Playing along with Amanda today... in her words:
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Friday, February 6, 2015
This Moment
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Her 100th Day
Today is Audrey's 100th day of school.
I thought it a good milestone to brag a little... but also I find myself just thinking about this School Thang.
Audrey is doing really well in Kindergarten. We're all doing really well with her being in Kinder. Better than I would have believed this past summer in fact. Her teachers all love her, she has lots of little friends, and she doesn't report a single mean kid at the end of the day. Oh, and she's also reading at a 3rd grade level, excelling at Spanish, and has started doing special sessions with the gifted-and-talented-type teacher for science.
I really haven't even had many encounters with the bad habits I thought she might pick up from her peers. No cuss words, no brand-name bias, and no bullying... so far anyway.
We had a struggle with having a few accidents at school in the beginning, but everyone- teachers and Audrey- insisted it was because she was so wrapped up in activity that she was just waiting too long before fleeing to the facilities. As far as issues from school goes, I'll take it.
That initial decision of sending Audrey to public Kindergarten was a little bit of a struggle for us... so many around us seemed to be choosing homeschool, unschool, private schools, or Montessori schools. When I was a kid, I even had a taste of a few unconventional approaches to school. But after weighing the pros and cons of them all, we ultimately decided to send her to our run-of-the-mill elementary down the road. So far I truly have no regrets. Is the system flawed? Sure (what public system isn't?). But am I relying 100% on the system now that she's in it? Um, no. And because I am still active in filling in any gaps in her education that I think exist, I think a perfect (for us) balance has been achieved. At least, we've been happy with what we've seen from her after these first 100 days.
The most important thing to me at this point is that Audrey keep her desire to learn, her excitement for learning new things, and her fearlessness when it comes to asking questions and digging in.
So far, so good.
Happy 100th Day of School, Sister Girl. Keep goin' like you're goin'.
I thought it a good milestone to brag a little... but also I find myself just thinking about this School Thang.
Audrey is doing really well in Kindergarten. We're all doing really well with her being in Kinder. Better than I would have believed this past summer in fact. Her teachers all love her, she has lots of little friends, and she doesn't report a single mean kid at the end of the day. Oh, and she's also reading at a 3rd grade level, excelling at Spanish, and has started doing special sessions with the gifted-and-talented-type teacher for science.
I really haven't even had many encounters with the bad habits I thought she might pick up from her peers. No cuss words, no brand-name bias, and no bullying... so far anyway.
We had a struggle with having a few accidents at school in the beginning, but everyone- teachers and Audrey- insisted it was because she was so wrapped up in activity that she was just waiting too long before fleeing to the facilities. As far as issues from school goes, I'll take it.
That initial decision of sending Audrey to public Kindergarten was a little bit of a struggle for us... so many around us seemed to be choosing homeschool, unschool, private schools, or Montessori schools. When I was a kid, I even had a taste of a few unconventional approaches to school. But after weighing the pros and cons of them all, we ultimately decided to send her to our run-of-the-mill elementary down the road. So far I truly have no regrets. Is the system flawed? Sure (what public system isn't?). But am I relying 100% on the system now that she's in it? Um, no. And because I am still active in filling in any gaps in her education that I think exist, I think a perfect (for us) balance has been achieved. At least, we've been happy with what we've seen from her after these first 100 days.
The most important thing to me at this point is that Audrey keep her desire to learn, her excitement for learning new things, and her fearlessness when it comes to asking questions and digging in.
So far, so good.
Happy 100th Day of School, Sister Girl. Keep goin' like you're goin'.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
Right Now
Right now, a large portion of our living space is torn up and mid-project, and we spent pretty much the whole weekend tip-toeing around tools, debris, and people working. But folks, we're almost there! Operation Convert-the-Dysfunctional-Firplace-into-a-Wood-Stove is nearing completion. The hardest part is over, anyway: chimney liner in!
Last night we got down to 21 degrees, and it looks like there will be a warming trend this week... so probably (knowing our luck) by the time we get this beast functioning the cold weather will be all but over. Oh well, there is always next winter!
...and it's going to look amazing.
Happy Monday!
Saturday, January 31, 2015
A Freshened-Up Space
I had been thinking the exact same thing, and I'd actually started eyeing a little pallet in the garage that had come with our fireplace insert.
Since my solo carpentry skills are a little remedial the idea of simply lifting, leveling, and attaching something already made felt juuuuuust right for us, and we went for it.
Once the 'front porch' was finished and stained to match the house, we loaded the wheelbarrow with rocks from the yard and got to work on what will eventually become a perennial bed of kid-friendly flowers, herbs, and strawberries...
The kids did a great job digging up weeds and roots, then chopping up the top soil. A wheelbarrow full of composted horse manure later and the bed was ready to settle and wait for planting.
As the sun set on the last day of warm, sunny weather (for a while, anyway), I sat back and watched as the Littles settled right in to their freshened-up space- Henry making diner and Audrey decorating their new porch. I could hear them chatting, fully absorbed in their play. While the birds around us sang their evening songs and the wind began to chill I just soaked it all in, and across the backyard floated Audrey's sweet voice: "Henny, I love you and I love our house. Let's live here forever. You're my best Bubba."
*sigh*
Friday, January 30, 2015
This Moment
Playing along with Amanda today... in her words:
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
The Latest from Audrey's Camera
I cleared out Audrey's camera this weekend because she wanted to take pictures of an "amazing castle" that she had made with her bro:
As usual, I always love sharing the photos I find on her device (really I can't resist), and this time around is no exception. There were the predictable multiples and indiscernible blurriness, but this time around there was also a clear attempt at composing shots. It's a cool evolution to witness...
...aaaaaand there were these, too:
...and then, of course, the awesome castle.
Love, love, love.
As usual, I always love sharing the photos I find on her device (really I can't resist), and this time around is no exception. There were the predictable multiples and indiscernible blurriness, but this time around there was also a clear attempt at composing shots. It's a cool evolution to witness...
...and then, of course, the awesome castle.
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