helloo!!??

I can't believe it has been over a year since I've posted. So much has happened and I really miss having things documented here. I love reading back over the blog and remembering things that I have completely forgotten.

The plan is to really use this blog as a journal. So if anyone other than me reads it, I am sorry if it bores you to tears.

My two year old and seven year old. Time is flying.

Ainsleigh has started second grade. She turned 7 in July and this year is completely different than last year. I don't know if it is the teacher or the fact that her bff, Abby, is in a different class for the first time. We shed tears over that but I think it has encouraged Ainsleigh to get to know some other kids better. The first day was hard. I watched her walk into class a little awkwardly and unsure of herself. She moved past it quickly and so far it has been awesome. She actually loves to go to school. We have had lots of nights with school friends over...a blessing and a curse but you'll have that I suppose. She is a great at math and a really good reader. She tested at a 4th grade level at the beginning of this year.

I would love to homeschool her and move at her pace. We found some really great resources and groups that we could join locally. I've studied up on how we could use her art as part of her studies since she seems to love to learn that way. I was so excited but it just didn't happen this year. She is flourishing in school and obviously I'm proud of her and happy she's happy.

Some serious freckles have popped out this summer. I love them!

Paige and I get a little bored without her at home. I think I might lose my mind if I watch another barbie movie. We are working on potty training and Paige is once again taking really awesome naps that I missed with Ainsleigh home over the summer. One day she told me, "Mommy, Ainlee's my best friend. I reeeeeally love her!" I told that was nice and I loved her and she said, "No, I love Ainlee." We ride Ainsleigh to school on our bikes every morning though, so goodbyes aren't too bad.

Paige and her waffle and Ainsleigh with her girlified boy's bike

Summer break flew by. We read lots of books, starting out with sucky fairy and mermaid books that looked popular at the bookstore. Then we went back to the Little House books and read Little House on the Prairie and Farmer Boy. We had read Little House in the Big Woods at least two times and it is still Ainsleigh's favorite, by far. There were a few Series of Unfortunate Events books thrown in, plus The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. We got the movies for those and talked about how books are usually better than movies. Then we read my personal junior high favorite, A Wrinkle in Time. I can't believe how much she loved it! I was so proud.

Now we are reading On the Banks of Plum Creek. I just love these books. We learn so much from them. She loves to hear how they made different things but I was really interested in how Little House on the Prairie did such good job of respectfully teaching about the conflict between the settlers and the Native Americans. Better than any textbook could. Seeing it through a child's eyes with Laura as at the narrator is so honest and straightforward.

Paige is talking a lot now. We are cracking up because she answers so many things with "Yes" except she says it more like "Yeths!" There is a lot of spit involved with her S's but she's getting much better. She loves to dance and performs for us at least once a day. She reminds me so much of her Aunt Carly. I could totally see her performing for the nursery at church and singing Madonna's "Papa don't preach." Carly, that was awesome. Mom was so proud. Anyway...

My sister, Meghan is back visiting with her family and we spent last Saturday with them. Ainsleigh and Eden are the same age and they look so grown up playing together. They have been skyping and talking on the phone a lot. I think sometimes, between Grandma and Eden, Ainsleigh talks on the phone more than I do!

Paige and I are planning to do some drawing and sewing to round out our day. Hopefully Barbie can stay put away for one day. Gah! I hope so.

it really is the very best part

Summer is here! Finally! We have been busy doing things like this:

And planting a beautiful garden that used to look like this:

But now looks like:

Well...let's just say it looks like the above picture but with 4 ft tall crabgrass growing everywhere. I am slowly pulling it all out. Piece by piece. We are getting there. We've already harvested radishes twice, yellow onions, red onions and a few potatoes.

We have been watching a mama robin who has built a nest on top of the light by our front door, despite repeated attempts by Daddy to knock it down, she finally successfully laid eggs in it. Our hearts leaped to see her fly to the nest right before our eyes, and watch 3 tiny beaks pop up and chirp for their food. Well, yesterday my friend knocked on my door. She had come across that same nest, laying on my porch, with the birdies displaced. One clearly in distress. I cried. We still don't know how it happened. The birdies were still alive and chirping for their mama. My Dad came over that evening and heroically put the nest back and scooped up the birdies (wearing gloves, mind you) and put them back. We prayed on several occasions last night that the mama returns to feed her babies. I think I am most upset out of all of us.

Today we woke up slowly. The sun was beautiful shining in my window, through my newly hung curtains and the girls one by one joined me in bed and we played and laughed. When Ainsleigh tried to cuddle with me, Paige got mad and yelled, "Mine!" I am hers and she is mine as well. I have to remind her that I am Ainsleigh's too!! We came out to the kitchen and made homemade playdough, first thing, and are working on homemade tortillas so we can have quesadillas for lunch.

These girls of mine are lovely. Loverly...

I am so lucky that I get to spend every day with them. Later today we are going to ride our bikes to the playground and then work in the garden. Who gets days like these? See! See how lucky I am!!

But then reality hits and there's that darn money thing. Seems so ridiculous, but its there. I am searching for a job. I don't want to do it. Makes me feel a bit like that nest turned upside down on my porch. Like that is what will happen to my nest. Sorry for the cheesy metaphor, but I couldn't help it. I am afraid that I will miss moments like this...

What's that verse? The one that says something like, "His eye is on the sparrow..."

Keeping that in mind as we transition the mama from the home to the workplace. And back.

Ainsleigh has some news!

I love my Ainsleigh. She is a very smart, outgoing, ambitious little girl. She has had some big things happen in her life, some that were wonderful, and some that were very difficult, and some that were a little of both. Tim and I have struggled lately, trying to decide what is best for her. I have been homeschooling and it has been wonderful and easy. Her idea of fun has always been reading, drawing, and learning so it isn't hard to get her interested in actual schoolwork. She is already reading basic words, and can tell you all about silent "e" and how it can change the sound of a word.

But things have been hard at home. We've got a few stressful situations going on and a baby sister that takes up a lot of my time and I have felt distracted. I have prayed about what to do and for the wisdom to know what is best. Not what I think is best, or what other people tell me is best, but what will be most beneficial for Ainsleigh.

Today we woke up just like any other day. I decided to take the girls for a walk. I mentioned to Ainsleigh that maybe we would visit the school and arrange for a visit maybe next week. As we walked, I prayed that God would give me wisdom and discernment so that I would know if it would be a good place for Ainsleigh to grow and learn. We walked in to find a very laid back environment. We were able to go out for recess and meet lots of kids. We stayed for reading time and library time, PE, and milk time. Paige was a big hit! Then I left, and let Ainsleigh finish out the day. The kids were very friendly and welcomed her so immediately! So tomorrow she will go again!

I'm still not sure if this is the right thing or not but it isn't in cement. We can always homeschool again. I have loved our time learning together, and I realized that this doesn't mean that it ends. But maybe this will give Ainsleigh time away from the stress at home and she will grow, make friends, and encourage her classmates.

I mentioned to the teacher that I would be willing to come in and help anytime if she needed me. She seemed open to that. Or maybe she thinks I'm sort of a hovering parent. Hmm...

Well, I like to think of it as "involved." And I plan to be just that. Actually, very involved. Hello Alwood Elementary!

baby steps

Poor Ainsleigh. I do take movies of her too. She actually just wants to be the one behind the camera these days. Paige has been neglecting crawling in favor of her new favorite thing to do; walking behind Ainsleigh's old mail cart toy. She is doing so well. She gets mad and grunts when she gets stuck and needs help turning around, but giggles when she sees us watching her and clapping for her. We've all agreed that she is the goofiest Boniger child yet. Ainsleigh has the title for cleverly funny (even if she doesn't mean to be) but Paige is goofy. The two of them together though, now that makes me really smile.

Paige's current vocabulary

da = daddy

ma or mum mum = mommy

ahh ma = Ainsleigh (first thing in the morning she lunges for Ainsleigh to wake her up yelling this. At night she yells it at her in the dark, like she's trying to keep her awake.)

ba = Bye! This is often accompanied by a wave which she stares at, astonished that she can make her hand bend like that. (she also yells "Ba!" when she sees a phone or when I hang up after a conversation)

haaaa = hi, also accompanied by a wave

nom nom = "Give me that food right now, mom!" Gets louder the longer she has to wait.

almost forgot...

AH! AH! = When reaching for something she can't seem to get by herself.

hot air balloon launch

Dear Ainsleigh,

Five years ago today...

I had no idea what it would be like

to cuddle you close

or be cuddled by you.

To hold your little hand in mine

and watch it grow.

To see you take your first steps

and hear your little voice

change from that of a 2 year old

to that of a quite eloquent little 5 year old.

I could not imagine

the attention span you would have.

That you could listen

all day

to the same book

but already have it memorized

after the first reading.

I didn't know that you

would be a fabulous little artist

that you would be happy

spending your days

with nothing but a notepad and a pencil.

Or that you would sit by my side

day in and day out

as we took care of a little baby

not meant for this Earth.

And that you would comprehend that.

And love her with all of your heart. Still.

When you were just two.

But then, when you were four,

you would welcome

another baby sister

who you would love with all of your heart

and want to name smileyface

or orange minge.

And who you would make giggle.

Like no one else could.

How could I know

that you would love to dance,

to sing, to pet every dog you see?

Or that you would need

to sit by my side

every morning

and drink your milk

before your day could really start.

And you would have

computer skills unmatched

by anyone your age.

You would make your

Daddy so proud.

And that you would
love to cook.

To go to starbucks

and color with mommy.

That you would be so happy

in those little moments.

I didn't know

that I could look

at anyone

and love them

so

much.

With my whole heart.

You are a very cool

fascinating

smart

beautiful

confident

brown-eyed girl.

Five years ago I had no idea

what I had been missing all those years before.

Happy 5th Birthday my daughter!