100 things

Okay, so this is a list of 100 things every child should do before Kindergarten. I swiped it from this blog last spring and have heard of this list often before that, but never actually read the 100 things on it.
Well, we're long done with Kindergarten with the girl around here, as today she is officially a First Grader, but I still thought it'd be fun to go thru and see where we're at in the game.
Also to see what we need to get Sawyer doing in the next two years before he heads off to school as well. :)

1. Go to the zoo – I think my kids have been to the zoo (several different zoos) more times in their six/three years than I ever did in my whole childhood. It's a favorite outing around here. Especially since living here... who can resist a free zoo? And one of the best in the country at that?

2. Visit a farm – we've been to farms for field trips and have plenty of friends back home with property as "farmy" as just land and horses, all the way up to full crops. Check.

3. Go on a hike – we love hiking

4. Play with kittens or puppies - any chance we get

5. Catch a frog - hmmm... not sure on this one. Turtle yes, frog I can't remember.

6. Make a gigantic mess – we like to play messy sometimes... Sawyer's favorite is a big mess of packing peanuts. Savannah loves to play with shaving cream.

7. Help clean up a gigantic mess – you'd better believe I'm not cleaning all of that up myself!.

8. Master the monkey-bars - Savannah's almost there. Sawyer's got a year or two.

9. Swing high up into the sky all by themselves- Savannah's an experienced swinger these days and Sawyer's on the verge of pumping up a storm.

10. Try ice-skating- Savannah first went on a field trip with her first preschool class. Sawyer went with Daddy when he was two.

11. Go sledding – I don't think we've "gone sledding", but we've made quite the mini-snow hill in our yard for the kids to slide down. They'd say they've been sledding, but Ryan and I, growing up near Mt Hood, and knowing there are many good sled hills around, would have to say they haven't had a true sledding experience. They do have a sled and love snow play though.

12. Make a snow-man – we do this every time it snows

13. Blow bubbles- would kids really make it to kindergarten without doing this??

14. Plant seeds and watch them grow- Savannah yes, Sawyer no. He's got no patience interest in that yet.

15. Have a pillow fight - yep

16. Jump on a big bed – oh yeah

17. Jump on a trampoline or in a bounce house – both have done both

18. Hang out in a tent – in the backyard, in the Columbia Gorge, at Foster Lake, at Lake Michigan, at Babbler Creek, and probably many more.

19. Spend days at the beach – Savannah's first trip was at 6 weeks old. Sawyer was a few months old. We used to spend many, many weekends at Grandpa Bob's house in Rockaway Beach on the Oregon coast. Nowadays, living in the midwest, the beaches we've frequented are lake beaches in Michigan. We hope to get to the east coast soon.

20. Build sandcastles – what else do kids do on the beach?

21. Go fishing- nope. We're not big fishermen. But Sawyer did learn how to practice cast and both kids are interested so we may have to do that soon. Sawyer just bought himself his first pole!

22. Go out on a boat – Yes, although I don't think Sawyer has ever had the pleasure of a lake/ski boat outing. He's been in a canoe, a raft and row boat. Savannah's been tubing behind a ski boat and done a paddle boat.

23. Play with blocks and puzzles – yup

24. Read the classic picture books – yes, I'm a stickler for those

25. Read a classic chapter book – Savannah has devoured all the Ramona Quimby books (which may not be considered a classic per say, but definitely a classic in my childhood) and she has read Charlotte's Web, Little House, and a few Shel Silversteins. Sawyer, notsomuch.

26. Check out library books with their own library card – Savannah yes, Sawyer not yet since he has yet to write his name.

27. Get a passport – would be nice to have a reason to

28. Carve a pumpkin – my kids love this!

29. Hold a newborn baby (to see how much they’ve grown) – yes, every chance they get

30. Love a special doll or stuffed animal – Savannah's had her Lammie since I can't remember when. Sawyer's had Big Frog since his first Christmas (seven weeks old).

31. Bake cookies and cakes – they love to help in the kitchen often.

32. Help plan their own birthday party – Savannah's definitely had her hand in the planning... Sawyer's on tap for this year.

33. Go to the circus – we haven't taken the kids to a real old fashioned circus with animals and acts. They've been to Circus Flora which is a Cirque du Soliel type show, does that count?

34. Go to a museum on a quiet weekday – we've been to several children's museums and science museums. Oh and the SPAM museum, ha! I'd like to hit up more art museums though...

35. Play hide-and-seek – all. the. time.

36. Play a board game – they could play games for days

37. Do nothing whatsoever all day – yeah we have days like that... also called sit in front of the tv day

38. Try a sport – both have been in soccer and swimming. Savannah did dance and tumbling the year before Kindergarten.

39. Watch a sporting event – Both kids have been to Cardinal baseball games, Sawyer has been to a Blues hockey game.

40. Learn to swim – Savannah passed the Red Cross level one when she was four. Meaning she could swim across the width of the pool. Not sure if she could do that today. She needs a lot of warming up and confidence in the water. Sawyer swims underwater on his own all the time and as long as he remembers to breathe, he can swim the width of the pool.

41. Be tickled in hysterics – of course

42. Paint and draw as much as desired – Savannah has whiled away many many hours this way. Sawyer, not so much, but it's there if he wants to!

43. Have the use of scissors and glue – they're crafty!

44. Display artworks and other creations around the house – more than I'd like most of the time.

45. Learn to use a camera (and keep an album of the results!) – they both recieved their own cameras for Christmas two years ago and use them often. They both took lots of pictures on our trip this month. I should definitely make an album for them.

46. Play with clay- check

47. Pick flowers- of course

48. Climb a tree- hmmm.... I'm going to have to say not truly. :(

49. Gaze at the moon and stars - I'd like to let them look thru a telescope.

50. Toast marshmallows- every chance they get

51. Learn to eat an ice-cream cone – they're old pros this summer!

52. Watch a sunset- check

53. Learn to write their own names- Savannah when she was three. Sawyer is still working on it.

54. Learn their addresses and telephone numbers – Savannah yes, Sawyer no

55. Learn their parents’ full names – Savannah yes, Sawyer not yet

56. Set the table – I need to take more advantage of this

57. Clear the table – with reminders

58. Help wash the dishes – usually just help unload. I should start employing their help with this more.

59. Learn to say their pleases and thank yous and excuse mes -by Kindergarten?... I would hope so!!

60. Watch fireworks -yep

61. Go to the ballet or theater or a puppet show – Savannah's been to the Nutcracker

62. Put on a ballet or play or puppet show at home -yep

63. Face paint – oh they beg for this if ever in the vicinity.

64. Dress up in costumes at will -big dress up drawer in the playroom... Sawyer makes a pretty princess!

65. Learn rhymes and poems and songs by heart – yep

66. Have a dance party - with friends :)

67. Enjoy friends at preschool and at the park -you betcha

68. Invite friends over to play – quite often

69. Get to know grandparents – Savannah calls both her grammas regularly and when the grandparents visit both kids are attached to them for the duration of their stay.

70. Play with cousins – wish we could more... we had a great couple of weeks with cousins this summer!

71. Become attached to a wonderful preschool teacher and/or babysitter – we were very sad to have to say good bye to Ms. Kristy in Michigan, Savannah's first preschool teacher!

72. Learn the name of our president – Savannah not only knows our current president but actually knows several of the famous ones throughout history. Of course, that was learned in kindergarten, obviously during one of the biggest elections ever.

73. Know the name of their town, state and country – Savannah yes, Sawyer no. He knows Missouri

74. Be familiar with a map of the world- um recognize it yes... can point out countries beside the states, no

75. Listen to music from many different ages and genres - Savannah complains if it's not her "style", but for sure.

76. Hear and learn words from a different language – Spanish and Sign Language

77. Learn the difference between trash and recycling -got it!

78. Grow their own vegetables- we grow our own tomatoes every summer, does that count?

79. Learn to ride a bike (or try!) – both had training wheels removed this summer... but it's been either too hot or too busy for much practice. Sawyer's pretty much got it. Savannah's asking for hers back on!

80. Take a road trip – lots

81. Draw a self-portrait – Sawyer is so not into drawing

82. Slurp alphabet soup – slurp? I don't know. Spell with it yes.

83. Learn to twirl spaghetti on a fork - yes

84. Pick apples – in Gramma Debbie's backyard

85. Star in a home movie -plenty

86. Learn a magic trick- yep

87. Try different hair-dos – Sawyer's kind of boring... he only changes it up with a headband here and there

88. Practice writing letters – Savannah's writing (and has been for the past two years) sentences and whole stories, spelling and punctuating on her own. Sawyer can manage O's and S's and that's about it.

89. Practice counting to 100- this is Sawyer's version (learned from big sis): "one, two, skip a few, ninety-nine, one hundred."

90. Make up stories -too many

91. Send a letter – Savannah had her first real pen pal, Cloey, last summer.

92. Receive a letter – they have good grandparents :)

93. Ride on a merry-go-round check

94. Give away toys and books to less fortunate children checkaroo

95. Learn the value of coins and bills- Sawyer actually almost has the coins down already. He likes money :)

96. Keep a piggy bank -oh yeah

97. Try a musical instrument- Savannah really wants to take piano lessons. She's taught herself a few songs. Sawyer's been asking about getting a drum set.

98. Have a heartfelt wish granted hmmm... I hope so, but I can't think specifically.

99. Have a heartfelt wish denied – Sawyer really wants a puppy. How does this start so early??

100. Receive a million (make that a billion) heartfelt kisses and hugs from their parents- every day