1.30.2010

Snowy Daybook


outside my window...
the snow is falling. It has been since 9:00 this morning, continuously without pause. The footprints and indents we left in it this afternoon are already covered up. About 6 inches of powdery sparkles blanket my world. It's quiet. It's lovely. And it's damn cold. [18 degrees this afternoon to be exact.]

I am thankful for...
yoga. Bikram - I just took a class after being absent for over 2 weeks (and... ahem.. a few months before that.) It never ceases to amaze me how good I feel after that class, and how much more grounded, relaxed, and alive I am.

I'm thinking about...
the new computer we just bought. It's actually still in the box because I know I'll be daunted with the task of transferring gazillions of files from CD's and jumpdrives when I open it. But I'm so very excited we now have our own and that we got it in the mail today! (poor FedEx man in the snow!)

I am working on...
relaxing.

learning all the time...
I'm learning the subtle and also vast differences between teaching Kindergarten and 1st grade. For example, chaos is going to ensue when I give 3-6 step directions. SLOW DOWN. I'm loving the magic of it - as well as the challenge. I hope to find a GREAT workshop on early childhood development for the spring or summer - something that will help me better set up the layout of the classroom environment and to speak/teach/sing/play/problem solve with the children in the best possible way for their age. Suggestions welcome!

from the kitchen...
it's empty. And no grocery shopping tomorrow in this powdery white stuff. Great excuse to order in!? :)

I am creating...
loads. of laundry that is. :) oh, that doesn't count? Plans then. Plans for the summer. I plan to not work this summer - save for some tutoring a couple of days per week. I will be mommy. I will take Ains across the country and attend a wedding of a dear cousin. We will see our family and friends in August!

I am going...
to see Alvin Ailey dance company this week at the Kennedy Center with a friend that I admire and love, but don't get to see enough. Hooray for city living and opportunities like this! (And hooray for feeling like I can finally let someone else do the bedtime boogie once in awhile.)

I am reading...Stones into Schools. Still. Nearly done. What a ride!
TIME Magazine - in short spurts while Ains is in the bath.

I am hoping...
that we see a successful and historic term under President Obama. His State of the Union blew me away. I have liked him from the beginning - but every time I hear him speak, that increases ten-fold. Jasper and I stayed up till 1:00 in the morning last night watching CSPAN. Yes, CSPAN on a Friday night. It was no dance party, but I was soon hooked as I watched that master of a man dive into the Republican Caucus and answer their piercing questions, one after another after another.

I am praying...
for Haiti

I am hearing...
Diana Krall. Love her music.

around the house...
It is one-year since we moved in, and last week I finally put up our last pile of pictures on the wall. It feels like we finally have moved in. I can't believe it took me so long!

heard this week...
"Mrs. Mac! See you at creative dance!" - from one of the boisterous and energetic kindergarten boys who takes my after-school dance class. Made my day.

one of my favorite things...
Ainsley's walk. It's the best. I could watch her walk, dance, climb, and generally move all day long. She has such a wonderfully toddler-confident, determined, intentional step cased in a slightly athletic body with that big belly of hers. Nothing like it.

a few plans for the rest of the week...
report card writing. Focus, Tiffany, focus!!

picture thoughts I'm sharing with you...


1.17.2010

Park Day

After 12 consecutive days of temps below 30, a 48 degree day and going to the park around the corner was SHEER JOY! Ains and her neighbor-friend came armed with chalk, and loved up the outdoors for nearly 2 solid hours.





WORDS



Our Favorite mispronunciations....
Age (nearly) 23 months

  • beeps ....................... grapes
  • reerup...................... syrup
  • beeshbeeesh............ toothpaste, of course!
  • sss--poop................. soup
  • bupee bie................. pumpkin pie
  • bup bup.................... ketchup
  • das............................. salt, don't you know?

I only just now noticed... they are all FOOD!

Book Boxes

So, I can't help but upload this uncannily long video clip from my classroom. This post is for all of the teachers (ahem... ok, for mom and sis!) out there. Especially if you love the DAILY 5 and using book-boxes!

Being January, we spent a lesson reviewing how to best choose books for our book boxes. (Including some modeling Responsive Classroom style.) Then, children spent the next 20 minutes or so sorting through their own boxes and making piles of 'keepers' and 'returns'. Listen closely to the amazing thought processes these kids are going through. Kinders really do say what they're thinking, using self-talk out loud as they walk themselves through the process. I especially love the "books for sale!" guy who just doesn't want to sort his 'return' books back into their respective bins in the classroom library. :)

More about DAILY 5 here: www.the2sisters.com

More about Responsive Classroom here: http://responsiveclassroom.org

little architect

This is what independent play will get you... clever little thing!

Catch that ORANGE?

A dancer in the making...

Couldn't tear Ains away from this YouTube vid of her cousin in the Christmas ballet. She must have watched it about 37 times that morning. Listen for the 'bupbeee booosh'. Which, of course, means "clapping hands".



Counting

Ainsley is WAY into numbers and letters now. She can count (when not on camera) up to 10 by herself (often skipping number 4... who really needs it, anyhow).

She has a pile of magnet letters and can pick out the A for Ainsley, the M for momma (sometimes using the W, clever girl), the D for dadda, C for cat, J for Jake, E for Eliana (babysitter), O and sometimes P. Her favorite thing to watch on YouTube is Elmo's ABC song with India Arie (Elmo's mommy, according to Ainsley.) The unfortunate side of this understanding is when she points indiscriminately to a black woman and says, "Elmo mommy".

Never too much Elmo!

Thank you Auntie Lisa! I tried putting them on all by myself before they were even half-way out of the box! I love my new Elmo jammies!

Not just any old laundry basket...

A ride... A play area...
Or a table... (entirely HER idea!)

Tea Party


Nothin' like a little salt in the coffee. :)

Jake's Girly Side

Jake nestled right in to nap with the babies Ainsley had put to sleep on couch pillows.

1.09.2010

My First Daybook






Thank you, sis, for this idea: http://amongstlovelythings.blogspot.com/.


Outside my window...
It's dark. And cold. Even the river covered in a layer of frozen ice.

I am thankful for...
weekends - and nights all to myself with chocolate, pasta, and Norah Jones

I am thinking about...
going to bed. I tell myself to do this early every night, to crawl in and snuggle up with my books. I somehow fail to do this simple task, much as I long for it. Then, my eyes droop beyond my powers after only a sentence or two.

Learning all the time...
latest new learning is how to use Skype so our angel-girl can video-phone with her grandparents and cousins

From the kitchen...
thank God for Costco. And Trader Joe's. Frozen spinach ravioli's tonight with a delicious Yuengling Lager for momma. Wings at the bar for dadda. Pea soup made by our nanny for Ains - which she happily ate with her eyes closed. (Total refusal when eyes were open!)

I am creating...
lesson plans for the week

I am going...
to dance more, and Bikram more - heavenly! How have I gone so long without?

I am reading...
Stones into Schools - Greg Mortenson
Gift From the Sea - Anne Morrow Lindbergh
The Daily Five - Gail Boushey & Joan Moser (again!)

I am hoping...
that Ainsley's new schedule works well for her health and happiness (3 days school, 2 days nanny at home)

I am praying...
for someone we care about to have a happy living situation

I am hearing...
muted voices and music from the movie daddaMac is watching and the waterfall sound of our fish tank (with a guffaw or burp every now and then from our dog, Jake, in his sleep)

Around the house...
Just packed away Ainsley's size 12-18 month clothes and took a bag of donations to Monkey's Uncle - our local kids' consignment. Successful sweeping, mopping, dusting, dishes and laundry today!

Heard this week...
Ainsley -
-counting to 10 all by herself
-singing all of the ABC song (her own version) by herself
-saying 'I lo you' - an evolution from 'I lo lo'
-obsession with 'the white... HOUSE!' (yes, we enjoyed a tour there earlier this week)

One of my favorite things...
chocolate

A few plans for the rest of this week...
-dance class
-yoga
-research on buying our own computer
-file papers (yes, haven't filed a darned thing since we moved... you can imagine the pile.) - maybe that can wait another week....
-sending dadda to a wedding in Seattle

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you:










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