Yay for Ella!

Ella posing next to a giant pencil at "Back to School Night" tonight.Ella showing Lily the Kindergarten playground.

Since January we’ve been working with Ella & her social skills. Things like, saying "hi" back when someone says "hello" to you, Not ignoring people when they ask you a question (okay... so she still needs a lot of help with that one.) But she's been doing great. We've been encouraging her to make friends and initiate conversations with her classmates by giving her rewards for doing so. Almost everyday she comes home and tells us about the conversations that she's initiated that day. For example, on her first day of school she told us that she "invited a girl... who I don't know her name, to come over and play with me today." We weren't sure if she was telling us the truth, as Tyler and I both had a hard time picturing her doing this. And, of course, we told her that you usually don't start out conversations with someone you've never met, by inviting them over... you should probably start by asking them their name.

Anyhow... everyday she's been telling us about all of her conversations she has with classmates so that she can get her reward. At Back to School night tonight, we talked with her teacher and were pleased & very surprised to learn that Ella has been telling the truth and really was talking to & playing with the other kids. Yay for Ella! And Yay for her awesome Kindergarten teacher who called us last night to warn us there would be a substitute teacher today, so that we could prepare Ella for the change and avoid a total catastrophe.
And last of all, YAY for the fact that Ella's lip and mouth is looking and feeling much better.

Dancing

Tyler and I love when Lily dances, but I'm always too late grabbing the video camera. Last night I was able to catch the last few seconds of her groovy dance moves.

Busy Bees

When I was little, my mom made us a “Busy Bees” chart filled with fun activities & chores. I remember looking forward to participating in Busy Bees even though Chores were involved. Now I'm doing the same thing with Ella. It's so much easier to get her to do chores when there are fun activities involved as well... so far she LOVES it. Even the chores. My chart isn’t as cute as the one my mom made, but if you are interested in doing “Busy Bees” with your kid(s) you can download a copy of the file here: http://www.hollybrookejones.com/busybees.pdf. Feel free to share the link to this file with your friends and family members. I’m going to post the instructions here on my website. There are also instructions included in the file.

This file prints perfectly onto
a standard 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper.

Instructions:

1: Print the “Busy Bee’s Activities” chart onto card-stock.

2: Have the printed card-stock laminated or put a clear contact paper over the
images for extra protection. Feel free to skip this step if you wish.

3: Cut out beehive & bee’s.

4: If you wish to add any glitter or embellishments, do so now.

5: Glue some magnets to the back the beehive & one magnet to each bee.

6: Print or write some activities and/or chores onto a small piece of paper.
Here is a list of some activity ideas. Feel free to add any that would work for your child’s age.
Be sure to change out activities on a daily basis to fit your needs and to keep your child interested.

•Read a book with mom. •Help mom make cookies. •Clean all the mirrors in the bathrooms. •go tickle dad. •Count how many times you can find the word “the” in your favorite book. •Practice sight words. •jump 10 times. •Listen to the song, Old McDonald while cleaning your room. •Write a letter to Grandma. •Choose a game to play with mom. •Enjoy a yummy snack. •Complete a worksheet •Complete a (be specific) craft project. •Learn to tie your shoe. •Cut out your favorite pictures from some junk mail or old magazines. •Make up a story about your favorite animal.

7: Fold the small paper in half (so that your child can’t see what he/she is picking) and place behind each magnet.

Be sure to change out activities on a daily basis to fit your needs and to keep your child interested.

8: Set aside a time each day or week for child to complete the activities.

Here are some rules:
•The child can pick any bee that he/she wants to. The child has to complete the chore or activity before moving on to the next bee.
•I usually let my kids pick 6 bee’s a day. I usually include something fun, something educational, a chore, & a physical activity.

I hope you and your children enjoy these fun activities together.

Blame

Scenario: Ella passing gas loudly

Ella: Mom, that was you... but you just didn't feel it.
Me: Ha ha ha
Ella: Are you laughing because you just did something funny but you didn't feel it?

The Farm

Yesterday after school, we went to the Farm at Thanksgiving Point for $2 days.

Lily getting some corn to feed the animals.

I always feel guilty leaving Tyler at home to work without my help, especially since he ends up working so late every night, but these activities are such a nice break from the crying, whining, & messy messes that go on at home when we stay home all day... plus I think it helps the girls sleep better at night. Can you tell I still feel guilty about leaving Tyler with all the work?

Ella's Commercial Debut

Ella filmed this unscripted commercial (staring Lily) today. Be sure to look closely at the logo sticking up from Lily's head. You may have to watch it more than once to catch what Ella says... it probably isn't even very funny, but for some reason Tyler and I can't stop laughing at it.

Balloon Festival

Trevor & Dayna’s Wedding

Grandma, Trevor, Dayna, & Grandpa

Did someone spike the punch? The girls got pretty silly after drinking it.

Lily's 1st Haircut

Story Time

School Girl

Me: Ella, I just need to tell you a few rules about school.
Ella: But mom... I already know everything about school. Like, no jumping off all the furniture, no smoking, and I have to wave to people who wave at me.
Me: Not what I was going to tell you... but those are all good rules anyhow.

Ella's Back to School Joke

Ella: Mom, what if my last name was Mentree instead of Jones?
Me: What if?
Ella: Then my name would be Ella Mentree (Elementary). Ha ha ha!