J. and first grade.

My son, the nutty professor, has been tested and qualifies for the GT program in our district. I have gone to both campuses, the one in our district and the magnet campus for GT kids to see what a day in the life would be like for him. I met the teachers, principals, counselors...

Problems:

• As far as classic 'GT' kids go, I have never met a more qualified all-around candidate than J. Creativity, Impulsivity, Mad Scientist Behavior and brilliance, the whole shootin match... I want him to go where his needs will be best met and where the other kids won't think he's an oddball.
• The magnet school is the campus whose leadership chose to hire a demographic look over qualifications last summer in my personal situation. Staring down personal beef and wanting to meet the needs of your child are a noxious mix.

My assessment of the campuses and their provisions for my son: hands down, no contest, stay in our district.

I went to our local campus and was met with friendly office staff. I saw the classrooms, which were large and well-designed, the teachers were thorough and walked the length of the hallway with their class to ensure that the entire class made it to music... Loved it! saw the kids' work, loved the atmosphere...

The magnet campus for GT students: different story. I met with the office staff- so-so. I met the counselor, terrific lady. I met one of the GT teachers and saw several of my old students in her classroom and was really beginning to think about sending him there. I travelled with the counselor to the other 1st Grade classroom - the kids were peeking out into the hallway asking "Who's in charge of us?" "Where's our teacher?" (6 years old - no teacher anywhere in sight). I stood in the hallway with the counselor and then later the principal and had a very much needed conversation about teacher qualifications and certifications and where they stood on that. For more than 15 minutes, that classroom was unattended. I never saw the teacher come back. The Principal's response to my question was in no way satisfactory. She would indeed rather have a certain look on her campus than ensure that all of her teachers are properly certified to teach in their field. My son will not be going there.

I did not relish this experience. It was in no way a fun day for me as a parent. I really wish I could shove my kids in a cocoon and never think about sending them into the big world - but I can't. I am glad and so thankful that God provided a 'no contest' situation for me to make this decision. There is not one ounce of my being that remains unsure about this decision.

As unwelcome and unpleasant as it was, it is over and my son will be in a good school next year.

300

I just finished wrapping/assembling/tying bows on/attaching cards to 300 Mother's Day gifts for our church.

300 lavender scented gifts.



Lavender schmavender.



Whoever said lavender is 'calming' clearly never scooped 60 pounds of lavender bath salt into 300 organza sachets in one sitting.



I bet the next time I smell lavender I'll skitz out for a minute of two... *twitch, twitch*



Enjoy your lavender bounty ladies!



:)

past and future thoughts

what has happened, what will happen...

• jaron lost one of his big front teeth - finally, that thing was loose since christmas
• chris has jumped through several hoops toward employment
• looking at some neat possibilities/opportunities for him
• we joined a new church
• we've never officially joined a church before
• my brother got married
• how DID that happen? :)
• ceremony was beautiful
• couple was more beautiful
• kids transitioned into a whole new lifestyle, without mommy :(
• my sister became unemployed
• i rescued my son from drowning in a pool, yes really
• he's ok
• we purchased a new vehicle for chris
• i have gained 5 pounds - at least, that's putting it mildly
• j had to get an x-ray to find out if his nose was broken
• i saw the teeth that will be coming out soon in j's xray - they're HUGE
• crazy kid
• nose not broken - huge teeth though
• had a conversation with my daughter that i didn't want to have
• i miss holding her for no reason at all, there's no time for that now
• each time the kids crawl in bed with me, i wonder if it's the last time
• they are getting so big
• have been alone with my husband once in many moons - for grocery shopping
• gave myself a crazy haircut, finally have money to get a haircut just not time
• dropped off the radar entirely
• avery has been getting ready for a dance recital, cute
• avery cries and begs not to have to go to dance every week, not cute
• avery won't be doing dance next year
• she wishes she could lose teeth like her bubba
• he scores big with the tooth fairy
• lots of phone calls, emails, meetings with the new job
• feels official and important
• lots of encouragement too
• i have met some really delightful people
• i feel the absolute closing of a chapter of life and the opening of a new one
• saw some ghosts from my past, still don't enjoy that
• jaron has scored i don't know how many runs in teeball
• got called for a job interview through our local school district, i could soap box on that all day, i, of course, turned them down and i must say the grass really is greener...
• my son is graduating from kindergarten
• he's brilliant
• he is also turning 6
• six...
• chris seems happy
• happier than he's been in a long, long time
• that makes it worth all the sacrifice

Rather than using a spoon...

Avery scoops mashed potatoes off her plate with her hand and licks the gobs off her fingers. When asked to stop and use her spoon she says, "It just tastes better this way."
She is soooo my daughter.

3 Weeks In

I have finally come to the realization that my head might not explode.
It only took 3 weeks. 3 amazingly-crazy-so-chaotic-I-don't-wanna-talk-about-it weeks.

I am so glad that I have reached this point after only 3 weeks.
Had it been 4, my head really might have exploded.

I can say this, nothing - N-O-T-H-I-N-G can break me now.

The Rock Collector

He's playing teeball. It's pretty cute. He whacks away at the tee, hard enough to make the ball hop off the tee and bounce past the pitcher's mound. Then he prances at an ever-so-non-chalant speed while his entire family roars from the stands, reminding him that he's supposed to be in a hurry...
Once he arrives at first base, which is nothing short of miraculous, considering his not-in-any-kind-of-hurry shuffle step, he decidedly hops onto the base as if to say "Safe..."
Then he proceeds to kick at the white chalk markings on the ground sending clouds of powder into the opposing team's dugout.

He plays in the outfield when the other team's at bat. The waaaay outfield. There he may watch an airplane as it crosses the wide blue yonder - or he may find an incredible rock. He has kicked at the ground so consistently that he created a crater. I have watched him trip on his own crater. He has now decided that hole-digging is best when done off the ballfield. So cute he is!

It is everything you think of when you think of having a boy. Dirty cleats. Grass stains. Miserably cold bleachers too early on a Saturday morning. Screaming your son's name at the top of your lungs, knowing the sense of pride that wells within you is even louder than your voice.
I love him. I love being Momma to my boy!

A boy is...
Trust with dirt on its face,
Beauty with a cut on its finger,
Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair,
and the hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.

static

everything that serves to replace thoughts centered on God and fulfilling His purpose is in direct defiance to God.

static abounds.

i need to remember to forget the little fires that are being set all around me. they are diversions.
the real chore? to stay my eyes on what i'm here for - everything else just. doesn't. matter.

so let's get to the Jesus part of this already.

Whew.

Last Thursday was our Spring program at the kids' school.
It was my last program there. Three years. Wow.
My kids made me a huge canvas covered in artful fingerprints. Not just my kids, but my 100 kids...
Each fingerprint was turned into a flower, ladybug, butterfly, music note, etc.
Every child at the school has a fingerprint on that masterpiece, it is beautiful!
Oh how they will be missed!
They presented the canvas to me at the end of our program then the staff at my school took me to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner (because it took them about 3 minutes to figure out how much I love hot wings...)

Friday was my last day. It was a hard day. I alternated between being sad and tearful and then making myself detatch from the emotions of leaving a job I have loved so much. It was easier than I thought. That must be because of how excited I am about what lies ahead for us.

Saturday was also a big day. My brother and sister-in-law-to-be had a wedding shower, which Shan and I helped host. That took up the better part of the day. It was a great shower. I enjoyed it!

Saturday evening entailed a bachelorette party for Sara. I was home by 10:45pm. I am so old!!
I really, really love Sara. My brother waited a long, long time to meet a girl like her and she is perfect for him. I am truly excited to add her to our family and I cannot wait to get to know her better.

Saturday night held a kid with a fever and sleeplessness for momma.

Sunday was church day and then I saw Shan and Kari off, shopped for groceries, cooked dinner, washed my car, cleaned the house, loaded my car with all the stuff I'm moving into my new office tomorrow, and lastly - email and blog checking.

Tomorrow I begin. A new job. A new start. New. New everything. My kids will be on Spring Break. I will not. They will be hanging out with my parents all week for Spring Break while I work. This is also our childcare situation for my full-time schedule when school resumes.
I plan to spend tomorrow setting up my office and jump right in tomorrow evening with a church council meeting.

I look forward to this. I do. The jitters began today though.
Tomorrow will be a good day.

Priority #1: Find the coffee pot.
Priority #2: Find the bathroom.
Priority #3: Knock their socks off.

Wish me luck.

Happy Birthday LA!!!

I am soooooo sorry I missed the opportunity yesterday to expose your 29th birthday to all!!
It is your first 29th birthday - most people turn 29 several times...
So this is a moment in your life worth teasing.
I miss you.
I love hearing about all the terrific things that are happening in your life.
I am wishing we lived closer, that we were closer.

I hope your day was happy and that this year holds all the growth you are praying for (except the Maggie Moo's kind.)

Day 4

We are on Day 4 of my son's new medication.

I have been reluctant to talk about it because of the stigmas that are often associated with taking ADHD meds. I swore I would not do anything like this until it began to interfere with productivity and learning at school. And that has begun to happen, so we have started the medicine.

So far, he's doing really, really well.

Pros:
He's flying through his school work with fewer careless errors. He's able to focus in the classroom, rather than looking a bit like a ping pong ball. He's listening. He has really taken off reading this week. I don't think he has had to stand or move around the room to complete schoolwork at all this week. He is eager to take his medicine each morning and says he would rather take it than not. I think his self-esteem is improving. He has known his activity level was too much, but has had a hard time suppressing it by himself. He has not lost his spunk. He apparently sees the benefit, and I am going to try to remember that when I think about the...

Cons:
He hardly eats all day, when the medicine wears off - look out refrigerator!! He eats everything in sight. He has a pretty tough slump in the afternoon when the medicine begins to taper off. He gets a little emotional - not meltdown-level emotional, but still teary. The level of energy he exhibits in the evening has varied over the 4 days. Some days, he drags. Other days, he boings everywhere with all his pent up energy. On the first day, we had issues with aggressive behavior, but not since the first day have we dealt with that.

I think this is helping him.
I still struggle with the idea that I am allowing medicine to tamper with the chemicals in his brain. I have gone back and forth over that issue.
But when I saw his self-esteem go south and he didn't want to go to school anymore, I knew that help is what we needed.
So we're trying it.
Keep my little man in your prayers!