Kindergarten Screening

It was a big night tonight!  Kindergarten screening.  Hard to believe we have an almost kindergartener.  But here we are with a four and a half year old.  Victoria and I were feeling just about the same way I think.  Really excited with a bit of nervousness. 

We dropped Christian off at Grandma's and we were on our way.  We stopped for a caffeine free pop (for me) and some dried apricots for a healthy snack at Walgreens.  We were still 15 minutes early.  We headed in anyway.

Doesn't she look so proud to be an almost kindergartener?

The teacher wasn't with anyone and took us right away.

She set me up with some paperwork on one side of the room and then she sat with Victoria and got her to work.  Her first task was to build two towers of blocks and get another block to balance in between.  I was thinking, oh man, this is how we're starting off?  I didn't think she'd want to do it let alone actually accomplish it.  Next thing I heard was, "Nicely done."  I looked up and there it was.

I think I smiled to myself and continued with my paperwork.  She was given different objects, a green cube, a yellow car and a blue button.  Then she was asked to describe them.  The words she was using were very descriptive.  I defintely smiled to myself.  Then she had to count blocks.  1-10 no prob.  Then the lady asked how many blocks there were.  (Trying to see if she understood that she just counted ten and realized that means there are ten there without counting again.)  Victoria leaned slightly forward and said, "Ten," just a little slower like, "Are ya following me lady?  I just told you that."  She was also asked to repeat 1, 2, 3, even four numbers.  She did it no problem.  I think I actually let out a little smirk.

Next they tested language.  A brother is a boy and a sister is a girl.  A elephant is big and a mouse is small.  A table is made of wood and a window is made of glass.  Victoria throughly enjoyed this 'game'.  She was all smiles and swinging her little legs back and forth.  Then she had to tell about something that happened to her today.  She told her how Kris made vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting on top for Dani's 11th birthday.  The teacher's whole box with filled with a sample of my daughter's language.  Big smile.

On to gross motor.  She was asked to hop on one foot.  If you know her this is her favorite past time.  She hopped 17 times round and round in circles while talking.  She only needed to get to 5.  Then on to the other foot.  She past with flying colors.  Next she had to skip.  Really?!  Skipping?!  I have some second graders who don't know how to skip.  She tried and did a strange half hop have dance to the other side of the room.  Then the teacher demonstrated.  Next Victoria did her best, however, she did not skip.  The teacher still said, "Well done Victoria."  Later when we picked up Christian she told him, "I learned how to skip today."  About 20 minutes into the testing the teacher told Victoria she could choose a book.  She chose Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon.  We already have every other book on the shelf, they were from the $1 section of Scholastic.  While waiting for the teacher, I began reading it to Victoria and we talked about what other books David Shannon has written.  We have recently read two of them.  When the teacher came back she asked if I was a teacher.  

Does the general public not discuss what other books the author has written?  Can't every four and a half year old rattle of another title or two by that author?  Or Arthur as Victoria likes to call it. 

The teacher went over the results with me.  Not word for word but She Is A Rock Star was basically the result.  She needed a score of 14 to enter kindergarten and she got 25.  The lady added it up in front of me and under her breath she said, "I don't know if I've seen a 25."  I held back my smile since I was actually face to face but I did feel my entire body relax.

Then it was off to the nurse who check her weight: 32 lbs and height: 38" short.

Then she tested her beautiful blue eyes:

She's wearing sunglasses with one side covered in tape.  She had 20/30 and 20/25 vision.  Not bad coming from parents as blind as bats.

Then her hearing:

Perfect.

As we were going over those results the nurse asked where I teach.  I told her and then she said her best friend teaches there.  She's actually right across the hall from me.  So we had a nice chat and sent us on our way with our info. for kindergarten rally night: Feb. 22nd.  Can't wait.

I am so proud to be Victoria's mommy everyday.  But today I felt like I was validated.  Like I was handed a gold star.  Or an A+, my favorite.  My little girl is right where she needs to be and I couldn't be prouder! 

You can't wipe this smile off of my face tonight.

It's Slippery Out There!

After getting ready for Sunday School this morning I saw a missed call.  Sunday School had been canceled due to the ice.  Victoria and I did a happy dance in the kitchen and got our jammies back on so fast!

Unfortunately, my dad slipped on the ice in his driveway, right in front of my brother's van.  He hit his head hard and ended up in the hospital.  Thankfully, he should be released soon.  He's got a gash in the back of his head and it bruised and sore but it could have been so much worse. 

Mark's Aunt Jane slipped on the ice so bad yesterday she broke her wrist and will have surgery on Tuesday. 

We've spent the last half an hour working on Get Well cards.

A Replay

Remember this post?  Well June 17, 2011 is going to be just as awesome!  Liv and I (well really it was all Liv) secured our tix to New Kids on the Block for the summer tour.  There are only FIVE dates.  We will have to travel to CHICAGO!!!!  I've always wanted to go there!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!  I'm so excited for the plane ride.  I love planes!  I've never been on a plane with Liv before. . .we're going to have a blast.  I can't wait for the hotel. . .the restaurants. . .the Oprah store. . .the bars. . . sight seeing. . .the CONCERT!!!!  It's going to be an awesome weekend.

Section 101, row 17, seat 1&2.  . . look out Danny, Donnie, Joe, Jon, Jordan and Chicago. . .your biggest fans will be there!!!!!!!!

Minivan

I want a minivan.  I'm not ashamed.  I'm excited!!  I've done the research.  I have it narrowed down between an Odyssee and a Sienna.  I test drove both tonight.  We're so close I can hear the self opening doors!!!

I am a mom.  I am getting old.  I think minivans are beautiful.  I am proud.

When Tragedy Strikes

On October 5th I blogged about my car accident I was so upset over.

In the grand scheme of life no big deal.  Paid the ticket, got the car fixed, kids and I are ok, insurance will most likely go up.  But really, it's over.

When I got to school on Monday a couple of my friends came up to my room to tell me our other good friend's boyfriend's entire family had been in a terrible car accident on Saturday night.  Both parents, both brothers and sister in law.  Everybody but Ben himself.  I know Ben.  A really nice guy.  But my heart was breaking for J.  She is the most sensitive, caring, generous and hardworking person I know. 

I knew this was going to hit her HARD.

She had made the phone calls to all the other relatives.  She had been at the hospitals (yes-the injuries were so severe they were sent to three different hospitals) non-stop and here she was on Monday.  At school and prepared to be the wonderful teacher she is.

She cried but she got through it.  I could have never done that. 

She has continued to go to the hospital every single night straight from school.  A couple night's ago she washed Ben's mom's hair.  It still had glass in it, even though she had been through several surgeries. 

J is the model friend, girlfriend and daughter.  I know this is going to wear her out and she'll hit bottom one of these days and not be able to keep all of this up.  When it happens I hope she knows what supportive friends she has at work and let's us help her.

Say a prayer for Ben's family tonight please.

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!