May 2011

May 12

Abby graduated from Preschool.

She had THE BEST teacher ever!

I have always been against sending my kids to preschool

because I feel that they should be home as much as possible

when they are little.

However, she was 5 and the only reason I was keeping her from

going to kindergarden was because I felt like she wasn't mature enough yet.

She loved every minute of preschool. I don't think she missed any days either.

I am really glad that she went.

May 17

I love this picture because he didn't want the pacifier.

I also think it is cute that it looks like he is holding his thumb in his mouth with his other hand. He is almost 5 months old here.

Bryan's chubby feet.

Jacob was so tired one night. So he got his cars and played till he couldn't anymore.

I think he really misses sleeping in our bed.

I love how peaceful he looks.

David

Crazy hair day.

May 25

David's research was on

Flying Tree Frogs.

Not a big surprise. He LOVES frogs.

May 26

Last day of school.

David and Mrs. Meyers

Emma with Miss P. and Mrs. Brynn.

May 28

Emma researched Iceland.

May 29

I love the bond that Emma has made with Bryan.

She is a second Mom.

This month was my birthday. It is always a personal rule that when it is your birthday you get birthday cake and ice cream. It was a sad day because I didn't get cake for my birthday because of the no dairy rule. But I did find a recipe for cake that does not contain dairy and it is chocolate cake too.

Baby

I switched doctors this past week. I was tired of going in to the doctors office feeling like a number rather than a person. The doctor's never seemed happy to see you, it was hard to get them to smile at me. And the ultrasound tech, wow she was something else... Lets just say I am so glad that I made this switch, I haven't met the doctor yet but everything I hear about him I like. They talk to me about my situation, not statistically speaking which is sooo nice.

When I delivered Jacob he was a 9 pound baby. His head came out fine but his shoulders just didn't want to. So, he ended up breaking his clavicle. He is fine and always has been. He is a very tough boy!! So, the new doctors office is saying that they would like to have an ultra sound done at 35 or 36 weeks, so they can see how big the baby has gotten and then they can find out if we need to induce labor or what we will need to do so we can avoid broken bones, and a difficult labor and delivery. So, right now I am 26 weeks along. That means that if they do need to induce labor we could have a baby in about 12 weeks. Can I just ask, how did this pregnancy go so fast? Where has this year gone?

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Pa and I have been going to a parenting class. It goes for 6 weeks it is call, Learning to Parent with Love and Logic. I like what I am learning. But it is hard to go against my helicopter mom style of parenting. I really want to be there for my kids and help them any way that I can. And at the class they are saying to give the child choices (that is good), and to let them mess up and even hope that they mess up so they are wiser as they grow older (this makes sense too). The sad thing is that all the things I have been learning makes total sense, I just want to "do" more for my kids, pick up after them, pick out their clothes in the morning, nag them about getting things done (because I don't want to use my energy to follow threw with the consequence). I have a lot to work on...

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I have been thinking a lot lately about the signs of the times. About what has been going on with our government and what has been going on with we the people. So many of us have lost our jobs, our cars, our homes. Even though it is tough, it is kind of exciting. Because we are a part of history. I think about the great depression and how our ancestors wrote in their journals about how hard it was and how they were able to get thru. Right now we could really use their advice, their stories. Things that our grandparents have told us for years all those things that have been ignored because they were too old fashioned, well, now it really is time to listen to those that have gone before us. It is exciting to think that we get to experience all this.

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I get to go to the temple and clean it for 3 hours next week. What an honor, what a privilege.

Some might think I am crazy to think this, but I find it an honor when I am even able to clean a chapel. The respect that I feel towards these buildings, I am excited to be a part of a cleaning crew.

Gotta get!

Announcement

I guess it is time for our big announcement!!!

We are expecting our 5th baby!!

Found out last week, or was it the week before that we will be having a

BOY!

We are so excited to have another little one in our house. Jacob with be 3 1/2 by the time the baby comes. That will be my biggest gap in babies. Jacob is almost fully potty trained, so that means I will get to have just a baby in diapers. That will be wonderful!

When I first found out I was expecting I was trying to enjoy being pregnant but also trying to think of all of the reasons I don't like being pregnant. Because I figured this would be our last baby. So I didn't want to feel the temptation of wanting to be pregnant again. Now that we find out we are having a boy, I can relax... because I know there is a little girl wanting to come to our family, so I think I will get to have this amazing experience at least one more time. I am happy about that, just a little concerned about how old I will be...

On to other news.

The economy has hit us.

Pa lost his job the last day of June.

I think we are all taking it well.

I was stressed for the longest time, but for the first time in my life I was able to feel my burdens lifted. I felt the love of our Heavenly Father take the weight that I was feeling.

I know that all will work out.

I know that Heavenly Father is with us.

I know that he is happy with the way we are living.

I know that he will put something in our path that will be better than what we have now.

I know that as long as I have my family I will be happy.

I have an amazing husband and children that are the best for me.

We are blessed!

So, with that said.

They say, "It is not what you know, but who you know that matters."

He was working as Multimedia designer. Web design, Instructional graphics and photography.

So, if anyone knows of something please let us know. Even if it's something different.

Also if it's in a cooler climate we would LOVE that!!

During all of this we have become a closer family.

It has been a great summer to be able to spend so much time together.

We didn't want it to end.

The kids started school again.

Emma is in 3rd grade.

Can you believe it? She is in 3rd grade!

David is in 1st grade, he is getting so big too.

He is the size of a 3rd grader.

I didn't put Abby into school.

I don't think either one of us is ready.

My kids really don't like going to school.

And quite frankly, I don't like them being gone for so long.

Ya know, they go to school for 7 hours, 7 hours!

7 hours where another person gets to have my child.

Where they are basically teaching them what they feel is right or wrong.

7 hours of being with other kids that don't always treat each other kindly.

Then they come home and they need to do homework.

So, Emma gets home and well she needs some down time.

AS WE ALL WOULD!

Then she has to do homework.

She has to read for 20 to 30 minutes

Then she has spelling words to practice.

Then she has to practice her memorizing poem.

Then she has 1 or 2 worksheets to do that are on both sides of the paper.

This takes her 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete.

I can't imagine what it would be like if I had her in a dance class or something of that nature.

So, here is my plan.

I am looking into homeschooling my little ones.

I can't even believe that I,

a person that runs from anything that is scheduled,

is thinking of homeschooling.

But I am.

And I think I will be good at it.

As soon as I finish training myself to have a change of heart and mind.

So, as I am taking this path to homeschooling my children

I started another blog.

Just to keep track of what I have done and am doing.

So, the new blog is,

homeschooling adventures

I am trying to come up with a deadline of when I want to pull them out of school.

I hope it is soon.

I miss them terribly when they are gone.

Parent Teacher Conference

A few months ago we had PTA.  It is always fun to hear about what my kids are doing and what they are learning.

We first met with Emma's teacher.  She said that Emma is doing really well, that she is very attentive and quick to listen and do as she is told.  I guess this is really a blessing for her teacher because she has a lot of really defiant kids in her class.

Another interesting piece of information is, Emma teacher will sometimes look on the playground to see what her students are up to.  She says that many times she will find Emma out with the 3rd and 4th grade boys playing flag tag.  Emma is in 2nd grade and she is on the smaller size.  It is neat to hear that my little Emma is a brave little Emma.

She met a girl in her class when she first started going to school and the girl made a club and you could only be in the club if you "dress fancy".  Well Emma must have figured that there is too much maintenance to be in the "fancy" club so she said that she didn't want to be in it.  And that was that.  I was so proud of her for just being her.  Soon after that she found a couple of girls that are really nice.


We then met with David's teacher.  I was very surprised to hear what she had to say.

David is very serious in class.  Absolutely no goofing off from him.  If the teachers asks him a question then he answers it and all is well.  But he will not laugh or crack a smile.

I asked David about this and he said, "You can't be funny at school Mom, you have to be serious."  I really have to laugh, because that sure isn't David!

White Knuckle Driving

My knuckles were white, palms sweating.  I could feel my stomach in my throat.  I had a slice of peanut butter flax seed toast in the passenger seat.

As I got out of the car I felt like my legs were going to give out, they felt like jelly.  My hands were shaking and I felt a bit dizzy.

I made it to the first of a two day class in Phoenix.  My nerves were shot, how could I possibly learn about Life Insurance after a drive like that?

One hour of driving FREEWAYS!  Oh the fear, the agony, I felt I could barely survive!

Really... I am a country girl at heart.  I can't bring myself to enjoy this city driving.  -Ma

First Day of School

The kids were so excited to go to school they woke up before me, 5:30am.

The sun was in their eyes.

When I picked them up, David was beaming!!  He had a great day, and week for that matter. Emma was very disappointed that this new school teaches math.  She didn't want to get out of bed the following day.  But, she loves it now.  -Ma

Meet the Teacher 2009

We chose a new school for the kids to go to this year.  And we couldn't be more happy with our choice.

This is David's class of 17 students, and his cute teacher in the blue dress.

And this is Emma's class of 14 students and her teacher.

Emma was still in her class coloring.  But here are some cute pictures of the rest of them.

There is Emma.  David was so funny, there were three girls at the top of this climbing dome. The girls were saying how they were afraid to be on the top of it.  David walked under them and said, "I'm not afraid of nothin'!" as he walked away from them... typical boy.

They were both very excited to go to school, however David didn't want to sit down and color the picture the teacher had for him.  So we took it home so he could color it and take back to his class.  After he was done coloring it he said with a twinkle in his eye, "I can't wait to see my teachers eyes."  I asked him why and he said, "Because she will be so excited to see what I did." 

-Ma

And Here is the Rest of the Story

Emma's teacher called yesterday to give me the rest of the story.  She sat the 4 girls down that ate lunch together on Friday.  She asked them if what she was told was true.  All the kids said that it was true.  Except one part... Emma forgot to tell me that Ashlyn said she was joking.  Teacher said, joking or not. We do not say that, she said that when those words are spoken people can misunderstand and feelings can get hurt and parents can get upset.  She told them that I was very upset and that Emma feelings were hurt and she said that it is to be expected.  She also asked Emma why she didn't tell me all of the story.  Emma said that she "forgot" that part.  Ashlyn was crying, so I hope it is all over now.  I still think she needs to get into marshal arts for the confidence building.  Does anyone else have any confidence booster ideas?  -Ma

Momma Bear is Out!

Emma hasn't wanted to go to school all week.  I think it was Tuesday that she stayed in her room and I had to drag her out to go to school.  When I  say drag, really I just coaxed.  She got into the van but then when we got to school she held her finger on the door lock saying that she is not going to school.  I tried more coaxing and the only thing that worked was telling her I would come eat lunch with her.

We show up for lunch, then she starts to go to recess.  As we were getting ready to leave she comes back latches on to me and wants me to stay longer.  We stay.

Friday comes and I go to parent teacher conference, it goes well, Emma is doing very well in her studies.  I tell her teacher that it has been a tough week getting Emma to want to go to school and also to get her homework done.

I tell the teacher some of Emma's concerns.  She doesn't like to be called on to answer questions, she doesn't like her math.  Regular stuff.

Then on Friday Emma comes home from school.  She tells me in a concerned tone.  "Mom, there is something I need to tell you.  While I was at lunch, Ashlyn and Laura told Megan a secret.  Then they looked at me and told me that if I found out what the secret is they would beat me up."  I asked Emma if she said anything, she said that she did not.  

They went outside, Emma went to play on the swing by herself then Isabella  and Ashley  went on the swing.  Later Ashlyn, Laura and Megan came to play on the swings too.  Emma did not talk to them and by the sounds of it they didn't talk to her either.

Let me just tell you, Momma Bear is out.  We will get to the bottom of this and she will be safe in her first grade class room.  -Ma

Drive to school

This morning on the way to school, Emma was singing quietly...

"The foolish man built his house upon a rock, the foolish man built his house upon a rock, the foolish man built his house upon a rock and the rains came down.

The rains came down and the flowers came up, the rains came down and the flowers came up, the rains came down and the flowers came up,

And the house on the rock stayed still!"

I know her hair is in her face, but isn't she beautiful none the less?

-Ma

Way to go Emma

Emma's report card was sent home yesterday.  She is doing so well.

For the last 3 grading periods.

Phonics: B+, B, A

English:  , C, B

Spelling:  , C, B

Mathematics: C, D, B

Penmanship: O, O, O

Citizenship: O, O, O

Homework Completed: O, O, O

Academic Effort: O, O, O

Books Read:  , 11, 11  I sure do struggle with this one.  I always have visions of us snuggled on the couch reading the best of books.  We get to the library and then I don't know what happens. Any advice would be great.  How do I just sit and read with the little lady?

Days Absent: 0, 0, 5 is this why she did better this last time?  She was able to have a bit of a break?

Days Tardy: 1, 0, 0

Teachers comments:  Emma has done an awesome job improving in all academic areas.  She is working hard.

Emma is going to a school that teaches about a grade or two above the grade she is in.  So, I am so proud of her, she does work so hard, and it is so fun to see her grow and learn.

She is still having her headaches.  I did get the x-rays done, they came back fine.  I am starting to think it is not related to stress, because during the  winter break she was still having the headaches.

Pa and I were talking and we are thinking maybe it could be a sensitivity to light.  He too gets lots of headaches and light is one reason why.  They also struggle with getting enough sleep, last night Pa was up late, just laying in bed, couldn't fall asleep.  Then Emma came in I think it was when Pa finally drifted off to sleep, she had had a bad dream and woke up then couldn't go back to sleep.  Every time I would move she would comment about something or other.  Yawn, yawn. -Ma

Fall Festival 2008

Emma's school had their Fall Festival.  After playing tons of fun games and getting coupons for playing they were able to go pick out a toy with however many coupons they had.

I think the lady that took our coupons felt sorry for me.  I was by myself, Jacob was asleep in my arms, plus three cotton candies.  I was asking them to count the coupons because I just ran out of hands.  The lady just took the coupons and said, they can pick what ever they want.  This is what David and Emma chose.  Or should I say, Emma chose them.  David picked out a squishy frog, then he said he didn't want that so he traded and got a squishy ball, then we went around the corner and David saw what Emma had and he just had to have it.  So we traded again.  Thank goodness he got the last pair of springy "eye" glasses.  Abby got touchable bubbles.  We didn't get any pictures.  But she did have fun with them she went outside to blow them and when she came in she asked if I could get the dirt out of the bubbles.  I think the wand fell on the ground one too many times.  -Ma

Progress Report for Emma

Emma is doing so well in school.  At the beginning of the year she struggled, and she still struggles a little, but I think she is just doing great!

On a scale of Good, Average and Having Difficulty this is how she did,

Reading Good

Spelling Good 94%

Phonogram Good 97%

Math Average 87.1%

Language Having Difficulty 84%  She has a hard time knowing what words to use in sentences.  ie, she will say her instead of she.

These are graded as Outstanding, Satisfactory and Needs Improvement

Penmanship Outstanding

Homework Outstanding

Conduct Outstanding

Teachers Reply, 

Emma has done a great job bringing up her math grade.  She is having difficulty with some of the language concepts.  She is a great student!  :o)

I am so proud of Emma, she has worked so hard and continues to do so well.  We fought so much at the beginning of the year trying to get homework done, it would take hours.  But then I changed the time when I would ask her to do her homework.  Now it is right after dinner or while I am making dinner.  She gets it done in 20 minutes.  Yea Emma!  I love you! -Ma