Rewind: First DayS of School in NY

Wednesday, September 5th was the first day of school in our new state.It also happened to be Megan's 8th Birthday!

The girls were all nervous and excited to start school. Mostly because they were so bored all summer! Some were more nervous, others more excited...

My four girls on the front stoop.

She looks so much older than just a fifth-grader! She got a new haircut just the day before.

She was difficult to get to smile nicely, and not goofy. She was really happy it was her birthday!

Miranda was beyond excited to FINALLY start school, begin Kindergarten, to ride the bus, all these grown-up things.

I wanted a "measuring stick" so I took a picture in front of the garage. It was so sunny and bright, tho!

Just waiting.

After Zoë, Megan got on the bus and drove away, Miranda burst into tears and ran to the front step. I had to explain to her (again!) that the bus was going to come back and and pick up both of us and we would ride the bus to Kindergarten together this first day. She was slightly placated, and then was nervous again when we got to school and met her teacher. I don't think it was anything like what she was expecting.

Nica started preschool a week after her sisters did. After her being B-O-R-E-D at home with me for a week, she was SO ready to go to school! Super excited, and ready to go. I still remember when I told her later that week that she would get to go to Kindergarten "next fall". She was so excited that she wanted to tell her sisters right away.

Nope, not a mistake or a typo. See explanation below...

The girls did great in their new school and classes. The only thing was that every day Megan would come home, without homework (which was definitely NEW for me!) and said how boring everything was, that it was too easy. I wondered if it was just a start-of-year review, until the day she came home and mentioned that some of the kids in her class were just starting to read. Megan was not being challenged, and she was almost a year older than everybody in her class! (entrance for K in our area is the end of November!). After talking with my mother-in-law, and discussing it with Travis, I talked with Megan's teacher and the principle, and got her tested. She was just right for sliding into third grade. So, the Monday of the third week of classes, Megan started third grade!

All of the girls, even with their hiccups and fits, have done exceptionally well in their classes. Some are a little more challenged than others, but all of them are doing great- academically, socially, emotionally, etc.

FIRSTS: Preschool, Kindergarten, and Third Grade

Miranda's FIRST day of Preschool happened to fall on Veronica's birthday. That didn't mean it was any more or less exciting than if it were a different day (although Miranda might not have asked for cake for dinner every time she saw me).

Travis took Miranda to school, the 3/4's class at ECDC- Saint Mary's, where her teachers welcomed her. They know Miranda because Zoë and Megan had the same class! Travis said that Miranda gave him a quick hug and ran off into the room! No clinging to his leg, not crying, no nervous hand-chewing. My passionate and vivacious little girl ran into class. Somehow, that doesn't surprise me...



Zoë found out her teacher for Third Grade is our neighbor, Mr. Elliott. I was really excited that she got into his class because he's a male teacher (maybe he'll push Zoë a little harder?), and she'll have him for 2 years; he's normally a 4th grade teacher who dropped down to pick up a 3rd grade class, teach them this year and in 4th. Zo&ueml; is excited that, for the first time, her neighbor and friend, Ivie, is in her class!

Sadly, Zoë kept saying she was NOT excited for school to start. She wanted summer to go on and on. I am a little surprised since she loves the social interaction of school and really hates it when we have home school (yeah, I tried to have school with the girls this summer. I'm waaay to cranky and demanding, and not a very good teacher, I've decided). Hopefully she'll really have a good year and find the fun in school and learning and work.


Megan met her teacher on Wednesday night, Mrs. Kring. I was impressed by the teacher. I was also happy for her, but sad for us, that she is due next week to deliver a baby girl. That means Megan will have TWO Kindergarten teachers this year: one for the first semester and Mrs. Kring again in January. It will be interesting!

Megan was so nervous last night after meeting her teacher. She couldn't sleep. She said she thought she was going to throw up! This morning, before getting on the bus, she said she was feeling sick again. Hopefully it was just nerves, and she settled in quickly at school. I haven't had a call from the school nurse, so here's hoping!


All day I was thinking, "where is Megan now?" and "how does Zoë like this class?" and "what homework will they have" and "It's SO NICE to have it quiet!" and "I really miss them..." It will be an interesting year with 2 in school, one in preschool and me teaching Seminary. But, I know we'll all learn a lot, and have fun doing it.

Accepted! Whew.

Much to my complete and boneless-state-inducing relief, Megan received her letter welcoming her to Kennedy Primary Academy as a Kindergartner for the 2011-2012 school year. Huzzah!!!

I didn't think the second time around would be as nerve-wracking. In some ways it wasn't because I knew what to expect, and how to be prepared. I knew that I needed to think about the evaluation form given to the teachers, because I would be filling out that same form for Megan in another few weeks when she went to take a simple 'test' at the school. What I didn't expect was that somebody would ask, "Is there preference given to siblings" and have an answer of "No; it's a lottery."

Ahhhh! You mean my five-year-old might be sent to a different school than my eight-year-old even if she tests well enough to qualify for the school the older sibling is attending??!? That threw my whole balance off, and made me worried that maybe Megan wouldn't win the lottery. The principle said they pull the top 20% of test scores (after compiling all the evaluations and test score) and then from those numbers they draw the names of the kids who get in. Yeah,
uh- huh. On aptitude, I have no doubt Megan would get in. On lottery? It's anybody's game.

But, now I can start to think about how hard it'll be to say g'bye and watch my second daughter start school. And be glad that she'll have a big sister on the bus looking out for her. And hear from my three-year-old how much she wants to go to Kindergarten, but she'll be content to go to ECDC (which she also got accepted to the 3/4's class in which her two older siblings attended, and we LOVE that teacher!)

So, it's good. Things are set for another year. And, I am REALLY ready for summer now! (as the snow falls again outside).

Battles

I'm in a state of constant deliberation:

Should I take a nap? or clean?
Should I prepare for my lesson? or take a nap?
Should I take a nap? or attempt to organize the (messy and chaotic) craft room?
Should I start dinner? or take a nap?
Should I take a nap? or get together a picnic lunch to the zoo?
Should I let my kids watch a movie? and take a nap?

My brain is not adjusted to my body's needs and my head's wants. My tendency is to stay up late; work on projects, read, sew, socialize, maybe watch a tv show. My body does just fine waking up at 5am, and getting to Seminary to teach from 6-6:45. I do just fine when I get home and help get the girls ready for school. But around 10am I start to drag, and the only thing I can think of is, "Can I take a nap? when can I take a nap?" Don't even ask me about the 2pm time slot. I am pretty sure my brain is afunctional and I'm running on autopilot.

The teaching part is going rather well, I think. Maybe my students think differently. I don't know if we have the same goals in mind. I'm hoping we do! The subject material is just now starting to get good (we're done with the "Intorduction"; no more "this is the book," and "this is where the book came from" and "this is what we're going to teach you about this book"; finally we're going to start actually discussing what we'll read in the book!)

I have so many things I want to do (sew, read, play). I have many other things I need to do (make meals, laundry, attempt to keep a picked-up house). And oh-so-much-more that I really should do (organize that craft room, really clean my house, visit teach, etc).

I'm struggling to find balance. Balance time with my children (quality time, too), keeping my house kept up, making sure there are socks and underwear in everybody's drawer (including my own!), getting enough of the right groceries, catching up on my friends' lives through blogs, sewing, reading (I'm working on Count of Monte Cristo; at the rate I'm going it really is going to take me a year to read! 3-5 pages a night of a 1500 page book...)

I'm not sure what to do. Definitely try to get to bed earlier. Maybe try to read faster? Fold laundry faster? Get rid of all the toys so I don't have to clean them up?

My sister gave me this great keychain that had a little rock with a word carved in it. I've gone through periods of knowing where the little rock is, using it, and losing it. Right now I have no idea where that little rock is. Want to know what the word inscribed on it?

First DayS of School

This week is all about starting school. Tuesday was our big "Back to School" day: Megan started ECDC and Zo&ueml; had a back-to-school night. Wednesday Zoë starts Second Grade. Friday I start teaching Seminary (early morning).

Megan returned to ECDC and to a new "old" teacher (old in the sense of she being Zoë's teacher, and I guess in age, too, since she's a grandmother now). Megan had a great day, saw old friends, and had lots of fun playing with peers. Unfortunately, I had to pull her out early because the girls had dental appointments. Megan is eager to return to school tomorrow. She asked me this morning, "Is today a school day?"

Zoë had a back-to-school meeting Tuesday night where she found her new teacher was Mrs. Lawson.
She was so excited to see so many faces that she knew in her class (although, I'm still surprised that nobody from church was in her class again this year). This class is predominantly boys, one of which is a neighbor across and down the street (yay!). I think Mrs. Lawson will be strict, but Zoë usually thrives in that environment (until she starts to tell other kids what the rules are...) She was very excited for school this morning,
and had fun waiting at the bus stop for our favorite bus driver, Ms. Renee (story for another post).

I'm eager to hear how her day went; I'm waiting for her bus to come home at the moment.

Listen to the Still Small Voice; Listen, Listen!

As I was gathering my things for church yesterday morning, I included the Seminary Kickoff bag that had my "lesson" tucked inside. I was thinking maybe I'd run into someone who might not make it to the meeting later that night.

When I got to Relief Society I was so excited, thinking "Finally! I can sit through a lesson and be taught and enjoy the meeting in its entirety" and "Well, Sis F- will be leaving to go teach singing, soon." The first counselor in the Relief Society (RS) presidency stood up to open the meeting (after looking around frantically to see where the other RS presidency members were) and she was a little surprised that she was a one-woman show. She got started and then realized, in front of all of us, that there was no teacher. NO TEACHER! How often does that happen in RS??? "We'll have a practice hymn, and then we'll see what we do about a lesson" is how she concluded for the moment.

She sat down and the new RS Secretary (as of a few hours previous), popped out of her seat and came up, offering to help teach something. Another sister came over and offered a Conference Report Ensign. I sat there a moment, thinking... is it covered? and then walked forward and whispered to the counselor that I had a lesson all ready for Seminary Kickoff about President Thomas S. Monson, and would she like me to teach that for RS?

I was impressed, as she was, by the offers of so many women to help and step in at (literally!) a moment's notice! I was grateful that I'd listened to the Spirit and had prepared my lesson and packed it with me to church-- not even considering I might teach Relief Society!

Even better was the Spirit that joined us in that Relief Society room. The sisters participated, gave thoughtful comments. There was laughter, and a few tears, and I really think some people were edified. I know that it was partly my preparation, but it was mostly the Spirit of the Lord that taught that day. I know- because I taught the same lesson later that night, and it didn't quite have the same impact and presence (although the Seminary discussion went well).

I know that teaching Seminary is going to be a mixed bag. I was praying this summer about assistance with making daily scripture study part of my life. I don't know why it's so hard for me to do that, but it seems it's almost impossible for me to reach for my scriptures and study, let alone read! I was also begging the Lord for help (or release) from my then current calling, Ward Employment Specialist. I cannot think of a calling in the church more frustrating or depressing than trying to help people find a job (I never got to taste the reward part- not one person found a job with my assistance while I was in the calling). I'm almost laughing at the answer to my prayer! Yup, teaching Seminary will definitely fulfill those two requests in spades. Yes, even in my prayers, I think I also asked for help about having a better sleep schedule.

And so, I will be diving in the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History this school year. I just hope and pray that I'll have a few more lessons like the one I taught in Relief Society today- one where the Spirit is present; we're all edified and touched; everyone participates. And, of course, I hope that the testimonies of the students are strengthened and help them face the daily difficulties they experience at school and in life.

Picnics

I love going on picnics!

I especially love it when I have fun food to take with me.

I also love picnics because there's less mess to clean up after lunch, or at least it feels like that.

We had two picnics today!

Lunch with friends- some even from out of town.

Dinner with family- including a bike ride up to campus, sand (volleyball court), and beanbag toss.

Ahhh, I love SUMMER!

And, it is officially SUMMER VACATION!

(pictures forthcoming, but I'm to tired to post any tonight... all that sun, bike riding, and picnicking)

May 31
And... the pictures:

Veronica was crying just before I took this picture;
she'd just awakened from a nap and instead of getting to cuddle and nurse with Mom, her big sister carried her downstairs and mom plopped her in this trailer. Then her big sister crawled in on top of her and Mom put this plastic container on top!
The Injustice!
(She loves the ride when we get going)

Megan was cold in the shade, so she ate her dessert in the sunshine.

Veronica reached over and grabbed the cookie right of Zoë's
tray when her big sister wasn't looking

Miranda was in heaven being able to run around outside.

I enjoyed being able to eat dinner and not worry about spills, drips, slops...

I love picnics!

Veronica was sitting up on the picnic blanket, but she managed to get on her belly, and then she started moving around grabbing things: Zoë's cookie (which she devoured), an apple core (that she started sucking/chewing), and she even was reaching for Megan's purple punch (and am I glad she didn't reach that one!)

Spelling Woes

I hate spelling. I have already admitted that I read things and pronounce them wrong (chasm, macabre, etc.) I'm not much better at spelling.

I am surprised many of you, dear readers, have not commented on my spelling problem. Or, maybe you thought I was just trying to be clever/cute?

At any rate, while reading a book the other day, (Autobiography of an Execution by Dow, and I can't say that I recommend the book, but we're reading it for book group), I read the word. And I re-read the word. It looked funny to me. I then realized that it was because on my blog it was written "Symantics" and in the book it was "semantics". Oops.

So, I have corrected my error.


I still hate spelling. Isn't that what spell check is for? Especially since the new browsers actually check your spelling online when you're typing- that catches a lot of things. Still, the order of words, or spelling homophones (words that sound the same but have different meaning, e.g. they're and their, or thyme and time).

I hated spelling as a child. What was the point? If I could read it, why did I need to spell it?
I hate spelling even more now that I have to work on it every day with my 1st-grader. UGH! I didn't like having spelling tests when I was in school. I hate it even more having to be the parent making my child practice for the dumb things! OK, not dumb. But, I don't think my daughter is learning from them. She still spells words on her spelling test by phonics. Yup, she had words like "their" on her spelling test and she spells it "thar" or something like that. Darn sharp short term memory. Great for immediate tests, stinks for the long haul. I think she is her mother's daughter...

Megan's Preschool Presentation

Each semester at ECDC, the teachers plan a program/party. Today was Megan's party where she sang four songs (Two Blackbirds, Shaking the Apple Tree, Victor Vito and Jingle Bells). The parents brought muffins, juice, and fruit and lots of cameras. There were lots of smiles to go around.

Miranda had fun "playing" in Megan's classroom. Although, she was a little nervous about all the people.

Veronica was satiated and happy to be around so many people. I wonder if she'll be shy in a large group like her sisters... or if she'll embrace crowds. If she does, she'll be nothing like the rest of her family!

I'm including some videos, but I'm not claiming any musical proteges. It's your typical preschool singing- lots of voices, lots of change in tambre, volume (some soft some stacatto FORTE), and many miss-sung words. But, you can see the kids had fun! That's the best party anyway, seeing their happy faces.*

On a end note, as the party was beginning to wrap up, a pipe burst in the classroom's radiator. The whole room was quickly flooded with brown water that crept across floor. Some of the children were a little freaked out by this encroaching monster. Everybody was evacuated as some tried to get things off the floor and out of the way. Thankfully, a couple of the fathers were able to get the radiator opened and the water shut off. (I couldn't get the door off). It was such a mess! They split the kids and moved them to the other classrooms. I feel sorry for the teachers who will have a huge mess to clean up (the books, toys, blocks, tables, etc. that got wet...)


*I don't know why I can't translate this into the Primary Program. If any of you have ever talked with me, you'll know that I love kids, and I love singing, but I do NOT enjoy the yearly Primary Program at church. It is too painful for me. And, no, even having my own children in it has not helped much- not as a teacher, a parent, or even the person who wrote the program. Yes, I can appreciate, and I do, all the hard work that goes into the program. I appreciate those children who learn their parts. I love the primary songs. I just don't really enjoy hearing them sung. Maybe it's because they don't know them well enough? Because I do love it when a child can sing a whole song properly- even if they aren't singing exactly the right notes (although that is MUCH preferred!). Oh, and I so do not mind people making mistakes when playing instruments in church. I notice it, but it doesn't bother me like the singing can... weird, eh?