Pinterest Saturday

I became a fan of Pinterest less than a year ago. My neighbor insisted that I become a member of the site and after much denial, I finally got on board and have been hooked ever since. Now, every time I make a dessert, something fun for dinner or offer my kids something creative to do during quiet time at home, they ask "Pinterest?" I proudly say "yes. All good ideas come from Pinterest ladies." I have no shame. I had the girls to myself for a few hours on Saturday so I decided to turn it the short time before naps into Pinterest Saturday. We made Flubber - one batch was good, the other one was not so good (my bad for not cleaning the bowl out completely between batches). The girls loved it - the made "cookies" mostly, but it was a great time killer while I made lunch, cleaned up after lunch and then later made dinner. Yes, they actually came back to it later! After naps, I let the girls play outside. They have been very excited about painting lately (especially Amy) so I decided to try out a new painting "recipe" I found. It involved shaving cream and tempura paint. Yes, it was messy, but it made for some great artwork, a lot of creativity and many "wow" moments, which I live for! I now have to make a trip to buy some frames to hang up the girls' art work.

Seeing stars at the eye doctor

My girls have poor genes when it comes to vision. I wear glasses (though I didn't wear them until I was in college practically) and Matt has about the worst eye sight I've ever seen in a human. On my most recent trip to the eye doctor, I asked them when it was appropriate to bring the girls in for a checkup. They said about 4 years old. I was under the impression that you didn't have to take a kid to the eye doctor until they complained that they couldn't read what the teacher was reading on the blackboard - er, whiteboard - anymore. Wrong. So, before I left the doctor's office that day I made them an appointment. I didn't feel the need to tell the girls prior to the appointment that they were going to be visiting the doctor. I told them the night before and they were very excited about it. Diana pumped her fist. I later got a picture from my mom of she and Amy practicing reading big letters and small letters. I left work early to take them to the appointment and when we arrived and were called back, the girls practically ran back to the exam room. I knew they would like this place because the exam is very interactive and fun. It involves letters and it's a bit of a test which my kids love. Diana went first, sat up in that chair and fired off letters that were smaller than ants. Truly smaller than ants. The doctor was blown away. He showed me how small the letters were that she was reading and I couldn't even read them with my glasses on. Diana "aced" the rest of the exam and had a great time. She's a little far-sighted which the doctor said is normal because most kids start out far-sighted and as they get older become more near-sighted. Amy was a champ as well. She hopped up in the chair and ran through every test that Diana did. The doctor was impressed that a 3-year-old could focus long enough to do all the tests. Amy was funny - she got a little attitude when the doctor asked her what the pictures, numbers and letters were on the wall. She had a "duh" sound in her response a couple of times and doctor and I couldn't help but laugh. I guess Amy needs a little more of a challenge. I left the office beaming at my two little people. Once again, they amaze me and make me very proud. Sometimes they don't act like little angels at home and the tantrums are exhausting, but when we go out in public, especially to a place where I go solo sometimes, they behave and do as they are told. We went to Burger King to celebrate.

Full circle in a rectangle

I am lucky to have two little girls who love books, love to hear stories and love to make up stories. Three and a half years ago, I taught Diana how to read. She was almost four, about to become a big sister and a year away from being in kindergarten. It was time. It wasn't hard. She is a great learner and very enthusiastic. We did have our rough nights, but for the most part, she got it, wanted to learn how to read and picked it up in no time. It helped that I have parents who are familiar with the great resources available to teachers and could guide me in the right direction. My mom picked up Dr. Seuss' Hop on Pop to teach me how to read decades ago so she insisted that I start there. Along with Frontline Phonics and Hop on Pop, Diana and I were off. Now, three and a half years later, it's all coming full circle. I sit with my girls in Amy's bedroom nearly every night and we read. Amy proudly assigns us our books and we read. Amy even makes up a story based on the pictures in her selection. It's nearly always 100 percent accurate. Lately, Amy has been picking out Hop on Pop to read. I get a little grin on my face every time she picks it out. Time flies. The first time the three of us sat down to read, Amy amazed me at how well she knew the book. It wasn't until we were halfway through that I asked her if she had been reading it with Grandma V. "Yes," she said very matter-of-factly. Oh, that explains a lot. But still, it's very awesome how much she loves to read, how well she remembers the story and the words. She's also very easy to teach and I am sure that she will be ready for kindergarten in no time. After we read Hop on Pop, I head next door to read with Diana - Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is the book of choice these days. The book was published in 1981...I was six. I remember the book fondly and chuckle at everything that happens to Ramona in third grade. The egg in her hair, throwing up in class, her constant love-hate battles with Beezus. It's remarkable how books transcend time. I wasn't sure if Diana would like the Ramona series when her grandpa got the series for her a couple of birthdays ago, but we have worked through them pretty rapidly. I am the one who insists on taking a break once in a while, much to the dismay of Diana. As stressful as bedtime routines can be for a tired working mom, the quiet time we have in the final 30 minutes of our day is the most relaxing, enjoyable 30 minutes of my day. I love their creativity, their love for one another to sit and read to each other and their passion for books. I hope it never ends.