Kindness Owl Award

I mentioned earlier that the only thing I was really "concerned" with on Izzy's kindergarten report card was how she is doing socially. I want her to have respect for others, good manners, follow directions, listen, be kind to others, and show empathy. I could not have been more proud (Pete too...so much so that he put it on facebook) when the day after report cards came home Izzy told me she had gotten a "kindness owl award". I asked what it was for, and if she knew why she received it? She did.

Izzy has a boy in her class named Timothy. I believe Timothy struggles a bit academically because Izzy has mentioned a couple times that "Mr. Jim" will come into class to help him with his schoolwork. Unfortunately Timothy's dad recently passed away. From the stories Izzy tells, Timothy is having a tough time in school. He often gets his "turtle" moved (form of reward/punishment type system) and recently even wet his pants. Last Wednesday the children were given the option to pick what center they would be participating in that day. Izzy picked a center with her best friend Brianna, and Timothy picked "small blocks". When no one else picked to be in centers with him, he became upset and started to cry (something Izzy told me he is doing alot of lately). Well sweet Izzy raised her hand and asked her teacher if it would be okay for her to switch centers and work with Timothy. sniff, sniff, tear, tear for proud moment pause :)

How great is that? When Izzy told me this story I smiled so big and told her how proud I was of her! I told her these are the things that make her daddy and I so happy, and I thought I could feel my heart getting bigger cause I loved her so darn much at that moment! ...she knew I was proud cause everytime she looked at me the rest of the day I would just smile real big at her.

Those are the actions/moments that remind me through all the bad stuff, and as rotten as I think I am as a mom somedays, I (and Pete) must be doing something right! ...cause it can't all be just her, can it?

Self Discovery

This morning Drew had on a pair of boxer shorts. Imagine his surprise when he reached his hand into the front opening. The conversation went something like this:

Drew: Hey Mom, if I reach in dis pocket I can feel my p3nis.
Me: Really? Wow Drew :)
Drew: Ya, I just gotta reach in dis pocket, then turn my hand to reach around dis way and dere's my p3nis!

Ahhh, boys :-) So easily amused!


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Me: Drew, don't spit out your food. (as spaghetti noodles hang from his mouth)

Drew: Mom, I wasn't spitting. I was coughing and there was food in my mouth.

Whatever kid. I know spitting when I see it!

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So Drew is very into commercials with websites these days. So much so he will even include the "blah blah blah .com backslash _____". Yesterday he requested I pull up "stop bullying speak up .com" This led to a conversation about bullies and when I asked Drew if he knew any he referenced how Buford is a bully to Baljeet in "Phineas and Ferb". Ahhh, Drew :)

Izzy's Report Card

Izzy brought home her first report card from her "new school". I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't really read it, at first. I checked the "key" and saw that the highest score one could receive was a "c" for "consistently demonstrated" (her work meets grade level expectations) When I saw that everything was marked "c" I did a quick search for the section on social development and moved on. I've said it before, that in kindergarten my biggest concern is not the academics, but the socialization. I saw that she respects authority and the property of others, follows class rules/procedures, demonstrates self-discipline and responsibility, and most importantly cooperates with others. Perfect. I was happy.

It was as I was reading the note from her teacher that Izzy approached me and wanted me to tell her what her report card said. I told her about the socialization and how proud that makes me (her daddy too) and then began to look at the other stuff she was scored on. Reading, Communication, Writing, ...and then I see Algebra and Geometry! Now I am sure this is code for shapes and counting apples, but really? How ridiculous does that sound?

So her teacher wrote: Wow! I am so impressed with the transition Izzy has made into the classroom! She is a SUPER STAR! The happiness she shows us everyday is contagious. Izzy is growing as a reader & writer every week. She loves to share her creative ideas and the illustrations that accompany. She has no problem standing before her class & talking! Izzy has easily mastered all math objectives for the 9 weeks, as well! She is a careful worker. Let's keep an eye on letter & number reversals. Great job Izzy!!

The next part of her report card was a "Writing Assessment". Izzy had to draw 3 pictures and write 3 corresponding sentences on the steps to making a good sandwich. She drew her pictures and wrote:

1. I Tak Ot the Bred. (I take out the bread)
2. I Pot on the Trke. (I put on the turkey)
3. I Pot it on the Plat. (I put it on the plate)

Pete and I couldn't be happier with the progress she has made and although we still have some days with tears they are farther and fewer between!

Allergies

What's a mom to do with a boy who suffers from allergies when all he wants to do is play outside?

Put him in the tub with some paint!




Drew went to school this morning and about 90 min. later I got a call to come pick him up. His nose was running like a faucet and his eyes were red and puffy. Some of you may be thinking to yourself, "gosh, I thought Drew was tested for allergies and didn't have them?" You are right. Drew was tested and the results were negative for allergic reactions to over 300 things. I think the test was bogus.

Oh well, we came home, played outside to get the sillies out (what is a little more pollen), and then I popped him in the tub to get all rinsed off while I folded laundry. He is now on the couch nearly comatose since he took some benedryl. If only we didn't have to leave in 20 min. to pick up Izzy we might have both gotten a nice nap.



*in the 4 min. it took me to write this post, Drew fell asleep. I then transferred him to the car and he didn't even stir.

Smile :-)

Here is Izzy's smile on her first day of kindergarten.





6 months later, here is her smile.







About two weeks ago, we had 48 hours of this smile! Creepy!!!





Izzy didn't get her first tooth until nearly 14 months, so we were quite surprised she lost her teeth as early as she did. I don't think she could possibly get any cuter than she is right now with this little grin, though I could take the smile without some of the sass/attitude that comes with it :-)

It is sad to think that once that big ole gap fills in with teeth the beginning of her awkward stage will soon begin :(

Happy St. Patrick's Day

How cute is this hat that Drew made a school!



He won't give me a decent smile with eyes open for anything these days!




Drew was all chatter yesterday when I picked him up from school about the silly things the leprechauns did to his class. Supposedly while out on the playground some leprechauns sneaked into his class and turned over chairs, took out a car and drove around in it, left their little leprechaun shoes behind as well as some gold coins.

This morning Drew and I walked Izzy down to her classroom just to see what mischief the leprechauns might have caused. The halls in her school were filled with VERY excited children! Some classroom doors had been locked forcing the kids to sit in the hall and wait for the janitor to let them in. Fortunately for us, Izzy's room was open...and boy did those leprechauns have a field day! Her teacher thinks they might have gotten into a green glitter fight by the look of things. Glitter was ALL over (hate to think who has to clean that up) the floor and tables. The chairs were overturned, St. Pat's Day hats were on various stuffed animals, the loggerhead sticks had been replaced with "bad behavior" sticks. The bathroom even had GREEN WATER in the toilet ;) One nice thing those silly leprechauns did was leave necklaces, bracelets and lucky four leaf clovers for all the kids!

I sure don't remember leprechauns doing anything like this back when I was in school? I have learned more "facts" from the kids the last couple days regarding leprechauns then I ever knew!

....Only Drew...

You may remember this picture from a couple days ago




This is Drew's latest obsession. He paints his face, usually to look like a dog, and then I wash it off. It really doesn't bother me that he does this because it keeps him occupied for quite some time and is simple to clean up.

Well today I asked Drew to wash his face/hands himself. After 10 min. or so I went to check on him and this is how I found him.




GROSS!!!!!

He was SO PROUD of his method for face washing that I couldn't help but laugh. I was so grossed out and tried to tell him that this was a toilet bowl brush and not to be used on faces. When the shock of it's used to clean TOILETS didn't phase him, I tried to tell him that he would scratch his face. His response was, "It doesn't hurt my face?" He then proceeded to show me how he put the hand soap on the brush and scrubbed his face.

...just for the record this is the same child that got sent to his room today for talking back to me. When I told him he could come out and apologize for how he behaved his response was, "...I can't apologize to someone who is mad at me." Fine by me. Let me know when you are ready to apologize...in the meantime I will enjoy the quiet of having you in your room.

Puppy Dog Faces

This past weekend we had two oyster roasts to attend (I have yet to actually eat any oysters). Saturday night was to benefit Drew's preschool and Sunday was to benefit a classmate of Izzy's whose dad passed away unexpectedly.

At Sunday's roast Izzy had her face painted as a puppy dog.



Well Monday afternoon Drew decided to paint his face as a puppy dog.



At least it was washable!