Silly "dancing"

Crazy Dancing from Anne Reynolds on Vimeo.

Best moment is at about 0:24. :)

General Update

This past week, I had a parent-teacher conference at Simon's school.  Simon's wonderful teachers, Jamie and Sarah, report that Simon has "really grown up" this year.  They say that he is more in control of his emotions and less prone to having tantrums when he doesn't get his way.  (This was never a severe problem, but he was a "typical" 3-year-old.)  He does a much better job participating in group times, and a much better job of sharing with other kids.  All bets are off if he is over-tired, but that's not unusual.

They actually did some little projects to assess the kids' abilities, and I got a little packet to bring home.  The front page was a picture that he drew himself.  He now often draws large shapes and then colors them, with different colors in different sections.  He does a pretty good job staying in the lines!

He can count to 12 perfectly, and in his assessment he recognized all numbers from 1-9, except for 7.  Actually in my experience he can count to 23 just fine, except that he pronounces thirteen and fourteen exactly the same, and both sound more like fourteen!

He recognized all of his letters except for D and K.

He uses scissors well - hard to see here but he cut pretty well along the lines.

He recognized all of the shapes except the octagon.  Actually he regularly points out shapes when we are out and about.  At restaurants he'll tell you whether tables are squares, rectangles, circles or ovals!

All in all, both Jamie and Sarah said he's doing just great.  They said that even though he's the second-youngest in his class (having a July birthday), you'd never know it and he should be just fine to start kindergarten on time.  Next year he will be in "K4" (aka 4-year-old kindergarten).  Simon already knows both teachers in the K4 room very well, so the transition should be easy.

We are very proud of Simon and so grateful to have such great teachers and a great preschool!

Easter in Illinois

Family Screen Time

Coloring 

Heading to the Easter Egg Hunt in Princeton

One of our better family pictures

Waiting

The Easter Bunny was there!

With his haul

Cousins

Making "tie dye" Easter eggs with Allison, Elise and Sonnie

Sisters

Snowy Lake Weekend

Discovery World

Simon and Troy recently took a trip to Discovery World, while I was busy with a handbell event.  The pictures and adorable video make me want to take Simon again, soon!

Discovery World from Anne Reynolds on Vimeo.

Candyland

This video is a few months old, but really cute so I had to finally post it.  Simon is VERY enthusiastic about Candyland.

Candyland from Anne Reynolds on Vimeo.

Christmas Part 2 - Minnesota

On a ride at the Mall of America - one of only two rides we ended up going on

Same ride with Emily, but he got off before it started.  It was sadly not one of Simon's better outings.

Bunch o' kids at Mat & Monique's house

Graham and Simon piano fun

My lame attempt at a photo of all the kids - Clockwise from top are Clara, Joanna, Henrik, Simon, Finn, Graham and Abbott

Christmas presents with Reynolds/Swanson clan - giving Will a hug to thank him for his new golf clubs

New-to-him from Emily and Will - a floor piano!

Simon's Great Great Aunt Eleanor

and Great Aunt Lynn

Liz and Great Grandma Peggy

Helping Papa Tom open presents

Mesmerized by his present from Grandma Karen and Papa Tom!  (He calls it "MY iPad!"  - it's a LeapPad)