Spotlights

Miles
Miles is slowly but surely turning into a reader. The charts we make him for his BOB book progress are really starting to motivate him, and I can't tell you how thrilling it is to listen to him read a book for the first time, and have hardly any mistakes.
I've been trying to check out some "drawing how-to" books at the library and although they are a bit above his level, he's working really hard at it. His wall, as in, his entire wall, is covered with his artwork. Not to mention the space on the ceiling directly above his bed. I completely love it. Although I am starting to consider making a special spot in his room with a cork board, just for hanging a few select pictures. :)
He is a pro bunny wrangler now. We can send him outside at bedtime, and he can catch all the big bunnies and put them in their cages, all by himself. No small feat, trust me.
He is our little entrepreneur. He got the idea somewhere to roll in garbage cans after they have been emptied on trash day. He has 4 customers so far, and is hoping to get the rest of the neighbors who weren't home when we went "selling". For the low, low price of 25 cents, you too can have your garbage can rolled up your driveway by the cutest 6.5 year old I know. :)
We signed him up for a free clogging class for a week in August. He's really excited about it. (me too) He asked if he has to wear a sparkly green vest and green pants and a top hat when he goes. (Like the Irish dancers we've seen on the computer right around St. Patrick's day. :)
We recently whipped out some dated Leapsters that a friend gave us 2 years ago. They can earn Leapster time or computer time, if they stay in their rooms during quiet time. He works really hard for that tech time. It's super obvious it's something we're going to have to monitor always. Screens tend to turn him into a really emotional kid, and make him hard to handle. Maybe we can harness that love of screens though. The other day while reading "The Friend", there was an article on a graphic designer. He said that's what he wants to be when he grows up. To be fair, he wants to be EVERYTHING when he grows up, but I think he's actually make a great graphic designer.


Gwen
Gwen is the mini mama. She just loves on Lindy all day, even after Lindy pushes, pinches, and screams at her. She is super patient with her little sister.
She loves the baby bunnies, and carries them around, talking to them all day.
She continues to remember everything anyone says. Usually after church, I ask the kids what their lessons were about. Miles will give me the basics. Gwen will tell me word for word. :) I missed sharing time today because I had to help out in nursery. Don't worry, Gwen filled me in on the entire thing. Including who got called up to help, their names, what they were wearing, and if they had a haircut that week. No joke.
She doesn't crave alone time like Miles does. She loves to be around people. She's extremely friendly to everyone she meets. But I'm a bit puzzled that when we get into a big crowd, she tends to play by herself, happily. She doesn't have a real connection with any one friend. Her little joy school group is mostly boys and I still focus on getting play dates set up for Miles more, so she mostly plays with boys. I really need to work on getting her more girl friends.
She is capable of so much, but she really lets whining get in her way. If she tries something once, like getting her seat belt buckled, and it doesn't work on the first try, she's immediately in tears. If I ask her to come out and help me pick peas, she immediately whines about how hot it is and gives up. Any type of chore, you really have to stay right on top of her, otherwise she'll get distracted or throw fits. :) Gotta love this age. Don't get me wrong, she wants to be obedient and succeeds most of the time, but I think it's going to be a skill we continually work on. :)


Lindy
Lindy is a proficient walker now. Hooray!
She's getting a bunch more teeth in right now, including molars, but is handling it like a champ this time around.
She is still such a handful, as most 15 monthers are, but I think I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. She will sit up to the kid's table during school time and flip through a book. She will sit on my lap while I read to the kids, for more than 2 minutes now. Progress is being made people.
She's more communicative, mostly signing and head shaking, but at this point, anything helps.
She's become way more picky with food, which I don't understand. One day, she can't get enough grapes. Next week, she immediately throws them all on the floor. ?
Usually a kind woman from the ward watches Lindy for me while I'm in primary (1st counselor), since she's not old enough to be in nursery yet. On the days I don't conduct or teach, I try to keep her with my in primary so I don't burn out my sweet friends. However today she was a wreck, and they needed help in nursery, so it worked out. It was bizarre to watch her participate. She is my baby, when did she get so old?? We still have 3 months, but still, time is going way too fast.
She can officially wear pig tails! Love that milestone. :)
She beats up kids all the time. She's super aggressive and will pinch and scratch if you do something she doesn't like. Last week at story time, she made 2 tiny babies cry. I was so embarrassed. On the up side, she's getting lots better at signing "sorry" and giving hugs and kisses to make it better.



So my aunt Peachy and Uncle Roland brought back this cute little dress from Germany for my oldest sister years ago. I snagged it from my mom and made Gwen squeeze into it when she was about 2. Well, about 2 years ago, I found another old dress in a used book store. Remember that? I couldn't wait till I could take pictures of both my girls in their little German outfits together. Granted, the baby dress is too small for Lindy and the other is too big on Gwen, but there was only a small window to catch these pictures, so I took it. Miles wasn't a fan of being matchy-matchy, but he relented just to please his mama. :)