Ballerinas Both Big and Small

 My aunts used to tell me all the time that I could probably be a great dancer if I tried. They would talk about my Grandma Jones, and how she would go out dancing every weekend when she was younger. And once she and my grandfather were married, they would try and get out dancing any chance they got. Supposedly my daddy was a great dancer too. My mom used to back up all of my aunts' stories.

Well, I have tried to dance. And I'm sure, both my grandma and my dad probably have rolled over in their graves from embarrassment on any of the times I tried. But, at least my cute girls are making them proud. 

They sure do make me proud too. 

I love my ballerinas, both big and small. 

Different Styles

Glad when I can help.

Even if it causes me anxiety to see students walking around when the teacher is talking.
Or getting up mid-directions to ask to use the bathroom without raising their hand, 7 minutes after the morning bell just rang from recess. Or not pushing their chair in and almost tripping one of the volunteers there to help. Or having no real plan as to what you want as a final product in terms of their "Math Assignment," because you just thought of it 2 minutes before I walked in the room. Or having no idea where you put anything because organization is a challenge for you.

Honestly though, I have to applaud Afton's teacher. She gives them a lot of freedom and they feel empowered. The kids love her and overall they completed the assignment. It wasn't pretty, or organized, or anything at all compared to what I would have accepted in my classroom. But, that's okay. We all have our own styles and one is not better than the other. The styles are just different. I learned a valuable lesson today. I also learned a few new ways to build a gingerbread house from these cute kids.

Nope

"Momma. I will keep hin in my room." ~ Jocelyn

"If that cute pup is still in our yard when we get home than it's a sign that we're supposed to be his new family." ~ Jack

"Mom. It's like a Christmas Miracle. And maybe this dog is even one that can talk like in all those movies." ~ Afton

"Can we pyease keep hin?" ~ Jocelyn

"Russell. Russell. Let's name him Russell." ~ Jack

"You can take back all of my Christmas presents if you let us keep him. All of them." ~ Afton

"Daddy would say yes Momma." ~ Jocelyn

"I just really miss Deuce. And I think it would just bring back all kinds of good memories so maybe we should really think about it." ~ Jack

"Mom. This other family must not love him as much as we already do because they just let him roam free. Come on mom." ~ Afton

My response to all of the above - "Nope."

Listening with Love

I'm sad my boy is sick but we've had a lot of time to just snuggle and chat. And I've loved every minute of it. He's done a lot of talking for a boy with a sore throat and horrendous cough, but I've listened to it all.

He talked about a boy named Lawrence who moved into his class earlier this month. He told me along time ago, the first day he met him, how sad he was for him because he didn't have a backpack when he got to school and he couldn't even spell his name. "How is that possible mom? He's in second grade? Did he not have any teachers who loved him enough to help him? What about his family?" He told me this morning while in the sauna that his prayers had been answered. He's been praying for Lawrence to get help and he's now in the special needs class and he just seems so much happier. "I always smile at him when I see him. He likes that I still remember his name. I think it makes him feel special. He's a pretty good kid."

He talked about soccer. "I'm getting better but I'm still not as good as Justice. And he's such a mean kid. I think it's like you said mom. He probably doesn't have a great life at home. He said that he got hit from his mom once and I was sad for him. But that doesn't make it okay for him to hit us while we're playing. Plus, I'm worried about Evan again. I just want him to see that I'm scared he's going to get hurt if Justice turns on him. But, I will just keep playing soccer to get better and better, trying not to punch Justice in the face to teach him a lesson. Hopefully Justice will just have fun and forget about being a bully."

He talked about his teacher. "Mrs. Cummings foot is healing. I ask her if I can help when I see her sitting down because she hardly ever does that. So, I know it must be bothering her. I really like her. I've had some good teachers, except for that crazy lady last year. I'm sad when Mrs. Cummings is gone, but I also like that she gets nice subs when she has doctors appointments. Like Mrs. Pidrone. She's so fun. I think she's like 72 or something and she always shares fun stories with us when she is here. She used to be a teacher but she got tired. Or retired. Or something. Anyway. I like when she's there. She makes me feel good. I also like my computer teacher. She's the only nice one of the specialists. She doesn't get mad if we make a mistake. But I guess, all of them are really nice. Nothing like that horrible music teacher we had in Las Vegas. She was the worst."

He talked about video games. "Can we be done in here so I can play on the phone? I found a new soccer game. Oh and a race car game that looked pretty sweet. I'm sweating my butt off in here mom. Honestly. I think you're trying to kill me."

I love my thoughtful, smart, funny, sick little Jack boy.

Sticker Placement

Explain to me why parents let their kids put stickers on walls, furniture, mirrors, or doors?

What is the rationale? I don't get it. It was a pet peeve of mine when I was a teacher when my students would place stickers on desks. Put it on your freaking nametag kid! Or your pencil box! Or any one of the 5 notebooks or folders that are in your desk! 

Clearly, it's still a pet peeve of mine as a parent.

Please help me understand why do parents give the okay for this? It just ruins the walls, furniture, mirrors, or doors.

Or am I just a miserable mom with OCD that doesn't get how this simple little sticky thing can give their children such joy by sticking it on that sort of stuff? Am I just that uptight? (Don't answer that!)

Because guess what... they can stick it on books, journals, their skin, toys, backpacks, shoes, etc. And most importantly, it won't ruin any of those things!

Thanks to the lovely, more kind mom who we bought this house from, I had to remove tons of stickers from closet doors that left a lovely residue that stained the wood. Ugh.

And this dang door was impossible. Impossible!

But, in the end, I think it turned out alright, a little bumpy, but alright. Just confirmed why I'll always be OCD about stickers!

I used one of our favorite books that we used to read when my big kids were really little - picked out some of our favorites. With some mod podge, I think it looks so much better. But, I'm biased about my own work. 

Used one of the poems that seems fitting for living in Washington right up the street from the Puget Sound as decor in our guest bedroom just to tie it all in. 

Tag on the pillow just for you mom. 😂

Our family pictures are not usually all over in this room... But with the upstairs decorated for Christmas, I needed somewhere to stash them. 

Come and stay with us! See the dumb sticker residue on our closet doors upstairs and our fun guest bedroom, that's designed to cover up stupid sticker placement. 

In Her Blood

The girl, well the big girl, came home from school early this week with big news.

"Mom. Mrs. Hansen put the Soaring Eagles in charge of planning our class party today at a lunch meeting. At first everyone just sat there, and so I finally just started talking. I suggested the theme, and everyone loved it. It's 'Winter Wonderland,' like your party. So then I just started asking people if they would bring stuff. My friends had some good ideas too. I assigned people to bring lights for the classroom, another person is in charge of decorations. Nadia is making cookies with her mom, but I'm bringing all the stuff to decorate the cookies. So, I need you to buy it. Okay? It's going to be a great party. Oh, and I told Mrs. Hansen that you can come in to do a craft, a snowman one or something. She knows you're good at that stuff. So, put it on your calendar. Jocy can come too. She'll have fun. I already okayed it with Mrs. Hansen."

At first, I didn't believe that this was all happening, because what teacher gives full reign to a group of 3rd graders for a party??? Plus, I  wanted some confirmation from her teacher before I dropped all kinds of money on that stuff.

I called the teacher. I emailed the teacher. I left a message at the office for the teacher.  No luck hearing from her for days. Finally I heard from her one day after school, in person. "Afton has planned the most wonderful party for our class. I was so impressed with her ideas and ability to delegate. I could really tell it must be in her blood to did this sort of thing. So, can you help out? She said you can and we're excited for your youngest daughter to join us as well."

I was pretty proud. Party planning is definitely in her blood. 

Westra Winter Wonderland planned by her mom, but it met her approval.

Hot Chocolate Bar 

Mild panic attack when you purchase 500 cups and 500 lids, in separate boxes and ask the Costco man if these will work together... and you prepare your whole party for this one treat, only to find out they don't actually fit! UGH!!!!!

Thankfully Winco had something up the street but pretty bummed it didn't match my color scheme. 

Freaking blue and purple. What the heck?

She didn't care one bit that I had just cleaned the table and that soon people would be coming over to eat here. Stinker.

Yeah Yeah - ugly sweaters on 2 cute chicks

Family Game exchange

Another successful party that he helps me throughout!