Oh Happy Day

K woke up crying at 6 a.m.
I brought her downstairs, where she threw up all over the floor. She moved into the living room where she threw up all over the couch.

As I was cleaning it up, E came downstairs and told me she couldn't find her library book for school today. It took ten minutes of searching before we found it under a pile of books.

She then remembered that she had to bring in a Valentine box to school ( a shoebox covered in plain paper).

As I searched for a shoebox, K threw up two more times--once on the kitchen table. She wanted water desperately, but it kept making her sick.

After I cleaned her up, I started covering the shoebox, only to learn that the scotch tape was gone.

So I used blue double-wide painter tape instead. I had to cut it into millions of pieces just to make it work.

K threw up two more times. Poor thing. She was extremely upset both times. I had to take E to the bus stop (it's 6 degrees, and with windchill feels like -11), and left K in a huddled heap on the stairs. That's where she was most comfortable. When I got back, Scout (the dog) threw up under the piano.

This all happened before 8:40 in the morning.

It just makes me wonder how the rest of the day will be...here's K, now asleep and peaceful on the stairs:

UPDATED: E just got sick at school and threw up all over herself. I picked her up and now she's home with me. My poor babies just can't catch a break.

E

E had fun at a sledding birthday party. :) Except she had more fun without her sled.

So there.

I typed it, then deleted it.
I feel a little better.

Perspective

I guess the desire to see your child succeed stems mostly out of the desire you have for others to see your child the way you do.

Ballerinas and Gymnasts

I signed K up for ballet this week. She is so excited. We got to buy her ballet shoes and she was ecstatic as she tried them on. As soon as we got home, both she and E got their ballet clothes on and danced around the house.

Disenchantment

I realize one of the main purposes of kindergarten is to help children adapt to a classroom setting. They learn how to work independently, how to listen, and how to do basic things like counting, writing, sorting, and other skills. I also realize that a kindergarten teacher has the difficult task of teaching a classroom of 5-6 year-olds with vastly different abilities. Some kids can read chapter books, some kids can't even write their names.

I was prepared for E to start the school year off with some really rudimentary skills, but it's January and she's still bringing home the same "Color, Cut, Sort" worksheets she was doing in September. Different theme, same concept. I have no clue what's really being taught in the classroom since all she brings home is the same stuff day after day.

E can read quite well, has a passion for anything science-related, and is getting very good at math, telling time, and counting money. All of this was taught at home. I'm starting to see why parents home school. I want her to be challenged, and I feel like if I just let the public schools do all of the educating, she's doomed.

Sunday morning

D is at church with the girls. I'm at home with a really sore back from shoveling/sledding/playing with the girls (I'm getting older, I guess).
I love the silence in the house right now. The loudest sound is the refrigerator, which is a pleasant little fan sound...and the kitchen clock ticking. But that's it.

It's been a pretty busy, noisy week. I can't believe it was only Tuesday that E went back to school from Christmas break. It feels like Christmas was months ago.

D has been tutoring like a maniac, since finals are coming up this week, so he's been gone a lot. In fact, the only day he didn't tutor was Wednesday. This whole weekend has been booked up, too.

So it's been just me and the girls a lot this week, and while I love their company, this silence is a needed break. With every tick of the clock (the refrigerator has since stopped its humming), I feel more and more relaxed.

And now my teapot is about to start whistling. :)

I think I'll just sit on the couch and stare into space for awhile. That sounds so nice....

Snow Day!!

We had a snow day today!

Dinner

I made homemade minestrone soup tonight and it was delicious. The girls, however, had a different opinion.
We ended up bribing them with ice cream if they'd finish their bowls of soup.
They finished it....
and then E threw up. Not her whole dinner or anything, just a little tiny bit. But still.
Guess I should believe her when she says she doesn't like it.

A few pictures from December