1 year ago
I love the innocent TV shows that the kids like to watch...Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dora, Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, and Special Agent Oso. Braeden can use the remote somewhat, like the On/Off button or volume, but he cannot use the satellite Guide button to change the channel and Brenna cannot use the remote at all. So, they watch what I put on the TV. That is why it has surprised me that within the last 2 weeks both children have revealed that they are now fans of Hannah Montana and Justin Bieber(I don't even know if that is how you spell his name, just using the I before E rule).
Brenna mentioned Hannah Montana in the car about 2 weeks ago and I asked her how she knows who that is. Of course she had no answer. Braeden announced last week that he wants a Justin Bieber guitar for Christmas. Ed and I just looked at each other and gave the "what did he just say" look. I don't know why, but I just don't like the whole crazy popularity of these teen stars. Actually, I am sure the reason that I don't like it or don't get it is because I am "old"--I suppose I did love New Kids on the Block back in the day, but I would rather my kiddos still love Mickey Mouse!
This is just another one of those transition moments that remind me that they are getting older and obviously learning things from other kids. I wish I could bottle up their innocence, because each day I am remined that it is slipping away.
Our Halloween weekend started out with Braeden's Halloween party at school. All of the children at Delaware Ridge dressed up and had a parade through the school and our neighborhood. Very fun!
During his class party we had three different stations set up with activities. One of the stations was toilet papering like a mummy. Here is Braeden's teacher getting all rolled up in toilet paper.
The second station was pumpkin bowling. This is where Brenna and I worked. We passed out treats after the kids bowled. They loved it!
The third activity was taking pudding and making witches or Frankensteins with oreos, licorice, and other yummy treats. The kids thought they tasted really good and I thought it was a really creative idea. It was so much fun watching Braeden have such a good time with all of his classmates. This was the first party of the year for me to participate as a "room mother" and I loved it! Watching the kiddos have such a fun time was great! It really brings back memories of school parties from when I was in elementary school.
In between Braeden's party on Friday and Halloween on Sunday, I turned 31 years old. We had a FUN night out Saturday!
Let me introduce, Iron Man II(aka Braeden) and Princess/Ballerina Belle(aka Brenna). Neither were interested in letting me pick out their costumes this year, so this is who they wanted to dress as. Such cuties!!
The kids had such a good time trick-or-treating with their cousins and friends. I think we may have enough candy to last until next year. I will have to admit, I have enjoyed helping them eat it!
I was going to do our Halloween post this morning, but as I got started I realized that I have no idea how to take the pictures from my camera and put them on this computer. A Halloween post definitely needs cute pictures of the kiddos in their costumes. Ed is out of town and he is my computer tech, so I guess the post will have to wait.
Yes...I am that computer challenged! :(
Halloween Take 2 COMING SOON!!!
Cheers to Tot and Tales! Braeden is doing so well in Kindergarten and I credit a lot of that success to his teachers at Tots and Tales. The whole time that Braeden went to Tots and Tales(and we were paying all of that tuition $$), I often asked myself, will this all be worth it. Well, I can now say, ABSOLUTELY!
At Delaware Ridge, the K-2nd grade students do not get A, B, C, D, F grades. They get EE(exceeding expectations), ME(meeting expectations), AE(approaching expectations), BE(below expectations), but they also get an overall percentage grade for each subject. Braeden was at or above 95% in everything and even earned some 100%s. Ed and I were just so proud of him!
The conferences are actually called Student Led Conferences and Braeden went through and explained to Ed and I everything he has learned this semester. My favorite thing he described was how his handwriting has improved. He showed us a paper from the beginning of the year where he wrote his name repeatedly. Then he showed us how he can write his name now "with quality". He actually said that! "This is how I write my name now with quality."
They have this board in their classroom where they keep track of which number they can count to and identify. Each student has a star that has their name on it and as they count higher and identify more numbers, they can move their star. The entire class is over in the 10's and 20's. Braeden's star is all by itself in the hundreds. He worked on his numbers a lot at Tots and Tales and it has really helped him out. I know all of this sounds like bragging, but it such a good feeling to see your child doing well and succeeding.
The one thing that his teacher said he needs to work on is taking over too much in a group situation. She said he likes to take charge and doesn't like to give other group members a voice. A small part of me was actually proud of him for this. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am quiet in a group and not really a leader. I was sort of impressed that he was a leader, even if it was too overpowering! His goal for the second semester of school is to let others have a voice in a group setting and not be as overpowering.
One thing that I was disappointed in was his grade in P.E. Yes, I said P.E.! He only got an 88%, which kind of pissed Ed and I off. Who doesn't get an "A" in P.E.? Our neighbor actually contacted the P.E. teacher at progress report time because her daughter didn't get great marks either. He plainly said, "not everyone will get an "A" in P.E.!" Well Mr. P.E. teacher, my child is in Kindergarten, so what is it that you expect him to be able to do that he can't? Does he participate? Does he have good sportsmanship? Is he disruptive in class? What are you basing your grades off of? The only reason I am not going to contact him myself is because I don't want to be that parent YET. I will give it one more semester. My sister and I are two of the most nonathletic people you will ever meet and even we got "A's" in P.E. class!
I thought that once I started my new work schedule of Mon-Wed, I would have much more time to do things like "blog". Not true. It seems like with more "free time" just comes more commitments. We just take on more and more and really there is no extra time. Therefore, it has been weeks since I've updated this blog. Ed left for New Orleans this morning and the kiddos are watching a Scooby-doo movie, so here I am with some quiet time.
Braeden has been doing so well at school. I can tell he is learning so much and really enjoys being there. He has weekly spelling tests and has done so well with those. We even continue to practice past spelling words, just so he won't forget what he has already learned. He told me yesterday that he thinks we might be the only ones who practice the "old words". :)
This week is Homecoming for Bonner Springs, so he is going to dress for spirit week. Thursday is Twin Day. He needs to find someone in his class to partner up with to dress alike. Try explaining this concept to a Kindergartner. He just doesn't get it and it is so funny. "Mama, you want me to wear clothes like my friend?"
His class is studying Leadership this semester. One of his assignments was to invite a leader in his home to lunch next week. Who did he pick? DADDY, of course! My feeling were hurt for a bit, but I know the two of them will really enjoy their lunch together on Friday. I told Ed he would be having chicken patty with mashed potatoes and green beans. Memories of school lunches!
Brenna is doing well too! She has started going to the dance class we originally enrolled her in and is enjoying it. No more Mommy and Me with 18 month old kids! She is in class with little girls her own age. She has really come a long way in the last couple of weeks with her crying and carrying on every time she goes some place new or meets new people. I hope she is coming out of this phase. Braeden and Brenna attend AWANA at church every Wednesday night. I never thought she would participate in AWANA becasue she is in a class without her brother, but she is loving it! She is becoming more comfortable being by herself.
She still loves make-up, dressing up, putting 10 or more barrettes in her hair, being a mommy to her babies(who are now taking a nap in the play pen...oops, one is crying now!), and bugging her brother! She is starting to do better with recognizing her numbers and letters. We are still having a really tough time teaching her how to write her name. Both her and Braeden are lefties, so Ed and I have trouble understanding that they form letters differently than we do. She will completely write her name backwards and every letter will be backwards. Her teachers are really trying to help her too.
Next weekend, one of my good friends is getting married and I will be a bridesmaid in her wedding and Carson, my sister's son will be turning one. They have a big party planned for him! Once again, just a full week and weekend to look forward too.
Last night all of my family had a BBQ at WYCO lake and hung out at our aunts' and uncles' (the Myer's and the Cook's) boat dock. It was such a beautiful night and we always have so much fun together. We ate, drank, talked, and relaxed. Later in the evening, some of the family decided to take a boat ride.
Braeden was "driving" the boat and had so much fun! I stayed behind, but Ed went with the kids on the boat. When they all got back, some people were getting on the boat for the second ride, while others were getting off . Ed had gotten off and Braeden was still sitting in the driver's seat. Out of nowhere, Braeden puts the boat in neutral, turns it on, and RAMS the boat full throttle into the dock!! WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED??
All of the women were screaming! My cousin, Miranda, ran up the dock and about had a heart attack. She was shaking. I sat there with my mouth opened and my eyes bugging out of my head. My sister was freaking out because she was on the boat with her infant son. It was such a shocking moment!
Then there are the men...cool as cucumbers. One of my uncles said, "wow, he knew to put the boat in neutral before starting it." The incident was no big deal to them and kind of funny. They were all pretty much laughing. Ed obviously had to yell at Braeden because he needed to know that what he had done was not okay and if any damage had occurred, it was on us.
The whole situation just really got me to thinking about the different reactions of men and women. I don't think one way was right or wrong, just different. It seems like we balance each other out. We can't help the way react in a split second. We just do what we know to do. For women, I guess we tend to do the screaming thing...or at least us Poole women. :)
How do you know when you use your debit card too much?
When your daughter brings you a Dave and Buster's game card and screams, "Look mama, I found some money!!"
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