Luke and Zo graduate from preschool
So I think preschool graduation is a little silly but also super cute. We were thrilled to go. It was in the gym next to their preschool and the parents came in and sat first and I got a little teary when all the little kids came in in their graduation hats!
Kids were so cute and so proud. Their teacher Miss Meg has been so phenomenal (and all the other teachers in their classroom as well).
Each kid got something on their diploma.
Luke: Most likely to be an environmentalist. (He's always picking up trash and talking about being good to the earth.)
Zo: Most likely to be a fashionista (and it's all her. Recently I was told, "Mommy, you don't pick out my outfits! I do!)
Loved preschool graduation...
XO
Letters
Sis asked the other day out of the blue if she could practice letters. I gave her paper and a pen and some books and suggested she copy some words. This is from Rude Cakes: "Back off! I'm going again!" And another character says "Boo hoo." I was blown away by her copying the letters. What a big kid moment! So proud...
XO
Grace in small things: We're sick edition :(
Pretty under the weather, the kids and I, but that has meant:
- Naps on the couch with Bubs curled in my arms...
- Watching "The World's Fastest Indian" in bed with the kids in the middle of the day...love that movie...
- My husband taking extra good care of us...
- Me having to be totally ruthless about what's possible to accomplish with my to do lists...which I need...and I've been just deciding not to do things which is so liberating...one thing I've noticed as I've been reading about planning/scheduling/etc. is it seems like the average person has about 5 things a day on their list whereas I have about 20. And can typically get about 5 to 8 done. So yeah...just trying to be a lot more realistic about what's doable in a day and stop making these crazy lists that set me up for failure...
- It's 8:30 PM and I'm going to bed. Luke's been asleep since about 4:30 PM...fingers crossed he sleeps through the night!
XO
Grace in small things: trail report at the end of May edition
- Montessori carnival with the kids, they had such a good time...
- I love that there's still a trail report at the end of May...
- Sis covering my eyes (vs the other way around) during the scary parts in Star Wars...
- Luke as I was leaving for date night last night: "Mommy, I think you look so pretty!"
- Zo flipping the switch to make the coffee before waking me at 6 AM (I have it all set up...it's so sweet of her to turn it on...
- Lots of rest and relaxation this weekend...kids have been sick and I've been trying to keep things low-key for them, also meant low-key for me...
Hope your weekend was great!
XO
8 great picture books
A few books we've been loving recently:
- Du Is Tak? (pictured above): I love, love, love this book and the kids do too. First, the pictures are amazing. Then there's the story of the seasons. Then the made-up language which is such a unique and original idea and so fun to read and also totally makes sense...how is that possible? And the fact that you can read the book over and over and over and get something new every time. This is one for our permanent collection, for sure...
- Mars Needs Moms: As a mom, I love the message that there's more to a mom than what the Martians see on the surface, e.g. driving kids to soccer practice and ballet and making sure they are fed, clean, etc.
- Bob the Railway Dog: Based on a true story about a super cool dog in Australia who rode the rails and was known in railroad towns throughout the region. Great book.
- Dragons Love Tacos: This is another huge love...we re-checked this out in anticipation of Dragons Love Tacos 2 which I can't wait to read. Books like this with their silliness are my favorites...
- XO, OX: Such a clever construct and I love the story arc of an ox in love with a movie star gazelle and how she goes from disdaining him to...well, I won't ruin the ending for you. Also really fun how the whole story is told in letters back and forth.
- Henry and Leo: The pictures in this book are AMAZING. If I was ever going to be an illustrator (which I'm not), these are the kinds of pictures I would want to draw. And all the animals have these beautiful golden crowns on, which is such a magical touch. The message is also so sweet, about how a child's toys can be so real to them...
- Lion Lessons: We've been re-checking and re-checking this out from the library. Instead of soccer or ballet or karate, the boy in this book is learning how to be a lion. Hilarious...
- All Kinds of Cars: There's no story here, just tons of inventive cars named and drawn in a really cool illustrative style. This book feels very European. Some of the kids' favorite cars include the Poo Car (of course...we're at that stage...Zo wanted to practice writing her letters the other day and had me spell out "POOP" and "PEE", for her to write, lol)...also the Donut Car, and Cloud Transport are favorites.
Happy reading!
XO
Grace in small things: super cool robots edition
- Kids are studying recycling in preschool and oh my gosh, these robots they made are just the cutest thing ever...
- Super heavy snow, at least a foot, I love that the kids couldn't wait to go play in it...
- Last day of "James and the Giant Peach" at the library...absolutely love how that story ends...and love how much the kids enjoyed it, wasn't sure they were ready for that long a book but without question they were...
- Artichokes for dinner...one of my very favorite foods...
- Some fun projects at work this week...
11 things: Getting things done edition
- I am obsessed with bullet journaling at the moment, and I am actually getting things done that I've been trying to do for months or in some cases years. And I feel like I'm getting a lot better separation between work and the rest of life as I try out digital everything (calendar, to do lists) for work and analogue for everything else...it's all a work-in-progress/experiment at this point but it seems to be working really well...
- So sleepy, up at 4 AM this morning, way too early and Bubs was up with me not long after...
- Kids a little sick and pretty difficult today in terms of whining and demanding...
- Work is reasonable this week, makes everything else run so much more smoothly...
- Not eating Whole 30 any longer (although still completely off grains and sugar) and aches and low energy are returning. Need to figure out what's causing it an eliminate. Dairy and/or (small amounts) of alcohol...one or both of these is my guess. Bummer...cheese and a glass of wine are both so lovely...
- A fitbit came in the mail for me for Mother's Day, yay! And it's the wearable Flex 2, not the One which I've lost twice. :( Jeff and I are going to start walking together again, which will be so nice...
- Trying to plan our summer in the next week or so which on one hand seems crazy but on the other needs to be done so we make sure we get to do the things we want to do. So excited about summer! It's so close although it doesn't feel like it...I mean, it's supposed to snow up here the next couple days so you can't blame me if it still feels like we're just barely out of ski season
- Love how much kids are loving the "James and the Giant Peach" read-a-loud at the library...
- It's helping me so much to have a super nice lady cleaning our house every other week. We just started back doing this since moving 2 years ago...it's huge to have help like this if possible when you're a working mama...
- I need some good pre-sleep books. I've been watching a little TV before bed each night but I'm over it. And the New Yorker is usually my go-to before bed, but I'm kind of bored with that as well. I tend to read literature in the summer which is the opposite of what you're supposed to do, but nothing I do is normal (and I'm totally OK with that). :) Must put together a reading list...
- Happy and relaxed and grateful...
Hope everyone's had a lovely Tuesday!
XO
Grace in small things, "James and the Giant Peach" edition
- Bubs is a tad sick. Sis too. Grateful it's minor...
- Went to a read-a-loud of James and the Giant Peach at the library this afternoon. Going on all week. So fun...
- Individual time with each kid today at their request. Luke and I snuggled in bed and read books. Zo and I colored on her bed with colored pencils, she directing me on color selection. Both were very good about letting me have time with the other...
- Washing machine repair guy was here today...he has 3-week-old twins, I don't know how he is functioning...and our washing machine is not yet fixed but we're making progress (parts need to be ordered etc.). Hopefully by Wednesday...
- Quite night at home...my favorite way to spend an evening...
XO