How does her garden grow??

Full of peas, radishes, carrots and basil!

Biking home from her garden.

And then she was 6.

Growing Up Gardening

Magnolia is participating in the Growing Up Gardening Program offered by our local Co-op. She has her very own 3' x 3' plot in the Hamilton Community Garden. Every few weeks or so she will get together with other children and Misty, the co-op representative coordinating the program, to talk and learn gardening.

With a school expedition focused on plants and now her very own garden, she informs me that she is "really going to be a plant expert."

She's asked that I take regular photos of her at her garden to document the progress...

see below.

Day 1

Weed and Plant

Day 8

Starting to see some seedlings, more weeding, planted basil

Brother biking home after "helping" Sissy with her gardening.

Magnolia Hearts Moscow

"I got these from the first day of market. I really, really wanted to eat them because they are from Deep Roots farm. I visited Deep Roots farm to do field work, so, I was really excited to eat their food."

"My teacher, Ms. Corwine, sells jam at the farmer's market. My favorite was her pear vanilla jam. I love jam!"

"This is me and my friend Suzka at Ren Fair!"

"I love the tulips downtown!"

"River is going to go to Gold Mountain for preschool. I get to do the summer program there too, I'm so excited!"
(Gold Mountain play area at Moscow Renaissance Fair)

Nature is Cool

Spring

Normally each year there is a defining day for me that spring is finally here. It hasn't been so this year, rather than a full day,we've had a slow and gradual transition of just a little more time spent outdoors over a of period days. 

It started with an official spring trip to Sandpoint. 

After a little bit of a hike we made it to a spring beach, where we tossed off our shoes, threw down our coats, soaked in the sunshine and grudgingly accepted the brisk breeze.

It seems as though once we've spent a few more hours outside each day we start to feel so suffocated (and bored) indoors. This week after school we headed straight to our "fairy forest." Magnolia, River and Cora spent two hours chasing fairies, building "fires," and gathering nature. I just sat and watched...that forest was full of happiness.

post fairy forest fun

 We even ate fireside this week!

And of course we can't sneak by a park now without stopping to play.

And lastly, Magnolia's Spring Student Led Conference.

She proudly, yet quietly, sat in Ms. Corwine's big chair to take the lead in her conference to share her work. She specifically shared what she feels she's excelled at (reading, which we of course knew) and what she identified as something she needs to work on (writing certain numerals forwards instead of backwards).

She was also pleased to share her expedition work (Dirt to Dinner).

I loved the student work displayed all over the class, Magnolia loved sharing it. 

Proud of those plants!

Happy Spring Friends!

Secret Spaces

Wild Girl

Magnolia's new BIG interest is everything Native American...or is it American Indian now....?

We've been listening to A Tribe Called Red all weekend, dancing, hunting buffalo, gathering any "nature" lying around the house, fishing, and beading. She has even narrowed down her birthday theme to a "Wild Child Teepee Party," which we'll be celebrating in McCall this year with all the family there!

 And of course, if a new interest makes the cut as a birthday party idea, it tends to stick!

So here it is...

  the next six months of my life....

River is always up for whatever that sissy has in store for him;)
They are truly each other's best playmate.

Ballet and Basketball

I've been asked frequently if I was going to sign Maggie up for ballet class, but had previously felt it just wasn't the right time. She has been in love with ballet since seeing that first Nutcracker performance, and ballet has consumed her play for much of the last two years. I let her love of ballet live in her play, in the books we read, in annual trips to the Nutcracker Ballet, and of course within her birthday celebration. It was just recently that I realized it felt like the right time to expand on this interest of hers by taking a class.

So far she is really enjoying "ballet school," as she calls it, and it worked out for both her and her friend Cora to take the class together. Her teacher is even the mother of a boy in her kindergarten class (which just happens in a small town I guess!) 

It's difficult to snap good pictures, but be sure, I'll keep trying!

And during ballet, someone else is on the basketball court working on his b-ball skills....

Magnolia's 2013

2013 was certainly a big year for Magnolia. 

Those lingering signs of my baby disappeared...and I watched her grow into a girl...a beautiful, smart, creative and passionate girl.

Magnolia made huge strides in the last year...a friend summed it up the other day with...

"Remember the Maggie who hid behind you, and wouldn't ever speak?"

She certainly is not that Maggie anymore. She has found her "brave" as we call it. She loves to visit with new people, she loves to do things on her own, she loves that she is, well...growing up!

Ahhh Summer! And nothing is better than a summer vacation with your "sparkly" Auntie Hailey...who has all-night slumber parties with you and promises that next time..."we'll get your ears pierced!"

Maggie (and River) lucked out with one of the best summers ever with their beloved nanny, Molly.
Molly filled their days with lemonade stands, castle construction, trips to the library, flower picking and more!

Kindergarten!
(I suppose I've touched on this one enough;)

And of course, another magical December evening with Mommy at the Nutcracker Ballet.

Magnolia wishes everyone...

"A happy new year filled with love...and friends!"

Kindergarten Student Led Conference

We are very proud of this Kindergartner!

Maggie's school, Palouse Prairie School of Expeditionary Learning, conducts student led conferences (SLCs) instead of the traditional parent/teacher conferences. SLCs are intended to support students in a variety of ways, including taking responsibility of their own learning. 

After a quiet start, Magnolia rocked it! She had so much to share with us about everything she's been doing at school, and she is so proud of the work she has done. 

And we are so proud of how much courage and responsibility she has demonstrated so far in school!

Magnolia in the Fall

Magnolia and Cora

Okay...here is an update on Miss Magnolia, my very busy Kindergartner.

Besides being very enthralled in all things school....preparing for her student led conference, new sight words, homework (which she loves), her first field work outing and the start of a fall case study, she's been enjoying play dates with friends, long bike rides, and American Girl dolls...yes, ever since she discovered that I had one, Aunt Sara had one, and Auntie Hailey had one, she's been intrigued.
All the hand-me-down books have been mailed to her now, and somehow, that catalog found it's way to our house yesterday.
 I guess it was inevitable;)

Thanks Mags!

"Mom, I know you are great. Love, Magnolia"

It's the little things that remind me how truly lucky I am to be her mother. Like when she dashed off to write this little note and then with a huge smile slipped it into my hand. Then with a quiet little whisper..."I sounded out all the words all by myself Mommy!" 

Oh Miss Magnolia...

I know you are great too!

Love,

Mama

Kindergarten Has Come!

Nothing says "GREAT DAY" like a big, huge smile. Which is exactly what we saw on Maggie's face when we picked her up!

If any of you are interested in learning more about expeditionary learning you can take a peek HERE.

Check out the Palouse Prairie page HERE.

Magnolia is 5!

Dear Magnolia,
You are finally five years old...you have been wishing and hoping for that magical age since you were two. And now of course you have shared with us that you will soon be twenty! Mama gasped at that!
You are changing so much as you approach more and more of what I see as the "real world." This is your world outside of your life right here in your home and with your family.
You are becoming more and more brave every, single, day. Although I still worry about you, way more than I probably should, you are becoming so capable and independent. Just this last month you have started asking me if you can do some very "big" things all on your own. You are going up to store clerks when you need something at the store, you go to use the restroom (at the co-op) all on your own, you even go across the street to retrieve the mail and bring it home, and you don't hesitate to take off with a familiar adult. I don't regret at all moving to Moscow where our community is like extended family helping you become that person you are meant to be.
Even at home you are spending more and more time doing things on your own. Hours each week are spent at your desk drawing and creating so many different things. You have stayed up very late at night in your bed my dear looking at (and even reading some simple words) your treasured books. Mama sneaks in late to give what I believe to be my blissfully dozing little girl a kiss, only to find a bright-eyed girl covered in a pile of books.
Every day you dream big...you are always planning something. You have a handful of friends that you love and think of so much. I can't help but think that whoever is lucky enough to befriend you, will have a friend for life...that's just how you are.

I adore you daughter....I love you so much...in that very special mama/daughter way. I am so proud of you, and can't wait to watch you continue to become the extraordinary little person you are meant to be.

Loves Goose.

Mama

Making Nutcracker Dreams Come True...

Clara, Sugar Plum Fairies, Mouse Kings..in July! Oh MY!

Today we celebrated my very favorite "Clara" with a nutcracker ballet all her own.

And, in just a couple days she'll be 5!

Happy Birthday Goose!

Here's a glimpse of our very summery nutcracker party...

Enjoy!