I HAPPY!

When Audrey is busy with school work we play together.  Today she was putting figurines to bed.  She liked putting the bed together just like hers...complete with a blanket.  She required the blanket, not having it wasn't an option.  

Right now she is obsessed with a few things.  She loves to climb all over me if I am on the floor.  She usually climbs on my back and says triumphantly, "I ride horse". She loves to read books.  She doesn't care about the kind of book.  She will even sit and flip through a chapter book pretending to read it.  She love playing hide and seek.  She struggles with the hiding part and usually gives herself away far before she is found, but she's a pretty good seeker.  She's not so good at covering her eyes and waiting to find people as pictured below so it's sometimes a struggle to run away fast enough so she actually has to look.  When she finds someone she always has to announce it by saying, "I find you!"  She's loves music and it's not uncommon for her to request at least three songs throughout the day.  And lastly, my friend Melissa said it best when she said, "Rae is joy personified".  She is very good at telling me how she is feeling and usually says randomly throughout the day, "I HAPPY!"  She also has moments where she tells me she's sad too but most of the time this girl is just happy which makes me happy.  

Audrey is adjusting.  So far between sickness and holidays we have not had a week where we've been able to attend any homeschool co ops or make any friends.  I know at times she feels a little lost.  At church she is also moving up to a class for Young Women instead of younger kids which with all the rest of the change has been a little emotional for her, especially with me having just be calling in to teach the music to the younger kids. There will be some stretching over the next year and I know she's up for it, but it's not going to come easy.  I'm hoping the New Year brings time outside of the house for all of us. I've realized over the years that being apart of a community of homeschooling families is so important for me and for Audrey.  Without one I'm not the best homeschooling mom and Audrey's not the best student.  We work together better when we have time away from home learning and socializing.  

Here's to a new year living in a new place, making new friends, and learning new things.  

 

Photo Challenge

Today I'm starting where we are because going backward stresses me out and I'd rather write than not.  I may go backward later as I find myself writing more often.  I have been wanting to do indoor photography with families during the winter for a long time.  The struggle is that lighting conditions are never predictable and that makes for a little bit of a struggle.  I have decided to start taking at least one picture a day in hopes of learning more about light indoors.  I also just want to get back into taking pictures of my girls regularly with a real camera.  I have a great cellphone camera....the best, and yet when I look back on the year of photos I took with it I miss my camera.  My cellphone will never take it's place.  Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful.  I don't always have my camera and my phone takes good enough photos, but I'm coming back around to a daily use of my camera.  

Here is today.  Audrey has been getting Rae ready for the day lately.  This morning Raelyn ran into my room with the biggest smile on her face with her unicorn shirt on and a handmade bead necklace.  She has worn her necklace all day and even got upset when I took it off for her nap exclaiming that it was her necklace.  

I will forever be grateful for a space that is not the kitchen table to do school.  I parked our desks in front of the window which has been so nice.  It's really good to be able to see outside for both of us while we are learning.  It's also nice to watch the older people walk by in the morning on their walks.  Raelyn is a gem.  She sits and colors, plays blocks, or reads a book next to me while Audrey and I do school. She's gotten so used to it that she misses the structure of it on the weekends.  I go back and forth with my attention and it seems to work most of the time.  

For some reason, probably the Trash Truck show Rae has grown a liking for the trash truck and she looks for it everyday.  I have to remind her regularly that he comes on Tuesday.  She's always excited to see it and waves hello and goodbye.  She loves that it comes by twice, once for each side of the street.  I'm not sure that the person driving that truck knows just how much they mean to this little girl every Tuesday but it might make their day if they did.  

An almost 10 year gap does not change the fact that Audrey and Rae are sisters.  They fight and Rae is the biggest tease.  She knows just how to push Audrey's buttons and Audrey is always good for a reaction, which is just what Rae loves.  Together they are two peas in a pod.  Ying and Yang.  The most peaceful of times are when they are reading together.  Audrey will often read to Rae or they will just sit together in the library and read by themselves for quite a while.  I will be forever grateful to Audrey for that.  Rae thinks books are a huge part of a good life because Audrey spends quite a bit of time each day reading them.  She wants to be just like Audrey and I wouldn't rather her have any other example to follow. 

Here's hoping I can continue with my picture a day and hopefully it will keep me documenting this little ones life with her big sister.