Champion

Little Girl won 1st place in a piano competition! She was thrilled. First time she did better than her big Sis. So proud of her. She still hates to practice... Go figure !




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Back to School For Mom

Ballerina

Yesterday we found out Big Girl needed toe shoes to start out the new dance season.  We loaded up the car with another friend from dance and headed into to big city.  Not having gotten farther in dance than kindergarten tap, I had no idea what a process it is to be fitted for toe shoes.

First, Big Girls toes were evaluated and found to be, ahem, a little weird, Fred Flintstone weird...oh, and one foot is a half size bigger. Can you say Daddy's side of the gene pool? I have to take credit for the enormous size of her feet, though.

After pads and spacers were applied the shoe fitting began. She tried on shoe...after shoe...after shoe...Thank goodness for the patience of the saleslady (who happens to be a ballerina for the local ballet company...very exciting to meet her).

Finally, success!  How cute she looks.  You can see how proud she is.
My sweet ballerina.

In contrast, these are the shoes she ordered for hip-hop class...sigh.

My Published Journalist

Sarah continues to write for the local newspaper.  She writes a small editorial for Truth of Youth each week.  She has done a really good job of presenting her opinion in a clear and concise way although I sometimes have to tone down her ferocity.  She has some STRONG opinions.

Here is this week's submission for the question "Are you ready for back to school?"  I wonder, as her former homeschool teacher, if I should be offended?

            I am so ready for school! I am so excited that I’m counting down the days.

Even though I have had a good time this summer and enjoy sleeping in, I can’t wait

to get back to school. I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends and teachers

again. Since I was homeschooled until in January of this year, this is

technically my first time going “back to school”.  I love that my school makes

learning so interesting and all of the extra programs like art, drama, P.E. and music

keep school exciting. I love my school and I can’t wait to get back.

Sarah 

7th Grade

Dance Pictures...A Little Late

I just realized I forgot to post pictures of the girls' dance recital back in June...well, they are so gorgeous that I have to remedy that!

THE PARENT RAP - Funny parenting song from Bluefish TV

Braces-Take Two

Well, Big Girl had a follow-up orthodontist visit today and she was given a surprise gift...shiny new braces!  Dad had come along for the ride and let me tell you he was excited about his gift, too...a shiny new bill for braces. She had braces for about a year back when she was 8 and seems as though she needed a phase 2 as she has some teeth that are stuck and need some help coming down.




                                                                        Before

                                                                     


                                                                           After

She took the surprise in good-natured stride as she is such an easy-going kid.  Not too excited that she can't have gum or popcorn for a year but at least she can still have chocolate!

Another Year Gone By

Well, the last day of school has come.  I actually made it!  By that I mean I actually let someone else school my children for five whole months.  I admit at times it was challenging for me to let it go.  I still have some reservations about math for both girls and spelling for Little Girl.  We WILL be doing some schooling over the summer for me to evaluate how much kids have gained or lost in the last five months.

The girls have had a great time at school.  Made some new friends and had some experiences that they would not have had, otherwise.

Recently, Big Girl went with her class to an island off of Washington for a week of camping. I would post her pictures but her camera, sadly, did not make it back.  She had a great time despite the cold and rain and a bout of sickness.

Little Girl and I then went on her class trip overnight in a air/space museum. Evergreen Air and Space. Home of the Spruce Goose. It was a lot of fun but the real hit of the trip was the water park next door (indoor, of course).  It was a blast!  I can't wait to go back soon with Daddy and Big Girl.

Here is a before and after pic of the girls...They have grown so much...Boo Hoo!

Another Unique Talent

Not sure who came up with this idea or why but hey, at least it didn't involve an iPod or 3DS! Listen carefully,  Big Girl is singing abc's backwards, Little Girl forward and ending at the same time.
Kids self-entertaining...love it!

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Local Royalty

Little Girl and I had an opportunity this weekend to meet our local pageant winners for a "Princess Tea Party". We put on our party clothes.



And lined up for our photo op.



Both girls performed their talent and invited all the "Princesses" to join in.

It was pretty sweet.

Literally. (Little Girl had more than one flower cupcake pop).



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Confession Time

I have a little secret...

I am a little embarrassed to admit it...

I sent my kids to school...... 


2 months ago! 


AND I LIKE IT!!!!!


Yes, it's true.  After homeschooling both my kids for seven years.  After being a homeschool cheerleader and trying to convince everyone I know that they too, can feel the joy of homeschooling, I crumbled. I should feel like a failure.... But I don't!

Some of my homeschool friends treat me as if I should be in mourning..."How are you holding up?" is one of the questions I get.  "What do you DO ALL DAY?" is another.

This scholastic year has been very trying. Big Girl began middle school. I chose a new curriculum that was very thorough but very boring.  Although she was learning, she was not having fun, I was not having fun and there was little time for outside activities.

Little Girl, on the other hand, has SO MUCH energy.  She was bored, bored, bored waiting for Big Girl to get done with school.  She clearly had some pent-up frustrations. We tried dance combined with gymnastics and piano lessons...still not enough!

Somewhere around October I began researching private schools.  By November, run-ins with Little Girl over schoolwork, housework, piano lessons, listening to me, following instructions and...you get the picture, had me fantasizing about boarding schools. I had one boarding school on my favorites and would often visit the site and dream.  I could afford it if I gave up cable, cell phone and... food. By December I decided one of us had to go.

We took the girls for a tour of the only private school in town that would be an option for us.  Little Girl was going, for sure, we just weren't sure about Big Girl. Well, she must have liked what she saw because after  thinking about it a couple of days, said "I think I'd like to try school, too." So we enrolled them both and haven't looked back.

They are both doing very well. Big Girl, who thought she was terrible at math tested into Algebra (she's 11).  They are enjoying school and making new friends.  I think the teachers are good and there are a lot of creative opportunities at the school. There is a huge focus on the arts so there is a lot of art, music and theater along with computers, spanish and the regular subjects.

I am doing okay, too.  I was worried about what I would do all day but I am managing to keep myself busy and am thinking of things I may do next year if the girls continue at school.

I still love homeschooling and plan to homeschool again (this school only goes to the eighth grade).  Just for now, though...taking a break is a very good thing!

Little No More

Little Girl is not so little anymore. Today is her ninth birthday. She is such an angel and can be such a devil. She keeps me on my toes and keeps me laughing! Happy birthday E!


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