Xander Reads to Me

At bedtime now, Xander will read 1-2 books to me.  He has gotten so good at reading.  He can do the three lettered words, two lettered, and many sight words.  He can even read complicated words like "birthday" or "kitchen".  When he reads a book to me, he will say, "I can do it" and he proceeds to read out loud to me, only stopping to whisper, "what does that say" to a few words.

Kids Can Get Along

I often complain about how the kids argue, push each others buttons, etc. But I also have to point out the times they are fantastic with one another. Just the other day, Venice put her arm around Xander when he cried. She also helped him climb up onto the rings at the park. When shopping for something with just Xander, he always picks something out for Venice, "because she'll like this."

Awww.

Christmas Wish List

Venice, who had a nasty stomach bug for the day, said to Dad, "I know one more thing I want to add to my wish list. To not be sick like this ever again."

Too true. Poor thing.

Thanksgiving, Kid Style

I asked Venice and Xander if they knew what was coming up next week...they said no, then Venice said...oh I remember...it is Thanksgiving. So I asked them if they knew what it meant.

Xander said, it means giving and thanking.... (could anything be more succinct)

Venice said thanking people who help you and then she said, she was sad that two of her friends (sorry, can't remember their names) couldn't celebrate Thanksgiving with her family. I said why was she sad and she said then she would thank them for helping her do a flip with only one knee...I told her that perhaps on the day before Thanksgiving, she could thank them...she thot that was a great idea!!

Another story...
After Casey arrived, they all wanted to go down to the basement to play....so I asked Casey to take care of Xander and make sure he stayed where he needed to. I told Xander to please do what Casey asked. Venice got a very sad face and said why can't I be the boss of Xander, I am his big sister. Paul, who was standing there quietly said that was the very reason. I explained to her that I thot Xander would be more apt to listen to Casey. By now I am hugging her...I asked if that made her feel better....but she jumped away from me and said, I know.....if Casey needs help, I will be the one that comes upstairs and gets you!...So I told her that was a great idea and the 3 went off happily to the basement....

Granny

Venice Gets Lost

Then at Gateway Mall - I usually park near Sears, and we walk thru Sears and down the mall a couple of stores to the mini-golf place....well, this time we're walking thru Sears, and I'm following the main walkway thru, and the 2 are playing around, running in and amongst the racks and shelves with clothes on them, like some kind of game - I get to the other end of Sears and am about to leave the store into the mall area, and find that the 2 aren't with me - shit...! - so, I start back thru the store, and here comes Casey, but no Venice - I ask where she is, and Casey doesn't know....we walk back thru toward the door where we came in from the parking lot, and just as we're approaching one corner, here comes Venice - she's white-faced, stricken and holding her arms around herself, and when she sees me you can see the relief on her face - I asked if she thot she was lost, and she shakes her head yes, and I pulled her to me and hugged her and asked if she was ok - she said she was, and then she pushed me away and walked alongside me til we got back to Casey....she was ok after that, and while she didn't walk next to me, she stuck to Casey like a bee to honey...!

Jiichan...

The New President

On the way over to Gateway Mall for the glow-in-the-dark golf, I asked the 2 if they knew why Barack Obama's winning the presidency was so important - Casey said, no - Venice said no - then, Venice shouted, Oh, oh - because he's the first African-American to be elected president...! - I said yes, and she was so proud that she knew that - we talked briefly about how that was very important to our country...

Jiichan...

Playing Alone

So Xander came to me sadly because he wanted to play with Teiya and she wanted to play alone. She came to me and said she wanted to play alone and I said that Xander wanted to play with her. I asked them how will we solve the problem. Teiya suddenly said...I have an idea...I will play with Xander and I will play alone. So I said are you going to do both and she said yes. I said if it makes sense to you, then go for it...they are now playing....

Granny