Note that next to her she has positioned her stuffies lovingly with a blanket, pillows and even a Max and Ruby book to read. But the laundry basket is all hers!
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Where's Abby?
...that's what Mike wondered this afternoon after looking in Abby's room during quiet time and finding it empty. Then he found her asleep like this in his office:
Note that next to her she has positioned her stuffies lovingly with a blanket, pillows and even a Max and Ruby book to read. But the laundry basket is all hers!
Note that next to her she has positioned her stuffies lovingly with a blanket, pillows and even a Max and Ruby book to read. But the laundry basket is all hers!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Update
ok, so it's been a little while since I posted. Life happens.
The biggest news of the last few months was Mike's mother's health decline and, sadly, last week, passing. She fought valiantly against severe brain cancer, even going so far as to pursue some radiation treatments the doctors said would be side-effect free and helpful. The day after her third and last treatment within a week, she did not wake up. She stayed in a semi-conscious state for over a week with her eyes closed and then finally passed quietly. It has been hard time for Mike and Jake and a hard time for us generally, as we've all been sick, some of us twice and three times simultaneously to this over the past month. We've had streps and respiratory infections, vomiting, extremely high fevers, you name it. It has not been the pleasantest of times, this is to say.
But, spring really sprung for the first time last weekend and we are mostly feeling better and things are looking up! I went to visit Jake in his classroom today and had such a nice time. I read the Grinch to the whole class, and then watched them do their "centers." They have a big wall chart with cards and the kids, organized in groups of three, read the chart to see which centers they do. They play at the centers and then when the teachers clap their hands in a specific pattern, they clean up and move to the next center. At first Jake was a bit manic due to my presence and spent most of his time at the playdough center throwing playdough, but his Phillipino groupmate Ian was so sweet and charming, engaging me in a lot of conversation, Jake finally calmed down. Center #2 was dominos, and we built towers and matched dominoes. Center #3 was listening, and both boys put on headphones and listened to stories:
The most interesting thing was looking around at the classroom at all the reading and writing exercises they've done, and listening to the teachers handle the class. These ladies mean business! They are kind and sweet and firm and have nearly all of this kindergarten class writing sentences in little books. Kudos to them! It was fantastic to see a glimpse of Jake's world.
Hope to be posting more regularly!
The biggest news of the last few months was Mike's mother's health decline and, sadly, last week, passing. She fought valiantly against severe brain cancer, even going so far as to pursue some radiation treatments the doctors said would be side-effect free and helpful. The day after her third and last treatment within a week, she did not wake up. She stayed in a semi-conscious state for over a week with her eyes closed and then finally passed quietly. It has been hard time for Mike and Jake and a hard time for us generally, as we've all been sick, some of us twice and three times simultaneously to this over the past month. We've had streps and respiratory infections, vomiting, extremely high fevers, you name it. It has not been the pleasantest of times, this is to say.
But, spring really sprung for the first time last weekend and we are mostly feeling better and things are looking up! I went to visit Jake in his classroom today and had such a nice time. I read the Grinch to the whole class, and then watched them do their "centers." They have a big wall chart with cards and the kids, organized in groups of three, read the chart to see which centers they do. They play at the centers and then when the teachers clap their hands in a specific pattern, they clean up and move to the next center. At first Jake was a bit manic due to my presence and spent most of his time at the playdough center throwing playdough, but his Phillipino groupmate Ian was so sweet and charming, engaging me in a lot of conversation, Jake finally calmed down. Center #2 was dominos, and we built towers and matched dominoes. Center #3 was listening, and both boys put on headphones and listened to stories:
The most interesting thing was looking around at the classroom at all the reading and writing exercises they've done, and listening to the teachers handle the class. These ladies mean business! They are kind and sweet and firm and have nearly all of this kindergarten class writing sentences in little books. Kudos to them! It was fantastic to see a glimpse of Jake's world.
Hope to be posting more regularly!
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
It's Jib Jab Time: Abby Makes a Great Lead Singer!
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
Saturday, December 04, 2010
First Snow
Sent from my iPhone
We got our first snow of the season today. They said a dusting, but it looks like at least an inch!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monkey Joe's!
The kids had a day off last week and we spent the morning at Monkey Joe's. It was so much fun!
Monday, November 01, 2010
Happy Halloween!
My little princess and my Dirty Jobs host, Mike Rowe, made a fabulous day and evening of Halloween. Jake ran around with his friend Sam and Abby trailed behind, with us, happily. Our neighborhood was full of gleeful, creatively-dressed, polite children. We got about 75 or so to our door as well. A nice night!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Are you Big or Small?
Abby's been hearing a lot lately about what a big girl she is. Yesterday she told me "Me all growed up!" And then 5 minutes later told me she wanted to swing on the swing for "little big girls," aka the baby swing.
I wasn't quite sure what she'd say about whether she was big or small. I should have guessed:
I wasn't quite sure what she'd say about whether she was big or small. I should have guessed:
Smiling family
Is this not one of the happiest looking families you've ever seen?
And they are mine, all mine. I had one of those moments last night when every piece of spaghetti on the floor and every whine about what was not had just made me smile. Being out of town for a while does that to a mom. It's like a reboot on your tolerance level. I'm so incredibly lucky!
And they are mine, all mine. I had one of those moments last night when every piece of spaghetti on the floor and every whine about what was not had just made me smile. Being out of town for a while does that to a mom. It's like a reboot on your tolerance level. I'm so incredibly lucky!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Playing Dress-Up
What do Abby and Daddy do when Mommy is out of town? Play dress-up! Here she is in her new Halloween princess costume, and in her dress-up boa outfit she got from a generous neighbor.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Abby at Work
We went in for parent day at Abby's school this morning. She was very productive and proud to show us her activities. She moved orange and black pompoms from one pumpkin tray to another using a special little scoop, she traced bats with chalk on black paper, she painted a pumpkin on the easel with impressive gusto, she cut strips of paper using a scissors that apparently she's been practicing with for weeks, and she showed us how tiny spiders and webs stick to a magnet. She pushed her chair in after every work and put each away neatly. Her manual dexterity with these works explains her latest accomplishments at home: pulling her pants up and down and putting her shoes on all by herself! That's my girl!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Siblings
Mike sent me this photo today while I was at work. When I got home, they were both in the bathroom with the light off, comparing how their new pumpkin necklaces light up in the dark.Outlay at toy store for plastic necklaces: 5 bucks. Value of sibling collaboration: priceless.
Friday, October 08, 2010
San Francisco and Superman
Just got back from 3 days in San Francisco, to attend the SOCAP10 conference, all about the "social capital" markets, or funding for social entrepreneurs. I had a blast!
The best part of SOCAP is that it takes place on the water near the Marina. I got up at dawn in Monday morning and hiked around Fort Mason to see the sunrise.
The next morning I met someone for breakfast on Fisherman's Wharf.
While I was there I also saw Waiting for Superman. it is not playing in NC yet and I could not wait! I was not disappointed. It is an intense and highly emotional film, about a lot of entrepreneurs I have studied and taught over the years and what we all need to do to improve the way schools serve our kids. I bawled during the last 30 minutes watching the kids wait for their slots in good schools during school lotteries. I have a lot of opinions of this movie, some good some bad, but I think it was a very courageous film to make. If you care about how kids are educated in this country, run, don't walk, to go see it! I very literally did as I couldn't find a cab the night I needed to see it and when I finally did I was late to the theater. Anyway, GO!!!!
The best part of SOCAP is that it takes place on the water near the Marina. I got up at dawn in Monday morning and hiked around Fort Mason to see the sunrise.
The next morning I met someone for breakfast on Fisherman's Wharf.
While I was there I also saw Waiting for Superman. it is not playing in NC yet and I could not wait! I was not disappointed. It is an intense and highly emotional film, about a lot of entrepreneurs I have studied and taught over the years and what we all need to do to improve the way schools serve our kids. I bawled during the last 30 minutes watching the kids wait for their slots in good schools during school lotteries. I have a lot of opinions of this movie, some good some bad, but I think it was a very courageous film to make. If you care about how kids are educated in this country, run, don't walk, to go see it! I very literally did as I couldn't find a cab the night I needed to see it and when I finally did I was late to the theater. Anyway, GO!!!!
Random Recents
Here are some recent pix of us:
On the museum train:
At the playground:
At Orange Leaf:
At the playground again:
On the way to ANOTHER playground!
Running through the rose garden this afternoon - my, she looks tall and thin doesn't she??
On the museum train:
At the playground:
At Orange Leaf:
At the playground again:
On the way to ANOTHER playground!
Running through the rose garden this afternoon - my, she looks tall and thin doesn't she??
Saturday, September 25, 2010
A Lake beach!
Today for my birthday (actually it was yesterday, but I worked), I decided we should go check out a local lake's beach area. It was delightful! The kids were so happy in the sand and water and Mike was happy with the huge shaded area in front of the beach. Next time we go we might grill up some lunch. They had a playground and showers and changing rooms and life jackets and the roped off swim area is huge and shallow enough for Jake to touch all the way to the back of it. It was 95 degrees today, so I'm glad we got a real swim day in before it cools off.
We're going to get a lot of use out of this next summer!
That little blob in the middle is the kids and me on the beach, from Mike's view in the shade.
We're going to get a lot of use out of this next summer!
That little blob in the middle is the kids and me on the beach, from Mike's view in the shade.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Hanging Out
It was pretty exciting around here last week as we had some landscapers in, who climbed up some of our highest trees, felled some, pruned some others, and ground down all the logs, branches and stumps. Abby was fascinated. Jake was beside himself because he came home from school and found "his" tree, the one he'd randomly chosen a few weeks ago to put a pulley in, was gone. We had told him this was going to happen and why (it was in danger of falling on the house), but his 6 year old brain felt betrayed. We let him cry about it for a while and then we didn't. Finally, he bucked up in front of a Dirty Jobs DVD. Thank you, Mike Rowe - you have no idea how much you help us around here!
Next we have Miss Abby, looking serene beyond her years:
On Saturday, we spent the morning in downtown Carrboro, discovering a lovely green mosaic lady (hey, watch the hand, Jake!) and having a fantastic snack at Weaver Market. The day was just perfect - not too hot, nice breeze. We did an errand we needed to do while there too and thought again how easy living here is - in C'ville the errand part would have taken all morning. Here, that took 15 minutes and we played the rest of the am.
In the afternoon, Jake went to his first local birthday party, and I took Abby to the indoor pool and to the playground. Boy was she happy! She swam and grunted with happiness for over 45 minutes and then showed off her new climbing skills at the playground. We had 2 very happy and tired kids last night - yay!
Next we have Miss Abby, looking serene beyond her years:
On Saturday, we spent the morning in downtown Carrboro, discovering a lovely green mosaic lady (hey, watch the hand, Jake!) and having a fantastic snack at Weaver Market. The day was just perfect - not too hot, nice breeze. We did an errand we needed to do while there too and thought again how easy living here is - in C'ville the errand part would have taken all morning. Here, that took 15 minutes and we played the rest of the am.
In the afternoon, Jake went to his first local birthday party, and I took Abby to the indoor pool and to the playground. Boy was she happy! She swam and grunted with happiness for over 45 minutes and then showed off her new climbing skills at the playground. We had 2 very happy and tired kids last night - yay!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Morning at the Duke Gardens
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)