Reading Club

Some Days, I wonder if I am doing this parenting thing right.
Last week, after Jackson's first day back at school from Christmas Break, he came home with a note from his teacher asking him to come to school early for a reading group.  I panicked! How could this have happened? How could he be so far behind his class in reading that he needs extra help? We read every day. Frantic, I emailed Mrs Houser, asking her about tutoring, any recommendations she might have, anything....I knew he could read books to me, we read every night, and I make him read at least some. I thought he was doing OK.
The next morning, she emailed me back. Apparently, I had been a bit hasty in my conclusion of his remedial reading skills.  Mrs Houser apologized for the confusion and said the before school reading program is for first-graders. When they have a couple of extra openings, they invite kindergarteners who are able to read to join. Jackson and one other child from his class were invited.  So, much to my elation, he is actually ahead of his class in reading. 
So, then there are those days when I am sure I am at least doing little parts of this parenting thing 100% right! 

Cole has been starting to put more words together.  He is still sometimes hard to understand, but I am hoping this means we are moving forward. Everytime he hears the word "Go", he gets excited and starts pointing to himself, saying "Too, Too!"  His "cold" Face is adorable, all surprised and scrunched-up, and if you tell him you are going to take a picture of him or ask him to say "Cheese", he blinks and bats his eyelashes.  And now, when I sing to him at bedtime, he is singing with me.  Of course, he is unintelligible, but it is still the cutest thingI have ever heard.

Last weekend, we went to David and Jana's on Saturday evening, played and ate dinner, then put the kids to bed. We always have such a great time there, as do the children.  On Sunday morning, we had breakfast and did a little more playing, then headed over to Aunt Jan's for Round Family Christmas.  This is always a little crazy.  About 25-30 people in one house, lots of food, and lots of presents. 

I chose to make a photo book of last year's pictures instead of printing them and putting them in albums.  It turned out so big, I had to split it into 6-month increments.  SO, I have two 2011 photo books.  I intend to do this every year. Much more organized without me having to spend all that time scrapbooking!