
how he wants to do what Sylvia is doing.
how much he likes to be outside.
his smile and laugh.
listening to daddy play with him in bed.
how he runs back and forth in his crib.
all the new words he's learning and how he says them over and over and over again.
how he held his hands up in the air when learning how to walk...and after.
watching him learn games and songs like pat-a-cake and tick-tock.
how he started scooting around at such a young age and would get himself off of his play mat.
how he quit "playing" at night the day Dan was going to start staying up with him.

I'm sure there are so many things I'm missing but I wanted to write down at least a few.

Posing with E.J., the dog Sylvia made him when he was born. I love how he's playing with his belly button.

Playing Sylvia's harmonica.
Falling asleep during lunch the week of swimming lessons.
I don't sneak in to peek on him too often but every once in awhile I can't resist.
Signing "sit" after being told multiple times to sit down while in the water table.