Atley's Journal

Atley ate three servings of blueberry bagel and two servings of peaches for breakfast.  For lunch she ate 2 servings of pork roast, ate whole wheat dinner roll, ate slices of orange and red peppers, and ate pineapple.  At lunch she said, "I'm done!" and she had over half a plate full of food.  Ok that's fine, but did you have a bite of your peppers?  She said, "Yes, but I don't really like vegetables." I said, "Well we eat vegetables because they help us be healthy!"  Then, just being silly I said, "And help us not get the coronavirus!!"  Atley said, You have to wear a mask!"  I said, "Yes and eat your vegetables."  She began eating those peppers and ate everything!!  Haha.  It helped that Avi pitched in with her 10 cents worth and was yapping on and on about how we need to eat vegetables.  :) The three oldest girls, but usually just Atley and Avi, are having frequent discussions about who is the oldest.  We have the ...

Atley ate three servings of whole wheat toast and ate grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate chicken - the menu called for pork roast, but I was late getting it ready - bites of whole wheat tortillas, bites of carrots, and ate a large serving of fruit salad. Avi was expounding to Nora and Atley about the "wonderfulness" of Dairy Queen in general and the "Dilly Bar" in particular.  Haha!!  I'm just assuming she knows what she's talking about, but I have no idea because I don't partake in those sinful delights!!  :) This first picture is from yesterday afternoon when the kids were all chasing bubbles.  Svea usually just watches and then steps on whatever bubbles she finds on the ground.  Nora and Atley were chasing them hard.  They were having so much fun with the first bubble chase of the season!!  Look at Avi's face.  "I'm gonna catch me a bubble!" This next picture is also from yesterday afternoon.  Atley was having a turn wi...

Atley ate two servings of whole wheat English muffin and ate dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate most of chicken stir fry with meat and vegetables, half of brown rice, and ate mandarin oranges.  At breakfast Avi and Atley were trying to do "knock knock" jokes. Which they do in a similar manner to playing hide and seek; no logical ending, but very entertaining for me!! The first picture is from yesterday afternoon.  I like to show afternoon pictures frequently because otherwise you're only seeing 2 - 3 hours of their day, depending on how early they arrive each morning.  Atley and Avi were pounding nails in the wind.  It was pretty gusty as it blew Atley's hood up and you can see strands fo Avi's hair standing on end! In the next picture Avi is busy with the binoculars again:  Atley and Nora were in the igloo with the entrance darkened.  Avi has the binoculars and was apparently trying to spy on them!  Well what do you see Avilene?!...

Atley ate cheerios and banana for breakfast.  For lunch she ate ground beef, two servings of whole wheat pita bread, ate avocado, olives, and ate three servings of strawberries. These first two pictures are left over from Friday afternoon when Jerry (and Aidan) were here doing some magic.  It was actually much better than I was expecting as he had about 6 little tricks he'd purchased.  It was sweet of him to come by and entertain us.  Atley and Avilene especially enjoyed it the most.   Nora liked it once I was there to protect her.  Ha.  Especially when he was up close to the window like in the second picture. Next picture: So this was moments after waving bye to Mommy Emily, Atley had her leg boosted up and showing Nora the Weekend scars on her foot.  Atley said, "This one hurts so bad I can't walk." Of course up to that point she'd been running like crazy.  Ha. Next picture; Atley with the guitar a person donated to the Preschoo...

Atley ate brown rice and raisins for breakfast.  For lunch she ate salmon, whole wheat dinner roll, bites of cauliflower, and ate mangoes. This first picture is leftover from yesterday afternoon when the kids were playing hide-n-seek.  I've posted many pictures and comments about the way Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers play this game, but this may be a new one!!  4 kids were playing - 3 counting and preparing to search while 1 child (Atley) was hiding!  Haha.  All inside in the Daycare Room so it wasn't the most challenging hiding spot that needed 3 searchers.  :)  Love how Svea is face-down on the mattress with her hands covering her eyes. Next picture: First thing this morning Nora and Atley go to the Doll House to play.  See how they are positioned in the picture; this is basically how this goes with Nora doing most of the playing and Atley just observing, visiting, and trying to make Nora laugh.  When Atley is in the right mood (which is...

Atley ate whole wheat English muffin and three servings of mandarin oranges for breakfast.  For lunch she ate ground beef, two servings of whole wheat elbow noodles, ate peas, and two servings of applesauce.  At lunch Atley said, "We can stomp our feet because Lauralea isn't here!!"  Haha.  Since Lauralea has been working from home (in the basement) we've had to be a bit quieter in the Preschool area during the numerous "Zoom Meetings!!"  She had to go to Plains this morning. The breakfast conversation this morning started out with "beds" because Atley got a new bed and she was sharing the good news.  And then it went in this direction:  So at some point Avi felt the need to enlighten Nora and said, "You get one when you are grown up!"  Nora said, "I'm already growing up!!"  Avi said, "No you're not."  Nora said, "Mom said I was growing big!!"  Avi said, "My Mom said she didn't want me to g...

Atley ate three servings of French toast and three servings of strawberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate a large serving of paleo stew with meat, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, tomatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes.  She ate two servings of saltines and two servings of tropical fruit.  Avilene made an announcement at breakfast.  "Sometimes my Dad makes M & M cookies with chocolate chips!!" Nora yelled; "ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?"  Haha. Speaking of meal time announcements, yesterday at snack time Avilene apparently decided it was time for Atley and Nora to come to grips with their own mortality!!  "Hey! You know what!?!?  When you die the skin comes off and kinda looks like a skeleton!!"  Ha!!  That was old news for Atley and she wasn't fazed at all; "I saw a skeleton trick-or-treating!!"  :) Here are some pictures from Atley's morning.  She is finishing up a puzzle in the First one.  I like this puzzle because it's...

Atley ate two servings of waffles and two servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate chicken, whole wheat tortillas, ate corn, and two servings of apple bites. The first two pictures are leftover from yesterday afternoon.  First picture; Atley is busy operating  the controls and apparently it's a wild ride.  Check out the air under Avi's butt.  :)  Second picture: The kids always yell at Mike the neighbor when he gets home.  "Mike's home! Mike's home!"  Well yesterday was no different except both parents and both children had arrived in the car.  The neighbors were busy and not too interested in what the kids were yelling.  That did not deter Atley and Avi who were yelling at the SAME time and it was SO funny to me!!  Here's what they were yelling over and over and the neighbors had no clue what they were saying or talking about!!  "I have a dog named Lexi!!"  "I have a cat named Melvin!"  "I have a dog n...

Atley ate a large serving of kix cereal and ate mixed fruit for breakfast.  For lunch she ate ground turkey, whole wheat hamburger bun, no avocado, bite of tomato, and ate cherries. Everyday, somedays it's several times per day, the kids ask "What are we eating!?!"  I usually tell them and then from that point on the standard answer is "food."  So here's an example of conversation at Daycare/Preschool!!  Atley; "What kind of food are we having for lunch?"  Me; "Good food." Atley'; "What kind of good food?"  Me; "Good All American Food!!"  Atley; "I live in  American !" Ha!  Avi; "I don't!! I live in Montana!"  Me; "Guess what kids?!?  Montana is a State  IN  America!"  Nora; "My Dad has a State!"  Me - very impressed; "Oh really!?!  He's doing better than I even imagined!!  Where is his State?"  Nora; "On his computer!"  Haha. This first pictur...

Atley ate half of oatmeal and ate baked cinnamon apples for breakfast.  For lunch she ate Hamburger Stew with meat, carrots, green beans, tomatoes, and potatoes.  She ate two servings of whole wheat dinner roll, and two servings of apricots. First two pictures are from outside yesterday.  All four girls are in the geo-climber with lots of those high-priced Dollar Store noodles.  :)  Second picture:  Miles was getting rides up and down the sidewalk from  Atley, Avi, and sister Nora and they were taking turns.  Except Nora was accompanying Atley and Avi to make sure they did it the correct way!!  Haha!!  I told Atley; "You're doing a GOOD job pushing the stroller."  Avi said, "WELL I can do it with my Eyes shut!!"  Haha.  And for further emphasis she added; "And I will show you!!" Next picture: I hung this piece of Atley's art on the wall today.  She said this is a "balloon."  Which impressed me because I c...

Atley ate three servings of French toast and ate dried plums for breakfast.  For lunch she ate bites of shrimp, ate brown rice, bites of stir fry vegetables, and ate raspberries. First two pictures - Atley and Nora building with the blocks.  Well actually it was just Atley building and Nora laying in a very vulnerable spot!!  She trusts your architectural abilities way more than I would Atley!!  Haha. Next picture: Then they used the blocks to build a sidewalk.  And Atley, Nora, and Svea were "sleeping" on the sidewalk.  Kids sleeping on the sidewalk.  Hmmm...that can't be right!!  I may have to reevaluate my curriculum!!  :) More activités.  Next picture Atley is working on a puzzle.  She's chosen this particular puzzle yesterday and again today.  It has at least 30 pieces I think so it's a good challenge for her and she is successful with it.  Nice work Atley.  Last picture; Atley and Nora engaged again at...

Atley ate two servings of whole wheat toast and ate mangoes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate ground beef with marinara sauce on whole wheat elbow noodles (oops, cooked the wrong noodles last night- should have been spaghetti noodles), ate cauliflower,  and ate three servings of fruit salad. This first picture is from yesterday afternoon and Nora is back in a familiar place; getting another ride in the stroller and this time it's Atley doing the pushing.  Check out Nora's cute mask.  Following picture; Nora and Atley hitting the doll house for some morning fun shortly after Nora arrived. Next picture: Atley using the binoculars and I asked her if she was "bird watching."  And apparently she was!!  :)  Ok, well if you spot one in the house please let me know.  Then Atley let Nora have a turn with the binoculars and she said she was "Looking for Miles."  Of course he was about 6 feet directly in front of her on the floor.  :) L...

Atley ate two servings of blueberry bagel and two servings of grapes for breakfast.  For lunch she ate pulled pork, two servings of whole wheat toast, ate peas, and strawberries. Daddy Ryan picked up Baby Miles for a doctor appointment about 10:45.  Nobody panic; it's just a routine checkup!!  :)  Atley was so serious when they were leaving and she asked Ryan; "What's your Doctor's Son's name?"  Haha.  I believe she meant to ask; "What's your Son's Doctor's name?"  Because she just needed to know!! This first picture is leftover from yesterday afternoon when we were outside.  I asked Atley about her project she was working on.  She said, "It's an ATLEY. An E."  Good work Atley.  It looks like an "E"  with an excessive amount of bars sticking out.  :) Next picture: Atley was working on the tray with the erasable markers.  She was following lines and doing real well with this project.  This time left-handed...

Atley ate bran cereal and raisins for breakfast.  For lunch she ate a bite of chicken, ate whole wheat pita bread, half of avocado, bite of cucumbers, and ate pears.  Atley was still at the window waving bye to Momma and she suddenly said, "You fixed it!!"  Huh, fixed what?!?  "The clock."  Haha.  It had chimed on the half-hour (I didn't even notice) and boy she immediately responded.  It's been down for a few weeks and Lauralea and I got it going.  Just one of the things you do when you're quarantined!!  Lauralea's Dad could repair anything (he repaired clocks for many people in Plains) and told us how to do it.  Please do NOT brings your clocks here for repair.  :) In the first picture Nora was still wearing her cape and Atley was trying to show off her bruised knee with the bandaid.  :)  Second picture: This is a pretty challenging activity, but Atley worked at it for awhile until Avi said she wanted to play "Farmyard...