Parent/Teacher Conferences

It is always great to go to these meetings and have some one-on-one time with the teachers and know how they are viewing my child's progress so far.  If any of this seems like bragging, please don't take it that way - I am just writing our family history and it will be fun for the kids to look back at this some day.  Especially since there are no report cards any more....

Mac - 1st grade - He is not the avid reader his brothers are, but he is making progress and is on the cusp of being a reader.  He just needs to have some more practice at home (what?? practice with #5 - I am so bad at that).  He is great at math and gets difficult answers when the teacher doesn't think any of the kids are understanding the lesson.  One thing the teacher did say, that made me smile, was that she bet if you asked every kid in the class to list their two best friends in the class, Mac would be one of those two on everyone's list.  NWEA tests he got slightly above average on math and below average on reading.  Yep, that sounds about right!

Capps - 3rd grade - Excellent student.  Excellent friend to many.  Sometimes forgets to turn in homework on time, but not very often - it is usually the reading and math logs that he has to keep up with all week and turn in on Monday.  He does get a little distracted when he has a story or joke and he is busting to tell the teacher (sounds exactly right).  She has encouraged him that recess is the perfect time for that and he is doing better to anticipate that time to blurt out his latest whatever.  He is funny and friendly and a big time hugger!  NWEA tests he got 99% on both reading and math - way above average.  Yep, that sounds about right!

Daegan - 4th grade - Extremely Compliant Child.  Confident in his answers, but not upset if he gets something wrong.  Very articulate in his way of thinking and questions he comes up with during reading time.  Uncanny ability to play back details from a story they read days earlier (he gets that from his Dad!!!).  He is friendly, social, joins in at recess, helps when needed, etc.  One concern is that he reads too much.  This is hilarious to me because the teacher was very hesitant to say this, but it is a concern of mine, so I assured her it was ok to say.  Not sure if that should be a concern, but when he needs to be social, he needs to be social and she wished that his "down time" in class consisted of drawing or socializing, maybe not reading.  Please refer to my picture of the Fall Party where he is reading while the games were getting set up - not eating junk and being goofy with everyone else.   NWEA tests he also got 99% on both ready and math.  He is sent to the Discovery Room (for more of a challenge) for a year-long social studies project, but she is thinking about sending him for reading and math too.  Yep, that sounds about right!

As for Mollee and Tavis, I was unable to meet with any of their teachers.  I went to their classrooms at 11:00 and they were breaking for the lunch.  With the kids home alone and a lot of paperwork to complete, I was unable to wait around to meet with them after noon.  *sigh*

Rising Cost of Pumpkins?

After our lunch at Chik-fil-A, I thought we'd go get our pumpkins.  I usually make it a fun afternoon and a big deal to pick out some pumpkins to carve, along with some mums and pansies.  We went to many different places and the price of their pumpkins were way more than I remember paying in previous years.

We ended up a Lowe's and they were out of pumpkins, except for these little ones - so I let the kids each pick out one.  They won't be great to carve, but I'll try to get at least one for us to carve before the 31st.

Fall Break - CFA

Lunch Break at Chik-fil-A

 Trying to get a picture of the Hi-C half way up the straw 

 Mac and Capps

 The crew!

And Mollee took the camera to the playground:

Ok, Mom is ready to go!

Fall Parties 2013

Nothing says Fall Party like a little Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!!  :)

I felt a little frustrated that one Fall Party was at 10 and the others were in the afternoon (meaning I'd be at school all day), but it turned out great.  I was actually able to enjoy the parties, without running around between four different ones.  Plus, work was light that day, so that helped immensely!!

Capps and Goodwin

 Crafts!!!!!

 And more crafts!!

 And goofy friends!

 I sat in the parking lot and returned phone calls and e-mails, then ate lunch and headed to Mac's party.

Here is Mac acting like a scarecrow

And Crafts for 1st grade!

 Scarecrow cupcake building

 Waiting in line for a game (I like to document the height difference too - for now it is soooo cute).

 More crafts

 And a game of Hoop-The-Pumpkin

 I think he made?  :)

 Mac and Lauren

 Mrs. Sabourin giving instructions

On to 4th grade - Daegan and Dallen

 Watercolor painting.

 I did come in at one point and the kids were up doing activities, and this is what Daegan was doing.

 Then games outside - Over/Under the gourd.

 Another festive day that I was so happy to be a part of!!!!!

Not what God had intended

A friend, who lost her mother quickly to cancer a few months ago, lost her father suddenly this week to a heart attack.

So many friends at church are battling cancer.

Another friend is about to loose her husband for 12-18 months to attend a rehab center.

Yesterday, our friends lost their 22-year old only child son in a motorcycle accident.

Sometimes, this world we live in is more than I can bear.  A mother should not have to bury their son.  As a mom, this weighs so heavily on my heart that it is suffocating.

Many, many tears have been shed by myself this week.  Pleading with God for answers.  Pleading with God for the safety of my own family.  Begging for peace that only God can provide.

Why?  - how can you not ask that question?   But, God does not owe us an explanation.  And, my peace should rest in the fact that, even if I don't agree with it, everything happens for a reason.  And, who am I not to agree with God's plan - even though, from my personal, narrow perspective, it seems like it sucks!

This is when the Psalms can be so comforting.  It is a comfort that the Psalmist can, many times, openly cry out their anger and frustration to the Lord.  Some of those prayers are so open and honest.  And refreshing.  Refreshing to have a God that will listen.

This is not what God had intended when he created the world.  Death was not in the plan.  But man sinned against God.  And we are all born sinners.  And it is our job to live life to the glory of God.  We are to trust God and trust there is a reason for his plan.  How can I question our incredible Creator's ultimate plan?

I pray for peace for my friend and coping skills for the physical toll it has taken on her body.

I pray for miraculous healing for many.

I pray for strength for my friend as she tends to her little ones as a single parent for an entire year.  And I pray for ever lasting healing for her spouse.

And for the family that have lost their young son - I pray for peace that only the Lord can provide.  I pray for strength for a mom to be able to get up in the morning.  

I pray for all of them to be smothered with love and support.  

But most of all, I pray that the Lord be seen and be glorified in all these situations.

And, this week, I will be hugging my kids a little more often and a little tighter.

My new glasses everyone can't believe I bought

Homecoming Day!!!

CCS started the tradition last year to sponsor a "cause" for each Homecoming week.  Last year we collected money to go toward Andrew and Tori's new home.  This year we sponsored a local underprivileged school.

Day 5 was Spirit Day for Everyone - just show some Charger Pride!

 They held a huge picnic with all our our students, plus all of the students we were sponsoring.

 This was awesome!  Especially, dear to me because this is the school I worked at my entire Senior year for my Senior Project.

 Extreme fun had by all!

 The Upper School held a parade of athletes and class floats.

 The kids were then dismissed early and we got to enjoy an afternoon off and then headed back for an Alumni Reception and the Football Game.

 National Anthem by the high school choir

 My boy - doing it right!!!

 I have many fond memories of running around with friends at different sporting events - so fun!

 Glad to know my boy is not the only 6-year to make a face for a picture!

 Go Chargers!

 A sign that each Elementary student signed

 Our beautiful sunset

 Somehow I caught this sideline shot of Mr. Salter

 Oh, yeah - and there was a game going on.

 A dedication to an incredible Shop teacher

 And the Class Floats:

 The Homecoming presentation - Andrew got to join in the presentation of $11,000 collected by students for the school.

 Elementary Flash Mob

 A long, fun, exhausting, exciting, week - and we lived to tell the tale

 (Mac's ride home after a long night)