Icicles, schmycicles. We spent our afternoon in the rain forest.
Riley got to do something she’s always dreamed of…
She also acquired a new nickname.
Ladies and gentle(M), I give you…Mimosa.
A sensitive name for a sensitive girl.
She’s cool with the nickname. It’s one of dozens she already owns.
Here she is pointing at a hedgehog.
Here is the hedgehog. He’s inspiring. He makes me want to be a better napper.
Here she is with HT, who had to chisel the car windows before we could even get out the driveway today.
As he scraped, Riley, and I sat in the car singing “I Will Survive!” During the musical interlude I looked back and told her, “When a man chisels your car out for you, it means he loves you. Don’t ever settle for anything less. You deserve to be treated well.”
When HT got in the car I thanked him profusely, and in the rearview, I saw Riley’s arm do its happy tic.
Anyway, where was I?
I found out something about my daughter I hadn’t known before. She’s interested in orchids. The Botanical Gardens has a library, and she took out two adult books on the subject. She specifically wants to make it clear she does not have “orchid-mania,” that would be bad. She’s just interested, that’s all. Sorry I didn’t get a picture of an orchid. That would have been appropriate here, but no one is perfect. Here she is with an Orchid book. It will have to do.
I have a feeling we’re going to find out all kinds of things we never knew about our daughter, now that we’re homeschooling.
Of course, some things about her, I’ll never know.
I’m just so blessed she shares some of her mystery,with me.
This is very cool, and much more fun and informative than sitting at a desk all day. I love the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Especially Wed nights in the summer when they have cooking demos.
Love this post and the photos. She looks so happy, engaged, and peaceful. What a way to learn!
Beautiful
A big hoo-ray to you! Riley looks so relaxed and happy. What a joy to behold!
It looks like Riley is wearing jeans. Does this mean that the jeans are here to stay and she’s ok with them?
Natalie
Sounds wonderful!
They do look like jeans in that pic, but alas they are not. Cotton, elastic waist. The jeans only lasted two wearings and then never again.
Looks like fun. I want to be home schooled!
They have new jean leggings. It’s a thought.
She’s one cool kid.
The botanical gardens make a great classroom! Tell Mimosa I like orchids, too.
Is it just me or is her face visibly more relaxed? Sounds like it’s going well. How neat to learn all those insights about your daughter.
I’m with Jenny – not only does she look more relaxed, the circles under her eyes are disappearing. This is just so wonderful, Michelle. You are handling this with your normal grace. & Mimosa seems like a very good new nickname.
love.
PS – The tattoo really didn’t hurt, even though my skin looked red. xo
Wonderful! I am so happy that it’s working out for you all. Love the photos – she looks so happy to be there! Love the red hat btw!
Well lets just compare and contrast a little here – learn about botanical stuff in a class room from a book and retain most likely nothing, or, learn about botanical stuff by seeing it feeling it experiencing it and retain most likely all of it and with the bonus of sparking an interest too. I know where my vote goes!!
This post makes my heart sing.
“When a man chisels your car…” (happy tics over here, too).
Isn’t a hedgehog kind of like a mimosa, too?
what a dreamy day with wonderful characters and one really cool mom!If this is home schooling I want to go back to school…at your house, uh, minus the snow? 🙂
Just a couple of comments, where was Jingle? And, isn’t the mimosa also a drink? I like it either way, but mostly I’m so proud of you for doing this for Riley. You are one great Mamma. Oops, and one more thing, as part of her home schooling, she must learn all about Iowa, so I suggest a field trip in August to the Iowa State Fair. Yippee.
Lovely place . . . lovely girl.
such beautiful photos – and a beautiful family 🙂
I love Mimosa! I love HT! I love Seth! I love you! I love your home schooling!
Field trip…hmm that gets me thinking….O’Neil, being of Irish decent, I would love to invite you to discover your Celtic roots….girls’ gotta know where she comes from, right?? C’mon, you know it makes sense!!
Like Carrie, I love every single thing about this post, especially the beautiful smiling faces.
More joy.
That is awesome. That makes me want to do that!! And how adorable is her face?
*happy sigh*
🙂
All of you have just about the sweetest smiles I’ve ever seen!