Happy Anniversary

IN THE BEGINNING: Today marks the one year anniversary of the day Magnolia Preparatory Academy threw its doors open to the world via this blog.

Our very first post was picture free and short on words. It read:

Testing 1-2-3

The beginning of a great adventure; This is the chronicle of the Kisky family's World-is-our-Classroom experiment.

We're big on do-it-yourself projects in this household (more on that later), so why should our approach to CJ and Annabelle's education be any different?

At least for this year, we're leaving behind the one-size-fits-all approach and have cobbled together a customized class schedule (yay for yoga, music and movement).

Our curriculum will be eclectic. Certainly there will be some direction and focus, but we're also always on the lookout for teachable moments.

The journey begins ...

And what a journey it has been!

We started our day off by talking about what an anniversary is, and then I played the "Happy Anniversary" song from The Flintstones for the kids. They thought it was hysterical - at first, until the singing police officers wouldn't stop singing.

"I think the cops should arrest themselves because they're being annoying!" said Annabelle.

The kids and I took the time this morning to review of the blog and its contents. We only got through half of the year in 90 minutes because looking at the photos sparked many conversations and pleas to repeat things we did last year.

The kids also wanted to visit many of the Web sites we've accessed over the year. I promised them we'll return to check them out, but we sure couldn't hit them all in one morning!

As we wrapped up this morning's review, CJ said, "That's a lot of history we have!" :)

Personally, I was struck by how much older the kids look now than they did Sept. 16 a year ago, and I felt good about how much ground we'd covered, both physically and academically. When I wrote that first blurb, I really had no idea what the hell we were going to do for our school year, and many days that still holds true. But somehow, it all works out.

I have become a big fan of student-led learning. It just makes sense (especially for kids CeeJ and Bee's ages). The kids are learning and loving it (well, most of the time!) So today was all about looking back and celebrating.

THE TOPS: Around lunchtime we drove over to Queen Anne Hill to one of CJ's favorite places on the planet: Top Pot doughnuts. We haven't been there in ages.

On the drive there, I couldn't help but think how the route we were taking was the same way I'd drive CJ to school every day during his kindergarten year, and how uneasy I felt during those drives, because ultimately it just wasn't a safe or happy place for him to be.

Thankfully, today's drive was nothing but pleasant (what's not to like about a donut run?!)

BEARY GOOD: This afternoon we went on an adventure to the north. First, we swung by and picked Rick up at the school where he works. Then we headed to Alderwood Mall (yes-gasp-a mall). It had been rainy all day, so the kids were itching to play in the indoor play area. It's really not much to shout about (just some pretty small molded objects for climbing on, all with Pacific Northwest or sea life tie ins), but the kids enjoyed them. They both scaled a 3-foot high Mt. Rainier, Annabelle rode an Octopus, and CJ stood atop a Washington State Ferry.
Our next stop was the Build-A-Bear Workshop. The kids have seen ads for the place for years and years and years now and have always wanted to "build" a bear. I figured our anniversary was a good enough excuse.

Let me tell you, that workshop is one well oiled machine. First, you had your pick of bears (or dogs, a moose, an owl and a couple of other alternatives). Annabelle chose a fuzzy pink bear (big surprise!). CJ chose the new candy corn spotted bear. Next, you pick out a "voice" (a sound chip; Bee chose a magic wand sound, CJ preferred his bear remain the strong, silent type). Next, they got hearts for their bear (yes, of course they beat). Then it was time for the stuffing!

And we're not talking shove fistfuls of fiberfill in. No siree! Rather, there's a stuffing machine the size of a minivan. With the help of a Super Friendly store employee, kids step on a pedal to pump stuffing out of the stuff the bears. CJ was fascinated with the stuffing machine (in fact, I think he was more enchanted by it than he was the bears)!

Once the bears were stuffed and sewn shut, the kids got to take them over to the grooming station, where they used blow dryers and brushes to fluff up their fur.

Last but not least, the bears needed to be costumed.

The choices were overwhelming. There was everything from sporty looks to formal wear to choose from. CJ wasted no time in making his choice. His cute little candycorn bear was going to be very nearly completely covered by a Darth Vader costume. Interesting ...

Bee took a little more time deciding. The very first thing she pulled off a rack was pink rollerskates. Naturally, if the bear was going to wear skates, it had to have shoes, so she chose some pink suede boots, which she matched with a peach and pink dress. Last but not least, she picked a pair of pink bloomers, because everyone knows a bear in a dress has to have underwear.

Before we left the store, the kids registered their bears online (they can play with them in a virtual world on the Build a Bear workshop Web site), and they got birth certificates which say at the top "My furry friend is special. I brought it to life. I chose it. I stuffed it. I made it my own. I promise to love it and give it a home."

That they did.