School Rules

School has started with plenty of rules. :) Aiden came home on Friday with his folder of work completed from the week. I was a bit taken back at this following picture, asked him about it, and then died laughing. 

Apparently the students and the teacher discussed what rules they should have for the class. (I'm used to this method, being a teacher myself, which the teacher eventually simplifies all suggestions to the basic 5 or so.)

Aiden's rule: "No Punching in the wewe."

Otherwise known as "Keep your hands and objects to yourself." 

Classic.

snow day

SNOW DAY!!! This is what we Floridians call snow: shaved ice. The boys had a great time with classmates enjoying the snow.  I think they had more fun with their Daddy, personally. 

The preparation...

Drew chucking snow at Dave. 

Aiden and his daddy.

Dave held Aiden in the hose and had him drenched!!! I was a little slow with camera and only captured the end.  Those who know Aiden know that he was not so pleased with the shot of snow to the face!

Drew looking to throw one at Mommy. 

Drew chasing Dave. 

We had a blast!  I'm so thankful Dave has a job where he has some freedom to come and make snow day.  By the way, my family in Ohio thinks this is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS.  They can't believe what they are seeing. Well, seeing is believing.  We pay for snow.

tackling form

woohoo!  the last day of school for 2008 has come and gone.  the boys had their christmas program this morning.  what a wonderful time of angst and joy.  angst as i was desperately praying that drew would behave himself, and aiden would not knock down the background.  joy as dave and i laughed throughout the whole production.  the boys are truly funny when they perform.

aiden gave the kid next to him a 'thumbs up' after they recited their lines. 

drew hammed it up for his parents, commenting later, "but mom!  i didn't jump!  i didn't jump mom!"  he did everything BUT jump.  i should have counted how many adults made mention of my silly 4 year old, but then i would have been bored after 20....

***********

is it sad that i look forward to exam week?  

what's not to love? half days, students quiet as they desperately scribble down vague answers, half days, christmas joy, half days.... did i mention half days?

2 whole weeks of relaxation and trying to keep the boys entertained.  oh, i almost forgot about the highlight of our week: drew's behavior on wednesday.

drew had a COMPLETELY horrible day on wednesday, but i can't help but feel mildly responsible.  i mean, he did inherit my sin nature, especially my lack of patience and frustration that ensues from people's erratic behavior. let me explain:

we didn't arrive home until 10 p.m. on tuesday after band practice.  i was SO frustrated from the night, really frustrated at myself for my decreasing skill on the piano.  with my piano in storage in cleveland, i don't come close to practicing... EVER.  a bit frustrating to me as my dear, wonderful husband continues to take easy worship songs and mess with them to make new, "cooler" arrangements.  thus, my frustration increases. 

crashing in bed at 10:00, i knew the next day was going to be a little rough.  WE WILL BE ON TIME FOR SCHOOL.  i am a teacher after all.

so here's the run-down:

1. drew bit a kid who wouldn't give him a ball.  frustration.  i can relate.  he had a little talking from the principal and the nurse.... daddy would deal with him later that night.

2. i picked drew up from aftercare to find out that he had a rough time at lunch... or really HE was the one who was rough.  he pushed and was all around nasty.

3.  treasure box.  he took 2 treasures ***aghast**** and therefore, received none.  drew was NOT pleased.

4. after school.  he tackled a birthday girl, nonetheless, on the playground because he didn't want her to have the swing.  (i was somewhat tempted to ask the childcare worker if his form was ok on the tackle.... already thinking about a future in football or MMA.  i digress.)

so let's just say that drew had a nice, long nap at home.  daddy had his discipline moment and then a much better week.  drew did have to apologize to about 10 people the next day, but i would say it was a successful end to a very tough day.

i love you little man.  one day we will laugh hysterically over the things you did as a kid. 

stalker mom

i'm officially a stalker mom, defender of the defenseless (AKA: my boys).  dave previously wrote about the all-new craze of bakugan toys.  our boys have two: 1 each.  

well, yesterday i picked the kids up from school and discovered that aiden had snuck a bakugan to school, trading it for another.  only he didn't trade his....  he traded drew's.

 

i was not a happy camper.  aiden defended himself by saying, "but mom! i got one in return!!!" let me explain: earlier this week dave had to detail the concept of trading.  trading means giving and then RECEIVING a toy in return. 

so off i march to school with the boys in tow.  super mom to rescue drew's traded toy.  have we mentioned how the manufacturer is making a LOAD off of these toys?  every store is sold out, hence why the boys only have one bakugan each.  some of these kids at school have 10+.  it's completely crazy.

the child aiden traded with was still in aftercare, but no bakugan in sight.  he had already traded it with another boy.  ARGGGHHHH.

my two (count them: one, two...) planning periods were eaten up trying to unravel the trade.  but i prevailed.  :) (are you surprised?)  

drew has his toy.  aiden learned a lesson. mom is tired.  

**** gum update****

i have officially caught #50.  about 10 students are in the process of paying still.  some have payment plans. :)  what a great way to save for Christmas.  i could kiss the administrator who came up with this rule, but then that would be gross.

 

taking a breath...

finally, a breather.  we've been running, both dave and myself.  dave has fervently been working on small groups this past week.  (if you didn't know, dave is also the small groups pastor at calvary chapel.) calvary connection day was sunday, pushing people to "connect" into a small group.  pastor mike and dave team-taught this sunday for a powerful message about discipleship and character building. :)  made my heart proud to be a part of a great church body and staff.  

on the other hand, i am trying to prepare my classes so i can travel north to orlando at a moment's notice.  lisa is expecting a baby this friday, if she doesn't go earlier. my new niece, ryan addison, should arrive on the 19th!  i'm totally pumped for another girl in the family. the grandkids number at 3 boys and (soon-to-be) 2 girls. 

side note:  gum is doing very well. :)  i've caught a total of 19 kids: 12 have paid.  hahaha.  makes me laugh.

tuesday

man!  i'm tired.  i feel like i'm a first year teacher all over again with the work hours i am putting in.  such is the life with new curriculum (or really a new year in a new grade).  tonight is our parent/teacher orientation so i figured i'll relax a bit on the internet before i head over. 

i even overheard dave telling a friend that he hasn't seen me work this hard in a LONG time. :)  so it's true. i've even logged weekend hours..... multiple weeks in a row. ouch.  the joys of teaching.....

gum update:  i've collected on 6 kids ($60 for me) and another 7 to come in.  that's right: i'm up to 13 kids so far.  now i'm starting to ponder if i should put the money down on a new camera.  it's so hard.  kinda like if you pay $$$ for a car.  once you save up, it's hard to spend. 

plus, i've been suckered into helping sponsor the junior class.  apparently, this is the hardest year as they need to fundraise for the prom and other events that are happening.  WONDERFUL.  it's a GOOD thing i like those kids!!!!!

gotta run.  keep chewin' out there. 

school

so we made it through the first week.  most people take pictures of their kids in the morning before the first day.  but we're above that... or really i was out of the house before they were awake.  so here's a photo AFTER school.  they're smiling!  school is kicking in and they love it.  

i am TIRED and probably will head towards school tomorrow, yes- on a saturday, to write some tests and lesson plan. ahhhh, the work of a teacher never fails.

my classes overall are great.  i really enjoy some of the class dynamics this year.  :) hope it stays that way!!!  dave and i prayed together the night before, settling my nerves.  i think i had so many things running through my mind.  

the 2008-2009 school year: praying it's a good one!

aiden reads jane austen.....

2 more days until heather arrives!  the countdown continues.....

exciting news is about my dear aiden trace: he is reading as of this week!  the funny part is this was a goal of mine for the summer.  ask me how many times i've REALLY sat down and worked with him.... that would be a big, fat ZERO. (now dave claims that he has, but we all know that's not the truth!!)

as of 2 weeks ago, i took the boys to the library to receive their official library cards.  hey, i am a teacher and figure that's the least i can do for my children.  anywho- we love to read dr. seuss books together (who doesn't?) and drew borrowed "Hop on Pop."  gotta love it.  aiden took so well to it that he read the whole book out loud with just a few helps from mom, the teacher.  

so great.  right before kindergarten, my oldest can officially say he is a beginning reader.  we're practicing every day, twice a day.  i'll admit that i'm looking for the praise from the kindergarten teacher! ha.  maybe even some denari from her check since i've done her job.  either that or she can trade me places and teach the high schoolers.  let's face it: 1 child out of her class is already reading. 

now just to work on drew......

wednesday

3 more days!!! the countdown continues....

i stopped by the school to drop off some bulletin boarders.  i'm starting to get excited about the year.  it's been a great summer though.  sleeping in, doing whatever i want, uh.... is it too early to look forward to christmas break?

off to walmart we go.  i spent $79 on school supplies.  is that a lot?  i was actually thinking it would be closer to $100, so i was pretty impressed.  i'm missing 2 little things so i'm currently giving my inner self a high five for completing that task 2 weeks before school starts.  i know i rock. 

now if i can just hide the school stuff for awhile.  the boys last year ripped into the supplies and i had to shoo them away continually. it's pretty bad. 

did i mention my biggest reason why i'm excited for school?  i lose weight.  that's right: dropping dress sizes.  staying home increase the waste line and going to work drops it.  

so i'm looking forward to being skinny and dumping some knowledge into those high schoolers.