Just a check in...

I don't seem to have the mental room these days to ruminate on blogs (I used to get around to posting only a fraction of the one's I'd mentally mapped out), much less share pictures with everyone). The picture deal is partly because the digi camera uploads to the desktop computer, and I'm always on my (new, and so fabulous) laptop.

But, I thought some sort of an update would be better than nada, right?

School for me is starting to get into full swing. I'm enjoying it far more than I anticipated. Before starting, it just sounded like adding "x" amount of work to my already full days but now I'm seeing the payoff, and thus the motivation, as I am becoming more and more interested and engaged with what I'm learning. It all seems very relevant and applicable, and those are absolute musts for me. I'm not good with theoretical crappola that I can't imagine ever using (I'm sure my high school math teacher heard me spout these words a few dozens of times).

School has proven to be a bit more frustrating for Fionna, of late. Homework is coming home in droves (I'm talking like 2 hours worth per night). I've reached the point where I have entered into "Grand High Executive Decision-Making Mode" and I just deem that she won't do most of it. It's worksheets, mind-numbing, repetitive, you get the picture. So, we do the more crucial stuff and pitch the rest. I plan to address it with her teacher in the next few days. I think some is AES stuff that is supplementary and supposed to keep her from being bored but it seems punitive to her when it just means she slaves away with her pencil for even more time at home. Our unfortunate children here are getting one mere 20-minute recess per day and that combined with the excessive homework has me very frustrated. I got to the point the other night that I offered her the option of pulling out of school for the remainder of this year, homeschooling, and re-evaluating in the Fall. Of course, she refused. She's a social little creature.

Grady maintains that he has no interest in attending kindergarten in the Fall. I think it's mostly a combination of separation and social anxiety. But, I honored Fionna's feelings when she was at this stage, and I'm committed to doing the same for Grady. We currently work, when the opportunity lends itself and he's in the mood, on number identification, letter sounds, the fine motor skills of beginning handwriting (with dot-to-dots, mazes, drawing letters). He's not really into this stuff but sometimes finds it exciting, and I try to capitallize on those moments. I do feel very positively about Grady's social circle and extracurricular activities right now. We seem to be in the midst of one of those golden times when we have lots of wonderful friends and lots of opportunities to spend time with them. I absolutely love our looong, extended park days and impromptu playdates. And soccer and Tae Kwon Do continue to be really fun, pleasing activities for Grady. I love seeing him so engaged and eager and having such fun.

Ainslie....I feel like she's made some developmental leaps just recently. Her pretend play is evolving and becoming more complex. What's really uncanny for me is how closely she mimics the ways in which Fionna engaged in pretend play. The themes, the behavior, it's all so similar. I use to call Fionna the "little director," and Ainslie is making an excellent play at being the Little Director Numero Dos. She has very, very particular ideas of what she'd like to play with me and how I should participate. So, it's not enough to play "house" type of games. I have to be in a certain spot, do a certain number of things, say just the right things, etc. I spend a lot of time on her bed (a prop, considering that she sleeps in the big family bed in THE bedroom) in her room, eyes closed, pretending to be the baby. My one weekly absence, on Monday nights for class, is really causing her an increase in sadness. She handled it well at first but her distress seems to be escalating. I've just decided, on someone's advice, to try to be more matter-of-fact about it and try to get away from making it a big deal. Hopefully she'll soon settle into it as just another part of our routine. Although it's a three hour class, she goes to bed within 30-60 minutes of me leaving so it's not anything that should disrupt her routine all that much. Ainslie is also starting to really love and seek out certain characters. Dora is an unfailing hit, as are Pooh Bear and the 100 Acre Wood gang. She also just started to notice and ask for Mickey and Minnie Mouse, which is funny because Fionna went through a Mickey and Minnie love affair at almost the exact same age. I was even able to dig through the big closest of saved clothing/shoes and pull out two pair of Minnie shoes in just Ainslie's size.

Well, the Dora episode which bought me the time to write is ending. And I have a LLL homevisit in about an hour which means I really ought to be showering and picking up the house (the mom is coming to me this time). Dear Blog, I promise to try to get some pictures up. I miss seeing evidence of our happy days on here. Until then...hasta...