Reading and Hopscotch

Daniel is getting better and better at reading.

He recognizes lots of words, and enjoys reading many of our board books and picture books.  Anna likes to listen in . . .

. . . and occasionally do some light "reading" of her own (as long as she's heard the book often enough to remember what words go with each picture).

The kids also enjoy playing hopscotch in the courtyard.

They even let Joy's tiny toy Steve join in the game. :)

Cheering on Our Two Joggers

Anna, Todd, and I went to the big kids' school today to cheer them on . . .

. . . as they ran in the annual Jog-a-thon to raise money for their elementary school.

It was blazing hot today, so Joy and her class really enjoyed their post-jog Popsicles.

After congratulating Joy on running 21 laps, we went to the kindergarten playground to watch Daniel run.  Each time a child completed a lap, a parent volunteer made a mark on a sticker on the child's back.

Daniel ran 24 laps in all.  Nice work, buddy!

Here he is enjoying a well-earned Popsicle with his friend Liam.

Potty Training

If there was one aspect of parenting I could outsource, it would probably be potty training.  I've been meaning to start it with Anna for months, and kept putting it off for one reason or another.  I finally determined that February was going to be The Month When I Finally Start Potty Training Anna.  Of course, I waited until the last possible weekend, but I am proud to say that I have finally crossed the Rubicon and put underwear on our third-born.

It actually went better than I expected.  Phillip took a day off work yesterday to watch the other three kids while I gave Anna 100 percent of my attention.  She had lots of accidents yesterday morning, but by the afternoon things clicked and she started having lots of success.  In fact, after one of her trips to the bathroom I was so confident in her progress that I took a nap while she watched a Super Why! episode.  Today, Anna did even better.  I am really relieved that things are going so well.

I think it helped that we put two of Anna's favorite bears in undies, and let them model how to use the toilet.  It also helped to remind Anna that her favorite preschool buddy wears underwear and uses the toilet.  She's pretty excited to show him the stickers on her success chart.