The kids wanted to go out and play in the snow. Well, Mattie and Caroline. Abby would rather just stay in her room. She's in her own teenager world.
Mattie's first adventure yesterday resulted in standing in one place. 0nce she realized she could walk in the white stuff, she was all over the place. Mattie has gotten into this posing stage. I've got a friend who takes awesome pictures and I will occasionally take the girls and "try" to take "serious" pictures. Well, the best I can without having an slr camera. Mattie now knows that when it is time to take a picture, that she should go stand next to a tree or strike some pose. It's quite funny! Anyway, here are just a few pictures I took of Caroline and Mattie today.
This one calls for a few words :-) This was taken a couple years ago. What is so funny about this one is that the girls thought this one up in the middle of winter when the temps were in the 30's.
Some things are winding down and coming to an end. One of those things is Caroline's Softball. It is bittersweet. We love attending all of her games and cheering on all the team members. However, it will give us a few more nights at home in the evenings. Also, knowing that the girls may not be on the same team next year makes it kind of tough. She has really enjoyed her team this year. Caroline's team is in the final week of tournament and they really have had an awesome season. And the most important thing is that they have all had fun since that IS really what it is all about. Here are some pictures that one of the team moms took for us. They really turned out great!
It has been quite a busy week. Since Abby has made the softball team, she has been having practice five days a week. She is absolutely loving all of it. The exercise is always a big plus and she loves the time with her friends.
Caroline has been busy with her school work and hanging out with her friends. Her teacher has commented on how well she is doing in school. She has been working on a powerpoint presentation of China. It amazes me how much these little kids can do.
Mattie has been into everything and keeps her mama and daddy on their toes. She loves the outdoors and tries to escape every chance she gets. She is doing well with her speech therapy and is a quick learner. Her speech teacher has some great things planned for the future. We are also looking into adding play therapy into her schedule. I think this will also help her communication skills. She really doesn't play much with her toys. Her favorite activity involves the t.v. remote control, a cell phone, the computer, and emptying drawers. She rarely plays with any of her toys for more than 2 minutes. She has picked up a stomach bug so we are home today. The week before last, she had pink eye and the start of her first ear infection. The joys of having a child in daycare.
I've been quite busy myself too and it is getting ready to get even busier. I am starting choir practice again this Sunday. We have also started a sewing group at church called Joyful Stitchers. Last night, we started with the basics on how to use a sewing machine. We are looking into a future project for charity. It is called Conkerr Cancer: A Case for Smiles. We will be making bright cheerful pillowcases for children who are in the hospital with cancer. I am really looking forward to this project.
Do you recall my post about Caroline'sAwards Day? Click here for details. Basically, I share how upset I was to be turned away from Caroline'sAwards Day just because I had Mattie with me. Well, I wrote the Superintendent of schools and she stated that she would look into the matter. My husband and I decided to wait after the holidays before looking back into this matter. The 2nd nine weeks was coming to an end and we knew another Awards Day would soon follow. Here is the letter that we received from her school.
Yes! A victory! At least, parents with small children have the option of attending the program and will not be turned away at the doors of their child's school. Some things are just worth fighting for!
Caroline is our middle child that couldn't wait to enter our world. She was born 5 weeks early and spent a couple weeks in the NICU. Right from the beginning we knew she would be our spitfire of a child. Caroline is all about fairness and equality. She is sensitive and kindhearted. She cries over movies, stories, and even blogs that share struggles with sick children. She has a wise soul. Caroline loves school and organization. She is very helpful around the house. She keeps her room very clean and will even surprise us with cleaning up around the house. Caroline loves softball and especially catching. She is rough and tough plus fashion girl all rolled into one. I am so thankful for my little girl!
Oh my! My blog is SO neglected. I just can't seem to hardly find time to post or respond to others blogs. I will do better. Caroline and Abby have finished with the ball season so that will free up a little time. Although, I'm sure that time will be filled with something. We've had quite a busy week with all the fall activities. I also had parent conferences and report cards are going out this week so I guess I really won't have much down time. I better put Mattie to sleep since she keeps laying flat on the floor....I guess she is neglected too. No...Just kidding! So here is a quick snapshot of the kids in their costumes.
Mattie was a green M&M at her school party. She actually knew to put the goodies in her pumpkin, but kept taking them out to dig in!
At home, she was a cow. This is the same cow that my oldest and middle child wore. It was made by my mother. I was thinking she could wear it next year but at the last minute I decided to put it on her. I was afraid she may be too big next year.
These are the really cute lanterns we made from recycled soda bottles and milk jugs along with one of our pumpkins.
Caroline was a *Gothic* vampire two nights in a row. She had a party Friday night and went trick or treating on Saturday. Not my favorite choice but hey...whatever makes her happy. I have to say she looks quite gruesome.
*As I'm typing this she says....It's not a vampire mama. It a "Gothic" vampire.
Am I really just getting to this? OK so this tells you the kind of week I've had. This is the first time in 15 years that I have been SO overwhelmed with the opening of a school year. As I have always said...I love teaching! It is all the other "stuff" that I can do without and we have a lot of "extra stuff" to deal with this year. With that being said, staying after school till five o'clock is unacceptable. I did it several days this week. And I still didn't get what I needed to get done for my students. I had to bring it all home for the weekend. I have a family and I have a life outside of school. I am a mommy and a wife first. So from this moment on, I have to leave it at the door. Life is just too short to worry about "the extra stuff".
SO here is my belated post. Let's just pretend that I posted this on Tuesday.
Caroline's first day of school. She was up bright and early! So excited about her first day of third grade. She loves her teacher, Mr. Perry. She says he is funny but serious and loves Goofy. We were excited to hear that he spent a lot of time at Roanoke Christian Camp during his childhood years. I think he will be a great match for Caroline.
Abby is now in the seventh grade! where does the time go? Abby was up bright and early too but didn't get ready until after I had left. I told her to make sure Daddy took a picture of her. Do you see a picture? This child of mine has now decided she dislikes her picture taken unless she can take it of herself. You know the "hold the camera backwards and take a chance that your face ends up in the frame". OK we don't have one of those either. Needless to say, she had a great day. I think she is more excited about her friends than any teachers or books. Let's face it. She's almost thirteen. However, we are so excited that the first grade she brought home was a 98! We are praying that this is a sign of good things to come!
No....we didn't cut Mattie's hair BUT we did get Caroline's cut today. She has been very wishy washy about deciding whether to cut or not. Well, I think she finally got tired of the tangles. After a year of growing it out, she decided to chop it off. She is very pleased with it!
Caroline joined the local reading program at our library. Their theme is creativity. She really has had a great time this year. Every week we go to the library for story hour and to check out more books. Each week they focus on a topic. They've had a magician, music, dance, and art. As she reads, she earns points. Then she turns those points in for prizes. Last week, she earned a blank mask. She had to use her imagination and decorate the mask. Then she took it back in to have her picture made. They will hang her picture up in the library with all the other kids and their masks. I think she did an awesome job on her mask!
I also have been wanting to start making bows for the baby. It is so hard to find bows that will stay in her hair. Plus they can get very expensive. So I decided to try my hand at it and found it quite fun. I can't wait to try different styles and ribbons. Here is my very first bow. I didn't think it turned out too bad.
I am so frustrated with Caroline's homework. She is in second grade and she has more than I would consider to be reasonable at this age. I also teach second grade so I have a pretty good idea of what is fair. We've been dealing with lots of homework ALL year and we've kind of just delt with it. I mean I'd rather have a little too much than too little. And Caroline has grown a lot this year so I hated to complain. BUT......you think they could let up just a little with only 6 days of school left??? Noooooo.......today she came home with 2 math sheets, spelling 12 words 5 times each and these words aren't what I consider second grade words:
They just started learning to write in cursive 2 weeks ago so she has to write all these words in cursive plus her vocabulary words too....which aren't any easier. Wouldn't "cat" be an easier word to practice? Not to mention our state standards don't even have cursive being taught in second. Caroline is a perfectionist and this makes cursive with these words misery. Of course, I tell her not to worry about it. Last week we sent a note letting her teacher know she was up till 9:30 trying to write the words and to excuse her. So her teacher made her do them in class. Most kids love learning to write in cursive.....my kid is learning to dislike it.
Caroline had another softball game tonight and they won 12-6. She is very serious about the sport. She puts her whole heart into the game. When they started the season, the coach asked for catcher volunteers. Several girls tried and they didn't like it. Caroline then stepped up to the challenge and she really is doing well. I think she has found her niche.
Mattie has her own little cheering team whether it be for her big sister or the ECU lady pirates.
Hoping everyone is having a nice Easter! The girls woke up this morning and went through their baskets. Mattie happened to find the first egg of the morning that the Easter Bunny hid last night. The older girls finished finding the rest of the eggs. While searching for Easter eggs, they also came across another treat. I've posted a picture below. Then it was hard boiled eggs for breakfast. We then got ready for church and went to lunch with friends. No big plans for dinner since it is just us. We'll probably do something simple and mess free. The thought of a big dinner and a big mess was not in my plans for today!
Mattie finds the first egg!
Yes....that says Happy Valentine's Day. The girls were searching for Easter eggs and found these chocolate bars. I had bought them for them in Feb. and totally forgot about them! So today was two holidays in one!
Caroline's presence alone can cause a sea of laughter. This is video from last night after bath time. I couldn't resist catching those giggles on tape.
For Mattie's birthday, Caroline made a special book just for her. She was so proud of her book. She got a blank hardback book for Christmas and decided that she would make a book for Mattie's birthday. She worked for quite some time creating her story and was ever so proud! Mattie loves to listen to Caroline read. She reads to her almost every day.
She loves her new book!
Caroline wrote "She loves baths. She loves church and singing. She is a sweetie pie."
Mattie had a such a great time at the park. I thought I would share some of the pictures we took. It was such a beautiful day! If only it was still warm out.....it dropped back down to 40-50's again. I can't wait for spring time! It is one of my favorite times of the year!
Caroline bought Pinklicious at the book fair last week. What a cute girly book! We loved this book! It is about a little girl who loves pink cupcakes. She loves them so much, she learns a valuable lesson on what can happen when you eat too many. We highly recommend this book.
Do you want to hear the story? If you just can't wait to get the book, click here to hear a read aloud. Personally, I think the pictures look much better in person.
This calls for a few words. Yes.....this is a real lizard! Hubby says they will hang from your ears like earrings....and they do! Caroline is our fearless child!
BTW...she says it doesn't hurt. You don't see me trying it!
