Small Milestones

The other day I asked a friend how old her son was. She gave me a typical response, 19 months. I think marking age by months is something that kind of drops off by about age 2, right? I've never heard a mom say her kid was 37 months old or anything like that. I'm sure I'll me a month counter when I'm a mom too. Actually, I think I already am.
I'm finding that it's not all that different for this first year of marriage. As of today, we've been married for four months. Every time the 17th of every month rolls around, we take note and celebrate just a little. I'm pleased to report that after four months, we have a few pictures on our walls (finally!), we're surviving accounting's busy season just fine, and that whole 'wedded bliss' thing is pretty much true for us. I promise not to write a blog entry celebrating our 16th or 23rd month of marriage when it rolls around though.
These four months have been a good time. We've made some great memories already, established some of our own traditions, and it's exciting to see what's up ahead. One of our most favorite discoveries was during a stay in San Francisco a few weeks ago. Ghiardelli makes dark chocolate fudge sauce. Deeeelicious!

A good reminder

I promise not to turn the Boyce blog into Mrs. Boyce, the teacher's blog, but I had a great moment with my kids today. Actually, I think I have great moments more than I realize. I just forget them in my fog of tiredness by the end of the day.
We were beginning to read a new story together today, and I said that this story was one of my favorites. One of my kids said, "You always say that." It's true, I do, but I have my reasons: #1 Most of my kids are so enamored by their young, fun teacher that pretty much they like whatever I do. If it's my favorite story, heck, maybe they'll want to read it too. #2, I explained that I love illustrated stories so much because the pictures are so different from book to book and, the bottom line is that I'm just jealous and a bit bummed that I didn't get into the drawing and painting line when talents were being passed out before I came to Earth. I guess I didn't say it quite like that, but it was pretty close.
One of my sweet little girls, in her Armenian accent raised her hand and said, "But you have something they don't have. You have a great husband and a great class."
Where did that come from? Thanks to a simple comment by an eight year old, I was reminded that I really am blessed in more ways that I can begin to count, even though I'm a lousy artist. (Does good handwriting count as art?) I do have a great husband and this is the best class I've ever taught. They are a joy every day (well, almost!). I think I also was reminded that I talk about Mr. Boyce more than I realize! :-)

It's SO easy it's a piece of...

...brownies! Yes, that's what my third graders decided today. When I have to teach a really hard concept to them I try to convince them (Nate says I'm brainwashing, but whatever works!) any way I can that it's really not so bad. Today's lesson: teaching multi-digit multiplication. Whether or not third graders should actually be learning that is a subject for an entirely different entry. So as I was reviewing the steps for the gazillionth time I said, "See, it's a piece of cake." But, one of my brightest darlings piped up from the back of the room and said, "Mrs. Boyce, it's NOT a piece of cake, it's a piece of brownie. Brownies are WAY easier to make than cake and this is cinchy." (On a side note, I've taken to using the word 'cinchy' on occasion with my kids. Guess where I got that one from...my accountant husband.) Anyway, before long our discussion turned from multiplying numbers to rating what we're learning on a dessert scale. Given my sweet-tooth tendencies and love for baking, we just kept talking.
Cookies were brought into the discussion, and although easy to eat, we came to the conclusion that they take the longest to make with the whole in the oven, out of the oven, new tray back in the oven routine. We kept it to three items, because throwing cupcakes and pies into the mix just made it too complicated. In the end, our math lesson ran way too long, but we covered what we needed to and had a pretty good time. Who doesn't love to talk about baking?
So, if you're ever trying to figure how just how difficult of a situation you're in, use the rating scale from room 9. From easiest to hardest: piece of brownie, cake and, the most difficult of all, cookies. Little do they know they're in for a monster of a cookie lesson in math on Thursday. Maybe I'll tell them it's a piece of cake instead.