Slip slidin'

It may not look like it in all the pictures but Jackson really was having fun! SO nice on hot days!

Dance recital

Eliza took her first dance class in May. She loved it! She was so excited for her recital to show off her dance. They danced to "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid. SO cute! She took it very seriously, too. She was such a good student.

Here are some pictures from her practice before they went on stage.

Her recital was this past Tuesday which was also Matt's birthday! She was so excited that he got to see her dance on his birthday.

A month of stickers

We have been wanting to get something for our backyard to make the summer more fun for the kids when we're outside. We have a fun park in our neighborhood but I'm not always in the mood to chase the wild animal (Jackson) around and keep him from diving off the side of the playground. When we asked Eliza what she wanted back there she said a trampoline. So we started another chart for her but since this was a bigger "prize" than a pair of binoculars (that's what she asked for last time) we changed the rules a little bit. She worked to earn five stickers every day. She earned a sticker for -

Being nice to Jackson

Obeying mom and dad

Doing one chore

Eating her food

Letting me comb and do something with her hair (a constant battle...)

She did AWESOME! If she was fighting with Jackson usually all she needed was a reminder about the trampoline and she stopped. I'm glad that we have found this method of incentive that works for her. Okay, it's bribery.

The day the trampoline was delivered we hid it and then set it up after the kids were in bed. In the morning we told Eliza we had a surprise for her but didn't tell her what it was. I'm surprised she didn't guess but she had no idea what it was. I guess she didn't realize she was done with her chart. We blindfolded her and took her outside first thing in the morning. She was SO happy!!!

It has be a lot fun so far and it's great for me too because it wears the kids out for bedtime! Oh, and speaking of sleep, thank the nap gods! Jackson has started napping again! Not as long as he used to but I'll take it!

Here is Eliza's chart!

Preschool program

I can't believe Eliza is done with preschool! Well, for this year. Because her birthday is in November she'll actually get two years of preschool. All her friends from primary will go into kindergarten this fall but her. She's a little sad about it but I'm not sure I'm ready for her be old enough to go to kindergarten yet! I'm sure she'll love being the oldest in the class next year.

Preschool has been the best experience for her. She has a wonderful teacher and has learned and grown up so much. Reading has been the biggest thing for her. She can now read about 20 sight words and is able to sound out many more. I am always finding her with a book somewhere picking out the words she knows.

Last Thursday she had her end of year program. Singing songs was one of her favorite things to do in preschool so she was VERY excited to show off all the songs she has learned. The weather was not ideal because of the wind but it was still a great program! I was so proud of her. I talked to her beforehand and told her to make sure and sing nice and loud so everyone can hear. She really took my words to heart! She sang her heart out up there and knew all her parts so well.

She was looking forward to her program SO much. For the last 6 weeks that is all she has talked about. Everyday she would ask me, "Mom, are you so excited for my program? Do you wish it was today?" After her official program, she came home and had me record her singing about 5 more songs that they didn't perform. I love that girl so much and I am so proud of how well she has done in school this year.

You Are My Sunshine

Mr. Golden Sun

Green Grass

Triceratops

My Mommy is a Baker

This is my Garden