Afternoon "Pretend" School with Mom

Simone goes to school Mon-Wed for half the day. She goes to Stanley Clark, (2 streets over). When it's nice, Michael walks her to school. We've been very impressed with the school. They have an artistic learning mindset and that really fits with Simone's personality. I'm amazed at how much she has already learned. She can write her name now. How fun it was on Christmas to put on the Christmas present labels..From: Simone.........in her own handwriting.
Her counting is quite impressive. She can spell some simple words. Listen to me prattle on about my child. I'm such a proud momma. Well in the afternoons, while River is sleeping, we play "School". She loves it, she says bye to me, "mom" and leaves the room and comes back and says, "Hi Teacher". It's great. I get some preschool books from Walgreens and we do some pages each day. We work on writing numbers/letters, identifying sounds and problem solving. We then leave the papers on the table for "Principal Daddy". He then reviews the papers with Simone when she gets home. After "School"...we have craft time. My mom keeps us supplied with construction paper, foam, and fun glue on items and a bunch of other assorted crafty items. Simone practices with her scissors (zizzors...and she calls them) and with her gluing. Yesterday we made Jingle Bell necklaces. It makes for a nice afternoon together and I can see where she is academically. I don't think I could homeschool Simone as she loves being with the other kids in her class...especially the boys....she's a tomboy alright :) . Simone also learns differently than my teaching style...I'm a "Rote, Rote, Rote Style" and she loves to learn through discovery. That's where Stanley Clark excels. It's also where Joyce McGuire (a friend of mine who homeschools) excels. She does marvels with her kids, I'm amazed! Now, when Simone has to learn her multiplication facts...."Rote Rote Rote" will come in handy :)
http://www.stanleyclark.org/page.cfm?p=2563 This is Simone's school, click on a day, and they'll show you what they did. You might even see a pic of Simone. :)

Christmas/New Years

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! My parents came over and we had a wonderful time.
My mother in law went to China recently and got some BEAUTIFUL outfits for the kids. I got an exquisit silk scarf. Simone's grandparents sent Simone some money to get her a gift and we got Simone a dora digital camera. She's had a wonderful time going around taking pictures. We got some curtains which have really brightened up some of the rooms. Later in the day, my parents watched the kids and Michael and I went out to see a movie...it's been a long time since we saw a movie in the theater, it was a treat.
We had some excitement around here today. 2 firetrucks were parked out on the street outside our house with their lights flashing. The house across the street had numerous firemen surrounding it. No ambulances arrived so I was relieved to see that no one was hurt. A nipsco truck arrived, so I'm guessing it was some sort of gas leak. Simone was entranced by the trucks and the firemen. We were making dinner and she'd run to the window every few minutes to check out the developments.
We are getting ready for New Years. Usually Michael and I have traveled alone on this holiday, but this year we are taking Simone. My mom is graciously watching River.
We are going to the Children's museum in Indy. Then we are going to travel to the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky and then off to a Kentucky horse farm for a tour. We are excited.
Hope you all had a merry christmas and stay safe during the new years celebration.

Christmas at Fernwood

Tonight we went to Fernwood Botanical Gardens in Niles Michigan for their festival of lights.
The whole place was decked out with lights. They had lights made to look like a huge ship, which simone said was lacking a captain and pirates. Each section was dedicated to how a different country decorates for Christmas. One section had German pickle lights and the kids enjoyed counting those through their walk...although Simone thought they looked more like beans and kept shouting "beans" when she saw one. The bridges, eaves and walkways were just streaming with lights. The nature/learning center housed the cookies and hot chocolate midway through our trip, but as it was a warmer evening we bypassed the hot chocolate...never bypass cookies :) . There was a small little house that Santa greeted people in with a full side Advent Calendar outside that the kids enjoyed opening and closing. Simone said Hi to Santa and informed him that she wanted a horse for Christmas. When we were all done, Simone asked to go through again. Simone and I made a quick run through again and Michael and River sat/rested and wandered through the gift shop. Afterwards Michael took us to South Bend Chocolate Company for icecream. What a great evening!

Christmas Rewind

Yesterday was our church's Christmas Rewind performance. The night before we had been dumped on by snow....we all were thinking, what if church is cancelled. We couldn't perform the next week. What if someone couldn't make it through the snow? Would our director have to fill in for someone. Well, we all trickled in each cast member that walked in made us sigh a breath of relief.
The performance went well, we all remembered our lines. We even had a very good audience. Many people braved the weather to attend church yesterday.
I waited as long as I could to see if Michael and the kids were going to make it for second service or even attempt it as the roads were really bad. I had to go backstage and I peaked through the curtains before performance, but didn't see them. After second service as I was leaving the stage through the back door there was Michael and Simone. Simone was clapping and said, "You did good pretending mom". I was thrilled, not only that they made it, but that Michael brought Simone into service to watch me. She didn't recognize me as Elizabeth as I had a gray wig, but she recognized me as a Wiseman (or wiseguy...as we were in the play). It really put the acting bug back in my system, but we'll see what the Lord has for me. This production was different as I'm used to having Michael as my director. I find that you learn different things from different directors.
It was a great experience.

Simone's School Christmas Program

Simone had her first Christmas program Thursday night. We were told to be there at 6:20 as the performance started at 6:30. Good thing we arrived early. We got there around 6:00. When you have 2 kids you just need to be early. At 6:00, 1/3 of the seats in the performance hall were already taken. Cameras were set up. Proud parents and grandparents were ready and they had 1/2 an hour to wait. I decided to wait up in the balcony since I had River and didn't want to get up in the middle of the program if he got fussy. Well at 6:15 all the seats were taken and parents were trying to stand in the back and peak in through the doors. The balcony was wall to wall people and River was enjoying grabbing onto the clothes of the people around him. The people who listened to instructions and arrived at 6:20 found they were looking over shoulders and on tippy toes. The kids walk in and the cameras start flicking. The 3 year olds and 4 year olds were together and sang 2 songs.....it lasted about 3 minutes. Simone looked fervantly for me, but couldn't see me up in the balcony. I tried waving to no avail. She sang nicely and did all the motions. The 5 year olds sang and that lasted about 3 minutes as well....Kindergarten was the same. Then all the kids sang the beatles song, All you need is love, while a slide presentation of pictures so far this year were shown. Simone was in 4 of the slides. The whole program lasted about 15 minutes. (which is just right for kids their age, but it's sorta like disneyworld where you wait 1 hour for a 4 minute ride) Afterwards we enjoyed snacks that the kids had made throughout the week. Simone guided (pulled) me through the crowd, as I was carrying a carseat, to the art room where the 4's class had made chocolate covered pretzels. Simone was so proud. We each had a pretzel and cider with wall to wall parents/grandparents. All of us beaming at our children. It was a great night.

Simone's 1st performance

Today was church and weeks of preparation had gone into a small group of 3 and 4 year olds. For many Sundays now the choir lady would come into the 3's and 4's and work with them on their program. They were to sing Away in a Manger and Go tell it on the Mountain. Simone and I practiced vigilantly every night. We worked on the words and the motions. Today was the big day. Nanny even came to church to watch with us. The kids got all lined up and the music begins. I wait with baited breath to see my precious girl sing what we've been practicing.
Simone decided that she was in awe of the audience. She was so in awe that she didn't sing. She wasn't scared, she just stared. When it was all over, She was crying and saying, "I didn't sing". She said she wanted to go home. There are 2 services at our church and that was the first service. The choir leader asked that the kids stay for both services so there would be many voices. We didn't want the last memory of today being her not singing, so we told her she needed to stay for the 2nd service and sing with her class. We said it was important to try again. Second service came and the group came up and SHE SANG! The kid behind her was evidently singing really loudly 'cause she'd turn around occaisionally and stare at him, but she smiled and sangand did the motions. When it was all done and we were in the hallway to collect her, she had a big grin on her face and she ran to Michael and said, "I did it!" She was so proud of herself and was singing the Christmas songs all the way home. My heart was bursting with pride. Not necessarily because she sang, but that she tried again, even when she wanted so badly to go home, and because she tried again she saw that she really could do it.

Candlelight Walk

Last night we got to go on a candlelight walk. The streets 2 blocks down were lined with candles and horses pulled wagons up and down the streets. We rode on a wagon, no fee yea!, round trip up and down the streets looking at the houses lit up with lights. Firemen were out giving candy and we even saw that Santa was even roaming around handing out candycanes. We got out of the wagon at the end of the trip and the local church had a live nativity and animals to pet.
Simone was enthralled with the live nativity and just stood and stared at Mary Joseph and the "pretend" baby Jesus. She went back again a little later to just stand and stare.
River was starting to get cold, and Simone wanted to ride the wagon again and to hug Santa. So Michael and Simone went on a Santa hunt. They found him and Simone gave him a big hug..they rode the wagon again and walked home.
It was a beautiful evening.

Frohike

(Fro-hickey) is our year and a half old orange tabbycat.
You should have seen simone a year and a half ago and we went to buy our kitty. She was holding onto a kitty carrying case and saying, "We're going to put my kitty in here". She was very determined. We decided to go to the humane shelter and save a kitty. When we got there, there were many kitties to choose from, but there was a "small" problem. Before you could buy a cat you needed to have already made a vet appt., which we hadn't, we also had to sign up for and take a kitty care class. We decided to go elsewhere for a kitty. The next place we went, none of the cats were neutered. We were hoping to have a kitty with their shots already in place and already neutered. The next place we went to was Pet Smart. There we found Frohike. They had 3 small kitties to choose from, all of them had their shots and they all were neutered. Michael said I could have my pick as Simone didn't really care, she just wanted a kitty. Her favorite was whichever one she was holding at the time.
I picked the orange kitty. I have always been partial to orange tabby cats. Growing up and for 18 years "Burley" a beautiful orange tabby cat lived at my parents house. He was my personal buddy, although many of my friends despised him, he had some attitude, he brought me such joy.
When I went off to college, I had a roommate with the last name of "Burley" only spelled differently.She told me someday she was going to get cat and name it "Barrett", my maiden name.
Well Frohike fits in well with our family, he's quirkey and fun. As all animals seem to pick a favorite out of the family, Frohike has picked Michael. Simone "loves" Frohike, but sometimes "loves" him too much. We hope someday that he'll sleep upstairs with Simone and sit in her lap, but as of right now he's on our bed and lays only in our laps. For those of you who wonder where in the world we got the name Frohike, you must not be an X-file fans. Michael and I watched the show years ago and one of the characters was named Frohike. I suggested to Micahel long ago that if we ever had a cat, since we both liked cats, we should name it Frohike. He agreed and the rest is history.

Now for something completely different:
Tonight when I was helping Simone into bed she looked at my forehead and said,"What are those lines?". I said, "What lines?" She said, "The lines on your forehead, lines like old people." I said, "You mean wrinkles?". She said, "Yeah". I asked her if she thought I was old. She giggled said "Yeah" so nonchalantly.
I have been humbled tonight. (sigh)

Snuggley Book Time

Every night before Simone goes to bed, she and I have what we call, "Snuggley Book Time".
Simone and I crawl under the covers of the bed and read 2-3 books depending on their length. She usually asks for more books, but as we'd be up all night, I limit the number and tell her there will be more the next night. She then is allowed to take the books she and I have read upstairs to her room where she will "reread" them to herself before she goes to sleep. It's fun to hear her from downstairs using the same inflection that I did. She and I have really come to enjoy this ritual. I also enjoy going to the library on weekends and picking out books that I know will light up her eyes.
Tonight before snuggley book time I sat down to try my hand at the daily crossword puzzle. Simone wanted a crossword too, so I made her a blank puzzle on a separate sheet of paper.
As I filled in boxes, she filled in boxes with letters and shapes she knows how to write. When I would pause, she would too, she wouldn't fill in anything until I did. She finished her crossword puzzle, but I didn't finish mine.

Christmas Has Come to the Muhme House

Tonight was a magical night for Simone. Simone had decided that she wanted a singing Christmas tree after seeing one at Menards. Michael the ever resourceful went hunting for something just as good, as singing Christmas trees are a couple hundred dollars. Michael and Simone picked out a tree and Michael went to the local Family Christian store to see if they had any singing ornaments. They didn't have singing ornaments, but lo and behold, they did have singing cards. Simone picked out a Feliz Navidad card. Now the Feliz Navidad card hangs from our tree and sings anytime Simone opens it. Kudos to Michael for making Simone's Christmas wish come true.
Simone and I strung the lights and Simone hung up the ornaments. They are mostly all at her level which makes the tree really cute. Some of the ornaments are pictures of Simone from the years past...it's great to see how much she's grown.
We may have to let her sleep on the couch near the tree soon. Most every kid has done that once, right?

Sunday we go to Polito's Pizzaria

It is Sunday. After church we have started a tradition, if budget allows, to either eat at Polito's or get a pizza from their establishment and take it home. Either their pizza is really good or their large with one topping is really cheap, either way, we've become hooked. Simone loves to eat at the "Pizza Shop" as she calls it.
After we are done eating, if we eat at the restaurant, Simone and Michael go into their teensy arcade and pretend they are playing. Simone finds this great fun.
I went this afternoon to Jen Jackson's to help her finish clean her apartment and to have some time with her before she left. It was great just to chat and be together for a while.
After I cleaned at Jen's I had rehearsal. We got our costumes tonight...what a hoot. I play 2 parts. I play Elizabeth mother of John the Baptist and I play one of the wisemen. Well, the costume for Elizabeth is just a riot. I have an ugly grey wig and a big purple house frock and whatever I can find to make it appear that I'm expecting, tonight it was a sweater. The cast really got a kick out of it. When I walked on stage for one of my scenes none of us could keep a straight face.
Tonight Simone and I made blueberry muffins as she has to provide snack tomorrow for school. The kids each have one day a month that they have to bring in a healthy snack. Simone is realizing in cooking that when you are done, you get to lick the bowl and spoon.
Simone has also enjoyed learning how to use scissors and cut paper. She cuts the paper to shards. She has thus begun learning how to sweep and tonight she swept all her shards into such a nice pile....way to go cinderella.
Well g'nite all.

December 1st

It's December 1st.
We aren't ready for the cold weather yet, but everyday of cold weather is one day closer to spring. Since this summer we've been very busy. Our biggest excitement being the birth of our son, Cassian River Muhme. "River" was born on June 11th at 5 lbs 7 oz. He's been such a joyful addition to our family. Big Sis, Simone has jumped right in and, most of the time, embraced the role of big sis. Simone gets toys, brings bottles, sings when he's upset and gives lots of hugs and kisses. River is a calm very easygoing baby. What a blessing our 2 children are. Simone is now almost 4 1/2 and well into preschool life. Simone goes to Stanley Clark School which is a 5 minute walk down the road. She has a nice small class of 10 students and 2 teachers. I'm amazed and what she has already learned. She can count past 20, recognizes most of the alphabet, can almost write her name and has developed good pattern recognition. Simone usually plays with the boys at school taking after her "tomboy" mom. The school had a daily blog and it's fun to see what they did everyday as Simone sometimes "forgets" :)
Michael is teaching film classes at Lake Michigan College right now and loves it. It's fun to discuss which movies and projects he will assign for his class.
This summer has been full of new baby adjustments, baking....Simone has taken up a love of the kitchen, much to the chagrin of my waistline, and new church activities. For those of you who don't know, we are attending a new church which is closer to our home. I've jumped into the "Church Mice" program, a Thursday evening Sunday School program. I'm teaching in the 3's/4's with Simone. I'm also in the Christmas Drama, "Christmas Rewind". It's been fun getting back into the swing again of acting and getting to know more people at church.
Please be patient with me as I figure out how to blog. I'm so excited!
Candy