Parenting
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Pictures of Spain
Today is our last full day in Spain. While we are looking forward to seeing our friends at home and getting back to our routines we are all a little sad that our adventure is coming to an end. This trip has been one we will never forget. I was going through some of our pictures and trying to figure out which I should put on the blog and as I went through them I kept thinking they weren’t good enough. They weren’t capturing my love for Barcelona or the experience we have shared. My pictures are simply images but behind the camera the emotions are much stronger. It is those emotions as well that…
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Futbol!
Right now I’m attempting to wash some towels in our Barcelona washing machine. So far I don’t see any bubbles so I think I may have put the detergent in the wrong place. Sure would be great if I could read Spanish. I’ll think of it as a science experiment. What will happen if I put the soap in this place and turn this knob? Kinda fun. Last night we went to see Barcelona FC play At. Madrid. Wow! What an experience. First we bought the shirts to show our Barcelona spirit. We bought our shirts at El Poble which is a short walk from our apartment. Look at what else…
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Chocolate Lollipops!
When the kids were little we created the tradition of making chocolate lollipops on their birthdays and holidays. Instead of cupcakes they brought lollipops to school to celebrate. Over the years I collected molds with everything from Minnie Mouse and Pokemon to Harry Potter, footballs, dolphins and mustaches. Not be confused with dolphins with mustaches although that would make an interesting lollipop. Since North High had a Senior Kingdom themed pep rally on Arielle’s birthday I thought what better way to celebrate than with chocolate lollipops. They’re easy to make and who doesn’t love chocolate at seven in the morning? Step 1: Choose the color and flavor of your chocolate. I’ve always used…
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18 and Smiling!
Welcome to my new and improved blog! If you would like to subscribe and receive emails with new posts… look to your right. Simply click and add your email address. And thank you for allowing my posts into your inbox. I am very grateful. Look to the right again. See my new translation feature? You can read this blog in many different languages. I can practice my Spanish. I’m sure after a week in Barcelona I’ll be fluent. Today is a special day because my baby girl is 18! Happy Birthday, Arielle. I’ve been reminiscing through old photo albums wondering how it is that my little girl is eighteen already. I’ve discovered…
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Wall of Good-Byes
Every year I get the most beautiful Christmas card from a family I hold close to my heart. There was a time, it almost seems like a lifetime ago, when I was a foster mother. We lived in a small two bedroom house. Kai was barely two and Arielle was six. I had seen a news program about orphans in Eastern Europe and knew I had to do something because the thought of a child having no-one in this world was unbearable. It wasn’t an option for us to adopt but I knew there were children in our community who also needed to find loving homes. Eric and I became…
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What’s Your Strongest Intelligence?
There is little that upsets me more than when I hear a child say they aren’t smart. Unfortunately, I hear it often as a substitute teacher and it always breaks my heart. Sitting in the back of the room, arms crossed, the high school sophomore blurted out “This is an ESE class. That means we’re stupid.” Not wanting to lecture, but wanting to help, I gave a brief lesson on multiple intelligences. According to Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory, there are eight intelligences. • Linguistic Intelligence • Musical Intelligence • Logical-Mathematical Intelligence • Spatial Intelligence • Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence • Interpersonal Intelligence • Intrapersonal Intelligence • Naturalist Intelligence I explained that our…
