Constant Beginnings

Dearest Claire, You are officially seven going on sixteen. Truly. Your vocabulary is immense, your bravery is big, your willingness to leap into the unknown is huge. Daddy and I are so proud of all that you have accomplished and all that you continue to attempt. You've had a big year as you jumped 3 levels in swimming lessons. When we first moved to Germany, you began lessons. One day we watched this little guy swimming laps in the fitness pool. We were amazed as he was so little! I finally asked his mom his age and swimming level. Now, two years later, you are that little boy, swimming laps, mesmerizing onlookers with your swimming and strength. You've been reading well above grade level since Kindergarten, so it is not a surprise that you are now at the end of 3rd grade level. You can read pretty much anything you pick up. You really enjoy reading non-fiction text, so we've tried to steer you towards books that you can later experience or see the topic first hand. You ...

Dearest Claire, Six years old. You are six today. I joke that you are six going on sixty, but I secretly hope for time to suddenly stop as it is certainly passing way too quickly. I suppose my plea is rather ironic as six years ago I was pleaing for you to get out of my tummy and now I want nothing more than to keep you from growing up. You are an amazing little girl. You are an avid reader, reading pretty much anything and everything you can get your hands on. Everyone comments on how intelligent you are. You love to share the information you've learned--Monarch butterflies die after they lay their eggs, your foot is the same length as the distance between your wrist and elbow, hummingbirds have a very long beak so they can more easily drink the nectar from flowers, etc. You know ALOT. You're favorite series are: Magic Treehouse, Junie B Jones, Cam Jansen, A to Z Mysteries and most recently, the 2013 Animal Almanac. You love to do things very well and are quite a perfec...

Dearest Claire, You are officially 4 years old today, but in all honesty, I can't quite bring myself to look beyond that baby girl I hold close to my heart. Words cannot describe or accurately express the love I've felt for the past 4 years and the excitement that coexists as I think about your future. You are such a bright ray of sunshine. Not always full of happiness, but always full of fire. You have a such a spark that I simply hope never fades. You are timid towards new situations, but once acclimated, you approach with gusto! I love that about you. "Go hard or go home" seems very appropriate for you. Claire, you are a kind to others, loving towards your family and friends and such a smartie. I couldn't be more pleased with the amount of skills you've learned this year. You have been the beginning steps of learning to read! My little girl, READING! I long for the day when I catch you reading to Mya. Such a sweet vision...

Again one of those things I don't want to forget... Claire: Momma, I see a volcano! Me: where? Claire: Right there. Me: (I look all around while trying to keep us on the winding road and finally see a funnel shaped mountain in the distance) Oh. Well, how do you know it is a volcano? Claire: Because, I just know it is. It is. Me: What are volcanoes? Claire: Well, they look like that and then they go BOOM and bouncy balls shoot out! Me: Bouncy Balls? Why do you think they have bouncy balls inside? Claire: That's what Swiper the Fox says. This is apparently also a memory that my children love, love, love Dora and perhaps, watch her too much ;) Here's another goodie: I was talking to my sister, Jessica, on the phone. We were discussing her new phone and its capabilities. She told me that her husband, Nate also got a new phone. I said something to the effect that I thought he got a new blackberry not too long ago, when Claire excitedly chimes in: "Momma, I got...

fun in the new princess tent from grammy and papa! claire insisted she put on her princess dress for the inauguration as well. dearest claire and mya, i am not great at keeping up with my "little life lessons" as i'd hoped. i had the best of intentions, but right now i can barely keep up with documenting all the great things in our lives. forgive me. i know you'll look back and read these entries time and time again, captivated by all the wonderful experiences we shared and all the amazing things you accomplished along the way. my little life lesson number 2 relates back to the very different ways your daddy and i were raised. i am sure you'll hear of this as you get older, over and over again, that our backgrounds are vastly different, yet we are unified in the lessons we want you to learn. many adults go through their lives not seeing their strengths, not speaking up when their voice is needed. they take the 'easy road,' then drown in self-p...

 <> <> immediately after i took claire's picture, mya jumped into place. <>  alphabet floor puzzle from  bx i say it jokingly, but i do feel as though i have a third job as a private preschool teacher. ha. i was feeling more torn now that claire is three and not enrolled in a preschools. i decided to provide a bit more structured support at home to compensate for what she may be missing. here are some of our little lessons and activities. my focus is strictly on helping her become more aware of letters and their sounds. she is solid on her vocabulary use and understanding, conceptual use and understanding, counting, etc., but has limited ability to identify letters and know what sounds they make. i do tie writing into our lessons, but i could care less at this point if she actually write the letter 'f.' i simply do it because writing seems to mean 'school' to her. i can't seem to place a caption on some of ...

Wow, I can't believe three years has passed already. I am sure I say this every year, but really, how can you be three already?? You are such a beautiful girl Claire, inside and out. You are loving, kind, curious, and intelligent beyond your years. You have such an immense vocabulary and remember EVERYTHING! I have to be very careful what I promise or what I say as I can be certain it will be held against me one day. You bring up experiences from months previous and recall them with such vivid detail that it really amazes me. Claire, you have a passion for learning. You ask question after question and recently took a deeper interest in the rules of the road. I suppose this could be concerning, but again, I will say you are intelligent beyond your years. You love to tell me when I can go, when I should stop, ask questions about where I am going, try to give me directions or question me when you know I am not going the right way. You can spell your name, have a solid understanding...

1. I am trying to decide between enrolling Claire in soccer, swimming or gymnastics next fall. Any thoughts? I'd sign her up for soccer on base, which would mean driving 20 minutes or so every game. Not sure if they have practices (I'd really hope not considering it is a bunch of three year olds!), so I am assuming it would be once per week. I'd have to find a sitter for Mya (I was thinking I'd pay one of my high school students to come along for the hour or two--a few of them are DYING to play with my kids.) Swimming would require me to put Mya in the gym daycare and even moreso, get in the pool! I kind of hate that idea, but I would certainly put my insecurities aside for the sake of my daughter, and gymnastics, well, that wouldn't involve much. I could watch Mya while Claire does her thing. Claire has done open gymnastics before, so she is more familiar with the expectations. What to do, what to do... 2. I am missing Chris. I just feel like time is standing sti...

Dearest Claire, Two years and six months ago, my life changed far beyond what I thought possible. You were born and we were blessed. So blessed. You have made our lives so rich, filled with love, laughter and immense happiness each and everyday. At two years and six months, you are such a little thang. You are miss independent, wanting to do everything yourself and for yourself. While this is independence is supported, it doesn't mean Daddy and I don't get frustrated--like when we are running out the door, but you need to put your shoes on for yourself, or washing your own body/hair, or when you are already late for bed, but you need to brush your teeth for yourself, or when we trying to get dinner on the table, but you need to fill your cup for yourself. Ahhh. We have to take lots of deep breaths and remember to pick our battles. That being said, our frustrations easily subside when we see all that you can do. You recently began putting your jacket on in a new way. You lay it...