Field Trip Fun

Last week Maryn's class went on a field trip, and I went along as a chaperone. In the two weeks leading up to the trip, we talked a lot about it, and, when I say we talked, I mean Tom and I told Maryn about it because we don't have the language skills to converse with each other about a school field trip. We had the greatest understanding by explaining that Thursday was school bus day, and she was going to ride the school bus on Thursday. School bus has been in her vocabulary for quite a while, and she has been wanting to ride on one for just as long. When we got into the garage so I could drive her to school that day, she objected to me opening my car door because she was going on the school bus! A lot of words and hand motions explaining that I would drive her to school and then she would get on the school bus cleared the air, and we were on our way. I dropped her at the entry door and went around to the front door to sign in. When I arrived in the classroom, I stood in the back giving her her space, and one of the girls came up to me and said, "Are you Maryn's mom?" I said yes, and she told me her name and said, "Maryn is my best friend. We play on the playground together everyday." What a nice girl. Someone is doing a great job with her because she was so polite, and the rhythm of the conversation was exactly what it should be. It was my best conversation of the day. Maryn's teacher and the students and other adults in the school are so happy to see her do well. You can tell the students in her class understand that this is all new to her, and they watch out for her. During the field trip, one of the workers called on Maryn to volunteer to do something so Maryn stood up with a smile on her face, and a girl sitting behind her said, "That's Maryn," as if that would explain to the person that Maryn doesn't speak English and might need a bit of assistance. It was so cute. All in all it was a great experience for all of us. A lot was learned that day, not all of it related to the curriculum but important nonetheless, and we haven't heard about riding the school bus since.

Happy Birthday Party Day!

Our little girl is eight today. Of course, she was eight yesterday and the day before that and the day before that. Maryn turned eight the day before we met. Shortly after we returned from China, we jumped right into family birthday season, and she even went to two birthday parties for friends from church. After that she asked continuously if it was her birthday party. The only answer was to give her a birthday party, and we were able to get everyone together today. It was a beautiful day, so we were able to play outside then have dinner, cupcakes and presents. We all decided that a faux birthday party is just as much fun as a real one. It's great to be eight!

"Tricka-or-Treat"

We talked about Halloween the entire month, and I always told Maryn she was going to love it. I was right. We kicked the holiday off at 3 p.m. at a Halloween party a few houses down. Batgirl, Batman and Robin were there as were an angel, two devils, a genie, Snow White and a cast of additional characters. Maryn was Minnie Mouse, although she kept calling herself Mickey Mouse, so we just simplified it and told people she was Mickey Mouse in a dress. That's the beauty of Halloween: anything goes, and it all works. Her friend, Iris, came over to enjoy the festivities. It was Iris' first Halloween, too, and she couldn't stop marveling at the fact that it's a holiday where you get candy! Tom took the kids out, and I answered the door at home. I knew things were going well out there when one of the neighbors shouted from the sidewalk, "I think Maryn's got it all figured out. She's running." I knew they would return with a haul, and they did. It doesn't get much better than a holiday where you get candy.

Wickedly Cute

I've always loved Halloween, as a child and as an adult. Always. I love the colors, the decorations, the costumes, the candy, the fun. This year it's more than that. As we see the delight through the eyes of our child, it's joy! Here's wishing you a joyful Halloween!

After School Special

After school we played outside enjoying the beautiful day. Set up the cones for a little soccer on the driveway, and Maryn's getting better about turning to avoid kicking the ball in the street. That's a significant improvement, and if we keep up the running and kicking she might be up to speed to give soccer a try next year. After soccer we raked the leaves in the parkway, and then Maryn ran into the garage to her school "pockpock." She pulled out a handful of beautiful yellow and orange leaves carefully selected during recess. She showed me where she wanted to plant them, and that's just what we did. The dirt was moist enough that all it took was a poke with a piece of mulch to get the stem into the ground. We can cross fall leaf planting off the list of things to get done before winter, and we didn't even have to get our fingers dirty.

We Were Booed!

Around 5 p.m. the doorbell rang. When we went to the door, no one was there, but a bag of Halloween goodies was on the porch waiting to come inside. We had been booed by a mysterious neighbor, and the treats were well chosen for a new trick-or-treater. Past experience had taught me to get the BOO! sign on the door quickly to avoid getting booed twice in a matter of minutes. The signs are appearing around the neighborhood now as are the pumpkins and other decorations. We're ready for Halloween.

Punkin Pickin'

The only thing on the schedule for today was to get some pumpkins and get some photographs of our pumpkin, and we did both. It was a perfect day for it, and we passed quite a few places that offered just the right setting. The one we chose drew us in with two farm wagons full of beautiful pumpkins from teeny tiny to ginormous. They must have tended to them night and day to make sure they were absolutely perfect because they were, and there wasn't a speck of dirt on any of them. It was a tough choice, but we were able to weed out the hundred pounders and go with a few we knew we could carry. Maryn was beaming when we put them in the car, and when we got home she couldn't wait to get them out and placed on the porch just the way she wanted them. We're so happy she's enabling us to appreciate all the wonder and beauty of autumn right along with her.