Just an update

I really need to learn to bring my camera places.  All the time.  :)

This week has been busy, but not as busy as last.  Firstly, I'm adjusting to the new schedule/routine.  Secondly, Cerene and Caida have been spending a lot more time with my mom and my other sister in the afternoons, so I get more time to do things I need to. 

Still, it's been fun.  We went to our second week of aerobics in the mornings, and I'm hoping that it'll be SOON that we adjust to all this activity because we don't even last the full half hour that we stay!  On Tuesday, it was hot and sunny enough that Charissa and I took Caida swimming--but the pool was SO cold that none of us lasted long!  Yesterday, we took Cerene and Caida out for Thai food (our favorite!) and then to Coldstone.  Cerene loved it SO much, and now it's her favorite food ever.  We are so sisters.  :)  Caida was really brave and tried everything we all had, and liked it all, which is impressive for a 6-year-old.  Kinda sad that I have to bribe them with food to spend time with me, but I'm not above that.  :)  In theory, later today we're going to walk the trails at Happy Hollow Park, and then tomorrow we're going to run some errands and do some shopping.

And, of course, the homeschooling has continued.  I'm almost done planning the whole summer's lesson plans, so even if Cerene and Caida leave for home this weekend after all she'll have some structure and something to do each day.  It's been really fun to see Caida learn and grow, even in this short time.  Even though most of everything we're doing is a review for Kindergarten standards, it's amazing to me how much she can do now compared with how much she could do this time last year.  She can add pretty much any two numbers in a variety of ways, and is starting to notice some patterns in addition and memorize some of those math facts.  When she's really focused, she sounds out words SO well (for a kindergartener, she's impressive), and that goes for reading and writing.  The biggest thing I've noticed is that she's just a fast learner.  I can teach her something once or twice and it just sticks with her.  Especially in math.  I showed her how to use a number line to add or subtract, and then a hundred's chart...and she pretty much does it on her own every time now.  Her teachers made her feel so stupid, and some people have constantly been telling her she's slow and too unfocused and pretty much making her feel like she isn't smart/good/pretty/fun enough to be worth anything, but I don't get that at all--and I'm saying that as objectively as I can, as a teacher instead of an aunt.  So I'm working on building that confidence up by showing her what she can do instead of praising blindly.  I wish I had more time with her.

Otherwise, this week has been pretty standard, and entirely craft free. (I know, crazy!)  I have been reading Three Cups of Tea, and while I don't usually enjoy biographies (too much tooting of horns), this story is really quite interesting.  I've been trying to get caught up on dishes/laundry/all those things that slip through your fingers when you're entertaining guests, and maybe by this weekend I'll be good.  And my herb garden is mostly growing well...except for the lettuce in my flowerbed.  Somehow it all died/disappeared between yesterday's watering and today.  :)