So, here we are, third week of summer, which is ended with the 4th of July. When I was young, in elementary school, the 4th of July always felt like the middle of summer to me, when I was finally able to sleep in and not wake with a start, when I could lay under the tree in the front yard and read to my heart's content. 4th of July brought watermelon and fireworks that we bought at the stand in the parking lot of Food's Co. at the corner of Crenshaw and Artesia. By this point in the year summer was full swing, we stayed up late and wore the same clothes for days on end.
My kids, they are both sick. We are finishing a round of antibiotics this Thursday, Glee with Strep throat and Thomas with sinus infection. Both are still coughing, both still LOOK sick... I am trying to kick the cold that I got handed last in the family. X had it last week, took him out of work for a day. Both kids had it through the end of school and it seems to be lingering. Couple that with serious June gloom that leaves our house chilly enough during the morning to lounge on the couch covered in blankets until almost noon and, well, heck, it just doesn't feel like summer to me.
There was a good indication last night that we are in the midst of summer though. We spent about 4 hours yesterday cleaning out Glee's room and rearranging it to her specifications. We threw out four bags of trash (school papers and scraps she had brought home). So, rearranged and clean, she doesn't want to sleep in there because "it doesn't feel like my room anymore, and I am scared to sleep in there..." translated, after talking for about an hour to "I miss school, my friends and my teacher and things aren't the way I am used to..." so today we will play school. Well, they will play school while I clean and rearrange Thomas' room. Yes, play school. They will have work to do, then they will eat in the cafeteria (aka the backyard), have a recess, then more work. Glee will work on reading and 3rd grade math. Thomas on his printing and 1st grade math. Thank the heavens for the internet where I can print all the homework the world would ever want.
My aunt thought it was funny my kids were sad and cried when school was over. She said her three boys NEVER were sad when school was over. I am glad my kids love school that much. I hope it lasts.
Time for more coffee and some vitamins... and breakfast. Happy 4th if you don't hear from me before that.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
As Alice Cooper says... "school's out for summer!!!"
...but not forever. Thanks the heavens. Already I have had to lay out the rules... everyone shares, everyone gets a turn, we have to take turns, geez, didn't you guys have to take turns in school? Whew...
So, on this first official day of summer 2009 (well from school... solstice isn't until Sunday), Thomas was up at 6:15am (and I had to wake him at 7am for school yesterday) and sent back to bed until 7:10am. Glee slept in until 7:45am. We went for donuts (them in their jammies... I got dressed, and good thing because we saw someone we know!). They are watching a movie, playing nintendo and play-do all at once. We will head to McDonald's for lunch, to my aunt's house for a hi8 player (hopefully) and home for more movies, snacks and general lazing around. Starting Monday we will get up in the morning and take our poor neglected dog for a walk, every day. That is my goal and I know Glee will hold me to it.
So, I know you all want to know... we almost sold out on yearbooks. We sold all but 23. I ordered 400, 50 more than last year, but they were cheaper than last year (almost half price) and I got a lot of good feedback. Maybe next year I will have more people taking pictures.
As for end of year grades, both kids are sent to the next grade, so now we have a 3rd grader and 1st grader. Glee got all perfect marks on her report card, and I have to say, she is headed for good grades in 3rd. Her report card had one v+ and all the rest e's. On the whole thing, one v+ at the beginning of the year, in the equivalent of penmanship. "V+" is "very good" which is above the level she needed to be at to complete the grade. "E" is excellent, which is pretty much performing at the next grade level. She loved loved loved her teacher, and I really liked her too. She was a kind a generous teacher, just the sort one would hope for their child. She will be teaching 1st next year and with luck Thomas will get her. I know he would do well in her class.
Thomas has room for improvement on his report card. That's good. His small motor skills (scissors, coloring, writing) need work, and we will work this summer. I have to say, as bad as his penmanship is, it is almost exactly like his kindergarten teacher's writing, so he did a great job learning from her, she just has horrible writing! He is advanced in reading, reading at or above 1st grade level, which I am super happy with. She did say he doesn't use manipulatives for math (that is big language for counting with your fingers) but I see him count that way all the time, so maybe she just didn't see him do it. He does simple addition and subtraction which is the math the will start to learn in 1st.
Glee was okay with school ending, a little sad but okay. Thomas had a harder time and I wasn't expecting that. He didn't want me to leave him, wanted to stay for the day. Poor guy, but heck, the day was only three hours long, and he recovered okay when he realized it would just be a whole lot of recess!
So, now we are on to summer. We will be heading to Colorado for 5 days in July, and swimming lessons, but that's all the organizing I have done. I am sure we will have friends over to play, museums to visit, and libraries to go to to participate in summer reading programs. I also seem to have a little bit of work coming my way. I bought some home use equipment so I can transfer video tape (vhs and hi8 for sure), and a friend may be making a family history book (she has been talking about it for a couple of years now). It should be good! Happy summer to you all...
So, on this first official day of summer 2009 (well from school... solstice isn't until Sunday), Thomas was up at 6:15am (and I had to wake him at 7am for school yesterday) and sent back to bed until 7:10am. Glee slept in until 7:45am. We went for donuts (them in their jammies... I got dressed, and good thing because we saw someone we know!). They are watching a movie, playing nintendo and play-do all at once. We will head to McDonald's for lunch, to my aunt's house for a hi8 player (hopefully) and home for more movies, snacks and general lazing around. Starting Monday we will get up in the morning and take our poor neglected dog for a walk, every day. That is my goal and I know Glee will hold me to it.
So, I know you all want to know... we almost sold out on yearbooks. We sold all but 23. I ordered 400, 50 more than last year, but they were cheaper than last year (almost half price) and I got a lot of good feedback. Maybe next year I will have more people taking pictures.
As for end of year grades, both kids are sent to the next grade, so now we have a 3rd grader and 1st grader. Glee got all perfect marks on her report card, and I have to say, she is headed for good grades in 3rd. Her report card had one v+ and all the rest e's. On the whole thing, one v+ at the beginning of the year, in the equivalent of penmanship. "V+" is "very good" which is above the level she needed to be at to complete the grade. "E" is excellent, which is pretty much performing at the next grade level. She loved loved loved her teacher, and I really liked her too. She was a kind a generous teacher, just the sort one would hope for their child. She will be teaching 1st next year and with luck Thomas will get her. I know he would do well in her class.
Thomas has room for improvement on his report card. That's good. His small motor skills (scissors, coloring, writing) need work, and we will work this summer. I have to say, as bad as his penmanship is, it is almost exactly like his kindergarten teacher's writing, so he did a great job learning from her, she just has horrible writing! He is advanced in reading, reading at or above 1st grade level, which I am super happy with. She did say he doesn't use manipulatives for math (that is big language for counting with your fingers) but I see him count that way all the time, so maybe she just didn't see him do it. He does simple addition and subtraction which is the math the will start to learn in 1st.
Glee was okay with school ending, a little sad but okay. Thomas had a harder time and I wasn't expecting that. He didn't want me to leave him, wanted to stay for the day. Poor guy, but heck, the day was only three hours long, and he recovered okay when he realized it would just be a whole lot of recess!
So, now we are on to summer. We will be heading to Colorado for 5 days in July, and swimming lessons, but that's all the organizing I have done. I am sure we will have friends over to play, museums to visit, and libraries to go to to participate in summer reading programs. I also seem to have a little bit of work coming my way. I bought some home use equipment so I can transfer video tape (vhs and hi8 for sure), and a friend may be making a family history book (she has been talking about it for a couple of years now). It should be good! Happy summer to you all...
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Weather
Today, as I set here squinting at the computer because the sun is shining in so brightly I have to do that to see, when yesterday at this time it was raining, and thundering and flashing bright with lightning, something we never get to see here! I loved it, although I hear a person was killed in Fontana just walking down a street when they got hit by lightning and then over at our local little league field the talk was all about canceling games because of a lightning strike that hit the transformer. Oh, and the benches there are all metal... would have been amusing I think!
So, we are wrapping up this year, slowly but surely. I finished the school yearbook and will be selling those next week after school every day until the 17th. Multicultural Fair and Week was a success, barring the one mom who complained to the principal because we had the JROTC ARMED drill team perform and she wanted to know what happened to the zero tolerance policy regarding weapons on campus (they flip rifles, fake wooden rifles). Someone always has something to complain about... I finished the invites for the 5th Grade Parent Volunteer Appreciation thingy that was dropped on my head because I offered to take over Volunteer Coordinator for school. Then there is the PTA Installation dinner next Thursday, the PTA Volunteer Appreciation Brunch tomorrow morning (put on by the teachers, don't want to miss a free meal from the teachers!), and our last Brownie Outing at ArtZone on 6/17. Whew. Where did that year go?
So... what are your plans for summer? I ask out loud to all three or four of you here. Anyone know any good museums (Toni?)? I am going to look for a list of "free days" at local museums and take the kids for some education... maybe we will see some real art, or marble statues, or something as interesting. Thought anyone?
So, we are wrapping up this year, slowly but surely. I finished the school yearbook and will be selling those next week after school every day until the 17th. Multicultural Fair and Week was a success, barring the one mom who complained to the principal because we had the JROTC ARMED drill team perform and she wanted to know what happened to the zero tolerance policy regarding weapons on campus (they flip rifles, fake wooden rifles). Someone always has something to complain about... I finished the invites for the 5th Grade Parent Volunteer Appreciation thingy that was dropped on my head because I offered to take over Volunteer Coordinator for school. Then there is the PTA Installation dinner next Thursday, the PTA Volunteer Appreciation Brunch tomorrow morning (put on by the teachers, don't want to miss a free meal from the teachers!), and our last Brownie Outing at ArtZone on 6/17. Whew. Where did that year go?
So... what are your plans for summer? I ask out loud to all three or four of you here. Anyone know any good museums (Toni?)? I am going to look for a list of "free days" at local museums and take the kids for some education... maybe we will see some real art, or marble statues, or something as interesting. Thought anyone?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Growing Pains and randomness
Okay, I am growing... I hope. Glee didn't make it into GATE this year. It's okay, it's just that I am mad that someone did make it in who I don't think has the wisdom Glee has, and that is where I am growing. Because the GATE program is for intelligence, not wisdom. I have to get there. Also, the other person who got in is more than a year older than Glee. She will be 9 this year. In 2nd Grade...
So, we are wrapping up this year of school. I think it has been a great success for the kids, but I kind of feel I frittered it away. I really should have been working more, on photos, on generating business. Instead I learned to knit, and now I can make socks, so our feet will never be cold, even if our bellies are growling. I need to refocus, and try to work more.
I have been thinking of going back to school, maybe to get a masters in English, then a Phd. I want to teach college I think. I think I would be good at it. I would love to teach film, but I think I would be happy teaching locally, and we have a good community college nearby, and they don't have a film department. OH! Maybe I can start one... dreaming is free, right?
We get out of school on June 18th. The first day of summer vacation we are going to lay around in our jammies, eat snacks and watch movies we get from the library. We will be going to Colorado, just the kids and I, for a week in July to meet my new niece who was born on 5/24. We also will go to the beach, take swimming lessons at the local pool, and learn to do macrame. It is a summer of fun and excitement!
So, we are wrapping up this year of school. I think it has been a great success for the kids, but I kind of feel I frittered it away. I really should have been working more, on photos, on generating business. Instead I learned to knit, and now I can make socks, so our feet will never be cold, even if our bellies are growling. I need to refocus, and try to work more.
I have been thinking of going back to school, maybe to get a masters in English, then a Phd. I want to teach college I think. I think I would be good at it. I would love to teach film, but I think I would be happy teaching locally, and we have a good community college nearby, and they don't have a film department. OH! Maybe I can start one... dreaming is free, right?
We get out of school on June 18th. The first day of summer vacation we are going to lay around in our jammies, eat snacks and watch movies we get from the library. We will be going to Colorado, just the kids and I, for a week in July to meet my new niece who was born on 5/24. We also will go to the beach, take swimming lessons at the local pool, and learn to do macrame. It is a summer of fun and excitement!
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