Twinkle Toes

It's been a month since Isabel started ballet lessons. I really liked what I had read about the dance company but, until yesterday, had not actually met the teacher in person. My schedule at school yesterday allowed me to fly over to Isabel's school for about 5 minutes and actually see the (ballet part of the) lesson. So cute! I loved watching the lesson unnoticed for the first couple of minutes. Then, when she saw me, Isabel came flying over for a big hug and then returned right to her place. I stayed for another 3 minutes, at which point the battery on my camera died.
Not to worry. I was able to capture just what I was hoping for.

Three Word Sunday

It's that time again...summing up something this past week in three words. Started by Pug Mama, it's a fun exercise in being concise.

This week, it was a no-brainer. After years of waiting, my dear friend Laurie arrived home from China last night with her new baby daughter Hannah. Pure joy.

Cloudy Forecast

While crossing the bridge on the way to school yesterday morning, Isabel asked what kind of clouds were in the sky.

I told her they were Cirrus clouds, at which point she replied:
"Why are they serious?"

On Being Generous

Character
I know it when I see it. I have had students over the years who shine among their classmates, not because of physical beauty, or intelligence, but because they possess incredible character qualities.

I remember when I was thinking about how I wanted Isabel’s room to look... long before she ever came home… and I came upon an article in some designer magazine. It showed photos of a child’s room and painted in large, beautiful letters were ten or twelve character qualities encircling the top of the wall near the ceiling. I thought about how amazing it would be to wake up and look at words like: kindness, thoughtfulness, faithfulness, generosity. I never got around to painting the words. .. maybe some day I will. But that image of the room came back to me this week during a meeting with the director of Isabel’s school.

In the middle of our discussion, she mentioned something that had occurred about an hour before regarding Isabel. The children had finished lunch and were getting ready to take a nap. The mats were all laid out and the children had their sheets and blankets on top. Apparently, one little girl had forgotten her bedding. She was just laying there when one of the teachers heard Isabel say to her friend, “Here, you can have my blanket. Then you won’t get cold.”

As I did when I was first told this, I am tearing up right now, just thinking of it. I am so aware that my child has a strong sense of empathy. This summer, she was pretty troubled about a homeless woman who, for about a week, camped out at a bus stop on our route to school.

She tunes in to people who are in need and feels compelled to take action on their behalf: from sharing candy with a child at the grocery check out lane, to wanting to take a homeless woman to our house for the night, to giving up her own blanket to someone so that she could be warm. I am amazed at how this comes so naturally to her.

While driving home later that day, I mentioned to her that I heard about how she gave her blanket to her friend. Without fanfare and in a rather matter-of-fact way, she simply said, “I was just being generous, Mom.”

Yes, you were. May I continue to learn from you each day, my child.

Three Word Sunday

It's Three Word Sunday again. Thought we'd spice it up a bit this week by submitting a video instead of a photo.

"The Polka Dot Girl, The Music Girl and The Cinderella Girl"

What you get when little girls are allowed free reign with limitless options from Dress-Up.

At Long Last! Motherhood for Laurie

Fellow teacher, book club sistah, and dear friend Laurie just had her daughter Hannah placed in her arms this morning. I don't think I have ever seen someone whose face is glowing with motherhood like hers does in the latest pictures. What joy.

Three Word Sunday

Started by Pug Mama Three Word Sunday is a fun post in which you sum up your week in three little words. You can sing it, you can say it, you can write it, you can draw it. It can be funny or sad or poignant as long as it’s honest.

While getting everything ready to feed the ducks, a rather impatient pigeon decided to go with a more aggressive approach to get bread.
How rude.

Tea for Two.... or maybe four.

I was cleaning in the kitchen and walked by Isabel's room only to see this.....


and then a half hour later, this.....
Sooooo..... do you think she might be just a "tad" obsessive compulsive (or as I like to call it "perfectionistic organization".

Feeding the Birds

We collect all of our old bread, rolls, muffins and crackers in a plastic bag to feed the ducks. This morning we ventured to a different pond and fed not only ducks but pigeons and turtles as well.

First Day of Ballet and Tap Lessons

Seven little girls plus
assorted dancewear and footwear
and one dance teacher
Equals an hour of fun

(The last picture cracks me up. She looks like she's about to do an Irish jig!)