guess what i learned how to do at a workshop today??

yup! Wordle.  Wordles are 'da bomb'. :) Momma LIKE.

June Daybook

Outside my window...

the sun is shining!  My garden is happy!  I couldn't even bring myself to take a photo of the 'before' (imagine the Jungle Book).  Waiting for seeds to sprout!

I am thankful for...

balmy nights
cool breezes
"cool" meaning the temps dropped into the mid-80's. :)
husbands
SUMMER. SUMMER. SUMMER.

I am thinking about...

The many projects I plan to do this summer - and those that I've already crossed off my list in these first few days of summer vacation!

Learning all the time...

How to relax. :)

From the kitchen...

Clean floors. Ant traps. Dog-food tupperware on wheels. And tubs of delicious ice-cream from the store (ooh, Ains was SOOO happy to go choose her own and to scoop it into a cone the other day!)

I am creating...

clean spaces.  breathing room. clean laundry. AND DANCE*  My big show is this weekend - off to tech and dress rehearsal in an hour.

I am working on...

Showing my feelings.  Release. Weightedness. Relaxation. Connection.

I am going...

to dance my heart out this weekend.

I am hoping...

for no rain on Sunday. Father's Day. More on that later. :)

I am reading...

The House at Riverton - by Kate Morton
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

I am praying...

for my sweet Grandpa who I miss and love so very very much.
Tonya's family.
for Dylan and my brother as they begin their adventure
for a dear friend and her time of being unsure

I am hearing...

Ains and Daddy this morning while getting ready for the day.  They were talking about treats (our latest ply for a little less whine and tantrum, and a little more use of WORDS) ...
*on the verge of a Gremlin-Meltdown*

Daddy: Only happy people get treats.
Ains: Why?
Daddy: Because if you are mad and sad and mean, then you don't get treats.
Ains (thoughtful) : So... the mean lady (a neighbor) does not get treats?
Daddy: Nope.
Ains: But maybe something happened to her.  Maybe she WAS happy.  Then something happened - maybe someone kicked her and made her sad and mad.

Our little philosopher.

Around the house...

satisfyingly re-claiming the toxic waste pile that it had become
a rejuvinated and sweet back patio area (nearly "complete")
and also
loving the new schwanky red sofa from our now beach-dwelling friends!  Thanks, J & J!

One of my favorite things...

fireflies

A few plans...

dress rehearsal, show, show
fathers day
attacking the piles of papers scattered in the odd corners
clean/sort/declutter and organize closets
SHED. (how long can I delay this daunting task???)
pancakes tomorrow?

A picture thought I'm sharing with you...

family portrait

This girl amazes me.  No. she FLOORS me - daily.

Mommy:

Can you tell? This next one is Jake.  She counted 4 legs and a long tail. :)

note - Baby Stella is her doll.  yup, that's Tinkerbell standing next to daddy.  Mom and Jake are off to the right. :)

Picaso

Back to School Daybook

Outside my window...

Dark, a bit rainy, nice cool 60 degrees.


I'm thankful for...
Neosporin - for my poor school-shoe-rubbed heels!


I am thinking about...
The fresh baked chocolate chip cookies hiding in the cupboard.
And Harry Potter (we ... er... finally watched the Half-Blood Prince the other night)


I am working on...
my extensions.  And getting to know my new students.


learning all the time...
that TV is really, really not good for the under-7 set.  Today we made TV rules... we'll try them out for a month or so and see how it goes.


from the kitchen...
Meatloaf!  Jasper LOVES it.  We love my mom's recipe. It calls for a smothering of ketchup mixed with brown sugar on the top.

I am creating...
lesson plans


I am going...
to bed early tonight. (applause)


I am reading... (linked)
Simplicity Parenting - by Kim John Payne - still, but nearly done. Still haven't actually simplified the toys... which is the first step... but I am processing all that I read!.


The First Six Weeks of School - Paul Denton & Roxann Kriete

The Morning Meeting Book - Roxann Kriete


I am hoping...
To find a great school for Ainsley to get into next year.  We're beginning our research of options.


I am praying...
the lunch prayer every day at school with my kindergartners:
 'We fold our hands and softly say... thank you for our food today... thank you very much!"


I am hearing...
Loreena McKennitt


around the house...
Walls and doors are now scrubbed (downstairs at least) - possibly for the first time in 2 years. oops.
laundry is done. 
Cookies are baked (I love to do this on a rainy day!)


heard this week...
"When my grow up and you Ainsley[aka: when I'm a grown up and you are Ainsley], I drink coffee and you drink my milk."
She's into the idea that we all take turns being each other at some point in our lives... including pets.


"I want mommy go yoga-dance, Daddy stay home, and I go on Ainsley-train [metro] all by myself."

one of my favorite things..
having dancer friends - hooray for Next Reflex Dance Collective!  [First performance in 3 weeks!]

a few plans for next week...

oh... school plans? :) oh, let me tell you!
Develop our morning meeting... introduce "sharing news"
Start the Name Game
More Guided Discovery (markers! colored pencils!)
Introduce our resident hamster-puppet Wishie
Start the sensory table work
Develop our Hopes and Dreams for the year
play games like Octopus and Zoom
Read Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Read Brown Bear Brown Bear
Pattern Blocks
Play partner-match (a non-standard measurement game to find partners)
Make an age chart
Teach the Pledge of Allegiance

a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

My Family - a drawing

Nana - I just want to say THANKS - again

I really LOVE my art table.

weekend with momma - and my first ballet!

Momma took me to the ballet!

At first, I wasn't so sure about this.... I don't see any dancing or hear any boogie music.

But once they started - I was in HEAVEN. I sat perfectly still with big eyes, my mouth hanging open, practically holding my breath, for a FULL HOUR. I even met the dancers (several of her kindergarten kids) after the show! I kept wanting "mow mow" [more]

On Sunday, we went to the coffee shop!

Then we went to baby Mollie's house for brunch! Look at these cuties! Mollie and Anna.

I couldn't resist - playing 'baby' myself...

back home for...

Finger painting time!

vids: doing baby's diaper (listen for the 'almost done!') and paint

DIARY FOR DADDY: drawing - Day 4

OK, so I'm stumped about those jellyfish looking drawings... but we had another drawing session tonight and WOW. She understands that drawings are symbols of things in real life! She was dictating to me about them "look what I made!". All of the words are hers:




(Sar - this was without any prompting. She even got up, got your photo from the fridge and copied it. She said "eyes" for the little backwards c inside the bigger circle and "hair" for the big line sticking up the top.)



Video - A phone call from daddy in China.