A Grownup Desk

For the past four or five years, this lovely wooden play kitchen has entertained the girls and their friends in the corner of our playroom.

Genia graciously gave it to us when her children were done with it, and it came filled with wooden food sets.

Now, with the girls both in school, the kitchen doesn't get much action, except when Violet has friends over. (And then, Cora complains that she's the one cleaning it all up.)

Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty rearranged their furniture a few weeks ago and offered us their corner desk, but I said we had no room for it. Then, after thinking about it, I realized the right thing to do would be to send the lovely kitchen on to a family with younger children.

So, the kitchen is moving on to some dear friends, and our playroom is growing up.

Stace took apart the kitchen for easier transport, and somehow Violet got stuck! Silly girl.

Thankfully, Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty hadn't gotten rid of the desk yet. The girls helped put it together when we got it back home.

It's a perfect fit in the corner, and both girls can sit together and do their homework. Sometimes there is even room for a cat.

Cora and Violet are both very excited about having a desk for homework, and if an assignment runs into dinner, they don't have to pack up when it's time to eat.

Day in the Life, Spring 2015

How about a Day in the Life post? Here's a Wednesday, with Cora in second grade, Violet in her last couple of weeks of preschool.

6:15 - After my alarm yells for a bit, I get up and settle in with my coffee and devotional. Cora joins me about 10 minutes later, dressed for the day. She normally gets up at 6:40, so she is early. She brushes her hair on the couch and reads the Lego Magazine.
"I'm at least like 27 minutes early," she said, referring to her morning time chart. Her thoughts turn to soccer. "Who are we versing next? The Cheetahs?"

6:50 - It's time for me to shower, and I encourage Cora to change clothes, since she wearing leggings with a shirt that ends at her waist. She argues, but then agrees to change into a longer top.

6: 55 - Cora is so early, she asks if she can watch a show while she eats breakfast. I say "yes," after she unloads the dishwasher, one of her main paid chores. She argues at first, but then gets the job done. When I am clean and dressed, she again asks to watch a show - yes, when she is dressed to her shoes. She argues, but obeys. See a pattern? Though I'd love to see her obey WITHOUT grousing, sometimes I let her come to obey on her own (within reason), without turning Every. Single. Thing. into a big fight.

7:25 - I wake up Violet and she requests a dress with pockets,"for Owliver and Swoops," her Beanie Boo clips.
7:30 - I prepare Cora's lunch, Violet's snack and some food for me for later, while Violet eats cereal that Cora poured for her. The girls watch Wild Kratts online.

7:45 - Time to shut off the show and start walking.
Within five minutes, we're off, and as we approach our streetlight, we notice that the landscapers have put new mulch near the rosebushes.
"Awww, I wish it was blue mulch!" Cora said.
"Have you ever seen blue mulch?" I ask.
"No, but you could spray paint it blue!"

Since Cora got new tennis shoes the other day, she has been walking to school, instead of riding her scooter. As we pass the park, I asked why.
"Putting on my helmet and getting out the scooter is too much hassle, and I want my legs to be strong for soccer," she said. "And when I get too far ahead on my scooter, I miss you."

7:56 - We reach the school gate as the first bell rings. After goodbye kisses and a little chit-chat with my mommy friends, Violet and I head back home.

8:13 - We're back home, and nearly ready to leave for Violet's preschool. On the way, I remind her that Grandpa would be picking her up from school. Violet is happy about this - she loves playing with his dogs Jake and Benny, and usually achieves her goal of getting a vanilla milk and cake pop at Starbucks.

8:33 - I leave Violet at the door to her school, and head back to Cora's school. I volunteer in Cora's class every other week on Wednesday, and this is my week in class.
9:00 - I sign in at the lobby of Cora's school, and head back to Dr. Porter's classroom. It's nearly silent, as the children are working hard on a writing assessment. That's a big difference between 1st grade and 2nd grade - the students are much more able to work quietly.

 9:15 - I'm preparing next week's homework packets at a desk in the back of the room. Cora walks by, gives me a hug, and proudly whispers that she's on her FOURTH page of her writing assignment. The teacher had said that some of the students like to write novels. Cora's following in her mama's footsteps, I guess!

When the children are finished with their writing time, I get to help them with a art project. They are making a stained glass window using bits of colored tissue paper and starch.

A couple of months ago, I'd helped cut the black window frames, which will be glued on later in the week.

By 10 a.m., the children are out for recess, and after saying goodbye to Cora, I head out front.

10:10 My friend Jen is meeting me, and we drive together to Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce. The second grade is coming here next week on a field trip, thanks to Stace's suggestion and Jen's hard work on the phones and email to get it organized. She and I want to go out and do the two suggested hikes, so we know the lay of the land.

11 - After checking out the interpretive center, we find the park employee Jen has been working with, and she talks us through our options. Thankfully, it's a cool, cloudy day, perfect for hiking, and unusual for May. It's a far cry from the high 90s we had a week ago.

12:30 We've completed both hikes, and head back into Saugus, taking the scenic route (Sierra Highway to Vasquez Canyon to Bouquet).

Meanwhile, Violet has had a fun lunch time with Grandpa - she succeeded in getting that cake pop, along with mini corn dogs for lunch that Grandpa got her at Target.

1:15 p.m. - When Jen and I arrive at Grandpa and Grandma's home, Violet is playing a computer game. We chat for a few minutes and then get going back to Valencia.

On the way to school, I look into the back set and see a sleeping child. Violet is old enough now that she rarely naps, but will sometimes drop off if we're in the car on a longer drive.

1:50 p.m. - Back at school, I leave Jen and then get a phone call from Stace. My car had its "check engine" light come on the day before, and he thought I might drop into Auto Zone and ask to borrow the diagnostic tool.

2:00 - Carrying a sleeping 5-year-old on my shoulder, I enter the store and ask about the code reader. No, they no longer can give it out - state law changed a couple of years ago.

2:15 - Back at home, I talk to Stace and we decide I'll call the mechanic we trust and take the car in. We have been planning to get it serviced anyway. The mechanic suggests we bring it in the next morning.

2:35 - Violet has remained asleep in the car this whole time - again, I'm so grateful for a cool day, though I know that a nap means she won't be sleepy at bedtime.
We drive to Cora's school to pick her up, and then we'll go pick up Stacey from work. He rode his bike to work, and if he leaves it at work, it will be easier for us to get the Hyundai into the mechanic the next day.

2:45 - School's out! Cora buckles up and I explain the afternoon's plan. On our way to get Daddy, we'll stop at the grocery store, since there are a few deals I want to get, and Stace isn't ready to leave work.

2:50 - Cora is chatty on our short drive: "When we get to Sprouts, I don't want you to get anything. I want you to tell me what to get, like a scavenger hunt. I like to turn shopping into a game."
About soccer: "The only thing is, I haven't had any hard balls at me when I'm in goal. I want a hard one that I have to catch, or hit away."
And, "I wish I had my bear with me. That's why I like to have a stuffed animal with me at school; in case we go to a store and I didn't know, they can come with me."

3:10 - Inside Sprouts, we get the fruit we need, I get a couple of bottles of wine, and the girls want to pick out candy from the bulk bins. 

Violet gets yogurt-covered pretzels, and Cora chooses gummy bears. Interestingly, from the bulk bins, one amounts to $1, and the other to 95 cents.

Cora thinks I should choose a sweet too, and it should be black licorice, because she'd like to try it. She thinks she likes it, because she's enjoyed licorice-flavored jelly beans and licorice-scented markers. I pick four small pieces, and we go check out.

3:45 - Once in the car, Cora's not so sure she does like black licorice.
4:00 - Stace still isn't ready to be picked up, so we make a stop at Valley Produce for a few more deals before going to his work at 4:45.
5:00 - Home again, at last. On a normal day I'm home a lot more than this! I unload the groceries, put them away and start making dinner. Violet plays, and at 5:20, Cora starts homework with Stace. He gives her a practice spelling test of the week's words, and completes her timed math flashcard practice and timed reading assignment.

5:40 - Dinner is ready. Tonight, on the menu is a baked egg dish, with cheese, ham and mushrooms, with broccoli and red bell pepper on the side.

The girls finish getting ready for Pioneer Club, and we're off. It's the last regular Pioneer Club meeting of the year, as next week is the closing ceremony.

"Oh, I really want Skippy," Violet sings. "I want Skippy, I want Skippy. Oh, I really want Skippy, I love him so much."

6:15 - When the girls are checked into their classes, Stace and I have an hour to do something - often we run errands, but I got my grocery shopping done already for the day. Colleen and Rigo have no plans either, so we all decide a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone sounds great.

7:30 - Pickup time! Luckily, these two friends are in the same Scooter class this year. They are looking over their pages from the "My Fun With Skippy" journal, which have been handed back since the year is coming to a close.

7:45 - Cora and Violet play on the playground for a few minutes, and then we load back into the car.

7:50 - I make two mugs of children's Sleepytime tea, and get out a few graham crackers. Violet had an hour nap, so I expect her to need all the help she can get to fall asleep.

8:10 - The girls are brushing their teeth and getting into bed. While I chat with Cora, Stace reads to Violet about butterflies.
8:20 - Before we pray and kiss goodnight, Cora tells me that she had another headache during Pioneer Club, and she can't wait to get her glasses. Also, when will we be going to Montana and seeing Ave and Johnny???


8:30 - I kiss Violet goodnight, and encourage her to stay in her bed, even if she doesn't feel tired. Then, I head out. She heeds my advice for 10 minutes, before coming out to say she needs to go potty. This takes a while.
9:15 - Violet is back in bed.
9:35 - Violet is singing to herself.
10 - I peek into the girls' rooms on my way to bed - Cora is asleep, and, finally, so is her sister. Maybe having a good friend to cuddle with made the difference. Sebastian begins purring loudly when I come in. We do love our boys.

There you have it - A Day in the Life. Not an "ordinary" day since I don't ordinarily go to Vasquez Rocks, and we don't ordinarily shop for groceries after school or pick up Stace from work. But, by all means, a normal day, and by that, I mean a blessed one. Thank you, Lord, for this life with my family.

Week In Review

Violet continues to enjoy doing her "homework" when Stacey works with Cora on hers. She still loves to sound out words and write things down.  

Cora's class this week invited the parents in for an hour to work on a math activity with the students. Part of the new "common core" style of teaching/learning, the activity involved using a pretend restaurant menu to create a bill totaling various dollar amounts. 

It happened to fall on a day I was already volunteering in class, so that was handy. I love being a part of these types of things, watching her learn and interact with her friends.

On Friday, Violet had school, but Cora was off. After taking Violet in, we went over to visit Benny and Jake.

Cora and I took Jake on a walk up the street to access the hill in front of my parents' house. It was a gorgeous morning, and I knew she'd love it.

Later on Friday, Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Mel took the girls to Disneyland. Here, they are decorating a Christmas cookie in the Big Thunder Ranch area.

Meanwhile, I cleaned the house and went through Violet's clothing.

After Stacey came home, we went out for dinner and then to the Repertory Theater to watch a Sherlock Holmes play. It was great fun, and of course so nice to have an evening date.

Bejeweled

This past week, we went to storytime at the library for the first time in several months. Colleen and Christina met us there, with Violet's buddies Liana and Melanie.



















Here's a pretty typical weeknight in our home now: Stace going over homework with Cora, while Violet works on writing letters or numbers.

Cora's homework this year has involved nightly work with math flashcards, and reading a passage in one minute. Both of these things require active parental involvement. Stace uses an online stopwatch on the laptop to determine when Cora's through with a particular activity.


Violet wants to do homework too, so Stace has been "assigning" her practice writing. She is very happy to be doing her homework, too.

Violet came home with this necklace she made at preschool during their unit on friendship. She was instructed to give it to a friend, and she chose Cora. "Then, we won't fight anymore!" she told me after I picked her up from school.

The current unit is on space, and Violet is learning a lot. She's told me that the sun is a big star and how gravity works; she wants to have a space cake for her next birthday, with a blue background behind stars and the sun and moon.

Violet has become very girly since school started - she wants to wear dresses very day, and they have to be beautiful dresses, not play clothes. She wants to wear jewelry, like necklaces and rings, and if she has a choice, she wears her black patent-leather wedge-heeled slingbacks.

Her fascination with rings has almost caused Cora to be late to school, when Violet "can't" leave until she finds the right one. So, I pulled out the boxes in the bathroom drawer and had her organize them, so all the rings are together, easy to find. She was thrilled to show me all seven rings she found.

School Days - in class

Cora seems to be doing very well with her school work. She is very detailed in her drawings and with coloring.

I'm able to help out in class once a month, and on the day I helped last week, the students wrote in their journals about what they were going to be for Halloween.

Then, they shared with the class from their journals.

Cora loves it when I'm in her class. I hear lots of "Hi, Mom!" loudly whispered across the room, and she always wants me to help her out, or to see what she's working on.

On Halloween day, before their class party, the children worked on cards.

Here is Cora's detailed card interior. I love the bat flying across the yellow moon, and the witch on her broom.

 The kindergartners have a homework packet each week, and this week had a fun assignment that called for parent participation.

The turkey is nervous about Thanksgiving approaching, so he wants to be disguised.

















Stacey's - er, Cora's - is wearing a Hello Kitty "costume," complete with pipe cleaner whiskers.

Lastly, I'm adding in here a photo my friend Shannon took when we all were volunteering for the Halloween party.

Cora's sitting next to a boy I'll keep nameless here, but one I've heard her talk about a lot this year.

The first mention was probably six weeks ago, when she said she wished she sat next to him.

WELL. There's a first time for everything, including first crushes.