One Proud Moment Each

Aiden after sorting his letter cards

Jasmin after drawing some whimsical fantasy dogs

Grace when playing a wickedly good game of dodge ball

Sunday Night Special - Grace

2nd day of October

Listening, writing, solving

Crossword puzzles

While waiting

For swimming

Evening hooray

Small group kickoff

Twenty eight isn't 

So small

Showing Grace (C.)

the funky fireplace

At Mrs. Heather's

Waiting, bouncing, playing

Around

People arriving 

Mini trampoline game

Shortly after

Called for prayer

Upstairs

I ate

Chicken fingers

And juice

Talking, eating,

Lounging about

Everyone waiting

To get in the pool

Finally pool time

Everyone in

Jumping, splashing,

Grace C. leaped in

Revelling in the water

Looking for the rings

Playing, playing

Discovery of fins

By Jasmin

More jumping in

Jasmin and Grace (C.)

In and out

Some wrapped in towels

Others splashing about

Sponge star frenzy

Throw sponge fight

I gather stray ones

Give them to Aiden

Sponges whizzing

Throw them about

Back and forth

Again and again

Failed race request

Disappointed

Goggle success!

Still people throwing

(Sponges)

Up and down

In and out

Back and forth

Goggles on 

Swimming the pool

Mrs. Heather's children sitting

Not so small anymore

At the edge of the pool 

They catch and throw

I get the ones 

They can't reach

"Out of the pool"

Everyone get out

Confused about why

Lingering still

After risky changing

Epic foosball fun

Getting better

Wearied but happy

People leaving

A few at a time

Almost one by one

Now it's our time

Sleep in tomorrow

Behind the next day

Still worth it

Sunday night special

Mixed Reviews

Mixed reviews for this last week
Life as it is real

Stairwells full of draped sheets and leaning cushions
Squeals, thumps, happy voices, giggles, and odd sound effects

An hour or so at the river in, on, by, over the water
Dappled sunlight and cool air calling attention to Fall

A few unexpected moments with street friends
Unbelievable - a Sunday movie night together too

But then, a mopey face,  an upset tummy

Turning life inside out

The will for schoolwork far away

The need for heat-pack warmth and comforting ginger teas

Jasmin dealt a tough hand again this week

Meaning Mommy can't juggle school smoothly

Lists abandoned, work incomplete

Competing needs grasping, clamouring for attention

An attempt to see our sympathetic paediatrician

Thwarted by an enigmatic "he's not yet back in the office"

So an afternoon frittered away at a walk-in clinic

And a "drink more" prescription the only thing to show for it

Long, late-night talks 

Both fantastic and fatal

Glowing catch up chat ranging near and far

A quick question morphing ugly into twisted argument

Both making morning come far too soon

Mind clouded with sleep and tangled with leftover emotion

A busy week with daily trips out and many commitments
Yet not without afternoon quiet times to recharge or snatch a nap

Meals messed with long faces 

One with no appetite and fasting adults

Happy news of Imma's booked (finally!) visit
Preparations for long-awaited appointments

Unhappy neighbours with loud happy kids

At home all day unintentionally sharing their  play

Mixed reviews on this last week

Life as it is real.

Poetic People

Unintentionally, we're having a poetry unit this Fall...

Predator and Prey

That peaceful day upon the heath
Where a tree young gazelles lay beneath.
The cheetah stalked gazelles unheard,
Young loud cheetah cubs, though, play absurd.
Impalas stotted for all their worth
Ran from cheetahs' own home turf.

More joined the leaping, jumping fun,
The cheetah cubs chased all of them.
Gazelles finally leap away
Cheetahs' menu's different today.
Impalas, gazelles all live longer
Cheetah hunts, cubs made stronger.

...this from Grace after a morning of Land Animal learning, of course, and being quite taken with impalas that can leap 8 feet up and come down 30ft away (stotting)!

...Jasmin's love burst moment:

I Love You Poem

I love you, smell like roses
The sweet smell wonderful
smell the pink Roses the flowers
I love you go fly over the moon
The lilac dances the twinkling of the stars
Your eyes are like the sun
Your hair is like a silver river
I love you
You move like a swan
Come take my hand and dance like swans on a lake
I love you


...and from me too, this morning noticing the differences in seasons as I run. (Wouldn't have thought I had brain space to notice and compose on the run, but sometimes it writes itself):


Rising sun rays finger the skies
Lighting a new world for my eyes

Forest fingers tinged with gold
True colours not quite yet bold

Thick dew carpets grass with silvery gleam
River mist makes the world a dream

Passing geese heard more than birds of song
Telling with cheerful honk winter's not long

Trees bowed low under berries' weight
Rowan, apple, sumac speak of summer late

Lungs full of crispy air
Coolness flows through my hair

Wonder of spring, delight of Summer
Now Fall pleases this runner