This Classical Life

Today was the last day of Kate’s first semester of Kindergarten. She’s enjoyed it so much: her teacher, science labs, Spanish class, singing with her class and in music, everything. Well, not nap time! Her enthusiasm is really encouraging to me, but I am also excited to watch her progress every week with reading, writing and math.

She told us a few weeks ago that she is changing her name to Katie. When I asked her why, she told me she just wanted a name with two syllables. In spite of the fact that she now writes it on every piece of paper she comes in contact with, I am still holding out hope she’ll revert back to Kate! She’s really making connections from what they cover at school to the rest of life. I know in addition to basic phonics, they have been talking about narrators and voice, illustrations and how they tell a story, and other elements of literary analysis. But it still tickles me when we are listening to a Book on CD and she asks, “I know Molly is the main character, but is she the narrator, too?” I asked what she thought and she said, “No, she’s not the narrator, just the main character.”

Her main aspiration is still to be a “hospital doctor.” She is a loyal and faithful friend, a truly caring and kind child, so I can see her working in a field that requires compassion. When she’s at home, she spends a lot of time drawing, capturing our world and even expressing her emotions. I’m glad she’s found an outlet at such a young age and I hope we are able to nurture and encourage it as she grows.

Even though he wasn’t being completely honest, Dumbledore told Harry in the Philosopher’s Stone that when he looked into the mirror of Erised (which shows one’s greatest desire), “I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks… One can never have enough socks. Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a pair. People will insist on giving me books.”

I got a package full of wool socks this week, thin ones and thick ones, and they make me ridiculously happy while they keep my feet warm on our carpet-less hardwoods and tile. Part of the reason they make me so giddy is because someone I love sent them to me, and wearing them reminds me that I am loved. Friendship is such a beautiful thing.

On the cusp of turning four, Lexi is such a delight. Today I went to hang out with a friend with an infant, and she “babysat” while we talked, going through books and telling baby Hannah all about them. She was so sweet and yet expressive and hilarious all at once. It seemed to perfectly capture her spunky yet gentle personality.

Yesterday we were driving and Lexi asked, “Do you know what I want to be when I grow up?” “What do you want to be, Lexi?” “Fashionable.” Last week, she wanted to be “an ice cream girl.” I tried to explain that she could be an ice cream girl, and then get another job later, but she insisted that was the only career she wanted. Ice cream girl, and mom. She anticipates having 11 children, six girls and five boys.

Her joys: dressing fashionably, ballet class, playing INSIDE, strawberry shortcake on DVD, chocolate, cuddling, balloons, headbands, princesses, the color pink and starbucks.

When the weather clears, she is due for a photo shoot. I can’t wait to see what she picks out to wear!