Critter Chronicles
Brenna
End Of Season Gymnastics Show
The facility where Brenna and Anthony take their gymnastics and karate lessons is currently in the middle of its Show Week; Brenna’s class had theirs last night, and I was able to get it all on video. I apologize in advance for the very poor lighting during her uneven bar routine. It was because of … Continue reading
Brenna
As someone who has been blogging fairly steadily for nearly five years, I’ve also been been reading blogs for as long. I read, and have read, more parenting blogs than I can remember. I’ve determined there are several schools of thought when it comes to talking about one’s children online: 1. Tell all, show all, … Continue reading
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Remember last fall when I kinda flipped out about Brenna’s 82 on her report card in the “Shows Respect” category? Well, the ice cream cone shown above is our way of celebrating the fact that not only did she turn that around, but yesterday she was awarded a certificate in front of her school for … Continue reading
Meet Maria Tomasso
The second grade at Brenna’s school is learning about immigration at the turn of the 20th century. As a culmination of the unit all children were assigned identities; Brenna’s was Maria Tomasso, a sixteen-year-old seamstress from Italy who’d been hired to work for a company in Massachusetts. Though Maria speaks no English she can read … Continue reading
Critter Conversation #57: The Pastries
From a Facebook post on February 5th (Superbowl Sunday): Brenna just asked what “The Pastries’” mascot is. Me: “Doughnuts? Danish?” Tony: “That would really change the ratio of male:female fans.”
Smiling, Despite An Inclination To Rant
I spent about an hour earlier composing a post about all the things that are going wrong in my life right now, but as it turns out a cat having litterbox confusion issues, and a car with a slightly louder exhaust system, and a return of what will (and should) be a regularly scheduled event … Continue reading
Brenna Bits: On Sickness and On Hair
She’s been sick for a week now, my Brenna. She awoke early last Thursday morning nauseous and vomiting, so I kept her home from school that day. And then again on Friday. And yesterday, Wednesday. If she hadn’t had Monday off for Presidents Day, and Tuesday for a teacher workday, and today for a snow … Continue reading
Second Grade Performance
I love Brenna’s school. In addition to providing what I consider to be a high quality academic education, they stress citizenship and character in their students, as well as promoting the equality of all. In honor of Black History Month the second grade had been preparing an evening concert in tribute of six lesser-known but … Continue reading
Karate Kid, Part 3
Back when we lived in Okinawa, Brenna began taking karate lessons the summer before beginning kindergarten. She practiced the martial art for nine months, testing first for her yellow belt and later for a second stripe on that belt. (I’ll wait while you read those posts and look at the pictures and weep with me … Continue reading
Video: Gymnastics – An 18 Month Update
The Critters’ gym is having their midway showcase for the season this week; Brenna’s was last night. She’s been taking gymnastics at this non-competitive facility for eighteen months now. When she started her classes at the beginner’s level she could do a partial cartwheel and a forward roll. And now, a year and a half … Continue reading
