Rodeo Day at School

I promise my children have other clothes to wear.  It seems like the last few posts have included my kids in their western clothes.  Rodeo is a big deal in San Angelo and we have definitely worn our hats and boots this year.  On Monday, Sophie's school had Rodeo Day.  As a take home project, we had to make a stick horse.  Sophie's was a little lumpy and droopy, but she loved him anyway.

Cowgirls (and John Curtis)

Thrilled with her stick horse

Howdy!

Listening to the story

Washer Toss

Snack time

Barrel Racing

A Talented Friend

Sorry I have been out of the blogging world all week. Sophie has been sick and there hasn't been much to blog about. I wanted to share the talents of my friend Janet with you. She has made Sophie several bows, but Sophie fell in love with the ones she surprised her with on Sunday. Isn't she talented? Check out her website at http://dimplesdots.blogspot.com/.

Sophie's Spelling

I have been amazed at how Sophie has taken off in her reading. She reads to us every night from simple books. I've taught many kids to read, but it is so different when it is your own. There is such a sense of satisfaction seeing her recognize by sight words she used to have to sound out. If she can read, she'll be okay in life, right? My mom got her some magnetic letters and a board to put them on for Christmas. We were playing school yesterday and she wanted me to put some pictures on the board for her to try to spell out on her own during her rest time. When she got up I went in there to check and had to take a picture of her valiant effort. It looks like she may have her dad's spelling skills. She didn't get it from me, I was in the 4th grade Spelling Bee. She's only 4 so there is hope for her yet. I thought some of her spellings were pretty inventive!

Sophie's Christmas Party

Yummy snacks
The kids drew names and gave each other gifts. It was cute to watch. They were so proud of themselves and what they had picked out for their classmates at Santa's Workshop.

Sophie got a makeup set from Luke. He picked out the perfect gift for her. Mom wasn't so thrilled however.

So excited!!!!!

While the kids were opening presents, Santa came and hid gifts for each student on the playground. They ran around looking for their names.

Found it!

Christmas Tree Farm

Sophie went on her first field trip on Monday with her class to a Christmas tree farm. It was FREEZING with that West Texas wind blowing. The kids seemed to have fun in spite of the cold though.

Waiting with her friend, Grace

The farmer she decorated with Caleb

Sitting in the sun for warmth
Smiling in spite of the cold

Hay ride

Decorating a Christmas tree

The finished product

Feeding llamas

Cooking Smores

YUM!

Sophie's a Pilgrim Girl.

Sophie's school had their Thanksgiving Feast on Friday. They sang some songs and ate some good food. Sophie was a pilgrim and looked so cute in her costume.

Open House

Sophie's class had Open House last night. She had fun showing off her classroom. Her teacher had prepared a scavenger hunt that took us around the room and showed us all they do during the day. She is such a big girl!

Choosing from the treasure box

Sophie's fake smile

Showing me the book she read aloud to the class

Mrs. Bringham's class book

Sophie and Her Class at the Pumpkin Patch

I am sitting here in front of the computer contemplating this big project I have due on Friday. It seems like the perfect time to blog. On Monday, it was Sophie's class's turn to visit the pumpkin patch. They sat and listened to a few stories and then went outside and learned about different types. They got to hold the little ones and feel some of the bigger ones. It's so fun to see her interacting with her classmates. She really loves school.

Growing Up

Sophie seems to be growing up right before our eyes. She is learning so much in school. Her teacher told me on Friday that she is starting to read. I have noticed that she is trying to spell words and figure new ones out. I thought her teacher might have been exaggerating a little, but who am I to argue with a professional????Friday was my sister's birthday so the kids and I went to Weatherford to help her celebrate. All the girls went to get pedicures. Sophie loves girl time. She doesn't mind sitting in the chair patiently waiting for her turn. I mentioned to Mom that she might be a tad bit spoiled since she has had her nails done professionally three times and I didn't get mine done until my wedding day!

Fish and Football

My parents came Friday and stayed through today. It was good to see them and we kept them busy. On Friday Taylor and Sophie put together her new aquarium. It is actually Taylor's old aquarium that has been at his office. Since he's getting a new one for his new office we thought we'd give Sophie the old one so she could have pets. We changed all the decorations and made it girly and Sophie loves it.

Helping Daddy get it ready.

Arranging the decor!
The finished product

I often walked in the room and found Taylor staring at the aquarium. Sophie joined him.

On Saturday we went shopping for a Halloween costume for JohnCurtis. Sophie wants to wear her cheerleader outfit that she wears to the games, so we wanted to get him a football uniform. We found lots of cute jerseys but only found one costume with a helmet. I think we'll use the helmet and the pants and get him a t-shirt to wear. The shirt that came with it was itchy and he didn't like it.I look good!

I could play for the Aggies! (literally)