Day 124 Reading

This year I resolved that we would read a picture book every day in our classroom. It has been such a great experience. I am amazed at the wonderful discussions we have had about personal experiences that relate to the stories, at the vocabulary we have learned, at the connections we have made between texts, and how the children have taken these stories and read them to others. Today we read Monsters. When I pre-read it it seemed to me it might be a little young for my class. Not so though. They loved it. After we read it, they wanted to write their own monster stories.  We will start n them tomorrow! The interesting thing to me is that if I had suggested we write monster stories, there would have been groaning and, "Do we have to?!" ....instead an idea gets in their heads from a story we read, and we are off and running on a week long writing project! There isn't anyone who hasn't bought in. I love it!!

Day 123 An Old Friend

Some people in our family are sensitive to milk products. Years ago I came across this cool machine and bought it. It became my best friend!! Every day made soy milk. Soy beans are cheap cheap and cheap and making soy milk in this machine is so easy! Then, Allen developed an allergy to soy milk and I quit using it. Tonight I was making something that needed milk. We usually have rice milk or almond milk, but we were out and I really didn't want to run to the store. I decide to pull out my old friend and try my hand at some rice milk.

It was a beautiful reunion! It turned out fantastic. And it was so easy. Pennies worth of rice makes a litre of rice milk.

I am a happy cook.

Day 122 Wonderful Sunday

My day started off wonderfully with an outdoor walk. I really prefer to walk outside, but in the winter the sun just doesn't come up early enough. Today was really the first of my outdoor walks this year and it did my soul good! There are many reasons I love this little route.

Riding on the back of the saddle with Nana Hyde at the ranch, I was always amazed at how she could see flowers in bloom. I spy them now. Maybe it happens as you get older. Maybe I'm just more sensitive than I used to be. I don't know.

This route has special meaning for me as well because it is the birth forest from the year that Destiny was born. How amazing is it that it is so close to home?!

Some think you shouldn't exercise on Sundays. I have realized, though, that a little exercise on Sunday morning makes sitting for pretty much three hours much easier to bear. Frankly, it makes me feel more alert and get much more out of the meetings.

Today was an extra special day because Peirce was ordained a teacher. My mom came and my brother even surprised us by showing up! That was a big surprise!

I sure love Peirce. He is such a nice boy. He is kind and sensitive and has many interesting talents. He takes his responsibilities seriously. I'm really proud of him.