Field Day 2013

Jillian's first Field Day was a success.  Even though the skies threatened to rain the whole time, it was nice that it wasn't broiling hot like it usually is. 

The "javelin" throw.

Her game face.

Skooter race

A very messy muddy race for balls.

A very difficult game of "hook the clothesline."

Here is a clip of my favorite game - fill the barrel with water.

Tug of war - her class vs. my class.  My class won!!!!

Finally, the teachers participated in sumo-wrestling!!!  What you didn't see is that we were the first participants.  They didn't know how exactly to put on the outfits.  I knew immediately that mine was not on correctly.  But I didn't know how to fix it because it was already on.  It was so tight around my neck.  Oh well.  Game on.  But when I fell, the whole outfit pulled so hard on my neck that I couldn't breathe well.  I was coughing and couldn't get up.  It was funny but not but funny.  Got it!

I have watched it twenty times and I laugh so hard every time.  Ha!!!!

Too Much to Do

Sooo I have been MIA lately, I'll explain.  Usually with 7 days left of school, I am coasting on easy street.  Testing is done, grades are turned in, clean up the classroom and ship my 22 little lovelies off to 1st grade. 

 

Well, this year, I am being shipped off to 1st grade.  That's right.  You read correctly.  After 6 years of teaching kinder, I am moving on up.  I was a little shocked by the news.  I cried a little bit over the fear of the unknown.  I cried a little bit over "losing" my friends on kinder team. 

 

This requires a lot of change on my part.  I have to pack up an entire classroom and move to another on the other side of the building.  After speaking with my principal, I am going to "loop" with my current class which means I am taking the same students that I have now to my new 1st grade class. 

 

I am not crying anymore.  It will be OK.  There are some serious genius/gurus (teachers with 25+ years experience) that will help me on the 1st grade team.  I will make more friends.  AND I will get to be with Jillian another year.  Seriously, that girl has all the luck!!! 

 

In the meantime, I participated again in this years Talent Show.  Several teachers and a select group of students jammed out to Beyoncé's Move Your Body. 

 

 

This is me and my pose.  The boy to the left in the royal blue shirt is my Jaylen (arms folded in front) who is BRILLIANT and reading on a 3rd grade level.  He has designated himself my vice president.  Next year, he wants to be the president.  HA!!!  Don't be fooled.  He already is the president.  He runs my class!!

 

Of course, the real star was JP.  This is her pose backstage!!!

 

The best part was after her dance, she came and sat down to watch the rest of the show.  KK ran over and as you can see, gave her the biggest hug.  Sooooo sweet!!!!!

 

What else??  Saturday we were slammed with 9 inches of rain in about 4 hours. 

 

What else?  I have been worried about Jillian's reading level.  (Seriously, this is slightly irrational but I am a kinder teacher so I want her to be on top.)  We always talk about the "click" that happens in the Spring semester when a child matures and "gets" how to read. 

 

That really hasn't happened yet with Jillian.  She hasn't totally taken off yet.  Welllllll, I think that is changing.  MOnday night, all of the neighborhood kids were outside playing.  They were BEGGING Jillian to come and play and Jillian would not leave her book.  She read to Ms. Anna for 45 minutes.  That's my girl!!!!!! 

 

She then tried to be the teacher and read to her students but Hadleigh and Icyle were not interested.  But she continued to read all night.  I love a bookworm!!!!

 

I might have bit off more than I can chew with the swim team thing.  Seriously it is EVERY day and a meet EVERY Saturday.  Yeah, what was I thinking?  But even in 2 weeks, I have seen major improvements in JPs strokes.  Plus, I like that this is hard for her.  She is having to work hard and she is doing it so that is good.  Once school is over, it will be easier. 

 

What else?  Field Day is tomorrow.  Temp is supposed to be 93 with 100% humidity.  Awesome!!!!  I will be nice and sweaty all day!!

 

So that's a lot of news for your reading pleasure.  I might be MIA for a little longer until the next 7 days are done!!!!

 

 

A Carnival, a race and a wild cat

Last Friday, our school had its annual carnival.  Students earn tickets by reading books and taking quizzes on the books.  The more books/quizzes you read and answer correctly, the more tickets you earn.  Let's just say Jillian earned a ridiculous amount of tickets and earned enough to be a helper. 

 

Jillian started off using a lot of her tickets at the pie in the face booth. 

 

 

Who was she throwing at??  Me that's who!!!  Remember last year when I did the dunk tank??  That was fun?  Pie in the face - not so much.  It was pretty disgusting and oily and in my hair and I was pretty miserable.  Oh well!!  The kids had fun!  I also kind of cheated as I kind of hid my face when the kids through their pie. 

 

There were tons of game to try!!!

 

Races for books!!

 

Tattoos!!

 

Next up, we traveled down to Corpus Friday night so that Bryan could run Beach to Bay Saturday morning with our Sunday School class.  After he ran the race, he had to rush back up to SA to go to work Saturday night.  That's right - he left me with 3 small children at the beach BY MYSELF.  It was great fun (I said that with ridiculous amounts of sarcasm in my voice.)

 

Finally, Hadleigh is in beginning of her terrible 2s.  Compared to the other two kids, her terrible 2s are AWFUL x 5000!!!!  Seriously she makes me want to pull my hair out.  I made the mistake of buying a huge thing of goldfish at the store.  She threw a fit ALL night demanding that she hold the box.  She screamed bloody murder for the goldfish to go night-night with her.  I am weak.  I caved.  Here she is with her box.....

 

Tonight's fit was over her boos.  That is books to you and me. 

She is obsessed with this Barney Goes to the Zoo book and But not the Hippopotamus.  What is up with that book?  Why not the hippo?  and why not the armadillo?  I don't know why but Hadleigh is trying to figure it out as she is reading it 5000 times.  Good times!!! 

Matching Clothes

I am linking up today with the famous Kelly's Korner

I do like to, no I LOVE to dress my kids in matching clothes.  I know that makes me some sort of nerd but I don't care.  Today, I have listed lots of sister sets or brother/sister sets.  If you like what you see, comment which one(s) you want to buy and leave your paypal address.  I will send you an invoice.  I am leaving out of town this weekend so if you buy something, I will not ship out until Monday or Tuesday.  Just want to give you a heads up! 

Now scroll down for the clothes!!!!

Edited to add:  You certainly do not have to buy the set, you are welcome to buy what you need!  Each item has a price listed.  Thanks!

Boy/Girl Reversible Set

Orient Expressed

 

Boys Alligator/Baseball Shortall - size 2 - $15

Girls Mermaid/Ladybug - size 4 - $15

 

They do not have tags as they are reversible.  Here are pictures of both sides.

 

Boy/ Girl Smocked Set

Orient Expressed

 

Grasshopper  Boy Shortall -size 2 - $12

Dragonfly Girl Halter Short Set - size 4 - $12

 

Kellys Kids Top/Dress Set

Size 6 months Halter Top (monogrammed with H)  $10 shipped

 

Size 3/4 Halter Dress (monogrammed with J)  $15 shipped

 

4th of July E.Land Boy/Girl Set

Size 12 months Boy one piece  $15 shipped

Size 2T Dress  $15 shipped

 

Hanna Andersson Boy/Girl Set

Size 70 (5-12 months) Boy One Piece  $15 shipped

Size 90 (2-3 1/2 years)  Dress  $15 shipped

 

Hanna Andersson dresses 1

Size 80 (10-24 months) Dress with bloomers  $10 shipped

Size 110 (4-6 years)  Dress  $10 shipped

 

 

Hanna Andersson Dresses 2

Size 80 (10-24 months) Dress with bloomers  $10 shipped

Size 110 (4-6 years)  Dress  $10 shipped

 

 

Sorry!  I could not get this picture to flip and load correctly!

Hanna Andersson dresses 3

Size 60 (2-6 months)  Dress with bloomers  $10 shipped

Size 100 (3-5 years)  Dress  $10 shipped

 

Disney dresses

Are you going to Disneyworld?

These dresses were custom made and have a lot of wiggle room since you can adjust the straps.  The bottom polka dots have a bit of fade/wash and wear.

 

Size 5  $10 shipped 

Size 18 months  $10 shipped

 

Jelly the Pug skirts

These are not matching but super cute and the top two have never been worn!

Size 5 - Aspen Twirly Skirt $10 shipped

Size 12 months - Turq/Red Twirly Skirt  $10 shipped

Size 12 months - Christmas Twirly Skirt  $10 shipped

Gionatti-Crosti Syndrome

My stress level is really at a high level this week and it is only Tuesday.  School is stressful.  With only 17 days left, you would think I would be on easy street but this year, that is not the case.  I went out of my comfort box and tried Jillian on a new swim team for the summer and I have been one time and I AM NOT HAPPY.  But I am going to go again and see if it gets better. 

Since Saturday, Hadleigh has been covered in a HORRIBLE rash.  I mean disgusting, gross, painful to look at, revolting rash.  It is all over her legs, feet, elbows, back of her hands, around her mouth and on her ears.  It is AWFUL.  Soooo Bryan took her to the doc on Monday and she has Gionatti-crosti syndrome.  SERIOUSLY??  Who has ever heard of that?  Leave it to Hadleigh to get some strange awful weird virus.

This is what wikepedia says......

Who is affected? Gianotti-Crosti syndrome mainly affects children between the ages of 6 months and 12 years. A clustering of cases is often observed. A preceding upper respiratory infection is common. Over the course of 3 or 4 days a profuse eruption of dull red spots develops first on the thighs and buttocks, then on the outer aspects of the arms, and finally on the face. The rash is often asymmetrical. The individual spots are 5-10 mm in diameter and are a deep red colour. Later they often look purple, especially on the legs, due to leakage of blood from the capillaries. They may develop fluid-filled blisters. Itch is uncommon, particularly if hepatitis B is the cause.

These pictures do not do it justice.  These bumps are everywhere and gross.  We were worried for a time that it was chicken pox but 1.  she has had the vaccine and 2. the doc said it was def not chicken pox because she has no symptoms on her torso and is not itchy. 

 

The doc said it could last up to 8 weeks!!!!!!  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!  I hope it does not last 8 weeks!!  Only my Hadleigh-boo!!!

I love being a Mommy!

I love the "stuff" that comes from kids on Mother's Day.  Jillian's note to me says...

 

My mom is the best mom in the whole wide world.  She cooks dinner for me.  She drives me to school.  I love her.  She takes me to the rodeoyo.  (I have NEVER taken her to the rodeo.  HA!!)  Yes, she is the best mom. My mom buys many things for me.  (She corrected me and said she wrote, my mom does many things for me. ) 

 

 

The always classic handprint art from Rocco.

 

AND from Hadleigh with poem.  So cute!!

 

This morning, Jillian sang in the choir.  Surprise to her!!  Mommy and Daddy sang in the choir this morning too!!!

 

We had quite a fan club sitting in the pews!!

 

Getting a group shot is still a very hard thing to do. 

 

Loving them individually!!!

 

Love my girls!!

 

Best buds!!  Look at Hadleigh.  She cracks me up!!

 

4 generations at lunch today.  My grandma, my mom and my aunt - great role models for me and my girls. 

I have been so busy at work but I have so much that I want to share.  I will try and post more this week!!

Nervous

I looked up the definition of nervous -
nerv·ous [ núrvəss ]
1.uneasy: having a feeling of dread or apprehension
2.timid: easily worried or frightened
3.affecting nerves: relating to somebody's ability to tolerate anxiety or stress

I am not a nervous person.  I am not a nervous person EVER.  I just walk around in a trance most days believing I can do anything.  And then I do them.  My mom taught me that. 

I am trying to think of the last time I was truly nervous.  I believe it was 2002.  11 years ago.  It was the morning of the bar exam.  I was so nervous... so crazy nervous - sweating, shortness of breath, grinding my teeth, and practically peeing in my pants.  Ha!!  True story!!  That was an awful experience. 

I want you to imagine you have a daughter - a sweet, precious, innocent, happy daughter.  Imagine that your six year-old daughter tells you that she wants to be in the school-wide talent show.  Imagine that she tells you that she wants to do her dance routine for the talent show.  Imagine that you as the parent will explain to her that she will need to work hard and practice since she will be the only one on stage.  Imagine that she responds, "I can do it."

So imagine that this young girl does practice again and again.  Imagine that the day has arrived for this young girl to try out for the talent show. 

So reality hit me this morning, I woke up so nervous this morning.  I had a thousand thoughts in my mind.  I kept wondering if she would be nervous.  As so many kids do when they get up on a stage in front of 130 of their peers, would she balk?  Would she want to dance?  How would she do?  Would the audience be nice to her?  Kids can be cruel.  Would they be cruel to my little girl?  My stomach was in knots.  I wanted to wrap my arms around her and protect her from anyone that would hurt her.

So the time came for the kindergartners to try out and Jillian was third in line.  As I knew would happen, the first kid balked.  You could see it in his eyes.  He walked up to the mic and his eyes filled with tears and then he walked off.  Heart-wrenching.  Kid #2 did a hula-hoop routine and he was pretty awesome.  Now it was Jillian's turn.  Seriously I could have thrown up.  I was so nervous for her.  She put on her tap shoes, grabbed her umbrella (she added that element to her routine all by herself) and ran up to take her position.  The music started and she began to dance. 

That little sassy girl wowed my socks off.  With her usual sparkle and shine, she performed all the steps with confidence.  The audience of 130 five and six year olds cheered for her, giggled when she shook her hips and giggled more when she did her sugars.  When she forgot her steps, she did just what I said and made something up and no one was the wiser.  She performed the finale that she created with her Disney princess umbrella and skipped off the stage. 

Now I could return to my regular non-nervous status!  I ran back to my classroom and called my Mom and told her how well Jillian did.  She laughed and told me this was just the beginning.  She told me that one of the worst days of her entire life was the day I tried out for cheerleader.  She was so nervous!  

Assuming she makes it into the talent show (which I totally am because she was awesome!), it is May 24 in front of the entire 804 student body.  I have 22 days to figure out how NOT to be nervous,  I doubt that is going to happen!!