My view of Ryder

Yup, this is what I usually see when the girls are working on their homework.  He'll say, "Mom, can I see your phone, PWEASE!!" and then he'll sign the word please as he's begging.  How can I say no?  Plus, it gives me some time to help the girls without tons of distractions.  He's usually watching the PBS kids app but once in awhile I hear crazy voices or some cartoon in Spanish and that's when my Iphone takes a break.

Then he'll move on to the marker bucket and make finger swords.  

But sometimes he'll actually sit still and pose for me, kind of.

 Worlds. Biggest. Stinker. 

 Sometimes he'll even sit in my lap and pose for a picture.

 Look at that hair and that face.  He's crazy, but I love that kid more than you know.  

Homework....

There's a good amount of it for Kindergarten but it's what we expected since Reese & Ryan are in the accelerated class.  The teacher told us that things would be moving at a faster pace but I'm amazed at what they are already working on.  They get a packet at the beginning of the week and have until Friday to complete.  They also have a calendar for the month and they have to do at least two activities each week.  We had fun with that in August-checking off the activities and turning in our journal.

Reese working away on her homework.

 Ryan being oh so studious.

And then they took a break to cheer for homework. Yay for phonograms!

 Okay, time to get serious again :)

Each night they are required to read a book to themselves, read a book to mom or dad, & then we each read a book to them.  That's 6 books a night and we don't rush it, so it's added about 30-45 extra minutes to our bedtime routine.  I have to say it's one of my favorite times of the day.  It is so incredible to see them sounding out words and putting it all together.  Their favorite books to read to us are the BOB books and Dr. Seuss books like, "Go, Dog, Go!"  They adore school and I'm so happy they think learning is so much fun.  It truly is a blessing.

Haircuts

We all got haircuts in July before school started but Reese & Ryan have been itchin' to get their hair cut again.  We usually only cut their hair a few times a year so I was trying to prolong another cut, but they were so insistent that it had to happen now.  Reese went first on Friday afternoon and told her to bring it up to her shoulders.

This is about halfway through the cut.  She finished the back and was moving towards the front.

Then it was time for the blowout.

Ryan was the photographer while Reese was in the chair so we got some pretty crazy angles.

Then Ryan got bored.  She was ready to go next.  Unfortunately, the stylist ran out of time and Ryan had to go back the next day.

Reese with the finished bob, looking oh so cute!

Then it was Ryan's turn on Saturday.  There was hair everywhere!

 I only snapped a few of Ryan because I was so busy chasing a two year old around the salon.  I was so relieved when Mimi came to pick him up so I could take a few photos of Ryan.  Here she is towards the end of her blowout.

And this is the finished product.  She looks SO adorable with her new 'do!

PS<> I still suffer from major hair envy when I see their gorgeous hair perfectly styled!

Decades Dance

Reese & Ryan had their first school dance.  Chaperoned by parents, of course.  It was a fundraiser for school and the girls were looking forward to it all week.  Everyone was supposed to dress up from a certain decade.  Reese chose 1950's with her tutu that resembled a poodle skirt.  Ryan opted for 1980's with bright neon shirt, denim skirt, and bright turquoise leggings.  Everyone looked so great dressed up.      We had a blast hangin' out with Reese, Ryan, and some of their new best friends.

 Best buddies from their Kindergarten class.

 Ryan had fun cuttin' a rug.

 Reese did too.

 They love the song, "Call Me Maybe".  When that song came on they rushed on the stage and started DANCIN' it up!

We are so happy at their school.  The teacher has been awesome so far, the staff is nice and helpful.  I really like the Principal.  Our school year is off to a great start.

Ryder-isms

Ryder is such a handful these days but he's constantly cracking us up with his Ryder-isms.  The other day he was crying about nothing significant and the girls asked why Ryder was a cry baby.  He heard them and yelled out, "I'm not a CRY BABY.  I'm a CRY BOY!!"  We were all on the floor rolling around.

Today I was working on my computer while Ryder was playing in the kitchen and he asked me for a peanut butter sandwich.  I checked a few more emails and he was tired of waiting, so he yelled out "I want a peanut butter sammich wiff jelly! Now! That's what I'm talkin' about!"

Oh. my. goodness!  What a little stinker.

 Please excuse the background disarray of drapes and lamps.  We just had the carpets cleaned and they are taking waaaay too long to dry because of the humidity.

 I'm ready for my sammich.

Want some?

The little things

I feel like the days are flying by but I really want to remember all the little things that have been happening around our house these days, including:

Ryder sleeping everywhere but his own bed each night.  With his sisters, with me & Cory, on the couch.  You name it, anywhere but in his comfy full size bed.

Reese talking like a teenager with her hands on her hips and telling vivid stories using, "like, like, like" way too much.

Ryan taking her sassiness to a whole new level.  She told me tonight that she ignores me when I ask her  to do stuff because she wants to play all the time and do no work.  Seriously?!  She also said that sometimes she just wants to be left alone.  She is such a mix of me and Cory and I have to work hard to make sure I learn how to deal with her so we don't constantly butt heads.

Ryder demanding that everyone in our family be served before we start eating.  He will scream if you even try to pick up your fork before everyone has their food.  It's great manners and we're not sure where he learned it because it's not usually a rule we follow, but I guess we do now.  Crazy kid.

Reese coming into her own being a leader.  Sometimes she can be timid and let other people lead the way but lately we've seen her use more of her voice to lead other people without being a total bossy pants.

Ryder throwing some category 5 tantrums.  Off the charts.  I forgot how crazy two year olds can be.

Both girls loving our 'Happy/Sad' chats at the end of the day, when they tell us their best & worst moments of the day.

Ryder telling me he's hungry after dinner.  Every. Single. Night.  It never fails that the kid wants oatmeal at 8:30pm after my kitchen is all cleaned up.

Ryan is always the first one up and comes straight to our room.  She lays in the bed and asks if she can watch Caillou or Billy The Exterminator.  Hilarious.

Ryder constantly asking, "Why? Why? Why?"  I'm so used to it and I'm constantly answering each Why? but I've had so many people tell me, "He sure does ask why a lot".  I maintain that curiosity is a wonderful trait.

Reese making cards for everyone in our family and getting SO excited to see our faces when we open the cards.  It's so sweet.