So Annabelle learned how to tie her shoes today, she asked me to show her and ten minutes later she could tie her own shoes. She was so excited to tell Jack when he got home. She ran up to him with her shoes on and said, “Who do you think tied these shoes?” Then she showed him! Such a rite of passage.

It struck me that she learns how to do new stuff all the time, because she wants to, not because someone asks or makes her. She has this drive to learn; I think all children are born with this drive to learn.

She just learned about erasers. She mostly draws and writes with crayons, markers, pastels, colored pencils, but regular old #2s are new for her. She was writing the word snow, a word she learned to sound out yesterday, and accidentally wrote an “M” instead of an “N.” I showed how she could erase the extra mark to make it into an “N.” Then she proceeded to make lots of “mistakes,” just so she could erase them.

Everyday brings new wonders and new ideas for her to try, new things she is interested in, new words she wants to spell. Today it was ‘hummingbird.”

She helped me cook dinner today, chopping up peppers and carrots, stirring in herbs and spices. When we ate dinner, she was proud of the meal she made. She thought it was really delicious. It is delicious to feel so competent.

Last night as she was falling asleep, she said, “I can count to 22.” And then she did, but she went past 22 and when she arrived at 29, then she said, “20-10, 20-11.” I helped her with 30, then she made it to 39 and again, “30-10, 30-11.” So I helped her with 40, then 50, all the way while she counted until 100. Then she fell asleep.

This is why we homeschool, because I see what she can do and I don’t want anyone to stop her progress. Even I have to work to close my mouth or sit on my hands so she can have the opportunity to try and fail and try again. I help when she asks or if she needs me to, but mostly I just get to enjoy the process, her own process and it is amazing.

SNOW!!!!!

As I watch my children play at the park the other day, I am struck by how much they play together. Annabelle calls to Max, "Come on!" They climb and run together while I talk with other moms. I had hoped they would play and enjoy each other's company and as I watch it I think how lucky they are. It reminds of a evening right before Christmas:

One evening while Jack and I are sitting in the living room, Annabelle and Max build. (They are building with Brio Mechs, a set of building materials with boards with pre-made holes and nail and screws and hammers and screwdrivers.) First my attention is drawn because they are working so queitly. I watch Max as he puts a nail into the board and back out again, over and over. This is one of my favovite things: to watch my 16 month old, explore and experiment and learn. His desire to really understand something and his persistence are beautiful.

Then Max starts to struggle with his building and Annabelle says in a soft voice, "Baby Boy, do you need some help?" He answers, "Duh," which is Max for yes. She shows him how to use the hammer to remove a nail, how to hold it steady while you hammer, teaching him, so he can learn to do it for himself.

I want to hold this moment to remember it the next time they are fussing at me or each other. I want to remember this quiet scene of creativity, exploration, persistence, respectfulness, and love.

Max's New Dolly!

When Annabelle turned 1, we gave her Baby Dolly. It has been her special doll. For several months, Max has been wishing to play with Baby Dolly, but Annabelle, who normally shares everything with Max, has been reluctant to share her special babe. So after looking around at dolls, we found what we think will be a special friend for Max. Meet Max's new dolly.

We found the new dolly from a wonderful website, www.bamboletta.com, and now he is a part of our family. Max has already hugged, kissed, "slung," and given Dolly a ride in a stroller. Dolly is soft and cuddly and so very sweet, just like his Max.

Gathering Beauty

Moon Fell Onto the Earth By Annabelle

Once upon a time there was a moon that fell onto the Earth and then he lifted back up into the sky and then a snowflake dropped down into the Earth. And then the sky drifted and fell down and then the moon drifted into a home that was empty with only a truck. The car was empty. There wasn't anybody in the car. The moon didn't have eyes, so it didn't know that. He needs to look in the car. He has to, because to see if anybody is in it. He has legs, not eyes. He walked on the driveway. He has eyes on the back of his head, but he didn't want to walk backwards, so he couldn't see inside the car and because he was so small. Even on his tiptoes he is not big enough. A bird came and flew away to the moon, where the moon use to live and be. Take a look at the moon. The end.

Christmas Morning!

Playing in the new sensory table that Santa brought!