Sample of Ally’s work

Ally started working on a Princess Story (thanks Aunt Pam – its from the Christmas gift you gave her) she finished one a while ago and started a new one. Its pretty neat because Becky downloaded a picture of Ally and then Ally appears on each page of the story – that is Ally behind the tree. Ally writes the story here she wrote “As I was walking I saw”

Ally is really into drawing what she sees. Last year at school they did a lot of drawing and learning about the different views of things and utilizing drawing as a form of communication in their writing.

Ally did the drawing above of her fish Spotted’s fish bowl on her dresser in her room. I took a picture of how it actually looks. We were quite stunned with the accuracy of her work – the perspective is pretty good and the details are great. She commented to me that the bowl should be moved over (to the right) so there was more room in the picture for the other things in her room.

I had a very bad day at work recently (it happens) and when I came home Becky and Ally had bought me flowers and made me chocolate chip cookies and Ally made me this card above. Becky said the cookies were Ally’s idea because I like to bake when I am sad or upset, so Ally  thought if they made me the cookies that would make me feel better. Honestly it’s the actual act of baking that cheers me up but it was such a sweet gesture and I was really touched, and the cookies were yummy.

This is the birthday card Ally made me – that was in July, but I wanted to get it on the blog somewhere. I never tire of having her write or say I love you.

I love her so much.

First Homework Assignment

Ally’s teacher told them on Friday that Monday would be their first homework. All weekend Ally kept mentioning how excited she was for homework. “I can’t wait for homework” was her mantra! It was so funny, knowing how much homework she will get over the course of her education, that how innocent she is about homework! But then I never particularly minded homework – maybe she won’t either.

The assignment was a work sheet with the instructions to draw “something you really like about school” and then write it on the page. The idea was to foster a discussion at home about what kids like about school. We talked about a bunch of things – recess, music, friends, lunch etc. Ally tried to draw the playground structure but her perfectionist tendencies got the best of her and that wasn’t working out so well. After dinner Becky gave Ally her colored pencils and Ally dove right into the work. She refused to tell us what she was doing – she kept instructing us “not to look…no one can see it until I am done” about 20 minutes later she called us over to see it.

working on the assignment at the table – she is covering the page so I don’t see it until she is done

Holding up the page – so proud of her work

Karing (coloring) is what she drew – 3 girls sitting at a table – each girl is actually on a chair, there are different boxes of crayons – the one at the lower left is  the small box of skin color crayons that the class has. She was so excited to point out all of the details – I tried to notate her comments on the picture below:

click to see it larger

Weekend Recap

If you can believe it we actually di not have a single play date or social engagement all weekend. We were all kind of stir crazy by the end of the weekend and I think that will be the last time we do that for a while!

 

Ally sported a new outfit from Great Aunt Martha – thank you for the super cute set.

The other picture is an Ally original. She was in her room, angry with us for something. We have a policy about how if she is unhappy or going to pout she needs to do it in her room – away from us. It hurts our feeling and makes us feel bad so she needs to do that in her own space. Well she was angry with us  - I think we said no more TV – and boy was she ticked off. Screaming, yelling etc., but all in her room. I went to check on her after a bit and in her room she had torn up a tissue into tons of little pieces and drawn that picture. This is how she expressed her anger  - a tissue destroyed and a picture of angry sad faces. I was so proud of her. She cleaned up the tissue all by herself when I asked her to. And we talked for a bit about her feelings. I told her I was proud of the way she dealt with her frustration – tearing up a tissue is a good safe way to be angry and drawing a picture of your feelings is excellent. We talked about how its ok to get angry – it happens – and we need to sometimes understand it when people we love are angry or sad – and it does not mean we don’t love them. Its ok. But its important to talk about it too.

Ally was so tired later in the day she took a 2 hour nap – she said at lunch she was tired and I asked if she wanted to go to sleep? She said yes, got in her bed and went to sleep for 2 hours!

 

Sunday we went to church for the first time! We enrolled Ally in Sunday school at the same church her friend Erik attends with his family – it’s a UCC church in the same building as her old preschool. She had a great time, and so did Becky and I. It will now be part of our weekend routine to attend service.

We did some work in Ally’s room to organize things.

Ally played “adoption” with her babysitter – we have been talking about Ally’s adoption and she knows we had to fill out lots and lots of paperwork  / forms etc. to get permission to adopt her. Lauren said they spent about 45 minutes creating forms and papers to adopt Baby and Dolly.

Sunday evening Ally and I went for a walk and ended up at her school. She showed me how she can climb up to the top of the play structure!

It was nice to have a quiet weekend, but I am ready for this upcoming one filled with Guat Girls, 2 birthday parties and church!

Final Fountain Fun of the Summer

It was late one evening at the park but Ally decided to get wet – and she had fun of course.

Arizona Day 5

The day we left. It had been a wonderful relaxing trip. Lots of Ally and Gruncle bonding – lots of playing games and movie watching, swimming, talking and finally card playing for Aunt Suzie and Becky.


Aunt Suzie read the bible story on the last morning.

Gruncle and Ally set the worms free in the side yard.

The only family picture I took the whole week!

Ally playing games on Becky’s IPhone and showing Gruncle how it works.
We had easy flights home and a nice long weekend before I went back to work.

I just had to include this picture I found in Ally's journal. She let Gruncle draw a picture one day and he drew Suzie. - Note her cast on her right leg from her surgery!

First day of Kindergarten

Today Ally had her first day of kindergarten.

Last year was junior kindergarten - this year is actually kindergarten.

Same school, different class and different teacher. Its is a different building so that was also something to get used to.

 

I went to work early and then came home for pictures and to walk Ally to school on her first day. She was so excited and nervous (she told us how she was feeling both emotions)! She was up extra early - about 2 hours earlier than usual.

 

Ally and her babysitter Lauren, and our cat Carl snuck out of the house and into the picture.

Lauren is leaving in a week for an internship in Hawaii. We will miss her while she is gone but we're excited for her new adventure. While she is away I will take Ally to school for early drop off at 845 and she'll be in before school care until class starts at 845. Then I will pick her up after school every day, except for one day a week we signed Ally up for Latin Dance class.

 

It was a bright morning so I am squinting and Ally is eating a cherry tomato from her garden.

Ready to leave for school and walking the 6 blocks.

 

Ally with her teacher Jim.

 

When we arrived at school the yard was crowded with students and as we walked along the fence to the entrance so many of Ally's friends yelled her name and ran toward her to say hello. It was such a nice welcome.

We waited a few minuted until the bell rang and then we went right into the classroom. Ally got situated at the play dough table. I said Adios she she Adios mommy and I left.

I turned to exit the classroom and almost every other parent was there with his/her child they were all lined up. I just smiled and Lauren and I left chatting about how proud of Ally we were for getting settled so quickly.

 

I picked her up this afternoon and we chatted on our way to gymnastics. She said she had a fun day. Jim plays his guitar and sings with the students and today one of the songs they sand was Mr Sun. She had gym class, made a new friend and saw her friend Willow on the playground at recess.

She said it was good to have the first day over so now she did not need to feel nervous anymore.

Ally said it was fun.

She smiled.

 

What a great first day.

 

Last few days of Summer

Ally came down with a high fever on Labor Day – it hit 102 – ouch! We were pretty worried about the first day of school later in the week, so we stayed low key at home – lots of TV, games, tinker toys and crafts.

One day Ally and I made a quick trip to the mall – it was pouring down rain and I thought after 2 days straight at home we need to get out and walk a bit. So the mall it was. Ally got an A.merican Girl doll watch for her Dolly and new boots and shoes for school.

When we got home it was more crafts, games, and TV. Today we had a meet and greet with her teacher.  It’s a good thing school starts tomorrow. As nice as it is to have this time together the anticipation of school starting is not so nice and we’re all ready.

 

All curled up with her special things before leaving to go to school to meet her teacher.

It was the strangest morning – it rained hard for a few hours and then just as we were about to leave the sun came out – hence the rain boots and sunglasses!

Making bracelets and modeling the finished projects.