Fun Around the House

Our lives has slowly settled into a different equilibrium. I wouldn't say that Tessa is that much easier than she was a few weeks ago, but we as a family, have certainly started to adjust to the changes. The girls are still so thrilled to see Tessa greet them after school each day - and their art projects now center around gifts to Tessa. It's really heartwarming.

Alexa has been starting to read - it is so thrilling - her learning style is very different from Emma's. Emma just knew how to read all of a sudden. She never had the patience to "sound it out" - and true to the way she has accomplished most things in her life - she did it her own way and in her own time. Alexa, on the other hand, approaches reading and sounding it out with patience and focus. She sits and "sounds it out" quietly and asks us to write her more sentences to read. She doesn't get easily frustrated when she doesn't get it right away, and is absolutely thrilled with herself when she finisheds a simple book. Here's how I found her last Sunday, reading to Tessa - a book about horses. Tessa was a captive audience:

The girls hosted an art gallery show this week. All of their "art work" was posted in our dining room. "Tickets" were created and sold (Tessa, myself, and an assortment of stuffed animals were the chic clientele.) And, apparently, there was an art show "boss" and an art show "organizer." I was amazed that Emma actually allowed someone else to be the boss. The name tags cracked me up, so I had to take a picture of them!

Me and Little T:

Emma has unending patience for Tessa - truly loves playing, holding, and interacting with her. And the adoration is mutual. Tessa seems to really respond to Emma's voice and face. She coos at her big sister and calms down when Emma is near. I love this picture of the two of them because of how intently Tessa is looking at Emma.

Yawn!!!