Has spring come to the Vail Valley? The daffodils are peaking through the soil on the left side of the walkway leading to the house while Logan's pile of snow is on the right side of the walkway. Today was beautifully sunny and warm! We stayed outside until the sun dipped behind the mountain at 6:30.
A few Sundays ago, we went to Glennwood Springs in search of some furniture. We visited a large furniture store. Probably overwhelmed, we left there having accomplished nothing. Last Saturday Nathan met us at another furniture store in Eagle. After nearly 3 hours we had chosen a sofa and a loveseat. We also chose the fabrics. We then took the dimensions of the furniture and fabrics to the house to be sure it worked. Using Hot Wheel tracks, we realized that though the furniture fit, the traffic pattern was tighter than we wanted. We then completely altered our plan to include a sofa and swivel chair then two additional chairs. Nathan and I did a nice job finding coordinating fabric for each piece. The sofa is a red chenile with a plaid chenile for the pillows. The swivel chair is a graphic pattern of leaves. The club chairs are in a striped chenile. We too managed to coordinate all the fabrics with the curtains that came with the house-quite a feat when we chose more transitional furniture and fabrics while the curtains are VERY traditional with butterflies and flowers. Hopefully the curtains will fade into the background a bit. Maybe a year from now, we'll replace the 10-109" panels of curtains. The nicest part of this experience was that Nathan and I had an easy time agreeing! The challenge was making decisions as Logan was climbing on everything, interrupting our conversations and breaking our concentration. Grandparents, have no fear, after only a few minutes we told Logan to take his shoes off so that he didn't destroy the merchandise! The furniture will arrive in about 6 weeks.
In the meantime, Logan and I continue to move boxes on Saturdays. Nathan has also begun to pack up his two rooms. I may begin moving boxes on Sundays too. The Pat Circle house is a complete disaster now. Things laying on floors in every room. All in good time, right?
On Thursday, Nathan, Logan and I visited Brush Creek Elementary for kindergarten round up. We toured two kindergarten rooms and visited the school's commercial sized greenhouse. Logan was very interested in the greenhouse and the composting barrels. The greenhouse is part of the school's efforts to be "green". The food grown by the children is served during lunch. The children also grow plants that are then sold in the spring as a fundraiser. The school has their own recycling program as well. Recently Logan has expressed interest in his new school. Mom is feeling a bit more at ease too.
On Monday, Logan will spend 1 1/2 hours with a small group of his peers being assessed. I hope that the teacher asks Logan how to solve mathematic problems because he can add and subtract given manipulatives-we use Legos and markers. He too uses the calculator to verify his answer:) I've also introduced the number line as a way compare numbers (less and more). He can also identify every letter of the alphabet and at least half their sounds. He routinely reads environmental print and I find myself often asking, "How do you know that?" Logan's handwriting has improved in recent months despite his distaste for coloring, drawing and painting. Nathan and I believe that Logan's strengths include his imagination and his memory.
