Kindergarten

Vegetable Garden

We planted a small veggie garden in the back yard. We have tons of space back there, but I've only had the energy/imagination to plant a small corner of it.

Yet we are already getting a bounty!

The first harvest was a pile of fava beans and a couple handfuls of sugar snap peas:

The next day a few zucchini were ready.  Erin got to pick the first one:

Which she then eagerly sliced up.  I cooked it up in some oil and a dash of salt.

You know how they're always saying to encourage kids to try new foods by letting them be a part of it?  Well, Erin planted, watered, harvested, and chopped (with a grown-up knife).  Did she take a taste?  Absolutely not.  Good thing we have all summer.

Robin wanted to show off the one she harvested:

Still coming along: lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, garlic.  I think it's time to plant some more too!

LBK

Did we mention we got a new cat?

She's very sweet.  She was found at about 2 weeks old, and was fostered by one of Robin's classmates.  

Here she is snuggling with Brian, for scale.  She's about 9 or 10 weeks old. She's energetic, cuddly, fuzzy, curious, and a total ham.  

Big Painting with Big Paints

Materials: 

5 - colors of tempra paint

2 - 2 1/2" brushes

1 - enormous sheet of brown paper 

2 - very eager girls

Directions: 

1. Spread paper out on concrete

2. Dribble lots of paint on paper

3. Let girls paint. 

4. Stand back and be amazed. 

5. Repeat 2-4.

Good Dental Hygiene

Today E had one of two fillings done for cavities*.

Erin was a total champ.  I was a total wreck. I couldn't take pictures of the procedure, due to privacy concerns, but let me tell you friends she was amazing.  She had a large orange-colored nose piece through which she received happy vapors.  She was shown all the instruments, was told a description of each and given a brief demonstration.  The assistant held her hand throughout the entire procedure.  She came out of it looking forward to the next filling.

She couldn't eat for about 2 hours afterwards, and it was nearing lunch time.  So I got her a milk shake. A big one.  She finished about half. 

The tooth had been bothering her for awhile, so I am very glad it was fixed.  And I asked, only half joking, if they would accept adult patients.  No dice, it's pediatric only. Bummer. All dentists should be this patient-centric**.





*Yes, we brush.  No, apparently not as well as we should.  And we have been kind of slack in the floss department.  These are all things that have changed. 
** I'm sure most of them are, I've just had some bad luck.