Playing School

This morning I volunteered in my kindergartener's classroom, this is notable because I am finding that teachers' schedules are so packed, they can't accommodate a lot of parent-in-the-classroom volunteer time. Sure, I could go in and make copies or color pictures, and maybe someday I will, but honestly I would rather not.

With that said, helping the little kids with their sounds and letters, in an actual classroom where they each have their own little wipe board and mini-erasers, was great fun for me. I always liked playing school as a little girl. In fact, at the end of each school year, I was so excited to go up to the school (across the street) and dig through the big dumpster to see if the teachers got rid of any fun books I could use.

The little kids are so endearing. At the end of my alotted 30 minutes, they all gave me a wave and said, "Thank you Mrs. M". Then, they all seem to shyly smile and wave for the next few minutes as they file out the door.

Now that I am a grown-up, I actually have some school-working experience, but it isn't the same as being in a large classroom like I was in today. My final parting words on this "happy" experience is to please, please read to your child. If you ever want or need a reference with great books to read to children of all ages, check out, "Read Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease.

Don't Let Me Forget

I wish I had a picture, but if I did, it would need to be a video. Watching my youngest daughter run through the house (which she loves to do, run) is so entertaining. She is usually looking behind her, or anywhere but in front and heads right into every wall, piece of furniture in the house. Yet, with all of the 'rick-a-shad-ing' (that is a word, I just don't have a clue how to spell it), she doesn't normally hit anything. I think I am watching a "Family Circus" cartoon where the artist draws lines for all of the places the little characters run in the neighborhood or yard. That is my daughter.

Now to describe my middle daughter transporting through the house:  she is always on stage - ALWAYS. She'll do cutesy moves with her hands and twirl, all the while talking to herself the entire time.

My oldest is the most deliberate, yet the pokiest puppy you'd ever meet. He takes FOREVER to get out the door 90% of the time, and not to be malicious. He is just that way, there is always something better to be doing. However, when he has made up his mind, there is NO stopping him. He gets determined and sets his little jaw and off he goes, pounding as loudly and fiercely as he can be.

Sledding Euphoria

We took the kids over to a sledding hill near a beautiful lake last week. The sledding hill is 'danger' appropriate for our little kids. Let me describe the setting as this is truly a 'thriller'. The location is a state park with campground sites and a large lake. The immediate area is hilly, nestled in the mountains. Trees are everywhere, but seem to be cut out of one little swatch of land, perfect for a sledding hill.

We didn't anticipate sledding endurance to be too high, so after we'd all gone down a number of times, I suggested going down with just "dad". Our oldest took off just ahead of us and we figured the two girls would be just fine until we got back to the top (seriously, less than 100 yards).

To back up a bit, let me describe the girls' personalities. One is a true "wanderer", though becomes emotional about everything. The other is going through a phase where she is afraid of her own shadow.

We got to the bottom, only to hear fitful screams of terror. We look up and there are our two girls, careening across the hill, going over at least two logs (caught more air than anyone during the tubing run down the hill) before stopping against a third log! We couldn't believe it! First, we were glad they were safe (I had to say that didn't I?), and second how the "wanderer" convinced the youngest to get in the sled, we'll never know.

Needless to say, we really talk up this memory of "adventure" and "risk-taking" and will revisit it every year at the sledding hill.

Dinner

Dinner

It is almost midnight and I am folding laundry that has been out on the couch all week. I spent about 45 minutes or so looking at YOUR blogs and enjoying your kids and your lives. As I was folding, I thought about my blog and thought, "Hmm, what made me happy today?"

Well, one happy moment of my day was when I took dinner to a woman I know from church who had a baby four weeks ago. For four weeks, I have wanted to drop off "a little something" and I finally did it. No one asked me to do this and I feel happier having done it voluntarily.

It isn't my style to fancy up the "drop-off" and maybe she would have appreciated a cellophane-bow-on-top wrapped up dinner, but I just dropped off my burritos and some cookies, chatted for a minute and left.

This dinner didn't stress me out at all, but the one I have been asked to deliver in a few weeks is already giving me fits. Oh well. Maybe if I buy some cellophane, it would all go over better.

My First Washington Favorites

My first love of Washington flared when in the middle of January, the first January of my WA citizenship, I looked out my kitchen window while doing the daily, never-ending task of cleaning up after mealtime. Towards the back fence of my yard there was a tree-bush (picture a lilac tree, you know - not for climbing but has pretty flowers) with a flower blossoming. In the middle of January! That was when I knew I was in the right place. We might have our gray days and we might have a near-constant drizzle six months at a time, but we have blossoms in January and I'll keep it!

The other picture is of a little plant I discovered. It is very hearty and has lived through some really cold temperatures (cold for WA, you know - 25 degrees or so). I can't remember the exact name, but it is a shade plant herbovore or something like that.

As you can probably guess, some years (like this one), my blossoms don't come till Feb 1st, that's OK. It still makes me happy.