Abby and School

I have written before about Abby's struggles with school. We still have problems, especially on Mondays. Serena now meets Abby for lunch two days a week, Monday of course and Thursday. Keeping Katie home makes it very difficult to justify why Abby has to go to public school. Plus I feel bad for the things Abby is missing. She sits at a desk doing worksheets while Katie and I are exploring the town. Fanney walks to school with us most mornings and the counselor meets us at the door each morning. Mrs Broomfield and the counselor agree our lunch dates are helping.

Today though Abby had a fabulous day! We like the homeroom teacher but her voice is kind of loud and gruff. The sub today was an older lady and soft spoken. When I picked Abby up she excitedly told me about her day. Then the sub came up and told me how much she enjoyed having Abby in her class today. She said Abby was a "talented reader and writer" and she expected her to do great things. During play time at school Abby read the teacher the poems she has written. All evening Abby proudly told people that the teacher thought she was a talented reader and writer. It was wonderful to see this side of her.

Inside Grant's Tomb

The flag room included a falg from the Illinois volunteer infantry.


Julia's tomb is also here.

Dedication of the building.

From the bottom of the stair case. The downstairs goes in a circle around the tombs.

Looking up towards the main floor.

These statues were all around the room in the lower level. We suspect they were Civil War generals, but will have to look that up.

Katie and Lilly looking at the tombs from the lower level.

View from the main level looking down on the tombs.

Lilly's favorite was this horse statue. She did excellent. The building was emptry except for a guard and seomeon cleaning the floor. She was able to walk around and talk without bothering any one. She enjoyed climbing the stairs herself and looking at the displays.

Outside Grant's Tomb

Grants Tomb is on Rvierside Drive and 122nd Street, very near our house. Across the street is Sakura Park.

Sign in front of building.

Stairs in front of building. Teens frequently skateboard here.

View of the Hudson fron the other side of the building.

Eagle statues on either side of entrance.

There mosiac benches go all the way around the building. See the video. They are really impressive.

Neighborhood

Riverside Church from across the street. Sakura Park from Riverside Drive.

Mahattan School of Music

The street we walk down from our house to Riverside Drive.

Subway comes above ground at 122nd Street and follows Broadway northh.

A Teachers College building on our street with names engraved in the building.

Lilly

Katie wrote this story for Lilly.

I should have stopped the camera as soon as she fell over, but I expected her to get right back up. The dancing is so cute I am showing it anyway.

Maddie and the Christmas tree

Decorations

attempt to see tree from street. Our living room windows are in the middle, slightly darker and stick out away from building, the second from bottom in the picture. If you enlarge the picture and look carefully you can see some lights. :)

View from in front of our apartment looking towards Broadway. The steeple is from the Union Seminary building.