The cutest tooth-brushers ever

Taking Stock: Happiness Resolutions Progress Report

It's that time of year already!  Time to take stock and see how I did in keeping my New Year's Resolutions for 2010.  Here are the happiness resolutions I made this year, along with my progress.


MY HAPPINESS RESOLUTIONS:

1. Learn Something: Read in Spanish at least 15 minutes 5 times per week. -  I only partially met this resolution.  I did well with it for a few months at a time, but not consistently.  I did find other ways to learn Spanish throughout my week regularly, though, including doing online Spanish verb quizzes  when I had a spare few minutes, reading easy books in Spanish (like the Little Red Hen, the Three Billy Goats Gruff, and others from this series) with my daughter, listening to the Pimsleur language series in the car on the way to and from work, and listening to Spanish/English music CDs like Hop Skip & Sing Spanish.  I'm still planning to take a Spanish class this coming spring semester, because I'd really like to perfect my past-tense use and just generally improve my comprehension of fast speech.  

2. Be social: Start a girls’ night by June. - I did have a girls' night with my neighbors.  And I've definitely made some good friends this past year.  So, even though I don't have a regular girls' night, I do have pretty regular playdates and fun outings with friends, so I think the spirit of this resolution was met.  

3. Really listen: Interview at least 5 past clients about happiness amidst struggles. - This one is partially met.  I've interviewed 3 past clients and chatted with several other clients about interviewing soon.  I've really appreciated those interviews, and love learning from the parents of the children I work with.  This project has been really inspiring to me, making me more attentive to the quality of life of my clients, and adding a greater sense of purpose to my career.  

4. Cut the chaos: Tidy up the house for 10 minutes each night, every night. - This continues to be an ongoing battle for me.  But I do have to say that this past year has been the most tidy year in my home's history.  (Yikes, what does that say about my home's tidiness history?!)   I think the ideas of having my home be a reflection of things I truly love, of making my home organized to reduce stress, and of having regular times to sort/clean-out different areas of my home (which I was inspired to do by my friend Dianne's 100-day clutter challenge) made a big difference for me.  

5. Exercise: Dance with Flannery on Mon, Wed, Fri afternoons. - This one was met for about 6 months.  And then, not so much.   I think I sense a New Year's Resolution in this area for 2011!

6. Eat Well: Bring a lunch on Tues/Thurs. - Finally, I can say a goal is met.  I typically bring my own healthy leftovers each day to work, which saves me both money and calories.  Yay!

Overall, I think just working toward these goals made me happier this year, even if they weren't all completely met.  And seeing little bits of progress throughout the year inspired me to try new things and learn more.  I'm mulling over ideas for new resolutions for next year.  I've really got to think about my top priorities and areas of my life that I most want to change.  I also think that next year, I'm really going to keep up with a resolutions chart regularly.  







How did you do with your New Year's Resolutions this past year?  Any ideas for new resolutions for 2011 yet?

Family Fun

Yesterday, we had a big family get-together with Robi's dad's side of the family for Christmas.   It was really neat to see the children playing together in the basement playroom, being loud and chaotic and just plain silly.  When it was over, Flannery said, "That sure was a fun Christmas party!"  It was so sweet.

Flannery pretending to be "Ms. Pam, with her baby twins"  :)

Robi tuned up a pink Barbie guitar and jammed with the little drummer cousins

Flannery looks so tiny playing these huge drums!

The boys tinkering with the pinball machine.

They got it to work!

The best part of the party was looking at old photos that Aunt Cindy had posted from the various years of Christmas get-togethers with the family.  The big hair!  The awful sweaters!  The acid wash jeans!  This gang does a great job of preserving memories and traditions for the next generation, and it's always a happy time when we're all together with them!



Here's a happiness challenge for this holiday:  pull out some old photos to bring when you get together with family and friends...if nothing else, it will incite laughter!  

Over the River and Through the Woods

We're driving down to the southland today. We left super early in the morning, so early that when I Woke Flanna and told her we were leaving, she asked, "in the middle of the NIGHT?"

So far, we've driven through rain, sleet, big fluffy snowflakes, and a wintry mix. Fun stuff!

The lengths we go to to spend time with our wonderful family and friends!! It's totally worth it once we're there, though!



What hassles do you endure to be with the ones you love?

A Snowy Day

Here's a riddle:

What's freezing, dangerous, about 800% less fun than snow, and keeps you trapped in your house all day?  That's right, sleet!  

I admit it, I'm a complete non-risk-taker when it comes to driving in snow or sleet.  My one year living in Boston only served to scare me rather than make me more comfortable with driving in icy weather.   You know, after hearing several news reports of people trapped in snowdrifts in their cars, and experiencing black ice on bridges a few times, and getting stuck in a variety of clients' driveways a gazillion times in one year, I pretty much decided I would set up a telepractice if I ever lived in a really snowy place again.

So when the school I work for was closed to students today because of icy weather conditions, I was rather conservative and took a snow day.  During which I watched two Christmas movies, stayed in my pajamas until 2 p.m., and drank a ton of coffee to stay warm.

In short, it was a good day.

Flannery didn't feel all that great, as she's getting over an ear infection.  She wore her "Clara" outfit for a while (from the Nutcracker) and then decided to play dress up.  I even let her wear some of my grandma's old costume jewelry.  At the end of the day, when things got a little more melty outside, we got brave and drove a block away to get cocoa and visit with some friends.  Which inspired me to take a shower and actually wear real clothes for a few hours.  (Thanks, friends, for the inspiration!)

And now it's 8:15, and I'm ready for bed.  Being cold wears a girl out.

Bling.

Padme is giving me the please-save-me look.

Playing dress up with mom's jewelry box, as the dog huddles close for warmth.  

What do you love to do on a surprise day off from work?

Do it Yourself Christmas Cards, aka, we all make mistakes

This year, I was a little bit overzealous and decided that we could make our own Christmas cards.

Let me first of all apologize to those of you who won't be getting Christmas cards in the mail this year.  A Christmas e-mail will be forthcoming very soon.

It turns out that I vastly underestimated the amount of time required to make your own Christmas cards.   I just assumed this project could be done in a weekend.  I assumed wrong, my friends.

Some of you (especially if your last name begins with A through F) might be lucky enough to get a real handmade card from us this year.  If your name begins with G through Z, cough, stammer, mutter, mutter, um, then, please refer to the aforementioned forthcoming Christmas e-mail.

Anyway, if you're interested, here are some of the Christmas cards we made.  We painted, glued, glittered, glitter-glued, and generally decorated for 2 days straight.    It was great fun.

But next year, I'm going to start 3 weekends ahead of time.  Or maybe I'll just make a snapfish photo card next year.  Somehow that sounds appealing again.

What DIY project have you bombed?  Hey, at least you tried, right?

My Little Artist

On Friday, my daughter brought home a gazillion scraps of paper that she cut, stapled (yes, they let the children use staplers! by themselves! at her school--eegads!), painted, hole-punched, and sewed (and needles, too!--can you tell it's a montessori yet!?) in her "Friday Folder."  As I poured the contents of her folder onto the top of the dryer, as is my custom, these 4 amazing crumpled masterpieces emerged alongside the glitter and paper bits.

Seriously, masterpieces.  I have no words.  (OK, except for the captions I've so wittily typed up.)

Flannery said:  It's the sun, the earff, and those orange things are stars.  And then Oscar wrote that purple line on it, and the teacher said, "Class, we only write on our OWN papers."

Flannery drew Ariel (the little mermaid), although she says her teacher helped with the tail.    I love the hair. 

This one was for me, as you can tell, since Flanna wrote my name just as I remember writing it as a kid-- "t t"  :)
Can you tell the kids are on a see-saw? 

Flannery said, "That's a wanebow, and those kids are sliding up and down it."  Of course.
I'm in awe of the new open mouths she's drawing now.
These stick figures are chatty, not just smug line smilers anymore.  

What piece of art brought you joy this week?

iPad apps for Phonics

I've been challenging myself to use technology more in my speech sessions, and the iPad has been a wonderful way to enjoy that challenge.  If you don't know much about the iPad, it's a neat little touchscreen computer that's really easy to use.  There are lots of little "games" for the iPad, called "apps" (applications).  Many of these apps can also be used on the iPhone or iTouch.  You can download apps from iTunes and use them right away with your iPad, iPhone, or iTouch.  The thing I love about the iPad is that students don't have to know how to use a mouse or keyboard to use it.  They just touch the screen.    For students with fine motor difficulties, the iPad simplifies access to games and activities, and lets the content be the focus.  

Anyway, in the next few weeks, I'm going to do a series in which I review some iPad apps that I've used with my speech students.  Today, I'm going to focus on apps that I've used for beginning readers.  I'll use a scale of 1-5 stars to rate the apps overall, with
1 = Waste of Time, 2 = I've seen worse, 3 = Okay, 4 = Better than many,  and 5 = Amazing App.

ABC Pocket Phonics: Letter sounds & writing + first words - 4 stars ($1.99)
I used ABC Pocket Phonics lite for a while, and then decided to pay the $1.99 for the regular app, because one of my students with autism did so well with this app. Basically, ABC Pocket Phonics has two games:
1) Letter sounds & writing - in which the student is shown a letter, hears its sound, and is then asked to trace the letter. The cool thing is that the tracing game models the correct directionality and gives the child feedback about whether they traced the letter correctly or not (you can set the "grading" to easy, normal, or hard, depending on the child's ability). I've used this part of the game for teaching specific letter sounds, and I just keep pressing the back arrow button to repeat the sound I'm focusing on. The OT I work with appreciates that we model the correct directionality for writing letters while we're learning their sounds.  The thing I don't like about this part of the game is that you can't pick the set of letters/sounds to focus on. But it's pretty motivating, with applause when the student traces the letter correctly. The second game is:
2) the Word Game - In this game, the narrator says a phoneme (sound) and asks the child to pick the corresponding letter (from a field of 7 or so). Then the narrator says the next sound in the word until the whole word is spelled. After all the letters are chosen, the narrator models blending of the new word. I wish that the narrator would wait a bit longer before saying the word, to allow the child more time for blending. Also, again, I wish you could choose the set of words to be used ahead of time, but most of the words are simple CVC words with short vowels, so I'd only use this app for children at that level of encoding/decoding. The best part of this app, to me, is that it's motivating and good for multisensory learning. I wish it could be more individualized, as then I could use it with more of my students who are at a higher level but still need phonics instruction to meet their reading/writing goals.

Build a Word with Word World Characters - 2 stars ($ .99)
I used the lite version of this app for several weeks before upgrading to the regular version because one of my students with autism was so motivated by the TV show "Word World."  I typically use this app as a reward for this student, who is a solid reader and is way past the "building words" stage.  However, I've used this app for fun with my 4 year old daughter, too, and she enjoys it, although it doesn't hold her interest for very long.  Don't let the name of this app fool you---it's basically a letter matching game, and doesn't really teach children how to create words themselves.  (By the way, I'm constantly amazed at the apps that teach something completely different than they claim to teach, but I'll save that rant for another post.)  Build a Word displays a letter on the screen, and then the child must choose the matching letter from a variety of floating letters, at which point the app says the letter name (not the letter sound, as I'd hoped).  Then, the app displays the next letter in the word, and so on, until the student has matched all of the letters in the word that they're "building."  Once they've matched them all, the student squishes the letters together to make a word, and the app sings the little "It's time to build a word" song (from the TV show) and then says the word the student "built."  The repertoire of words that the child is able to build is very limited (maybe 10 words total, and then it just repeats the words in upper or lowercase), so this app gets boring very quickly (unless you're a student with autism who is completely gaga over Word World!).  Overall, I gave it 2 stars just because it's cute, engaging, and slightly educational. 

ABC Phonics Rocks Lite - 3 stars (Free)
ABC Phonics Rocks Lite is an app used to teach students their letter sounds. On the "Letters" section of the game, it just displays the alphabet (capitals), and when students touch a letter, its sound is produced. I wish it had an option for teaching lowercase letters, as well. Also, some of the sounds are hard to understand, so I don't use this part of the app much. On the "Words" section of the game, the student is shown a picture of a simple word to spell (word family words), and blank spaces are provided for the student to fill in letters to spell the word. When the student touches a space, they hear the phoneme that goes there, and then can choose the corresponding letter to go in that spot.  I like that this app says the sounds of the letters rather than their names.  Again, I wish lowercase letters were used, but only capitals are used here, as well. Once the child spells the word correctly, the word dances to music as a reinforcer. My students with autism who typically would not work diligently on a writing/spelling task will encode word-family words many times using this app. I do wish that the app were more flexible and that I could pre-set the target words, but for me, this app works ok as an intro or review for phonics lessons for very early readers focusing on short vowel word families.

Clifford's "Be Big" With Words word writing game - 3 stars  (Free)
In this game, Clifford's friend Jetta is painting, and needs ideas for what to paint.  The object of the game is for the student to spell a word for Jetta to paint.  Below an art easel, the student can choose from 2-4 capital letters to give Jetta some ideas.  The student drags and drops any letter they want into each slot (words are typically 3 letters in length), and the app displays only letters that will work to create simple words, so there's no chance the child will produce a non-word.  Once the 3 slots are filled, the narrator sounds out each letter and then says, "You spelled, bug!", or whatever word was spelled.  I like that this app provides the student with some autonomy as to what word they might want to spell, rather than giving a word and asking the child to spell that word.  Also, I like that success is built-in.  However, I wish this app said the letter sound instead of the letter name when the student is dragging and dropping each letter onto the easel.  I also wish that the narrator paused for a few seconds before telling the child what word they just spelled, to give the child a chance to try blending the sounds themselves first.  This game might be useful for a child who is learning to spell simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words with short vowels; however, it's more of a practice activity than a teaching activity.  I've used this app to buy myself time to cook dinner while my daughter plays it, and my daughter loves to show me all the words she spelled and the pictures Jetta painted because she "told her to."

Doodle Buddy - 4 stars (free)
It might seem strange to call this app a phonics app, because it's truly just a drawing app, but I've used it so many different ways to target phonics skills, and students are generally so motivated by this app, that I wanted to include it here. Doodle Buddy is pretty much a fancy magnadoodle.  The student uses his/her finger to draw on the screen, and has options to change the color of the paint, the size of the crayon, to use stamps, etc.  You shake the whole iPad to erase, which is fun for students, as well.  I've used Doodle Buddy to add a multisensory component to learning sound-letter correspondence.  I'll write a letter in one color while saying its sound, and then have the student trace the letter in another color while saying its sound.  I've also written a word family rime on the right side of the screen and allowed the student to use either the "eraser" or "undo" feature to change the onset to make as many different words from that word family rime as they can, while I transcribe the words they've made for us to review later.  There is an option to save pictures that you make into iPhoto, which the students also enjoy.  I find it's a nice way to review what we did in our previous session by looking back at some of the Doodle Buddy pictures we've made together.  This is a very versatile app, and my students really enjoy using it.  Writing activities they would never enjoy with just a pencil and paper become fun and engaging with Doodle Buddy.  Below are some doodles I've made with Doodle Buddy, focusing on short vowels with a student with autism who is a beginning reader.  (Disclaimer:  You probably want to monitor your student/child while using Doodle Buddy, because some of the ads can be difficult to navigate if you accidentally click on them, and you'll want to be there to close them quickly to get back to the fun.  If it weren't for the ads, I'd have given this app 5 stars---too bad!)

Tracing Over my "e" in many different colors for overlearning the short "e" sound

onset and rime game; we had written cat, then turned it into bat, and
will erase the onset (beginning letter) and make mat or hat.

We made a sun chart with short "e" words

So, there you have it, 5 apps that will get you started if you're working on phonics with your iPad (or iPhone or iTouch).


And now for the disclaimer:   The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should seek the advice of your health care provider regarding any questions you have. You should not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog. The Gladdest Thing Under the Sun disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on the information on this blog.  Ideas posted here are just general strategies that work for me, and should in no way to be taken as medical advice. If you have a child or grandchild who needs speech and language support, there is no better way to get it than in person with your very own SLP. You can find a certified SLP in your area by going here. 






What are your top 3 apps for the iPad, iPhone, or iTouch?  

No Regrets: A Happiness Interview

Happiness Interview with Susan


Every once in a while, I'm trying to post interviews with amazing and insightful people who inspire me! Today's focus is Susan.


Susan is a fellow red-head, so when I first met her, I knew we would hit it off. She is an outgoing, intelligent mom of 3 and wife of a military man. I was Susan's oldest son's SLP for a while when he was just a tiny kiddo, and one of my fondest memories of their family is the princess birthday party they threw for their daughter, in which Susan convinced all of her husband's Navy friends to attend the party dressed in full "prince" garb. What a magical day for a 5 year old girl! This type of creativity and thoughtfulness is just everyday living for Susan (which is probably one of the reasons she was so great at helping her kids learn--what a great family to work with!), and I was thrilled to hear her insights about happiness. 


Here are her answers to my happiness questions:


1. How do you cheer yourself up when you're feeling blue?

I had to take a few days to think about this. It’s not always an active or conscious action. I’m a firm believer in personal accountability and personal choice. I *choose* to be happy! I had to learn to say “what’s the worst that could happen?” (Thanks Dad!) and recognize that I can’t change other people or outside influences; but I CAN change my reaction to them. We have a long line of alcoholics in our family, so my folks started teaching us NOT to find happiness and comfort in things, e.g. alcohol, food, etc. I feel a warm breeze, see a cardinal in the snow, or the smell of fresh rain… it makes me happy. Even my kids arguing… at least I’m alive to hear them fighting! 


2. What's something you've discovered that you'd like your kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews to know about happiness?

My husband wakes me up most mornings with the saying “It’s a beautiful day and it’s great to be alive!” Interesting that he learned this from his swim coach in high school. We never dreamed how prevalent it would be in our lives down the road. Also, you can't buy happiness. It is something you have to find within yourself. Life is full of bumpy roads, and there are no guarantees. Make the most of every situation and never have any regrets! Regrets are like guilt, they are a waste of time and energy!


3. What's a little thing you do regularly that makes you happy?

Well, lately it has been running again. I used to scrapbook and am planning on getting back into that. But something I do every day? I have to get out of bed, no matter how early my husband leaves, to see him to the door, give him a hug and kiss and then wave as he leaves. I feel like it grounds me for the day. Again, no regrets. Not that I think anything is going to happen to him, but it gives us that bond to start our day. We’re a unified front and no matter what either of us encounters during the day, we feel connected and strong to handle it! It really sucks when he’s deployed and I can’t do it!


4. What are some of the toughest struggles you've had to go through so far in your life, and how did you find a way to be happy amidst the struggle?

Wow, this is such a loaded question. My answer will come out sounding like a really bad after-school special or a sappy Lifetime channel movie. :o) Okay, I’ll just throw it all out. Life since getting married in 1997 has been full of speed bumps. We’ve had 3 miscarriages, one at 3 months-our first pregnancy, which they found out during the ultrasound, another at 6 weeks and the last when my water broke at 4 months on the dance floor of the Submarine Ball. In 2003, life got really complicated. I was diagnosed with cancer, our first son was diagnosed with Autism and my husband left for the military. Our 2nd son was then diagnosed 3 weeks after my husband left for the 2nd deployment. We’ve now been through 4 deployments in 7 years. The last 2 years have been the hardest. My husband left for Iraq March of 2009. Our cat died 3 weeks later, but most devastating, I lost my Mom in May. In October, my Uncle died. I spent Thanksgiving in the hospital due to an emergency hysterectomy because I lost 2 units of blood in 6 days and they couldn’t stop it. And of course, because life wants to always show you who’s boss, on New Year’s Eve, my dog and I were attacked by 2 pit bulls. In April of this year, my husband finally came home! A week later, my Aunt passed away and my Dad had to have triple bypass! Mike reported to his new ship and was promptly deployed again for 3 more months. We had a quiet few months and then this past Sunday we lost my Great-Uncle, the closest thing to a Grandpa I ever had. So…. All that said, how do I stay happy and optimistic? No, not alcohol. :o) It could always be worse! Seriously! Everyone has devastating issues in their lives. It may not seem that way to us, it’s all about perspective. I always try and usually do find a silver lining. It may not be a big one, but it helps. With my Mom’s death, it freed my Dad to come up here and help me this past year with everything I went through. He wasn’t able to do that when he was caring for my Mom. I believe my Mom is responsible for getting my Dad into the doctor’s. I think she was gently squeezing his arm letting him know to get things checked BEFORE he had a heart attack or stroke! Lastly, there are 2 poems that are my personal anthems. One my Dad introduced me to in H.S. and the other is my husband’s favorite.


Desiderata 

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. 

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons they are vexations to the spirit. 

If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. 

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. 

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. 

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. 

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. 

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. 

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. 

-- Max Ehrmann


If
By Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you 
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; 
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 
But make allowance for their doubting too; 
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, 
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, 
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; 

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; 
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; 
If you can meet with triumph and disaster 
And treat those two imposters just the same; 
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken 
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, 
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, 
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, 
And lose, and start again at your beginnings 
And never breath a word about your loss; 
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew 
To serve your turn long after they are gone, 
And so hold on when there is nothing in you 
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, 
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; 
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; 
If all men count with you, but none too much; 
If you can fill the unforgiving minute 
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - 
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, 
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!


---


Isn't Susan neat?  I really like the reminder to be a "unified front" with my hubby, and to start each day with "no regrets."  Thanks so much, Susan, for inspiring me!






Do you have any "personal anthems" that you return to often?  I'd love to hear what they are if so!

Funny Flanna Quotes

Painting:  "You know what I just noticed?  When you smoke a cigarette, it makes you really old."  (? not sure where this came from?)

Seeing a friend at a birthday party who used to go to preschool with her until this August, "Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you in YEARS!"

Reading a book about Jesus' birth:  "I want to go to heaven.  But I don't want to die to get there.  I want to fly there in a rocket, past outer space."

After the Nutcracker, to the ballet dancer in a silver wig, "You have hair like my daddy."   Poor daddy.

Walking down the sidewalk in the rain, trying to avoid muddy patches,  "Mud is even dirtier than dirt!"

"You can't eat cinnamon straight.  It tastes yucky.  But you can eat sugar straight."  A child after her daddy's heart.

Getting ready for bed, "Soon, it's gonna be Jesus' birthday!  How old is he gonna be?"
Me:  Um, I think about 2 thousand forty something.
Flanna:  "Well, I think he's gonna be one year old, mama.  He's baby Jesus."

Correcting me when I miss a word in her favorite Rapunzel book, which she pretty much has memorized,  "Mama, do you have your contacts in?"

Playing on the playground when I come to pick her up from school, "Hey mom, we're playing pretend, and I'm the teenager.  But not a pretend teenager.  I'm really a teenager!"
Sometimes I'd believe that last one.



What made you laugh today?

The Nutcracker Ballet

Yesterday, we saw the Triangle Youth Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker at a local theater.  It was beautiful!

This was Flannery's first real theater experience, and she really seemed to enjoy it.  When the Sugarplum Fairy danced, I caught Flanna imitating her ballet arm movements from her seat.  So cute!

And after the performance, the dancers came down to the floor and signed autographs for everyone, which was such a treat!  Flannery asked us if one day she could be in the Nutcracker.  Wouldn't that be fun?  We may have to look into ballet lessons.

Flanna and the Sugarplum Fairy

Flannery with Clara

Flannery with the godfather 

What theater production do you just love?