We use the funest phonics program I've ever seen.  It is called Fun Family Phonics.  We learn stories about each letter and phonics sound.  We have songs to go with it and the kids have done so well with it.  We started with abecka and we just couldn't keep up.  It was just not clicking.  Melaina started at 4 and is reading and writing pretty good.  They love it.  If anyone has heard of it please let me know.  I am trying to get the readers to go with the 3rd set and can only order them in Canada.  I can't stop now when we've almost gone through the whole thing.  If anyone can help me I would be so grateful.

Daddy decided instead of wrapping her new bike he would cover it in balloons. 

It became a bigger project than anticipated so I endend up helping him.  We

were up very late.  When she woke up she was perfectly happy with a clump

of balloons for her birthday.  I had to convice her to pull them off.  When she

saw her bike in there she started screaming, "MY BIKE!  MY BIKE!".  It was

great.  When she was finally done pulling them off the whole living room was

covered in balloons to go with the streamers and banners we had hung.  She had

a great day!