Pajama day at Deer Creek!
"Twins" day. Can you tell them apart? :)Thursday, June 9, 2011
BFF's?
Camryn has made a wonderful little friend in her class this year, named Emma. The two girls are very much alike, and it turns out that Emma's family lives just a few blocks from us. We have since gotten to know them, and her mom and I are currently working together to get a Daisy Girl Scout troop off the ground. Our parallel lives are quickly becoming intertwined, and these two are at the heart of it. It kind of gives me hope that Emma will be the one to help take the sting out of Colin's move...
Pajama day at Deer Creek!
"Twins" day. Can you tell them apart? :)
Pajama day at Deer Creek!"Twins" day. Can you tell them apart? :)
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Our little garden
Wish me luck, for this summer I am attempting to turn my black thumb green. Brian built us a raised bed a few weeks back, and today it was finally nice enough to get out and plant some veggie starts, and even some flowers around the yard. The girls helped me plant two types of tomatoes, 3 types of peppers, zucchini, and squash. They also each planted a sunflower, and some other annuals in their own little flower pots. Now, if I can just get someone to help me water all this stuff every day...!
Miss Smarty Pants
Camryn's reading ability is officially blowing my mind. I mean, really. blowing. my. mind. Let me explain...
A few weeks ago, someone donated a box full of chapter books to my school. As per our tradition, they were laid out for all teachers to dig through, to use in their classrooms, or take home to their own children. So I grabbed a few slim chapter books, mostly second to third grade level, figuring Camryn would enjoy some new titles. (Lately, she's been reading some to herself, but still enjoys a good Mom or Dad reading session at night.)
So having nearly finished all of the new Judy Moody and Junie B. Jones in the stack, I suggested we read the last one, a Beverly Cleary book titled, Muggie Maggie. Having been an avid Cleary fan in my youth, I was kind of surprised that I wasn't familiar with this one, and was interested to see what it was all about. Camryn however, informed that she had already read it.
"When?" I asked, to which she responded, "The other day. While Aubrey was taking her nap." Now it is true that I am officially the M.M.O.T.P. (Meanest Mom on the Planet), and do require Camryn to have some quiet "rest time" each day while Aubrey naps. This is also called "Mommy would like to keep her sanity" time, but that's another story...
So I figured I'd test her. I scanned the summary on the back, and asked her to tell me about the book. Her synopsis was spot on, but I probed further, asking some "Why?" and "What happened after that?" and "How did the character feel about that?" sorts of questions, to get a better sense of what she'd really comprehended. And she confidently responded to every single one, without even so much as batting an eye. It seemed as though she had read, and comprehended, the entire thing.
So then I got curious. I hopped onto scholastic.com and did a little checking of my own, into the story itself, and the reading level of the book. And what I found out made me nearly fall off my chair. That book is rated a 5.0 reading level. Yes, that means it's considered a fifth grade level book. Fifth grade! And my 6 year old kindergartner read it herself! I wasn't sure whether to burst with pride, or be afraid that she's right. Maybe she does know it all, and maybe I'm in big, big trouble!
A few weeks ago, someone donated a box full of chapter books to my school. As per our tradition, they were laid out for all teachers to dig through, to use in their classrooms, or take home to their own children. So I grabbed a few slim chapter books, mostly second to third grade level, figuring Camryn would enjoy some new titles. (Lately, she's been reading some to herself, but still enjoys a good Mom or Dad reading session at night.)
So having nearly finished all of the new Judy Moody and Junie B. Jones in the stack, I suggested we read the last one, a Beverly Cleary book titled, Muggie Maggie. Having been an avid Cleary fan in my youth, I was kind of surprised that I wasn't familiar with this one, and was interested to see what it was all about. Camryn however, informed that she had already read it.
"When?" I asked, to which she responded, "The other day. While Aubrey was taking her nap." Now it is true that I am officially the M.M.O.T.P. (Meanest Mom on the Planet), and do require Camryn to have some quiet "rest time" each day while Aubrey naps. This is also called "Mommy would like to keep her sanity" time, but that's another story...
So I figured I'd test her. I scanned the summary on the back, and asked her to tell me about the book. Her synopsis was spot on, but I probed further, asking some "Why?" and "What happened after that?" and "How did the character feel about that?" sorts of questions, to get a better sense of what she'd really comprehended. And she confidently responded to every single one, without even so much as batting an eye. It seemed as though she had read, and comprehended, the entire thing.
So then I got curious. I hopped onto scholastic.com and did a little checking of my own, into the story itself, and the reading level of the book. And what I found out made me nearly fall off my chair. That book is rated a 5.0 reading level. Yes, that means it's considered a fifth grade level book. Fifth grade! And my 6 year old kindergartner read it herself! I wasn't sure whether to burst with pride, or be afraid that she's right. Maybe she does know it all, and maybe I'm in big, big trouble!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Lacey's baby shower
The girls have been DYING for this day to come, and today was finally the day. Despite the cold, rainy weather, it was sunny inside as we celebrated Auntie Lacey, and the impending arrival of Keira (a.k.a. "my baby cousin" to anyone who will listen to Aubrey.) :)
We enjoyed lots of good food, the most amazing cupcakes (courtesy of Auntie Beth), silly games, and tons of giggles. Aubrey was a complete ham, entertaining us all with her commentary, and her ability to "help" with the gifts.
Lacey received many wonderful gifts, but the most entertaining of the day were the two (yes, two!) "diaper changing kits" that Daniel received as gag (pun intended) gifts. So great is his fear of baby poo, that it occurred to multiple family members to purchase him rubber gloves, tongs, goggles, noseplugs, and aprons, among other things. It was absolutely hysterical!
We just can't wait for Keira to get here, so that we can see both Dan and Lacey put all of those gifts to good use!
We enjoyed lots of good food, the most amazing cupcakes (courtesy of Auntie Beth), silly games, and tons of giggles. Aubrey was a complete ham, entertaining us all with her commentary, and her ability to "help" with the gifts.
Lacey received many wonderful gifts, but the most entertaining of the day were the two (yes, two!) "diaper changing kits" that Daniel received as gag (pun intended) gifts. So great is his fear of baby poo, that it occurred to multiple family members to purchase him rubber gloves, tongs, goggles, noseplugs, and aprons, among other things. It was absolutely hysterical!
We just can't wait for Keira to get here, so that we can see both Dan and Lacey put all of those gifts to good use!
He's comin' home!
After two long years, thousands of miles of travel, and countless hours away from home, Brian received the BEST news Thursday morning! All of his hard work has paid off, and he was offered a job as assistant principal of Sherwood High School!
His time at South has not been all for naught. He has met some wonderful people, made important connections, learned a LOT, and earned the admiration and respect of many people. He is sad to walk away from these relationships, and disappoint those who have come to trust him. But working an hour away from home has become a significant strain on all of us. And when this opportunity knocked, he had to answer.
So though it means another transition, and a steep learning curve, Brian is up for the challenge. All at a beautiful school, in a close knit community, only 10 minutes from home. We are so proud of him, and can hardly wait to start this new adventure with him!!!
Crocodile tears
They finally hit.
Big, huge, crocodile tears, accompanied by uncontrollable heaving sobs. LOTS of them.
And they were all coming from Camryn, as she realized exactly what Colin moving really means to her.
In preparation for their big day, the girls and I have been working on a special, "hush-hush" project to give to Colin and Chloe as a good-bye gift. Last night, as Camryn was helping me sort through photos, it suddenly struck her. Her friend is leaving. And she might never see him again. And she started to cry.
I don't mean silent-tears-down-the-cheeks, or even misty eyes. I mean she CRIED. Big, huge, body throttling sobs accompanied by a soaking wet face, and even some runny nose action. And she couldn't stop. And we couldn't stop her. And we just had to hold her and let her go, until she wore herself out.
Oh sure, we promised her we'd call, write, email and Skype. We even tossed around the idea of a trip to Georgia in the near future, just to ease her fears. But none of it worked. Because nothing we could say could really make it better. She loves her friend. And he is leaving. And that just sucks.
Big, huge, crocodile tears, accompanied by uncontrollable heaving sobs. LOTS of them.
And they were all coming from Camryn, as she realized exactly what Colin moving really means to her.
In preparation for their big day, the girls and I have been working on a special, "hush-hush" project to give to Colin and Chloe as a good-bye gift. Last night, as Camryn was helping me sort through photos, it suddenly struck her. Her friend is leaving. And she might never see him again. And she started to cry.
I don't mean silent-tears-down-the-cheeks, or even misty eyes. I mean she CRIED. Big, huge, body throttling sobs accompanied by a soaking wet face, and even some runny nose action. And she couldn't stop. And we couldn't stop her. And we just had to hold her and let her go, until she wore herself out.
Oh sure, we promised her we'd call, write, email and Skype. We even tossed around the idea of a trip to Georgia in the near future, just to ease her fears. But none of it worked. Because nothing we could say could really make it better. She loves her friend. And he is leaving. And that just sucks.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)