First Day of School 2009

Dylan had a "fabulous" first day of school according to his teacher's note. He agrees that he had a great day. Dylan really seems to like his teacher and I think we are in for a better year this year. ~crosses fingers~







And one of Brady just because he had to have his picture made too. He doesn't start school until after Labor Day.

Beach Trip

Busy, Busy

We've tried to keep busy so far this summer.

We have gotten library cards and are enjoying getting new books every week or so. The only complaint I have about our library is that they don't have more than one copy of most books.

Dylan has completed one sports camp and has a soccer camp scheduled for next week. He seems to enjoy the activity and always looks forward to the next day.

We've been going to the pool. Both boys LOVE it. Dylan especially likes going down our big water slide. Brady likes playing in the kiddie pool, but has been venturing over to the big pool more and more.

We've spent some time at the park in our neighborhood and at one of the county parks. The kids love to run and slide.

We've started taking walks in the evening as a family. I really hope this continues. It easy exercise and would be a great thing to instill in the kids. A family stroll after dinner is a good thing to grow up doing.

We've gone to Chuck-E-Cheese a few times and plan to hit a few more fun things.

Dylan's behavior has been pretty good so far. I think he likes being able to stay home and not have to go to school. I also think it helps that we are staying busy. I have noticed that the days we don't/aren't able to get out and do something that he acts up more. I think he just gets bored.

Well, it is getting hot here and the pool is calling. I think we may wait until after dinner though - less chance of getting burned.

I Have a Song Stuck in My Head

I was cruising around the internet this afternoon and somehow stumbled on some information. I went to a website about a certain future date (just google December 21, 2012 and you will see what I mean) and now this song is playing in my head on repeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-WmDdXZflo

Honestly, when I looked at the list of "celebrity believers", I was more relieved than concerned.

We Bought A Boat

Don't ask me how it happened, but somehow I got convinced to buy a boat this weekend. Well, half of a boat. (Sister-in-law and her family bought the other half; Mother-in-law has to buy the boat slip and lift.)

It is a nice, used pontoon boat; perfect for our families and room for some friends too. We had a nice time exploring the lake together this weekend. Should make the time at the lake more enjoyable. At least now there is more to do than sit around the house and just swim.

Graduation

Dylan "graduated" from kindergarten today.

Brady was so good at the ceremony. We were sitting next to a couple who were there to see their granddaughter and they were very nice to him. He was a little active, but mostly quiet and non-disruptive. You couldn't ask for much better from a two-year-old.

Today In Pictures

Looking so grown up - observing the older kids playing outside.

He was eating dinner tonight and said his tooth hurt. I looked in his mouth and it was bloody. We went in the bathroom - he wiggled it a couple of time, I wiggled it a couple of times. I pulled up and out it came. No drama, no tears, no nothin'. He's so excited.

It's A Pirate Party - Arrgh

We had Dylan's birthday party a little early this year in the hopes that his friends would be able to come. (In the past, most of his friends have been out of town because his party always falls a week or so after school gets out.)

This year, we had a "destination party" - less prepping for mommy and way less clean-up. We took the kids to a putt-putt place near to our home. The theme of the entire place is pirates and all of the kids had a good time, I think.

(You can see the little bit of icing - he loves him some cake)

(Got his own set of clubs - plans to go to the driving range with Daddy a lot this summer)

(No permission to post other peoples kids, my oldest practically covered up his own face, and my youngest ran off right as I clicked - LOL)

Summer, Here We Come . . .

There is only one more week of school for Dylan and, quite honestly, it can't be over fast enough. Going to school each morning has become a battle of epic proportions. The only thing that works (beyond actual physical violence - which I am sure would work, but would most likely be frowned upon) is a threat that if he doesn't go, then they may make him do kindergarten over again. How sad is it that the threat of having to do kindergarten over again is enough to get him up and going most mornings? I think this is a testiment to the fact that he has not enjoyed this year. I think some of it is because he is bored (busy work, workbook stuff never thrilled me either) and he always feel like he can't do anything right. Now, I know this is not true, but I am sure the things done wrong are pointed out way more than things done right.

Anyway, summer is almost here and we are trying to make some fun plans. Dylan is scheduled for a couple of half-day camps (one week is a multi-sport camp and one week is a pure soccer camp). We are also planning at least one fun excursion each week (i.e. the zoo, Chuck-E-Cheese, INK, jumphouse, etc.). I am trying to set up some kind of a behavior chart that sets him up for success so that he is earning these trips, but also allows him enough room to mess up without losing the fun stuff.

We are going to the beach for a week with another family who has a son Dylan's age. This is the first time we have vacationed together as families, but we have spent enough time together that it should be fine. Jason and the other dad have been friends since college and the other mom and I get along well too. The kids all get along too.

Plans are to spend as many mornings at the pool as possible and also to try to get to the gym several times a week. My boys love going to the gym and staying in the kids area. So, hopefully, we will stay busy enough to have fun and not get bored. Boredom seems to bring the devil out in my kids.

Back to School

Dylan did not want to go back to school today. He was crying that he hated school. I hate that I have to send him to school when I know that he doesn't like it. But, honestly, I think that most of the problem now is that he is getting lazy and doesn't like to have to do the work. It's not that it is too hard; he just doesn't want to work.

So, I told him I would create a countdown calendar for the end of school. Hopefully, this will give him something to look forward to when he sees how little time it is before summer starts.

~fingers crossed~

Oh, if you could spare some prayers -
The husband of a friend of mine was just diagnosed with leukemia. He starts chemo really soon. They have five children and everyone is just reeling from this news. Thanks.

Morning at the Aquarium

Day at the Zoo

A couple of pictures from our day . . .

Plans for the Week

Monday - Gardening around the house. Dead heading roses and stuff.

Tuesday - INK (Interactive Neighborhood for Kids) - http://www.inkfun.org/

Wednesday - Zoo

Thursday - Aquarium

Friday - Bowling for Dylan and Daddy

Bring on Spring Break

Ugh - we all really need it.

Dylan has been exceptionally trying these past couple of weeks. He is especially defiant at school and thinks he knows how to do things better than his teacher. (And this time, I side with the teacher.)

Brady has been a little sickly and has been extra clingy. His sleep schedule is all messed up. He will lie in bed for over an hour at night before he finally falls asleep. At least he isn't crying, but he keeps yelling, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy".

Jason is just wiped.

Brady's Two-Year Health Check

He is doing great. Meeting all minimum milestones and exceeding in some areas.

Height is 34 3/4" and weight is 29.2 lbs. He has a really, really big head, but that has been the case pretty much since he was born.

And the best thing - NO SHOTS TODAY!!

SERIOUSLY

Okay, send me a note when my son doesn't finish his work, doesn't follow directions, whatever. Yes, this is important and I need to be aware of it.

But, is it really necessary to send a note home because he refuses to take a "no, thank you" bite of his corn at lunch? He doesn't like corn. He told you he doesn't like corn. You know that he has thrown up in the past when you force him to eat something he tells you he doesn't like. He tries many new things and sometimes likes them, so you know that this isn't him just refusing because it is something new. I understand that he gets to pick what he eats for lunch, but I look at the menu some days and just know that there is only one thing out of the whole menu that is a guarantee that he will definitely eat it. I wonder how much trouble he gets into and how horrible you make him feel when he just can't/won't try a bite of everything on his plate.

I am having enough trouble keeping his self-esteem high because somehow you make him feel inadequate and stupid during classwork because takes his time and then still has to do it again to your satisfaction. I should not have to worry that he is also being made to feel inadequate at lunch.

I mean, really, I don't care that he wouldn't take a bite of his corn and it concerns me that you think this ranks the same as him not doing his work.

COME ON!

(No, this is not what I actually emailed to the teacher, but I wanted to.)

Mickey Mouse Cake

I went ahead and finished it today. I didn't get to use the template that I had planned on because it would not have left room for the words. So, I free-handed it. I think it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.

Almost Done

Shopping for the party is done.

Cake will be baked tomorrow and decorated on Friday. (Please cross your fingers for me.) I will post pictures if it turns out okay.

Party is Saturday. Hope we have good weather. I have purchased mouse ears for all the kids to wear. I want to get at least one picture of all the kids with their ears on. (Brady is wearing his right now - I was shocked that he liked them.)

Busy Weeks

We've got a busy couple of weeks coming up here.

This week Jason's dad and grandmother are coming to visit. And, you know, that always creates extra work in preparation. Extra cleaning, straightening, etc. because the way you normally live is never good enough to out of town company to witness. On Friday, we are celebrating Jason's grandmother's 90th birthday. She doesn't know anything about the get together and I, honestly, am not sure she is going to be pleased with the party. She just doesn't seem to go in for that kind of stuff.

Dylan has started soccer again and we have games on every Saturday in March through the middle of May.

Next weekend, we are celebrating Brady's 2nd birthday. The good thing about the extra cleaning I am doing this week for Jason's family visit is that it decreases the extra cleaning I have to do for Brady's party.

After we get through the next couple of weeks, we are back to normal for a little while.

School Trouble

Dylan is beginning to hate going to school already. I mean, crying in the mornings saying he hates school and he really doesn't want to go. I, at first, thought it was just because he didn't want to wake up and I still think that is part of it. But it is definitely more than that.

He has gotten notes home for the past week about him not completing his work due to goofing around and talking. I am in communication with the teacher and she is concerned that he says he is hating school, but can't come up with any reason why.

Well, I think I figured it out this morning when talking to him. Dylan has messy handwriting. He just does and no amount of redoing makes the letters "prettier". They are concentrating on handwriting at school right now. They read a book and then have to create a book of their own concentrating on the beginning, middle, and end of the book they read. Dylan has to write 2-3 sentences for each section (some kids get to write less, some have to write the same as him - it is based on the individual child's ability). They also can draw a picture for each section, but they can't draw the picture until after they finish all their writing. Dylan never gets his sentences "approved" because of his handwriting. It is legible. You do not have to guess what he is trying to write, but it is messy. They have him redo it until he gets it up to what they think is acceptable. I understand that, but . . .

Dylan is getting frustrated and his self-esteem is beginning to suffer because he is never getting finished. Then, he gets a note sent home and he gets in trouble at home for not doing his work. He is such a smart boy and he is beginning to think that he is not smart and that he is somehow isn't good enough. (Well, he won't be getting in trouble at home for this anymore now that I know what his perception of the problem is - we are just going to practice some handwriting skills more.)

Like I said before, I am in contact with the teacher and I know that I can't tell her not to push him to write better because she obviously believes that he can, but I don't want him hating school. I don't want him to think that he isn't smart just because his handwriting isn't the best. I have told him that many smart people have messy handwriting and that they are still smart and successful.

As for the notes about goofing around and talking, Dylan says he doesn't talk anymore (not sure I buy this) and that he isn't goofing around (but they may think he is because he isn't getting finished). He did say that after they tell him to redo his sentences, he works slower and doesn't want to show them to the teacher again because he is afraid they won't be good enough.

UGH!!