Easy Reader

The other night while reading "Are You My Mother" to Amelia at bedtime, I realized that she could read nearly every word in the book.  She kept pointing out words she recognized, so I asked if she would like to read to me instead of me reading to her.  The result was her reading page after page of the story with very little help from me!

Then, a few days later, while snuggled in bed on a rainy afternoon, she started reading "Go, dog, go!". Again, she read nearly every word with little help from me.

I'm not sure at what point I can officially say, "Amelia is reading!" but I feel like we are very close!  She has learned all 58 kindergarten sight words that her pre-school teacher sent home mid-year.  And I am so amazed at how quickly she has picked up these words, since most of them can't be sounded out.

Lately, we've been working more on sounding out words and have checked out several Easy Readers from the library.  She does especially well with the BOB books and can read them completely independently.  I feel like I can see improvements every single day! What's even better is that she can see it too!

Memory Lane

Unfortunately, my mom didn't keep too many of the toys I had growing up.  A few My Little Ponies, a Cabbage Patch Kid or two, some baseball cards, my beloved Cricket doll (and accessories), and a (very) random assortment of odds and ends. 

I found this Cabbage Patch Kid carrier the other day when I was cleaning out the basement and before I knew it, Amelia had run off with it.  She quickly located a baby and secured it in the carrier.  She loved it! And I loved seeing her in something I just to play with too!

Chester Day Trip

 A couple times a year we like to take a day trip to Chester, IL.  It is where my grandparents are buried and I have lots of great memories traveling there as a child to visit my great aunt and uncle.  We had been trying to plan it for awhile and lucked out with decent weather for our trip a few weeks ago.

Although it was a bit windy....

The Chester Welcome Center has a new fancy deck on the back now that overlooks the river, a bridge, and a train track (complete with a train no less!).  It was the perfect place for a 4 year old and a 1 year old to burn off some steam after the 2 hour trip.

Unfortunately I cut Popeye's head off a little and by the time I went to take another both kids were off and running.  Chester is the home of Popeye!

We stopped off to pick up some lunch and then headed to one of my favorite Chester spots.  I guess it's official name is Mary's River Covered Bridge, but I've never called it that.  I just think it is a beautiful spot and a rare sight to explore.  We ate and then checked out the bridge and the very swollen river.

Amelia also checked out some ants and a ladybug or two.

I found humor in this sign.  Particularly the sentence that starts, "All of the timber in the bridge is the original...."

After everyone had had enough of the bridge (actually, after I had multiple close calls of children wondering towards the swift-moving river), we stopped by my grandparents grave.  This is a tricky subject for an inquisitive 4 year old.  She mostly took it in stride, asked a few questions, and then requested we check the rest of the cemetery for a stone with her name.  So, we wondered through Paradise Cemetery (no joke) for a half hour in search of an "Amelia".  Unfortunately, we came up short despite finding numerous "Henry" stones.

It was a nice little trip and Amelia loved being in "a whole nother state!" for the day.  One of these times I vow to be a little more adventurous and check out one of the two Forts in the area.

Fancy Feet

Today while we were at the park, Amelia shouted, "Mom! I think today is the first day of summer!".  Not quite, but I think we're getting there!

Easter and the Like

Since I have many, many pictures.  I will try and keep commentary short and sweet!  

We tried a new egg decorating technique from Family Fun magazine.  While the eggs are still hot from boiling them, you use crayons to decorate them.  The crayon wax melts instantly, making a paint of sorts.

We also did the traditionally dying too.  In fact, some eggs got both treatments.

Amelia taking care of the bunny--carrots and lettuce was on the menu this year!

Egg hunt #1

After the kids found the eggs (color coded per child, no less!), Amelia started a photo scavenger hunt to find her basket.  Then, she found Henry's too.  Not that I got a picture of either basket however.....

The dessert I prepared for the big day!

Stop #1 of the day (and egg hunt #2) was at Jason's parents.  Henry was looking mighty handsome with his little blazer and Converse.  He also had a little product in his hair as well as a reversible tie that matched his sister's outfit.

Stop #2 (egg hunt #3) was to my parent's house.  By then, both kids (and parents) were wearing down quickly. 

The hit at GG and Papa's house were definitely these silly bunny-face suckers.

And Henry's new tattoo sleeves!

 It was pretty relaxed there since it was just our family of 4 and my parents.  The kids enjoyed hanging out on the screened in porch after our meal.

It was a fun, long day.  Amelia was still having some occasional throat pain, but she was a trooper.  I was terrified that she would take off running at one of the egg hunts on Easter before she was fully healed, but luckily (?) the weather was bad.  There was no need to run inside to get the eggs. At least not for the most part...

Happiness is Dressing Up like a Princess and Going to a Party with your BFF