Ps I love you

Lily wrote this for Annabelle and hung it on her bedroom wall after she bumped herself or something.. 'Dear Annabelle, I promised I would share my special toys with you to make you feel better. I hope you're alright Annabelle , I might cry because I love you.' Aw💕

Time to brag

Lily's report from her teacher: 

Thank you very much for coming to our conference! I loved sharing how well Lily is doing in class. She is reading at grade level above this time of year! At this level we only want children to point at a word if they are stuck on it and trying to figure it out. Also, they should be using various reading strategies when figuring out words-looking for chunks in the word, skipping the tricky word then going back and rereading it, and correcting themselves if they make a mistake. It is always important to make sure they are thinking-does that make sense? Does it look right? Does it sound right? In math, we are continuing to work on efficient counting strategies such as counting on, making a ten, adding one or two more. We will continue to try to be descriptive in our writer’s workshop stories, using neat handwriting and only using uppercase letters in certain spots.. Thank you for supporting your child at home with completing the reading log at home! Lily is such a pleasure to have in class-sweet, kind and funny!

Update..

I asked Annabelle to go put something else on because what she was wearing was not warm enough and actually a top not a dress. Can you tell from the photo what she added....

....sandals!

Cold? Me? Never!

This is what Annabelle decides she wants to wear in December, in Ohio, when it's 32 degrees outside. 

Aren't you cold? I asked. Not at all mummy! How did I know that would be the answer. 

Turkey

Annabelle's teachers love to ask the kids questions, and write down their answers to share with the parents. It's one of my favorite things to read how the kids see everyday things from a very different perspective!

This is what is on the door of the classroom at the moment:

Chuck E Cheese party

Lily and Annabelle went to a friend's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese recently. It must have made a big impression on Lily as she decided to write a story about it at school.

Her teacher took this video and shared it with me, of Lily reading her story about her experience at the party. Her teacher, Mrs Thompson's comment was "I love the ending, it shows your true feelings!"

I love the whole lot!

Chuck E Cheese party from Rachel Sanford on Vimeo.

Vet

Lily says she wants to be a vet when she grows up. She is having difficulty explaining to Annabelle that it's a doctor for animals.

She starts explaining any sick animal can go there, like even lions and penguins. She says they have a tube of icy water for sick penguins to swim in. Like if they have a sick beak, or a hurt wing, or even a sick waddler. (!?) Apparently that would fix them right up. 

Then Annabelle says you could bring dinosaurs there, and Lily says, no they're all dead. Annabelle replies, no I just mean the little baby dinosaurs. Lily says, them too, but you could probably bring a baby giraffe. 

I can't wait to visit Lily at work! 

Labyrinth

Watching Labyrinth with Annabelle and she says:

He's trying to be mean and steal the baby, he needs to change his attitude. 

Well said.

Selfies

The only problem with the camera on my phone being available for use without entering the pin code is that there is somewhere in the region of 300 photos on my phone like this....

Trick or treat!

Elsa and a kitty cat! 

We are the popcorn house! 

And I'm the mamma kitty!

Trunk or Treat

PWe are ready for Trunk or Treat at St Brendan's tonight!! 

Safety sheriff

Lily has decided she wants to make sure everyone is safe from hazards on the playground at school and also here at home. 

She has started wearing a Sheriff badge and telling people to line up for the slide in an orderly fashion. She says her best friend Carson I always listens to her, not so much everyone else.

This morning I created a tripping hazard by putting their packed lunch bags on the floor at the front door where apparently all kinds of people could trip over them and hurt themselves. Also Annabelle got a warning when she was swinging a cupboard door, she was told the door could break off and break her arms off with it. 

I'm just glad she can't give us tickets. Yet. 

Knock knock

Annabelle- 

Knock knock 

Who's there?

A pond & duck

A pond & duck who?

We're going to need a pond if we have a duck!

I'm mommy

Annabelle is pretending to be me this morning by wearing my shoes and my race medal, love it!!! 

Minty

Annabelle: I want something minty, but not mint because it's too minty. 

Couple of gems

Lily gave me a hug this morning, and she just seems so big now, especially compared to Annabelle. I said to her, how did you get so big?!

She replied, well it's all the birthdays and salad Mom.

Max and I celebrated our 8th Wedding Anniversary this week, so we had of course been talking about it. Annabelle just told me very proudly that she had remembered to tell Daddy that we had been married eight times.

Swearing In Ceremony

Before the final interview the petitioners only were in a separate room from the court, and had some final questions and preperations before the ceremony. It was very surreal, and although people were happy some didn't see the need to smile to express their joy! 

But we all waved the little flags when they played "Proud to be an American" on the tv.

Here is me being handed my official citizenship certificate by the USCIS Immigration Officer. We were also given a paper bookmark with the US flag on it. 

Here I am! Certificate in hand, couldn't be happier or prouder! Thank you everyone for all of your support and thank you Max, Lily & Skip for coming to the ceremony.

Work

Had my swearing in as a US citizen today. Lily was there. 

Just now as I was getting her ready for gymnastics she says, mom are you taking us to gymnastics? I said, no, I have to go to work. She says, oh is it US Citizen work?

I tried not to laugh in her face and said no, Rusty Bucket work. 

Front teeth update

Lily's front teeth are growing in and are lovely big teeth! Looking less (or more?) like a vampire every day. Ignore the ravioli sauce all over her face and the rubber band she is wearing on her head. 

Athens OH

Tired girls at breakfast...

Pretty College Green..

More Hocking Hills

Camping Trip

At the Old Mans Cave in Hocking Hills, OH:

Big cats

Lily has decided to draw pictures and make a book of her favorite animals. She has finished two so far and wanted to show me. 

Cheetah:

Sort of difficult to read the yellow word so here is a close up:

And her favorite animal and my favorite picture: 

Halloween preview

Eggs

Having breakfast this morning:

Lily - I love eggs now. When I was five I didn't like eggs, but now I'm six I like them. Things change when you get older.

Annabelle - I only like eggs when they are cracked up. 

Wise words.

Packed lunch

Lily & Annabelle both take a packed lunch to school now. Came down this morning to find Lily making sandwiches for both her and Annabelle! 

Nice work Lily!

Lily's teacher sent home her first test, sight words. She is expected to be able to read and write these, and she got 36/36. The shaded dot indicates a correct answer. Great job! 

Back to school!

First day of first grade

Trampoline

After many miserable hours of assembly this is happening! Worth it!

1st Grade Postcard

Lily's new teacher, Mrs Thompson, sent her a postcard in the mail that she received today, how nice! 

Annabelle's First Week of Pre-School

The teachers at Mary Evans sent over a few photos to share from the first week of back to school, and Annabelle was in a couple so I thought I'd share! 

Party Day!

Ready! Now just 6 1/2 hours until the party!

Ballerina hair