A Week in the Life of Ameliya...

Just another week for a busy little girl...

Try on sissy's glasses...

 Mia's first eye appointment is the day after her first birthday.

 

Snuggle with mommy...

 

 

Lots of snuggles this week. 

 

Indignantly pound on the window and let Xavier and Natalee know how I feel about them leaving me inside when they go out to play!

 

 

 

Undress...

 

Mommy has really enjoyed this game this week.

 

Be silly...

 Try to "work" while simultaneously being a wonderful little mama...

 

Multi-tasking is hard!

 

Missing Kira

Yesterday we went to a co-op family's house for music class.  When we were ready to leave to go to class I went to get Ameliya out of her crib from her morning nap.  As she stood up she grabbed her Kira dolly and without thinking I scooped them both up and bundled Mia so we could head out.  While the big kids had class, Mia and Kira played and when it was time to go I assumed she was in the diaper bag.  

Last night at bedtime, the usually easy to put down Ameliya was restless and up and down several times.  I couldn't figure it out...until I realized Kira was missing.  Mike hunted but didn't find her.  We tried a substitute dolly to no avail.  It was really too late to drive the twenty some miles back to our friends' to retrieve Kira so we did the best we could through the night.  I immediately ordered a spare Kira to have for the next time there's an emergency (I like to sleep - I like my kids to sleep, too.)

A friend that lives in town was actually going right past the house we were at yesterday this afternoon and retrieved our dear Kira.  Lucky for daddy because I was going to beg him to go get her this afternoon and if that didn't pan out I was going to call Papa Curtis and beg him to stop Monday because it's on his way to/from work!  

I didn't get a picture of Ameliya's face when James dropped off her dolly buddy but it was pretty priceless.  

I did get these...I think you can see how she felt...

 This one's blurry but I love that two handed squeeze! ^

 

A hand and foot hug!

 

Bedtime was much easier tonight.  I guess I knew she liked Kira but didn't realize she depended on Kira as a sleep aid.  The spare will likely be the best money I've ever spent but I reckon we'll ALL be a might more conscious about Kira's whereabouts from now on.

{sleeping so well she's drooling}

Good night, sweet girls.  Love you!

Musical Day

We had a very musical day today.  The children are doing a three session music class with a homeschooling family in our co-op and today kicked it off.  The instructor, Miss Janeane is using this book for the littlest singers:

I was impressed with how quickly the hour and a half session went and the kids came home eager to practice the lessons they were assigned. 

We also very much enjoyed the fellowship with the attending families over lunch after class!

After naps I gave the children their first piano lessons.  

  

Natalee was frustrated with getting her mind to make her fingers move individually, but I think with practice it'll come and she'll enjoy it more. 

I gave each child an assignment note book and set them a practice schedule to practice everyday this week.  My intent is for them to remember to do this without reminders.

 Xavier has strong little hands and caught on quickly.  I actually hadn't intended to start him with lessons but he begged so I caved.

I believe that music education is such a gift for children and I'm hoping that, in time, this gives our children a creative outlet.  Even if they choose another instrument, knowing how to read music is such an asset in life! 

All About Me {Social Studies Mini Study}

The children and I have been working on a mini unit in Social Studies that I titled "All About Me" to follow our unit on "Where We Live."  I made each of them a little booklet so that they could come to understand how they are alike and how they are different.  We had fun personalizing their books - a little each day - and finished them tonight with our family trees!

I included pages on phone numbers and our address, which fit in nicely with our radKIDS training these last two weeks.

Xavier:

 

His favorite food didn't surprise me at all, nor his favorite activity.  I love his favorite place to visit (he does love the farm!) and I think has a real obsession with giraffes right now, which is interesting and fun!

  

  

 

  

(His favorite gift was his bicycle - he got it when he was 3.)

 

  

Natalee:

(Her favorite gift was her twin boy/girl baby dolls.  She actually got them for Christmas last year but her bday is so close to Christmas I think it all meshes together.)

Her favorite animal was a polar bear and her favorite place to go is a hotel.  I was surprised that she said chicken nuggets as her favorite food, but not at all surprised she chose drawing as her favorite activity.  She loves all books so I think she just drew the most recent one we'd had out.  (I chuckled to see that both kids chose Usborne books, though!)

She had no good reason for making her pointer finger brown.  I asked her if it was her nose picking finger and got a resounding, "NO, mom!"

  

 She completely understood and loved putting the people on her family tree.  She likes to draw connections between "dad's people" and "mom's people" and enjoys seeing how we all grow a nice big family.  She had several questions - among them, why she didn't get to go to Nannie and Vance's wedding but got to go to Lauren/Lance's and Kea/Miguel's and who is the oldest of me and my sisters.

Fun fun little unit!  I think next week we're going to do a short study on emotions and then I'm not sure where we'll go.  (Any suggestions?)  I'm loving the unit studies and am glad I chose to put Mystery of History on the shelf for awhile.  I saved these little booklets I made on my computer in Word - if any of my blogging buddies want a copy I'll email you the link! :)  If I was super techy I'd have a PDF link for you, but alas I'm not and I don't feel like buggy my hubby.