Boys, it's time to go to the Dentist...
Our life is very crazy with getting everyone where they need to go when they need to be there - especially when we are all going in different directions and considering that Devon needs to be able to pick up kids and she doesn't have a car. This makes for frequent strategic planning to determine how we shift around who drives what car when because only one car is big enough to contain all the kids at once. This was the case recently when the boys had to get to the dentist in the morning. John and I split the kids between us, he took the girls to school then back tracked and took Jack to the dentist. I took Wy with me and we took mom to work then backtracked to meet J & J at the dentist. I actually thought this might be a nice few minutes to actually sit in the same room with my husband. Nay, nay, Renee. Jack was early for his appointment and the 8:00 kid was late. By the time Wy & I arrived, J & J were heading out the door. Boo. Jack was pleased though because he got to pick out 2 prizes after his visit with the dentist and he picked a paper/foam airplane thing. (His appointment went well.) Then it was Wy's turn. I couldn't believe how well he behaved with multiple strangers poking around in his mouth with things that buzzed and whirred - especially considering the 5 year old who was screaming and flailing every time the assistant started to tilt the chair back. Here is Wy brushing the kangaroo's teeth as we waited for the Dentist. (I know, I know - they are pics from my cell phone. I can't make them any larger.)
Jack's first field trip
To the Kansas City Pumpkin Patch! I went along as a driver/helper for the day.
You can check us out at http://owenlandparkproductions.shutterfly.com/. There are 20 kids (7 boys and 13 girls: believe it or not, 3 of the girls are named Olivia) in Jack's class. This was my first opportunity to really meet his classmates. I was in charge of 4 kids but all the kids were everywhere and I was trying to start learning names. I asked one little girl her name and she put a hand on her hip and said to me "Um, you already asked me that." She might as well have said "Well you aren't the brightest bulb in the box." All I can say is she didn't even bother to learn my name and I was chasing down 20 names...Not fair! Not fair!!!
And who knew that 5 year olds are OBSESSED with vampires? I did not know this. The drive to this place was about 35 minutes and the 4 kids in my car talked about vampires non stop. They told vampire stories, they talked with Transylvanian accents, they told us about their vampire dreams. One young man kept telling us about the dream he had about the vampire in his underwear...
Anyway, it was a great day and I have managed to keep a few names (with their proper faces) in my head. And though I don't think any of the kids remembered my name, the remember me and wave and say hi when they see me in the hall way.
Today is black and orange day at school. The kids get to wear jeans if they wear something black or orange. The girls picked do rags and look like preppy thugs. Jack already had an orange shirt and pull over fleece jacket. He didn't want to wear either of them - I assume it is because we didn't run out and buy them band new last night...
Wish us luck, we have our first Parent/Teacher conference next week. I'm already putting too much emotional energy into stressing out for that.
You can check us out at http://owenlandparkproductions.shutterfly.com/. There are 20 kids (7 boys and 13 girls: believe it or not, 3 of the girls are named Olivia) in Jack's class. This was my first opportunity to really meet his classmates. I was in charge of 4 kids but all the kids were everywhere and I was trying to start learning names. I asked one little girl her name and she put a hand on her hip and said to me "Um, you already asked me that." She might as well have said "Well you aren't the brightest bulb in the box." All I can say is she didn't even bother to learn my name and I was chasing down 20 names...Not fair! Not fair!!!
And who knew that 5 year olds are OBSESSED with vampires? I did not know this. The drive to this place was about 35 minutes and the 4 kids in my car talked about vampires non stop. They told vampire stories, they talked with Transylvanian accents, they told us about their vampire dreams. One young man kept telling us about the dream he had about the vampire in his underwear...
Anyway, it was a great day and I have managed to keep a few names (with their proper faces) in my head. And though I don't think any of the kids remembered my name, the remember me and wave and say hi when they see me in the hall way.
Today is black and orange day at school. The kids get to wear jeans if they wear something black or orange. The girls picked do rags and look like preppy thugs. Jack already had an orange shirt and pull over fleece jacket. He didn't want to wear either of them - I assume it is because we didn't run out and buy them band new last night...
Wish us luck, we have our first Parent/Teacher conference next week. I'm already putting too much emotional energy into stressing out for that.
Me and my Wy-Guy
It seems that whenever I ask Wy to smile for the camera, he grimaces like he is in pain...
Happy Birthday, Abby!
Abby's 10th birthday was Sunday. She asked for spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Mom made up a delicious batch of meatballs. John made up some super yummy garlic bread and somehow it felt like my birthday. (I didn't have to do anything!)
I have a theory: I think there should be more cake and ice cream in the world. (The girls didn't have much time for grumbling at each other once the cake was on the table.) Now my problem with this theory is that if there WERE more cake in the world then I would be eating it...
Abby scored a purse, press on nails, perfume, glittery jeans and a lovely flowery purple top with sequins. She also scored a mini Simon Says game which I'm sure is going to drive us all INSANE in the next few days with all that beeping and buzzing...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ABBY!!!!
Homework
Since Jack began his reading and writing journey, he has become obsessed with lists. This I understand as I am obsessed with lists. Jack's lists however are lists of trains. He writes their names over and over - and over and over. He calls it his homework. He is actually doing a great job of guessing what letters make up the trains' names. When he goes to the grocery store with me, he wants to take a long a notebook and a pen (NOT a pencil) so he can work on his lists. I have little plastic trays in the car that he likes to rest on his lap so he can write on a desk like surface.
Wy blew me away the other day. He wanted to do some homework and I gave him a book of simple mazes. He BLEW through pages of these mazes and with the exception of having the penmanship of a 3 year old - he was SPOT ON. Crazy. I'm going to have to step up his homework.
Oh Great Pumpkin!
The boys helped to design our pumpkin.
OK - Jack helped design the pumpkin. Any time anyone drew anything, Wyatt would declare "I WIKE IT!"
I like cutting up the pumpkin.
I just forgot how much I don't like cleaning OUT the pumpkin.
And Wy declared "WOW! It's ve coolest pumpkin I ever wanted!"
Little Scottish Warriors
On Wednesday Jack participated in a soccer clinic at Bishop Miege this week. 375 K-8th graders divided into about 8 groups and managed by about 15 high school students total - oh and there was a guy on a microphone sitting in the announcer's booth. He blew the whistle when it was time to change stations. It was controlled chaos. Mr. Announcer even said it looked "like the personification of actually herding cats." Saturday afternoon I was sitting at my desk mutli-tasking (working on Alexander paperwork while preparing to run a performance of Science Fiction) when John texted me that Jack had just scored a goal at his game! "WOO-WHO!!!" I texted back.
Then John texted me the following:
"There is a smaller boy on the blue team - with curly light brown hair. EVERY time the ball is put back into play, he rears his head back and forces out a crazy head shaking screachy scream - he makes me think of a Scottish warrior with a yell as an intimidatin tactic."
This made me think - Did this kid's dad pull him aside and say "Now listen, Timmy, here's what you do..."
