Testing, Testing...

It is testing season over in my neck of the woods.  We have spent the last 8 days testing and we still have two more to go.  I'm also reading Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech aloud to my kids so poems inspired by the poems in her book are being composed in my heard during my hours of active proctoring.  I don't normally think in poetry so it is kind of fun.

 

 

Wooden Graphite Based Number 2 Pencils

Inspired by William Carlos Williams

 

So much depends

upon

 

An empty plastic container

filled

 

With perfectly pointed

pencils

 

Sitting on the wood grained

desk

 

Straight Rows

Inspired by William Carlos Williams

 

So much depends

upon

 

Seventeen silent students

sitting

 

In straight

rows

 

I also began a poem inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's Bells poem, that describes the events that took place when I tried to take S and E to the store yesterday.  It is called Wails but I'm not done with it yet.  It is amazing the things you come up with when you are forced to wander silently for an hour or two a day.  I sure will be glad when Friday comes and we can get back to teaching!

A Day in Pictures- My last day being 32

8:54 am  Mad about losing a fork.  That is what happens when you use it like a drumstick.

9:54 am Reading Time.

10:54 am Checking out the snow sculptures downtown.  Sam was super excited about the snow.

11:54 am Hanging out in Downtown Sound while Dad buys some new records.

12:54 pm Eating lunch at Chick-fil-a after a quick shopping trip.

1:54 pm Heading to the grocery store

2:54 pm Snuck in a Chai Tea Latte and some quiet reading before heading back home to the napping house.

3:54 pm Went to try to sneak a sleeping picture of Sam and found him awake but quietly reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar in bed.

4:54 pm Ready to go get dinner.

5:54 pm Dinner Out

6:54 pm Finishing up dinner.

7:54 pm Dessert at the Chocolate Café.

How to make Chicken Roll Ups

 Pull up a chair, or two.

 Try the chicken.

 Don't forget about a taste with all the seasonings.

 Sprinkle, Sprinkle the bread crumbs onto the crescent rolls, and the table if you have leftovers.

 Eat some bread crumbs.

Try to get Mama from taking any more pictures.  "No, Mama."

 



Happy Day Party!

Last night was Sam and Emily's Second Birthday.  This one kind of snuck up on me.  It wasn't super planned and even the night before we thought we might have to change the day.  Around Christmastime I realized I hadn't done any plan for the party.  I decided to do a Hungry Caterpillar party.  Then after talking to a friend and we decided to do a combined party.  I figured Sam and Emily share anyway and we might as well combine.  Their friend, Ainslee, is only 5 days younger and her party was going to be the day after Sam and Emily's and would involve pretty much the same people.  We finally got the invites out two weeks before the party.  Phew.

Their first birthday was a large bash.  Almost all of our close friends were invited and it was pretty chaotic.  My mom helped make a number of different crafts.  This one was much different.  We invited three other families, including our co-hosts, and my parents.  I didn't plan on making anything on my own.  I ordered shirts.  It was much more laid back.  It turned out just about perfect.

I used The Very Hungry Caterpillar as my cookbook, as Paul said.  I bought all the fruit that he ate that I could find at the grocery store.  Then I used what the caterpillar ate on Saturday to eat also.  The only prep I had to do was cut up a whole bunch of fruit and the make a spinach salad.

My parents came a little early so they could manage kids so I could finish up the little stuff.  Heather ("triplet" mom) came a little before 6 and the other two families came a little later.  My dad quickly took  the "baby" and the rest of the guests got to catch up and the kids got to play.  Sam wasn't so sure he liked all the people in his house.  He hung out under the table for a couple of minutes until everything settled down.  Silly boy.

The kids started to ask about food so we fed them.  They loved the grape caterpillars.  Then we ate in shifts.  The kids played.

Finally we decided that it was time for the cake.  We set up the birthday kids and took a few pictures.  We tried to decide how we were going to manage three kids who needed their own special moment.  We decided that we'd sing to each birthday boy/girls individually.  Emily got to go first because she is the oldest.  I thought she'd love the attention but she was shy and kind of hid while we sang to her.  She needed a little help with the candle too.  Sam loved the singing.  He had practiced blowing out the candle when Emily had her song so he was ready.  They kept saying "Happy Day".

The cake eating wasn't as messy or as enthusiastic as I would have thought.  Emily pretty much ate all of her dessert but Sam didn't eat too much.

Finally it was time for presents.  Addie, Ainslee's five year old sister, really wanted to help and "helped" Sam and Emily open most of their presents.  They were pretty excited about some of the gifts they got.  The family room was a mess with three 2-year olds opening presents, but it was a great time.

Now for some pictures:

Dear Emily,

This week you turned two!  I can't believe that you are already two and then at the same time it seems like you've been here my whole life.

You are a burst of energy.  As Nana puts it you have two speeds... running and sleeping.  You do run pretty much everywhere.  You are busy busy.  You love to jump.  You jump on the couch, you jump off the couch, you jump in circles, you jump on me, you jump off of the tubs, you just love to jump.  I don't think gymnastics is helping to get rid of your love of jumping.  You are starting to sit still for longer periods of time.  If you watch Sesame Street or some other TV show you will sit and watch for 10 or 15 minutes.  You also will slow down to read, color and play with blocks.  Speaking of coloring you want to color anytime you see paper.  You are doing a really good job of holding your pencil too.  This teacher mama is proud.  You slowly are becoming more interested in babies too.  You now carry them around and push them in the shopping cart.  I've seen you try to dress them lately too.  You also love the balls and blocks but not quite as much as your brother does.  You are starting to say more and more words.  You repeat some of what we say but not everything.  Sometimes it is a little hard to figure out what you want.

Along with your massive amounts of energy is a huge personality.  You often will enthusiastically wave at random people or things.  You want what you want and you WILL throw a fit to get it.  Although I must say your fits are getting fewer.  The smallest things seem to spark them though.  Last night you didn't want your coat or shoes on so we could go to the basketball game.  Although on Monday you had your shoes on when I got home because you thought it was time for gymnastics (Sam basketball).  You have become very particular in your bedtime routine.  You have been insisting on the fan for the last few weeks.  If you feel like you need something that we didn't do before bed you will cry until we come and check on you.  Tonight we forgot to turn the fan on.  Once it was on you were ready for bed.  Silly girl.  You could spend hours being held some days.  It seems like the mornings that I'm trying to rush out of the house you won't let me put you down.  You insist on being held while I make coffee and attempt to get you breakfast.  I must admit I do love those mornings.  The last two mornings I've said my good-bye and gotten hugs and kisses and you've come running frantic needing fives and knuckles.  I don't know where you got that but it is pretty funny.

You are your mother's child when it comes to food.  You could, and sometimes do, survive on carbs and fruit.  You don't love meats but sometimes you'll eat chicken or ground beef.  You don't love texture.  You really don't like any other veggies other than tomatoes and avocados.  You love to drink out of a big cup and you do a pretty good job with it.  I'm hoping some day you'll outgrow your aversions to new foods and start to try different things.

My little ball of energy I can't believe you're two.  I love you clingy legs around my waist when I try to put you down and you insist on "carry you".  I love your nighttime particulars especially your insistence on having the fan on.  I love your sweet tooth.  I love your tenderness with your babies.  I love your dancing before bedtime and your jumping anytime. I love your friendly personality.

Happy Birthday Emmy Lou!
I love you!

Micsellany Monday

1. Last night as I was picking up toys I emptied out three gift bags that Emily had been carrying around.  Inside them I found:

• 6 Duplo Blocks
• 3 wooden pepperonis
• 4 wooden mushrooms
• 2 wooden peppers (They got a Melissa & Doug pizza set for their birthday.)
•  a wooden policeman from a train set
• 1 slice of pizza, wooden
• 1 cupcake baking cup
• a Mr. Potato Head nose
• a strip of red fabric that had been tied around their birthday shirts

1. After Sam and Emily's nap today we were picking up more Duplo blocks but S couldn't part with two of them.  One was a see-through block and the other was a brown block with coffee beans on it.  I asked him what he had and he said, "Blue and coffee."  I asked, "Who likes coffee. He replied, "Mama."  With a sly smile.
2. Please ignore the incorrect punctuation and lack of new paragraphs in the number two.  Blogger won't let me indent and keep my numbers.
3. Today was our two year appointment with the doctor.  Sam is in the 99th percentile for height and the 95th for weight while poor little Emily is only in the 25th for weight and the 75-85th for height.  This explains so much about gymnastics class tonight.
4. I have an agreement or I "okayed" alternating gymnastics classes with S and in for two sessions.  Emily went the first two because Sam was sick last week.  It was finally his turn.  I had to take E with me and Paul met us there.  Emily was not happy about missing out on class but Sam was pretty excited.  He does a much better job copying motions of the teacher but he just isn't as nimble or a fast or as much of a risk taker as his big sister.  I think he larger than average size has affected his flexibility and it takes him a little longer to be confident.  He did love the parachute too.  He did a pretty good job but got "stuck" under the tent once and then was unprepared for a quick up and down and did a face plant with a little blood onto the chute.  But he happily joined back in a ran all over it.
5. When I asked what his favorite part of class was he said, "Tunnel. Swing, knock it down."  There was a tunnel set up over a wedge that he would have stayed at all class and they got to swing on the bar and knock down a larger block.  He giggled with excitement every time he knocked it down.  Oh boys...
6. Emily got a little baby for her birthday that has a paci.  We are only 3 weeks into being paci free and I was a little worried she'd inherit the baby's.  BUT she tells you to be quiet when the baby is around and gives it the paci and she hasn't tried to suck on it once.  (Her brother did twice at dinner though.)
7. We played with play-doh tonight for the first time.  In the 30 seconds that I left the kitchen to grab the camera S had taken a bite of the orange dough.  Yuck!
8. No pictures today.  I'm still trying to learn our new computer.  Our old one died on Saturday and we're still trying to recover the memory.  No fun!
9. We have hosted some sort of gathering every week this month so far.  New Year's, Bunco, Birthday Party, next week is a play date.  I think I'll boycott any parties at our house next month.

Dear Sam

Dear Sam,

This week you turned two.  I can barely believe it and at the same time it feels like the last year took forever.  It is amazing how much you have grown in the last year, much less the last couple of months.  You really have become a little man.  Well aside from throwing everything (still) and now starting to play rough.  Sometimes I think of you as a little professor.  You talk amazingly well.  Even in complete sentences, well just one.  (Last week you asked your dad, "Dada, want more pizza?")  You tend to chatter a lot in the car.  You constantly repeat what I say and usually with correct pronunciation.   You like to watch before you join in.  Last night for your birthday party all of the commotion was a bit much for you.  You hung out under the table for a couple of minutes before you joined in with the rest of the kids and playing.  At our New Year's Eve party you sometimes were playing by yourself.  You love to line things up.  You often line up your cars and I can usually count on you to "park" all of the ride on toys before bedtime.  You still notice when things are different or not in the right place.  You really enjoyed finding the Elf on the Shelf every morning during Christmas.  Sometimes you find a toy that was missed when we picked up and you insist on putting it in the right place.  You are into building towers and Thomas lately.  You will even watch 10  minutes of Thomas and Friends. 

You are normally happy but you sometimes seem to be anxious.  You have become a little bit whinny and I think it is helping you get some attention.  "Blankie" is normally what you whine.  You are quite attached to your blankets and more so since you stopped using your pacifier.  Whenever you feel uneasy or anxious you want your blankie. You like to test limits and often will do things you know you shouldn't.  For example, you kept letting the water out of the bathtub during bath time even though I told you not to.  Time outs don't seem to work very well with you.  You sometimes will put yourself there.  Your sister has a tendency to make you feel anxious.  She takes your things and pushes you around.  You still like to snuggle.   You ask to snuggle before you go to bed and you like to be held for awhile after you get up from your nap.  You've added turning over to your nighttime routine.  I put you in bed after snuggling and you announce, "Turn over," you turn over and I cover you up.

You love your "nilk" and you drink a ton of water.  You are just starting to want to drink out of a cup.  Up until the last few days you have been sticking your tongue into the cup when you try to drink out of it.  You aren't too picky when it comes to eating.  You still have favorites (fruit, tomatoes, cookies) but we can usually get you to try new things.

You are for sure our little man.  You love balls, drums, throwing things and trains.  I love your surprise attacks and your bed time snuggles.  I love your help while I cook dinner.  I love your appetite and willingness to try new foods.  I love you hesitation and need for reassurance when you try new things.  I love your enthusiasm and infectious giggle.

 Happy Birthday Sammer!
I love you.