Boxing Day 2011

The Loose Tooth Has Left the Building!

Jo lost her first tooth last night! Well, I say "lost" but really the kid couldn't take it anymore and ripped it out.

She woke up at 4 a.m. with excitement to find the Tooth Fairy had a left a note and a Hello Kitty watch-locket-necklace.

She's so super excited.

Josephine's First School Report

I'm not sure what I'm more proud of - Josephine's "grades" and reading level, or her kindness.

I just got back from my first parent-teacher conference (as a parent!) and I'm just so proud. She is already reading at the goal-level for the end of the year, and got a 92/102 on the "pals" reading test - scored 10/10 on how the "most difficult" word list part... She knows all the science concepts already, so she is getting gifted enrichment for that, and she's rocking math and everything else. The teacher's goal for Josy's reading is that she's reading at the end-of-first grade level by May. Of course, I'm not surprised. Any kid who can define "laboratory" and "immigration", likes to do math in her head, knows that moonlight is a shadow, draws schematic diagrams of soil-mixing machines (as well as princesses & cats) - well, I'm not surprised.

But also, there is a little boy in Jo's class who won't talk to anyone, because he is shy and ESL, but he WILL talk to Josephine. So Jo has been moved to sit next to him, and comes to 'lunch bunch' with him, and I am just so glad that my child is being such a kind friend to this little kid.

And she's become so kind and helpful to Sam recently, too.

She's a pretty amazing kid.

Videos from November 6, 2011

Today was a lot of fun! Josephine's writing is really growing in leaps and bounds. Today she made a birthday card for her brother Henry, and did it completely by herself. As you can see in this video, she also made snowflakes. I was standing by carefully to make sure she could use Mandi's scissors. Today, they also helped me test some colors in the back bedroom of my house. This explains why Josephine is playing the drums with paintbrushes. Josy also ate a second helping at lunch and pronounced herself a member of the Eat A Lot Club. But, I am proudest of the unsolicited lesson on the solar system that comes from Josy here!

Witch of Sweets

Watch this video of Josephine singing her song about being the Witch of Sweets for Halloween, who "keeps candy ripe" and paints rainbows of candy... http://youtu.be/ftQbKbGuN1A

So many updates about Josephine and Sam...

Josephine's into drawing maps, because, of course, she's been learning about "immigration" in after-school (which is awesome). She drew a picture last night of agricultural machines mixing dirt to make soil and layers of clay. She's reading more everyday. And her teacher recommended her to a gifted program this winter.

Sam loves his new school, and they love him. He dressed up as Super Penguin for trick or treating on the downtown mall today. They both have terrible colds.

I tend to do lots more updates on Facebook, so it's hard to get into this blog, but I'll keep trying...

Hanging out at our friend Sarah's

Notes from the Meet Yer Eats Farm Tour

Today was the 3rd annual Meet Yer Eats farm tour put together by Market Central. They are the organization that helps support the Charlottesville Farmer's Market. I thought it would be a great day to spend Labor Day with Sam and Josephine. Above is Josephine at Forrest Green Farm in Louisa County with miniature Herefords in the background.

One thing we learned at the beginning that there is manure everywhere. This is Josephine shortly after understanding exactly what the big black or brown splotches where.

Sam was also pretty interested, though he had found a stick that was kind of shaped like a sword, so that was his main interest. 

Josephine was fascinated by the chickens. We stood outside this pen for about 20 minutes. I've never seen her so captivated by something for so long. These chickens are raised as broilers and will end up going to market in a few weeks. Neither Josephine nor Sam eats chicken.

She looked at the chickens from every single angle and was trying to understand their behavior. 

This is Rob, who owns Forrest Green with his wife Krista. He's explaining to us the layer chickens and how they live. We learned so much about the choices he makes in order to bring eggs to market. It was great to be able to ask questions.

Sam and Josephine in one of the hoop houses at Forrest Green. I was more interested in they were, so we didn't stay too long.

Here's Josephine touching the comb of Lester, one of the roosters at Ted's Last Stand farm in Louisa County just up the road from Forrest Green. She was rapt with attention as Michael Levatino took on the tour of his farm. We actually went on the tour one and a half times. Sam was not quite as interested, but was very patient. He chose not to touch the rooster at this time. I can't blame him.

She paid full attention as we learned about how the soil is maintained at Ted's Last Stand without using any sort of pesticides or chemicals.

A group of grad students from UVA remarked that she was wearing a most appropriate dress to be at a farm that specializes in flowers. 

In all we had a fantastic day. For me, it was probably the best way I have spent Labor Day in my entire life.