Experiential Learning

It happens daily, but we often don't get to see it. Amalia goes to school where, with a class full of friends, she is exposed to language, to color, to fun experiences, to talking, and observing and communicating. She is also exposed to conversations, new words and an incredible new world of learning. Mommy and daddy are often doing their own work and it's hard to identify what it is, exactly, that she does in class. Sure, conversations might revolve around "what did you learn today?" or "did you learn any new songs in class?", but it's not quite the same as seeing little Amalia in action!  

How wonderful it is, on the rare occasion that we can glimpse into her school life, to watch her interact with her classmates and her environment. Mommy visited her the other day to lead her class through a cooking session!  The class read "The Gruffalo" and two weeks ago they went to see the play. They have been learning about the forest, so Natalia guided them to make their own tree with pretzels, cream cheese with maple syrup, and grapes. The children scarfed it down in no time at all!  They say that learning happens best when you experience it, and this little girl is learning some pretty cool stuff each and every day!  In the evening, and sometimes without questioning, she will break out into a song, or tell us a story, or explain what her classmates did in class that day. Those moments, the spontaneous ones shared in the spur of the moment, are quite possibly the very best ones. Watching your child grow can be so much fun! Every day.

By the way, the hair in the face is a natural and daily occurrence. Daddy thinks it's adorable. Mommy thinks it's messy. Hee hee.

Letters Coming Alive

They are just little moments... Amalia is well on her way. She stands there and opens a book and starts, "Oh, en, cee, ee, you, pee, oh, en, ayy, tee, eye, em, ee" and so the story begins. She can do it in Spanish and in Greek too (though in Greek with a bit more difficulty with the letters, of course). She can follow the context of a book and pretend read. Irini models behaviors from her class, opening a book as if teaching it and showing it to the "class" (more than likely the audience is just Amalia sitting on the floor and replying to Irini's questions and requests to repeat). Reading is becoming a bigger part of our day. It starts with a read of a short book (given to Irini every day from class) as we are having breakfast. Then on to school and classes and the like. Then the return with play reading in the afternoon. Then the evening where books are brought out "en mass" to be read before heading to bed. 

But now, ever so gently, words are popping out of the "real world" as well. As Irini works out what strings of letters mean she is announcing "IS" and "THE" and "AND" as she reads them on the walls, on the elevator, at stores and in books. Her enthusiasm and her conviction (as well as confidence) are impressive. Slowly the world has a different twist to it. There are meanings coming out, being discovered. Life's experience is about to become grander, more creative, more far-reaching. Reading has begun, in small steps.

Hosting Friends

It was a moment that almost went by unnoticed. Our little friend Isabella was visiting and the girls were happy to have her over for breakfast. They played like they always do for a while and then the preparations began for a scrumptious breakfast of ham frittata and watermelon (brought by Isabella), french toast and strawberries, and milk. Mommy and daddy were getting things organized when they looked across the divider and saw the girls mulling around, happily doing what they were doing. Quickly mommy turned to daddy and said "we have to put this on the blog". It took daddy a moment to realize why but then, his smile broadened as the recognition of the moment hit him. The girls were doing everything.... Irini was putting out the place mats, followed by the cutlery and plates. Amalia, perched on her small chair, was washing the dishes (pre-screened for glass, ceramic and/or knives), splashing herself, the counter and the wall, but more importantly spraying the plates and cups. She turned the water on and off, as she's been instructed to for years now - to save water when appropriate, and put the plates gently on the rack. At the table, Irini had settled down with Isabella, ready for the meal. Daddy made some coffee. Mommy made the french toast. Breakfast was happily scarfed down with the requisite chit chat and laughter. When the meal was done the girls helped by putting the plates and cups back into the sink and daddy took over the washing as mommy put things away.  If you looked carefully you could see, ever so delicately engraved, the soft smiles of contentment around the eyes and mouths of happy parents.

House life hosting friends. Small things can make for big moments. The girls are growing and the parents naturally go through the bitter-sweet feelings of what that means.

Mommy's Day

A while back a special day came and went. Mommy's birthday was celebrated twice, in quiet and relaxed fashion. Part one was at home, filled with little posters made by the girls, in part accompanied by Tia and the cousins. Part two was an "adults" outing at mommy's favorite Vietnamese restaurant in town. All in all the day came and went much like any other, filled with it's mishaps, smiles, frustrations and celebrations on a family and personal level. But Natalia did receive two sets of flowers (from daddy and also a special bouquet from Scott and Rebecca who, despite the distance from us, continue to be near to our hearts and constantly on our minds). Mommy was thrilled, and so were the rest of us. Happy day to you, Mommy!  We love you completely!

The Tooth Fairy or Ratoncito Pérez?

Over the summer, Irini's two bottom teeth started wiggling around. She was worried at first, about what it would feel like, look like or what pain would come with it.  Over the past month she had learned to deal with it and as the wiggling became more extreme, we were told by her dentist that "it will come out in the next couple weeks". Finally, one day last week Irini rushed into the back bedroom. Daddy was on the computer (much as he is now). "It came out!" she announced, giddy with delight. It hadn't hurt at all and she couldn't wait for the other one to come out too. The other one, though, would need a bit of help from mommy, and that brought some pain and blood, lasting a mere few minutes. This was followed by the note she needed to get mommy's help to write for both the Tooth Fairy and Ratoncito Pérez (we are, after all, a multicultural family and our traditions overlap and diverge as necessary). The next morning she had a note back from both of them!  How cool is that!  Along with the note, of course, came a little gift for her too. She can't wait for the rest of them to fall out now. :-)