Welcome Baby Bird 1 and 2

Last year at this time, we were well into our bird journals.  This year is a little different.  Since we spend countless hours in the car, we have no time for journals.  Nature keeps marching forward, with or without them anyway.  The girls' excitement is just as high too. 

Today, we discovered that two of our seven baby bird eggs hatched.  This piggy backs on Adeline's chick hatching experience in her IU classroom.  She is fully aware that the baby birds crack their way out of their eggs.  I was glad to see the carry over. 

Here are two short clips of the birds and of Adeline's explanation of what she saw.

Shades of Blue

Me:  Adeline, what is your favorite color?

Adeline:  Dark Blue

Lila:  I like blue too. 

Adeline:  No, Lila.  You like sunny blue not dark blue.

Lila:  Oh yes!  I like sunny blue.

Slipping

Savannah is nearing her last day of Kindergarten - gulp! I can't believe she is approaching seven years of age and will be in 1st grade.  Everyone told me the time would fly.  They just failed to tell me how to stop it from doing so.

I can honestly say that Savannh is more than I ever dreamed. She has broken out of her shy shell and become confident, yet completely compassionate. Somehow, she is the perfect balance. I once said that I wanted to raise a girl with strong convictions - not unlike her mother at times :) Well, I believe we are on the road. Savannah is determined to make this world a better place. She has started by developing a No Liter task force. It is only made up of one individual but she is always recruiting members while picking litter up off the ground along the way. Savannah is also compassionate about Africa. After her Kindergarten class studied the country, Savannah has been saving up her money. After thinking long and hard, she has decided that she wants to spend her money on clean drinking water for Africa. She once said, "Most kids would want to buy toys but not me. Clean water is much more important than a new toy." We just opened a savings account for her activism and Savannah is very excited to get to her $50.00 mark.  Never a day goes by without Savannah pointing out something she could do to help improve someone's world.

Looking at what I just wrote, especially after reflecting on my worries a year ago, Savannah is a huge success. She is top of her class academically (can now read the Magic Treehouse Series!!), she is highly respected by both students and staff, and she is blossoming in her faith. I couldn't be more proud.

With this growth and surge in confidence, I feel my little girl needing me a less. I wasn't prepared for her strong desire to play with friends in our cul-de-sac, have playdates with school friends, or spending time in her room alone. These desires are certainly stronger than her desire to snuggle with me on the couch while talking about her day. She needs less holding/snuggling and much less of my time. While she still gets very excited to have special mommy and Savannah time, her proximity from me is different. I used to complain that she wouldn't ever be in a different room than me. Now I wish we shared the same spaces more often.

I know her love for me hasn't changed. I also know that this is a completely natural and necessary road in her development. I would just rather freeze her in time. I now know what it feels like to miss her. I can't believe that I am the one asking of her time when it has always been the other way around.

In the end, I just hope that she knows how much I love her and appreciate all that she brings to this family. We got so LUCKY! 

As far as my heart is concerned. . . moments like the one in this picture help to fill the void.

The best big sister anyone could ask for!

Another TWIN Moment

I walked in on the girls and they had made this game up all on their own.  They were too cute taking turns.  One played while the other sang.  Adeline had been playing too loud so she thought it only appropriate to tell her sister that she was playing too loud.  The clip isn't as endearing as when I walked in, but it shows both sides of their twinship - the loving to play with each other side and the telling each other what to do.

I really love these girls.

Miss Grace

I wish I could say she gets her good looks from me. . . but we all know it simply isn't true.


Here is Miss Grace on the morning of her preschool, end of the year program.

Just to make sure we are keepin' it real. . . 

Twins - A Blessing, Not a Curse!

Recently, I have turned the corner on having twins.  I have always said it is double trouble but lately, it has been such a blessing.  The girls have become best of friends and play so well together.  I love watching them come up with different games and laugh themselves silly. 

One example of this was today.  The girls pulled down my laundry basket and got into their "boat."  I asked them if they were going to "Row, row, row your boat," in a sing-song voice and as soon as I walked away I heard this.

Good Bye Mrs. Stueve

Today was Adeline's last day of her mainstream preschool.  I knew saying good bye to Mrs. Stueve would be hard, but I didn't know that I would walk away with a hole in my heart.  Mrs. Stueve willingly took both Adeline and Lila into her classroom last year.  They didn't meet the age requirement which meant their development lagged even farther behind than that of their classmates.  Initially, Adeline always had a therapist with her which put another adult into the classroom.  Having been a teacher, I can say that having an adult set of eyes on you all of the time isn't so pleasant.  Of course, Mrs. Stueve welcomed the therapists, their suggestions, and any additional work the girls required.

The girls on their last day of school last year.

This year, Adeline returned to Mrs. Stueve because she teaches the three's class too.  I was thrilled to have the continuity.  Adeline was just thrilled to be with Mrs. Stueve again.  Mrs. Stueve has always met Adeline where Adeline is at that point and time.  While every child in the class was potty trained, Mrs. Stueve didn't blink an eye that Adeline was not.  She provides positive encouragement, is her greatest cheerleader, and makes sure to recognize even the smallest reached milestones.  There is no one else that makes me feel so positive about my Adeline.  I can't express how fortunate we have been to Mrs. Stueve guide Adeline through her first mainstream experience.

It is no surprise that Mrs. Stueve has found a place in our hearts.  Adeline has a real connection with her.  What surprises me, is that Mrs. Stueve really loves Adeline.  She is more than her teacher, she is an extension of me.   Here Mrs. Stueve explains her feelings in her own words. . .

Today was bittersweet...I am so proud of all of Adeline's accomplishments and it amazes me and warms me everyday to watch her grow.  At the same time, I will miss her so much and feel so protective of her. . . If I have contributed even the smallest thing to help Adeline along on her path, it makes my 10 years of teaching all worth while.  

How lucky we are!

Here are some pictures of the end of the year picnic.  It was quite nice to have a school picnic in lieu of a program.  The kids had a great time playing together.  We were there a full two hours and my girls were not ready to leave.  I guess if you give Adeline tractors and dump trucks and Lila big box of rocks and sand, they will never want to leave.  The little kitten didn't help either.

Here are some pictures of the festivities.  I was too busy crying to get a picture of Adeline and Mrs. Stueve.  However, I got one of the fabulous Mrs. Brady who has also had a hand in Adeline's success.