a day with ben

Benjamin's class had their Fall field trip today. I've tried to make it to each of the kids' field trips this Fall and so far I'm 2 for 3... thanks to my mother in law who is available for Katie's. After that I'll be 3 for 3 and feeling like mother of the year.

In all seriousness, its been an intentional thing - not just a guilt thing. I've wanted to watch as these kiddos deal with the transition of our move to Tacoma... and keeping a close eye on friends, behavior, tendencies, etc. has helped in my analysis of how they're doing. Talking to them just isn't enough. They aren't quite sure when you ask them how they're doing... but then you watch them and it screams of success and even growth!

They seem to be doing great.

eating an apple and picking raspberries

digging for rainbow carrots.

the boys of ben's preK class hanging with the goats

Ben befriended the worker's son, Gabrielle.

our trip to Wright Park for lunch following the field trip...

Soccer

Soccer started today...

sammy bear

This is the second round of Benjamin bringing home Sammy bear from PreK... another part of me 'smelling the flowers' is retrieving my camera from its case, dusting it off and adjusting my settings with each frame. 

Enjoy!

Sunday evening I will stop and sit down with Benjamin.  We will have printed off these pictures and be pasting them in his journal for school... he will run down the list of adventures he's had with Sammy bear over the recent 4 days and I will transcribe them.  He will feel as though I've stopped the world in order to spend time with only him - caring about what he cares about.

This idea of slowing down seems so simple -- but it really is quite complex for me. 

Here's to slowing down!