Quick Takes Volume 46

~1~

I installed the safety latches on all of the bottom kitchen cabinets except one while Katie napped yesterday.  I left the latch off the cabinet where I store the measuring cups since Katie really seems to like playing with those.  As long as she doesn't go after my grandmother's vintage pyrex with the avocado green designs that cabinet can stay like that.

~2~

Madeline gave me the impression on Wednesday that she wasn't 100% sure that she didn't want to do band this year.  So I told her I thought it might be better to see if she could still sign up and if it didn't work out then she could back out of it.  After getting the details for how to sign her up on Thursday we know it's not going to happen.  Last year at the public school we had to buy [or rent] her flute and the music book specified by the band teacher.  So we put out about $250 last year for her flute and the music book. I was stunned when I saw that band at the Catholic school would cost $496 for the year.  Ouch!  We're going to pass.  That's more than we pay for a month of tuition for Madeline.

I played the flute in elementary school, so I'll brush up on it and teach her what she needs to know as she progresses.  I'll just have to muster some more patience.  Best of all, Madeline is happy that I'm not making her do band.  She wants to play, just not in the band.

~3~

I signed Ellie up to play basketball this winter.  She's been talking about playing since the summer so I'm hoping she'll really enjoy playing on a team.  She plays with some of the neighbors from time to time and is pretty good at actually getting the ball in the net so I'm looking forward to seeing how she does.

~4~

I'm thinking about making some doll clothes for the cute little doll I ordered Katie for her first birthday.  Originally I was going to give her the Bitty Baby that I ordered for her several months ago, but I decided that I'm going to hold on to Bitty until she's two or three.  I think I made the right decision.  The little Corolle doll is adorable and looks like she's going to be just the right size for Katie.

~5~

Back to school night for Madeline went well.  I'm happy with what I heard from her teachers as far as academic expectations.  I was honestly expecting them to be heaping loads of homework on the 6th graders but it seems like that's not going to be the case.  I'm relieved about that.  Less time on homework means more time for her to study and pursue her other interests.

Ellie seems like she's adjusting to the new school.  She comes home and talks about her new friends and is eager to tell me all about her day at school.  For the past seven years I have been picking at least one child up after school and listening to her chatter the entire ride home about her day.  Now the that girls take the bus home they walk in the door talking a mile a minute about their day.  One tries to talk over the other as soon as there is the slightest pause.  It can be pretty overwhelming to try listening to them both at the same time.

~6~

I'm hosting a giveaway sponsored by Catholic Family Gifts this week.  The winner gets to choose the prize from a selected list.  There are some really great items you can choose from.  Please take a moment to stop by and enter for a chance to win.

~7~

Kindergarten religious ed starts up on Sunday morning.  I almost have everything ready to go for my new class.  I can't wait to meet all of my students.  I've met a couple of them and I recognize the names of a few of them from VBS.  I'm really excited that I have an aide in my room this year.  I was worrying that I might not get to do all of the crafts I wanted to do with them since I have fifteen students and only two hands.  Now I'm confident that I'll be able to do all of the fun things I want to do since I'll have an extra pair of adult hands in the room.