Taylor the Terrific Citizen

Taylor earned a citizenship award for the third trimester.  

She REALLY had to earn it.  

She REALLY likes to chat.

She has a hard time not "helping" others.

We talked LONG and HARD about her not getting an award due to chatting.

She was NOT getting a stamp in her folder cause of it.

She started showing me her folder everyday to show me her STAMP! 

There was one day in the past few months she did not get a stamp. 

I was really proud of her! 

She was really proud of HERSELF! 

Good job Bug.  You earned it! 

Someday Preschool 2011

Graden started his last year of preschool today.  He was thrilled to go back to school.  He has felt rather lonely being stuck with me and Burke all day.  

He is attending my sister Jennifer's school again.  It was formerly known as Happy Days Preschool.  She never really dug that name.  This year she made the change to Someday Preschool.  Not because they only go to school somedays.  But that there is promise in someday.  I love it.  

We celebrated by going to McDonald's after.  Burke really hammed it up for me!  He thought he was so funny!  

Professional 2nd Graders!

Well it's done. 1st grade is in the history books and we have moved on to conquering the 2nd grade. The girls are beyond thrilled! Here is a little gift they gave to their teacher today!

The girls made a crucial mistake this morning. They made their own lunches! And now I know they can............Bbuuhahhahahahahaaaaaa!

I sent them off on their bikes happy as can be! They will do awesome! We are very proud of them!

Lot's O' Happenings

I was really hoping that things would calm down before school starts, and it just seems like it get's busier by the day.

Jason started school this week. He works at the Blue and Orange store in the mall from about 7-3 then has class Monday-Thursday. His Monday class is at the BSU campus, so he goes straight there after work. But Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday he is at the Meridian campus. That was a great surprise for us! So he usually can come home in between. His classes are supposed to be from 6-9. But most nights he is done around 7:30. EXCEPT for his Philosophy class on Thursdays. That professor comes in from Nissa, OR. So he uses all the time. (My volleyball night....but I can still go!!!)

Needless to say he has had a long week. And when Jason get's tired he get's quiet. And when he get's quiet I think he is mad. And when I constantly ask if he is mad? He get's mad! Amazing how that works! It will take some adjusting, but I know we are on the right path!

We are all ready for the girls to start on Tuesday. They have Mrs. Anala. I am not sure the spelling of that. My girls are thrilled! They really liked her from what they saw last year. They even had her sign their year books. Oh to be in the second grade! Their clothes are all washed and hung, hair cut, room clean. We decided to separate their shoes this year. They each have a laundry basket under their beds with their own shoes. We had some "those are my shoes" drama last year that I am trying to avoid!

Graden starts on the 6th. So I have some time to get his room cleaned up! It needs it!

The Browne's came for another visit! It helped my summer along knowing they were coming! They got to stay for a week. Reagan was really sick, and was not the happiest camper, so we played more after she got to feeling better. We swam of course. The kids have a blast at Christines.

Candace and I got to sneak away on Tuesday and go see THE HELP. I had sent Candace the book earlier in the summer and she loved just as much as I did. We loved the movie too! There were only 8 of us in the theater. And I think that she and I were the only ones that had read it. Cause we were reacting to what we knew was coming, and the rest just did as it happened. It would be great to see it with a full theater of readers!

This is just a silly picture I took of Burke Saturday morning. He was a hot mess. This is what an almost 2 year old looks like after an Otter Pop treat and playing out front. And as you can see he is sporting the white trash onsie. LOL! I cut the sleeves off some of the long sleeve onsies.

I also took him in for his 15 month and 18 month check. I know.....LATE! But he needed shots and to be honest, I could not have done it this winter. It was a bad one for me depression wise, and the thought of him getting shots was too much for me. He only got 2 and cried, but did great. The other kids though.....When I turned around with Burke in my arms the big kids were all huddled up covering their ears! I think it was worse for them! Hahaha! That is true compassion!

He weighs 21 pounds and is in the 5%. BUT, he is in the 10th% for height. And 45th% for his head. LOL! I told the nurse he falls in the Pip Squeak category!

So thanks for stopping by~ You rock!

Natalie and Taylor's spelling adventures!

The girls came home with their first spelling tests of the year. Nat told me she started to cry because she thought the words were going to be hard. She got a 10/10, so I guess she managed! I am so proud of them both. I really struggled in school and it is so important to me that they get the materials and information that they are learning. I am pretty sure the only reason why I passed each year was because the teachers liked me, and no longer wanted my chatty self in their class any more!

Taylor's test! Sorry I scanned it too close to the side!

Natalie's test!

Taylor has already been complimented several times by her teacher for her coloring. I am so happy! She is usually in a hurry and a huge scribbler!



What more can you say.......

Back2School

The first week of school is almost over. We made it! Is it sad I am looking forward to a 3 day weekend? I think not.

This is actually Jason's second day picture. I forgot on day one. I was too busy making him lunch and trying not to go bananas about the girls going to school all day. He said that he has been sooooo busy. He is the ISS guy. (In School Suspension) Also, the Credit Recovery guy. When a student is failing a class they can try to recover the grade in his class. He has only had one ISS kid as of yet. But he has been making the ID badges for the Freshman and kids that did not register on time. It's been a huge hassle. But he has not complained and it's kept him really busy! I am so happy he is back to work. He gets really stir crazy at home during the summer.

Here are my two sweet pea's walking to school on Monday. They are in different classes and seem to be doing great. Me? Not so much. If you know me you know that I have OCD when it comes to being fare. Food, gifts, attention, it does not matter. So having two different teachers with different rules has been hard. Natalie gets to have a water bottle at her desk and Taylor does not. No big deal, but it breaks my heart! (silly, I know)

I am so proud of them!

Graden starts Pre School next week. He is very excited!

When?

When did it happen? I swear it was just yesterday that I was watching the girls at the play land in McDonald's wishing they were tall enough to reach the first landing themselves so I did not have to help them each time. Now today when we were back to school shopping, buying size 13.5 shoes it almost killed me.

Why is it that when you are "in" it, you cannot see it? But once it's past, it's clear. I am having trouble with the thought of them being gone at school all day. They are too young I tell myself. Too little, fragile. Jason said that we made it, survived going to 1st grade, all day, eating lunch, being a "big kid". I know they will too. They are sweet girls. Smart, kind, friendly. I know that the burden is on me.

I guess it's a good thing I am less than a block away. So I can pop in, just in case ;)

"R" is for Reading!

I have not helped the girls with their homework for a while. G'ma Blue took that over while she was here, and I have not really gotten the December packets started. The girls BEG to do homework. It's not easy either. Mrs. T does not even give the girls the regular packet anymore (since October), they get the coveted "challenge" packet! Any who, I had them get it out today while I was stuck in the kitchen making some yummo chili. To my astonishment, THEY CAN READ????? When did I miss this? I cannot take credit whatsoever for this! My sister Jennifer was the gratest pre-school teacher of all time and had them so ready for kindergarten. So for it's all been a review for them. Mrs. T is great too. I was shocked to hear them sounding out the words and repeating them. We went to the library after naps and I let them get a ton of 1st reader books. They are proving to be more difficult than the homework, but I told them that practice makes.........you even better!
I am soooo glad my girls love school. By the second grade I hated it. Looking back, I know I had some learning struggles. My mom told me once that in the 4 th grade I got up and sharpened my pencil 22 times in one day. (The teacher told her this.) I guarantee it was because I did not understand the assignment and was killing time.
Keep it up girls! We are so proud of you!

KiNdErGaRtEn 2oo9

BIG GIRLS!

Showing some independence! They chose how to rock the laces!

Walking to school!

Some last words of advice from Daddy!

I love this picture! They are looking at their teacher Mrs. T coming along to say hi. They were both so excited! You can see it in their eyes!

So this was a BIG day for me as you can imagine! My two little babies went to school. I cannot believe we have started this chapter in our lives.
We walked to school which was fun. The girls were all talk! Then when we got there they were ready to get inside! They did a great job! Happy little clams!