Archive for August, 2013

Donovan’s Summer

Saturday, August 10th, 2013

And now to catch up Donovan!

5/26

Math Concepts:  He can count to the twenties on his own, although he usually still starts at three.  Sometimes he does one and two though.  You have to tell him twenty, and thirty, and so on, but he can continue the pattern.  He even did the forties once for me!  And one time I handed him three crackers, and then put three in his other hand for his sister.  He said, “I need four” and put an extra into his first hand.  I was impressed that he could do that!  He really just glanced down, saw that there were three, and added one to get four.  Daddy counting him to sleep has really stuck with him. =)

June Pics and Stories:

I turned the secret room into a jungle with a green light bulb and the decorations from Donovan's birthday.  That, plus all the animal related toys have led to lots of fun!!!

I turned the secret room into a jungle with a green light bulb and the decorations from Donovan’s birthday. That, plus all the animal related toys have led to lots of fun!!!

Sleepy boy =)  I love that he sometimes randomly sleeps on me.  So sweet and snuggly.

Sleepy boy =) I love that he sometimes randomly sleeps on me. So sweet and snuggly.

I turned one of the raised beds into a mud box.  A few dollars worth of new dirt, two very happy and dirty kids!!!

I turned one of the raised beds into a mud box. A few dollars worth of new dirt, two very happy and dirty kids!!!

The Zandbergens surprised us with a birthday party for Donovan =)  His first pinata!!!

The Zandbergens surprised us with a birthday party for Donovan =) His first pinata!!!

We made a cave for his t-rex.  He loves his dinosaurs, but t-rex is his favorite.  He often says, "I t-rex!"

We made a cave for his t-rex. He loves his dinosaurs, but t-rex is his favorite. He often says, “I t-rex!”

Our first trip to Chuckie Cheese.  He loved driving with Casey and riding the horse.  Serenity loved lots of the games, especially feeding the dog.

Our first trip to Chuckie Cheese. He loved driving with Casey and riding the horse. Serenity loved lots of the games, especially feeding the dog.

Playing trains is his favorite Daddy game.  He matches the colors and very carefully places the train on the rectangle that matches.  Later, Farfar came up with a game where he rolled dice and put that many trains on.  So great!

Playing trains is his favorite Daddy game. He matches the colors and very carefully places the train on the rectangle that matches. Later, Farfar came up with a game where he rolled dice and put that many trains on. So great!

Boy loves fire trucks =)

Boy loves fire trucks =)

Donovan got to ride on a steam train!  Woo woo!

Donovan got to ride on a steam train! Woo woo!

6/18/13

Donovan has turned into a parrot =)  It’s so cute!  He repeats whole sentences and phrases that he likes.  He speaks very clearly and well!  And he loves doing silly things to make you laugh.  He still loves playing pretend, especially cowboys and pirates.  While we were in Cali, Annie asked him what a pirate says, and he said “ARRRGH!”  Then she asked what a baby pirate said and he immediately responded with a tiny falsetto “arrrgh.”  It was hilarious, especially since he came up with the answer so fast!

 

6/24

Donovan loves to sing!  His repertoire is really impressive =)  He doesn’t get all the words but you can easily tell what he’s singing.  He sang Singing in the Rain the other day, one of Daddy’s favorites!  He sings the abc song, although he doesn’t say all the letters.  He also sings lots of Backyardigans songs, especially “What Can You Do With A Scurvy Pirate.”  (Make them walk the plank. =)  He also sings Happy Birthday, to everyone =)

 

He does this funny thing where he holds your face in his hands and wiggles it a little saying “Honey Honey, Honey Honey.”  I have no idea where this came from but I’m sure it continues because it makes me giggle. =)

Donovan loves his catapult that he got from Henry!!!  Actually, I love it too =)

Donovan loves his catapult that he got from Henry!!! Actually, I love it too =)

Donovan does puzzles!  He mostly skipped the wooden ones, but he loves these with pieces!  Ann and John got him wooden dinosaur 12 piece puzzles for his birthday, and I think he'd done them every day since then.

Donovan does puzzles! He mostly skipped the wooden ones, but he loves these with pieces! Ann and John got him wooden dinosaur 12 piece puzzles for his birthday, and I think he’d done them every day since then.

Click!  Take a pic!

Click! Take a pic!

He was so enthusiastic when Grandma and Papa came over to celebrate his birthday before our cali trip =)

He was so enthusiastic when Grandma and Papa came over to celebrate his birthday before our cali trip =)

Mmmm icing =)

Mmmm icing =)

Eric has taught them both the green lantern cheer.  It's sooo cute when Donovan lifts his fist and says "Geen yantern's yight!"!!!  (Green lantern's light =)

Eric has taught them both the green lantern cheer. It’s sooo cute when Donovan lifts his fist and says “Geen yantern’s yight!”!!! (Green lantern’s light =)

This little crossed arm move Donovan's doing here is so typical right now =)  It's his stubborn look =)

This little crossed arm move Donovan’s doing here is so typical right now =) It’s his stubborn look =)

Arrrr!  Pirates!  I still love Donovan's pirate joke!  What does a baby pirate say?  (Falsetto) Arrr!"  =)

Arrrr! Pirates! I still love Donovan’s pirate joke! What does a baby pirate say? (Falsetto) Arrr!” =)

 

7/27

Donovan is doing so many new things!  He sings nearly the entire alphabet, although lmnop get all smushed together.  He suddenly adores the little computer (ipad), especially puzzle games like tozzle.  He’s playing monkey lunchbox right now, and can actually do it all by himself.  He has to put together small puzzles, make eight matches in memory, find fruit that start with a particular letter, and several other little games.  His motor skills have improved over the last month to the point that he can do it all himself.  At first I would have to hold his hand so only one finger touched so he could really select things and drag them.  He’s also done the alpha pig game and picked the letter correctly every time.
His favorite activity right now is playing puzzles.  He got a set of four 12 piece dinosaur wooden puzzles for his birthday from Ann and John, and I think he’s put them together at least once every day since then.  He turns the piece and seems to be able to tell if they go together or not.  I sometimes help him by saying, that’s the dinosaur’s teeth, can you find more teeth?  And things like that.  He often asks me or Serenity to play puzzle with him, and we sit happily at the little white table playing together.  I love puzzles and I’m so excited he’s reached this stage!

 

He still pretends to be a pirate a lot.  It’s too funny.  I ordered a bookshelf from target and the box was lying down in the living room, and he started jumping off it saying he was walking the plank!  He jumps a lot these days, it’s his favorite gymnastics move at the moment.  He also pretends to be a bear.  I turned the secret room into a jungle using the leftover decorations from his birthday party and some green light bulbs.  All the animal masks are in there and most of the animal related toys.  He goes in there a lot with his jaguar, and Serenity takes her snow leopards.  They have worn the felt masks a lot!  Donovan likes the polar bear, and Serenity usually picks one of the birds or the jaguar.  I’m so glad they like them. =)

 

We have started swimming lessons this week.  I stressed over it for a month as Donovan recently became very resistant to bath time.  But he loved it!  The very first day he didn’t want to get out of the water when class was over!  He blew bubbles, and by the second day was doing that even when the teacher didn’t tell him to.  The only thing he doesn’t care for is floating on his back.  He’s my swimming buddy =)  He loves playing humpty dumpty, where he climbs up the wall and sits, and then I pull him in the water.  And we sing all around the mulberry bush and swish him around and then I pop him up out of the water.  And it wears him out to the point that he actually napped two days this week!  Crazy cool.

 

I tried to explain to Donovan that there was a baby in my tummy, mostly to stop him from jumping on my stomach.  He said, “Oh no, my baby!” And tried to look down my shirt to find her.  Then he got out his noisy dinosaur and pointed it at my stomach, making it roar.  I can only imagine that he was trying to scare the baby out.  He also tried playing flutes for my tummy.  It’s hard to explain the baby will be in there for a lot longer!

July Pics:

I love love love this face!!!  He makes it all the time, especially when he's pretending to be sad. =)

I love love love this face!!! He makes it all the time, especially when he’s pretending to be sad. =)

Donovan can play the little computer now! He LOVES it, especially the barnyard app, trucks, fish school, and monkey lunchbox.  At first I'd have to hold his hand so he just used one finger, but now he's zooming around on his own.

Donovan can play the little computer now! He LOVES it, especially the barnyard app, trucks, fish school, and monkey lunchbox. At first I’d have to hold his hand so he just used one finger, but now he’s zooming around on his own.

Super boy!!!  Or sometimes super bunny =)

Super boy!!! Or sometimes super bunny =)

Eric taught the kids to joust... yeah, it was as much fun as it sounds ;)

Eric taught the kids to joust… yeah, it was as much fun as it sounds 😉

Fourth of July at the Creek

Saturday, August 10th, 2013

We spent the fourth of July up at Mom’s cabins again.  Since they are on the market this might be our last year there!  It was incredible weather, in the mid-eighties, so we enjoyed every minute.  Getting to see the fireworks up close was amazing, and I just love that we can walk right home afterwards.  They were too loud for Donovan, so he and Daddy hung out at the house, but Serenity adored them.  We discussed our favorites, and we especially liked the ones that looked like a fountain of fairies.  =)  And there was one that was all lights and almost no noise that went off like a fan, back and forth.  Big balls of light, super cool.

The donut dangle is my favorite of the kids games =)  It always leads to such fun pictures!

The donut dangle is my favorite of the kids games =) It always leads to such fun pictures!

Barrett bobbed for apples!

Barrett bobbed for apples!

Green and navy stripes are in.  If these girls are wearing it, you can be sure =)

Green and navy stripes are in. If these girls are wearing it, you can be sure =)

Wrestling on the couch =)  And we wonder why Donovan is so violent with his boy cousins. =)

Wrestling on the couch =) And we wonder why Donovan is so violent with his boy cousins. =)

 

 

Donovan gives Grandma high fives!  He still calls her "Nama =)

Donovan gives Grandma high fives! He still calls her “Nama =)

Love Casey =)

Love Casey =)

Serenity and Raegan in the fire truck!

Serenity and Raegan in the fire truck!

iphone 6-17 082

DZ is in heaven =)

DZ is in heaven =)

iphone 6-17 096

Playing trains with Carson

Playing trains with Carson

Sack races and three legged races in the evening.  Kiley came!

Sack races and three legged races in the evening. Kiley came!

 

 

Serenity’s Summer

Saturday, August 10th, 2013

I didn’t realize how long it’s been since I posted Serenity’s journal!  With all the summer events, end of school activities, birthday parties and yearly updates I let everything else slide!  So, here are all the stories I didn’t publish yet with a few pictures.  May, June and July without the parties =)

May Photos and Stories:

I put the easel up in the garage, and the kids had a blast painting.  We glued cupcake wrappers on and they turned them into flowers =)

I put the easel up in the garage, and the kids had a blast painting. We glued cupcake wrappers on and they turned them into flowers =)

Serenity helped me paint the map for DZ's party.

Serenity helped me paint the map for DZ’s party.

Sleepover in Donovan's room.  They did so well together we moved them into a shared room!

Sleepover in Donovan’s room. They did so well together we moved them into a shared room!

Serenity really surprised us at parent's day at gymnastics.  I had no idea she could walk in a bridge!  And she moved fast!  She really seems talented at gymastics!

Serenity really surprised us at parent’s day at gymnastics. I had no idea she could walk in a bridge! And she moved fast! She really seems talented at gymastics!

She can do headstands!  And handstands!  Incredible! She just popped on up there.

She can do headstands! And handstands! Incredible! She just popped on up there.

Serenity and Donovan made robots out of legos.  I loved that they decided on that activity together and spent a long time playing!

Serenity and Donovan made robots out of legos. I loved that they decided on that activity together and spent a long time playing!

My sweet little fairy still loves dress up =)  And outfits that she can pretend to fly in are her favorites.

My sweet little fairy still loves dress up =) And outfits that she can pretend to fly in are her favorites.

Serenity picked flowers off my clematis and used them to decorate the maple tree.  I think she was a garden fairy =)  It was really pretty!

Serenity picked flowers off my clematis and used them to decorate the maple tree. I think she was a garden fairy =) It was really pretty!

We made a greenhouse in the window because she really wanted to grow a maple tree.  It did really well in the window, not so well when we transplanted it. =)

We made a greenhouse in the window because she really wanted to grow a maple tree. It did really well in the window, not so well when we transplanted it. =)

6/19

Serenity surprised me today.  We’d had a tough night so I completely crashed for nearly an hour.  When I woke up, I discovered she’d gotten herself and Donovan a snack of apples and a glass of milk with a straw!  That involves so many steps I had no idea she could do, and it was so thoughtful and sweet of her to take care of her brother and let me sleep!  She had to have climbed on the counter to reach the cups and straws but she managed it, and poured milk, and put it away with no mishaps!  At least none that she left for me to find, which is just as good.  It reminded me of the fact that they won’t always need me to fix their food and get every snack.  She’s growing up!  But she still loves snuggling with Mama so it’s not too fast yet =)

 

6/27

Knock Knock Jokes.  Serenity has discovered the knock knock joke!  She’s memorized two, Boo Hoo and the Orange/Banana one.  She tries to make up her own sometimes too.  Her favorite is: Knock knock?  Who’s There?  Squeak.  Squeak who?  Squeakers!  Donovan listens in on her joke telling sessions, and so here’s his own knock knock joke:  Knock knock.  Who’s there?  Knock knock.  Who’s there?  Knock Knock.  Who’s there… (repeat until you tickle him into submission.)    She made up a good joke today.  She was gorging on tomatoes from Grandma’s garden.  Then she paused and said, my tummy hurts.  I have a tomato-ache!”  =)

 

Serenity and Donovan are currently sharing a room.  Serenity loves the company and Donovan goes to sleep sometimes without help from Mama and Daddy if he has sister.  They both love it.  It backfires occasionally when Serenity calls for something after Donovan has settled down, but for the most part it’s working really well.  We might let them share Serenity’s room when we want to move back upstairs with the new baby.  Serenity has already told me that we need to add Donovan’s name to the wall.

 

I love listening to Serenity tell stories.  She uses such great words, like dazzling and mysterious.  And interesting action words, like I created instead of just I made.  She described one of the class projects as a “kingly scepter.”

June Photos and Stories:

Serenity made a pirate hideout!  I had just trimmed the crape myrtle and maple trees, and she piled all the branches up just like the Neverland Pirates.  =)

Serenity made a pirate hideout! I had just trimmed the crape myrtle and maple trees, and she piled all the branches up just like the Neverland Pirates. =)

Pirates are more DZ's thing, but Serenity is happy to join in the fun =)

Pirates are more DZ’s thing, but Serenity is happy to join in the fun =)

Serenity and her friend Henry hanging out at Donovan's birthday.  I love watching them have so much fun together!  They formed some kind of club, I wish I could remember what they called it.  Something that fit in with the animal rescuing theme.

Serenity and her friend Henry hanging out at Donovan’s birthday. I love watching them have so much fun together! They formed some kind of club, I wish I could remember what they called it. Something that fit in with the animal rescuing theme.

A little fun with her brother =)

A little fun with her brother =)

7/21
Serenity’s favorite adjectives:  Thrilling, Exquisite, Elegant, Lovely.  When she’s excited about something these days, it’s almost always thrilling.  I love it, especially her enthusiasm every time she uses her fancy words.  =)

July Photos and Stories:

 

On our way to berry picking with the cousins!  Serenity is always especially excited to see Raegan =)

On our way to berry picking with the cousins! Serenity is always especially excited to see Raegan =)

Casey is SO patient with the little cousins. =)  Donovan followed him all over the farm.

Casey is SO patient with the little cousins. =) Donovan followed him all over the farm.

Pillow racers, monkey and peacock =)

Pillow racers, monkey and peacock =)

SO cute in Carson and Raegan's clothes =)

SO cute in Carson and Raegan’s clothes =)

Vanaema and FarFar came for a visit!  John came up with a great adventure for them using legos and dice, a sort of DND intro. =)  They loved it!  Serenity still hides treasures in that box.

Vanaema and FarFar came for a visit! John came up with a great adventure for them using legos and dice, a sort of DND intro. =) They loved it! Serenity still hides treasures in that box.

Mermaid Island board game!  It's cooperative, so fun.

Mermaid Island board game! It’s cooperative, so fun.

Serenity did her first real legos this month!  She can really do it!  She follows the directions very well, and only occasionally needs help clicking them down tight.  She loved this set Aunt Jen got her, and then I couldn't resist giving her another. =)  She and Donovan both played with the finished products.

Serenity did her first real legos this month! She can really do it! She follows the directions very well, and only occasionally needs help clicking them down tight. She loved this set Aunt Jen got her, and then I couldn’t resist giving her another. =) She and Donovan both played with the finished products.

Our five year old in the adorable outfit from Allie and Jessie!

Our five year old in the adorable outfit from Allie and Jessie!

Very graceful =)

Very graceful =)

 

 

She's thrilled with her birthday breakfast =)

She’s thrilled with her birthday breakfast =)

Loves her Daddy =)

Loves her Daddy =)