My Darling Daughter

My daughter is truly an easy child.  She's not perfect, but in the grand scheme of small children she's like a little rock star.  So today when she refused to put her coat on when I picked her up from daycare, then kicked the snow out of frustration, then screamed in timeout (that would be in front of the garage at daycare - apparently) then pretended like she was going to punch my cheek. . . btw a parent (who I know - of course) came walking up at the time of the incident and was laughing with her head down!

It's no surprise that I picked her up and put her into the car while saying, "You're done done done."  Then I calmly called daddy (mine not hers - although I considered calling mine too but figured he'd side with her anyway) to tell him "the fun thing we had planned has been canceled."   I'm sure he could hear V crying and yelling, "No don't cancel it!"  So he said, "What fun thing?"  Then I spelling NOTHING.  We weren't really canceling anything, but I wish we were. 

The fun continued at home.  Refusing to carry her backpack.  So I put it down beside her, in the middle of the driveway and walked away.  She's about as stubborn as me and just stood out there, no coat, not doing anything.  Just standing there to prove a point. 

Eventually I said, "You can stand there as long as you like, but I need to lock the door in 10 seconds."  She came running and screaming, threw more of a tantrum and ended up in time out.  The real one this time at the end of the hall.  I actually used my chopper on several vegetables to get out my frustration during those four minutes.  Still not calmed down I put her in her room and within a couple minutes I heard silence. 

Yep, she's fast asleep.  Been that way for almost half an hour now.  Whew.

In the end I got to eat and blog in peace.

Isn't motherhood grand?

A Note is Always So Nice

This is a tip to all you parents out there:
If your child's teacher is doing a good job write him/her a qick note.  It is soooo appreciated.  I would rather have a heart felt note than candy, a candle, an ornament, even cash.  A specific, I like the way you. . . note is priceless.  I was lucky enough to receive one this week. 

This was in response to an email I sent last week regarding the student's reading fluency.

Hi Kelly,
I don't know what exactly you said to J---, but oh my goodness it worked! We read together but it can be a struggle for the reasons you mentioned. I've tried to encourage her to read with emotion, to tell the story, not just the words, but it didn't seem to be getting across. Thursday night we sat down to read and it was like she was a different child! I knew she could do it but couldn't figure out why it wasn't happening. Of course she gets better when rereading but even the first time through has been excellent and so much fun to listen to. I hope she can show you what she can do without getting nervous or hung up on perfection.
Thank you so much for your encouragement and for challenging my children to be the best they can. We will continue to work on J---'s new-found talent at home. You truly are an amazing teacher!
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
S-

Not only did I make a connection with this student but her mom noticed it too.  She even took the time to tell me about it.   I try very very hard to make connections with the students.  It isn't always apparent if I accomplsihed that or not.  This day it was and it made me Oh - So - Happy!

I'm in love with. . .

SKYPE!  Wow, what an amazing tool!  We are proud godparents to our adorable two year old godson Walker.  Walker lives in Colorado and we haven't seen him in almost a year. . .until tonight!  We Skyped and it was awesome!  I see a lot of Skyping happening in our future.  Walker was doing somersalts and he convinced Mark to do one across our living room floor too.  So cute! 

It was so fun to hear him talk and see him jump! 

I can't wait to have Victoria and Christian Skype with him!!  They will love it.

Love you Walker!!

A Rat? A Opossum? A. . .

Muskrat?  Last night we went to dinner with my parents.  They came back to our house to play.  I went downstairs to get my pj's on and it was pouring rain.  I heard a scratching on the egress window.  Then even a tapping.  I ran up to tell Mark and my dad.  They laughed, thinking I was just hearing things and maybe it was hailing. 

This morning at 6am I was turned the light on to get dressed and the same scratching and then tapping.  This time I ran upstairs shaking Mark awake TELLING him, SOMETHING IS IN THE WINDOW WELL!  And it's been there all night!  My strong and masculine husband stood up thinking about what to do and got a flashlight and then handed it to me and said, "Since you're not as scared as me," and handed me the flashlight. 

I went out in the dark with my little flashlight and there it was. . .a huge rat?  a small opossum?  It wasn't unti the sum finally rose that were able to see that rodent's face.  It was a large muskrat. 

Finally Mark came out to take a look.  He eventually placed (threw) a board down in hopes that it would climb right out on it's own will.  In the meantime, Victoria called Papa to come over and 'rescue' the muskrat. 

Christian wanted us to lower him down with a bucket to get it.  He assured us he could get it in hands and not get bitten.  He cried when he got in the car to go to daycare.  He wanted to rescue that muskrat himself.

At 8:22 today Papa "rescued" the muskrat with a post hole digger.  The muskrat ran into the neighbor's yard. 

What a frazzled morning it was!  Let's hope tomorrow is a little smoother. .  .

A Family Tradition

The fall is when we have one of my favorite family traditions.  Move over Thanksgiving.  Look out Easter.  Halloween is moving up the rungs to the top of the list.  Lendt's pumpkin patch is where the fall magic begins.
Take a look at how it all began.

This is the following afternoon from going to Lendt's in 2008. (Where are those pictures??  I wasn't as organized in '08 as I am now.)

Last year.  Notice the height difference.

 I tried to get them to stand together this year. But it didn't happen.  Next year I'll try harder.

I love comparing year after year.  It never seizes to amaze me how fast each year flies by and how much my kids change in just 365 days.  They look different.  They certainly act differently.  They are different little people and it is so cool.

We were blessed with extremely gorgeous weather and looked and looked for the most perfect pumpkins.  I took over 100 pictures in those couple hours.  I wanted to capture every moment and breath it in and savior it.  My kids, running around a pumpkin patch, being silly, being serious, being strong and laughing. 

Lendt's Pumpkin Patch will be a family tradition for years to come!

                                            I can only imagine what he'll try in 2011. . .

Victoria's Halloween Party

One of my favorite things as a mommy is seeing my kids in their lives without me. 

Last week I was lucky enough to stop in to Victoria's Halloween Party.  I didn't know if I'd be able to make it so I didnt' tell her.  It was a totally surprise and boy oh boy was Daphne happy to see me.

That is some hair!!

                                                      Ready to fill that bag with candy!!!!

It was so cute.  The teacher's assistants helped the kids get ready and then ran upstairs to open the random church doors to give out candy.

          Spread a large amount of frosting on one poor little pumpkin cookie.  The joys of being four!

Jenna and Victoria - BFFs

I'm so happy I got to see her in her school routine and watch the patient teachers interact with the class.  Watch Victoria and how she interacts with her classmates and teachers.  Being a working mom, I know I'm going to miss field trips and parties in the years to come, which makes the ones I attend all the more special.

A (Very) Short Time in Kindergarten

This entire month my student teacher is teaching full time.  I'm technically not supposed to be in the room.  I am here and there. . .but then I start helping, chiming in. . .I really shouldn't be in there. 

So, I've been keeping myself busy.  I'm doing an inference intervention with certain students in all three 2nd grade classrooms.  I have almost all of my reading benchmarks done almost a month early.  I bet I'll never type that again!!  I've also came up with a way to help other teacher.  This morning I thought it would be fun to go into different rooms to read to give the teacher a break.  20 minutes here or there are extremely helpful for a teacher.

I thought kindergarten would be a good place to start.  I went in at 11am and read The Plump and Perky Turkey.  It was so fun.  It was great.  I started adding actions and asking questions.  Next thing I knew I had at least 20 kindergartens following my lead learning what strutting was because we were strutting like a plump and perky turkeys.  I left that room and told my teammate, "Maybe one day I will teach kindergarten."

I went back at 3pm for the afternoon class.  I actually arrived early I was so excited.  Same book.   Same actions.  Couldn't wait.

A little more than half way, yet before the strutting began the five year old, innocent,  little,  blonde boy began vomitting all over himself.  I can barely handle that with my own kids. 

I looked at the teacher at his desk and said, "Mr. C. we have a sick friend here."  He casually walked over (he must be immune to this kind of thing) to get the child.  Vomit was still a flowing so I reached over to grab the trash to swing it around to this kid and accidentally hit another kid in the head with the trash can.  (Lucking it's not a real can and it's made out of plastic)  Mr. C took the sick kid out.  That didn't stop the drama.  Since there was puke all over the rug and many children were beginning to gag we moved the 'party' over to another corner and ended up strutting in the hall instead of around the room. 

The kids were saying how gross etc. it was that this kid puked and then I told them the very true story of me puking all over the tile floor in 2nd grade.  It splattered everywhere and it was so embarrassing I got choked up telling the story today.  Maybe I was choked up because I was still on the verge of vomiting myself, but either way. . .

I don't think I can ever read The Plump and Perky Turkey the same way again.

I really think Mr. C should get a raise.