Weekly randomness

Bridget is suffering from some allergies, or maybe a cold. Not sure. Either way, she has an annoying cough. A small little tickle in your throat sort of cough. She is coughing during the movie and Becca says and shows her how to cough in your elbow. Bridget sasy "I know that Becca". Becca says "Then DO it".

Made me laugh

Bridget got off the bus today all upset and started crying the minute she saw me. Some silliness happened and a boy bothered her and got her wet with the water in her water bottle. In her tears she says "He even has weird hair. It's like mohawk". So I gently reminded her that some people might think that having pink stripes in your hair might seem weird. "No mom! That is just cool!"

Okkkkkkkkkay. Just saying.

Becca is studying the Earth. As we were all just sitting around doing our own things she randomly says "Hey, did you know the Milky Way is made of stars and gases and NOT milk?" She doesn't even look up from whatever she was doing. Just sharing random facts.

Thanks Becca.

School so far

So far we have had 10 days of school. It seemed to be going to fine until yesterday. Becca is loving Kindergarten. Bridget has not been crying every evening like she did last year. When we talk about her school day she seems happy and upbeat. My days are longer, but this new class is so much easier.

Then yesterday, I go thru Bridget's bag to see what has come home, as usual. There is an envelope addressed to the parent of Bridget. Hmmmm. I open and read it. It was vague, but gave just enough information to anger me. Here is the first sentence:

An assessment of Bridget's math skills indicates that she is eligible for out district's math intervention program. This is a program that provides additional support in math using research-based interventions. Math instruction will be provided in small groups utilizing our district approved curriculum. We will be implementing a program called Number Works.

It goes on and says the she will be working with a "Math Instructional Support Para-Educator". Her progress will be reported to me on a consistent basis. They hope this program will help her meet the skills she needs for the expectations of her grade level.

Here is my favorite ( read that as most infuriating) line: This is to inform you that your child will receive these math services.

Excuse me! Hello! Last time I checked I was the parent of this child. I am a bit concerned that the school did not bother to say something along the lines of "Bridget did not score well on her math assessment test. Here is her work. Here are some options. What do you think?" No, they just decided that this was the best plan of action.

The first thing I did this year was inform her teacher that Bridget seems to have some sort of school induced lack of confidence issues. Her teacher responded positively to this information. She said she would work with me to help this issue.

I have so many issues with this "intervention" program that it makes my head spin. First, the objectives that they say she cannot do are ridiculous. I asked more than once last year for more difficult math and was told "we do not individualize in math, ever". When we went over these objectives last night, she could easily do them all.

So they plan to pull her out of class to go work with a para. That alone sends red flags up. Then there is the whole issue of pulling her from her class. This is an issue in it's own.

I have to get ready for the day now. I did just get an email from her teacher that she is calling me this morning because she doesn't want me to worry. If nothing else, she is a responsive teacher.

Back to School 2009 edition

I blinked and summer days ended. Now we are all back to school (well, except Schaun). Bridget is a big second grader and Becca is already in Kindergarten. Since Becca is a full day student now, I am a full day worker. The schedule at the Montessori school changed a bit this year, and my day is a lot less stressful, so the extra hours should fly by easily.

It was not a good morning for the first day of school. There was a ton of rain, thunder, and lightening. Bad pictures, no recess, and uncomfortable bus stop waits. Speaking of the bus, we almost missed it. We have a new driver this year and he showed up early! Go figure. I still had time for some photos and held up the bus for that bus shot I needed.

Summer Recap

As much as I think about blogging, I just don't sit down and do it. We did not do any thrilling thing this summer, but it was a nice summer. The weather has been fabulous! Since the a/c in my van causes problems I have been grateful for the cooler days. This week I start back to work at the Montessori school, where Becca will be a Kindergartner this year. I have a few obligations during the week, but I don't work all week. Next Monday is the day--back to full-time work for me and the first day of school for both girls. Bridget is going into second grade!!! Unbelievable. I know many parents are ready for summer to end and get the kids back to school, but I could do this all year.

The girls have been asking for a while if they can get some pink in their hair. It was suggested to them at some time ago (by my hair stylist) and they have not forgotten. I didn't have a good reason to say no, so I let them. I think it looks cute on them. The best part of the whole thing is seeing how other people give me their polite, disapproving opinion.

This weekend, Schaun and I celebrated our 13th anniversary. Thirteen years! We made a change from our annual trip to the Melting Pot and went to J. Gilberts. It was a great choice. The food was delicious! For dessert, I had the BEST chocolate cake ever! Today is our real anniversary and we are celebrating by taking the girls to a movie :-)

We recently added a new friend to our pocket pet collection. We brought home a hedgehog. I have wanted one for a while, so taa-daa! He has not been handled much and doesn't seem to appreciate the dogs staring and panting over him. He comes across a little cranky as he hisses and growls at us, but I will win him over one day.

The photos are showing off the pink, the hedgehog, and one from the 4th of July (just cuz)

Oh my my

Tonight I went to the store with Bridget. It was raining. People were acting stupid in the parking lot. Bridget said something about not parking in the potty spot. I was trying to not hit people and all that responsible driving stuff when I tuned into her words. My response was "Huh?" She pointed to the blue sign and said "that potty sign, that is for people who need to run in and use the bathroom" .

We had a chat about what the sign means.

Deanna Rose over and over

That is what we have done a lot this summer. Since it's free, it's close and the girls don't seem to tire of it, we just keep going. Here are just random pics from our trips this year.

New Pages

These are all photos from the same day last summer.

Practice Shots

So I managed to get the girls to sit for a few shots this morning. I'm trying to figure out the lighting and best angles with my backdrops and lights. This is what I got with a bit of editing.

Summertime

I guess Mother Nature took the calendar serious when it said the first day of Summer was here. We went from comfortable to unbearable in seconds it seemed. I was thinking it would be great having a pool on days like this when my neighbor with the pool told me the water was 88 degrees. Yuck!

So we have been staying in the house. This is our summer hibernation. If the forecast is even remotely correct it should be cooler next week. At least a tolerable temperature.

The girls started swim lessons last Monday. It was pouring rain that morning so their first lesson was a safety lesson and not swimming. Becca was very upset about it that day. Knowing what has happened during lesson since then, I'm surprised she wasn't jumping for joy that they didn't swim.

The next day, was still a bit cold at 9:30 but they all got in. The lesson went fine, so I thought. They ask the parents to stay way back from the pool, so I can't hear what is happening or make out facial expressions. I can just see where they are, make sense? (one mom even brings binoculars) So when they came up from the pool and Becca was stomping and had her angry face on I was surprised. She wouldn't say why she was mad, but Bridget reported that the teacher asked Becca to do something twice and that made her mad. Oh my! We chatted a bit about doing what the teacher asks regardless of whether you want to or not. The next day things went downhill even more.

Wed. the lesson was in a deeper part of the pool and Becca decided that was too much for her. She decided to scream the whole time. She screamed so loud I could hear every word she screamed and she screamed in the ear of her teacher. We have had problems with her screaming like this. It hurts your ears and it is not okay with me that she does this.

So it seems, along the way, she decided she is scared of the deeper water. Fine. You can be scared. You may not scream like she did.

So since the screaming day she has basically just not participated. She will just sit on the side of the pool and watch her class if they let her. I talked to the lessons supervisor and she is now giving Becca private lessons each morning. Becca acts like she has never been in water before. It is a little funny how stubborn she really is.

On the other hand, Bridget is doing fantastic. She loves the water. She wants to do the best in her class. She told me that she is good at this and it "might be her thing". They had a contest to see who could float the longest and she won. She was elated about it. Good for her.

I also signed the girls up for tumbling classes for the summer. Thought we would take a break from dancing. They both like this very much.

I have not mentioned it here before, but I'm sure most people know already. Schaun lost his job a few weeks back. He has been busy finding a new one though. He has lots of contacts and it is paying off now. Today he goes back to one place for a second interview and he has another one set up for next week at a different place. So good thoughts for us please that he will be back to work in a couple weeks.

Dance Recital 2009

The dance recital was last week and I am very slow at getting any pictures on here (as I have been told).

I think I have said this before, but for a recap, Bridget did a ballet to Ballerina Girl and Becca did a tap to Uptown Girls.

They both looked so good in their costumes and had lots of fun. They really like getting up and performing.

I recently got a backdrop and light kit for my house. My first attempt at some pics was the girls in their costumes. I didn't get exactly what I wanted on my first try, but now I know what I need to work on.

Camp out

Long ago, before I had all schedules I agreed to a Girl Scout overnight. It was planned in a local park (Ironwoods in Leawood) where they have rental cabins. I am not one for camping, so if you are going to get me out doing anything remotely like real camping, there better be a cabin, preferable with a shower. There were no showers in these, but I was close enough to home to agree to this.

As it turns out we had dress rehearsal and camping in the same night. It all worked out though. We got to the camp, got all settled. The cabins were very nice, very clean. The park attendant comes up and lights a community fire for all four of the cabins (and later they put it out). So we had some hot dogs and burgers. Bridget and I left for rehearsal and when we got back the girls made s'mores. It all worked out. The only thing we missed was some walking around in the park. We were suppose to get some storms that night, but thankfully they went North. That doesn't mean that we got enough sleep though. Bridget couldn't sleep because she didn't have her music to listen to. We were up very late and we got up around 6:30. Yep, we were T-I-R-E-D o n Sunday.

I didn't get many pics because I was having trouble with things like batteries for the camera not charging. I did get a few of Bridget just being silly.

a night out on the town

After I talked Schaun into going to Old Shawnee Days last night, it was a big disappointment. It was so crowded that we could not even walk around. The girls were so excited to go and ride the ferras wheel and other rides. That was not to be. We bought them each a huge thing of cotton candy, played one game and left. Becca was most unhappy to say the least. She put on her best pouty/angry face, acted out the appropriate actions for such face, but it did her no good. There was nothing to be done, but leave. The lines were so long--I had flashbacks to Disney lines.

We left and drove over to Antioch Park and that seemed to make thing all better. The girls ran off to the playground and made new friends in about 2.5 seconds. These new friends happened to be part of a large Hispanic family. Not that I even would have mentioned that except for as they were running I heard Becca say " Come on amigos!". Really? She called them amigos? There was something awkward about it.

This weekend is busy. Today I am giving a massage and tonight the girls have work rehearsal for their dance recital on Sunday. Tomorrow, Bridget and I have a Girl Scout camp thing in a local park. Don't worry, there are cabins for me....I mean us. We have to leave the park and head over to the school for the dress rehearsal then return to sleep in the park. So Bridget will be running around on trails and playing in a park, leave and have to get all prettied up for dress rehearsal and then return to the park. Bad planning by me. Then Sunday is the actual dance recital. Have I mentioned my dislike of driving before?

I'm just sitting here enjoying the post-rain breeze thru the window. Tonight the girls and I spend several chatting and crafting. Bridget decided to plan a dance competition. She made flyers to be mailed to the competitors. She is so serious about it. Becca spent the evening making little mini cards for people. Both girls have two loose teeth. It seems odd to me that Becca is already going to loose teeth. Well, just having some random thoughts. The girls don't seem to miss school at all. Bridget has been reading everyday, on her own, so that is good. Tomorrow I am getting a massage and I'M SO EXCITED. It has been too long. This weekend we have the girls dance recital and Bridget and I have camp out event. That should be interesting.

I've been scrapping!

School is out and I got busy doing what I love. Here are the things I made this week. A "Family" arrow sign, an altered candy box, and two layouts.

Lifetouch photography sucks

Every year this company photographs most of the school age children in the area. They seems to have the market saturated. Knowing this, you would think they could produce good photos. Maybe it is just me, maybe others think they are good, but I am always disappointed.

This year I sent Bridget to school in her everyday play jeans with a cute top. I marked the paper saying I only wanted head shots. You can see here what I got back. So now I know that they cannot read.

Becca's photos were posed okay but the color when they were printed is terrible. Her shirt was a bright pink that matched her boots. It was not orange or red.