Mostly Normal Mom

June 21st, 2013

Super Artwork

Sorry it's been so long! My camera is not working any more, so I haven't been taking pictures of the girls (other than on the webcam). Note: mostlynormalmom is now accepting donations for a new cell phone! Haha.

Also, it was Shire's birthday last week! She's 4 now (hopefully some other people took pictures and can share them with me). 

Here's a quick picture of Shire's artwork these days. She's really good, I think. That's Super Shire in the yellow and Super Mom in the blue; I think she really nailed my hair style, ha!

March 4th, 2013

Painting

(aka, why is it still winter??)

February 21st, 2012

Open House at Ballet

As you can see, Freya thought this was her big moment--finally, she was getting to dance with the rest of the class. 

Then she noticed her big sister...

...and then was asked to leave the room. Poor girl. 

Releve!

Shire's classmates and her class helper, Jordan. 

January 19th, 2013

Favorite Reads

I thought I'd share some of our favorite things to read. First, here are Shire's favorite books to read to Freya (yes, she has these memorized). 

And now, some books I read to the girls:

I love books like these: simple, enigmatic, beautiful, magical. 

Shire looooves the Berenstain Bears, so much that Mom is sick of reading them to her. So I've started recording myself reading the book (with a little bell to turn the page) so she can listen to them a couple times a day without me having to read them (again...)

If you'd like to listen to one of my recordings, click here to Download The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies. (iTunes file)

 

Both girls love their Baby Bugs (a mini magazine that comes in the mail, a gift from Grandma Alice). They're simple, colorful, and fun.

 

Stewart is (slowly) reading this to Shire (mostly at night, when she's trying to delay going to sleep. This is also the reason for her excellent oral hygiene regimen).

January 15th, 2013

Growing Forward

So, prepared to be flabbergasted: I will be signing Shire up for 4K (four-year-old Kindergarten) in less than a month. A-ma-zing. It seems impossible that one of my girls is almost school-age, but at the same time, she's so ready for it.

The approaching school enrollment has got me thinking more creatively about educational things to do with Shire during the day (especially when the baby is napping). I'm also trying to make use of things that I've collected over the years. So here's the latest idea.

I have a large stash of "squeezie pouch" lids, which I've been trying to find use for. I mean, they're colorful and interesting looking. I've just never found a purpose for them. 

So I found a couple of shoelaces, and we played today with them, making necklaces. It gave us a chance to work on pattern recognition (an early math skill) and fine-motor skill. 

Doesn't she look big?