Calgon Take Me Away!!!

I'm hiding from my kids...

They are all upstairs yelling and screaming at each other, and probably hitting too.

I should probably go intervene, but I am done!!!

They're learning problem solving skills right??
Let me tell you a little about my day.

We got home from our trip to Utah last night. Late enough that we just unloaded everything into the living room, got the kids ready for bed, and figured we'd deal with the mess in the morning, after a good, long night's sleep to get over the lack of sleep and overload of sugar from our Easter vacation.

Sydney was up at 5:00!! Luckily she fell back asleep till 6:20 when Hayden woke up and was bored and wanted someone to play with so he decided hitting her with a play sword would be a great way to wake her up.

He was kicked out of the room and he went downstairs to write a note to his teacher that said, "Yesterday I had a blast, but today I am sad." Sealed it in an envelope and everything.

Ah, 10 minutes to cuddle with my baby while she watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. But she wasn't in the mood to cuddle. She was in the mood to talk, and talk, and talk. When she tells you something she'll say it over and over and over again until you give her an answer, and it has to be more than a sleepy, "yes, uh huh."

Before long Rebecca was awake and ready to party by jumping in bed where I was still trying to get some sleep and decided to fight Sydney for her spot. So this resulted in two little girls jumping over my body, fighting for each others' spot, as I was still telling myself I could get a few more minutes of sleep.

Next, Hayden decided he needed a shower before school, and even though he always knows where to place the handle for the correct temperature, for some reason today he needed me to help him.

At this point I knew it was pointless, I better greet the morning as it was running me over.

Got up, came downstairs to the GIANT mess that awaited us. It looked like our vacation threw up all over our living room. But, no time to deal with that now, gotta get Hayden off to school after breakfast.

Got breakfast ready and the kids ready to walk out the door while hearing Sydney repeat the phrase, "I know that" after every direction I gave.
"Sydney, you need to eat your breakfast"
"I know that" - as she's walking away from her breakfast up the stairs.
"Syd, that is Rebecca's leapster, you need to give it to her."
"I know that" - as she walks away from me, playing the Leapster.
over and over again.
A very cute phrase that your child says can easily be ruined when you're tired, and it is said 100 times in a day.

Finally, got Hayden off to school, and back home to get Rebecca ready for preschool. She decided she wanted to take a flower pot that was given to me and fill it with dirt and flowers and give it to her teacher. I guess, it's not mine anymore. 3 minutes before we had to walk out the door Sydney decided the dirt would look better all over the one spot of our living room carpet that you could see, so she dumped it out. As quickly as we could we scooped it back in the pot and left, just to have it spill all over the seat of my van again as I turned a corner. Add vacuum the van to the to do list today.

After dropping her off I went shopping and the sweet cashier at Walmart asked me if my baby was due soon! Niiice, yeah, I'm 20 weeks today. Glad that I look like I could be due any day.

Planned to clean while Rebecca was at school, but had to sit RIGHT NEXT to my whiny, angry daughter to watch the Wiggles instead. (But truly, I didn't really WANT to clean anyway)

Throughout the day, Sydney who has been potty trained for a good month now decided to run to the toilet, stand right next to it, and pee all over the floor. Not once, not twice today, but three times before I gave up and she is wearing a diaper for the rest of the day.

Finally got the house cleaned up... well, most of the mess from downstairs was moved to an organized mess upstairs, but out of sight from any visitors.

I put Sydney down a little early for her nap knowing how tired she was, and she should have a long nap for both of our sanity. Lucky me, she woke up less than 2 hours later just in time for my tutoring student to show up. The kids are "supposed" to be having quiet time upstairs during my tutoring hour, but Sydney is still a little young, so she is the only one allowed downstairs. Exactly why I schedule tutoring during nap times.

Anyway, halfway through tutoring Sydney came downstairs with my make up all over her face, she even had foundation rubbed on her face and into her hair, blush, eye shadow, the whole shabang. Lovely! But, of course I have to keep my cool because I have a student right there. Luckily Rebecca (the make up artist) took her punishment well.

Just been a lovely day right?? I love my kids, but yes, this is an early bedtime night..for all. Is 6:00 too early??! :)

Hayden's Progress Report

So, this will totally be a brag-fest on my boy, but... deal with it:)

Hayden is absolutely loving Kindergarten, and I am so glad he has such a love of learning. About a month ago his teacher pulled me aside as I was picking him up from school. She told me that he is doing a great job in Kindergarten, and the reading list he's on is the list they hope for kids to pass off by the end of 2nd grade! She wondered if I would be ok with him going into First grade for reading time, about an hour, each day. WOW! I'm so proud of him! And he was so excited to be able to go into first grade, especially since most of his friends from church are in first grade.

He brought home his report card a couple weeks ago, and just so I have it documented, and can come back and read it when I can't find it in my piles of paper in the future, here are the comments from his teacher, Mrs. Ficklin, who is amazing!

"Hayden's 1st and 2nd trimesters of kindergarten have been exemplary. He is proficient at all the skills that have been taught so far in Reading, Writing, and Math. Even though he entered kindergarten already knowing most of the letters and sounds, he shows an eagerness to acquire and apply new skills. Hayden is a quiet leader in our classroom. He is always very willing to participate in class discussions and activities. He is helpful and respectful to me and to his classmates. Hayden is on the EIGHTH sight word list - awesome! I encourage you to continue to read with him every day so his reading fluency, comprehension, and love of reading will continue to develop. Going to the first grade for reading will further enhance his reading skills as well. I have truly enjoyed having Hayden in our class - keep up the good work!"

I am very proud of my boy!

He received the academic achievement award and the citizenship award at the awards ceremony.

His class was participating in the flag ceremony last Friday so we stood in the freezing cold wind and watched them perform!

Hayden is a sweet, obedient boy. When the school year started I wasn't so worried about his academic performance because I already knew he loved to learn. I think the thing I was the most concerned about is that in groups of people he gets very quiet and is a bit of a follower, not that that is bad to follow once in a while. Actually I'm like that in new situations too. I just didn't want him to get lost in his large kindergarten class because he isn't a behavior problem, and he always does what is asked. I'm so happy to hear that he is a "quiet leader" in the classroom, and I've observed this too when I go in to help.

One last brag - I was so proud of him today as we were walking to the car when I picked him up from school. He was talking with a friend of his, and his friend was laughing about how he called a girl a mean name in Spanish, but the girl didn't know it was a mean word. (Hayden is one of the few kids in his class that doesn't speak Spanish, and he laughs at how all he knows is "uno") I didn't say anything, but quietly listened to see what Hayden would say to this boy, and without missing a beat, he stood up for the little girl and told his friend in a nice way that what he said wasn't nice, and she would feel bad if she knew what he said. Then he suggested he apologize to her tomorrow. WOW! I was beaming with pride for my good little boy!
As I checked on him before I went to bed the other night I stopped to watch him sleep for a few minutes. I stroked his head and couldn't help but get overwhelmed with emotion. How has this boy that was my tiny 5 pound 9 ounce baby boy grown to be such a smart, grown up, kindergarten boy with a personality all his own and growing more and more independent each day. Time has flown quickly. We have tried to teach him right and wrong. We've tried to be good examples and good parents. But I'm not silly enough to think that it's all because of me that he is the way he is. This precious boy, (along with my other children as well) brought something special with him when he came to us. He is a child of God, not just mine. And I'm so happy to see the choices he's made so far, and hope he continues to stand up for what is right, and in his own loving way, help others to see the right too.

a little warning

Someone had a bad day....

Suction Cup Shoes

As we were driving in the car the other day, Rebecca asked a VERY important question...

R: Mom, when are we going to buy me some suction cup shoes?!

Me: Suction cup shoes??

R: Yeah, so that I can walk up the walls.

Me: Um, they don't really sell suction cup shoes, they just have them on cartoons.

R: But I REALLY want them!

Me: (crushing her dreams) Sweetie, even if they did sell them, they wouldn't really work and let you walk on the walls.

R: Please?? I really want my suction cup shoes.

Me: Well, if we ever see suction cup shoes in the store we will buy them.

R: YAY!! Can they be pink?

Me: I guess, if we ever see pink suction cup shoes in the store we'll buy them for you.

R: I'm so excited to be able to walk on the walls and ceiling.

I love the imagination of that girl.