Reading His First Book

We've been working with Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read materials the last month.  Daniel has done great with the short and easy lessons.  He's also been doing great memorizing his sight words for preschool.  So far he can recognize: so, you, I, the, of, is, see, to.

After the first three lessons in the Hooked on Phonics material there is a short book to read.  He seemed quite motivated to try and read it once I told him he could pick whatever sweet he wanted if he actually read it.

I'm so proud of Daniel!

New and Local

I finally convinced Aaron that we needed a new mattress after I hogged the center of the bed for the last few weeks.  So we ended up with the exact same mattress we had since we loved it for over 8 years.  It was delivered this afternoon.  After inspecting it, I told Daniel we would look at the tag and see when it was made.  2/20/2013 on State Street in Cleveland, OH.  That was yesterday, AWESOME!!!

I love Midwest manufacturing!

Christmas Morning

 Christmas tree splendor on Christmas Eve

 Christmas morning

 Quite pleased that Santa HAD come after all.

 Reading the Christmas story together before opening gifts

Ecstatic that Santa brought the excavator that he wanted.

 Santa thought Ellen would like some balls to throw since she has such a great arm already.

 A coffee maker for Aaron's desk from the kids and Mommy.

  Ellen opening the crib I had when I was a little girl (made by Poppy).

Playing with new toys and a trace of stocking chocolate on her mouth.  Life is good.

Christmas in Whitehouse

First order of business for Daniel-get out Poppy's train! He had been waiting since last Christmas to get it out again. 

Children's Wonderland

The kids loved this indoor train. Even Poppy had to take a ride with them.

Daniel remembered this telescope and was looking for it again this year. 

Opening presents like a pro this year.

He loves his puzzles.

 

Delicious dinner together.

Bedtime stories from Uncle Chris and Aunt Jess.

Little Miss CowGal

She LOVES her boots.  We love how cute she is. 

Fall Photos

Halloween 2012

Daniel wanted to be a fireman for Halloween this year.  He announced this decision in August, but I failed to get a costume put together until the day we went trick-or-treating.  However, there are some great ideas on the internet and I headed to the store to pick up some supplies.  After about two hours of work I was able to give him a pretty cool fireman coat.  I paired it with a helmet, rain boots, and black sweatpants to finish it off.  He loved it. 

 

Ellen had several costume choices but kept selecting Cinderella.  So, smiling all the way, Ellen dressed up as Cinderella.

We went trick-or-treating in a new home development about 1.5 miles from our home.  Our friends the Vizzos invited us to come to their neighborhood.  Their daughter Addison and her neighbor Brandon are the same age as Daniel.  Everyone had a great time.  Ellen really figured out what to do after the first home and wanted to go up to each home and get her candy too.  We all had a great time with the kids.