We built a new blog to chronicle our move. It is www.dtkc.wordpress.com
We gave the address to K's school class and to lots of family and friends. I'll have to come back to this one once we get settled.
We arrived last night in New York City. The apartment is on the 10th floor and it is packed.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Jonah and the whale
K has been reading the bible a lot. Tonight it was Jonah and the whale. She wanted to know if the story was really true and was everything in the bible really true. I'm never sure how to answer these questions. We talked about different beliefs and what people thought. She really likes the Jonah story, she seems to reread that one a lot.
After we watched the movie Moses this summer, she wanted to know why God didn't talk to her. Then we went to see Evan Almighty and she thought it was cool that God talked to him. She really enjoyed that movie.
K got up water skiing this past weekend!! She went about 50 yards (and would have gone longer if Grandpa had been driving instead of taking pictures!). She wanted to try and really gave it her all, she had 3-4 times of not getting up too. She also went tubing and had a "wild" ride. That was fun. She was really enjoying herself. This was the last weekend I think because it was still hot. From now on it will be too cold to get in the water, plus we won't be going down there again, it's a long drive.
After we watched the movie Moses this summer, she wanted to know why God didn't talk to her. Then we went to see Evan Almighty and she thought it was cool that God talked to him. She really enjoyed that movie.
K got up water skiing this past weekend!! She went about 50 yards (and would have gone longer if Grandpa had been driving instead of taking pictures!). She wanted to try and really gave it her all, she had 3-4 times of not getting up too. She also went tubing and had a "wild" ride. That was fun. She was really enjoying herself. This was the last weekend I think because it was still hot. From now on it will be too cold to get in the water, plus we won't be going down there again, it's a long drive.
Monday, September 03, 2007
School
K started school last Thursday. She started 2nd grade so she officially skipped first. On Friday she rode the bus. She loves it so far. We decided to start here so we would have the acceleration part done for future schools. I did not think I could homeschool with all the work finding a place and now moving. We've been looking and trying to sell ours since April. I have to sell a lot of stuff to move back into a small space.
But we started her mostly because she wanted to go. She was so excited when we said she could go. We talked about homeschooling but she wasn't interested. She wanted to try to go and ride the bus and take her lunch. I think it will be a good experience for her even if it is only for a month or two. I've been thinking of it as a 4 week day camp since she didn't have the opportunity to do any camps or classes this summer. We were too busy looking for a place to live. She had to fill out a poster about herself and one spot was for her 3 wishes. Her one wish was to go to New York and have fun and not have to look at apartments. I think emotionally this whole process has exhuasted her. When you are moving, you want to move and get it finished. It has been dragging on for 4.5 months now. I've been reluctant to take on two house payments and our house is just not selling.
But we started her mostly because she wanted to go. She was so excited when we said she could go. We talked about homeschooling but she wasn't interested. She wanted to try to go and ride the bus and take her lunch. I think it will be a good experience for her even if it is only for a month or two. I've been thinking of it as a 4 week day camp since she didn't have the opportunity to do any camps or classes this summer. We were too busy looking for a place to live. She had to fill out a poster about herself and one spot was for her 3 wishes. Her one wish was to go to New York and have fun and not have to look at apartments. I think emotionally this whole process has exhuasted her. When you are moving, you want to move and get it finished. It has been dragging on for 4.5 months now. I've been reluctant to take on two house payments and our house is just not selling.
Still here
I guess I have been consumed with moving and haven't had time to write. We finished in the corporate apartment in White Plains with no house/apt. We came back and did a week in TN at my parents' lake house with my sister and her family. That was great fun. Then back to NYC by myself for a week with the kids staying at grandparents' houses. Then all of us back up for 3 days for the final push. I think I have seen more of the NYC housing market than anyone should ever have to! We saw houses and apartments in Westchester County, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, New Jersey and Manhattan. We finally decided on Manhattan. Tomorrow D should sign the lease for an apartment in the city. It's not available until the 15th. Of course our house here has still not sold. The housing market has plummeted in the Midwest. It's going to be rough for awhile but hopefully our house will sell and we can't live apart forever!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Debate
Here's the debate. We love the city and we love living in the city. K keeps saying I want to live where we don't have to be in the car all the time. We loved our apartment building when we lived here from 2001-2004.
The city has 2 gifted only schools which are supposed to be awesome. One you have to apply for kindergarten and you have to live in Manhattan. C would qualify. I'm not sure he would score high enough on the test or do well with the interview but I could give him a shot. He would have a hard time b/c the cutoff is dec 31st to start Kindergarten at 4.5 and his bday is dec 29th. But the interview and testing would be right after he turned 4 so I'm not sure maturity wise he would do too well. I'd love to give him a shot but we have to live in Manhattan.
The other gifted school accepts at kindergarten and at the other grades by attrition. K could apply here. You have to live in the 5 boroughs to apply. I emailed the director, who knows if they will have space. There are a couple other gifted type schools she could apply to also.
All of these applications would be for fall 2008 so I still have to do something for fall 2007 so I need to live in a good school district so I have the option of doing that. Homeschooling is an option too.
Sounds OK right? Back to the city... we cannot afford our apartment building anymore. The rents in the city have gone up about $1000/month since we left. So, we can't find anything to match all the criteria - mainly a good school district and some space with more than 1 bathroom. And if I homeschool, I'll need a little bit of space. We are looking at 2 bedrooms now or 1 bedrooms with a dining room converted to a 2nd bedroom if we want a doorman. I'm not sure we can live like that and I'm not sure I want to do that. We have to sell our car to move in the city and I'd like to explore the area more, there's so much to see educationally for the kids but that's hard to do when you have to rent a car every time. I think we would just do it once a month or once every two months. We many be at a different time in our lives now but I hate not giving the kids a chance at these schools.
The other reality is that even if I were to get in both these schools, I would have kids in 2 different schools and they are on opposite sides of Central Park which is actually a big deal. It takes a while to get across because you have to walk or go by bus so it'll take 15-20 minutes. I'm not sure I want them in different schools. I'm not sure we'll even be able to get them to school on time every day.
I'm in the circle of debate...
The city has 2 gifted only schools which are supposed to be awesome. One you have to apply for kindergarten and you have to live in Manhattan. C would qualify. I'm not sure he would score high enough on the test or do well with the interview but I could give him a shot. He would have a hard time b/c the cutoff is dec 31st to start Kindergarten at 4.5 and his bday is dec 29th. But the interview and testing would be right after he turned 4 so I'm not sure maturity wise he would do too well. I'd love to give him a shot but we have to live in Manhattan.
The other gifted school accepts at kindergarten and at the other grades by attrition. K could apply here. You have to live in the 5 boroughs to apply. I emailed the director, who knows if they will have space. There are a couple other gifted type schools she could apply to also.
All of these applications would be for fall 2008 so I still have to do something for fall 2007 so I need to live in a good school district so I have the option of doing that. Homeschooling is an option too.
Sounds OK right? Back to the city... we cannot afford our apartment building anymore. The rents in the city have gone up about $1000/month since we left. So, we can't find anything to match all the criteria - mainly a good school district and some space with more than 1 bathroom. And if I homeschool, I'll need a little bit of space. We are looking at 2 bedrooms now or 1 bedrooms with a dining room converted to a 2nd bedroom if we want a doorman. I'm not sure we can live like that and I'm not sure I want to do that. We have to sell our car to move in the city and I'd like to explore the area more, there's so much to see educationally for the kids but that's hard to do when you have to rent a car every time. I think we would just do it once a month or once every two months. We many be at a different time in our lives now but I hate not giving the kids a chance at these schools.
The other reality is that even if I were to get in both these schools, I would have kids in 2 different schools and they are on opposite sides of Central Park which is actually a big deal. It takes a while to get across because you have to walk or go by bus so it'll take 15-20 minutes. I'm not sure I want them in different schools. I'm not sure we'll even be able to get them to school on time every day.
I'm in the circle of debate...
All time low
I've hit an all time low with the housing search. We seem to be all over the board and we have not found the right place. I'm not sure I know what the right place is.
I'm not doing anything with the kids. I brought those math books for K but never have time to work with her doing them. I'm ready for this process to be over. The kids have been troopers and I've been trying to give them some fun things but we've been doing a lot of trekking - either by foot or car to see apartments/houses.
There are so many options here and the place is so big with so much traffic to get from place to place. I can't seem to decide. I really need to decide on the city vs. the suburbs b/c searching both is exhausting!
I'm not doing anything with the kids. I brought those math books for K but never have time to work with her doing them. I'm ready for this process to be over. The kids have been troopers and I've been trying to give them some fun things but we've been doing a lot of trekking - either by foot or car to see apartments/houses.
There are so many options here and the place is so big with so much traffic to get from place to place. I can't seem to decide. I really need to decide on the city vs. the suburbs b/c searching both is exhausting!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The apartment
We are living in a temporary apartment in White Plains. It's nice. Today it is stormy, lots of rain. We have been looking at places to live. It's crazy, exhausting and awful. K & C are good and then horrible. We're going to a movie today so that should help, something fun for them.
I went to two schools yesterday and talked to them about acceleration and K. This move is going to be very challenging. D said it will test my ability to be flexible. I usually like to plan things out but with this whole process, I've been unable to plan and that's hard for me. It's character building...
I went to two schools yesterday and talked to them about acceleration and K. This move is going to be very challenging. D said it will test my ability to be flexible. I usually like to plan things out but with this whole process, I've been unable to plan and that's hard for me. It's character building...
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Swim Pictures
K finishing a race!
K in the water, hanging on the block, for backstroke
She did a great job with swim team this year. I'm very proud.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Math Workbooks
I bought some Math workbooks today. K scored poorly in Math on the Iowa first grade assessment. She said there wasn't any Math, just a bunch of questions about money and she doesn't know money that well. That's my fault. She likes to do adding, subtracting, multiplication so we spend more time on that. So, I bought 1st and 2nd grade Math books for her to work on in the car. We are driving to NY this week. I've always hated Math workbooks but now realize that she needs to understand how questions are asked on standardized tests. Montessori uses math manipulatives so it is completely different. I spend more time on real life word problems. You want to take that Gymnastics class and it's 100 for 8 weeks and this other class is 100 for 10 weeks so which class is cheaper type things.
I don't think 1st and 2nd grade are the right level but I want to make sure she has covered everything in them. Also, she needs some repetitive work with math so this will help. She'll love it.
I don't think 1st and 2nd grade are the right level but I want to make sure she has covered everything in them. Also, she needs some repetitive work with math so this will help. She'll love it.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Back online
D finally came home for a visit and figured out why the computer died on June 18th! The HD video card was bad so we just didn't have any output to the monitor. So we did not lose all the files that we thought we lost and I'm back up again.
We have been so busy lately. Swim team ended yesterday with Championships! I'm sad and happy. K has definitely improved with her swimming. I'll have to post some pictures. She was the heat winner in the freestyle and backstroke so she got ribbons and prizes; that was very exciting for her. Friday at the last practice she asked to go off the high dive. It's a 3 meter board. She went off the low board a bunch of times and then asked to go off the high. She went up there with a 12 year old and jumped all by herself! She said she liked it but smacked her hand a little bit so she didn't want to do it again. I was shocked she wanted to do it at all.
Last night we went to a Reds game. Both kids loved it.
D goes back to NYC tomorrow so we'll be on our own again.
We have been so busy lately. Swim team ended yesterday with Championships! I'm sad and happy. K has definitely improved with her swimming. I'll have to post some pictures. She was the heat winner in the freestyle and backstroke so she got ribbons and prizes; that was very exciting for her. Friday at the last practice she asked to go off the high dive. It's a 3 meter board. She went off the low board a bunch of times and then asked to go off the high. She went up there with a 12 year old and jumped all by herself! She said she liked it but smacked her hand a little bit so she didn't want to do it again. I was shocked she wanted to do it at all.
Last night we went to a Reds game. Both kids loved it.
D goes back to NYC tomorrow so we'll be on our own again.
Friday, June 08, 2007
8 Things
I love the color red. It has always been my favorite color and I find I like to wear it and paint with it.
I've visited a lot of the wine regions of the world. This was not intentional. I like wine and I happened to be in lots of wine regions so I stopped and tasted. I've been to most of the wine regions of Spain and a lot of the ones in Italy. The well known ones in Germany. We did Bordeaux but I have never been to Burgundy. We tasted in Hungary and some in Greece. In Australia we drove through the Hunter Valley but missed the South Eastern and Western regions. I've also visited the main wine region in South Africa -Stellenbosch. Of course in the US, we lived in VA so visited there, lived in NY so visited there. Lived in CA so did Temecula and Napa and Sonoma. I haven't really visited in Santa Barbara. When our flight to Japan caught fire en route and we ended up back in the US with a week of vacation, we drove up the coast and visited Oregon and Washington wine regions.
I love to swim. I grew up swimming and I could spend every day at the pool. I love swimming with the kids. I'm always the parent in the water throwing the kids, teaching them how to do flips in the water. It can be embarrassing sometimes because all the other Moms look good at the pool (they don't go under) and I look like a fish but I think I have more fun.
I have my motorcycle license. I took the class and passed the test but I never drive. I just wanted to know how in case I needed to drive our bike one day. D is the driver, I like to sit on the back and watch the world go by.
I can wake board. It took more than a couple tries and some questions for the younger generation but I'm actually enjoying it now. Can't do any flips though.
I have been to every state except Alaska. I want to get there some day soon. I've only spent the night in 37 of them though.
I love crisp not quite ripe peaches. I could eat them all day. Unfortunately(?), I seem to have passed this trait on to my kids and now they eat all the peaches we buy.
I practice the Just in Time inventory method at home. I think I studied too much Lean Manufacturing in school. I don't like to carry inventory at home. I don't buy extras of things and try to buy just in time for when I need it. It can be a little rough with toilet paper and diapers though. It's funny to me because when I say I have nothing in my pantry, I mean I have NOTHING in my pantry. Most people say that and have enough to live on for 2 weeks.
I've visited a lot of the wine regions of the world. This was not intentional. I like wine and I happened to be in lots of wine regions so I stopped and tasted. I've been to most of the wine regions of Spain and a lot of the ones in Italy. The well known ones in Germany. We did Bordeaux but I have never been to Burgundy. We tasted in Hungary and some in Greece. In Australia we drove through the Hunter Valley but missed the South Eastern and Western regions. I've also visited the main wine region in South Africa -Stellenbosch. Of course in the US, we lived in VA so visited there, lived in NY so visited there. Lived in CA so did Temecula and Napa and Sonoma. I haven't really visited in Santa Barbara. When our flight to Japan caught fire en route and we ended up back in the US with a week of vacation, we drove up the coast and visited Oregon and Washington wine regions.
I love to swim. I grew up swimming and I could spend every day at the pool. I love swimming with the kids. I'm always the parent in the water throwing the kids, teaching them how to do flips in the water. It can be embarrassing sometimes because all the other Moms look good at the pool (they don't go under) and I look like a fish but I think I have more fun.
I have my motorcycle license. I took the class and passed the test but I never drive. I just wanted to know how in case I needed to drive our bike one day. D is the driver, I like to sit on the back and watch the world go by.
I can wake board. It took more than a couple tries and some questions for the younger generation but I'm actually enjoying it now. Can't do any flips though.
I have been to every state except Alaska. I want to get there some day soon. I've only spent the night in 37 of them though.
I love crisp not quite ripe peaches. I could eat them all day. Unfortunately(?), I seem to have passed this trait on to my kids and now they eat all the peaches we buy.
I practice the Just in Time inventory method at home. I think I studied too much Lean Manufacturing in school. I don't like to carry inventory at home. I don't buy extras of things and try to buy just in time for when I need it. It can be a little rough with toilet paper and diapers though. It's funny to me because when I say I have nothing in my pantry, I mean I have NOTHING in my pantry. Most people say that and have enough to live on for 2 weeks.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Memorial Day Weekend
We drove to West Newton Thur afternoon. We stayed with Gigi and played out in the backyard. The kids love to visit Gigi's.
Friday morning we went to the cemetery. We visited both sides of the family. K did a family tree and copied down all the dates of birth and death. Gigi will be 96 this year and so her parents were born in 1888 and 1890! That was such a good history lesson for K - all her friends were born in 2000 so she was very impressed that Gigi's Mom was born in 1890.
From the cemetery we drove to the house where Gigi grew up. It was a big farm with a long driveway. Then off to the red schoolhouse. Gigi skipped 1st grade and graduated from high school at age 16. She went to college back in the 1920s, not the normal thing to do for a woman.
K & C were really enjoying the history. K is still very into WWII. The cemetery was being readied for Memorial Day so they had flags flying with nameplates of every soldier buried in the cemetery. Gigi's uncle fought in WWI and has special things by his grave. Her brothers in law fought in WWII. Grandpap was the oldest of 8, 6 boys and a bunch were in WWII. Gigi said when they returned they were never the same. She talked to K a lot about living during the war and blackouts and rations and what it was like.
She is so incredible. K and I hope she lives until she's 120! For 96 she acts like she's in her 70s or 80s but she recently had high blood pressure and has been feeling her age more she says.
She had some fresh rhubarb from her garden for dinner so that's still going well. It was a little tart so we added strawberries and sugar and it was wonderful. If I could be more like her, I would be a better person.
Then we had to get on the road for NY. Spent the weekend there and drove straight back on Tuesday. The kids did great.
Friday morning we went to the cemetery. We visited both sides of the family. K did a family tree and copied down all the dates of birth and death. Gigi will be 96 this year and so her parents were born in 1888 and 1890! That was such a good history lesson for K - all her friends were born in 2000 so she was very impressed that Gigi's Mom was born in 1890.
From the cemetery we drove to the house where Gigi grew up. It was a big farm with a long driveway. Then off to the red schoolhouse. Gigi skipped 1st grade and graduated from high school at age 16. She went to college back in the 1920s, not the normal thing to do for a woman.
K & C were really enjoying the history. K is still very into WWII. The cemetery was being readied for Memorial Day so they had flags flying with nameplates of every soldier buried in the cemetery. Gigi's uncle fought in WWI and has special things by his grave. Her brothers in law fought in WWII. Grandpap was the oldest of 8, 6 boys and a bunch were in WWII. Gigi said when they returned they were never the same. She talked to K a lot about living during the war and blackouts and rations and what it was like.
She is so incredible. K and I hope she lives until she's 120! For 96 she acts like she's in her 70s or 80s but she recently had high blood pressure and has been feeling her age more she says.
She had some fresh rhubarb from her garden for dinner so that's still going well. It was a little tart so we added strawberries and sugar and it was wonderful. If I could be more like her, I would be a better person.
Then we had to get on the road for NY. Spent the weekend there and drove straight back on Tuesday. The kids did great.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Busy
Last week C told me,
"I'm happy in the world ... with you."
It made my day.
First soccer games were on Saturday. C had the ball and got pushed down and then he had the ball taken away twice and he fell apart. He was crying and crying and refused to go back in. D tried to sit with him and get him to go back in but he was done. It was a rough morning. D came home 2 hours late Friday so C didn't see him. Then Saturday we had a showing at 10:15 a.m. so we had to get up and get the house looking great so no hug time for the kids. Then off to his game.
K had a good soccer game. She's playing in a 4-5 league and since she's the oldest, it's giving her more confidence. It's probably not her thing but she's having fun right now and that's really important.
K lost her first tooth on Mother's Day. D pulled it out. I think he wanted to be here when it happened and Sunday night was his last night. She cried and cried because she didn't want to grow up and leave Mom and Dad; she missed her tooth; and she didn't want the Tooth Fairy to have her tooth. It happened at Grandma's house, it was a very emotional day. She put the tooth on her nightstand so the tooth fairy left her a $1 and a note that she could keep it for awhile. She took it to school on Monday.
Trying to show a house and be a single Mom to 2 kids is taking its toll. I have no time to do all the things I need to do. We have 2 art projects that we haven't finished and all kinds of things I want to do. Plus, everyone is trying to be helpful so we are SO busy. Dinner with this Mom and friends, visiting Grandma, play dates etc. It's great to have friends like this but I think I need some time at home too or we'll be very worn out.
"I'm happy in the world ... with you."
It made my day.
First soccer games were on Saturday. C had the ball and got pushed down and then he had the ball taken away twice and he fell apart. He was crying and crying and refused to go back in. D tried to sit with him and get him to go back in but he was done. It was a rough morning. D came home 2 hours late Friday so C didn't see him. Then Saturday we had a showing at 10:15 a.m. so we had to get up and get the house looking great so no hug time for the kids. Then off to his game.
K had a good soccer game. She's playing in a 4-5 league and since she's the oldest, it's giving her more confidence. It's probably not her thing but she's having fun right now and that's really important.
K lost her first tooth on Mother's Day. D pulled it out. I think he wanted to be here when it happened and Sunday night was his last night. She cried and cried because she didn't want to grow up and leave Mom and Dad; she missed her tooth; and she didn't want the Tooth Fairy to have her tooth. It happened at Grandma's house, it was a very emotional day. She put the tooth on her nightstand so the tooth fairy left her a $1 and a note that she could keep it for awhile. She took it to school on Monday.
Trying to show a house and be a single Mom to 2 kids is taking its toll. I have no time to do all the things I need to do. We have 2 art projects that we haven't finished and all kinds of things I want to do. Plus, everyone is trying to be helpful so we are SO busy. Dinner with this Mom and friends, visiting Grandma, play dates etc. It's great to have friends like this but I think I need some time at home too or we'll be very worn out.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Home
We returned home tonight after our whirlwind trip. The kids were troopers. We visited D's Grandma (GiGi) in Pittsburgh. She'll be 96 in September, she still lives on her own. She travels and visits all her kids and grandkids a lot. K and her get along so well. They were practicing writing cursive together. I really need to spend more time with K and cursive. It's amazing watching GiGi's reactions to K. Things I take for granted, GiGi comments on. Gigi taught Home Ec for 20 years and it is important to teach children life skills not just academic skills. I really have to make that an important part of K & C's education. C is much more interested in learning to cook or do things around the house. K tends to wander off and read a book and I don't notice that she is missing out on learning (this is what I did as a child) so I really need to keep a balance.
We also visited friends in CT, they have a girl and boy the same ages as K and C. K and S get along so well, they have fun together. At least we did one fun thing with the kids, we stayed in a hotel with a pool while we were en route and they loved swimming that night and the next morning.
So, we dropped D off in NYC and he started work. Our house is listed and hopefully we'll move by August. Everything is crazy.
We also visited friends in CT, they have a girl and boy the same ages as K and C. K and S get along so well, they have fun together. At least we did one fun thing with the kids, we stayed in a hotel with a pool while we were en route and they loved swimming that night and the next morning.
So, we dropped D off in NYC and he started work. Our house is listed and hopefully we'll move by August. Everything is crazy.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Train Ride & Tea Party
Sunday K and I went on an American Girl Mystery Train Ride (focusing on Kit because she is from Cincinnati) and a tea party. It was fun.
They had a "hobo" board the train because he was looking for work. The train had to stop and he was taken off. Then they discovered a Kit doll was missing so when we got back, they searched him but he didn't have it. The engineer had it for safe keeping and then they drew a name and gave it away. The tea party was nice, they had Girl Scout troops be the servers. It was fun to try little finger sandwiches and scones. That was in the museum and then we walked around the museum and made a hat for your doll.
K does not have a big doll yet. She wants one for her birthday (August). She's been debating which doll.
She wrote a letter to American Girl asking them to make a look alike for her. They only have red straight hair or curly black hair. They responded that they were not adding any more combinations right now so she's focused on a historical doll.
She's been reading lots of the books, they are great for discussing history.
They had a "hobo" board the train because he was looking for work. The train had to stop and he was taken off. Then they discovered a Kit doll was missing so when we got back, they searched him but he didn't have it. The engineer had it for safe keeping and then they drew a name and gave it away. The tea party was nice, they had Girl Scout troops be the servers. It was fun to try little finger sandwiches and scones. That was in the museum and then we walked around the museum and made a hat for your doll.
K does not have a big doll yet. She wants one for her birthday (August). She's been debating which doll.
She wrote a letter to American Girl asking them to make a look alike for her. They only have red straight hair or curly black hair. They responded that they were not adding any more combinations right now so she's focused on a historical doll.
She's been reading lots of the books, they are great for discussing history.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Math
At K's last test session at the public school, she asked me if she could do more math. I knew this section was reading so I said she was finished with the math section. She was very upset that it was too easy, no multiplication or even 3 digit subtraction. So, she asked me to write some problems for her to do with the psychologist once her test was finished. I did and when she came out, they were completed, I could tell the psychologist had helped her.
This incessant math work is tiring. I guess I should buy her some workbooks. I've been against just doing math worksheets so we haven't really done that. She asks me constantly for math problems. She carries around a notebook and works math problems in them. She just makes up her own or writes down what I say in the car.
I made up some word problems for her today. They were just subtraction problems but she has to work on understanding how to set up the word problems. We do things like Gigi was born in 1925, how old was she when she had Grandma, how old was she when Mommy was born and how old when K was born. She loves them.
We've also been working on double digit multiplication but I need to teach that more.
I'm not sure what other Math to do. D wants to do EPGY but I don't think now is the right time with the move and plus K is not that into spending a lot of time at the computer. She loves to write problems. I know there are some other Math web sites but she doesn't like to be upstairs on the computer if we are all downstairs. I guess I need to buy some workbooks so she can carry those around with her :-)
This incessant math work is tiring. I guess I should buy her some workbooks. I've been against just doing math worksheets so we haven't really done that. She asks me constantly for math problems. She carries around a notebook and works math problems in them. She just makes up her own or writes down what I say in the car.
I made up some word problems for her today. They were just subtraction problems but she has to work on understanding how to set up the word problems. We do things like Gigi was born in 1925, how old was she when she had Grandma, how old was she when Mommy was born and how old when K was born. She loves them.
We've also been working on double digit multiplication but I need to teach that more.
I'm not sure what other Math to do. D wants to do EPGY but I don't think now is the right time with the move and plus K is not that into spending a lot of time at the computer. She loves to write problems. I know there are some other Math web sites but she doesn't like to be upstairs on the computer if we are all downstairs. I guess I need to buy some workbooks so she can carry those around with her :-)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Moving
We are moving! Things are crazy around here. K is starting to have some break downs about the move. I think I will be doing the same soon. D leaves soon and then it will just be us until the house sells. I have so much to do, it is overwhelming. I have no time to write. Tomorrow is the final testing at the public school. We are finishing up the aptitude test (Iowa first grade) for the Iowa acceleration scale. I'm ready to finish that and have the final meeting. Even though we won't be able to utilize the school here, the information will be great for us to have. K enjoys the testing so that's good. Now we'll have to do testing in New York.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The Weather
Yesterday it was sunny and warm, around 80. I got some sun because I forgot to put on sunscreen. Today it is 34 and sleeting. Crazy!
We told the kids that we are moving and they are taking it surprisingly well so far. That may change as it gets closer to actually happening. K wrote a note to her teacher that she is moving but a long time from now. I still have very mixed feelings about the move. I'm sad to be leaving family and the friends that we have made here. I feel settled with the Montessori school and all the extracurriculars. It takes awhile to find all the good classes/teachers. Of course K would be moving to a different school environment this fall but I spent a lot of time researching everything around here. C will probably not attend preschool next year because everything will be full by the time we get there. I don't mind that too much because I enjoy doing things at home with him and he's pretty good at errands/shopping.
We told the kids that we are moving and they are taking it surprisingly well so far. That may change as it gets closer to actually happening. K wrote a note to her teacher that she is moving but a long time from now. I still have very mixed feelings about the move. I'm sad to be leaving family and the friends that we have made here. I feel settled with the Montessori school and all the extracurriculars. It takes awhile to find all the good classes/teachers. Of course K would be moving to a different school environment this fall but I spent a lot of time researching everything around here. C will probably not attend preschool next year because everything will be full by the time we get there. I don't mind that too much because I enjoy doing things at home with him and he's pretty good at errands/shopping.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Still agonizing
We've been talking and talking, asking opinions, trying to decide on our final decision. It's really overwhelming. I have been reading an excellent book, Deconstructing Penguins. I've been thinking of running a book club this summer and this is an excellent place to start. It's really interesting and gives lots of ideas - although I want a better outline - I guess I need to do that myself. I need to write more about this but later. The book has the poem from Robert Frost
The Road Not Taken and it really hit me that that is where we are.
Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.
1. The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
20
We are standing there looking at the 2 roads and trying to look down each one so we can pick one and it is SO hard. Now it's not just us but the kids and how our choice will affect them. We do tend to take the one less traveled and like it. Maybe coming here was taking the known one and it's just not the right one for us.
The Road Not Taken and it really hit me that that is where we are.
Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.
1. The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
20
We are standing there looking at the 2 roads and trying to look down each one so we can pick one and it is SO hard. Now it's not just us but the kids and how our choice will affect them. We do tend to take the one less traveled and like it. Maybe coming here was taking the known one and it's just not the right one for us.
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