Almost done with 1st Grade...and last update
...and what a year its been! Piano lessons, horseback riding lessons, brownie scouts, swimming lessons, soccer, and now again this summer, softball.
Iris got a DS for Christmas and we let her take it on fridays to daycare. Since I pick her up about an hour after she gets there, after snack and reading, she only gets about 20 minutes with it.
Iris is getting her privacy so we're saying goodbye to updates to this site.
1/2 Way Through Kindergarten...
...and Iris loves it still. Gets mad when she has to miss due to illness.
I feel tremendous guilt that I don't spend more time with them during the day. I'm considering going to work at 7:00 so I can leave at 3:30 to pick them up. We'll have to see how mornings go in January.
Iris has asked for piano lessons, and now serendipity has smiled upon us. A friend at work has a piano to give to us; it will just cost us the 150.00 to move it to the house, and I have to make room in the dining room for it. But other than that, we're well on our way.
Iris loves art so I'm going to enroll her in two art classes in the spring, painting and drawing. Yes, we can do it at home but in a more formal environment, she isn't bothered by my presence, is more open to listening to the teachers give instruction than me, and seems to really enjoy getting out of the house for a 'special activity time' just for her. We'll still have her in gymnastics and girl scouts too...and after that, it's enough. She needs time at home that's unstructured too.
It has begun...
That journey away from us. School. Where she will have to fit in as much as necessary to be able to gain the keys to living well in our community. Where she'll have to deal with a whole social structure that Mommy has no control over. Where her decisions will mean consequences she can't have Mommy help with.
...and I have every confidence she'll not only do well, but she'll excel. Not necessarily academically, though I believe she has everything she needs within her to if she choose to. I mean that she has a wonderful sense of justice; of fairness; of care and concern for others. I know she'll make this journey and come through just fine.
I just wish it wasn't passing SO fast.
Last Summer Before School...
...and then our journey begins. The journey that a child makes for (hopefully) 17 years to learning how to be a successful adult. I'm not ready, but Iris sure is.
I intend to raise the kids to expect that college is necessary; that our funding it is their right. We've signed them up for educational savings accounts, and although the deductions are more than we expected, getting them there without them having to take on crushing debt (like we had to) will be more than worth it.
She can tie her shoes. Count to 25 (at least). Write our names. Write many of her friend's names. Knows 1:1 correspondence. Works on being polite. Can ride a two wheeler. Is learning to put her face in the water in the pool.
Has asked me how long before she can drive (OMG), before she can be left home alone (never!), before she can have a job (WHY?!). Stop freakin Mommy OUT, little lady!
She tries so hard to please. Not that she doesn't have her own opinion...but she is usally pretty respectful unless tired, sick, or hungry.
Is working on sleeping in her own room every night, even though she's afraid.
Iris - Age 5: Latest News (May, 2007)
Her blog is being updated more regularly- Making an online gallery of her shoes
- Iris is getting ready for kindergarten at Lincoln School
- She is working on learning to tie her shoes
- She is excited about learning how to do container gardening
- She is fascinated by worms
How did this happen? My little girl is now five 1/2 years old? I can't believe it!
Iris is a strong, smart, sassy, silly, sweet, SUPER-DUPER little gal. We love her so much!
I'm astounded when I look back at what a whirlwind the past five years has been. Lots of love, affection, laughter...clutter...lots of firsts and discoveries and fun. Change. Accomplishments. Assertiveness. Also, moments of jealously and sibling rivalry.
We're in a good place right now. The kids have enough play space that they choose to play with their toys or do art or other creative activities even if television time is offered. Thankfully, we don't feel like we need to offer television viewing time except when they are feeling sick or tired and it's not time for sleep. Even then, if my hands are free, I try to read to them instead of turning on the noise box.
Iris's Wish List
Ok, friends and family (ONLY...no 'stranger gifts'! will be accepted)....Iris has a wish list.
Right now Iris is working hard on drawing pictures, learning to write. She would LOVE any of the following:
- ANY postcards
- Any horses
- Anything "Princess" or Di$ney Fairies
- Phone calls from family
- Letter/Post Cards from family/friends
- Art/Craft Items, especially fuse beads, wire, felt pieces, beads, yarn, foam shapes
- New dress-up clothes to fit size 7 - 8
- Jewelry
History of Iris's Web Site
Amazing....I'm on my third site for my little girl in just 4 1/2 years. Of course, the web has changed so much since I started. Iris has changed so much too, that she deserves a new site to reflect her new 'Big Girl' status in our family.
Her blog is getting regular updates again, now that we have this lovely high speed Internet. Whoo Hoo!
Here's what you'll see on this new site:
Latest News [click to view...]
Iris's Blog...containing the latest information on our little lady. Newsworthy. I'm trying to keep it up to date but some evenings it's just impossible right now.
The picture to the right is of her first black eye. She hit heads at daycare. This picture is taken about two days after it's worst. My active little lady said it didn't even hurt, but it sure looked painful.
About Iris [click to view...]
General Information about Iris, generally by phase or month, or activity. Amazing how quickly children change! This is also a nifty repository of minutiae that comes in handy when scrapbooking her life.
Archives [click to view...]
This is Iris's THIRD website. Yes, you read that correctly. THIRD.
Her others are archived in this section, or will be when Mommy gets some more time.
Gallery [click to view...]
We take lots of pics.
...Ok, MOMMY takes lots of pictures. I'm paparazzi Mom. Complete with a url tracker so we can make sure there aren't any jerks visiting our site.
Favorites [click to view...]
Being a little girl is so much fun.
Her favorites change all the time. I'll catalog them here by stage or date or whatever suits her at the time.
Sites [click to view...]
Iris loves to visit her favorite places...parks, people, and Internet sites. Well, not so much Internet sites right now as we aren't home much during the weekends.
Hobbies [click to view...]
Yes, our little girl has hobbies.
Whether it be singing songs, or playing with certain favorite toys until she's tired of them, it's amazing what Iris finds to occupy her time. Now that we've banned the television all day until MAYBE one show after dinner, or a few if the weather is bad and we can't get outside, she's really been branching out.
Like pretending to be a 'horsey' or 'a kitty named coal'.
Preschoolers move so freely between real and fantasy.
Site Map [click to view...]
The site map is actually for all of www.mcmeekan.net.