Phonics Game: B or H

For the last couple of weeks, I have been verbally working on phonics with Arin. I'd give her two words and ask her which one started with a certain letter. For example: I'd say, "Which word starts with the letter B: boat or car?" We'd do this with whatever words I could think of for the particular letter. Mostly, we worked on the letters B, D, H, K, L, M, Q, R, S, & T but sometimes I'd throw in a different letter.

This past week, we changed the game up. I'd give her a word and ask her what letter it started with. "What letter does the word boat start with?"

She's done really, really well with both variations of this game. So today, I thought we'd take it from being a verbal game and make it into a visual game. I looked through magazines and found ten pictures. Five of the pictures started with the letter B (boat, bed, bowl, boot, belt) and five started with the letter H (heart, hat, house, horse, hamburger). Then, I wrote the letter B at the top of one paper and the letter H at the top of a second paper. I turned all of the pictures facedown. Arin would take one of the pictures and look at it. Then we'd say what it was (ex: house) and she would tell me if it started with a B or an H. This game seemed a little more confusing to her than when we do it verbally. She did pick the right answer about 75% of the time, but that was usually only after I repeated the word several times and got her to really pay attention to me. So we will play this game again and eventually add more letters and more pictures.

Jeff & Charli's Party

Today we went to a party at Andy's cousins' house. We saw lots of family and friends. The weather was beautiful. You have to love 80 degree weather in December! Arin had so much fun playing with her cousins and her friends. I am sure she will be talking about the party for several days!

Eight Weeks Old

Ella Jane turned eight weeks old this week. She's been sick with an upper respiratory infection for the past week. It is tough to see my baby sick. Arin didn't get sick the first time until she was 16 months old, so this is a new thing having a baby sick so soon. I took Ella to the doctor on Monday and she weighed 13 pounds and was 23" long! She's the size of the four month old babies in our playgroup!! Despite her being sick, she is still being such a great, content baby. Even the doctor commented on what a great baby she is. She is smiling more and more everyday.

Fun at Uncle Mike & Aunt Nikki's House

We went to visit Uncle Mike and Aunt Nikki (it was the first time that Ella met them!). Arin had so much fun. Aunt Nikki colored with Arin, played games on the computer with her and let her jump on the trampoline!

The Park

On Thursday, we went to the park with Grandma, Papa, Aunt Candace, Zachary, Cameron, Matthew & Brandon. We were going to have a picnic in the park, but the weather was gloomy in the morning, so they came over and ate at our house. When we finished lunch, it was beautiful outside, so we headed to the park for a couple of hours. It was such a nice, peaceful day. It is always so nice to spend time together with family.

Arin & the Boys

Arin loves her cousins!

Playgroup in the Park

Candace and I have been going for walks in the park several days this week. After we walked today, we met up with Arin's playgroup. It's been about two months since we have gone to any playdates, so Arin was very happy to see her friends.

Seven Weeks Old

Little Ballerina

A few days ago, I found my ballerina recital outfit. I think I was three when I wore this. I put it in Arin's dress-up box and today Arin wanted to try it on.