Parent-Teacher Conferences

Seriously. I have GOT to get better about posting here. I fill my facebook feed with sweet pictures of the girls, funny things they've said, and tales of recent accomplishments. From there, my memories disappear into e-blivion. :(

Michael and I had parent-teacher conferences at the girls' school today. Marlee is in her Second Year Primary, and Eloise is in the Toddler Community in Montessori school. Both conferences went well. We really didn't have any concerns about Eloise, and her teacher confirmed that she is doing really well. No separation problems, socializes well, participates and works. If anything, she needs to be attending more, so we will be moving her to three mornings in January. She also said that Eloise "holds her own" and "doesn't let anyone mess with her." Ha! No surprise there.

We did have some minor concerns about Marlee, but they were mostly put to rest. Our main concern was that she seems to have plateaued when it comes to reading. She has been reading for over a year, but she doesn't seem much more advanced now than when she was three. She says she doesn't like practicing the Moveable Alphabet, which is the work for her age that promotes phonics. I was frustrated. Then I learned that in true Montessori fashion, her reading is at a standstill (though by no means behind) because she is interested in and focusing on math works. She has mastered the binomial cube and is practicing the trinomial. She has mastered number rods and will start gold beads next week. Her teacher told us that Marlee is so advanced that she is considering inviting her to join the Third Years in the afternoon work cycle (normally reserved for kindergarteners) beginning in January. However, Marlee will have to do some maturing. Right now, she often has to be reminded to choose works, and is quite chatty during work cycle with her two best friends (the three of them are the self-dubbed "Sparkle Team.") I'm not really concerned or eager to have her stay the full day. She'll most likely just start next year as normal. Still, it's nice to hear how well she's doing...even if she is a bit distracted!

We left the school feeling awfully proud of our girls, and as always, thrilled with Montessori. I'm still waiting for that windfall that will allow us to keep the girls in their school through elementary :)

Not Ready.

We have had a couple of late nights in a row. Saturday, we had some friends over and the kiddos were up playing until after 11. Last night, we went to the drive-in, and the girls watched their dvd player while we saw Bridesmaids. Again, Marlee was up until past 11. Needless to say, she slept in this morning. When she woke up, I said, "Good Morning, Junebug! Eloise will be so happy you're awake. She's been asking for you."

She replied, "Mommy, I am NOT ready for Eloise yet."

I get it, kid.

What's Going On

Hi Everyone! Once again, I'm way overdue for a post around here. Things have been crazy to say the least. Take our normally super-busy life and throw in a home renovation and a few illnesses and...well, you get the picture.

Our house is coming along slooooooooooowly, but we expect it to be finished in the next week--only 2.5 months after we started our "4 week project." I'm looking forward to not having contractors around almost as much as I'm excited about the finished product.

Marlee is out of school for the summer, and I'm loving having the girls all day! We have lots of crafting and adventuring planned for the next couple of months. I'll do my best to take pictures and share stories, but I think we all know I'm not so great about that these days!

Singing

Eloise has become quite the little singer. She sings along to many songs, but her favorites are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the theme to The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That...she can sing those all by herself! We couldn't figure out where she learned Twinkle Twinkle. We don't sing it much at home, but I learned that Papa sings it to her when they swing at the park!

Oh, and she sings the alphabet! Her accuracy varies, but it's pretty good :)

It Starts

My sweet sweet Marlee June had her feelings hurt. And it hurt me. Like physically hurt me.

She was quiet in the car the other day. She is rarely quiet in the car. Suddenly she says, fighting back tears, "Nobody ever picks me for napkins."

"What, Baby?"

"On birthdays. Nobody ever picks me."

Turns out that when a child in her class is having a birthday celebration, he or she chooses a friend to pass out the napkins to go with the birthday muffins. And no one ever picks Marlee. Heartbreak.

I told her that they probably didn't know how much she wanted to do the napkins. This apparently sparked a conversation with her friend Maya, whose birthday is this week.

"I asked Maya that may I pass out her napkins because we are favorite friends and she said I could."

Oh, Maya, please remember your promise and choose Marlee on Thursday.

**UPDATE: It was Tuesday, not Thursday, and Maya chose Campbell. Tears at carpool :(

Chatter

THINGS MARLEE JUNE SAYS

"I see perfectly fine, thank you." -when told that eating carrots would help her see better

In a conversation about Chinese New Year

Me: You know where China is!

MJ: Yes, Asia.

Me: And where is Asia?

MJ: It's just it's own place.

Me: In which hemisphere?

MJ: It's in two hemispheres.

Me: (Racking my brain to think if east Asia crosses into the Western Hemi. I later found that it in fact does, but that's irrelevant.) No, sweetie. Is it in the East or West?

MJ: I know, Mommy, East! But you forgot Northern Hemisphere, silly!

Touche.

I am weaning Eloise, and was trying to distract her when she was wanting to nurse.

"Don't say that to her mom! If she is thirsty, you give her milk!"

THINGS ELOISE SAYS

"I want snack."

"That's mine phone!"

"I want juice, please."

"This mine chair."

"I call Papa."

"Giggy's here!"

"Daddy's in shower."

"Where's Marlee?"

"It's my turn!"

"I LOVE YOU!"

Well That's Sad

I just received a notice that my blog background has been retired. I have to pick a new one, or I'll be sporting an error message February 1. I really like the look of this blog...so much that I designed the girls' bedroom after it. But alas, nothing lasts forever. Here's to a new year, a new look.

A Fancy Day

Last Saturday, I took Marlee to see Beauty and the Beast at the Fox Theatre. We began our day with brunch at Livingston restaurant at The Georgian Terrace Hotel. Marlee could not believe all the food and that she could have whatever she wanted. And seconds! Our server was very nice and treated Marlee like royalty. She ate that up too, of course.

Brunch

Before the Show

Mrs. Potts Facepaint

Loving the beautiful theater!

Unfortunately, we had to leave a short while into the second act...Marlee said she wasn't feeling well. Before we even made it home, she had started vomiting in the car. Despite the sad end, we still had a fun and memorable day!