These are the Days

We sat down on the couch together and opened the book.  Pinkalious has a Playdate.

I expected her to read the sight words that she knows and maybe sound out a few other words but what happened next blew me away.

She read the entire book. 

This girl continues to amaze me every single day.

Later that night, she grabbed my phone and said she wanted to text her Aunt Bobbi. And that's when I found out she can spell too.

This is such a fun time!  Watching her and her brother learn to read and write.

Alex lost another tooth last week and he wrote the tooth fairy a note.  iKeith helped with the formatting but Alex sounded out all of the words himself.

These are the days that I'm cherishing and soaking up like sun on a hot Colorado day.

I'm ready to start our family book club!

Valentines for Classmates

I had so much fun making the kids' Valentines for their classmates this year!  Last year,  we just  bought Cars Valentines and attached a small piece of candy to it.  I also tortured my son and made him write his name on all 20 of those little cards.  We were both in tears when we were done.

This year both kids are in school and there are numerous allergies in their classrooms.  I decided against candy and instead went with bubbles. Because I've never heard of anyone being allergic to soap.  Target had bags of 24 bubbles for $3 a bag, card stock and Martha Stewart ribbon was on sale at Michaels and it just took about an hour and a half to put everything together.  

Mallory decided to help with the glueing.  

They both turned out great!  And I was able to make all 42 of them for $12.

If your kid needs a box to put the valentines in....click here! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Classroom Valentine Boxes

Last year, I dropped the ball.

I sent my son to school with a Valentine themed gift bag that I picked up at Target for his Valentine exchange.   A few other Moms made the same mistake I did....we were newbies, and we didn't hear the end of it for weeks!

You see...all of the other kids brought elaborately decorated boxes for their valentines.  Having a gift bag meant your Mom didn't love you enough to help you decorate a box and that she probably spends her evenings with a box of wine.  NOTE: Do not let your kid decorate an old box of wine.  I'm all for recycling but that is borderline cray cray.

That day I vowed to come up with the best dang box I could find and that we'd decorate that thing to within an inch of it's life.   I present to you.....Classroom Valentine Boxes!

These boxes are from The Container Store ($1.99) and the amazing stick on hearts are from Michaels.  I love the boxes because you can cut the slit to accommodate any size valentine and it has a handle!

The other great thing is that they come unfolded so you have a flat surface for decorating and then you can fold it up (and tape the bottom) when you're done.

1...2...3, Eyes On Me

Hip Hip Hooray!  It's a Skittle Day!

Life is good.  The kids are both enjoying school and love their teachers.  Parents and teachers are lining up to join the PTA and I'm enjoying my three beautiful hours of free time in the morning.

Of course, everything is not coming up roses....there has to be a thorn.  I have only made a few new friends so far.  I've been reminded that last year was special, it's only been five days and some people are intimidated by my personality beauty.  Thank you Keith for that clarification.

My afternoons with Mallory have been so fun.  She likes to clean mess up her room and watch My Little Pony.  Yesterday.....I gave her a little bag of animal crackers and when she was done, she asked me what they were made out of.  I said...Animals.

This is the look she gave me.

She insisted that I was kidding.  

I suggested that she should learn to read so that she could read the labels on her food.

Two hours later, she picked up a book and started reading it....out loud.  She was READING the book.

Five days of Kindergarten and my girl can READ!

See how smug she looks?  I think she's been reading for a while and holding out on us.

Poor Alex should get used to be taught.  Before bed last night, she was demanding that he have EYES ON HER.  Maybe she'll be a school teacher someday....

Linking up with Emmy Mom and Kmama for Proud Mommy Moments!

On Cloud Nine

I'm feeling so blessed today.

School starts tomorrow and we just finished two nights of Kindergarten Orientation.  Alex wasn't terribly excited to go back to school until he walked into his new classroom and sat at his desk.  We set his school supplies down, he introduced himself to his seat mate and waved us away.

Keith and I attended a meeting in the gym, sitting with friends.  Ironically, Keith and Dan sat and giggled like two 6 year old boys and Margaret and I had to keep giving them the evil eye.  We skipped the parking lot tour....we're pros this year!

I put my name on several volunteer sign up sheets.  I'm excited that I have more time to spend in the classroom....helping out.  More time.

What am I going to do with all of this time?  You can bet I've got a list going....that's how I roll.

I returned to Alex's classroom to find him in the front row singing and dancing with the rest of the class.   You could see the confidence on his face!  He fell right back into the routine and he's excited for school to start.  I couldn't be more pleased!

Last night, we left Mallory in her new classroom and I was afraid she was going to cry.  She's been so excited the last few days!  She couldn't wait to see her desk for the first time and seek out two friends that she'd hadn't met yet.  But then the moment arrived and she looked scared.

We forced ourselves to walk away.

We skipped the meeting in the gym.  I told Keith the night before if he found Mallory's teacher and got her permission NOT to attend again, we'd go to dinner.  Based on how quickly he completed this task....I'm guessing he really didn't want to sit through that again. HA!

We returned from dinner to find the happiest little girl I've ever seen sporting a sticker on her shirt for being the first student to find all of the items in the classroom.  As we stood on the playground, enjoying cookies and lemonade, the principal and new assistant principal came by to tell us how amazing little Mallory was in class.  Ninety minutes and they already knew her name!

That's my girl!

Keith and I are mentoring four new families this year.   It has been such a great experience!  Imagine getting to share your love for your school with new people and answering their questions and helping them through a fearful experience!  Now I know how Mormon Missionaries feel.

You're going to love it.  This school is going to change your life!  

End of Year School Gifts

CLICK HERE to see this years Teacher Gift!

I knew that I wanted to put together something for my son's teacher for the end of the school year.  As you recall, our original teacher is very ill and was unable to continue teaching the class.  In April, this lovely teacher took over and has done an amazing job!

My original idea was a summer basket.  I was going to put a number of things (beach towel, sunglasses, insulated drink cup) into a straw handbag......and then I saw the paper plate caddy at Target and I knew that I could use it to hold some fun items!

The only drawback to this gift.  It was a little heavy and my kid asked that I pick something lighter next year!

End of Year Classmate Gift

Alex is not going to 1st grade with his class next year, so I wanted him to be able to give his classmates something to remember him by.  It was a huge hit!  As a side note: going to 4 Target stores to find 19 beach balls in the dollar spot took my mind off the fact that my little boy is going to repeat Kindergarten next year.

Thank you to Tami Wilson Blog for the idea and free printable!

Stay tuned for a post titled: What I Learned in Kindergarten!

Random Thoughts....

Today feels like a random kind of day.

I have all of these thoughts floating around and they need released...like butterflies!

I recently discovered that my husband loves Jersey Girls.  I found out when I was watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey and he sat down and watched intently.  I also found out that he and his brothers' call butter on popcorn...shine.  We've been married almost 8 years and I've never heard him call it that before.

There are only 7 school days left and I can't wait for this year to be over! There are some children in Alex's class that don't treat him very well and he just wants to be friends with everyone but they make it hard.  I'm hopeful that there will be much nicer kids in his class next year.  Keith tells me that there will always be jackholes to deal with.  He says it's human nature.  I said, 'even in a convent?' and he said, 'Yes, even they have predatory lesbians.' I almost peed my pants and now I shall blame everything wrong with the world on predatory lesbians instead of Obama.

Mallory had her last tumbling class yesterday and is mad at me because I had planned to take a activity break for the summer because I have so much fun stuff planned for us.  Keith and I talked it over last night and decided to let her keep going because...what if she is good enough for the Olympics? It could happen.

There is a picture of my ass on Impulsive Addicts blog.

After watching The Bachelorette last night I have made two observations.

1.) I've been married for almost 8 years and there is no way in hell I could write a 7 page letter to my husband.

2.) My husband's new nickname is Chopper.  (he used to fly helicopters)

I am proud to announce that this morning I am being sworn in as the PTA Membership Chairperson.  I know what you're thinking and yes, I might be cray cray.  BUT....I think this will be the perfect job for me and I'm already thinking of ways to blackmail get people to  join the PTA and come to meetings.  It involves suckers.

Have a great Tuesday!

Linking up with Impulsive and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday!

Field Day, The Kindergarten Way

It's been six and a half years since I have held a paying job.

Before I got pregnant with Alex, I worked for a collection agency that did medical collections.  I was a customer service rep and worked as a liaison between the hospitals and my collectors.  I loved tracking down information and delegating.  I was also really good at being bossy.

Nine weeks ago, I volunteered to be the Kindergarten Field Day Coordinator.

I had a fantastic team of six ladies helping me and we pulled off a great event!  Several teachers and the principal told me that it was the best and most organized field day they have ever had. Parents keep coming up to my husband and telling him how much their kid enjoyed it!

Even though....I was stressed out and had nightmares about popsicles.....I loved it!

The planning, the meetings and setting everything up.   I was in my element!  I had so much fun that I agreed to do it again next year.

I hired my brother in law Robert to walk around and take pictures.  He did an amazing job!

Our Assistant Principal was the emcee and I rewarded him with a popsicle! 

Time Is On My Side

I'm in a hurry to get things done

Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Can't be late, I leave in plenty of time

Shakin hands with the clock

I can't stop

I'm on a roll and I'm ready to rock

This has been my theme song...forever.

I have a checklist in my head that must be completed and it needs to be done now.

But why?

The subject of time has been on my mind constantly this week.

At first it was regret, time wasted on a year of Kindergarten that has to be re-done.  Time that I lost sending him to school everyday when he could have been home with me.  On Thursday, I was ready to pull him out of school for the year and say f**k it.  But there are only 20 days of actual school left and we have fun things coming up. Like Field Day....I'm the coordinator.

On Saturday night, I was deep in thought and writing in Alex's journal.  I was trying to explain our choice in a way that he'd understand when he reads it someday; when he's an adult.  I wanted him to know how much we wanted the best for him.

And then it hit me like a ton of bricks!

By having him go to Kindergarten again, I'm giving all of us the gift of time.

Another year to learn and grow. 
Another year with him at my table, on my couch....under my roof. 
Another year to be a family before he heads off into the world and starts his own life.  
Another year to be WITH him.

I was so worried about what he'd be missing out on....that I forgot about everything we'd be gaining.

A year.

Mulligan

It always good to hear that your son is sweet, kind and cooperative.  That he is excited to learn and is never a problem.

It's even better to hear that since February, he's made so much improvement in many areas of his school work and that he passed his comprehension test with flying colors.

But.

He is still struggling so much with basic phonics and he may have a learning disability.  It's still too early to diagnose that....but the other things, need much more work.

We went over all of the test scores for an hour yesterday.  Yes, he's made improvement!  He's working so hard and he loves school and his friends.

We decided that he could really benefit from a do over.  A mulligan!

It's been a tough year....for all of us.  This is not how I wanted our first year of school to go....fights with other parents that didn't support the teacher and a teacher that became ill which resulted in a revolving door of substitutes.

Alex....is actually taking it so well.  I was really worried about it because he has worked very hard because he wanted to go to first grade with his classmates.  Here is how the conversation went....we were driving to Home Depot.

Keith: (paraphrasing) You worked really hard and you did great but there are still some things you need more work on so we're going to put you in a full day Kindergarten class called K-1.  


Alex: Look!  A Motel 6!


Keith: Okay then.

I'm the one that fled the school crying and lost it in my car.

After explaining to Alex that he and Mallory would be in the same grade and graduate at the same time, that they could enter the science fair together as a team and that for his hard work we're buying him a bike......

He's was totally fine with it and can't wait to go to K-1 next year!

*****

Thank you for your support this school year.  I've vented many times and you always know the right things to say!  I love my internet friends!

How To Win The Science Fair

Five weeks ago, there was a school assembly about The Science Fair. My son came home so excited and pumped up that in a moment of duress, iKeith we agreed that he could enter.

I found out later that he just really wanted a T-shirt.  That would have been nice to know $75 ago.....

While on vacation, we discovered that he had a high interest in meteor craters which was convenient because we were visiting the Meteor Crater Museum on our trip.  We learned so much there and purchased some items for his display.

Somehow.....I was in charge of the display board, I was told it was because I am the creative one.  I read the rules 15 times because I didn't want to screw this up and it said that Kindergarteners can have lots of help from their parents.  They can purchase stuff, help them research stuff, purchase stuff, drive them around, buy them ice cream and print out their information on the computer.

What they don't tell you is that IF YOU WANT TO WIN, your child has to hand write everything.  Even if it takes them 5 weeks and their hand falls off.

My husband would also like you to know that my odd sense of humor could have been an issue.  But in my defense.....he agreed to the title and dismissed my other one which was....

Don't Be A Hater.....Come See My Crater!

Alex worked very hard on his project.  He built a meteor launcher out of legos and launched two size balls into flour to demonstrate his finding that larger meteors create larger craters.  

His project was the most played with and interactive project of the 13 Kindergarten Projects.  He also received handwritten feedback from two judges where most kids only had one.

And....the Principal's husband came to school on Friday to meet Alex and have him show off his project.  He only came to see Alex. 

We were flying high!  Our board was the prettiest (because I made it) and it was the tallest....because SIZE MATTERS.  Duh.  Alex was nervous all afternoon.  We kept him busy with his Grandpa and Aunt Bobbi who were  visiting.  

Did I mention it was also his 6th Birthday and Keith and I had volunteered in his classroom all morning?  

It was a very good day!

That evening.......was the open house and award ceremony.  I think these pictures of Mallory explain our emotions perfectly.

He didn't win.  

We are so proud of him and he can't wait to enter again next year.

He wants to build a volcano. 

Lord help me!

Teacher Appreciation Door Decoration

It's Tuesday!  I'm listening to my My Sharona and biting my lower lip.  It's also time for me to chat with Impulsive and Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday.  I will be hugging these ladies necks in.....16 Days!





Yesterday, I showed you my gifts for the staff at my son's school.  They were a HUGE hit!  I'm such a sap that I almost started crying when my little boy was giving his gift to his Principal.  We are so blessed to have a fantastic, tender hearted Mom leading our school.  She makes the kids feel like a million dollars! 
As we were walking to his teachers' classrooms I did start to cry.  His Kindergarten teacher is a young woman and she's been out for a month on medical leave.  This was supposed to be her first day back and I was anxious to see her. 
Erick loves her and has missed her terribly. 
She wasn't there.  Instead, a young man that looked like he was about to head into the lions den.  I supposed the prospect of teaching twenty 5 and 6 year olds will do that to you.
This stopped my tears immediately, but they would return later when I found out that our teacher is not coming back this year and won't be teaching Mallory next year. 
So, I was equally bummed to realize that she wouldn't see what my friends and I had done to her door.

I need to take a minute to tell you about these ladies.  I had hoped that I'd make some Mommy friends this year, in fact, I'd prayed that I would.
God just loves to answer my prayers because these gals right here are the best!  They are crafty and overachieving just like me and I think in a few years we'll be running that school. 
This is what we came up with for the door.

What do you think?

Teacher Appreciation Gift

School.....has been a constant source of frustration for me.

They are forever springing things on me or the information I have about something is wrong and I have to scramble to correct it.

Thursday, a note came home in my child's folder that informed me that this week would be Staff Appreciation Week.  I immediately panicked because according to my COZI calendar, Teacher Appreciation Week isn't until May.

I called the school office to ask about it and they informed me that it is that week everywhere but HERE.  She also made a snide remark that MY PTA changed it.

Oh....I see.

I texted all of my mommy/blogger friends and asked them what I was supposed to do.  The overall answer was teachers love gift cards and that was great because I already had an idea to give them gift cards to my new favorite Gelato place that just opened.

I asked them for ideas for neat packaging and Becca suggested getting cups from the Gelato place!

Brillant!

The next text that came through my phone was from Vivienne and she said I needed to decorate the teachers door.

I quickly emailed my best Kinder Mom's to see who was up for a little door decorating party and soon....a plan was born.  But you don't get to see that until tomorrow because we are hanging it in an hour.

Today I present to you......

Drum Roll Please.

These beauties are going to both of Alex's teachers, The Principal and the school secretaries!


What do you do for your teachers and school staff?

UPDATE:  

I almost started crying when Alex was giving his Principal her gift.  She is such a sweet lady!  Unfortunately....his main teacher wasn't at school today.

The Martha Stewart of Kindergarten

Hey friends! I can't believe it's Tuesday. I've been sick since Thursday afternoon and lost all track of time. I'm linking up with my friends Impulsive Addict and Seriously Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday because I need to get this massive To-Do list off from my chest and I need some cheerleaders to get me through it.

First of all. Kindergarten is killing my family! Alex and I have both been sick for 6 days. He is finally going back to school today and I feel a little more human. We missed a friend's 6th birthday party and iKeith's Christmas party at the Denver Art Museum. Although...I think Keith isn't too upset about that because he can't take me anywhere without into some trouble. I think the party was probably pretty boring without me there.

The Kindergarten Holiday Party (but not a CHRISTMAS party) is on Friday.  I somehow volunteered to do the following.

• Purchase goodie bags
• Make cookies and frosting for the kids to decorate
• Make homemade Marshmallows and Hot Chocolate Balls for the goodie bag
• Photograph the party

I've been trying out recipes for weeks and sharing the results with the ladies on the party committee which earned me the label..... 

The Martha Stewart of Kindergarten.  

You know I love it! 

 I've got a few things done on my to-do list which I will include on this list and then immediately cross off because DAMN IT THAT FEELS GOOD!

• Make cookie dough
• Make Hot Chocolate Balls
• Make Marshmallows
• Make Cookies
• Make Frosting and frost 15 cookies
• Wrap book for party
• Get gifts for teachers and deliver them
• Assemble Marshmallow/Balls for goodies bags
• Deliver goodie bags and balls to Susan
• Mail packages
• Drink a bottle(s) of wine that my parents sent
• Attend PTA meeting

As if this all isn't enough for me to do......I am also taking care of Robert's cat every day for the rest of the month, because he had to fire his housekeeper because she borrowed his Keurig while he was out of town. 

I think I should open the wine now.

How I Survived My First School Field Trip

I'm so excited to tell you about how I survived my first school field trip!

Part of my story is a cautionary tale.  What I want to tell you and anyone that googles *can I bring coffee on a school field trip*  is that you should bring the coffee.  No one will take it away from you and I think you are actually encouraged to caffeinate yourself.  Lord knows those Kindergarten teachers had to be drinking something to get through this day!

I also earned myself some major brownie points because I went online and printed out a map of the exhibit which I told the teacher about and she made copies of for all of the other chaperones.  My tip for you is to write your name somewhere on your map so that everyone knows where it came from.  HELL...just print out enough maps for your child's class and hand them out.

The good news is that not only did I get the best looking group of kids to be responsible for on Friday, I also got the most well behaved and quiet group!

This allowed me to look down my nose at the other chaperones whose kids were wrestling, screaming and punching each other in the face.  I frequently told my kids how f**king awesome they were and that when we got back to school I was going to tell their parents to buy them a pony.

More good news....I only lost one kid and it was mine so technically... I didn't lose anyone.  Here's what happened.  We were having a good old time pretending to be astronauts with some weightless rocks and then over the loudspeaker someone announces a special show that will be starting in ONE MINUTE.  I asked my kids if they wanted to go and they said yes and MY KID took off into a crowd of 120 other kids that heard the same announcement.

I found him....obviously.

We had lunch and I decided that whoever put the giant soda machine full of bottled water in the lunch room should be shot.  I would have paid $50 for a soda at that point.

The end of our journey was to go to the planetarium and see a Sesame Street movie about the moon and stars. But first we had to sit in a line for 20 minutes that I dubbed #OccupyKindergartenHell.  MY kids were good.  Other people's kids....were horrible!  One of the chaperones kept asking me to watch her kids while she went to the bathroom.  What was I supposed to say?  

I kept having to tell these kids to sit up, be quiet, stop wrestling and WE AREN'T AT YOUR HOUSE STOP ACTING LIKE IDIOTS!  I asked Alex if I was allowed to put them on the naughty chair and he said he didn't think I was.

It all went really well and we had a great time!  AND I totally needed that bandaid!  On the bus ride home....one of my kids said that her arm was bleeding!  MRS WEISS TO THE RESCUE!  I had a shit load of bandaids in my bag.

I rocked this field trip!

I've also decided that anyone that has a problem with my son's teacher should have to teach the class for a day and THEN come talk to me.

My Transformation into Mrs. Weiss

iKeith took two days off from work so that he could be the stay at home parent while I work....at my son's school.

Today,  I stuffed folders and helped with a math lesson.  If you saw my Five Things list earlier, then you know that I don't know nothing about math.  Luckily, the lesson was about estimation.

I can guess at just about anything which is why I also don't know nothing about preventing pregnancy.

Tomorrow....I'm chaperoning my son's Kindergarten class while we go on a field trip.

That means tonight I'm doing the following:

• Packing a totally disposable sack lunch per the directions sent to me from the teacher.
• Committing the itinerary to memory. 
• Emailing the parents of the 3 other kids besides my own that I'm in charge of to color coordinate outfits.
• Printing maps of the exhibit so that I know where the bathrooms are.
• Putting the Denver Police phone number into my phone in case I lose someone.
• Trying to figure out how I'm going to survive for 5 hours without coffee.
• Packing tissues into my bag in case someone cries.
• Packing anti-bacterial wipes in my bag in case someone touches something gross.
• Planning my best outfit that is field trip appropriate and yet warm enough for 30 degree temperatures.
• Getting used to people calling me Mrs. Weiss.

Pray for me.....

My Happy List

I'm having a really great week and thought it was time to list the happy!

Volunteering at my son's school.

I worked the PTA Welcome Desk for two hours yesterday, which I think now qualifies me to be a WalMart Greeter! And I stuffed the folders in my son's class which turned out to be the most stressful thing I've done in months! There was so much paper that needed to go home yesterday and sitting in a child's chair for 30 minutes made my legs numb.  Keith was also the crossing guard yesterday. We are volunteering fools!

FREE Starbucks.

I went through the drive thru after Malloy's tumbling class on Wednesday and the computers were down.  I got my Venti Iced Coffee for FREE.  Gosh I love that place!

I made a new friend.

We're in our third week of tumbling and Mallory is loving it.  There's another little girl in her class that she hadn't warmed up to yet, so I suggested to her that we try to make some new friends this week.  I sat next to Nia's mom and it turns out that we have TONS in common.

I had dinner with my parents.

As some of you know....I'm estranged from my family.  My parents came to town and asked to see us and apologized to me.  I think we can move forward now.  I'm so happy and the kids are over the moon to see their Grandparents again.

Vacation.

We're going on another short weekend trip and this time there is a train involved!  I can't wait to see the look on my kids' faces when they see where we're going!!

Rocky Mountain Carmel Corn

GLUTEN FREE

The Best Cabernet for $10

Toro De Piedra Cabernet Sauvignon!  Full bodied and a little spicy!  I love it!

Great Friends

I have the best friends that are kind and thoughtful!   I love you guys!

Have a great weekend!

Confession: I'm Terrified...

of my son's Kindergarten teacher!

She is a nice looking gal.  I'm sure I'm old enough to be her mother older sister and that she is a very nice person.  She wears very conservative dresses and little sweaters that make her look....caring.  She wears her long hair up in a bun.

As you recall, I followed the supply list scavenger hunt to a tee because I didn't want to disappoint her and be THAT Mom that can't follow directions.  I wanted to impress her and show her that she can trust me.

I signed up to volunteer in the classroom to stuff the folders that come home on Thursdays.  Tomorrow is my assigned volunteer day.  And because I also want to impress the PTA president....I'm volunteering at the Welcome Desk for two hours tomorrow too.

Today I was standing in a group of Mom's and I was being told about something that happened to my son in the library that day that was upsetting*....when The Teacher opened the door and called my name.  I felt my face flare bright read as I hurried to the door, being careful to disguise my Venti Iced Coffee behind my back because I'm sure beverages are not permitted in the classroom.


I thought I was in trouble.

Turns out....she just wanted to show me where the supplies and folders were located so that I could do my job tomorrow....because she will be gone and a sub will be there in her place.

Now...I'm irritated because she won't get to see how well I do my job, or my cute outfit that I picked out just for this occasion.

*if you want to know what happened in the library....email me.

School Anxiety

I'm trying to remain calm.

I'm organizing and labeling and drinking too much wine.

I feel like if I can just stay busy and organized then Thursday will arrive and everything will be fine.

I told everyone that today we'd be starting the new schedule and doing a dry run to the school.  I need to know how long it will take so that we can make any necessary adjustments on the big day.

Apparently....I've stressed out my little boy because he didn't sleep last night and now I wonder if I should just let him sleep or continue with my schedule.

Crap!

I had a big Going to School Dinner planned for Wednesday night but now I'm wondering if I should just keep it low key?  He hasn't expressed any anxiety about school....until last night.

********

In one of the emails I've received from the Welcome Committee, it said that Alex needed to wear a name tag for the first week with his teachers name on it.  I had this brillant idea to buy one of those plastic shields with the clip and print out his name tag on the computer.

I stood in Office Max for 30 minutes trying to decide what to do because you can't just buy ONE plastic thing and ONE clip.  You have to buy packs of 10.  This little idea was going to cost me $10.  I walked around and I fretted and I called iKeith and he didn't answer. (he never answers)

Finally, I decided to do the iKeith test and asked myself if Keith would roll his eyes at me over this idea, decided that YES, he would so I put that stuff back and bought name tag stickers and a sharpie.

*******

Mallory is very excited for Alex to start school!  I think she's looking forward to having some time alone with me and has come up with some activities for us to do together.  I have NO idea where she came up with these.

• Go to the mall and ride the Merry Go Round
• Go to coffee. 
• Paint each other's nails?
• Do each other's hair.
• Have a pillow fight in our underwear.
• Go to Target and get coffee.
• Spend Daddy's money.
• Go to the library. 

***********

I am loving my new Cozi Calendar and App!

I went through the school calendar and put all of the important dates in...and all of my to-do lists are in one place and I can mark them off on my phone!  You can set up a journal where you jot little notes about what's going on and then have your journal emailed in a newsletter format to family and friends.

This is going to make starting school so much easier!

Pray for us.....

Dinosaur School

Children are likely to live up to what you believe in them.
-- Ladybird Johnson

Yesterday, iKeith and I went to an informational meeting at a charter school that we might like the kids to attend. I've been dreading this day because it's the first step in me having to admit that my baby is growing up and will be going to Kindergarten soon.

I'm not ready to admit this. At all.

I expressed my apprehension to my husband as we were walking up to the school and he told me that I should be excited for this next step in our lives because it means more free time for me.

As I fought back tears...I told him that I should be, but I'm not.

We walked into the library, 10 minutes early and got the last two seats a tables that were in the center of the room. By the time the meeting started...there were at least 80 parents there and it was standing room only. (this is one of three meetings before open enrollment)

iKeith was irritated at the seats that I had selected....in the very front of the room. I explained to him that it showed that we were interested and serious....not the slacker parents at the back. Speaking of slackers...we had to sign in and write down what grade we were interested in. Ten people signed ahead of me and they all shorted the word to KINDER. I don't do things half assed so I wrote to WHOLE word. KINDERGARTEN. Our table ended up being the sign in table and everyone wrote the whole word after I did. I thought this was kind of funny.

Thoughts on the school:


They have excellent test scores. As in, damn near perfect! They do whole class teaching with no ability groups. Keith thought their slide presentation was horrible. They have a great art and music program. If a student is falling behind, they pull them out for extra instruction. 70-76% is a D. Last year 270 students applied for 40 available slots. The school is small. It's picked by a random lottery. If by some miracle, Alex gets selected...then Mallory automatically gets to go when she starts school.

Do you feel lucky?  I don't.

We walked around the school peeking in and observing classrooms and I had to leave.  I'm so not ready for this yet! Also...you could smell the competitiveness on all of the parents in that room.   We were all checking each other out...wondering if we'd end up in the PTA together in a year or if we'd be one of the one's who aren't going to make the cut.

When we picked the kids up from Nana's house, Alex asked how the Dinosaur School was and when he could start!  HA!  And then it hit me.  Damn Nana is moving to California and now I won't have anyone to watch Mallory so I can volunteer at the school!  This is what I'm going to call her now.  Damn Nana.

Alex starts school in 9 months, 5 days (and 37 minutes as I'm writing this).  I've got to get a grip here!  I can't sit here crying every single time I think about him going to school.  Keith just laughs at me and tells me I act like I'm sending him to boarding school...or to the Army.  OH GOD ALEX DON'T GO TO THE ARMY!

I need more Ativan.

You're little hands wrapped around my finger
And, it's so quiet in the world tonight
You're little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So, I tuck you in
Turn on your favorite night light
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I had, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It can stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, and never grow up 

~ Taylor Swift