Late Snow - March 8th!

Wacky Snow in March...waiting for springtime...

Show & Tell

Hannah got to be the student helper this past week which involved helping her teacher Ms. Jessie, providing a snack for the class and bringing a show and tell. She wanted to bring her Daddy's fire helmet to talk about what Daddy does at the fire department.

On the ride to school that morning I was asking her probing questions to maybe offer some help for the answers. When I asked her if she knew what Daddy did at the fire department she replied: "He watched TV. And he helps people when they call Nine-Ninety-One." So funny!

I snuck into class during the actual show & tell, eager to see if any of these ideas would be expressed, but she was actually very accurate in answering her teachers questions.

Out and About

We've had a busy past week and spent nearly every day doing something fun and different. From birthday parties to Children's Museum, the kids really loved the variety and now I'd trying to fill the void with fun things to do at home.

101 Faces of HANNAH

As you know, Hannah can be the ultimate ham. She's really getting into pictures these days always wanting to take them or have them taken and she loves the instant satisfaction of seeing them on the digital screen. Here are some fun shots of her after she deserted daddy's electrical project in the bathroom and her myriad of expressions.

Hannah took these above two herself.

Rock On Daddy!

Ryan is learning to play the guitar. He's really starting to look the part too. The kids absolutely love when he brings out the guitar and always want to try it too (they love it because they don't have to listen to it while trying to watch tv...).

Everythings Better When You're Downtown

Here are some pics of us on a beautiful sunny day in Seattle. It was the perfect afternoon and Hannah especially loved the city. She seems to be taking after me in her city interest and I can't wait to share more with her.

Man, I miss the city.

A soundbite:
Me: Isn't the city beautiful today in the sunshine?
Her: What does it look like when it's not sunny outside?
Me: (pause) Wet.

Hannah's First Day

Hannah started a weekly preschool program and today was her first day. We figured we would work her in slowly since she'll be going Tu/Thur starting in the Fall. She was super excited and had a super blast.

The teacher said that Hannah was quite vocal with her requests and ideas...not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but all went well. Hannah was really excited to show the art project she brought home and we look forward to doing some of the homework she got in the next few days. I can't believe this little lady is growing up so fast!!!

In our thoughts...

Elbert Handy

January 1, 1933 - February 5, 2009

As many of you know, my grandpa has been fighting a rapid and aggressive cancer which spread from his lungs and liver to his brain. Originally given 3-4 months time, cancer took him after only 45 days from the time of diagnosis. Many hours were logged in the hospital by his side and it was a very painful experience to watch this illness progress. Please keep us in your prayers during this challenging time.

Jack is ONE!

I can't belive how time has flown this past year.

It was fun and a bit sentimental thinking about where I was this time last year, and especially the days leading up to Jack's birth. I half hoped for snow to re-live the snow shoveling element. Ryan probably hoped to be on a plane to Tahoe as well...haha!

It has been a very busy, hectic past 2 months. Just when I thought I was partied out, (counting 4 preschool b-days, Thanksgiving in Clayton, Christmas Eve & Day family events and a New Years get together -- whew!) I rallied back with the enthusiasm for Jack's First Birthday. It went really well and was a very wise decision to break the party into 2 groups: a morning playdate for friends & kids, and an evening dinner with family. Both parties were successful and low key enough that Ryan and I both actually got to visit with our guests and enjoy the party.

For those of you who didn't know, we did a Classic Rock party complete with VIP passes and Guitar Hero. It was a really fun theme to run with (thanks to Ryan for thinking of it).

Blog for Profit

So you may or may not know that I am looking to make a buck...either through a part-time job, selling art, blogging, accepting donations, whatever.

We are looking to get Hannah into pre-school this fall and registration is in the next couple weeks! We're deciding between the church program in our neighborhood ($100/mo), or the coveted and pricey Montessori down the hill ($250/mo). There are definite pros and cons to both. Hannah will be stoked just to be in school! She has a blast at our Mom-essori and Sunday school which she barely even bats an eyelash at us leaving her in anymore. Today she barrelled right into class without a kiss from daddy.

Stay tuned on our decision, but in the meantime, check out my public blogspot and please, please, please pass it on to anyone you know!

http://pocketofrocks.blogspot.com/

Mommy's Little Montessori

Hannah's FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

You might know that I am interested in getting Hannah into a Montessori preschool program for the fall. I found some good resources about home learning using the Montessori-style teaching, so I thought I would give it a try. Hannah and I play "school" for about 90 min a day and she LOVES it. She looks forward to it and asks to play school all day long. We have some specific toys and learning materials we only use during school hour and she's so eager to learn and use them.

Size Sorting Game

I am basing my information off a book called "Teaching Montessori in the Home:the Preschool Years" by Elizabeth G. Hainstock and though it sounds like it may be a guide for actual home-schooling, it is full of great activities that highlight the Montessori concept and can be used as a type of planning guide.

Working on the block tower

Ryan and I wanted to get a feel of the Montessori philosophy before committing to the myriad of registration process & fees, etc. Basically that instead of actively helping a child learn a task (by talking them through the struggle, or lending a literal hand), you simply show them how it's done to start, using as few words as possible, then step back and let them figure it out. It is a little more challenging for me to not assist in the process, like helping her know where something needs correction, but she seems to handle it very well. Hannah is really taking to the ideas and style of learning. The simple tower of blocks (one larger than the next, either stacked or nested) seems to be a favorite although I was skeptical of it's ease & simplicity.

Montessori enforces the ideas of quiet and focused learning, without loud distractions and also keeps an orderly, organized, classroom - emphasising on "a place for everything and everything in it's place." Perseverance is taught through the child finishing an activity before moving on to the next and tidiness is learned by each activity being put back where it was taken from. These are things that Hannah is already very strong at, so it seems to be an easy fit.

I did it!

In addition to the learning sessions, and possible deviating from the Montessori style, we do a drawing activity and Ryan also takes the lead on one of the classes to do some PE-type learning with her so that she can develop some physical skills. Yesterday they worked on kicking a ball through a goal and controlling the ball without using hands. Hannah loved it.

Hannah draws elephants

This is the first week of "class" but I will be excited and interested to see how we progress. I'll keep you updated!

Aquarius

Buddy was experimenting with some water "art" on his Aquadoodle mat and soaking up a rare ray of sunshine. He really LOVES water and although I'm not too astrological, I wonder if it has to do with his Aquarius sign? Apparently the astrological sign for Aquarius is said to represent waves or ripples of water. Apparently...

It's coming...are you ready?

January 31, 2009...

Jack is WALKING!

Not just first steps anymore, this boy is starting to truck around the house. He is walking down hallways, across rooms and loving his new skill. He beams with pride. We are so excited for him and now ramping up our lax baby-proofing since Hannah hasn't been getting into much over the last 2 years.

Although he is walking well and practices all day, he's still a little shaky and drops to a crawl if he needs speed or is being shy. We anticipate him walking as his primary mode of transportation by his first birthday on Jan. 31st.

Winter Wonderland - part deux

MORE SNOW! Um...Happy New Year? We woke up Friday morning to a 3 in. accumulation of snow! No one even knew it was coming, outside of the mountain passes. It was quite a surprise. Thankfully, it was fluffy and light, and kept off the roadway once the sun came out. yay!