Half way there

Several posts ago I showed how Jaden was learning to read. We are now half way through his 100 lessons book! Here is what he read the other day!


He's really getting good at not having to sound out some words. I love doing this with him. Since it's gone a lot faster than I'd anticipated, we are slowing the lessons down and only doing them Monday, Wednesday and Friday now, instead of 5-6 days a week. It's fun to see him pick out words as we read the scriptures or other books, signs, shirts, etc. Some of his favorite words are said and of. "The funny words." I really think that this book has done a great job with teaching it all. Kindergarten, here we come!

Fire Station Playgroup

Check out that lively group! Cohen looked pretty cool in his firefighter outfit. First the kids watched an Elmo movie about fire safety on Sesame Street. I just love the 2 faces Jason has here in these pictures. What a funny kid!












The kids got to feel how heavy the firfighters coat was. Guess there were too many kids to let them all put it on this time! :) Oh well.

They also learned that firefighters help people, not just put out fires. They got to see the inside of the Ambulance as well.

What a group huh?!

Although blurry, I still think they are such cute brothers!

I think we got enough pics of the kids by the truck with some friends! It was a great playgroup activity!

Not a Joke

Yesterday while playing at the park near our house I overheard a boy talking to Jaden. He said, "Why did the train cross the road?" I listened closer to hear why, but Jaden only replied "It didn't." The boy continued pressing the subject and said "No, you are supposed to say, "I don't know. Why?" Then he again tried his question out. But Jaden was persistent. Trains don't cross roads. They go on tracks. Apparently there is a lack of teaching jokes around the Mealey home. We'll have to work on that one. If anyone knows the answer to this joke, let me know. That way I can explain it to Jaden!

What's the Weather?

With snow one and day and sun the next, we are sure getting a lot of bike riding in this winter! And the boys couldn't be happier!


Kyler is such a character! He just loves to show off for the camera!


Jaden on the other hand whizzes past so quickly I can barley get a shot with him in it.

He loves trying new things on his bike too. Lately, it's been to stand while coasting! Very impressive! He also loves to jump the front tire off the ground. This is much harder for me to get a picture of because his tire only comes up about an inch. Still he loves it all! I think that he does this also because Christian told him he would build him a jump after he learned to lift the front UP. You just wait Daddy. I think Jaden will be holding you to that this summer! :)

Jaden also continues to love his scooter. I'm so glad that both of my boys are so active and love to play outside!


And when Jaden is in a sharing mood, Kyler gets a turn as well. He sure is getting good at it.

Swim and Snow

Last week for playgroup we went swimming at the Legacy Center. Jaden LOVED having his "strong" swimming suit. (He feels like he has big muscles like when he wears his Spiderman outfit from Halloween.) It's hard to get pictures without having a waterproof camera, and trying to make sure that Kyler didn't just jump in without me there. So that's the only picture I've got from that day. But the boys spent a good 2 1/2 hours swimming and we were all worn out! Looking forward to summer and doing that even more!

A couple of days ago we FINALLY got some snow! Friday I believe. School had a day off, so there were lots of kids playing outside.

Jason, Misha, Megan, Jaden, Kyler, Allie, and Joey. We have such fun neighbors! The boys sure are lucky!

Apparently it was really good snow for eating, becuase that's most of what went on in our yard.

It was such great snow! Everyone seemed to be having a great time!

Don't forget the snow angels!

Allie just kept letting Kyler throw snow at her. They both thought this was hilarious!

And Kyler made himself a chair and really just ate snow. I wish there was some way to measure how much he ate. I'll just have to say that it was a LOT! But he sure seemed happy about it!

FREE ZOO DAY!

Hogel Zoo does a FREE ZOO DAY each year the last Wednesday of the month for November, December, January, and February. We seem to make it in February! Even though it looked more like we were getting ready to head out the door and go sledding, it really was so much fun! Snow and all!

Jaden with his friend Joey. Gotta get a pic on the big elephant trunk! It was too cold to see the brand new baby elephant though. They had her inside! :(















Good thing the cats were so active. It kept the boys attention for a least a little bit. Jaden was so funny. We would get to an animal, find it, and Jaden would say something like let's go see the bear. Then when we got there, let's go see the monkeys, etc. He was more excited about seeing it all quickly, then staying and watching for a while.
Kyler on the other hand wanted to pet EVERYTHING! The rhino, mountain lions, cheetahs. He kept saying how cute everything was and "I wanna pet it." Well, wouldn't you?

The baby giraffe was so tiny! It had it's own drinking fountain.

Jaden finally found something he was excited about for more than a second. This red parrot really caught his eye!

And at the end we even rode on the new carousel. The boys both thought that was so much fun!















After the ride was over we were about done. I walked around the carousel to get the stroller and back to where the boys were. But Kyler wasn't there. Heidi, Joey's mom, walked one way around the carousel and I walked the other way. For just a moment I was freaking out inside. I tried not to panic, but I couldn't see Kyler anywhere! Luckily he was wearing that bright yellow hat! I found him waiting his turn in line for another ride!
On the way out Kyler wanted one more picture on the elephant trunk! Although cold and snowy, we had a great time at the zoo.

Crestfallen

Yesterday we went down to Orem to have lunch with my sister Annette at the new APX building. When I told the boys we would be going down to see Aunt Annette, Jaden quickly said "and play Batman!" Annette got the Lego Batman Game for the Wii for Christmas and they had played it at my parents house then. I couldn't believe he remembered that. His memory and association with events is incredible to me.
Then after lunch we were driving to Annette's apartment to play Batman! Jaden was so excited! This is how a part of our conversation in the car went as we were following Annette to her place.

Jaden: "Mom, do you know what crestfallen means?"
Mom: "Crestfallen?"
Jaden: "Yeah, crestfallen. It means really disappointed.....or sad."
Mom: "Yup, can you show me crestfallen?"
Jaden makes a very sad face, bottom lip pushed our and lowers his head and posture.
Mom: "Are YOU crestfallen Jaden?"
Jaden: "No, I'm very happy because we are going to Aunt Net's!"

He really never ceases to amaze me! What a fun kiddo! (He got this word from an episode of WORDGIRL.) Gotta be careful around him. He really is listening and learning EVERYTHING!