A Flower, a book about flowers, and other really uninteresting things

I will start off with a picture of a glad that bloomed today. I think it is one of the prettiest of the 5 I have gotten this out of how many bulbs. I ran out to take the picture right before we had a thunderstorm, not knowing how well it would survive.



Last night MB and I finished reading The Secret Garden. She made me read all of the last three chapters last night because she had to find out what happened when his father came home. I was really surprised how much MB got into this book. I started reaing this book when I was young no less than 3 times and never really could get into it. But it is totally different reading it out loud and answering the questions MB had. This was a Children's Illustrated Classic, so it was abridged and it had pictures on every other page. A very enjoyable read for all of us.

I don't know what we will begin reading tonight, yet. It is a toss up between Ramona the Pest, The Wizard of Oz, and Treasure Island. Since Ramona the Pest is actually a library book I will probably push for us to read that one. My mom is planning to take MB to the Beverly Cleary landmarks around Portland while they are out there next month, so I thought MB would enjoy hearing at least one of her books. At one point in my life I had all of the Ramona books, and I imagined myself as a 1980's Ramona. I guess my mom sent those books out to my neice, because I have not been able to find any of them in my storage boxes.

DH finished the shower last night, it looks great and I can't wait to try it out. We have to wait a few more days for it to finish 'curing.'

School today has been child-led, and adult hindered. Today was errand and chore day. MB and I started off the day curled up watching the Tour de France together and talking about the scenery. Then she found a cooking show and dug into that, asking me about all types of meat and about the fresh meat market the chef was shopping at. Then it was magnets, I had to pull down the magnet box and she happily played with that for awhile so I coul start chores.

Then I dragged her away from this spontaneous learning so I could got to the bank and go buy us some food. After we returned I had to clean the frig and then re-portion the food and put it away before it warmed up too much, I almost laughed when I found myself saying, "I can't teach you that right now, go play." So much of the time I feel like I am pushing and pulling, then on days like this she just goes.

She has invented her own game for learning sight words. We take the sight word cards then she stands at some starting point on our vinyl tiles, or brick tiles outside an for each word she knows she can move forward. I added that when she misses a word she has to spell it before we move on to the next word. She has enjoyed playing it so much that she has asked for it every day this weekend.

Better go, the natives are getting restless.

Peace,

Amy