determination

Determined is not a word I would generally use to describe Rachel.  She's never really been determined about anything.  She can't ride a two wheeler because she's been too scared to learn.  Never mind that almost every other seven year old she knows can do it.  She can't swim because she's scared in the water.  She gives up easily when things are the least bit difficult.  

But yesterday she finally showed some determination, and I was (am) so proud of her, and if I can't brag here on my own blog, then where?!

Last week her friend Taylor finally figured out how to do the monkey bars at school.  This was one of those things Rachel wished she could do, but it was hard, so she never tried long enough to learn to do it.  But since Taylor could do it, she evidently decided she wanted to learn to do it, too.  So she spent the whole week at recess working on it with Taylor and a couple of other girls (the other girls would hold her legs so she could get across...I'm glad I wasn't there to see it, because I'm sure it probably wasn't very safe, and I would've likely had her stop!  

Well then yesterday in our backyard, all on her own, she decided to work at it on our monkey bars.  She did it over and over and over, until she finally was able to move one bar and then drop.  She was so excited!  But she kept working and eventually she could go two bars!  And then three bars!  The look on her face was priceless.  She was SO proud of herself.  She finally had to stop because her hands were on fire, but she really didn't want to stop.  Throughout the evening she'd go out and try one or two more times (her hands hurt too much to do it more than that).  She didn't get past three bars yet, but I actually have confidence that she'll keep working at it, since she's finally got some motivation.  

So proud of my girl!

picnic

Our church picnic was also last weekend.  Rachel looks forward to it every year.

Not a great family picture, but the only one we got all afternoon.

Rebecca and Mommy on the hayride

Rachel and her best friend, Taylor, being silly in my sweater.  They started calling themselves a two headed girl named "Taychel."

Holding our friends' daughter, Sadie.  Rebecca wanted to hold her, too, but I told her she was too little.  So she admired, instead.

camping

My husband's been talking all summer about taking the girls camping.  I'm not a camper, so I didn't really want to go, but I'm thrilled that they're interested.  He finally decided to take them last weekend.  I went along for the evening, but came home once they got into bed for the night. 

Things didn't go very well, apparently.  While I was there the fire wouldn't start, then was really smoky, Rebecca tripped and fell twice, I tripped (but didn't fall, but did mess up my neck pretty good and had to go to the chiropractor this week to fix it!), and on and on. 

After I left Rebecca couldn't sleep and he was up with her for hours.  Rachel slept through it all. 

At 4:00 AM they were both awake and wanted to get out, run around, and play (it was dark....he said no).  I'm glad I wasn't there!

But the girls enjoyed it, and here are some pictures to prove it.  I'm sure they made lots of memories.

monarch day

A couple of weeks ago our local metropark had Monarch Day.  We've gone before and Rachel has really enjoyed it, so we tried it out again.

long time, no blog

I've been a little busy.  That, and I can't seem to get pictures onto my laptop or ipad anymore, which means I have to go up to the desktop if I want to do anything picture-related.  So I have pictures to put on the blog, but they're upstairs on the other computer, and I'm never up there to do anything with them.  One of these days I'll get around to it and you'll have pictures to look at.

I started teaching this week.  The day was completely exhausting and I found myself wondering how in the world moms who also have a full time job do it.  My head was spinning for days with details.....getting Rachel's school picture money into her backpack on picture day.  Getting the snack ready for Rebecca's preschool class.  Figuring out what Rachel would wear for picture day (snack day and picture day also happened to be my first day, just to add insult to injury).  Then doing all of my planning, getting everything ready (since we don't have a physical school I have to take everything and bring everything home....even a stapler, tape, paper clips, scissors, paper....anything I might need during class, I have to take with me).  The day flew by, and I didn't accomplish a fraction of what I had planned.  I guess I'm out of practice, planning, because I completely underestimated how long things would take.  But so did the other teacher, so I didn't feel quite so bad.  It'll be a lot of trial and error for awhile.

But things went fine, and I enjoyed it, even though it completely wiped me out.  I'm so glad it's only one day a week for now!  

Rebecca has been doing physical therapy for about a month (because of her severe in-toeing).  She calls it "physical bearapy" and she really likes it.  The physical therapist makes everything into a game, so it's just one big play session for Rebecca, but she's usually pretty tired by the time she's done.  They've been working on strengthening her hips and core, helping her jump and balance (she's got a delay in those areas because her muscles are weak), and going up and down stairs the right way, with alternating feet.  She's getting better.

Rachel's just being Rachel.  She enjoys school, has a lot of homework (45 minutes a night in second grade??  I didn't even have any homework until third grade!), and fits in playing make believe with her sister when she has time.  But she's become a great reader.  Once in awhile she asks me what a word is, but for the most part she can figure it all out for herself and enjoys it.  Math is another story.....  It's not her strong suit.  She loves science, music, and art, especially.

And that's the news from our world.  I'll try and post the pictures soon.

official first day

Last week's "first day of school" for Rebecca was an orientation and Daddy stayed with her.  Today was the first day that she got dropped off at school. 

She was so excited for her Hello Kitty backpack and outfit. 

I don't think I've talked about her current love of Hello Kitty.  It all started on her birthday when her cousins gave her a Hello Kitty book.  Then over the summer Allecia daughter's, Marin, had on a Hello Kitty shirt, and she loved it and kept talking about it.  Then Grandma got her her own Hello Kitty shirt (this one), and now every time she sees Hello Kitty, she goes berserk.  She even has Hello Kitty shoes on, though they're kind of hard to see in the picture.

Waiting outside with her friend, Luke. 

Luke's mom (my friend, Emily), will be taking Rebecca and picking her up from now on, since Tuesday is the day that I work, and also the day Rebecca goes to school.  I'm happy that she has a friend in her class.

She went in the room without any hesitation, sat down, and started doing a puzzle.  I told her goodbye and she barely said goodbye back, completely engrossed in her puzzle, and excited to be at school.  She was ready!

When I picked her up she told me they had popcorn for a snack, went to see the puppets, which was about Abraham, and went outside to check the weather.  I asked a few more questions but didn't find out much else about what they did for two hours, but she assured me that she had lots of fun.  They did make a tree craft, which she brought home, and it had family members names on it, so they must've talked about their families. 

I'm happy that she enjoyed it and hopefully she'll be just as thrilled to go next time!

ingenious

This morning after we took Rachel to the bus stop, Rebecca was playing with blocks while I ate my breakfast.  She made this "thing," for lack of a better word.  

I asked her what it was and she decided it was for scanning her tickets (her play money that happened to be sitting there on the table, too).  She started sticking the "tickets" through the hole, saying, "ssssssssscaaaaaaaaaan!"  

After a few scans she said, "I'm ingenious!"  I laughed and asked her where she had heard that word.  She said, "the professor on Mickey Mouse is ingenious."  

See, letting her watch TV has its benefits....what a vocabulary!

Love that ingenious girl!

big day!

It was a really big day around here....

And it was Mommy's first day at her new school, too.

All went fine.  We both had orientation today, so we'll know more in a few weeks (I don't actually start teaching until the 17th, so I DO get to take Rebecca to preschool next week and meet her teachers and so forth--Daddy took her today for her orientation). 

I have six students.  A class of four girls (2nd and 3rd graders) and a class of two boys (a fourth grader and a fifth grader).  They seem really sweet. 

The good part about it being such a big, crazy day was that I didn't have time to stop and think about the fact that my youngest is starting preschool!  So there were no tears or anything this time around, unlike when Rachel started.  I was too busy worrying about my own day to be sentimental.  With me, that's a good thing. 

mountain climber

Last week my husband was gone, attempting to climb Mt Rainier.  (I took this picture from his Facebook page....) The weather didn't cooperate, so he didn't make it quite all the way, and no one from the company he climbed with has made it to the top in the week since he attempted.  The weather has been that bad!  He's disappointed that he didn't make it, but knows it was out of his control.  But I'm very proud of him for all of the hard work that went into training for this adventure.  

But mostly I'm glad he's back home safely!

mail

I was gone for a couple of hours this afternoon and came home to this on the table.

I opened it up to find this

It took me a little while to figure out what it says.  It says:

I love you a lot.  As much as shapes.  2D or 3D.  Your daughter, Rachel.

Wow, she loves me as much as she loves 2D or 3D shapes!  :)

Then she made me a dollar....I especially like the pyramid she drew, with an eye in the middle, just like is on the back of a real dollar.  

Love that crazy girl.....