Bluebonnet Photos

Last year I explained the basics behind why we do bluebonnet photos. These are the best shots from this year.

We start with family photos, because the more people involved the more difficult the shot. I like the angle on this one because it looks like we are in the middle of nowhere, but the shadows covering us aren't perfect.

Another family photo. All of us trying not to squint because of the sun.

The best photo of both kids together. Ignore the people in the background. Wonderful husband promised he can edit them out... it's been a year since this was taken and if you hold your thumb over them it looks perfect. haha

Sweet daughter by herself. She loves to pose for the camera. If you tell her you are going to take a photo, she automatically looks up and smiles. She's a photographer's dream.

Sweet son likes to make things difficult. He gets distracted easily and doesn't feel the need to smile unless you do something really impressive. Luckily, this tree made the perfect place to pose. 

I also love this one. What is it about Dads and kids together that gets to me every time?

Tomorrow you should check back for some of the not so great photos from the bluebonnet field.

Wordless Wednesday

Conversations with Kids

Playing on their laptops. (They don't work, but that doesn't seem to matter.)

 In the car, the kids are chatting back and forth until the unthinkable happens...

Son: Tuba Sister
Daughter: Mama, Brother said Tuba to me.
Me: Um... ok. There's nothing wrong with that.
Son: Tuba Sister
Daughter: No Brother, no Tuba (crying and getting hysterical)
Me: Daughter say Tuba back to him.
Daughter: Tuba Brother
Son: Dada, Sister said Tuba!
Husband: What's wrong with that?
Son: No, Tuba Sister
Daughter crying and hysterical again
Me: Daughter just look at Son and say flute
Daughter: Flute Sister
Son: Flute? Tuba Sister
Daughter getting upset again
Me: Daughter try telling Son clarinet.
Daughter: Clarinet Brother
Son: Mama, Sister said Clarinet Brother.

This story keeps going and going, but you get the point. I have no idea how tuba became such a bad word, but they both act like it's just awful.

Do you think they miss him when he's at work?

The other day I hear Sweet Daughter and Wonderful Husband talking.
Daughter: Dada, I'm sad.
Husband: Why are you sad?
Daughter: I'm sad because I'm crying.
Husband: Why are you crying?
Daughter: I'm crying because I'm sad.
Husband: That's called circular reasoning. Can you say circular reasoning, Daughter?
Daughter: Cirlar reasonin?
Husband: Yes, circular reasoning.
Then she walked off because she was clearly no longer sad.

Walking to the "market" (Bountiful Baskets Co-op) with Grandma.

Pencil Grip

One of the goals of all the fine motor activities we do is to make writing easier. Many kids get to kindergarten or first grade and don't want to do writing assignments because it hurts their hand. I realized with all the fine motor we work do, I haven't focused on correct pencil (crayon, marker, pen) grip.

One trick I used when teaching was to have kids hold a cotton ball in their palm with their ring and pinky fingers. This makes them use the other three for holding the pencil and typically leads to better pencil grip. Toward the end of my teaching (I left to stay at home with these two), I learned of a product that I wanted to try out. Pencil Grip The Classics Writing Claw

They come in small, medium, and large and since my kids are tiny two year olds, I order the small. It has a hole in the middle for a pencil (or crayon) and three tips. After inserting the pencil, just find the one with the T and put the child's thumb in that one. Then the other two fingers simply slip in the other two tips. The kids loved using them, though since I only bought two, they couldn't easily switch colors.

You can see here how it forces them to use proper grip. We only used these a few times before they were doing it naturally and I put them away. Part of that is because they already had the strength in their hands and the other part is because if you learn the proper way early enough, it is easier and becomes the "default" way of doing it.