While 'littlest one' finishes incubating (we are hoping for 3 more weeks), the big girls are going to see grandparents. Grandma flew in on Wednesday to help get the house straightend and the girls packed. Then grandpa drove here to pick them all up this weekend. Just before they left I took this picture. Looks like even Saoirse has warmed up to him already (she bulldozed herself right in the middle to see the book too).

Easter/ Birthday Dresses

It's not the best picture, but this is Saoirse's dress. I still have to fix the neck but otherwise it's done. Tekla's will be similar only in violet. Jael will get a pink skirt with a different pattern. Whosit, will get something in green that I havn't figured out yet.

Recent pictures, just to share

Spontanious School

This has been a crazy tiring week so I didn't plan on doing school today. I needed some extra rest. Jae and Tek were making pictures and letters but decided they really needed to be mailed today (they are starting to realize that their letters tend to get lost if they want to finish them "later"). So we had a lesson on addressing envelopes and writing addresses. I have had to make a rule that we can only send 1 letter per girl, per day. I just don't know if I'll have enough stamps to keep up with them.

Spread the Word!!!

Tekla just read "map, Pat, tap" all on her own without any help! She also didn't get distracted while at her task of sounding them out! We are so excited to have another reader in the house!

Making ornaments

A couple weeks ago we all sat down to make saltdough ornaments. I'm not sure who enjoyed it the most!






(Yes, J chose to sit in the high chair - not sure why.)

School Days - November Progress Report

There are times I worry that we are not doing enough "school", then I realize they are still speeding through our curriculum and we are about a quarter of the way through (I was planning on stretching it out over a year and a half to two years). All three girls are also learning so much right now, that I do not doubt they are getting a great education.

So, just to recap what we have been learning:
We have been reading about Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. In our Thursday Bible Study, their lessons have conveniently followed similarly and today their story was of Joshua and Jericho. They have also learned 8-10 Bible verses so far.

In science we have watched plants grow from seeds, talked about flowers, discovered what happens if a leaf doesn't get sunlight and/or water, and talked some about photosynthesis.

Jael is adding and subtracting single digits in math. She has also figured out adding 3 numbers on her own and can figure out the missing number in a number sentence.
Tekla is counting items in a set, counting out items from a group and working on number recognition in math. She has also been matching like items.
Saoirse is learning to hold up fingers when Mommy starts our countdowns and is learning to put things away (kinda).

Jael is doing great at reading and likes to read to her sisters. She is a good speller and does very well when quizzed at the end of the week. Her handwriting is also very nice and she loves to write letters to people, and make lists for Mommy.
Tekla is starting to sound out 3 letter words and is now able to write her name very legibly (that darn k has been the hardest letter to learn though). She also likes to play Sight Word Bingo with Jael and match the word drawn to the word on her card.
Saoirse is enjoying emptying the bookshelves and pointing to various picture in the books. Her favorite book right now is a book about animals as she is learning many animal signs/noises. She is also learning that pages tear if you pull them just right.

Jael is loving ballet lessons on Tuesdays, and often practices her jumps and pointing all around the house.
Tekla is practicing jumping with 2 feet and running.
Saoirse I trying to learn to jump and loves to get on the trampoline and pump her arms up and down. Saoirse has also started dancing with her sisters, swaying, spinning and kicking her legs in the air.

We are currently reading Mary Poppins as a read aloud. Other books we have recently read include: Johnny Appleseed, The Hundred Dresses, The Last of the Great Wangdoodles, Elmer and his Dragon, Autumn with the Moodys, and a few others I can't remember right now.

Jael and Tekla are also learning to be great helpers. Since Mommy is starting to slow down more and more due to the coming addition, they have done more to help with laundry and cooking and enjoy being such "big kids". (Saoirse is still trying to figure out what is going on).

I'm sure I'm missing several things that they have learned recently, but I don't think I could list it all if I tried!