First Day of Fifth Grade

Sophia headed off to fifth grade this morning. It's her last year in elementary school. Captain makes fifth graders feel special all year, and they do a wonderful job of helping them transition to middle school. She has had a rough few weeks of nervous energy and fears around the beginning of school, but she was off and ready this morning!

Leo and I are adjusting, but maybe a little sad...

It really does promise to be a great year. And the routine of school is going to be a lift for all of us! I'm excited to see what this year brings. For me, it looks like I'm going to still be at home - spending my time volunteering and with a small job. I get to focus on helping Sophia and myself, and Erick when he needs it, through everything that comes next!

First Day of School

Sophia is a little less giddy about the first day of school, but having friends around certainly helps! Can't wait to hear about the first day of fourth grade.

Lucky Thirteen

I don't remember being this tired on our wedding day, but apparently, it was exhausting.

Wake up, you two! They're waiting to cut the cake!!

Just Like Riding A Bike

Sophia had one goal for Spring Break, and she's already accomplished it. Here she is on an early voyage.

My Magic Charm - by Sophia Creach

About 2 days ago it was black history night. Black history is a night that my school thinks about how we can care for one another. It was the first year I got to speak. I wrote a poem. It was about a magic charm. We all have one. But my most powerful one is my amazing friends. The things they do for me and the things they do with me. It was a great opportunity to get to express myself to other people. 

Here is my poem: 

My magic charm is my friendship 
I know my friends count on me and I count on them. 
They are my magic charm. 
The best one you can have. 
They help you get by when life gets hard 
we don't run when life gets hard
because life is life and life is hard. 
Scaredness comes and goes 
but friends stay.


I leave you with this question. What is your magic charm?

First Cantering - by Sophia

Hi I am Sophia and the pictures you see are of me cantering [ A speed before galloping and after trotting]

Anyway I got to canter for my first time .It is so fast it felt like I was FLYING!

 And it was all because of  Karoly the awesome. An all around fun guy/ horse. The reason it was so awesome is Da Da Da Daaaa. He is a lazy horse some times he doesn't trott.Anyway now he is a cantering machine.

Now this is trotting[faster than walking slower than cantering and galloping] I just wanted to tell you the speeds of the horse. Along with a beautiful story. Keep look at creach spot.

Sophia

The Violinist

Sophia says that she is going to blog about her recital, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Swimming, knitting and playing seem to be taking the top spots in her brain right now, which is only fitting for summer. Except for the knitting one. That one escapes me.

Since she's not posting about it, I'm going to tell you my perspective on her debut as a violinist.

Background: She refused to perform in the fall recital, as she had only been playing for a month. She was too anxious to get up there and perform "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," which is what she was working on at the time. I told her that she could not quit violin until she had performed in a recital. My reasoning was that I was pretty sure she'd quit just so she didn't have to ever perform. She's an enigma, this one. She says that she wants to be a performer when she grows up. She loves to regale strangers and friends with tales of her exploits. Yet the idea of performing in front of an audience was causing her extreme distress.

She chose her recital song, "Allegro," a month before the show. She chose it because she had already mastered it. However, as soon as she declared it as her recital piece, her grip on the song loosened. Every time she tried to play it, the notes came out too quickly, too slowly or generally unpleasantly. I wasn't worried. I just figured if she performed and got a good response from her family, then all would be fine.

The day of the recital, she appeared as a vision in white. Just elegant and sweet. When it was her turn, she strode to the front, placed her bow on her violin and played the song more beautifully than I knew it was possible for a 7-year-old to play "Allegro." Honestly, while I videoed it, I held my breath just waiting for the rogue sour note to derail her. It never came. She was amazing.

I was so proud of her. Not for playing perfectly. I was proud of her bravery and her poise. She's amazing. Her ability to perform under pressure just made me realize again the strength of her determination. She has a very strong will. I can't wait to see where the path that it clears takes her.

First Sleepover -by Sophia

I  had my first sleep over today.  It is awesome!

Fun comes first in my house.Friends,fun and opportunity is most important.

 Especially who you pick.   And every now and then you need a nap.

But it is good to smile at the camera too.  This is my friend!We are number 1!!!  The best part is she is on my basket ball team,and she is in my class!

"Every Shot is as Good as Gold"

Sophia is still playing basketball. More or less. With her cough and flu, she has missed a couple of games and practices. She was able to play in this weekend's game, and she had a wonderful time with her friends, as always. 

We've also been watching the Olympics. So much discussion of effort and excellence. 

During Saturday's game, Sophia did as she normally does, and she passed each time she got the ball. Her coach's advice to her (and to pretty much every girl) is "Take it to the basket when you get it. Then shoot." We have lots of great teammates on that team. Most of them prefer passing (and cheering one another on) to shooting. 

With just a little time before Sophia was coming out, she got the ball. I expected her to stop halfway and find someone to take it, but she...took...it...all...the...way. Shot. The ball kissed the glass. Girl Power scored!! All the parents cheered for her. She turned around with the biggest smile on her face and did the tiniest victory dance.

When we talked about it on the way home, we talked a lot about how she loves to pass. She told us that she loves to give other kids the chance to make a shot because, "for a kid, every shot is just as good as a gold medal." 

Dream Come True

I have been dreaming of this day since I was a little girl. I don't think it looked exactly like this. When I was on the back of a horse or messing around in the barn, I did not see myself living in an urban area, let alone in St. Louis. I didn't think I would have only one child and no dogs. Still, the part where I watched a child of mine climb on the back of a horse . . . that part was in the dream.

And that's just my dream. Sophia's been dreaming of this since, well, since she rode a pony on the fourth of July. Still, a long time for a nearly seven-year-old.

The day was even better than either of us hoped. Through a friend, we found a farm that is laid back, easy, full of dogs, horses, cats and happy girls. It's even in Illinois, so that part is about right.

This adventure started, as any adventure should, with new boots.

But the best parts happen when the boots get dusty. Sophia helped get her horse for the day, Karoly, ready for the ride.

She's even responsible for the tack. I was lucky to get a picture of Karoly with his eyes open. A good old horse, who used to be in Circus Flora, he's now less than energetic. A perfect starter horse.

Then it was off to the ring to get her first real taste of riding.

I don't know if you can see this or not, but it's the best picture I could get of her very first "I'm actually on this horse" grin and, possibly, prayer of thanks.

More smiles

She cuts a pretty fine figure on horseback. Says her ever so proud mama.

I look forward to many more (at least twice a month) afternoons at the barn. I'll sneak a sniff of horse neck on the sly and hope they don't notice...

And it begins...

...Again.

Sophia started first grade this morning. She was very excited to get the day going. She doesn't even pretend that she doesn't love school, although she insists that she doesn't like math.

Maybe that's what she's thinking about as she gives her lip a little nervous chew...

The nerves didn't hold out very long, but she wouldn't give me another smile. I'd used up my quota in the back yard apparently.

When it came time to leave, this was her response. I think she's relieved just to get it started. See what this big kid first grade thing is all about. I can't believe it. No more Kindergarten. No more cute little songs. Now she's just hanging out on the blacktop with all the big kids! Sigh. She seems to think she's ready.

I certainly hope she's right!

First Grader Sophia

The last day of school was much more difficult for Sophia and for me than the first day was. Maybe it's just because the school year was such a huge success and she is so loved by her teacher.

Regardless, I was teary. Sophia was "so very sad." I fully expect her to be over it by tomorrow, but  it might take me a little longer to soak in the no more kindergartners thing.

Every day ends with a hug from Mrs. Wilson. Here Sophia is getting her last one.

Here are two of the newest first graders in St. Louis. Apparently, one celebrates by wearing an unusual hat... Why not?

The Last Big Hoorah

Captain has a special Ice Cream Social for the Kindergarten class. There is no graduation the way that some schools have it, but it's their celebration of the end of their first year of being big kids. Mr. Mayer is the music teacher, and he does an incredible job of helping these kids learn all these songs. The kids and Mr. Mayer seem to have a great time with it, and he is so full of praise for them when they finish. He's the kind of teacher the kids do not want to disappoint, so all he says is "Children," and nearly 60 five- and six-year-olds get completely silent and attentive. It's a very impressive gift.

The children had a wonderful time singing loudly for us and for one another. Such sweet friendships that they've made over this year.

Love these smiles.

Ice cream was enjoyed after the entertainment. This made it a little late. And it made Sophia a little grumpy after coming down from the sugar high. This was the best of the family pictures we were able to muster... That face!

Here is a video of the sweetest song. I'm sure every Kindergarten does it, but it's a great message! And they really enjoyed singing it out. 

Sophia said the Kindergarten Wall song was her favorite. The chorus is:

Of all you learn here, remember this the best

Don't hurt each other and clean up your mess

Take a nap every day, wash before you eat

Hold hands, stick together, look before you cross the street

Remember the seed in the little paper cup

First the root goes down and then the plant grows up!

This other song is called Hawaiian Rainbows. And I'm posting it because they're so cute. And because Sophia loves to hula.

The Wide World (and beyond) Awaits

Sophia is a reader.


She's been very close for a long time. She's been reading words and short, simple books but hasn't cared much to push herself farther than that. I haven't pestered her about it. I knew that she'd take off when her timing was right.

The time seems to be right because she's reading great now. Chapter books, small books, whatever she feels like. It's so much fun to watch. It's even more fun to hear her tell us about what she's reading. It's a habit I, for one, have never been able to shake. Just ask Erick. The other night, our conversation included, "Well, you're going to tell me anyway, so you might as well just do it." And my response, "If you don't want to hear it, I'll try my hardest not to say it anyway." But he didn't put up a fight, so I told him the entire plot of what I'd been reading. Lucky, lucky fellow. Just kidding. Again, I'm the lucky one in that particular tale.

Anyway, back to Sophia. I am so excited for her to uncover all the promise that is held inside of a good book. I keep trying to direct her toward things like The Secret Garden and The Little Princess, but I know that she'll dive into worlds just as magical on her own. I really hope that she keeps up the practice of sharing what she reads because reading is an adventure of its own. Mystical, tangible and, above all, memorable. 

August 15, 2012

Sophia is a Kindergartner. It's official. She was so excited to get started this morning that she was actually willing to smile nicely in front of her school so we could get moving. Above she's in front of her school; below she's on the Kindergarten playground. Happy as a clam.

Once on the playground, the kids line up, sing a song, say the Pledge of Allegiance and wave goodbye to their parents. Yes, they really did that. Can you see how happy this face is? So happy.

I miss her already, but she is probably having the time of her life!

There she goes

 

 I remember the first time I saw this picture of Sophia in her yellow dress dragging Lulu along. Walking away as all girls must. With three days till Kindergarten, I'm familiar with the feeling this picture brings. When I think about Sophia going to school, I can't say that I'm sad, but I could say that I am definitely sentimental. According to Webster, sentimental is "marked or governed by feeling, sensibility, or emotional idealism." Accurate in my case. I've been reflecting on the nearly six years that I've had with Sophia mostly to myself. Right now, I'm just focusing on how fantastic it's been. We've had some crazy good times during our days together. I am confident that her ability to entertain will come in

 handy in school... 

   

 Of course, she's been to school before, mind you. Every experience that she has had with school, or organized learning of any sort, has been a highlight for her. Of course, first day of school pictures may not be easy.

   

 One thing I know for sure is that Sophia is ready for this step. She's everything that a teacher could hope for. Eager to please and ready to be instructed. She's everything a classmate will need. Kind and interested, helpful when needed. Most of all, she's everything that we could wish for. Excited to move on to the next thing but insistent that we enjoy it with her. I cannot wait to see where this girl is headed.

 

Education

With Kindergarten just around the corner, we've started all the registration and mental preparation that one can, especially with one's first I imagine.

Another thing has happened lately that I'm pretty excited about. Sophia has started getting interested in things like the Egyptian pyramids, other historical events and scientific facts. I did great in school, but I retained virtually nothing. Nada. Just the oddball stuff that the teachers and professors probably said by accident. Those are the kinds of things that stuck with me.

All that to say that I'm really excited about this phase because it's full of questions to which I don't know the answer. We're making lots of trips to the library and visits to the world wide web. I had forgotten how much fun it can be to learn.

To Sophia's Teachers

I registered Sophia for Kindergarten this week. Then I wrote this letter to Sophia's future teachers. 

To the Teachers of Sophia Creach: First of all, thank you. For everything you're about to do for Sophia. For everything you've already done to prepare for her. You and I can only imagine the impact you will have on her spirit, not to mention her mind. Thanks for caring enough to be here with her, helping to prepare her for life. It can't hurt for you to have a little extra preparation, so I thought I'd let you know a few things. I know you've taught lots of amazing kids. Many of them have been remarkable. Once you have become part of Sophia's world, I think you'll agree that a child as memorable as Sophia is a treasure. 

You'll be happy to know that she won't sneak around on you. As a matter of fact, when Sophia does anything that is opposed to the rules you've established (or even one she thinks should be established), she will come right to you and confess it. In preschool, she tells her teachers when she forgets to listen to their instructions, especially when they don't notice. I think it's only fair that you know about Sophia's supersonic hearing. I kind of wish I had a warning about that one. She may look like she's not paying attention, but she is absorbing every word and every unspoken message you're sending. I know this because occasionally she gives herself away by entering a conversation she wasn't near. The softer you speak, the more attentive she'll be. Like I said, she picks up on signals you're not giving out loud too. She is sensitive. The essence of Sophia is absolute tenderness. I don't mean that she'll run away crying. That only happens when you least expect it. I do mean that she can gauge the temperature of any given room surprisingly fast. Often she'll adjust her own demeanor to match it or to smooth it. Regardless, she is picking it up, and she'll happily tell you about it if you ask. She watches out for her friends and for the people that she says just aren't her friends yet. She uses her words carefully to protect the hearts of others. But sometimes she forgets to protect her own heart in the process. 

Sophia likes to talk. I've done my best to help with this last one, but I can't make any guarantees. I like to talk, too. It's all I ever got in trouble for in school, and that happened often. Sophia's daddy and I have been talking with her a lot about respect. How important it is to show respect to others that we come in contact with every day. How our teachers deserve an extra dose of respect since they're spending time with kids to help them grow and learn. All I ask of you is that you show some respect to Sophia, too. Just give her the benefit of the doubt when she forgets to wait her turn to speak. I promise that she's trying. And when you show respect to Sophia and her classmates, it will make my job so much easier to remind Sophia what respect looks and feels like. As you are working tirelessly to help these kids to develop their minds, please protect their hearts. Please protect Sophia's heart. I promise not to blame you when her heart inevitably gets broken. I'll help her get it back together and be glad that it's a Kindergarten heartbreak and not the high school kind. I promise to support you in whatever way I can. I promise to give you the benefit of the doubt, too. Sophia will most likely never say an unkind thing about you, although she does have a judgmental eye for fashion. I'll be generous in my response. 

 Thanks again for everything. I'll never be able to repay you. 

 Respectfully yours, Sophia's mom

Words are Fun

 

In a few weeks, we are going to Seattle to see our friends the Chandlers. When we first started to plan the trip, Blake calmly announced that when we visit, he is going to teach Sophia to read. Imagine Sophia's excitement at that possibility. She is quite confident that when she returns, she'll be a reader.

The past couple of weeks, she has been doing some prep work, I guess, because she has been trying to write words. She's been practicing recognizing and reading small words in books and around too. It's a lot of fun, and a lot of work. I am very excited for Sophia.

As a kid, reading was my very favorite activity. I was talking about this last night with my friend Cayla. We could both remember the excitement of a summer reading list. As much as Sophia loves words and stories, reading is going to offer a whole new world, or limitless worlds rather, and I am so excited for her to start on the journey.

Wish We Could Stretch It

 

This weekend, we met my parents at a campground in Branson. One night all three of us stayed in their camper, and one night Erick and I stayed in the hotel on the property. It was camping. Only better. The campground had an indoor pool, WiFi and cable. Dad's camper has a bathroom and all the cooking apparatus one could hope for. For Sophia, this was camping. For me, this was a 5-star resort. My childhood camping experiences are fodder for a different post.

When we arrived Friday night, it was pouring rain. We were hopeful for a clear afternoon on Saturday but holding out little hope for a nice morning. Our expectations were exceeded the moment we woke up to an overcast but pleasant morning. Coffee in the campsite was quickly followed up with Silver Dollar City.

There is no describing what Silver Dollar City meant to me as a child. Rides, shows, wandering aimlessly in my newly ironed-on Branson t-shirt - it was as much as my heart could hold. I have never really hoped that Sophia would feel the same...until yesterday.

Sophia's normal anxiety and hesitation gave way over and over again throughout the day. The first big hurdle came in the kiddie rides. Now, some kids love a thrill. There were plenty of two- and three-year-olds who were enjoying the rides, but Sophia has never been one of them. She'll usually oblige us by riding once, but then insists that the thrill has been lost after that. This time, however, we each got our turn to ride the frogs with Sophia.

 

 

And she even rode the frog by herself! That is a huge milestone for her, so we were pretty thrilled for her. And us...

The next stretch came in the form of a new ride - the River Blast. This is a boat ride, with water guns on the boat and on the shore facing the boats. We knew Sophia would like the idea of shooting others with water, but we were unsure of how she'd feel about getting shot, particularly in the face.

 

Our fears were misplaced... She and Erick could have stayed there all day waging war on the masses.

 

The rest of the day was a blast. Stopped for a show, played in the kid areas and ate lots of food. It was exactly as I never dared to hope. Sophia loved Silver Dollar City as much as I ever did. Fantastic.

Back at the campground, we cooled off in the pool. Again, she surprised us with her bravery and desire to try things she'd never tried before. She normally only swims with her floating dolphin ring, "Whaley." However, we had been in the 3-foot end about 20 minutes when Sophia set her aside and decided to go it alone. She inevitably went under a few times but popped back up with an "I did it!" instead of the freakout we expected. Now she can't wait to get back into a pool, so it's a promising summer!

 

It was the kind of weekend that feels like the beginning of vacation. Unfortunately, it wasn't the beginning of vacation. Sophia's last two days of school are on Monday and Wednesday. Then the summer stretches out in front of us. I'm pretty excited about our summer together. For tonight, though, we'll just recover from a weekend full of fun!