Joel's First Day of Kindergarten

I'm sure you can tell by these pictures that he was just a little excited to be officially starting Kindergarten!  I think he was up bouncing off the walls at 6am when John got up for work!  Thankfully I convinced him to go back to sleep until 7:30.  It was a great start and he enjoyed science and reading books the most...and of course getting to go on the computer to watch a short video with quiz and "build" satellites!  I'm still getting into the swing of things as far as figuring out how to teach handwriting and math.  At times, it was a little challenging to keep Ellie occupied, but overall she loved to sit and color/doodle and listen in on what we were doing.  I'm loving how laid back and fun the morning went...we were able to get a lot accomplished by 11am and be done for the day and ready to hop over to playgroup and an appointment in the afternoon.  We're hoping to get Joel back into gymnastics next month and get him registered with Home Connection for some added homeschooling support.  What a new adventure and season we are stepping into!  I'm so grateful we have the Lord's guidance and wisdom to get us through each new thing He's called us to do.  What a privilege and joy to get to educate our kids and prepare them to be a positive influence on the world around them!  Please pray for us to be good partners with the Lord in raising Joel & Elianna. 

3

skyping with Grandma Susan & Auntie Jess while opening presents from them

loving the new shopping cart!

yep. one happy girl.

bring on the cupcakes!

the scene

cherry cupcakes with heart jelly beans (=

enjoying the cupcakes with friends

dishing them up

present time!

our friends Tim & Beth

friends Mindy & Larissa with their kids

diggin the new hair clippies

reading a card from friends Noah & Johanna

playing around

impressed with the pink Duplos!

common!  just one pic you 2!?!

thanks for the nice clothes Auntie Ericka & Uncle Ryan

yay!  stickers from G & G Telenga!

dressing up like a ballerina

ballerina slippers from Mom & Dad

those beautiful brown eyes

Princess Ellie

Our little Ellie has grown into quite the little girl now that she is 3 and is an official preschooler!  She has this way of making us savor and love life more...with her slower pace, all her smiles 'n giggles, graceful twirls, and wonder at the new things coming alive all around her.  Today I told her I loved her and her reply was, "I love you to the milkiest waves...the galaxy rangers!"  {Translation:  to the ends of the Milky Way Galaxy.  Galaxy Rangers is a movie Joel likes...so of course she likes it too lol} She doesn't seem to be very shy and I often wish during the quiet times in church that I could locate her mute button!  She is a joy and a cutie pie!  That is, when she isn't going through the typical tantrums and screaming at the top of her lungs when her brother looks like he might think of touching one of her toys!  She loves the water (even if it's cool).  I think swimming lessons will be good for her this year.  She is doing good with potty training, but it is a process.  No accidents as long as I take her (kicking and screaming many times...where does this stubborn streak come from I wonder?!) to the potty every 3 hours or so.  Eventually it's gotta click and she'll start telling me when she has to go or just start going on her own.  She is doing pretty good at nights too...50% of the time she wakes up dry.  We'll get there!  She is curious about everything I do in the bathroom and often asks for a dab of whatever makeup I'm putting on, to have her nails painted, or some lip balm.  It's adorable how proud she is of her own unique beauty...I hope she always has that pride in how wonderful God made her.  Now that she's 3, she has graduated to 3/4 year old Sunday school (called Super Lights at our church).  She's ready for the new challenge and seems to enjoy it.  She still loves to come and sit in my lap and see what I'm up to on the computer daily.  And ask for a drink of my tea.  I love these little everyday moments.  It is so fabulous having a daughter! 

Interview on her favorites at age 3
Color:  Pink (and purple is another favorite)
Animal: Dog (as long as they don't lick me!)
Snack:  Goldfish crackers
Ice Cream:  Phish Food (Ben & Jerry's) 
Treat:  Gummies
Thing to do with Joel:  Snuggle parties & building
Book:  look at her photo albums
Music:  TobyMac
Songs to sing:  "Cubbie Song" from Awanas and "Jesus Loves the Little Children"
Thing to wear:  dog shirts
Game:  potato bowling

Happy 3rd Birthday Elianna!

All chipper and ready for church!

Her artsy look ( ;

Have blankie, will sleep anywhere!

Ready for my close-up!

Always ready for girl time...pretty pink fingernails.

Little Miss Smilie

Make a wish...

Dancing queen!

Excited for snow!

Take a picture of my blankie, Mama!

Don't even think of messing with my stuff...I'm a "Don't Touchable"

Modeling a new shirt and necklace from Uncle Bobby & Auntie Erica and Auntie Missy...so sweet!

Thank you for my birthday presents!  I love them.

Interview with Joel

I got this Q & A form from Hannah Keeley about 6 months ago and thought I'd go ahead and get it on my blog so Joel can read it when he's older.  I'm going to try and have him answer these questions each year. Fun fun...This interview was done when he was 4.5 years old.

What is your favorite food?
cake with frosting & colorful sprinkles (donuts)

What is your favorite outfit?
Christmas jammies

Describe your favorite day!
Going to the circus, the bouncy house, the fair, and a restaurant.

What is your favorite TV show?  Why?
Batman shows b/c I like Batman, being Batman, learning the bad guy names, and how to defeat them.

What is one of your favorite songs?
ABC Song.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A construction worker like "Bob the builder".

What is your favorite activity to do with your family?
Play games like hide-and-seek and board games.

If you were a superhero, what would be your ability?
Shooting webs out of my hands to defeat the bad guys.

What do you want to do to make the world a better place?
Help others do chores that they can't do.

5

his 1st BIG boy bike!

he was impressed that it was a Spiderman bike!

building fun with a gift from G & G Neuharth:  bridge battle set for his nano hexbugs

Bloco building fun too!

the kid's table for coloring at his party

some decor

playing games outside

the treasure hunt begins!

first some instructions

thata way!

off to the forest to find the treasure chest!

Marvel superhero themed party.  Joel's wearing his new shirt from Auntie Ericka & Uncle Ryan

opening presents!  this one was from G & G Telenga

Lego Robo Champ from his buddies Noah & Johanna

cake time

guests at the party

more lovely guests

all the kids at the party waiting for their treat bags!

mask fun!

Jakin, Johanna, Joel, Calum, Noah (in mask), Wyatt, Charity, Ellie, Trenton, and Brody (no pictured)

Auntie Ericka & Ellie

excited for a new Transformer from Wyatt & Charity

with his Trio block robots

creation of the day!

Joel's main subjects of interest have been superheros, building robots and castles, and learning to draw (robots mainly) over the last year.  Just last night he told me that he can't go to sleep because he has so many ideas for building robots clogging up his brain!   He is a very fun-loving, creative boy...an artist at heart! He loves getting out and doing things like riding his balancing bike, jumping on the neighbor's trampoline with his friends, going on treasure hunts with Dad, and having play dates with friends.  He loved his 2 months of gymnastics that he got to go to this past Sept/Oct...hopefully we'll get him back into that again soon since we see much natural talent there.  He's been diligently learning Bible verses for his Awanas Cubbies program over the last 6 months.  He typically says his verse with confidence and has fun playing games and doing crafts there.  He is growing in his listening skills through this weekly activity, which is good!

My days are blessed with heaping handfuls of "I love you Mama"s and hugs.  He really has a tender, sensitive heart...despite his tough guy facial expresses and growls!  A while back, Joel watched a weed-killer commercial and then came up to me and said in the most pathetic voice, "That made me so sad that they killed those dandelions".  A couple weeks ago we were sitting together on a bench waiting for our pizza to be made and he said,"Mama, I like spending time with you".  Melt. My. Heart.  He and Ellie enjoy playing together and I often find that they've tossed every blanket and pillow we own in a corner of the room to have a "snuggle party"!

He is now able to earn an allowance if he does his chores during the week such as take up the garbage cans, wash a few dishes, wipe down dirty tables, set and clear dishes, picks out clothes and dresses himself, puts his dirty clothes in the washer, makes his bed, folds his pants, helps Dad wash the vehicles, and clean up toys.  He is also willing to help Ellie with certain things when I ask him to.  Just last week he taught himself how to zip up his coat. 

Now that he's 5 he gets to go join the "big boys" in Lighthouse Kids at our church's "Dome", which has slowly been being remodeled over the last couple of years.  He fits in well there and shared many laughs last Sunday with his class as I sat in as a helper.  Our official homeschooling of Joel for Kindergarten begins in March!  He is going to do great...I'm just not so sure about me!  It's going to take a higher level of discipline, organization, and self-sacrifice on my part.  I'm sure John will be a great support, along with Home Connection in Oak Harbor and other homeschooling moms.

Joel had a great 5th birthday party.  It was Marvel superhero themed and he planned it all--the food, decor, games and guest list.  It was nice having help pulling the party together=D  John did great with the games (treasure hunt, potato bowling, bean bag toss, parachute fun).  And we ate a chocolate Spiderman cake with strawberry ice cream, BBQ chips, popcorn, party mix, and juice boxes.  He had a great bunch of special buddies join him for the festivities!  Noah, Johanna, Calum, Wyatt, Charity, Jakin, Trenton, and Brody...along with Auntie Ericka & Uncle Ryan and many of our friends.  It was a houseful of fun!  Joel was very blessed.  So thankful for all those who love and pour themselves into his life...