Evelyn's First Drop Off Playdate

Evelyn was invited over to play with her preschool pal, Katie.  It was her first drop off playdate.  She had so much fun! What a big girl! 

Video Messages From Santa

Santa sent Evelyn and Sylvia personalized video messages.  Evelyn was so nervous watching hers, she almost cried.  She was so happy to be on the "good" list.  Here are both personalized videos.  Super cute. 

http://www.portablenorthpole.com/watch/mRFnTkohR7ZXwGgQYgI783Q

http://www.portablenorthpole.com/watch/mpNE-rlOBN_6Y7bnGJwydSg

Hilarious

Every night before bed, Sylvia calls for me in the video monitor.  This is the exchange:

Mommy
Yes Sylvia
I have to tell you something
What is it honey
It's a secret Mommy, don't tell
When I'm an adult, can I borrow something from you
Sure, what is it
[here she replies one of the following] You necklace, curling iron, earrings, shoes, purses, dresses
[I reply] of course, honey, good night

She then says
Mommy on the monitor
Yes Sylvia,  it's time to go to bed
When can we go to the beach
This summer, honey
I want to go to the beach, Mommy
[I reply] OK, we'll go to the beach [Now, I really want to go to the beach!]
WHY ARE WE GOING TO ASPEN IN MARCH? 

I'm thinking beach Vac-ay in Feb! 

Thanksgiving!

Grandpa drove his truck (not motorcycle) from Indiana to visit us for Thankgiving.  He arrive late Thanksgiving eve, but woke early to go get Krispie Kreme.  It's pretty much his "thing."  Two dozen of them.  I let the girls have a donut for about 3 days and then they've gotta go.  Grandpa thinks it's hilarious watching them get "climb the walls with sugar."  We had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner after spending most of it outside! 

Hard to Keep Up!

I've lost my enthusiasm for blogging.  We're just having too much fun, well, and I'm a little busy! 

--in happenings the last few weeks ... we've been to a birthday party (no pics taken), celebrated thanksgiving with grandpa (maybe 1 photo!), saw an IMAX of monarch butterflies, had playdates, and just last weekend had a big old party (12 adults and 5 kids).  I likley have a few pictures to upload, but not many. 

Here are some pictures their preschool teacher has taken. She keeps a snapfish link, so these are from the beginning.  Super cute.

http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=5583859017/a=8289532_6730092/invalidateAlbumCache=true/

Other happenings...David is in Latvia, Grammommy is coming this weekend (and again with Gramps at Christmas!), and we have a huge weekend ahead of holiday fun to include Santa workshop at school; visiting Santa, riding a train and going ice skating; going to the nutcracker; and hitting a birthday party!  This month will be a bit of a blur.

Oh yeah, and the girls got an email video from Santa.  HUGE HIT! 

December Newsletter from School (minus pictures)

Dear Threes Parents,

Although our wonderful Thanksgiving holiday memories are still quite vivid in our minds, it is time for our class to begin moving into the magical Christmas time. The classroom has been transformed to a Christmas wonderland with toys, a Christmas tree for the children to decorate, and lots of holiday activities.  Please look at the calendar closely and check your emails for notices of upcoming holiday activities. Most importantly mark your calendars for Friday, December 14^th at 11 am when the children will present their Christmas concert in the sanctuary of St. Aidan’s.  The children will have been working hard on their songs and a child does notice if a parent or someone special to them isn’t in the audience. We will again be sitting in the middle section just like at Halloween. We will dismiss for Christmas break right after the concert.

Prior to the concert, our class will be attending a Nativity Play presented by the Kindergarten Class. Precious and a true reminder of what the holiday season is truly about. We will also have our Christmas party that day. Thanks to the Romley and Talay families for providing a special snack for that day.

Your children were very busy during the month of November and truly are bonding as a class. They are interacting amongst themselves and their imaginations are truly in full gear especially in the housekeeping area and with the little people, puppets, dinosaurs and they love to do art projects as a group around the table at the same time. That is what is all about! 

I enjoyed visiting with each of you during our conference time. Thank you for giving me a bit of your time to share my insight into your child. This is a terrific group of children. Thanks to all who signed up to provide a Letter Snack. The monthly calendar will indicate the name of the family and what day I would appreciate the snack. It would be great if you would consider thinking about the letter and trying to come up with a healthy snack but truly anything with beginning with the letter will be loved by the children. This could be a fun project with your child. They so delight in sharing what snack they have brought in for the class. I will try to send a reminder email to you.

Even though December is a short month we will be busy with Christmas projects and emphasizing the Core Knowledge goals that are attached.  Our letters for this month will be “I” and “J” and the color will be primarily green and of course, some red. 

Music will be a big part of our daily schedule as we learn the Christmas songs and will sneak in some of our curriculum by way of rhythm, a form of counting. If you would like a copy of the Christmas songs so your child can practice at home, please let me know and I will gladly email them to you.  We will continue to work on the concept of before and after, in front and behind, past and present, and work on recognizing the first letter of our name.

Hopefully you and your family will be able to attend the Santa’s Breakfast on the morning of Saturday, December 8^th  that the Parent’s Committee sponsors.  Invitations were sent home a few weeks ago but check your emails for other details especially in ways that you might help.  Hope to see many of you there that morning.

On Sunday, December 16^th St. Aidan’s Church will host their annual Christmas Carol Sing Along at 3:00 pm.  All Day School families are invited for this special event. Also please consider buying your Christmas tree from St. Aidan’s since a portion of your purchase will go to the Day School.

We return to school on Wednesday, January 2nd.  We will be attending the Tiny Tots concert hosted by the West Potomac Orchestra on Friday, January 4^th at 10:30 am leaving the Day School around 10:00 am. It is a fun outing for the children to learn more about music and instruments with familiar songs and an instrument “petting zoo”. As many parents who would like to accompany us are welcome but unfortunately we are unable to accommodate siblings on our field trips. Thank you to those parents that expressed an interest in driving and I will be in touch with more details closer to the concert date.

This month we will be saying good-bye to Tommy Romano as his family moves over the holidays to Colorado Springs where his father has taken a new position. We will miss Tommy but wish them all the best. For the time being the class will remain at 10 students.

Lastly but most importantly, please remember to take time during this holiday season to enjoy your child and family.  Try not to get caught up in the doing but rather take the opportunity to get caught up in the joy of the experience!

A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.

Mary Olivia

Becky

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:

Saturday, December 1 – Holiday Marketplace and Christmas Tree Sale

Saturday, December 8 – Santa’s Workshop, 8:30 and 10:30

Friday, December 14 – Christmas Concert, 11 am – Sanctuary of St. Aidan’s

                              Class Christmas Party, special snack provide by Romley and Talay families

Monday, December 17 – Tuesday, January 1, 2013 – Christmas Vacation

Wednesday, January 2 – Classes Resume

Friday, January 4 -- Tiny Tots Concert, West Potomac High Schoo1

Wednesday, January 23, 7:30 pm -- Becky McBride, Childhood Nutrition Expert

Holiday Party

We hosted the annual holiday party with our friends, whom I've known for over a decade.  Now, we're all hooked up and most have kids.  Here are some fun pictures of the kiddos playing and one of the adult dinner.  The party included:  The Venner Family (Kelly, Jason, Lucas and Marlowe), The Moldafsky Family (Diana, Greg, Lucas and baby in the oven), Melissa and Bob (recently moved in together), and Richard and Kate (newly married) and us.  So fun. 

Little Fish

Evelyn and Sylvia have been in non-stop swimming classes since they were 6 months old.  It's paid off.  They just passed Pee Wee Paddler II and will be moving onto III without break.  Here are the skills they just passed (the coach said they were really at level III when we started the class, but the age limits require them to be 4).  I didn't want to fudge too much on their age!  Good stuff.  If they can swim the full length of the pool, they can be on the swim team in the fall.  Might be a little early for that (they would definitely be the youngest), but it's something to strive for!

TITLE: Pee Wee Paddler II (3-5 yrs.)
DESCRIPTION: Prerequisite: Pee Wee Paddler I or equivalent skill and child must leave parent willingly, be comfortable in the water and function well in a group. Student must be able to: blow bubbles through mouth and nose at least three seconds, submerge face under water, and swim on front and back (with assistance) at least two body lengths, must be able to stay in front and back float position for at least three seconds. Class Emphasis: Children gain greater independence in their skills and continue to gain comfort in the water. Skills include breath holding, rhythmic breathing (bobbing), floating and gliding on front and back with and without assistance, swimming at least three body lengths with and without assistance. Floatation devices (to include swimmies) may be used.

TITLE: Pee Wee Paddler III (4-6 yrs.)
DESCRIPTION: Prerequisite: Pee Wee Paddler II or equivalent skill proficiency. Student must be able to swim without assistance at least three body lengths on front and back. Students must be able to hold breath under water at least three seconds. Class Emphasis: Help children gain basic swimming propulsive skills and increase endurance and distance without floatation devices. Skills include: entering water by jumping in (chest deep water), submerging and holding breath five seconds, rotary breathing, treading water, swimming front crawl 10 yards and on back five yards.

My Little Sleeper

Crashed at naptime.  She sleeps so hard sometimes. 

Daddy's 42nd Birthday

David returned from Sweden only to be swept away for a night in Charlottesville, leaving the kids at home with Angela.  We hike crabtree falls (1400 elevation gain about 3 hour hike), mountain biked and headed to Boars Head Inn for a wonderful evening and then spa appointments the next day.  Once we got home on Monday we had a yummy dinner of crab and birthday desserts with the girls.  Happy 42nd Birthday, David!  We love you!

Daddy Meets Queen of Sweden

Daddy is in Sweden this week.  Yesterday he called the girls to tell them he met a real Queen and Princess.  And, get this, the Queen of Sweden's name is SILVIA.  How about that, just one letter off, but pronouced like Sylvia?!  The princesses name was Victoria.  You could tell Evelyn was a little disappointed her name wasn't Evelyn. 

Color By Number

Check out these color by number skills.  Interesting that Evelyn took 2 days to complete hers, Sylvia completed hers in one.  Evelyn has gotten really deliberate in her coloring and does a great job staying in the lines.  Sylvia usually does a great job and often tries harder (Evelyn sometimes gets frustrated), but it seems like the roles are switching again! 

Fun Fall Times

Just goofing off in the back yard!  The next day I buried Evelyn in leaves and she didn't want to get out.  Face and everything.  So silly. 

Halloween Festivities

The girls participated in a TON of Halloween festivities.  The neighborhood Oktoberfest and Halloween Parade (organized by Mommy), Halloween parade and Song Fest at school, and of course Halloween Trick-or-Treating.  Evelyn stuck with Ariel and Sylvia created her own idea, calling herself Sleeping Beauty fairy/butterly princess (or something like that).  The one thrown in the middle was picture day!