Narnia Drink

Last summer, or maybe it was the summer before that, Hannah and Emily came up with the weirdest concoction for a drink. They call it 'The Narnia Drink', and the ingredients are milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon sugar. I told you it was weird. Every now and then Hannah asks for a Narnia Drink, and that is what she had for a snack tonight!

Homeschooling in California

"On February 28, 2008, the California Court of Appeals issued a ruling in a juvenile court proceeding that declared that almost all forms of homeschooling in California are in violation of state law. (Private tutoring by certified teachers remains an option.) Moreover, the court ruled that parents possess no constitutional right to homeschool their children. "

...from Homeschool Legal Defense Association's website.

It’s no secret, I don’t homeschool, but I do have family and friends who homeschool. And whether or not you approve or disapprove of homeschooling, I think it can be agreed upon that us as parents know what’s best for our children.

With such a ruling, the government is attacking our rights as parents to choose what is best for our children. If we allow this ruling and don’t fight it, it could be the beginning of more government rulings that will tell us how or what we can do in our homes.

Please, if you support the rights of parents, and believe no one should tell you how to raise or even school your children, would you please sign the petition in support of homeschool freedom in California. You do not have to be homeschooling to sign this petition.

End of the Week

The first week of being back in school and back into the routine of getting up and getting out the door before 8:00 everyday has come and gone and it was a pretty good week in terms of Hannah getting up and having a good attitude and getting the things done that she needs to get done (making bed, brushing teeth) before leaving for school.

Hannah is especially excited because they began talking and planning out their upcoming performance. Each student had to pick an animal and is researching the animal they wish to be. When they visited the library on Friday, they even checked out a book about their animal they are researching. Hannah has chosen lions, as she is still very much fascinated about lions from our recent trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

This morning we went to the movies and saw The Spiderwick Chronicles, which Hannah really liked. She liked so much that she is currently outside with her plastic sword fighting off the goblins threatening to come into the yard. How's that for imagination!?!?!?

Spring Pictures

Hannah came home from school today with her pictures that were taken just prior to going off track.

She's looking waaay too grown up these days and it's hard to believe our baby is going to be 8 next month!!!

It's a love/hate relationship when the pictures come out so good! Love that she turned out so stinkin cute, hate the fact the pictures are so expensive!

Back to School

After having the entire month of February off, Hannah went back to school this morning. Back to getting up early. Back to leaving the house everyday early. Back to homework, and reading, and routine! Thankfully the morning went really, really well. I know she was excited to get back and see her friends.

We did a lot while she was off track. And yet, there were still things I had hoped to do.

Now, comes the long stretch of school. She'll go the next 12 weeks with no holidays or breaks. That will bring us to the week before Memorial Day Weekend. It'll be at that time, her 2nd grade school year will be behind her and we'll have a 3rd grader on our hands!!!

But until then, there is a performance to be planned, a field trip to be taken, and still lots more learning to be done!

Making Memories

Last week on our Wild Animal Park adventure, the girls of course wanted a souvenir or keepsake from our trip. Trying to keep that expense to a minimum, I was thrilled when Hannah picked two postcards of a lion. Rachel chose postcards of an elephant and a gorilla.

A few days ago, I noticed Hannah writing on the back of her postcards, now sitting displayed atop of her dresser. I looked at what she had written on her postcards, and the one that touched me the most was this:

"I will never forget the time I went to the Wild Animal Park
and saw the lions!"

By taking the girls to the Wild Animal Park, I helped make a memory for my daughter, one that she'll never forget.