Reading and Talking :)

These girls of mine are growing and changing so quickly. Ryland is on the fast track to reading and Natalie is talking up a storm. I'm am surprised daily by the things they do and say. We spent some time with our friends, including Ryland's best friend Aviley, the last couple days. The girls played for 8 1/2 hours straight on Friday. She was wiped out by the end of the day! When we first got there, she laid on the couch and read a bunch of books to her friend. It was so cute, and she was really reading them!!

Natalie on the other hand spent the day copying the big girls and doting over the baby. She was talking up a storm, too! Which is becoming so helpful for knowing what she needs and wants.




Silly girl



Playing dress up, and hanging with Boden.



Ryland reading books

Growing Girls

In the past few weeks Natalie's vocabulary has exploded, while Ryland's ability to count, read and write has done the same. Watching these girls learn and grow is incredible. The other day we were at Ryland's school for "Bear Night" in the library. They had story time, crafts and snacks. Ryland loved it (as you can see from the picture below), and Natalie was thrilled by the snacks that were provided. I'm pretty sure this girl has no limit when it comes to eating wafer cookies. She even pointed to Ryland eating one on our way out of the building and said "have that, Pete no like it". This was after Natalie had eaten about 5 or 6. This girl is one smart cookie! Ryland did not give hers up, however.

Ryland is loving kindergarten. She comes home with stories galore, and spends lots of her time counting. She is so proud of herself, and it's great to watch that. She is counting by fives, tens, and all the way up to 100 by ones. She is writing us notes all the time, and doing really well with reading. I am so proud of who she is becoming.




Natalie relaxing


Playing at the playground


Bear Night


Cookie eating


Crazy family selfie with Natalie photobomb

The light switch

Natalie recently discovered how fun it is to turn the lights off and on. In the video she is saying "turn that light", meaning "let me turn the light on or off". She could have done that for hours that night. She was having so much fun.

Natalie Facts

5 things about Natalie:

1. Suddenly she tries to repeat every word we say, if she is in the mood that is. New words include: Princess, money, read that, drink, ide (outside), and Care Bears...

2. She loves olives.

3. She likes to play in the dirt always. She is constantly wanting to go outside and get dirty.

4. Every night when Ryland falls asleep, Natalie and Champ usually hang out in the living room. Most nights Natalie tries to run down the hallway to where Ryland is sleeping and laugh at the side of her bed. Luckily, she has never woken her up.

5. Natalie loves books, maybe it's because she has been reading them with us since she was just a few days old. She will sit and look at all the pages pointing out what she sees. Her favorite book topics include: babies, babies and more babies. Oh and doggies and kitties too!


Here are just some pictures of the girls this past week :)

Kindergarten

Ryland made it the whole way through kindergarten jumpstart without any tears. I've been nervous for years about school because Ryland hasn't had much experience being away from mom and dad, but low and behold, she loves it! She is even sad that real school doesn't start until next week. On the way to school on morning, I told her that she would probably go on a field trip one day and that mom or dad could go with. She said "well, I'll probably be with my friends on the bus and there won't be any room for you guys". Apparently, she is having a good time being more independent . We are so proud of her!

School

Summer is coming to an end quickly. Ryland is headed to Kindergarten in less than a month. I cannot understand that time has gone by so quickly. Wasn't she just born? Aside from missing her while she is at school, I know someone who might miss her more...Natalie. These girls spend a lot of time together, and I know that having Ryland to follow around the house is one of Natalie's favorite things. Luckily, we live so close that we plan on walking her to and from school, which will be nice for all of us! She also gets home pretty early so we will still have lots of time to play together.




















Natalie is now almost 16 months old. Here is a list of words she says (usually placed in between big long sentences of what sounds like German)

Doggie, dada, mama, nurse, Natalie, Ryland, bread, shoes, water, Butah, Peeto (peekaboo), night, up, ami (help me), hi, bye, baby, and the list goes on and on...she says more words each day.

Summer time

Life has been busy. These girls have been having so much fun this summer so far. We've been to Seattle to visit a new baby, gone swimming, played at parks, went on bike rides, and spent lots of time playing in our very own yard. Natalie wants to go outside all the time. Anytime she sees anyone opening the back door she races to it in hopes that she too will get to go play.

Aside from loving the outdoors, Natalie also loves babies. She has watched Ryland play with baby dolls tons of times, so she knows just how to feed them, wrap them up with a blanket, and carry them around. She is always pointing out real babies when we are out and about, even ones that are older than her :)


The Cook girls in the kitchen...


Here are the girls in one of many matching outfits. They sure are cute if you ask me.


Here's a picture of Natalie's curls after a bath. These curls really suit her personality I think. She's adventurous, silly and goofy.


Oh, and she's a trouble maker too, as you can see...


Ryland is constantly saying "mom, Natalie's going into the bathroom!", "mom, Natalie's climbing the stool!", "Natalie's playing with toilet paper!"....the list goes on and on. Ryland is my little reporter.