Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Bookmaking Mini E-Term, Hannah's Book
And here is Hannah's book, which is where I learned what her best day ever was.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Bookmaking Mini E-Term, Sophie's Book
Each April, our school sets aside a week for experiential learning. Typically this has been for middle and high schoolers (though the elementary school engages in experiential learning quite often through their regular curriculum). For the last few years I have accompanied the 8th grade class on a trip to Philadelphia to learn about urban and rural water issues as well as the history of the city.
This year, the elementary school had morning sessions during this week that they called "mini e-term." Students could select from several options such as mini-society, gardening, needlework, and bookmaking. Hannah and Sophie both participated in the bookmaking option (though Sophie missed Tuesday due to her dentist appointment to have cavities filled, which was a semi-traumatic experience for which she received nitrous oxide, but that's another story).
Here is the book that Sophie created during that week. I will put Hannah's on the blog tomorrow.
This year, the elementary school had morning sessions during this week that they called "mini e-term." Students could select from several options such as mini-society, gardening, needlework, and bookmaking. Hannah and Sophie both participated in the bookmaking option (though Sophie missed Tuesday due to her dentist appointment to have cavities filled, which was a semi-traumatic experience for which she received nitrous oxide, but that's another story).
Here is the book that Sophie created during that week. I will put Hannah's on the blog tomorrow.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Broadway Firsts + Odds and Ends
Today was a good day. The Saturday chores didn't feel overwhelming, we (mostly Charles) got some work done in the garden, and we enjoyed a lunch out at the community park where there was a festival with bouncy houses, food, and games to raise money for the local little league teams. I also had time for a run this afternoon in the beautiful sunshine and upper 60s weather.
I ran past the Heritage Park, where Broadway was having its first ever wine and beer festival. For $15 you could get in for an afternoon of enjoying various wines and brews, plus live music to entertain you. I ran by mid-afternoon, and it looked like folks where having a grand time.
I also ran over the newly completed pedestrian bridge. For the last year or so, they've been building the new bridge for vehicles (on the right in the photo) and converting the old one-lane bridge to a pedestrian bridge. This is the view approaching the bridge from Main Street.
To top off the day, Charles built a fire and the three of them ate s'mores. I've been trying to get back on track with healthy eating and consistent exercise, so I sat and enjoyed the fire. I've noticed that sugar incites wicked cravings, so I'm trying to stay way from refined sugar as much as possible.
On Monday of this week the girls and I had the day off from school. They spent the weekend straightening up around the house, since there seemed to be a lot of their clutter lying around. Monday they finished the job by straightening up the playroom. Their reward was to open a package from Granny that had arrived a few days prior.
Hannah got a doll (the princess from Brave) and Sophie got two Lalaloopsy dolls.
That afternoon we went to Hannah's gymnastics class, which she's been enjoying tremendously. We didn't realize that it was her last of the season. Here she is posing with her certificate of completion of the beginner level:
She did the beginner class twice, once in the fall and then again this spring. So she was very excited to turn her certificate over and see that her teachers recommended that she move up to the intermediate level in the fall!
On Tuesday the girls went for a photo shoot at a local photographer's house. This lady grew up in our house and still lives near Broadway. She put out a request a few weeks ago for girls in the Broadway area to photograph. Since the girls served as models for her, she gave us a free 11x14 print and 30% off any other prints or digital images we wanted. Here is Sophie keeping warm between photographs with a jacket zipped around her legs:
One of the photographs from the shoot (the rest can be found here):
I ran past the Heritage Park, where Broadway was having its first ever wine and beer festival. For $15 you could get in for an afternoon of enjoying various wines and brews, plus live music to entertain you. I ran by mid-afternoon, and it looked like folks where having a grand time.
I also ran over the newly completed pedestrian bridge. For the last year or so, they've been building the new bridge for vehicles (on the right in the photo) and converting the old one-lane bridge to a pedestrian bridge. This is the view approaching the bridge from Main Street.
To top off the day, Charles built a fire and the three of them ate s'mores. I've been trying to get back on track with healthy eating and consistent exercise, so I sat and enjoyed the fire. I've noticed that sugar incites wicked cravings, so I'm trying to stay way from refined sugar as much as possible.
On Monday of this week the girls and I had the day off from school. They spent the weekend straightening up around the house, since there seemed to be a lot of their clutter lying around. Monday they finished the job by straightening up the playroom. Their reward was to open a package from Granny that had arrived a few days prior.
Hannah got a doll (the princess from Brave) and Sophie got two Lalaloopsy dolls.
That afternoon we went to Hannah's gymnastics class, which she's been enjoying tremendously. We didn't realize that it was her last of the season. Here she is posing with her certificate of completion of the beginner level:
She did the beginner class twice, once in the fall and then again this spring. So she was very excited to turn her certificate over and see that her teachers recommended that she move up to the intermediate level in the fall!
On Tuesday the girls went for a photo shoot at a local photographer's house. This lady grew up in our house and still lives near Broadway. She put out a request a few weeks ago for girls in the Broadway area to photograph. Since the girls served as models for her, she gave us a free 11x14 print and 30% off any other prints or digital images we wanted. Here is Sophie keeping warm between photographs with a jacket zipped around her legs:
One of the photographs from the shoot (the rest can be found here):
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Out With the Old
The girls and I frequently take short trips down to the town park. We are fortunate enough to live within walking distance. So on nice days, we'll walk down and the girls play while I run or walk on the half-mile trail that runs around the perimeter of the park. In this way we get to enjoy the outdoors and get in a little bit of exercise too.
The park has a big wooden playset that has been there for maybe ten years or so. It is on a raised mulch surface, with all the modern safety precautions that are required these days. Another area of the park houses older equipment: a metal slide, huge swings, a climbing gym, and a merry-go-round that were all there back when I was a kid.
Lately the girls have been playing on the merry-go-round quite a bit. They invented a game where they get it spinning and then one is supposed to hop off and built a volcano in the dirt on the ground as quickly as she can. They've even involved other kids in this game, when they're around and seemingly interested.
About a week and a half ago, we took a trip to the park, as we've done so often, and found that all the old playground equipment had been removed. Only the new wooden playset remains. We had just been to the park not a week before, when the girls had been playing their merry-go-round/volcano game. Then POOF! it was all gone.
So this past Wednesday, when we had a half day of school because of accreditation, we ventured to the Timberville park instead. We used to go there when we lived in Timberville, and they have a merry-go-round there that I thought the girls might enjoy. They also have a see-saw... who has those death traps anymore?! The girls didn't spend much time on the merry-go-round, but they did enjoy a new park with different equipment. They spent the first ten minutes running from location to location, showing each other all the "new" things. They really didn't remember this park since it had been awhile since we'd been there.
The park has a big wooden playset that has been there for maybe ten years or so. It is on a raised mulch surface, with all the modern safety precautions that are required these days. Another area of the park houses older equipment: a metal slide, huge swings, a climbing gym, and a merry-go-round that were all there back when I was a kid.
Lately the girls have been playing on the merry-go-round quite a bit. They invented a game where they get it spinning and then one is supposed to hop off and built a volcano in the dirt on the ground as quickly as she can. They've even involved other kids in this game, when they're around and seemingly interested.
About a week and a half ago, we took a trip to the park, as we've done so often, and found that all the old playground equipment had been removed. Only the new wooden playset remains. We had just been to the park not a week before, when the girls had been playing their merry-go-round/volcano game. Then POOF! it was all gone.
So this past Wednesday, when we had a half day of school because of accreditation, we ventured to the Timberville park instead. We used to go there when we lived in Timberville, and they have a merry-go-round there that I thought the girls might enjoy. They also have a see-saw... who has those death traps anymore?! The girls didn't spend much time on the merry-go-round, but they did enjoy a new park with different equipment. They spent the first ten minutes running from location to location, showing each other all the "new" things. They really didn't remember this park since it had been awhile since we'd been there.
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| On the twisty slide |
Monday, April 15, 2013
Pajama Reading Day
Pajama Reading Day is a favorite and time-honored tradition at EMES. Friday was the long-awaited day.
The girls wore their long flannel nightgowns that I made them for Christmas. They took sleeping bags, pillows, stuffed animals, Banky, books, slippers, etc. I really should have taken a picture of them with the mound of stuff they each took along to school that day.
Friday started off cool and rainy but turned warm by the afternoon. By the time we got home from school, they were ready to be out of the flannel PJs! I'd love to make them some light summer nightgowns, but I'm not sure when (or if) I'll have time this spring.
At school they had multiple DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) times throughout the day, as well as having their teachers and other adults and students read to them. A special snack of animal crackers and hot chocolate was enjoyed in the morning.
It is really special that their school encourages such a love of reading. Both girls were excited for this day and reported that they didn't tire of the extra reading. We are very fortunate to be able to give them such an education.
The girls wore their long flannel nightgowns that I made them for Christmas. They took sleeping bags, pillows, stuffed animals, Banky, books, slippers, etc. I really should have taken a picture of them with the mound of stuff they each took along to school that day.
Friday started off cool and rainy but turned warm by the afternoon. By the time we got home from school, they were ready to be out of the flannel PJs! I'd love to make them some light summer nightgowns, but I'm not sure when (or if) I'll have time this spring.
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| Photo courtesy Mary G-H |
At school they had multiple DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) times throughout the day, as well as having their teachers and other adults and students read to them. A special snack of animal crackers and hot chocolate was enjoyed in the morning.
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| Silly faces! |
It is really special that their school encourages such a love of reading. Both girls were excited for this day and reported that they didn't tire of the extra reading. We are very fortunate to be able to give them such an education.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Chess Club
On Thursdays during the months of March and April, Hannah and Sophie have been participating in chess club after school at EMES. Neither had really played chess before beginning the club, but both now enjoy playing and look forward to Thursday afternoons. They have a snack after school and then begin playing chess, playing multiple games with different opponents until 3:45 or 4pm when I go to pick them up. They are even learning fancy French rules (such as En Passant) that I never learned back when I used to enjoy chess.
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| Sophie giving me the eye while finishing a game |
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| Hannah playing against Audrey (photo courtesy Jeanine S.) |
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| Sophie might have gotten a little bored on this particular Thursday afternoon |
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