Around Here
Tags:
ANNA
Listening | Pitch Perfect soundtrack and Taylor Swift's 1989
Reading | READING. It's like magic. Seriously the coolest thing to witness and encourage and nurture. She's determined and not easily frustrated, which in and of itself is a gift.
Planning | Her birthday party. We're doing a delayed party this year not just because she was sick but because at least four other girls in her grade at school have birthdays this month and every weekend has included a birthday party already. Next year there's talk of a joint kids party.
Playing | Barbies and fairies and princesses - in all kinds of awesome scenarios. I love the imaginative play all over the house. Two of her favorite places are the spot seen in the photo above and in the bathtub in my bathroom.
Practicing | Gymnastics twice a week. Love how much she is loving it. Love that she is making friends with the other girls in her class - none of which go to the same school as her.
SIMON
Reading | Totally into murder mysteries. I think it started with the Clue movie that he has been obsessing about recently - including typing out the entire script by watching it via subtitles (it ended up being 52 or so pages - I call that awesome typing practice). Last week he checked out two different books at the library after searching "murder mysteries." One of the things that is awesome about this is that he's often most interested in books where he has seen the movie first.
Listening | He's been building his own playlist on Spotify recently and it's so awesome because it is so him. I'm planning a separate post to document that list soon.
Entertaining | He had his first friend sleepover last weekend and it went really well. Movies and video games for the win.
Joining | He's all signed up for some horseback riding lessons with a local group called RideAble. We've heard great things from other families who have taken their kids there so I'm hoping it will be something for him to look forward to and enjoy. It's something he's expressed an interest in before but the timing wasn't quite right. Making it happen this spring.
Choosing | Short sleeves when the sun is out. Those of you who have been around a long time know that's a pretty big deal.
ALI
Planning | We booked a RV for Spring Break and Aaron and I are brainstorming RV-adventure-with-5-kids strategies.
Obsessing | Currently consumed with the new workshops I'll be teaching this weekend at the Crop & Create event outside Toronto. Obsessing means working really hard (creating, journaling, photographing, writing), thinking about it way too much, and then procrastinating on the handouts and samples by cleaning. I'm excited and nervous and hoping I remember how to do this in-person stuff again.
Making Space | For kids activities. For quiet. For looking them in the eye. For hugs and silliness and hanging out together without my list being so long and so loud.
Listening | To his stories and questions (usually about Scooby Doo, Clue, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc). To her stories and questions (usually about the ups and downs of girls and boys in kindergarten). To NPR. To the hum of the dishwasher and the washer and dryer (sounds of comfort).
Remembering | I don't have to have it all figured out.
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58 comments
Oh, totally like what Sarah Bluhm said about tips for RV travel! Good ideas! And although I've never done it, I'd give the kids some ownership in the process -- were you ever a girl scout? Make a chore wheel/chart and let the kids help come up with the chores and make it because with ownership they'll feel good about it.
I'm sure you'll be great in Toronto, not to worry. Well, go ahead and worry, because you will, but smile because you know it's wasted energy. It won't get you any further. We all know you'll be excellent -- think of your trips!
Replies to Queen_Mary
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PS. I LOVE murder mysteries! Bobbsey twins, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys... What did he check out of the library? Dave said to try the Hardy Boys and/or Alfred Hitchcock's The Three Investigators -- Simon might like them. (Dave's my husband the teacher, Charlie's my son the new PhD.) Also, RideAble should be EXCELLENT! I hope Simon enjoys it.
Replies to Queen_Mary
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Hey Ali. :) Just thought I'd stop by and recommend "The Westing Game" for Simon -- definitely a good fit for a lover of "Clue"! :) I wish we were closer to TO (that would be Toronto, Ontario) -- it would be great to see you in person again. I don't know if you've seen the show "Orphan Black", but parts of it are filmed in Markham (although oddly enough, they refer to it as Scarborough, which is another part of "Greater Toronto" altogether). We binge watched the first season while our daughter was at her grandparents' home for February break, and would highly recommend it. I'm also loving the fact that the lead actress (Tatiana Maslany) is from Regina, Saskatchewan, which is my hometown. Anyhow, I hope everything goes really well this weekend -- I'm sure you'll find your footing again very quickly. :)
Carmen.
Replies to northcarmen
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Ali
love your around here posts! I find myself cheering on Anna & Simon.
Side note - is that an engagement ring your wear?!?! ;)
Replies to CasieGutierrez
Nope - I'm shooting into the mirror so it's a reflection of my right hand :).
Too funny...that was the first thing I noticed as well...just didn't have the guts to ask you! I think the reason my eye went right to it, is because if anyone deserves to be happy and loved by a handsome, caring man, you do! It will make my heart sing to see an engagement ring on the finger of yours some day :D No pressure!
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Reading about Anna and her dolls reminds me of my youngest daughter and her "pet shop" toys. I would quietly watch from the side as she played out scenarios that stretched out over a period of days. She is now 17 and I really miss those days.
Replies to maiaohe
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Having an ASD son the same age, I totally know what a big deal it is for Simon to be okay with wearing short-sleeved shirts. Yay!
Replies to crazystampwoman
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Thank you for sharing your everyday! It's important to document the regular as much as the things to celebrate (vacations, holiday etc.) I've always wanted to do this and with your help and Cathy Zielske (LOVE HER)I am starting to not take my everyday for granted and remember that it is worth documenting.
Also part of you "One Little Word" community and my word is "push". I'm pushing myself to do the things I've had trapped in my head and pushing to be a better person by expressing myself.
Thank you for what you do. Wanted to let you know that your reach has an impact you may not quite know about.
Replies to helenhigh
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So cool about Simon doing horseback riding, my sis was a trainer at a horseback Therapy farm in high school and she helped so many kids, it is totally a unique and effective sort of therapy!
Replies to Carolly
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I'm going to be at Crop & Create Markham...and I'm nervous too! I have been scrapbooking since 2003 but this is going to be my first crop (no, I don't know why I haven't managed to get out to one before) and I am going ALONE, so I am hoping I won't be awkward! I am going to be in 2/3 of your classes (one sold out before I managed to check out!) and I am so looking forward to them. :)
I too have loved watching your kids grow over the years - and as a former rider myself, think that Simon's forthcoming horseback riding experience will be GREAT.
Replies to angeljade
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Just love this post. And I just love your blog. I've been reading it for years & years and I always get something out of your posts. Always. Thank you for sharing your life with us!
Replies to jenjohnson2
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yay for the short sleeves! yay for Toronto! (& if I wasn't still in Fl I'd be there in a heart beat)and you know, there are horses on our farm, not just apples! (winkwink) thanks so much for sharing your journey Ali:)
Replies to paulette1980
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all good, all real life.
Replies to pmmessner
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Smiled at the short sleeves for Simon comment. My 17yo has mufti at school this year. It's very hot and humid (summer) here and he insists on long sleeves and track pants. I always love your posts like this. They help me appreciate the real and the good stuff more.
Replies to DonnaM
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I'm attending crop & create in Markham this weekend and am registered in 2/3 of your classes. I'm super excited to meet you. I've always been a fan and am especially loving the new website and story kits and OLW :-). Still need to get my homework done but I am really just looking forward to seeing Ali "live". Haha :-). I know whatever you do or bring will be wonderful. What a treat!! Safe travels :-)
Replies to Davida
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I remember falling in love with murder mysteries when young too! Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden were huge favorites until I finished all of them and moved to Agatha Christie. She is phenomenal - the best mystery writer I have come across, and the fact that everything is early 1900's makes it all the more magical because the mysteries were solved using observation and thought, rather than the helpful technology and science that is used now. It definitely makes for a huge change in speed, and I think it helped nurture my developing powers of observation at the time. Plus, there are tons of movies and tv shows that go along with the books - Poirot with David Suchet is the best. You can find them in the library or online.
Enjoy!
Tanya
Replies to barefootscrapbooker
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My husband surprised me with the same camera and lens you have, and I'm so intimidated by it. Would you mind telling me what settings you used on that first lovely picture of Anna? If you remember, that is...
Replies to abbypimentel
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I love how much Simon has progressed. Both of the kids are really changing so fast.
Replies to Deb_J
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Simon would probably love some old school Hardy Boys books :-) (and the shows probably wouldn't be too bad to have flashbacks of watching either.
Replies to khowardga
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I also find the sound of the laundry or dishwasher going comforting. Especially in the evening when the day's work is done, it makes me feel like all is well in my home. (I thought I might be the only one!)
Replies to scrap_horse
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Book suggestion for Simon:
'The Cat Who... (Series)' by Lilian Jackson Braun
I actually remember these creating a spark for me as I was becoming a lifelong reader about his age. Plus the cat might give him a glimpse as to what George is up to when Simon is at school.
Replies to mjrose
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