Aug 7th -  Summer's here and Samantha is having a whale of a time. We see now how much energy school drains from her, and what it must be like to have 30 children in full flow on a daily basis. She starts most days before seven, rarely flags before bedtime, and even then she's capable of one last burst of activity just before bed. In the past few weeks she's transitioned on her own from a child potty to the regular toilet, and is now using toothpaste consistently (only brushing with water before). The favourites this month are the Mr. Men and Little Miss books, and she is amassing quite a collection. Our recent trip to Oxford was another success, and Sam is well on her way to being a seasoned traveler.

Jul 3rd -  Hello to all our visitors from India who have the wrong website! As for the rest of you, Samantha is just three weeks away from the end of her first year at school. It's been quite a learning curve for all of us. But she has grown in so many ways since September. We think she can't possibly become any more amazing, and she continues to surprise us. Her skill at reading is top-notch, followed by writing ability, then math. She's a quick study, and has finally developed a sense of melody (singing "Who Let The Dogs Out"). She interacts well with her peers, and of course learns from the conflicts that arise day to day. A month off in August, then back to school again in September!