Yesterday the family celebrated our beloved pup’s 1st birthday.  We gave her a giant bone at lunch and after dinner we all enjoyed some Wendy’s Jr Frosties…. seemed fitting.  We even presented her with a new squeak toy.

  

I have never been a dog person, though I have appreciated the canine members of our house.  There is something about watching a pup patiently accept the rough love of a toddler that warms a Momma’s heart. 

Wendy has snuggled her way into my heart in a way I never expected though.  I don’t love her simply b/c she is good to my kids.  Though she is.

I just love her.

She’s become my shadow.  Quite literally.  Where ever I go, she goes.  Down to the basement to switch a load of laundry she’s there…. Back to the kitchen to prep dinner, she’s laying on my feet while I am using the mixer.  Teaching school, she’s snuggled under the table sleeping.  She even scratches at the door to the bathroom if I forget to let her in with me.  She sits beside the tub, every day when I take my shower.  Reading a book on the couch or watching a movie in the basement, she’s by side. And she sleeps on our bed every night.  And while she has developed a few rather annoying habits (like barking every time a noise startles her, viciously attacking the vacuum every time I use it, and peeing whenever Scott greets her when he comes in the door…) even with all of those less admirable qualities… I realize I love her.  I truly love her.  I can’t imagine going through the day without her by my side.    Though it’s safe to say I don’t really like dogs in general, I genuinely adore and love Wendy.  I am grateful to have her as part of our family.

Happy Birthday Wendy!  Here’s to many more years with you as my shadow.

This week I took my girls on a field trip with their classmates from our tutorial.  We visited a Science Center run by the local school system.   The kids learned how to observe the world around them and record those observations.  They studied bugs and wild life found in our area as well as learned about camouflage and even played a game to reinforce the concept.

They got to use almost all of their senses.  It was such a nice treat for them to skip book work for a day.

But, truthfully, my most favorite part happened today. 

Today I sent them all outside for recess.    And the girls decided they were going to be scientists.  They backed their bags with clipboards and paper, got some binoculars and hopped on their bikes to observe the world around them.

When they came in for lunch, I asked them what they founds.  “3 birds, a squirrel, and 2 earthworm habitats.”

I loved watching them practice in play what they did on their field trip the other day.  I loved that they found science so entertaining they would choose to spend their playtime engaging in it.  And I love that they are scientists.  Check out what they wrote on the driveway in sidewalk chalk.