Crestwood Oaks Academy: LittleBear's First Day of Preschool

Of course I fully intended to start the last week in August when the rest of schools started in Texas, but I just didn't have myself organized enough to start then. As far as school goes for LittleBear, we're not committing him to homeschool through high school yet, but we did feel like it was best to start out with him at home (more on that in another post).

I'll do a wrap-up post at the end of each week reviewing what we did that week and how it went, but since today was LittleBear's first day of "formal learning," I thought it deserved a post of its own :)

Today went great! He liked or at least attempted all of the activities I had planned, which in my book is a success!

Remembering 9-11

Recently, LittleBear has become really interested in the bells at the top of Pat Neff, Baylor's most recognizable and prominent building on campus. We have watched YouTube videos of the bells playing and heard them chime the hours on occasion. But when I heard there was to be a Carillon concert today in remembrance of September 11th using the bells in Pat Neff, I knew we had to go (despite the fact that it started smack in the middle of LittleBear's naptime- hey, sometimes we need to make exceptions).

Lynnette Geary, a Carillonneur, played a wonderful tribute lasting 45 minutes that all three of us enjoyed. When we got back to the car, LittleBear turned around and gave Pat Neff an unsolicted "thumbs up" meaning he very much enjoyed the concert.

Sitting on a blanket on the lawn, watching the wind blow through the trees and hearing the somber tones of the bells really was a wonderful way to remember those who gave their lives ten years ago. It certainly doesn't feel like it has been ten years. As survivor Ron DiFrancesco said, "Time does heal a bit, but it doesn't make you forget what happened. And I think, for our generation, it's our marking point in history. It changed the world that day."

Here's a video of Amazing Grace from the concert:

The Astros and Sesame Street -- Like Father, Like Son

One of my (Jeff's) favorite photos from when I was a kid is of me wearing an Astros shirt (rainbow gut, of course) and sitting on my Big Bird chair (I've always been a big Sesame Street fan). Keep in mind, this was before we even lived in Houston -- either my aunt or grandparents had given me the shirt.

I realized recently that I was two years and two months old when that photo was taken -- exactly the same age as LittleBear is now. It just so happens that we still have both the shirt and the chair, so we decided to try and re-create the photo. What do you think?

 

 Here's another cute one of LittleBear from the same set.

 

Too cute!

Family Garden: Tough Summer

Garden This Week

This has been one tough summer for gardens everywhere, but big time here in Central Texas. I can count on one hand the number of times it has rained and the longest of those was a light rain for about 15 minutes. So, I haven't posted lately because there really wasn't much to say other than I've just been trying to keep my plants alive in the hopes they will start producing more in the fall. I doubt the broccoli plants will and I really should rip them out, but they are still growing and I just can't bring myself to do it.

We did get a harvest this week!!! How fun! We got two handfuls of basil, two more honeydew melons, a handful of tiny onions and 1 cherry tomato. There are quite a few more cherry tomatoes on the plant, which I am very excited about. The weather looks like it might be cooling off a bit (as in under 100 degrees), so hopefully we'll get a lot more cherry tomatoes and maybe some peppers too!

The honeydew and cantaloupe vines both have lots of flowers on them, so we're also hoping for more melons. So, it's been a good week garden-wise! LittleBear has enjoyed looking for ladybugs each morning when we go out to water the garden. It seems they are always clustered in a rolled up pepper plant leaf (looking like they are asleep). He asks me to put one on his hand and let it crawl around for a few minutes. Then he is done. It's very cute...

Anyway, here is what the garden looks like right now:

Box #1:
Box #2:
Box #3:
I have learned some valuable lessons for next spring. For one, I'd like to do a bit more landscaping around the garden boxes to ensure grass and weeds don't grow up into the boxes (something like gravel paths in between). I probably won't grow as many carrots or onions again because I only get one veggie per plant (best case scenario). Still, it's been really fun and I'm looking forward to my new and improved spring garden. It's definitely been a fun learning experience!!!!!!!!

Cherry Tomato Blossoms!
Cherry Tomatoes!
Honeydew flowers:
Cantaloupe flowers:
Purple Sprouting Broccoli plant next to LittleBear: