First Grade

Today we toured the new school for Carys next year. She will be attending our local public school. She enjoyed seeing the classrooms, lunchroom, auditorium, computer, music and art rooms. She especially enjoyed the library. She sat right down to read a book.

We are relieved that the Principal is very personable and took the time with us today to give us the tour. They have all the things we were hoping for in a school; access to books, computers, wonderful art and music classrooms, hot lunch that made my mouth water and teachers who seem involved and like they really care. We just hope her first year in public school is an easy transition and she has the opportunity to continue her reading skills at the level they are now. From what the Principal said, once the students are evaluated at the beginning of the year, they do have differentiation and offer more challenging curriculum to those who need it.

The school is 3 blocks from our house so it will be an easy walk in the milder weather and an easy drive in winter. I hope to participate more in the classroom, I may need to have a sitter for a few hours for Walker, that will depend. Right now, I'm trying to decide if I want to bring her home for lunch everyday.

The original school building plaque says it was built in 1918!

Together

We went to a suburban kids museum with Helen's friends and the girls had a great time. They have a word-working section with real hammers, nails and saws (biting nails). Honestly, a kid could saw their finger off. Luckily, it was a small, well-controlled area. They had an employee at the entrance who would ensure children were either old enough or entering with an adult and there was a kid:saw ratio of some sort. Poppy helped Helen and Evie's Mom was helping Carys and of course Carys went for the saw. Well it all worked out in the end without bloodloss and the kids got a little homemade car or in Helen's case, a radio.

They also had a great water play area. I think this is one of the only places I could leave Helen (which of course I would never dare) for an hour or two and come back and she would still be there happily interested and playing as if she just arrived. She LOVES water play.

Gusto

Now that Helen's sleep situation is improving and her mood is much happier, she is enjoying her days.

Living with the well-rested Helen, I've determined she has gusto (vitality marked by an abundance of vigor and enthusiasm). Whatever she does, she gives it 100%. She plays hard, laughs hard, runs hard, fights hard and cries hard.

Day of Firsts

Walker just had his first rice cereal. I have some clumsy footage, will see if I can post or send it out.

Rolling

Walker just rolled over front to back. I think it was an accident and boy is he mad.

A New Medium-Clay

The girls and I had fun with this clay animal project. It was good for about an hour of fun. We'll do this again, time to get more clay. I also found that the little book that came with this so we could model our animals was necessary. The girls were much more interested in trying to create the animals than coming up with creations on their own.

Walker in Composition

Spring break brings lots of creativity, some of it the good kind. Walker is constructed in Carys' ham sandwich plate and he is created in contruction paper, tape and playdoh.

Uh Oh

Walker's not sure about this big sister love.

Cutie Pie

Spring Break

We're at home this week. I finally took the kids to the library and renewed my library card. They really enjoyed it. We'll do it again once we've read all the books we brought home.

Muse

I wrote earlier that Carys is becoming inspired to create and Walker is her latest muse. I enjoy seeing her decide on a project, gather the materials, explain to me why she had to use a certain pencil or if she did not have the right kind, why she chose the alternative color etc. It's fun to be creative but almost as enjoyable watching the children be creative.

Bicycle

Carys got her first real bicycle for her birthday. She really enjoys riding and now it's our challenge to find safe places for her to ride in addition to giving her enough riding time to become comfortable on the bike.

Luckily, there is a lot next to the elementary school that we can use for now. I believe the village is looking into renovating that space so I don't know how long we will be able to ride there but it's working out so far. Also, we found a wonderful bike lane by the mall we go to so we are eager to explore that area too. This means that Helen will be getting a bike for her birthday and Poppy and I will likely be getting bikes as well. Walker will probably ride in one of those carts behind Poppy's bike.

The downside is that I've not ridden a bike in YEARS. I hope they make adult training wheels. The upside, Poppy and I have been wanting bikes for a long time. Neither of us really wanted to spend the money and did not feel we had the time. Now we have to make the time to ride and hopefully it will be a wonderful family activity for years to come.

Growing Up

These girls are growing up so fast. Helen 3.75, Carys 6

Poppys Bday

So it was Poppy's b'day a while back. The girls and I made him a cake. We fell short on the decorating aspect. Next time, I'm going to buy two cans of frosting, this cake only has one can...

Piano Lessons

I think we've told most everyone that Carys has started piano lessons. I found her teacher through a series of recommendations from other piano teachers who either did not have space for a 5 year old, did not teach 5 year olds, required me to learn with her (impossible at the moment) etc. When I finally called her teacher, she said "I love teaching 5 year olds". That's all I needed to hear. It takes a special individual to teach children, especially something as technical as piano without making it seem too technical. Carys came home the first week playing the three bears, which is basically just going up and down the piano while telling the story. It can be as dramatic as low notes and as sweet as high notes. So I like the teacher. She's not, how shall I say, stiff and unforgiving.

Our next big hurdle is to resolve the piano issue, since we don't have one. We have considered keyboards, piano keyboards, and pianos near and far. We're still investigating pianos for small spaces, if anyone has suggestions, we'd love to hear them. Carys needs to have proper placement at the piano when she's practicing as well as the opportunity to hear herself play on a quality piano. One gracious teacher went through all the reasons we should get a real piano and not the least of which was it's ability to encourage the student to play more when they are making beautiful music.

Carys loves to practice and right now I do remind her each night but she enjoys it for now. I have been reading up on coping techniques for when they begin to become resistant and want to quit. I've decided as long as we can afford it, we will continue lessons even if she decides she is "bored".

As you can see, her sister is not far behind her. I'm going to have to ask for a sibling discount, hopefully we can get one.

A Few New Developments

Walker is getting ticklish on his back behind his shoulder blades. His laugh is more like grunting right now.

Walker can grab his binky when it's in his mouth and pull it out, he can also put it back in. He also thinks this is quite amusing and the rest of us agree.

Helen is blossoming in her montessori class. She said she did the hard work today (what we call work other than practical life)

Helen is beginning to recognize others around her in a very caring and friendly way. She is quite sensitive to others.

Helen is continuing to vocalize her Japanese, in this case, she is actually using real words (as confirmed by Carys)

Carys is beginning to create craft projects on her own. She is usually inspired by things around her but quite creative.

Carys said she wants to become a teacher, an English teacher.

Carys is beginning to try to use her words more in class and ask the teachers for words she does not have. We are encouraging this more, she does not have the confidence with the words she does know yet.

Happy Birthday Carys

Head Start

Both girls are eager to entertain Walker. Lucky me. They sing songs read to him, and beg for a smile. This usually works well when Walker is in the mood to be entertained and when the girls aren't in the mood to compete for his attention. I still get called when he breaks down. Carys' assessment, "he's hungry". My answer to everything these days too.

Practical Life

Carys and I find few opportunities to have alone time but I try to have something a little more challenging for her when we do. I had to perform surgery on Diamond, her grey stuffed horse, so she was able to learn to sew a button. She threaded the needle by herself and with a few issues, she complete this all by herself. She needs to practice, but it'll be a slow pace since I can't get the sewing box out with Helen yet.