RL, the capable Kindergartener

While taking Rachel Lee to help in Kate's class during centers I have been struck with how capable she is at completing the Kindergarten tasks. She cuts, glues colors, and sits very well. Kate's teacher has even commented on how nicely she follows along in a book the class is reading, by staying on the same page and sliding her fingers under the words on the page. This week they were looking at the estimation jar and Mrs. Danko reminded the kids that inside the jar there were items, but the items were less than 20. She then took everyone's estimation, and some kids were saying, "100!" The teacher asked for a lower number, something less that 20, and sometimes she got a different number and sometimes she didn't. When it was RL's turn she said, 14. Turned out that there were 16 items in the jar and Rachel Lee was the closet! Not only did she get a number less than 20, but she was only off by 2 items. Lucky guess or genius? Only time will tell...

Counting with Kate

Today I was going over Kate's homework and noticed that she had counted by 10's correctly except for one spot...10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 70, 80, 91, 100. I was so confused...I have heard her count by 10's to 100 soooo many times. I mumbled it under to my breath to myself...80, 91, 100...and then I heard it... 91-100 she elongated the "one" in 100 and says 91-100. I asked her to count by 10's and listened carefully...Yep...just as I thought...seventy, eighty, ninety-one, hundred. . I got out the 100's chart, showed her the mistake and she laughed and said, "Well that makes a lot of sense!" Sure does, baby girl. Sure does.

Tap Girl

Oh, not only is the beauty a ballerina, but she is also a tap dancing machine...just look at her serious pose. This girl means business!

Cookie Party!!

We wanted to have some friends over to make and decorate cookies, and whew...what an adventure!! It started with a friend or two, then turned into 4 girls plus my 3 girls for a baker's half dozen...if there is such a thing...

Olivia, Hannah, Janetta, Rachel Lee, Kate, Hannah and Sophia all cutting out their cookies...

...Janetta, Olivia, Hannah, Kate, Rachel Lee, Hannah and Sophia all decorating cookies (unfortunately I burned a few cookies...it might have had something to do with the 7 little girls running around....)

And I had to throw in that last picture because it looks like Hannah is throwing gang signs...it makes me laugh :)

It just so happens that all these girls happen to come from Christian families. Three of the girls are in Hannah's class, and the other Hannah is in Kindergarten (but not in Kate's class). What a blessing that God has given us some Christian friends in a public school! He never sends us out alone!!

Grow Where You're Planted

We've lived here for over 6 months now, and when I walk into a school function or a group setting I still feel like the new girl. And it moves me to compassion for my girls who are still creating friendships. It's hard to move and be new, and frankly sometimes I get tired of putting myself out there and trying to find a friend...or two...or three...

And then I remember that God planted us here. It was not a place Jeff and I were dreaming about, and it was not a place I ever thought I would be, but here we are. And we know that God brought us here...and so I need to grow here.

As we began growing our seeds this year preparing for our garden I feel especially reminded that growing can be painful at times, but it brings about good fruit. I pray that as we grow here in our new home, in our community and at our church that we would be able to bear good fruit for His glory.


 

Upcycle

What to do with all those old, broken crayons...melt them together and make cute little multi-colored crayons!! SO fun!

Basketball for Hannah

Each year we let the girls sign up for one activity. This year Hannah chose basketball. Her logic: last year she did soccer and baseball, so it was time to learn a new skill. Of course. Let's just say the girl has skills... And Jeff has agreed to be the assistant coach since no one else volunteered for the position. And the team gets a bonus assistant to the assistant coach as well: Kate. And although this one is sometimes an assistant to the assistant assistant coach, she really is just more of a distraction... ...but she sure is cute!! Way to go Hannah!! You're a natural!