My Birthday Presents

For my birthday I like to get some people presents, but since it's my birthday I get them something that I want them to have, which is not necessarily what they would want. This year we all got lucky.

Here's what I got them:

At Lake Mohawk

We visited some good friends at Lake Mohawk. We had a great time on their boat, swimming on the lake, and hanging out at their beach.

More pictures below:

Sibling Closeness - Too Close, Or Spaced Just Right?

When I read Danielle Leshaw's essay in The New York Times Motherlode blog about her children attending overnight summer camp for the first time, and her response to the backlash I was really touched as I thought her story could so easily be confused with my own. I've often pondered the joys and fears of having siblings so close.

Letter To The New York State Education Department

Following the last School Board meeting of the year, with no word on how the board is planning on moving forward with the allegations of "testing irregularities" and two of our teachers left in limbo for the remainder of the summer with little hope of being able to return in September, some parents decided to write to the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department. Since the board is unlikely to make any changes or announcements until after the new school year starts, we're hoping that the state will investigate and set things right. (Please sign the petition.)

Here's the letter I wrote:

My Special Weekend

I had a great, long Independence Day/Birthday weekend. Besides the usual swimming, kayaking, playing, and "hammocking" my family made it all very special. My kids replaced my old work out beach chair with this awesome new one that reclines and has special holders for all kinds of goodies. Aviva made me my favorite birthday pie. It was delicious. And Babcia cut fruit for us as usual.

For my birthday tradition of giving people gifts that I want them to have I got everyone these customized wash cloths from Kid Kovers. Emily was very friendly and worked hard to get them to us in time for my birthday.

More pictures and video below:

Summer Learning Schedule

As the sign says, even though "school stops for summer, learning never should." And while there is all different kinds of learning, the kind that kids seems to slack off on during the summer is the academic kind. Apparently this is called the summer slide.

That's why its important to make a plan to keep kids practicing their academic skills throughout the summer. The worst case scenario is that they'll  be a little bored for the first few weeks while the class is reviewing what they learned last spring. If you're lucky, like we've been, their teacher will recognize where they are and let them move ahead at their own pace.