Cat Rat Sat Mat Bat Pat

Today, offically, I started teaching Caroline to read.  We've been working on letter sounds for a while ("pre-reading"), and I think that she has the sounds down (usually), so now it's time for the next step.  Real words. 

I used the Hooked on Phonics program with Abby, so I'm going to try this approach with Caroline too. She's a very different style of learner than Abby, at least based on how she learned her letter sounds. So, I plan to give the phonics approach a try for a month or two, and then see where we are.  I want this to be a fun process for her and something for us to do together.  I remember it was frustrating for Abby at times, but she was very enthusiastic about the process overall.  Caroline seems similarly enthusiastic. 

Lesson 1 - the AT family.  So far, so good.  However, I have to admit that I had forgotten how much patience this process requires, both from me and also from the student.

Wish us luck!! 

Happy Easter!

We had a fabulous Easter Sunday here, and I hope you did too.  It was a beautiful family day with beautiful weather, and I heard a beautiful message today too.  Have you ever heard the folktale, The Tale of the Three Trees?  I don't know how had I missed this before, but it is really a wonderful tale with incredible implications on one's life and faith and purpose.  I found a link to the story online, if you want to read it (it's short -- and worth it!): http://www.jasondunn.com/archive/faith/page11.htm

Our day in pictures:

Reaching High for an Egg

Just Before the Bath

Book Review: Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

I believe the female readers out there will really enjoy reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  This book was very well liked by me, my book club, and my Mom, who just finished it up based on my very enthusiastic phone recommendation.

This book, written as a series of letters, is a charming and poignant story of Juliet, a writer searching for her next book subject just after the end of WWII.  Juliet receives a letter by a man living on Guernsey, an English channel island, who ends up with one of her books and requests some additional information about the book's author. 

Their correspondence continues and expands as the Guernsey residents, some of whom started a book club (a.k.a., the Literary and Potato Peel Society), share some of their experiences with German occupation of  their island during the war.  The islanders' experiences are at times heartwarming tales of strength and sometimes heartbreaking stories of loss. The vivid characters in this book come further to life when Juliet visits the island to meet the people she has come to love in person. I immensely enjoyed this book, and I have to admit that I even felt a little sad when I reached the end since I had grown quite attached to the quirky Guernsey residents too.

Definition - Irony

Irony (ˈī-rə-nē), noun, ironies; a) the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning; b) a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by ironic expression or utterance; c) incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result.  Example:  Young child (aka Ben) running into mother's room in order to tell the mom that other older child (aka Caroline) called him a tattletale.

A Nice Log and a (Not-So) Gran Rodeo

Abby, Caroline, Scott and I went to Longwood Gardens on Sunday since I thought the daffodils and magnolias might be blooming.  It turns out that we were a little early for those flowers, but we did get to enjoy the Orchid Extragavanza event they were having instead.  (Ben was busy exhausting playing with Grandma and Grandad at their house for the day.)

Of all the beautiful and varied exhibits at Longwood, I think the girls' favorite part was running/dancing across this large 'balance beam' that was nearby one of the treehouses. A close second favorite was the scavenger hunt cards in the children's garden in the Conservatory. By the way, if you have a chance to visit Longwood, the Conservatory is especially spectacular right now. Scads of bright blue delphiniums are an especially welcome site after dark gray rainy skies.

Since the cafeteria at Longwood closed early (and we had promised to take the girls out for dinner), I thought it would be fun to try the Mexican restaurant, El Gran Rodeo, located at the intersection of Rts. 202 and 1.  I'll give it a mixed review.  The chips and guacamole were delicious.  The dinners were kind of....um.... ploppy.  My dinner also had a nice piece of plastic embedded in the lettuce (the lettuce bag wrapper), which wasn't so great.  The waiter looked horrified when I told him and then ran to get me about 20 napkins.  I don't know exactly what the napkins were for, but it was a nice thought.  I sort of figured he'd take my dinner of the bill, but instead he discounted my dinner by $3.75.  I was wondering if they have a set discount for dinner mishaps?  Fortunately, the margerita I ordered was very, very tasty, so no harm done!  (I would probably recommend trying a different restaurant if you're in the mood for Mexican food.)

It was very strange to be without Ben for a whole day.  We really missed the little guy.  Ok, we didn't miss the diapers or the unpredictable running around or safeguarding the toothpaste, but I missed all my hugs and kisses and all his lovin' (his word).

Heard and Seen Around the House

It's Sunday morning and Frank Sinatra's Coffee Song is playing right now on the radio. Scott likes to listen to Sunday mornings with Sinatra, with Sid Mark on 1210AM.  After 10+ years this seems normal to me now, but clearly this program is geared for older generations and/or people with Italian heritage based on the advertising.  Current sponsors are for the program include great deals on caskets, wills, life insurance, medicare, Pica's restaurant, and Cento Fine foods.  Lest you think I exaggerate, please check out the sponsors on Sid's site (http://www.soundsofsinatra.com/). 

Have you ever heard the Coffee Song?  It's peppy and fun!  It's one of the family favorites -- and it's about coffee (one of my favorites)!  You know who really loves coffee?  Ben.  If you ever come over, keep a close eye on your mug or wonder boy will sneak over to your cup and drain it.  You think 2-year olds are active?  Try a 2-year old on a few sips of caffeine.  I learned my lesson the hard way on that one. 

In other news, it must be getting close to Emmy time at our house since the kids are making their respective cases for lead actor/actress in dramatic series.  However, it's hard to stay in the character of devoted mother when the kids tweak their expected lines into something unexpected.

Ben (pathetic, sad voice) :  "Mom, I have a cold."
Mom:  "I'm sorry to hear that buddy."
Ben (even more sad):  "Mom, I have a stuffy nose."
Ben (close to tears):  "Mom, I have tea for two."

Caroline (after rousing game of tickling):  "Let's eat breakfast now, I'm staaaarving."
Dad:  "Ok, let's head down for pancakes."
Carline (Shakespearean tone):  "Ooooh Grief!"

Without my even noticing exactly when, Abby has passed the line of childhood when you stop using words in charming and unexpected ways (sad!).  She's a master of her vocabulary nowwith more words being added all the time. 

Abby (irritated):  "Caroline, stop being so impulsive!"
Caroline (looking confused) :  "What?"
Mom:  "Abby, do you know what impulsive means?
Abby (authoritatively and accompanying eye roll):  "Yes, Mom.  Impulsive means acting without thinking first.." 
Mom (thinking wistfully):  Goodbye Abbyisms!  Sniff, sniff...

Fortunately, we still haven't passed the line on visusal surprises for all the kids.  We never really know what to expect when the kids round the corner in terms of clothes.  The combinations of strips, prints, polka dots and colors are always surprising (and at times jarring).  But, the real question is whether or not the kids will be wearing clothes or not.  Ben surprised me a few days ago with pajama pants, yellow rubber rain boots, a winter snow cap with ear flaps and no shirt.  I didn't even know Ben could take his shirt off!

Finally, guess what was at the bird feeder this morning eating suet?  BLUEBIRDS!  I didn't title the blog BLUEBIRDS so you're eyes wouldn't glaze over from too much birding news.  But, I'm absolutely thrilled at the prospect of seeing bright bluebirds in the yard this summer.  We're still a couple of years from taking the kids on long woodland hikes, so I have to enjoy my nature close to home.  I never could have hoped for bluebirds at the old house.  I think some nest boxes might be a good Easter week project.

Too Many Meetings!

I am offically all meeting-ed out for the month of March.  Overall, nine meetings down, and one more to go. Since I've been home from work for so long, I clearly have lost my stamina for meetings.  By hour #2, I just want to run out of the room and play with Legos.

Tonight is the sixth of six Planning Commission-related meetings for the month of March. Usually there are only two Planning Commission meetings per month, but due to some super riveting zoning ordinance training, this month's total will be much higher.  I'm going to be honest, I'm fairly sick of zoning at this point.  I need a zoning break.  And, probably another cup of coffee too. 

I know that I volunteered for the Planning Commission, so I really shouldn't complain out it.  But, it's tough when the level of required effort is so much higher than initially expected!  I am very much looking forward to Spring Break next week when the schedule slows down a little and we can relax.

Feel free to remind me that I said that next week on Tuesday around 10 a.m., when my kids are driving me crazy, ok?

On a happier note, I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering in Caroline's preschool classroom this morning during her Easter party.  My job was to select a "game" to play while the teachers hid Easter eggs on the playground.  The classroom is too small for a very active game, so instead we pretended to build a giant bird's nest out of large sticks, small sticks, and twine.  The kids seem to enjoy the game, and I got a chance to observe Caroline in her classroom with her peers.  I wish that I could be a fly on the wall and watch her sometime without her knowing I was there!!  I am happy that she is so happy in her school and is a confident little girl.