Emerging artist

Belle's drawings are getting a lot better. Her stick people are no longer heads with arms and legs. She's now drawing bodies. In this picture she drew herself, Mimi and Mommy. Mimi is the one with the scary teeth. =) And as a way to get her to practice her name, I am making her write her name at the top of her drawings. She's getting better, but still struggles with her "e"s.



She's also been coloring a lot of rainbows. When she colors now she'll purposely stay in the lines and she's been incorporating more colors. I'm beginning to think that they are teaching about rainbows or color orders in school because she was very concerned about getting the colors in the right order. I think she did pretty good.

She then decided that this picture was for Ethan and asked how to write Ethan. I told her the letters and she wrote them. I only had to remind her how to write a couple of the letters.



She's really starting to get interested in reading. She's constantly asking me "whats ____ start with?" I'll make the sound of whatever letter it is and she usually answers me correctly.

I'm so glad she's actually interested in letters and reading, but it's also kind of funny. While she's growing leaps and bounds in that arena, she still can't really count past 10 and still struggles with recognizing numbers by sight. All in due time I suppose.


This is my blackmail picture of Ethan in Belle's old purple snowsuit. I think if Ethan could keep his balance in the snow better, he'd enjoy it a lot more.

They do love each other!

We caught Belle and Ethan holding hands on the way to Target last night. Then while we shopped they held hands the whole time. Which actually worked out great because Ethan is to the point where he wants to walk too, but won't hold our hands. He will however hold his sister's hand evidently.

ddaddy
mommy
isabella
daniel
audrey
grandma
mamaw

^^^^^ Belle decided that she wanted to type. So we worked on spelling the names she wanted to type. She's getting good at recognizing letters by their sound.

Three Year old revelations

Belle has said some things recently that has me realizing again that she's a little sponge.

• While changing Ethan's diaper and telling him that he's got "lots of poop". Belle yells out "Poop starts with P". Yes it does. =)

• One evening Belle looked outside and said "There is a human on that roof!". And there was. Our neighbor was taking down his Christmas lights.

• After cutting up an apple and leaving it on the counter for a little bit, it was starting to get a little brown. Belle walked by and said "mommy it's decaving", meaning it's decaying. Thanks Sid the Science kid.

She has been learning so much lately. She'll come home from preschool with some little piece of information I didn't know she had. She's getting better at writing her name, but still gets hung up on her "e"s.

That little girl has quite the personality as well. She's got us worried for the teenage years. I never knew so much drama could come out of such a little girl. She's got her mommy's strong will for sure. Which can be both a good and bad thing.

Its been fun watching her grow up.

Ethan has been full of changes this week. He's added a couple words this week. Apple and Cheese. Here is a video of him saying "cheese". Originally I had gotten the camcorder out to get Ethan sucking on his sucker. Any more if Belle has something, Ethan has to have one too.

Super Sunday

We had a good Super Bowl Sunday, even if the Colts didn't win.



Everyone wore their Colts gear to church and blended in nicely with the rest of the congregation. Afterwards we all came home and took naps. Except, Nic stayed up and folded clothes. Fun huh? =)

After we all got up we got bundled up for some sleddng. We didn't go too far, just down to the high school. Everyone had fun, even Ethan. He even went down on the sled a few times by himself.

My Little Lady

Belle had a birthday party today at Imagination Station. It was for a girl from her preschool. The party was darling, it was set up like a tea party and the store owner helped the girls with their manners.

Belle did pretty well, she seemed to have the most trouble sitting still when there was a lull in activity. The girls made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which Belle of course didn't eat. They also had grapes and punch, of which Belle only drank the punch. Julie, the owner, made several comments on how picky Belle was. Julie read the girls Pinkalicious and Belle interacted well during the story by answering the questions but also being quiet while the story was read. Of course when the time came to eat pink cupcakes Belle was suddenly not that picky.

The whole time Julie was teaching the girls manners which I thought was great. All the girls were doing very well. Then my girl lets out a big belch, I was pretty relieved when she said "excuse me". Of course later on in the party Belle leans to the side and farts and then announces "oops I farted". Ah, yes, there is there girl I know. I have got to work on her and her need to announce her flatulence.

The girls made a craft which was a Melissa & Doug mirror that had jewels and such to decorate. Belle did a good job while Mara opened her presents, but had to be right up front. She had to fight her way up front several time though.

I was surprised that as we were leaving Belle was given a present. Seemed odd. I thought the birthday kid got the presents. I was trying to tell Belle that this party was for Mara and that all the presents were hers. I didn't expect to come out with a load of presents myself. It was really generous though and I think that was nice.