Ellie is 4

Today Ellie is 4! She woke up in New Ulm at the Holiday Inn after 9am. She was one tired girl from the busy girls weekend with Gramie, Laura, Abigail, Hadley and Mommy. She went swimming to start her day off. We left at 11am and had lunch at Emma Krumbee's. She got a huge piece of peach pie for her birthday treat! So far a fun start to her special day!

Ellie

I cannot believe that Ellie is going to be 4 in less than 10 days. She is such a fun kid. It is amazing to watch her grow and change into a pre-schooler instead of a toddler. She can do so much for herself. She still loves to be held though. Even tonight she wanted either Daddy or I to hold her right during the hussle of getting supper ready. She hasn't been feeling good. She has a cough and stuffy nose. All and all is does okay all day but by the end of the day she is just ready to be done. Plus, with daylight savings and the nice weather, it has worn her out as well as us all!

Weekly updates

 Every week we get an email from Hadleys teacher. Here is one of them!

Hi Families,

I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was outside all week! I hope you were able to get outside and enjoy it. 

I am sending home a book order today! It will be due on or before March 20th. Our online class code is NGJ32, otherwise feel free to send in a paper copy of the order with a check made out to Scholastic.

This week we read the second Curious George book, Curious George Rides a Bike. The children
are beginning to notice the writing style of H.A. and Margret Rey.
(Example: The book always starts out saying,
"This is George, he is a good little monkey but always very curious.")
Some are even attempting to write their own Curious George books.

In math this week we
worked on expanded form more intensely through addition story problems.
Some of the students are beginning to add numbers together in the teens,
for example 13 + 16. As a class, we discussed
the many ways we could solve this problem. We talked about which way
would be the most efficient. I model doing expanded form each day, and
many of the students are trying to solve the problem this way too. See
below for an example of how we solve an addition
problem using expanded form.

13+16

13 -> 10 + 3

16 -> 10 + 6

10+10=20

3+6 = 9

20+9 = 29

Reminders:

*There is no school tomorrow, March 13th.

*Hat day is Thursday, March 19th. Bring in your favorite hat to wear all day!

We are running out of crayons!
If you would be willing to donate a box of crayons to the class, please
send them with your child next week. Thanks so much! :)

Have a great weekend!

Active seems like a understatement

Today I worked at Hidden Valley Elem. It was a good day. Ellie was with Anne and Rory and Hadley was at school. It is nearing the end of the week as it is Thursday. Yeah Friday tomorrow!

Hadley decided she would let me put her hair up in a pony today. She looked super cute because we added a little braid. She loves her jean leggings. She wore those with a cute long sleeve shirt and a pink vest. After school she spent an hour at Kerstins until Ellie and I picked her up. She has been working really hard on reading and math. She comes home with 3 books in her book bag and we "try" to read them before she goes back the next day. It works well that her school is a later start because usually we read in the morning before school.
She is a little hesitant on reading but we continue to remind her that practice makes it easier and soon she will love it.

Ellie is loves to listen to Hadley practice reading. She tries to pretend to read herself. She continues to wear her Elsa dress. It isn't going to fit forever so I guess I don't mind her wearing it as long as it is clean. Her and I worked on numbers yesterday and I feel like she is getting it. Our bigger challenge is the alphabet. We need to work on recognizing the letters. She loves ECFE and I love taking her. Today I had to miss it because of work and last week we all missed because Hadley was home sick with a stomach bug.

Currently both the girls are obsessed with watching Good Luck Charlie. They love that show.

Last night we started swimming lessons at Lifetime. It was a success. The girls have seperate lessons. Ellie was shy at first but she was brave and stuck it out and Hadley was just excited. I actually really enjoyed it! I kinda hope the girls become swimmer!

I am just so lucky that everything is working out so nicely with the childcare arrangements to the success at school and activities. Everyday something new comes home in Hadley's backpack about a camp or a sport class. Not sure what we are going to sign them up for this summer but the sky is endless. Ellie really needs to take singing and acting, that girl just loves to sing and be dramatic even though she is shy to start.

This weekend we have busy plans. Friday night we have to pick up my packet for my Saturday 5K in Minneapolis. We will go visit Cassie after I pick up the packet and have some supper. Saturday morning the girls will stay home while I go run and then later that day we have Nevaeh's birthday party at a hotel. So swimming, pizza and fun! We still need to get her a present! Cannot believe she is going to be 7!

Lots of pictures to come!

"Roar" I'm a Dino! Hadley modeling our craft!

Ellie playing play doh yesterday

This is what they create on my phone or iPad and then save it!