Day: March 19, 2010

Teacher Liselle asked us to write a letter to Leilani which goes into her preschool portfolio.

Dear Leilani,

We really like your beautiful paintings, drawings, creative artwork, and crafts, especially the ones you make just for us.

You sing so nicely, you know so many songs, and your voice is so pretty. We missed that when you were not singing for a while.

Recently, we counted to 100 together, and you needed very little help. You also added 2+2+3 correctly. Your handwriting is very good, and you can copy long texts. You know all the letters and read simple words, even unprompted. Yesterday, you told us the fairytale of “Little Red Riding Hood”, first to me in German, then to Andy in English. I was very impressed that you remembered every little detail.

You are a very nice person, other children like you, and you have many friends. You are polite and helpful, and you are good at sharing, which everyone appreciates.

You also learned to happily play by yourself, with dolls and stuffed animals, your new castle and the fairy tale figures, and you draw and color without needing to have company.

You have learned to pedal a tricycle and a bike with training wheels, even if it is a little uphill. You are a better climber, your balance has improved, and you are a strong runner and hiker now. You love to learn about everything, and we love to teach you what we know.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy (or as you often call us: Sonja and Andy)

Leilani was so excited and happy that Liselle came to our house, they looked at Leilani’s toys and crafts and watched 1/2 a movie together (Leilani actually thinks Liselle now understands at least a little German because “she learned it while watching Schneewitchen”)

Leilani finally takes riding lessons in California too.

The 28 year-old pony’s name was Cherokee. Leilani had never heard that word or name and after the lesson asked if the pony really was named “Turkey”… he still ate our carrots.

Photos were taken on my iPhone because I forgot the camera. Sorry for the quality or lack thereof.

Yes, English not Western. I bet some of my readers have a hard time understanding this, especially the ones who know me for a long time… there are reasons for it though. I will certainly allow Leilani to ride both styles and take her pick once she is old enough, and if I go back to horseback riding I will not consider English. [Andy adds: I thought that only had to do with the type of hat they wore…] [Sonja adds: No, the only thing they have in common is a horse]

Since she was not allowed on the horse in running shoes the instructor loaned her some riding boots (way too big, made for 6 year olds) and told us where to find them – we went to the HMB feed and fuel (!!) and tackle store but they also had pink cowboy boots. Light-up pink cowboy boots. That’s what we bought. It was actually the only thing that was her size with a zipper and all the others “hurt Leilani’s feet…” Andy thinks they will scare the horses. I think they will scare the instructor. Leilani thinks they are the most beautiful boots ever.

Circletime with teacher Liselle right before…

…Oliver Chin presents his new book on the year of the tiger

The children are fascinated

Leilani sits next to one of her best friends, Marianna