Slow

You guys, we found a turtle!  Spotted by Zosia while crossing the street just like it was no big deal.  We deliberated for some time about whether he was a pet or a wild animal, but the determination with which he was crawling towards the creek led us to believe wild animal.  We spent a little while trying to train him (with success, if you would ask Lily or Hugo, who would stand directly in his path while yelling "Here, turtle!  Here, turtle!" and then claim victory when he took a step towards them before changing directions).  And then we released him and he crawled away, eager to continue on his journey.  Quick as a wink, and here we were thinking that turtles were supposed to be among the slowest in the animal kingdom.  Just a few minutes, but he certainly captured our imaginations.

Our lives these past few months have been composed of many such little fragments.  Any moment has a list of five very urgent matters that must immediately be tended to.  A meal, a diaper, a guest, a game, a book.  And then, five minutes later, the list changes.  It creates a beautiful mosaic of a day, although in the moment, it can feel like a bit of a marathon.  And despite the fact that I sometimes find that a morning has flown by and I have not gotten off of my feet once, I nevertheless have become a little addicted to the quick pace of life, to tell you the truth.  It is thrilling and feels incredibly fulfilling to be able to care for one another diligently, and there's a way that a big family starts to feel like a well oiled machine.  

Every now and then these days, we find ourselves with a longer stretch of quiet time, and it's that slowness that takes some adjusting to.  Last week, the girls participated in a sweet little dance camp, and I found myself only with Hugo while the babies napped in the morning.  We would read something like ten books, play a few games, all at the most leisurely pace.  Eventually we would tidy the house a bit and get a sack.  Every moment I was filled with the feeling that surely I must be forgetting something.  But no, there was nothing extra.  Just Hugo and two napping babies.  What a funny feeling!  And these days I'm realizing that it's okay to slow down the pace, since things will be quieter when the big girls are in school this year.

Which brings me to our school decision for the coming year.  As many of you know, this past year we homeschooled for first grade.  We loved it.  We loved having Zosia around, loved the fact that we could learn so much so quickly and then spend the rest of our time learning through play.  It was a wonderful year, and it was an incredible gift to have our whole family here during the year that we welcomed twins (seriously! My two "big girls" have proved themselves competent as baby holders, baby entertainers, and even baby diaper changers.  It was like having two built in mothers' helpers).  

However, as the year progressed, we realized that finding time for formal instruction was becoming trickier.  Now, enter two crawling, cruising babies, and it is suddenly even trickier.  As much as we loved homeschooling, it became clear that this coming year was not a good homeschooling year.  Regardless, we felt like there were a lot of things that we had accomplished at home that were wonderful.  Things like nature study, reading live books, integrating our faith into our schooling, and being actively involved in the educational process.  We felt sad to be letting these things go, and started thinking and praying of a way to continue along this path.

I can't narrate all of individual events that transpired in such a small space, but they go something like this.  We found a school, one that we loved, and every barrier  (substantial barriers, mind you!) were lifted one by one.  Our prayer for clarity was decisively answered.  The girls will be in school together at a sweet small Christian school that is close by, that is very homeschooling friendly, and that welcomes (requires, even!) substantial parental involvement.  And what's more, not only do they support the type of school we tried to create at home, but we feel like have a lot to learn from them.

We are all excited to imagine what this coming year will hold!

Pansies, Trees, Monsters

*Pretty*

I'm so glad I put some pansies in the window boxes on a whim a few weeks ago!  Usually by now, pansies would be leggy and wilting due to warm weather, but thanks to our cool spring, they're still just fine!  Another couple of weeks until it's time for petunias, I would say.

*Happy*

The best homeschooling days seem to be the ones that are born of spur of the moment ideas.  This morning, a fallen branch in the front yard led to a lesson on trees, roots, photosynthesis, and different types of leaves.  Nature study has been such a fun way to get all of the kids involved in homeschooling, and it never feels like a chore! I was glad to have that sweet potato growing on our kitchen table, as it served as a great illustration on roots.  And there's my trusty leaf gatherer working hard in the yard.  There is actually some green stuff growing on the ground, which in itself is a small miracle (weeds, grass, who cares.  You can't be picky in these parts).

*Funny*

An artist and her work.  This one is entitled "Monster."  Lily is actually amazing at all things monster and robot related, whether on paper, or in Legos.  I actually just love this monster.  Such personality!

*Real*

Hugo continues to adore the twins (above, with Dorothy), and we continue to heavily censor his interactions with them, because this love is too strong!  A typical interaction might look like this.

Hugo:  There's a baby.  This baby is really happy.

Hugo bends down and starts kissing the baby.

Hugo:  I kissing baby's face.  Hugo smiles.  

Dorothy:  cries

Hugo:  This baby is really sad.  Hugo exits stage left.

Oh well, the love is there.  One of these days he'll figure the rest out.

Joining in with Like Mother, Like Daughter this week!

During School

We have had such a wonderful week around here!  The babies are officially doing great, which is of course a huge boost to any pregnant woman's spirits (more on that later), and we have been having a fun week of homeschooling and playing and enjoying beautiful fall in Virginia.

I think we've sort of settled into a nice homeschooling rhythm during the week.  On days that Lily has preschool, I try to do a little more organized schooling with Zosia, with a math lesson, a handwriting lesson, some free writing time, and reading time.  We do arts and crafts and a lot of outdoor play in the afternoon.  And Hugo sort of hangs out and plays independently (you can see a few of the ways he's been "helping" around the house, with sorting pompoms in an egg carton, and peeling carrots in the nude.  Cutest chef ever).  Zosia loves to read to Hugo and Lily, and looking through these pictures makes me realize that Hugo is still very much an "ear holder."  What a funny little thing!

A couple of days a week we have activities out of the house, like a very sweet ballet class that both girls attend, or gymnastics with good friends once a week for Zosia.  The kids are lucky to see both sets of grandparents on a pretty regular basis, which everyone loves (and serves as a source of enrichment for them!  Grandmothers-- and grandfathers too-- make very good educators, it turns out!).  There are less regular activities in the mix, too, like daisies once a month for Zosia, a Catholic girl's club that both girls just started attending, and a family faith sharing group through our church.  Once you throw in a few playdates, and just about a weekly visit to either the midwife or the sonographer for me, that makes for a pretty well balanced week.  There is time at home (a lot more than in the past!), time with friends, and everything seems to have a flow and a rhythm.  Of course we're very aware of the fact that things are going to shift over the course of this exciting year for our family, so we are accepting this for what it is: a pleasant yet temporary rhythm for this moment.  Who knows what the next month will bring.

Oh, and while I'm reporting major family happenings, Zosia lost a tooth!  In case any of you are out of touch with the world of six year olds, this is huge business!  Very exciting, and much anticipated.  Nice work, Zo.

Everyday Wonders

::Gathering the last of the seasons' tomatoes.  Yes, it was actually cold enough to wear a hat.  It's Lily who's underdressed.

::We may have only a week or two left before frost claims the tomatoes.

::Zosia and Hugo have become the fireman rescue squad.  Lily alerts them to fires around the house.  Those are little occupation cards they are holding: Hugo doesn't care for any of them save for the two firemen.

::A friend gave Zosia this book, and we have had a wonderful time making "hunormous bubbles," as Lily would say.  It really is amazing to watch.

::There's our chrysalis hanging out.  She generally lives inside a jar, and I am hoping to upgrade her to a butterfly net where she will be comfortable emerging from her cocoon. 

::Lily is one of those people who loses herself in dance.  I just adore that about her.

Homeschool, Week 1

::a first day of school teatime, just me and Zosia.

::I made a plum cake and my mom brought by a lovely fruit tart.

::the children spent over two hours playing Narnia in the afternoon.  Zosia was Susan, Lily was Lucy, and Hugo was either Edmund or Peter, depending on the girls' needs.  As far as he was concerned, he was just going around the house putting out fires (complete with a fireman's hat).  I think he was thrilled to be welcomed into big kid imaginary play.

::We found what we believe to be a Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar in the front, and placed it in a jar for a day of observation.  Upon going to the library (where we had a picnic dinner with Ben and rode bikes) and returning home, the caterpillar had started turning into a chrysalis!  I just checked in on him, and he has completed his cocoon.  I just might have joyfully teared up at the sight.  I mean, I'm so happy for him!  He's beginning his gestation.  And no, of course these aren't my pregnancy hormones talking.

::Hugo has been enjoying participating in school (circle time in the morning is his favorite), and has been sleeping waaaay in every morning, which has meant that I can do a math lesson with Zosia before he's even awake.  Totally perfect.

::The children set up a carwash for all yard cars, tractors, and bicycles.  Everything is legitimately cleaner, and they had a wonderful afternoon organizing it.

::Ben just started reading Little House in the Big Woods, which is a family favorite.  We finished The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,and have been reading some stories by Hans Christian Anderson (you simply must read the original Little Mermaid.  Our kids haven't seen the movie, and know no differently, but this story is totally different than the Disney version, and, no spoilers, has an awesomely melancholy and yet poignant ending).

Our first week of homeschooling was wonderful.  Seriously, I had no idea it would be this much fun for everyone involved.  Zosia is a little teacher trapped in a six year old's body, so she has been coordinating activities and helping the littler two along.  We have a very free form school going on: every day we do a circle time, a math lesson for Zosia, free writing, and a nature journal.  We are big readers, so Zosia will either read aloud to me or her siblings, or read to herself.  We have been spending a lot of time playing outside (which Zosia insists on calling "recess".  So cute).  And we always spend plenty of time reading aloud to the kids.

The best part for me has been that we really can treat each person in the family as an individual, respecting his or her own needs (be it for rest, activity, stimulation, sleep, nourishment, whatever).  Our mornings have been lovely and relaxed, and there is no rushing to get anyone out the door.  Our afternoons are playful and rested.  Zosia is no longer exhausted after a long day at school in which she was constantly required to be on her toes.  Since all of our organized schoolwork gets done in a couple of hours, we can say "yes" to every playdate, excursion, and social interaction, so we are spending as much time as possible with friends.  And the kids are all so curious, it makes this whole teaching them thing a pleasure.  I have been learning so much myself, and it is thrilling.

I will try to share some of the details of what we're doing over the coming weeks (because I'm sort of a nerd, I have been reading up on homeschooling things for years).  And then there are plenty of things I'm still working on: some montessori activities for Hugo, setting up regular reading lessons for Lily, recorder lessons for Zosia, and doing some more art with the kids being among them.

I hope you all and your little ones had a wonderful first week of school, too!

A Crazy Idea

It all started at the end of last year, when Ben and I met with Zosia's kindergarten teacher.  All year we had this little pesky voice in the back of our minds that was saying we should homeschool Zosia.  And yet it seemed like sort of a crazy thing to do, you know?  And so we were going into school to have some sense talked into us by the person who knows Zosia "the student" best.  

As we settled into the meeting and started chatting, it was actually Zosia's teacher who brought up homeschooling.  And rather than give us a pep talk about keeping her in school, she talked about how wonderful it would be for Zosia to have the individualized attention, the ability to go ahead at her own pace, and how easy it is these days to find a homeschooling community.  Honestly, we were a little stunned, and went home re-evaluating our plans for the coming year.

Then enter the twins.  When we found out we were having not one, but two babies, we backed off of our plans.  After all, I had always imagined homeschooling as the opportunity to go out and take full advantage of the resources all over the city: the zoo, the museums, the Kennedy center.  That wouldn't be possible with newborns, let alone with a very pregnant body.  

But it was Zosia who continued to press us on the topic.  She loved school, don't get me wrong.  And we live in one of the very best school districts in the country.  Kindergarten was a great experience, and Zosia made many good friends.  But Zosia missed seeing her family.  She wanted more time to do free writing, to read.  She is an incredibly self-motivated learner, this one, and a very fluid reader.  And all through the first year, she was utterly exhausted at the end of the day.  We loved the idea of giving her opportunities to learn and play without the exhaustion.

So after much lobbying on the part of Zosia, and much careful consideration on our part, we're embarking on something that feels just a little bit crazy!  We will be homeschooling our first grader this coming year, really thinking of it as "just one year."  It will be a very home based homeschool, and that is fine with both us and her.  That means for Hugo, I will probably be organizing a few montessori-style activities to keep him occupied for an hour or two while I do some schoolwork with Zosia.  Lily will be in preschool a few mornings a week, which will help with the plan.  All of the grandparents are very excited to help (all four of them have experience as educators), and we have friends and family members experienced in this homeschooling thing, whose advice we will absolutely draw from.  When the twins come, we will take time off, and she will continue to do her own thing at her own pace, and probably be a huge help with the babies.  We don't know exactly what things will look like, but we will figure it out together, and we are very much looking forward to that.  I'll keep you posted, and share what this homeschooling thing looks like as we figure it out.

In the mean time, do any of you have experience or advice?  Or great montessori ideas for 2-year olds?