Two of a Kind

I have another picture of Astrid that I know would show more of the resemblence but this is the only one I could find tonight. I have one where she has the same serious expression. The second picture is of Eric's dad Mark at the age of 8 months. You can definetly tell these two are related.

Happy Birthday Ingrid!!!!

Pop got this dollhouse from someone and We have been working on it for Ingrid. Uncle Greg put a new floor and roof on it. Ingrid and I wallpapered it with the papers of her choosing and last night afterIngrid had fallen asleep a fairy came and painted her name on it and some other details. She was so excited this morning. Gigi made her a beautiful heart cake that was pink and purple. Pop and Gigi got her her own personal DVD player and her own copy of GREASE. She was excited about that. She has had a busy weekend with her nutcraker performances but was glas she did it and says she will do it every year till she has played every part. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET ANGEL!!!!

Sigrid lights the Candle of Hope

Happy Early Birthday Ingrid!!!

Ingrid's birthday is December 10th which is the weekend she performs in the Nutcracker. With all the holidays and activities this past saturday was when she could have a play day with her friends. She took some to Playworld and they had a blast as you can tell by their red cheeks. The little girl with her at the table was her best friend from preschool whom she sorely misses and was so glad to see.

First Place!!!

Astrid won first place for the Keep Arkansas Beautiful contest across the state. She received a $50 gift card to wal-mart. She bought herself and each of her sisters something. She is a darling girl with a sweet spirit. Her picture will be in the paper soon. The artwork will hang in the rotunda of the Capitol building in April for Keep Arkansas beautiful month and will be used for promotional items. We are proud!!!!

Halloween!!

Well I think the girls had a fine Halloween. They went trick or treating and I made them special hamburgers for supper. I bought their costumes last year at Kmart for $0.90 each...mine too. I wore my costume at school and read spooky stories to the kids during language group...they loved it. When the pink poodle left each house she would look at her dad and say I want to go to another one dad. I was proud of the girls telling each door greeter "thank you" and using their best manners.....even when the pink poodle would ask to pick out the candy she wanted from the homes she did so with her best "I want that one Please". Pop rode by with his scary mask on his tractor and frightened Sigrid and Ingrid. He doesn't scare Astrid.

For Helen

1. What is your name? Laura
2. 4 letter word: Love
3. Vehicle: Limo
4. City: Little Rock, AR
5. Boy Name: Larry
6. Girl Name: Lucy
7. Alcoholic drink: Long Island Iced Tea
8. Occupation: Lawyer
9. Something you wear: Lingerie
10. Celebrity: Lucille Ball
11. Food: Lasagna
12. Something found in a bathroom: Lather
13. Reason for Being Late: Lost
14. Cartoon Character: Lucy from Peanuts
15. Something You Shout: Lord have mercy
16. Animal: Lion
17. Body part: Leg
18. Word to describe you: Loving, Laughter, Loyal,

Work Work Work

Well Life is busy here. Astrid and soccer and Ingrid with her ballet. She is going to be in the Nutcracker this year so that means some extra lessons. Other than that it is just work work work.

I get the pleasure of being paid to play. I work with 0-5 year olds and try to improve their speech and language skills.....one of the easiest ways to is to play with them. It is called parallel play....whatever they are playing you join in and play along beside them...providing language stimulation through simple dialog. Paralell talk is also important. Talk about whatever they are doing....provide them the language and vocabulary they need during each activity. Reading simple books and just labeling and naming objects around the house or whatever environment is also important. To start them vocalizing...animal sounds and other environmental sounds(car engine, car horn etc) are a good starting point. Repetitve syllable words are the easiest to begin saying....mama, dada, bubu for brother or bubbles, bye-bye etc. Another easy way to stimulate a child's language is by teaching them some simple sign language.....learning to sign "more" is the first sign I teach kids because they can use it to get "more" of anything. I took a picture of Ingrid signing "more". When Ingrid is sick, tired, or just in her daydreamy state she still will sign "more" while she verbally asks for more of something.

Towels

Helen how much should I start charging for these......Mom and Erin call on me to make these when there is a baby shower. Erin needs one for a doctor at work having a baby girl and Mom needs two for a lady at work having twins....a boy and a girl. Mom says to me Laura if you will make two towels for me for this girl at work I will put Eric's name on the card too....how bout that....I do all the work and she gets all the credit. The one in the middle is for a girl at my work....she is using beige and brown for her baby. Helen sent me two hooded towels she made when I was pregnant with Astrid. We still use them every night after our bath. From the two she has made I have made bunches for all my friends. I also make bandana baby quilts. I made a real pretty one a couple of weeks ago. It was pink and brown for a little baby girl named Loralie. My closest friend at work is having her second girl in november so when I get her quilt made I will post a picture of it.

THANK YOU AUNT HELEN!!!!

The girls were so excited about their new outfits. They all fit perfectly and they can't wait for the cool weather so they can wear them. Siggie wanted to sleep in hers but we compromised and she put on her pajamas but her clothes are in the bed with her. Ingrid loves to say XOXO so she thinks it is so cool that it is on her jeans. She said everyone will expect a kiss and hug from her because of her new jeans. Astrid was also very excited.....she was curious how Helen new the size to buy. I told her Helen new alot about little girls so she could just tell by the pictures. You made their day Aunt Helen and Thank You and I LOVE YOU.

First day of School!!!

Well we made it through the first day of 2nd grade and Kindergarten. Ingrid did well this morning she just wanted Astrid not her Mom. Astrid of course did excellent. Sigrid just wants to stay home and go to Pops.

Happy Birthday Aunt Helen!!!

Aunt Helen I hope you have a wonderful day you deserve it!!!!!!

I remember one time going to Grandpa's to visit because Helen and the kids had come. Mom let me go and sleep at Uncle Clayton's because that is where Helen would be and where Helen was is where I wanted to be. Well we had to take a bath so Krissy, Missy and I got in Clayton's tub to take our bath. After quite some time Helen said we had to get out it was her turn. We ignored her....she warned us I don't know how many more times to no avail. In a little bit there was Helen in the bathroom naked telling us to make room for her.....I know I got out as for Kris and Miss I cannot say.

I love you Aunt Helen!

For GiGi

GiGi took the two big girls school shopping. Astrid who hates shopping had the time of her life. I explained to GiGi that I only buy the girls things on the clearance rack so they never really get to pick what they want they just have to take what they get. Well Astrid was in heaven picking whatever she wanted.
Ingrid had spent the night with her very best friend from preschool. They have been together since they were 12 weeks old. They will be attending different kindergartens and are sad to not have each other any more. Mrs. Libby could not stay awake any longer and left the girls to themselves...with the TV on. Ingrid is allowed to watch just a little TV here at home because she becomes heavily engrossed in it. Well Ingrid informed me that when she went to sleep the sun was coming up so she didn't think she had slept very long. She was rather cantakerous during our shopping trip which is unlike her. She picked the above skirt but the shirt she picked with it didn't really match so when she got home she was disappointed. But when we looked in her closet at some of the things Mom had been picking up on the clearance racks we found some shirts to match it and she is much happier. Ingrid thinks the pink looks best what about you, GiGi?
Then there is Sigie who has plenty of hand-me-downs to wear. She wanted some things to try on too so we got her some of Ingrids old dresses and she danced around the living room for us.

Don't think we will buy this!

I don't think we will buy this as they decapitated

our poor baby!

Dixie Stampede

ZOO

We went to the zoo Monday. Astrid and Sigrid had a blast. Ingrid somewhat enjoyed herself. Her daddy took her to the Mall for about an hour before we came home. She was happy.

FUN IN THE SUN

It is becoming HOT!! The girls are spending more time inside. Eric hooked up the sprinkler for them yesterday afternoon and they had a blast. Summer is almost gone and back to school we will go.

Sad to see them go

Well our company is gone. It is bittersweet. We are glad to have our house back to ourselves but wish we could have had them here with us longer. The girls had a blast with their little grandma Merle. She is a blessing to us and I know the girls are a blessing to her.

Astrid the animal lover

Astrid loves horses. One of her first words was "hep" which was her word for horse. Her other first word was "Ga" for grandpa. She has a good Gigi who is paying the little girl up the lane to teach her how to care and ride her pony Marshmellow .

Ingrid's New Trick

Look MOM no training wheels. Ingrid is really growing up.....she starts kindergarten in the fall and has so far spent the summer tackling some new tricks....she has learned to tie her shoes, ride a bike without training wheels, and is learning beginning reading. GO INGRID!!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!

Happy Birthday to my Daddy!!! He is the best dad and pop I know. He sure loves his girls and we love him back. He ranks top on my list and I hope he has a great day and a great 58th year. I love you Daddy!!!

SNAKE

Eric walks down to the lake every morning and afternoon. When he and Astrid walked down there 2 days ago....a water moccasin was curled up in the path waiting for them. Eric killed it with a stick and brought it home to show the other girls.

Happy Birthday MOM/GIGI!!!!!