Atley's Journal

Atley ate half of oatmeal and ate baked cinnamon apples for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of hamburger stew with meat, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes.  She ate whole wheat dinner roll and apricots. I want to remind everyone my vacation starts next week on Thursday July 4th and I'll be back on Monday July 15th.  I've told several of you, but in case someone is wondering we've rented a Forest Service cabin for 7 nights - no electricity or cell service; Cheers!! - and then go to Billings to see our Granddaughters.  Oh yes, my Son and Daughter-in-law live in Billings too so we'll probably say hi to them as well!!  :) This first picture is left over from yesterday afternoon when Atley was talking to Baby Callahan.  He has a handful of hair in his left hand and is reaching for more with his right hand!  Ha!  As you can imagine Atley didn't hang around there very long!!  Also from yesterday, Lauralea read some books to the kids in the ...

Atley ate bites of French toast and ate dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate most of ground beef with marinara sauce, most of whole wheat spaghetti noodles, ate cauliflower, and bites of fruit salad. Nora's Daddy Ryan gets a kick out of the fact that Atley still says he's got a "new truck!"  When he came around the corner this morning Atley said, "He's got a new truck!!"  Nora was in total agreement and said, "Yes he does."  And it will probably be that way for a long time going forward. Atley still says that about Avi and Svea's Daddy Andy and his truck.  This morning she said, "He got a new truck!!"  And it's been a long time since he bought his!  :) First picture: Linnea's flashlight wouldn't shine so Atley was trying to figure it out for her.  Atley eventually handed it to me and I just firmly thumped it on my knee and it immediately went on.  "Magic!"  Hey, they were impressed and that...

Atley ate three servings of whole wheat toast and two servings of mangoes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate pulled pork, whole wheat bun, ate some peas, and ate strawberries. This first picture is leftover from yesterday afternoon.  There are small apples falling off the neighbor's apple tree and the kids have been picking them up and tossing them around the yard.  So I went and got the garbage basket (semi-hidden behind Avi) and gave them a place to toss the little apples.  Right now the apples are "choke-able size" for Svea and Linnea and that makes me very nervous!!  So I'll be doing some major branch cutting this weekend!!  (I do have an agreement with my neighbor, just in case you thought you might be reading about me in the paper!!  "Neighbor destroys Neighbor's apple tree!!"  Haha!!  Anything hanging over my fence is legal!) Avilene said, "I'm going to Disney World." Then after a couple of moments she continued; "But it do...

Atley ate whole wheat bagel and grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate shrimp, some brown rice, no stir fry vegetables, and ate raspberries. This first note and picture are from yesterday afternoon.  This is my shirt from yesterday and I told the kids it was me and "I am a super hero."  So in the afternoon Linnea pointed at it and said, "Gary super girl."  LOL!!  It was so funny, except Atley and Nora were having no part of that!  They kept telling Linnea I was a "super boy."  Ha!  Linnea never did relent; "super girl!!"  :) Atley seemed to be feeling better than she was yesterday.  I'm judging that simply by the way she played compared to yesterday.  She was much busier and I never saw her lay on the couch once.  So that was good.  I took these next pictures when she was doing some preschool activities.  She said she was building a "house" in the following picture while Nora and Avi were sorting the colors. ...

Atley ate bran cereal and raisins for breakfast.  For lunch she ate chicken, bites of whole wheat hamburger bun, no cucumber, bite of avocado, and ate pears. First picture: This was not an easy morning for Atley, but she didn't complain or anything like that. She just wasn't her normal cheerful playful self.  So I took this picture after she'd laid like this several times for several minutes each time.  When it was nap time she laid down and I don't think she hardly moved.  Her eyes were closed almost immediately.  So I'm hoping a good long nap will help her feel better. Next picture: Linnea offered Atley a drink of "milk."  Linnea said, "Want some?"  Atley said, "No."  Linnea said, "What you want today? Water?"  Haha! Next picture: Atley did work on some puzzles and a couple of preschool activities, but nothing for very long.  She didn't feel much like focusing for more than just a couple of minutes and then...

Atley ate half of kix cereal and ate dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate several bites of baked beef kabobs with meat, zucchini, pineapple, and peppers.  She also ate whole wheat toast and pineapple on the side. I'm glad you mentioned to me about the croupy cough she woke up with.  She never coughed one time here, BUT when she and Avi were playing chase back-n-forth across the room she started getting this raspy wheezing sound and it was kind of freaky!!  So I had them find another game to play. First picture:  Nora and Atley playing with some legos.  I thought it was funny how Atley has her body slightly contorted while searching for the right piece!  Actually it's not contorted at her age!!  It's all a matter of perspective!  :) Next picture: The kids had a good time doing art on this bigger piece of paper and their creation was very fun to look at.  So we have it hanging in the entrance room as you'll see when you co...

Atley ate waffle and a large serving of fruit salad for breakfast.  For lunch she ate several bites of "whole 30" chili with meat, sweet potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, and tomato sauce.  She also ate whole wheat dinner roll and tropical fruit.  This isn't about Atley, but you might like it!!  At lunch Nora was calling the Whole 30 chili, "chili."  Haha!  Avilene was all over that!!  She said, "NO!!  It's  COLD 30  Chili!!"  LOL!  Oh man I roared! First picture: I thought it was cute when Atley was putting the bumblebee jacket over her head.  Yup, I think maybe you've outgrown this jacket Atley!  Actually I need to add more (bigger!) dress-up clothes in this toy exchange!!  :)  She's watching herself in the mirror! Next picture:  Avi and Atley were playing with the legos in the preschool room and were making several things.  Atley was making points with Avi by supplying her with lots of "eyeball...

Atley ate two servings of French toast and two servings of strawberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of Shepherd's Pie with green beans, carrots, and potatoes.  She ate whole wheat tortillas, and ate cherries. First picture: This is from yesterday afternoon and Atley was snuggled up to her new best friend.  Haha!  That's "our" girl Coral who was visiting from California.  She was in our Program before she was Callahan's age (and she's now 17) and she still has her own bedroom downstairs!  So that gives you all a clue how a piece of our heart belongs to Coral!! Speaking of yesterday afternoon, here's a leftover note from yesterday.  Nora said, "I have a boogie Gary!!"  Atley responded before I could say anything.  She said, "Well wipe it on the grass!"  Haha! Well I guess that might work Atley, but did you notice we're  NOT  outside!!  :)  "Here's a tissue Nora!" This second picture makes me laugh!! ...

Atley ate whole wheat English muffin and two servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate pork chop, whole wheat toast, beets, and two servings of applesauce. First picture: This is moments after Atley arrived.  She played with the legos with Avi in the preschool room.  Then she soon went back out to the Daycare Room and played with those tractors again!!  Atley said, "Hey Gary!  Will you fix my hair? My ponies are coming out."  It wasn't even breakfast time yet and I said, "Actually your ponies look just fine."  (Just like in the picture below.)  A few minutes later I walked by the changing table and both of her ponytail holders were laying there!  Haha!  You little skunk! I think these next two pictures are super cute.  Svea was watching Atley (Atley's head is bent over so far you can't see it, but you can see a bit of her hair!!) plop up and down on the push-n-spin toy.  The moment Atley moved off Svea mimicked...

Atley ate most of whole wheat Chex cereal and peaches for breakfast.  For lunch she ate ground beef, whole wheat hamburger bun, bite of avocado, bite of tomatoes, and ate most of her oranges.  Breakfast conversation went like this;  Nora said, "I have a new room."  Avi said, "I have a new bed."  Even Linnea got in on this conversation; "I have a nap mat."  That was SO cute.  Not real "new," but close enough!  Atley said, "I have a new house."  Nora said, "Gary has a new baby and blanket!"  Referring to the Toy Exchange!!  Haha!! I asked Avi, "What's the woman's name that took your family pictures this weekend?"  Avi said, "Megan, but NOT Atley's Mom!!"  Ha!  Well thank you for making that very clear to me!!  :)  I thought that was cool that she immediately made that distinction. We did a toy, book, and puzzle exchange this weekend and the first thing Atley played with was a couple tractors t...

Atley ate most of oatmeal and two servings of dried cranberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate half of tilapia, ate a large serving of whole wheat elbow noodles covered with lots of applesauce, and ate green beans.  Once again the lunch time conversation was all about halloween! Finally Avi said, "I just don't know how we're gonna get back home!!"  I try not to say anything during these conversations, but I was too curious!!  "Back home from where!?!"  Avi said, "From trick-or-treating!"  Haha!  I guess she thinks they'll just get dropped off!  (Bye Kids! Have fun! We'll see you at home!!)  Atley said, "I know how to get back home!"  Nora said, "I know how to get back home!"  Avi said, "I don't!"  :) We were having Story Time and reading on the couch.  Nora kind of leaned against Atley and Atley said, "You can lay on me."  That was a very sweet offer Atley.  Then later Nora made the same offe...

Atley ate whole wheat bagel and ate peaches for breakfast.  For lunch she ate most of hamburger and sausage pizza with whole wheat pizza crust, tomato sauce, olives, pineapple, and peppers.  She ate a large serving of pineapple on the side as well. I took this first picture shortly before breakfast and this is about as close as I can get to capturing all  three jumping at the same time and I like how Nora is in the air.  Also, check out Nora's ponytail - going sideways like blades on a helicopter!  Very short blades.  :)  Second picture: Atley doesn't spend much time this with the baby so it was cute that he was reaching for her.  And it was all with Nora's approval!!  Ha!!  I also like how Linnea is slightly bent over intently watching it all. Next picture: There was a lot of activity to watch outside the window this morning!  First thing, the kids like watching the little black puppy across the street when it accompanies t...

Atley ate two servings of whole wheat toast and two servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she had pork roast, no whole wheat tortillas, bites of sweet potatoes, no carrots and ate a large serving of fruit salad.  Breakfast conversation between Nora and Atley - Avi is with her Grandma today: Nora said, "My Grandpa's name is Greg." Atley said, "Well my daughter's name is Amy."  Haha! First picture: First order of business this morning is examining and comparing each other's owies and bruises!  Atley fell on the sidewalk outside yesterday afternoon.  She showed everyone (including parents) her bandaid this morning.  It's that time of year!!  Less clothes to protect the legs and running on sidewalks!! Atley says the same thing every morning when waving bye to Nora's Daddy Ryan when he drives past the window.  "He got a new truck!"  So they're all waving at Ryan and guess what Nora and Atley are talking about.  "Clothes...

Atley ate whole wheat English muffin and two servings of dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of chicken, ate brown rice, bites of stir fry vegetables, and a bite of oranges. First picture: Nora, Avi, and Atley doing some drawing with markers, pens, and pencils.  They also did some stickers and stamps.  When they started with the pens Atley said, "I"m gonna sign out.  I'm gonna sign out."  (Making reference to "signing in and out on the attendance sheets.)  Both Nora and Avi picked up on that and started chanting it too.  "I'm gonna sign out. I'm gonna sign out!"  :) Next picture: Notice where Atley is trying to carry her sunglasses at.  She's been doing that frequently and even Linnea was mimicking her and she was successful at it today!!  I know Atley watches Momma Megan do this, but I wanted to see what she'd say so I asked; "Hey Atley, where'd you learn to carry your sunglasses like that?"  Atley s...

Atley ate bites of cheerios and ate her banana for breakfast.  For lunch she ate ground beef, whole wheat pita bread, bites of avocado, bites of tomatoes, and ate her strawberries. I have a note left over from Friday afternoon at snack time.  Avi said, "Well I'm going to a wedding!" (And she did go to a wedding on Saturday with her grandparents in Great Falls.)  Atley, not to be outdone of course came back with, "Well I'm moving to a new house!!"  Haha!  Avi, not to be outdone of course came back with, "Well I"m keeping the same house!!"  Whew!  I'm glad we got that all settled! Atley and Linnea were the first two kids here like usual and Atley was at the window watching a crow in the yard about 10 feet from the window.  She said, "Hey Linnea, come see the crow.  He's looking for a worm."  So Linnea hustled over and they watched it for a couple more minutes before it flew off.  Thank you for inviting Linnea to watch too A...