The Sand Area

I got to spend the first week of school in our wonderful sand area.

We were in the middle of a heat wave, with temperatures above 100 degrees throughout the week.

It felt a little like being at the beach.

We have certain materials always available in the sand area, such as buckets, shovels, and cooking supplies.

Trucks are another favorite and are often separation aids for younger boys entering the classroom.

There is so much work being done in the sand area.  Large motor, fine motor, spacial reasoning, problem solving, and social problem solving, just to name a few.

We also have a new slide going from the top of one of our hills right into the sand area.  The children love it!

The sand area at Bing is a magical place.  Even on an unbearably hot day, when a child brings you a birthday cake made out of sand and water, everything is right in the world.

A little more information on our sand area and what is happening there in the life of a child:

Along with blocks, clay, paint and water, sand is one Bing’s five basic materials.  It is an excellent open-ended, malleable material that allows for a myriad of possibilities, including (but certainly not limited to) digging, cooking, pouring, sifting, building, landscaping, irrigating.  While being mindful of our water usage during the drought, we will usually offer water to extend our sand area exploration.  Sand offers both fine and large motor challenges, as well as opportunities for executive function (planning) and collaboration.  For a deeper perspective on Bing sand play, take a look at Center PM Head Teacher Nancy Howe’s 2011 Bing Times article: 

http://web.stanford.edu/dept/bingschool/cgi-bin/bt/october-2011/the-pedagogy-of-sand-play/

It is impossible to reflect on the sand area and not mention the monkey bars.  An iconic playground apparatus, the monkey bars offer children intense large motor practice, including some of the vestibular system focus mentioned in last week’s email.  While we do provide physical support to children who are becoming acquainted with the bars or attempting more challenging moves, we avoid moving children from bar to bar.  When children gain monkey bar skills through their own extended trial and error, their physical competence and growth mindset expands exponentially.  If you spend time at the monkey bars with your child, please ask her to make her own best effort.  Although she might not be overjoyed at your lack of help, the resulting resilience and confidence will be a gift that keeps giving.

South Dakota sunsets

I always forget how magical sunsets are in South Dakota when I'm away for a long time.  Seeing the entire sky lit up in cotton candy colors as far as the eye can see is breathtaking.

Being back on my family farm is always nostalgic - it feels like almost nothing has changed about this place since my childhood, yet I have changed so much.

I've seen some incredible sunsets around the world, but the clouds and the sky in South Dakota will always have a special place in my heart.

McWay Falls

Tall Dark and Nerdy has been tempting me with a place called McWay Falls since we were first just becoming friends.  It's a picturesque waterfall in Big Sur that spills out onto a beach with waves crashing in all around.

Just hearing about it and seeing other people's pictures could almost take my breath away.

But, because of all my knee surgeries and his traveling for work, we still hadn't been there and I hadn't seen it in real life.

That all changed when Papa Rist came out to visit for Christmas this year!  On the day after Christmas, we got up early, hopped in the car, and drove down to Big Sur, not stopping until we were at the path to McWay Falls.

It really is beautiful.  And getting to experience it with two of the most important men in my life made it even better.

When the waves roll in, the waterfall is suddenly running right into the ocean for a few seconds.

I could just sit and listen to waves crash along the shore for hours and hours.  In the early morning, with hardly any other people around, this was a magical place and moment.

I love Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite places.  It's the place in California that makes me feel like I'm back home in some of the ways that I miss.  I absolutely love all the weekends I get to spend there with my Tall Dark and Nerdy, like this one in June. 

We get out of the car when we first arrive on Friday night and I spend my first several minutes in Tahoe just staring at the stars.  I spent countless nights growing up lying in a pasture or yard and staring at the stars, so it's nice to get that feeling again.

 

 I also love being near water.  I think I can blame that on my time rowing for Stanford, and on my water-loving roomie Mik.  Lakes don't get much prettier than Tahoe.  This trip was my first time being in Tahoe in the actual summertime, and it did not disappoint!  The water was cold, but it was beautiful, with three distinct colors of blue in layers.








Something about Tahoe makes me want to be adventurous.  I get there and I want to snowboard, hike, kayak, paddleboard, and do anything else I can try!

TDN also planned for us to watch the sunset at Emerald Bay, which has special sentimental value for me.  I saw a photograph of Emerald Bay last year over graduation weekend when TDN, Grams, baby sister, Papa Rist, and I were looking through a gallery.  I looked at TDN and said I wanted to go there - and had no idea where it was!  Over my birthday weekend (3 months later), he planned for us to spend an afternoon at Emerald Bay, and when I looked confused about what that was, he reminded me of the photograph.  He is so thoughtful.  That makes every visit to Emerald Bay special to me.

Any day that ends in s'mores is a great day for me, and this was no exception!

Gratuitous sunshine pics

It's late April and my family is dealing with yet another snow storm.  I, on the other hand, live in paradise, and have been enjoying every moment of it.

The color of these is unreal!

Beginning two weeks ago, I have been able to walk, bike, and/or swim on a daily basis as the next stage of my knee recovery, and it could not have happened at a better time!  

My roommate and I have also been able to enjoy some gorgeous spring afternoons lounging in our complex's beautiful pool area.

I've also been doing a fair amount of babysitting for a wonderful family.  Their 8-month-old has been pretty fussy lately, but I think it's just because he knows how beautiful it is outside and wants us to enjoy it together, so we go for lots of long walks.

These are a few of the photos from the last few weeks that make me smile when I look at them, so I couldn't help but share!

No idea what kind of tree this was,
but I LOVE the look of these!

Paused during my bike ride to snap this today.