Teaching Moments

So I decided that since Tade will be starting kindergarten in the fall I should start helping him learn a few things. He knows all his letters and most of the sounds so I thought why not start teaching him how to read. Well, that didn't last long because it is really frustrating trying to teach a kid to read! The kids and I have been attending a Cradled In Literacy workshop where I was introduced to "sight" words. So I thought we could try to learn some of those before the fall. (For those of you who don't know, like I didn't, these are words that are used very frequently (the, as, is, in, big, are, etc.) and the kids are expected to read the by sight, meaning without having to sound them out every time.) Well, we got a few games from book orders to help us practice and it is going okay. The only problem is Tade calls them "Satan" words. I just have to laugh! He keeps asking to play his "Satan" games. Oh well! At least he is learning a few of them!!!

New Crib

Both the crib we used for Tade and the crib we used for Ashlynn were either hand me downs or yard sale pick-ups, which were fine and they worked, but when we moved Ash out of hers last year I told Eric to take it to DI because I wanted a new on for our next child. Well, as I've started trying to get ready for this kid I have regretted that decision, especially because I had Eric take the mattress with it. But a few weeks ago we found a new crib that was somewhat expensive (although I think $10 for a new shirt is expensive), but well worth the money. My only regret is that we didn't buy this crib four years ago so that we could have used it for all our children and really gotten our moneys worth. Oh well, you live and learn right. So here are some pictures of it because I am really excited about it. We set it up right when we got it just to make sure all the parts where there, which was a good thing because we were missing a bolt. (I, normally, would have called it a screw, but Eric corrected me so many times saying, "It is not a screw. You can't screw it in to the wall." Whatever! It's all the same to me.) Anyway, I just picked up a new mattress today and had to see what it looked like with bedding. No we still don't know if we are having a boy or girl, but I got this crib set for Ashlynn and didn't get to use it very long because the first year of her life she slept in a playpen in what was then her room/ the computer room, so I really want to use it. Plus, my boy set isn't very cute. In the next month or two we will, hopefully, decide if we are going to stick Ash and Tade together or Ash and the baby (any advice?) and then the crib can come up from downstairs.

Thank You One And All

My birthday was a couple of days ago and I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone for making it such a great day! I got tons of calls, songs, e-mails, texts, cards, everything and it made my day! Eric let me sleep in while he made a yummy breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and OJ. He, Tade, and I enjoyed it while Ash laid in the hallway sleeping because she didn't feel good. She wouldn't even sing "Happy Birthday" to me, which is really unusual. Off and on she would cuddle with one of us or go to her bed and sleep all the while looking like a ghost. (Her lips were so pale. It was freaking me out!) We were all set to have me stay home during sacrament and Eric's primary lesson and then switch so I could go to Relief Society when she runs out of her room at 11:30 and yells "Happy Birthday, Mommy! I am hungry." We let her eat and I decided to get ready really quick and we all headed to church. After we went to my parents and had yummy lasagna and garlic bread. Followed by ice cream and my dad's amazing, wonderful, delicious chocolate chip cookies. (Tade was a little bummed we didn't have cake, but he got over it after one of Grandpa's cookies.) It was a great day. On the way home Ashlynn busted out the "Happy Birthday" song and this is how it went:

Happy birthday to me.

Happy birthday to Anjawa (Angela).

Happy birthday to my mommy.

Happy birthday to you! (At which point she pointed to me.)

It was so funny. I wish I got it on camera, because it was so cute! Oh, well! Thanks again to everyone. I love having amazing family and friends!

Do You Want To Get Out And Walk?...

The above was a common phrase used by my parents during my childhood and one that Eric used on Tade last night. (The following story is mostly for me so that I can remember this funny night.) We were coming home from my brother, John's, wedding dinner and it was around nine o'clock. The kids were playing their "kicking game" in the backseat, which is where they try to reach each other with their legs, even though they are buckled in their car seats. Eric and I frown upon this game because it is loud and, usually, one or both kids end up crying. Well, we were almost home (just turning at the McDonald's/K-Mart light) when the kids really stopped listening to my pleas to end the "game." All the sudden Eric says to Tade, "Do you want to get out and walk?" Tade, of course, says, "Yes, yes, yes!" So I say, "Pull over. Let him out." At this point we were right across from the strip mall on the curvy road back to our house so Eric pulls over, puts the car in park, and starts unbuckling Tade. I open the door and tell him to jump out. (Now any responsible adult knows that we really wouldn't have let him walk home from there so don't get too worried.) Tade starts freaking out about snakes in the grass and says that he doesn't want to walk until we are closer to the house. I am just impressed that he knows where he is and how to get home from where we were pulled over. Well, he got buckled again and I though we would just go home, but Eric decides to, actually, let Tade walk home from the bottom of the hill at the second entrance to our subdivision. Tade was super excited. This time when we pulled over he gets unbuckled and jumps out of the van. He starts running up the sidewalk with us following slowly behind. At one point, because of construction, there is a giant dirt pile on the sidewalk. When Tade got to this obstacle, he paused for about 10-15 seconds and you could tell he was thinking, "Should I go over it? No, my mom wouldn't want me to get dirty. Should I go in the road to get around it? No, my mom wouldn't want me in the road." Finally, he crossed the mud pile/grass bar and walked like a gymnast with his little arms out on the cement curbing. Thus, not going in the dirt pile or the road. Eric and I were just laughing while we were watching. He was so cute and excited to be walking home. He kept looking over at us and waving. He did have to cross two roads, at which he stopped, looked both ways for cars and then crossed. We pulled into the garage before he could run up, but he got there as we were getting out and he was so proud of himself. It may have not been the best choice to let him walk home, but he certainly had fun and he went right to bed so I might have to make him run up the hill every night!

Update

Not much new is happening here at the Gappmayer home. Thus, no new posts for quite some time. We have been running around, going to preschool, the allergist (for Eric), the OB (for me), work, the library and anywhere else we have to go in a given week. This week we have been at home quite a bit and it has been wonderful. You would think that I would have my dishes and laundry done since this is the case, but I don't. Oh well, maybe by the end of today. Luckily, life seems pretty good right now. Eric and I are more in love than ever. The kids are great. My calling feels as under control as I think it can be. I know it is because I have been reading the Book of Mormon. Truthfully, some days I just read to get it done with, but for the most part I really want to read and it has been a huge blessing in my life.

In other news, I have spring fever really bad. Anytime it is remotely warm (mid to upper 40's) I drag the kids outside. Tade keeps asking when we get to bring the pool out. We keep telling him that when the snow melts it will be time. We have had a big huge pile in our front yard from shoveling the driveway, but yesterday Eric went and threw that out into the street so it would melt and the snow will be gone today, I'm sure. I can't wait for Tade to notice because then I will never hear the end of it until we get the swimming pool out! We'll see how he likes swimming in 50 degree weather. Just kidding! I would never let my kid do that! :) That's about it! We have a wedding this weekend for my brother and then we are in to March. Crazy! Time goes way to fast!!!

Silly Ashlynn

We got all these dress up thing for Ashlynn for Chirstmas and she has loved playing with them. She is such a silly girl. We love having her in our family!

For Tenaya and Bobbi

These are for Tenaya and Bobbi, who are both going to be gone for awhile! We love you guys! (Ten, sorry yours is so short. We ran out of batteries. I will make another one soon!)