New Beginnings

Tomorrow our eldest heads back to Montessori school. The last time she was in a Montessori classroom she was 3, we lived in Georgia, her father wasn't a priest, and she had one less sibling. Times were very different back then but our love for the Montessori philosophy has remained the same.

It's funny how not having the option of something makes you forget how important it was to you. When we moved to TN, I was so broken-hearted our children wouldn't have the option of attending a Montessori school. Luckily they still had a few years left of preschool and I ran the preschool program they attended so I made it as Montessori-influenced as I could, but I knew once A started attending "real" school, we were stuck with the local public school as our only option. I knew we wouldn't be able to afford anything else and could only hope the places we lived in the future would have great public school option. Or I considered homeschooling, often.

In TN I wasn't thrilled with the local elementary school's policies (corporal punishment is just not for me), but I did like that the school was so small and so much a neighborhood school, it was Sewanee after all! I hoped the small class sizes and population of university families would help the bad reputation of Middle TN schools. But, even though it was just Kindergarten, it just didn't measure up and her reading skills were lacking.

When we found out we were coming to Charlotte, I researched schools and was amazed to discover Charlotte had 3(!) public Montessori schools! But they were only accessible by lottery and we had missed the cut-off. Luckily we moved into an area with an amazing school and we were very happy with our situation. I wanted to just be able to put our name in for the lottery though, just in case, and ended up going on an interview last year knowing our chances were slim entering as a 2nd grader. We never heard back though, and started school happily as now a Kindergartner and 2nd grader.

Then, on Thursday, they called to say they had a spot for A, and they needed an answer by the end of the day. This was amid a pretty crazy day that included J getting stung by 10 yellow jackets and going uptown during the DNC for a taping of the Daily Show (awesome, btw). That night we told A she got in and we thought it was a great thing and how excited we were. She was sad to leave her school but I could tell she was trying hard to be brave. She said goodbye to her old school Friday and took it all so maturely. I am so proud of her. We are beyond excited to be back in the Montessori mode and can't wait until they have an opening for H (but he'll be able to go next year, and M can start when she's 4!). It's the start of something new but also a remembering of something old, but not forgotten. A philosophy if life, education, and parenting. So happy to be there again with our amazing girl to lead the way!

Slacker

Man I've been a slacker this summer. One post per month has pretty much been the norm and that's just not ok. Life is busy for sure with 3, but now that school has started I'm going to try really hard to be much better. I'm toying with the idea of starting a new blog or giving this one an overhaul. We'll see, I may not have as much time as I think I'm going to have.
The kids started school this week. A loves it of course, and H has only gone one day since he's in Kinder and they do this staggered entry thing. He'll go again tomorrow with everyone. He got the teacher we were hoping for and we've heard such good things. When I dropped him off Tuesday, there were no tears from either of us and he was happy about his day when I picked him up. He's really grown and matured over the summer, less clingy than he was at the end of the school year.
H is having a playdate today and I'm getting lots done. M is following them from room to room and was pounding on the door when they went outside to play. So cute! She's crawling super-fast now and can stand up for a few seconds on her own. Oh and she loves to dance. Here's proof from our playdate dance-party:

Christmas in August

Yesterday (H) really wanted to watch Elf for our movie night, but got outvoted by the rest of us. He was quite upset so I offered that we could watch it the next morning. He wasn't quite consoled and apparently a 2 week vacation helps me get creative so I suggested we do a whole pretend it's Christmas thing. We woke up and turned on Elf and I made hot chocolate and these inspired waffles, if I do say so myself.

The kids thought it was superfun and so did I. The weather cooperated by being rainy and cooler (85, not 100), so we snuggled under a (light) blanket and laughed at Buddy (I was laughing the most by far).

After the movie, the kids were still in the spirit, so we turned on Christmas music and I told them to go play with their new toys from Santa. *A* pulled her dollhouse and all the accessories out and they played for almost an hour. It was a fun morning and a summer event I'm sure we'll repeat. I was even inspired to make soup for dinner since it felt like a cozy winter's day!

Well hello there

A month?! Where does the time go? Updates:
Baby's crawling. Oh yes, that's where the time went.

A went to Seattle and Canada without us. H went to ATL without us. We had 1 child for a whole week and it was weird and wonderful all at the same time.

Went to the beach for a few days right after school let out, it was the best way to kick off summer.

Oh yeah, VBS too. Fun!

We're now in the throws of "real" summer, 100 degree days, all of us home, trying to find things to fill our time but not break the bank. Lots of pool-going, lots of movies, lots of sibling scuffles.

Headed to Michigan in a few weeks for the longest time ever, 2 weeks!!! We're *all* going this year, yay! And we're so excited!!!

Off to figure out what to do today, it's *only* going to be 98 so maybe we can be outside for an hour or so ;)

Zoom

Life is speeding by. I'm anxious for the slower days if summer which will be here in 3 short days. Last week was full of end of the year fun. Here are the highlights:

Last Tball game (ever!). We're so proud of our little slugger!

An *almost* crawling baby! (Sigh)

Bike-riding!

Dance recital uptown, she was loaded down with gifts from her adoring fans!

Fun Day (aka field day)!

He's so close to being on only 2 wheels!

And of course, some pool time!

Momma's Day

We spent the first part of the weekend in Sewanee but ended it with my parents in Chattanooga and then on home for Mother's Day. Sweet boy greeted me with a "Happy Mother's Day" as soon as he rolled out of bed, he's so good. Since it was a Sunday, and A's last day to sing in the cherub choir at church, we had to be there quite early but the kids gifted me with getting ready quickly and without any yelling on my part. After church we went to lunch and the kids helped me polish off a piece of chocolate cake as big as my head.
Then I took a 2 hour nap with baby girl while the rest of the family went grocery shopping and prepared me dinner in bed (since I couldn't have breakfast in bed with it being a Sunday and all). They made a goat cheese, mushroom, leek quiche, arugula salad with home-roasted almonds, and mixed berries. It was pretty darn perfect.

A rare event, me in front of the camera with all 3 kids.

Dinner in bed, vase made by H.

 

Late Church

The new trend around here is to wait and go to church at 11:15. We've been doing this the past couple of weeks and I'm really starting to enjoy it. This morning the kids woke up in a foul mood (not M, she's practically perfect in every way), which then put me in a foul mood, so I sent them back to their beds and told them to start the day over. They came into the kitchen a few minutes later, I greeted them with a kiss and asked if they had a good night's sleep and then they retreated to their bedroom where they proceeded to play quietly and kindly with each other for an hour and a half!!! There were no demands for breakfast or tv. I was able to drink my coffee in relative peace, feed M a bit of carrots (not a fan yet), watch her play with Gracie and some toys, and then lay her down for a morning nap. Then I had quiet time (wha?!?) while the big kids continued to play. If we had gone to the early service, which used to be our norm, there would have been rushing and yelling and none of this quiet playtime or quiet mommy time. Very nice. Very Sunday.
I think I'll try this morning re-do thing more often.