catching up and overload of pictures

Recap of first week of school:

Maddie started TCA on Tuesday last week and loved it! She was so excited to meet her teacher, Mrs. K, and the other 14 children.

At home, we successfully completed our first full week of bookwork and fun. Maddie enjoys reading books off her list and then filling out the book report form. Looking back at the books we've read has been fun! She also is working hard on her other subjects. Ella is learning to read quite quickly. I did a readiness test with her just to test and see what letters/sounds she already knew. I was amazed at how much she already knows from the Leapfrog DVDs and from watching/listening to Maddie. So we're quickly working our way through the beginning of Phonics Pathways and little Bob books. I was curious to see how our days would go with 21 month old Charlotte. I've learned to just include her as I can and if we're working on "big kid" work, then I send her to play by herself, have blanket time, or sit in the playpen with a few toys.

pressing flowers for our identification in our art notebook

Favorites from the first week...
Maddie - learning to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on the piano with Mrs. Rokes.
Ella - Making a telescope, beading beads on a string and playing with Tad leapfrog.

Friday
Our church has a mentoring program for older and younger woman. This past Friday, I volunteered to babysit for the session. My friend Janee came over with her two little ones to help and with all the kids together we had one 5 yr old, one 4 yr old, three 3 year olds, one 2.5 year old, one 21 month old, and two 18 month olds. It was a crazy busy day but nice to have friends to play outside with!

snack time

Maddie and 18 month old Blaise

Labor Day weekend

Saturday was the first day of the Hot Air Balloon festival. It was a cloudy, foggy morning but we went over early in the morning to the park to see the balloons. They never actually launched because of the weather but the girls had a blast collecting souvenir cards and standing up close to the action.
On Labor Day, we went to the Colorado State Fair. It was a fun day full of animal shows, petting zoo, funnel cake, ice cream, splash fountain, and carousel rides.

on the shuttle bus to the fair

Shark Show

Wild about Monkeys show

The girls loved this dollhouse in the arts display building

Maddie and the "Olivia"quilt - her favorite

Mama and the big girls

Maddie was the only one brave enough to hug the sheep

Favorite for Charlotte - the petting zoo

Watching the sea lions

Sea Lion show

Enjoying the treat of the day - a funnel cake!

Painting on a community painting

Ella riding on the train

Maddie thrilled about riding the carousel

Charlotte rehydrating with power water