The dilemma with the table

This is from this winter sometime. I'd guess February-ish. Gemma spread her special purple blanket on our coffee table. Then she straightened it out and lined up the edges with the smaller end of the table. As she smoothed it out, she noticed it didn't quite reach the other end. She slid it over so it lined up with the other end. She looked at the other side. It wasn't covered now. She carefully slid the blanket over so that end was covered. It seemed like it should cover the whole table. But no matter how many times she slid it back and forth, it always left several inches bare on the other side.

I'll admit, I enjoyed watching her try to figure out how to solve this problem. I even laughed out loud when she started getting a little frustrated. I have to hand it to her, she didn't give up, even when she was totally frustrated. She just kept trying. However, it quickly became clear that she wasn't going to give up. She was going to make that blanket fit. She got up on the table and used her toes to hold the Blanket in place while stretching it to the maximum with her hands. Still not long enough.

At this point, it was time to call it quits. We were on the verge of a meltdown (it was bedtime anyway, one does not take deep disappointment well when one is tired), so mama intervened. I was impressed that she was not easily distracted - not book or toy would pull her from her task. Finally, I physically took the blanket and whisked her off to bed.

Luckily, for me, this wasn't something that carried over to the following day. By the next day, she was on to something else entirely.

Summer fun

We had a picnic outside today for lunch as we are working on a landscaping project (more on that later). The kids are loving this unseasonably cooler weather. We've had temperatures in the 70's and 80's, which is at least 10 degrees cooler than usual. William and Amelia climbed in this canvas chair on their own. Miraculously, there wasn't any fighting! They wrapped their arms around each other and requested I take a picture of them together.

Splash pad, video #2

Kids at the splash park #1

This is a splash park I dragged the kids to today. As you can see, they had a terrible time despite their complaints on the way in to the park. They were totally bored and didn't enjoy themselves one bit.

Notice anything?

Do you notice anything?

It's exciting!

Gemma is finally forward facing as she is over the age of 2 and is very, very close the upper weight limit of her car seat in the rear facing position. As you can she, she is totally thrilled! She has been excitedly pointing out all the things she can see now!

FYI- it is now advisable that kids ride rear facing until they are 2 years old, although it isn't a law. More information about this topic here:

http://extendedrearfacing.org

GED Graduation Speaker

This year's graduation speaker is a student I worked with briefly last year.  She wasn't assigned to my regular class, but had signed up for an extra session I was teaching last year about getting and keeping jobs.  I'm so happy she finished her testing and so excited about what will come next for her!

http://youtu.be/IGxSxeDWFQI#sthash.1ilK8F1b.dpuf

GED graduation

GED graduation was last night. It is always an inspirational evening to celebrate all the hard work students have put into earning their credentials. I had only 6 students participating in the ceremony, but many more who completed the program this year. I am so proud of my students and I am so proud to have the job I do. The work I do is important. It is critically important. It opens to door to new options and new opportunities for my students.

When I was in college, I remember vaguely feeling like elementary education wasn't the exact fit I was looking for. It wasn't quite right and I wasn't sure why. Seeing as I didn't know what WAS right, I went ahead and finished my elementary education degree. And now? Now I know that I belong where I am at. THIS is what I wanted to do, even if I didn't know it back then.