Bus Ride To School

Carl started his new job as Senior Software Engineer for American Express Serve on the 29th of September. It makes me really happy to hear him enjoying his job, it's a big relief for us all. Dad is an avid bus fan. He takes pride and pleasure in taking the bus and be a part of the community. Wake up time for everybody got pushed one hour earlier, at 6:00 a.m, when he started taking the girls to school by bus. They would walk along the trail behind our house to 58th Street and catch the bus there that will take them to school at around eight in the morning. He takes books with him so he could read books with the girls while waiting for the gate to open at 8:05. He then only have about ten minutes to take the girls in, put bags and lunch bags away and walk to the bus station to catch the bus that will take him to work. So far, the walks had been fun and enjoyable for all of them.

Carl normally shares some pictures and dialogues from girls like this ones:

The kids wanted to pull the cart for a while

 Our kids are probably the only ones at Sanderlin to see an eagle

on the way to school.

 Kids are a lot happier than earlier

 

Playing on the bus

I did enjoy my morning walk with them last week. It was a very pleasant day and the morning breeze reminded me of my many mornings in Bombon as a little girl. Here are some of the pictures from our walk.

Rianne and Mikelle about to get on the bus

 Dad's cart with the girls' bags, lunch boxes, his back pack, his lunch bag, their jackets and an umbrella. Dad is that cool!

 On our way home, Talia saw a number of animals. In the picture is a bird on the branch and a squirrel climbing the palm tree. It was fun and refreshing listening to birds chirping, other animals sounds and creaking sounds from trees as the wind blows on them.

 Talia walked for a little bit and had so much fun waving hi to people on bicycles.

We do feel very blessed for the many blessings we have been given. Everyday, we are amazed of the many wonderful things that surround and make up our lives - happy and healthy family, beautiful place to live, career to enjoy, loving branch to belong to, and just having each other. Oh how thankful we are to our Father in Heaven for such a full life.

Cutting The Littlest Rectangle

Look in her finger tip and you'll see the littlest rectangle Rianne has ever cut, as of yet. She was very proud of herself to be able to cut a rectangle as small as this one. It is indeed a big accomplishment for a girl who, a few weeks ago, had a really hard time holding the scissors correctly. She played with it for the longest time and was pretty unhappy when she lost it. Following my suggestion, she cut another one even smaller than this one and was proud saying that she found a solution to her problem.

Pre-Reading Activity

Rianne loves going to school. She talks about it a lot when I pick her up in the afternoon. I am glad to hear that she does take a nap after lunch because she and Mikelle said their goodbyes to nap time in our house a while ago.

She is learning many things like patterns, shapes, numbers, songs and many others. She like singing the leap frog song on alphabet sounds. She still does not know all of her alphabets but she does know some of the sounds that the letters make. Today, at dinner time, we played a pre-reading game. I wrote words on paper and they make the sound of each letter of the word and figure out the word that was on the paper. It was pretty silly when I wrote the word "C-A-T" and "S-I-T" and after making the soundS she blurted out "TURTLE" for both words. She did successfully read the word "BAG" and "BIG".

Eating Troubles

I have been concerned lately about Rianne's poor eating decisions. I try to give my family healthy and balanced food choices but she seemed to not have too much appetite lately. It is not very uncommon for her to come home with leftovers from her school lunch or leave her plate half untouched. I do hope it is just a phase or maybe a result of her feeling sick. She started coughing this morning and complained of not feeling good this past few days. I wish I know what to do to help her make better food and eating decisions. We love you Rianne and we pray that you will feel better soon.

First Book Written: Turtle Goes To A Party

 

 

Once upon a time, a turtle, butterfly and a monkey were looking for food but they couldn't find them. Butterfly investigated and found a yellow banana. The water was too hot they road a boat instead.

They went out for another adventure. Turtle saw some dots from afar and they looked closer and they saw that the dots were buttons.

 

The birdy was trying to look for a balloon but he could not find it. She had to fly faster and saw a rainbow.

The family were going to the party but it was too far to walk so they rode on a car instead.

Happy 4th Birthday Rianne!



Rianne's 4th birthday was the longest celebration ever, so far. First, they celebrated their birthday in May at Sonrise preschool with classmates and Mrs. Ryzeck. Then with our Filipino friends on July 4th and at Chuck-E-Cheese with her family on her actual birthday, July 7th.

Everybody enjoyed the chocolate cakes I bought from Publix that day. Rianne was pretty excited and proud of the attention she got on her day. She enjoyed wearing her birthday crown too!

 I spent many hours working on this photobook for her birthday. I was very disappointed when the first delivery got lost and we had to wait two more days for the replacement. She got this present two days after her birthday. Rianne enjoys reading stories about her and her family.

 

This was taken at St Petersburg downtown on July 4th. We headed to the park to watch the fireworks after celebrating her and Mikelle's birthday with our Filipino friends at Raquel's place. Many people came and we sang songs for them and they blew, as per their request, their cakes. Imee gave them their first ever Barbie doll. They loved their books and wings as well. Dad joined us later that night since he had to park the car somewhere after dropping us off two blocks away from the park. It was a wonderful experience and memories. All the girls had so much fun and was amazed by their first fireworks show. Rianne was pretty happy and patient that day. She did not complain even with a long distance walking to take the bus after the fireworks show.

Young Artist

Rianne loves to draw. She spends many time with her paper and crayons. I normally take crayons and paper during sacrament and that pretty much occupy most of her time, thus keeps her quiet and happy. She's made cards for people to thank them for babysitting her and her siblings and for her teacher at primary. She is very artistic and its a blessing to see her develop a love for arts at an early age.

 She draw this portrait of our family this afternoon. I liked how she capture all our smiles and hair. It is fun that according to her, I have the biggest head in the family and that we are a happy and close family, except for dad and his missing mouth.

This is her drawing of herself at school. She told me that she was out of the classroom because they were playing at the playground and the rest of her classmates are already inside and was still on her way in.

 I let Rianne and Mikelle paint on a canvas when I was decorating their bedroom and hanged them on their side of the room.

Welcome to VPK

First day of school, VPK! We all have been really excited for this. Rianne is wearing her new shirt together with new backpack and lunch bag. We left at around 8 but didn't anticipate that first day is always crazy. We ended up parking really far from the gate and walking enough distance that we just barely made it to the room with a few minutes to spare before the class started at 8:35, whew!

 Rianne, in pink shirt, and Mikelle on their first day of VPK at James B Sanderlin IB School.

Rianne all ready for school!

This is Rianne surviving her first week of school! She had a good time, all in all. No potty accidents, teacher's feedback were all good and the best thing is she loved it! Go Rianne!