Call me, maybe

A new round of SACC Clubs start next week.  Ellen is going to be in the Rainbow Loom Club which will meet Wednesday afternoons from 4-5.  We also signed her up for a free Girl Scout program (through SACC) that will meet once a month starting February 20th (she will receive a free Girl Scout membership good through September 30, 2014).  Besides their cookies, thin mints represent!, I am not very familiar with Girl Scouts but based on the flyer I think Ellen will enjoy the activities they have planned.

Lilly is so cute (and helpful) with the dogs.  She pets and pats and gives hugs and sometimes even kisses.  She helps us feed them, fill their water bowls, give them treats and even tells them not to bark ("no bark!") when they go outside (she's the boss of everyone, including the dogs).  She welcomes their attention.  She wants so badly to play with Lucy and be chased by George.  What we really need is a puppy.  Or better yet, a kitten :)

I am very sad about the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman.  Tragic.

Lilly - Ellen too, for that matter - can be a handful during worship but it's getting better (knock on wood).  We still have some work to do but both girls did great last Sunday, comparatively speaking.  Lilly colored while Ellen made this phone (and a few calls)...

We typically take Lilly to the nursery during the song before the lesson, keeping her with us throughout the first half of the service, including the opening announcements, singing, prayer (she's been known to give an enthusiastic "Amen" at the end), scripture reading, communion and collection.  She is always excited to go/ready for a change of scenery and she makes sure everyone knows it... by waving good-bye as one of us (usually Phillip) takes her out (you exit the front of our auditorium to get to the nursery).  Several people have commented on her wave.  She knows how to work a crowd.

Ellen went to Skate Night for the first time this past Tuesday.  First grade was the featured grade level so Ms. Gildemeister was there too.  As if the skating part wasn't fun enough, Ellen was one of the winners of a drawing they had and her class ended up winning the Golden Skate, a small trophy given to the class that has the most kids in attendance.  Score!

By default Lilly watches more TV at this age than Ellen ever did but the length of time she will sit and watch any given show varies (she would rather play).  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, or "Minnie Mouse" as Lilly calls it, is her top request.  Oh Toodles!

The Olympics are on!  The Olympics are on!

Last Thursday night Ellen and I attended Heritage Elementary's first annual Talent Show.  Forty acts in all (mostly singing, dancing and playing piano/instruments).  My bum was numb when it was all said and done (bleacher bottom) but it was worth it.  These kids are going places!

Instead of simply saying yay or nay, Lilly is into nodding her head yes and shaking her head no :)

Ms. Gildemeister uses a color-coded behavior clip chart in her classroom: Red=Outstanding, Orange=Great Job, Yellow=Good Day, Green=Ready to Learn, Blue=Think About It, Purple=Teacher's Choice (sounds scary) and Pink=Parent Contact.  Here's how it works.  Each child starts out with their clip on green, Ready to Learn, with the opportunity to move up (or down) the spectrum throughout the day.  The color their parent ends up seeing, the color the child uses to fill in that day's square on their calendar, is where he/she was by the end of that day.  So each night we check the behavior calendar in the back of Ellen's binder to see what color day she had, usually green, occasionally yellow, secretly hoping to see red.  We recently learned that only three students have received this honor so far this year so now we are shooting for orange instead :)

Phillip is escorting Ellen to the Father/Daughter Dance at Heritage tomorrow night.  One of the two is excited.  I think the other one will come around eventually.