February 2017

February was a relatively quiet month.

We spent time at OMSI each week. While Tommy is in class the girls and I hang out in the baby play area. I read Lily a book from the Rainbow Fairies series while Clara climbs and plays on the soft blocks. She just got kicked out of the baby area last week for being too adept at walking. Dang.

Tommy started a sewing class that he absolutely LOVES. One of the joys of homeschooling is that the kids get to pursue their interests, whatever they are. Tommy has already made a bean bag and a drawstring backpack and is now working on a pair of shorts.

We spent a lot of time on political activism this month. One afternoon we joined a local group to write encouraging postcards to Muslim mosques and another morning I took the kids to the airport to greet a Somalian refugee family to Portland.

We've had a couple of decent weather days, but mostly it's been very cold and wet. I am looking forward to spring more this year than I ever have before. A really miserable winter makes spring that much better :)

Clara is learning so much every day now. One sunny day I had to laugh as I watched her notice her shadow for the very first time. She stared at it, perplexed, and then tried to lean over and grab it. She often grabs at sunbeams as they flood into our kitchen through the window. One day outside I watched her hold a rock and let it drop over and over again to the ground as she tested and learned about gravity. It's amazing to see those wheels turning in her head.

Clara often takes things to the kids that belong to them, like their shoes or jackets. One evening I had her all ready for bed and then she noticed her hat and sweater in the laundry. She insisted that I put them on her, which turned out to be adorable.

The kids love wrestling and playing with each other. Clara likes to play bite their toes and join in the fun. Lily has an amazing imagination and loves to play at everything. If we are cleaning up we have to pretend to be Cinderella, if we come home we have to pretend that we are at a friend's house, when we eat we pretend we are at a restaurant. It's exhausting sometimes, but I love her brilliant mind. Tommy loves to build, build, build. He has recently discovered that he loves to read, too, especially books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He continues to be the best big brother a little sister could ever hope for.

The kids have recently started climbing into bed with us in the morning. Thankfully the usually wait until after 7:00 to do so. It's usually Lily first, who just molds into the shape of my body. Then Tommy, who brings his own blanket and likes to talk about his ideas for inventions or stories. Then Clara, who rolls around the bed and puts everything from our shelves into her mouth. We sure adore those kids and we love the time we have to snuggle and play and talk together in the morning.