Maia didn't teach dance this morning, but instead got up early, ate a hearty breakfast (vegetarian...yes, she's still going strong)...
and hobbled off to take the SAT for the first time.
She and Job had spent some time working on test taking tips the night before, since he's pretty fresh from that experience, and she'd also done several rounds of practice tests with Craig throughout the week. When Craig picked her up later, she said she felt really good about the experience...so, we'll now just have to wait and see...agonizing.
Josiah went to his morning music lessons and Johngideon headed off to his awesome art class. (Look at the photos Craig took of what he did today - I'm not sure how the little man gets in and out - I'll have to ask JG for an explanation.)
I ran Gommy over to her "dancie-girl class" then hustled back to make Josiah's spring trombone recital at the Baltimore School for the Arts.
He did great, but I must admit I am usually holding my breath until he's finished, because although this child is musically gifted, he does not particularly care for the whole practice bit. So even though I'd heard him practicing for this recital lately, I wasn't sure it was enough...but it was...his sound was so smooth and mellow...just beautiful to listen to.
Both his BSA TWIGS trombone instructor, Milton Aldana, and his school band teacher, Danni Schmitt, were present, and it was great to get a shot of Josie with both of these wonderful music educators who have taught him so much.
Right after the recital, I ran back to grab Gommy from dance class, where she was in great spirits, while Craig picked up Maia from the SAT site, and then took Josie to his lacrosse practice.
I spent some relaxing time on the couch (with the sun streaming in on me through the deck doors...I absolutely love the greenhouse effect!) with Maia, watching the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables (which was wonderful). Maia is still on crutches (this is like week nine), but we think we see light at the end of the tunnel, with a new foot and ankle specialist, who has prescribed additional Calcium, Vitamin D and chamomile...and, an interesting little device we'd never heard of called a bone stimulator, which is proven to help broken bones heal up to 68 days quicker.
So Maia pleasantly pulls it out twice a day and spends the 20 minutes necessary to stimulate her bones to draw more of the necessary healing internals to her foot area to help along the bone building and mending. She has been a real trouper throughout this ordeal, and somehow manages to keep her spirits up even as her movement is so limited.
The Gommy girl finally convinced me to head outside with her, and I peaked into the guest bedroom on my way to find shoes and found Job and Johngideon engaged in a brotherly instructional chess game.
Gommy was wearing one of her delightful clothing ensembles that only real "princesses" can put together, and spent time on the swings, and practicing running up the slide (something she learned how to do very recently after much effort), and then scootering on the sidewalk.
In the brisk fresh air, I felt motivated to clean out the garden bed of the daylillies...who are beginning to make their annual appearance!
Can't wait! And, I even was motivated to clear out the petunias' strip of earth by the sidewalk. Maia came outside and encouraged Gommy to hopscotch, and insisted on joining her (on crutches!), Craig arrived home with take-out dinner and groceries, and after the boys all trouped out to help carry them in, they all returned outside to just enjoy the cool-but-pleasant-near-dusk air. Craig pulled out the leaf-blower (he calls my hand rake archaic. :-) So the boys scootered, and rode bikes, and chased each other with lacrosse sticks, while Maia watched from the porch steps and I suddenly realized that we were all home together on a Saturday evening...and it felt great!
When it got too dark to see, we all headed inside for clean-ups and "Chinese chicken" and tofu and vegetables, and watched Disney movies and sports and it was wonderful to have everyone under one roof.
And then Job left to go celebrate a friend's birthday, and Maia lay down for a "nap" (she's still "napping" ;o) and the kiddies eventually went up to bed. And all is well. And I am grateful for the simple joys of home.
Take Care. Much Love.
