(no subject)
The girls and I have been studying Marco Polo's travels recently. Small digression: May I just say that I am in love with Demi's books and Ages of Grace curriculum for introducing me to them? The girls are in awe of these gorgeous books. You know, I have a nine, ten, and eleven year old (eight, nine, and ten when we started AOG) and it was a hard decision which level to do. My oldest is not a strong reader, but there were some great level B (upper elementary/middle school level) books on the list. So we have done something of a mishmash of both levels. Mostly I've read aloud from the level B books and let the older two girls read the picture books on their own. Luci and I read them together, sharing our reading as she tires so easily still. And I've not been sorry. The picture books chosen for this curriculum are the creme of the crop, let me tell you. Each one is awe inspiring in either story, words or illustrations, and many have more than one going for them, often all three. And most are plenty meaty for even the older girls.
To get back to Marco Polo, I am always amazed by, specifically, Zoe's insights and comments on her reading. I'm sure the other girls get a lot out of all this reading of amazing books, but I mostly have to take that on faith with them as they don't talk about the things they read unless I force the issue and don't enjoy reading for its own sake. Zoe, however, eats this stuff up. Relates it to her own life. Thinks it over and brings it up hours, days even, later in the middle of the grocery store, driving down the highway, late at night when she is supposed to be sleeping. I love it. Today I got a dissertation on the Polos' bizarre lifestyle and how could they stand to live and travel for years like that? and wouldn't it be amazing to see the world like that? and she could travel by boat she thinks, but those camel caravans through the desert? Forget that. I was highly amused. Marco Polo FTW!
Luci is struggling with some health issues right now and it is making Holy Week a bit sticky. We did make it to Holy Unction tonight, but high-tailed it out the door after being annointed as she was very near meltdown. It is such a beautiful service and I'm so glad we made it. Maria actually took my book halfway through and followed along, singing and crossing herself appropriately for the first time ever. Her normal church mode is arms crossed, slouching as low as possible, and rolling her eyes if I poke her to cross herself. So this was a pleasant...scratch that...marvelous surprise. I didn't say anything about it though. I'm bad about ruining these little steps in the right direction by actually...noticing them. Heh.
Good day. Just sayin'.
ETA: I forgot I wanted to mention that Zoe started a trial week with the AAU level 5 gymnastics team yesterday. She was just on a rec team this last year, at level 3, and the prospect of another year on that team with "girls who just don't take this seriously" and doing the "boring level 4 routines" was going to "kill" her. So we petitioned to skip level 4. Her coach says she is on the borderline and she would not have approached us to do that had we not asked, but as Zoe was motivated enough to ask, she was willing to give her the chance to see if she could pull it off. So...I guess we will see! She LOVED the first practice, so excited to be with the big girls (mostly teenagers on this team as the levels 5-8 all practice together) and working so much harder. I was nervous about the intensity, but she didn't seem to have any qualms about it. Time will tell, but I'm so happy to see her excited again!
To get back to Marco Polo, I am always amazed by, specifically, Zoe's insights and comments on her reading. I'm sure the other girls get a lot out of all this reading of amazing books, but I mostly have to take that on faith with them as they don't talk about the things they read unless I force the issue and don't enjoy reading for its own sake. Zoe, however, eats this stuff up. Relates it to her own life. Thinks it over and brings it up hours, days even, later in the middle of the grocery store, driving down the highway, late at night when she is supposed to be sleeping. I love it. Today I got a dissertation on the Polos' bizarre lifestyle and how could they stand to live and travel for years like that? and wouldn't it be amazing to see the world like that? and she could travel by boat she thinks, but those camel caravans through the desert? Forget that. I was highly amused. Marco Polo FTW!
Luci is struggling with some health issues right now and it is making Holy Week a bit sticky. We did make it to Holy Unction tonight, but high-tailed it out the door after being annointed as she was very near meltdown. It is such a beautiful service and I'm so glad we made it. Maria actually took my book halfway through and followed along, singing and crossing herself appropriately for the first time ever. Her normal church mode is arms crossed, slouching as low as possible, and rolling her eyes if I poke her to cross herself. So this was a pleasant...scratch that...marvelous surprise. I didn't say anything about it though. I'm bad about ruining these little steps in the right direction by actually...noticing them. Heh.
Good day. Just sayin'.
ETA: I forgot I wanted to mention that Zoe started a trial week with the AAU level 5 gymnastics team yesterday. She was just on a rec team this last year, at level 3, and the prospect of another year on that team with "girls who just don't take this seriously" and doing the "boring level 4 routines" was going to "kill" her. So we petitioned to skip level 4. Her coach says she is on the borderline and she would not have approached us to do that had we not asked, but as Zoe was motivated enough to ask, she was willing to give her the chance to see if she could pull it off. So...I guess we will see! She LOVED the first practice, so excited to be with the big girls (mostly teenagers on this team as the levels 5-8 all practice together) and working so much harder. I was nervous about the intensity, but she didn't seem to have any qualms about it. Time will tell, but I'm so happy to see her excited again!