Julia’s Gallery – Sun #1

Materials: Chalk on pavement

Comments: Lately I’ve been amazed at how much more often Julia’s drawings and creations are purposeful creations.  It’s becoming less likely for her to just draw a few lines or squiggles and call it something.  She usually announces what she wants to draw and then tries to create whatever it is. She was outside the other day, drawing with chalk, when she created this sun (her first I believe).  She started off drawing lemons (for some reason she’s drawn a lot of those lately) and then after she drew one she began adding lines to the outside and said to me “I’m drawing a sun… it has rays.”  Yes, it sure does!

Routines

Fall is here and with it comes new routines and schedules.  This year Julia is attending preschool 3 mornings a week and has a dance class one other morning. She is also transitioning to no naptime which tough from 4-6:30pm but great when both kids are asleep by 6:45!  I’ve started attending a Rock-a-Baby class with Benjamin on Thursday mornings and that has been a lot of fun for both of us.  He is very alert and observant but loves to get in on all the action as well!  Both kids do better with schedules of some sort although Benjamin is definitely more flexible than his sister – more out of necessity I think since he is often just along for the ride.  So we are working on figuring out how our days flow and what works best right now for everyone.  But here is a glimpse into what we’re up to:

Julia practicing on the balance beam at dance class

Benj listening intently at music class

and creating his own tunes at home!

Enjoying the playground near our house for a couple more weeks before the big move!

Savoring the last of the summer peaches

Starting another year of preschool at the Little Red Hen!

Day Out with Thomas

Last Saturday we spent the morning in Newport meeting Thomas the Tank Engine!  It was a very exciting morning for Julia.  She loved seeing Thomas in person and enjoyed the train ride even though it was a little slow (she’s more used to Metro rides in DC)! 

The 7th Month Stretch!

and a couple extra because he’s just too cute!

Maine 2012: Odds and Ends

A final round-up of some of the highlights of vacation…

Julia finally ate the lobster she’s been waiting for since last year

There were many games of “steal the bunnies” played with Grandpa Herb

There were s’mores and ice cream

There was lots of swimming

And on the last day, there was all of the above plus canoeing, fishing, and hiking which had this result at about 6:00pm

I think that’s a sign of a good vacation!

Julia-isms

Just a few cute phrases that we’ve heard from Julia recently:

* When she heard an on-going loud noise: “That makes my ears itch”

* At breakfast the other morning she looked up toward the light above her head and announced “I hope that spiderweb doesn’t fall on my head!” (I guess we should get on top of that dusting!)

* In the car this morning: “I don’t know all about cars; I only half know.”

Milestone: Swimming!!

Julia has been working hard all summer to learn how to swim.  First, she conquered jumping in the pool, next we discovered the swim float ring and she swam all around using that, and then today she swam by herself for the first time!!  She has had the kicking and arm strokes down for most of the summer but whenever she tried to do it on her own she immediately sank.  The trick we found (thanks to Grandma Laurie!) was getting her to swim with her face in the water.  As soon as we told her to do that she put her head down and paddled away!

Julia the Fish!