Critter Chronicles
Brenna
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
Tuesday Tidbits, Facebook Edition: 13 December
Tuesday Tidbits are the posts where I sum up all the little things that happen in our lives from one week to the next; the little things that aren’t interesting enough for me to write an entire post about (though you all know I can spin a boring tale out of pretty much near anything), … Continue reading
Brenna’s Bunco Birthday Party
Last month – or maybe even as early as September – I asked Brenna what she’d like to do for a birthday party this year. Originally she wanted to have a sleepover, but I’ll be honest – the thought of eight or nine little girls staying up until all hours of the night in our … Continue reading
When The Tooth Fairy Forgets
Brenna had five of her baby teeth pulled last week. FIVE. If you’re one of the privileged who’s friends with me on Facebook you already know this because I talked about it incessantly. (Fortunately for them, I didn’t share any pictures. I know when to STFU on Facebook, if not here. Mostly.) But for those … Continue reading
The First Report Card
Brenna came home from school in mid-September with a semi-quarterly progress report. Academically she was completely on track, but in the comments regarding aspects of her behavior she was lagging behind, with scores (questionably quantifiable, but numerical regardless) in the low 80s. The lowest score? An 82 in the category of “Shows Respect”. I flipped … Continue reading
After The Snow Came The Leaving Of The House
My mom flew home this morning, or – to be more accurate – she’s in an airplane somewhere over the middle of the continental United States as I type this. Last week was busy, and in a good way, but as you already know I’m a homebody and not a fan of being on the … Continue reading
Lion(fish) and Tigers and Mermaids, Oh My!
After yesterday’s snow, today’s weather was very different – sunny and NOT snowing – but still cool, so my mom treated us to a day at the Denver aquarium. There are the animals you expect to see: Some things were a little… odd: And then there’s just the plain out-of-the-ordinary: Which made this little girl … Continue reading
