Monsoon Weather

5:45am.  Lightening.  Crash, Bang, Boom! The girls were in our room about 15 minutes later on Tuesday morning.  Then....rain.  Yes, I allowed them out in it at about 6:30 to play in the puddles and slosh in the rain before school.  It was so fun.  Paige and I even walked to school that morning in the rain.  Lovely, lovely. 

 

 

The next afternoon another rain storm hit after school.  They were in the pool waiting for it to come and then ran and played in the drops as it poured down.  They were butterflies with their towels on. 

Read to Dogs

I've said this so many times, but our city puts on the greatest events.  Once a month they have the therapy dogs at the library and the kiddos can read to them.  The girls had such a nice time being with the dogs and telling them stories.  After, they were able to check out some books and then we enjoyed some tea in the coffee shop located in the library.  It was a lovely morning. 

 

Time with Hailey

Hailey and I get to hang out on Mondays and Fridays all day and in the afternoons and Tues/Weds/Thurs.  She's such a good sport about running errands or allowing me to get to work done around the house.  She's so easy and flexible.  It's a delight to be with her. 

 

One of our friends gave us this pirate ship her kiddos were done with. 
It is now a cruise liner for the princesses. 

She's loving doing dishes lately. 

2014-15 Montessori for Hailey

Hailey started back to Montessori without Paige this year.  She was sad on the first day and missed her sister, but appeared to of had a good day.  I think she likes being a "big kid" in the class this year.  In Montessori it is encouraged for the older kids to help the little kids.  She's always been the little sister, so this is her year to shine.  She is attending three mornings a week now, increased from 2 last year.  She will then attend 3 full days beginning in December (but I am NOT rushing it!).  I love her sweetness and calmness so much.  She's such a good girl. 

 

Didn't want to pose for a picture.

7:28 am on 7/29

For Paige's actual birthday we went and got a donut for breakfast and to make a wish on a candle.  (Perfect before school breakfast on your birthday!)  I was able to get her picture at the time of her birth because she was still home despite it being a school day!  (I won't be so lucky when Hailey starts school next year.)  Her teacher allowed us to bring in a treat for the class, so yogurt tubes turned into Princess and Wizard Wands for her classmates.  My aunt, Hailey and I went to have lunch with her at school, but of course, I got the time wrong and we showed up an hour late!  I was so disappointed.  But we took Paige to the school library to give the librarian the book we donated for her birthday and then her class sang Happy Birthday to her.  Mrs. Glennen has a special song to sing and both she and Hailey loved it.  I'm glad my girl had a good day.  (Her well check is scheduled in a couple weeks, so I'll talk about her milestones there.)

For classmates

Donut

Making a wish

The big 6 year old!

 

Mrs Glennen and Paige with Hailey standing next to her 

7:28am

Book 2 Achieved!

Last week Paige finished Book 2 of the Barton Reading System!  Hooray!  She can identify and sound out all the short vowels and consents,  identify and sound out 5 diagrams, and spell any sentence containing three letter words with these sounds.  She uses all her tricks that she has learned thus far on her tutoring journey and I'm so happy for her.  It took her four months to complete 2 books attending tutoring two times a week.  There are 10 books in the system.  Her confidence and enthusiasm is really good towards reading.  I'm so proud of her work and look forward to her learning how to read.  With this system she will know the grammar and structure of the English language more than most folks.  It's truly the nuts & bolts.  Her school teacher even sent home a note. 

 

Proud Mama Moment

Tonight we were reading a new book I bought about how to be a friend and empathy.  Paige told me that today in the cafeteria at lunch, her new friend was crying.  Paige went over to her and saw that she was upset because she could not get her granola bar opened.  So Paige opened it for her and gave her a hug.  She was so happy to help her friend and have her stop crying. 
These stories make me feel good because I worked really hard to grow them as humans to this point.  I hope that our family influence and Montessori & Waldorf made that moment happen.  May those moments continue through life.