Tot School Week 8

Liliana is 22 months old

In order to try to organize my thoughts and ideas better I think I am going to try posting this weeks activities by the day of the week.

On Sunday we didn't do any formal tot school but I do have these great pictures to share from breakfast at Ihop. She had such a great time stacking and lining up the creamers! Any moment can truly be a TOT school moment.



Then on Monday I took a few minutes after I got off work and ran to the dollar store and found some great supplies! We didn't get to use them much since we had to go to my parents house and where there till 8. We did get to play this Fisher price online game and play ball outside with grandma and grandpa. Then at bath time I gave Liliana a bottle and she worked on filling it with water and then spilling it! (Sorry No pictures I didn't take my camera)

Tuesday we worked on placing pom poms and craft sticks in a parmasan cheese container.( same concept different manipulatives) I think it helps keep it. interesting! We also worked on apple shaker for the letter of the week, which was A. Ideas found here And found magnetic numbers in noodles idea from Rocker Tot.





On Wednesday Liliana enjoyed her Easter/Valentines Day package that arrived from Canada. We worked on the Pop out Easter Egg puzzles that came in a book, read the cards, and another set of books.


On Thursday we worked on our letter A by creating the letter A out of popsicle sticks!We also finally completed the spaghettie and Metballs tub and continuted to find magnatic letters and numbers in pasta, except we introduced utentensils today!



Lastly this week we did a few Easter Egg hunts and died Eggs!


As this coming week is Spring Break, I am unsure how much tot school we will be able to complete! I have booked us solid with checkups and play dates!

Tracy's Angel-Sandra's Story

Hi everyone,
I know many of you are not from the local area, but I wanted to share a very personal experience with you. A 8 year old girl went missing 11 days ago. Her body was found on day 10 in a canal 3 miles from her home. I had been hoping that the little girl had been taken by her father and was in Mexico, but that was not the case. I had followed this story very closely as it was so close to home, the school she attended is about 5 blocks away and the location where she was kidnapped from was only about a mile away from our home. No arrests have been made in the case, but leaps and bounds are being taken to find the killer. If you would like more information about this story please check out KCRA
Sandra was named an angel. She was so innocent, this could be why so many where moved to visit her memorial. I too was moved to visit her memorial, filled with cards, stuffed animals, candles, letters from friends and fellow students and balloons. Their were several posters signed by the community members. Our town has the reputation for being a commuter city, yet I feel that in times of mourning our community has pulled together well. As I stood their and payed my respect to Sandra I was brought to tears thinking of all this little girl had gone through, her family and the value of my own daughter! May God protect each and everyone of your children, may Sandra's parents find the answers they deserve and may Sandra RIP and protect all children from such acts of violence.
Sandra you will be missed but never forgotten! The City of Tracy and its citizens love you dearly!
For all the parents may this be a simple reminder to hug your children a little tighter, keep a close eye on them, and the people around you. Please check out this site if you would like further information about keeping your children safe.

Dear Sandra,
Even though I had not known of you before your disappearance, I am touched by your story. You are beautiful and brave. Your story will help many other children, parents and caregivers realize what we take for granted each day. You are truly an angel for you where a friend, daughter, student, niece, granddaughter and brought joy to all those who knew you. As for those of us like myself who only knew you after your disappearance you have became an angel and a sign of Tracy's support for its community members. Sandra may you rest in Peace!
Love
BT

23 Months old

Our little angel turned 23 months old Today. Here is some of her favorites

Favorite activities:
-Reading. She loves to read books and be read to!
-Playing Ball
-playing with dolls
-stacking blocks
-playing outside
-watching the puppy
-dancing
-playing with mommy
-playing the fisher price toddler games on the computer
-Coloring

*Favorite Shows:
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Imagination Movers
- Blues Clues


* Things she says:
-thank you
-mommy
-daddy
-madrinha
-ball
-please
-da (give)
-a que (Here)
- puppy
-blankie
-milk(Portuguese)
-tractor
-truck
-blues clues
-sit(Portuguese)
-water(Portuguese)
-girl(Portuguese)
-boy(Portuguese)
-kids(Portuguese)
-grandpa(Portuguese)
-grandma (Portuguese)
-uncle (Portuguese)
-Polga(dogs name)
-Luis(my brothers name)
-bird(Portuguese)
-hi
-bye
-night
-water
-ashes
-pee pee
-ready set go
-oh my God (thanks Padrinho)
-mine
-no
-beep beep
-yummy's
-stop
-shhh
-one
-three
-down
-done
-book
-up
-cold
- oh no
-toy
-tia(aunt)


* Things she does:
- Stacks blocks
- Waves
- Shares toys with Mommy and Daddy
- Gives her dolls kisses and hugs
- Turns on and off the lights
- Gives hugs & kisses
- Plays alone
- Blows kisses
- Feeds herself and gets with fork and spoon
- nods her head
-identifies some body parts
- finger paints
- Colors
- beads
-makes some animal sounds

* Favorite Songs
- Anything by Greg and Steve
-She likes Portuguese music too

Easter Bunny!

Today the whole family went to church! We had a good time and then we headed to the mall to take pictures with the Easter Bunny! Liliana didn't want to sit alone so I sat with her! Here are a few pictures

Tot school- week 7

Liliana is 22 months old
We had another great week at Tot school.
This week we did the letter study from Totally Tots. To learn more and join in the fun check out this post. The weeks focus was on the alphabet as a whole. We played this fisher price game So Liliana and I played with her Fisher Price learning table. Then the next day we went outside and practed writing our ABC's with chalk.
One night we played with our foam letters in the tub. As she placed the letters on the tub wall, I stated the letter. Here is her creation: We also wrote letters in shaving cream! She had a great time exploring the shaving cream as well as reviewing the letters!

We also used our Leap frog magnet set to review the letters and their sounds!


To finish off the weeks activities we read Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom and did then placed the alphabet stickers around a palm tree.

We also worked on pouring this weekend. Liliana created this activity on her own. Its pennies in a container and she would pour it from one to the other.


We worked on transferring cotton balls and beans to and from an ice tray! Liliana really seemed to enjoy the beans!

We also worked on beading, reading, sorting and stacking this week!




Lastly I created a sensory tub with water and cornsartch. Liliana had fun exploring with her hands and a few kitchen untensils.
We also practiced a few songs. This week we practice Slippery fish and 5 spreckled frogs. She really enjoys being song to. We also made a special trip to the zoo and to the beach. Click here and here to read more

A look ahead into next week:

We will be focusing on the letter A and completing some of these activites from totally tots and this site

In addition we will also be starting the Pound unit from totatlly tots

we will also continue to work on our tot trays. This weeks sensory tub will be Spaghettie and meatballs by Teaching Tiny Tots

Lastly we will complete some Easter crafts just in time for the holiday!

To check out more tot school posts click here

Tia's House and the Beach

The view from the walking path
Marco's aunt only lives about 20 minutes away from the zoo, so we stopped by for a visit. Liliana had so much fun with her aunt and uncle. They live very close to the beach so we walked down to the beach and Liliana had a blast playing in the sand and watching the water!
walking to the beach

Daddy with me by the water

tia and I watching the water
tia and I looking from on top down at the ocean

Playing in the sand
walking up the hill to go home

The San Francisco Zoo

Yesterday was Marco's last Saturday off so we decided to take full advantage of it. We took Liliana to the San Fransisco Zoo. She had a great time looking at all the animals. Her favorite was the lion, she did not want to leave. We had beautiful weather while we were there. I really liked the San Francisco zoo because many of the animals were not in cages, they had some free area to roam around!
Tickets $30
Parking: $8
Food: $8
Stuffed Lion: $15
The memories made: Priceless
The Polar bear!

My Favorite

This is how liliana saw most of the animals

Gorilla

Zebra

Lili and her lion
On the farm. I was surprised she actually walked through this by herself
The muskrat tunnel another one of her favorites
The Lion! She loved this animal!