little drummer girl

the things they say

Connor and Emily say things everyday that are funny, sweet, interesting and silly.  A co-worker of mine is always telling me that I need to write everythng down.  I wish I could.  I've tried, but there is just no way.  My only hope is to blog what they say every so often.  Here's one thing from Connor and two things from Emily, said today...

Connor:

     "I hope you live to 100 so that when I'm 71 we can be old people together."

Emily:

     "Mom, you go get the Snow White costume and I'll get the poisoned apples."

     "Can you clean those dust rabbits?" (Pointing at the corner of the ceiling.)

report card

Connor received his first report card just before Christmas.  Harrison Township does "trimesters" so there are three report cards per school year (hence the "tri"...probably didn't need to explain that).  Another fun thing in Harrison Township is the rubric grading system and the "B", "D", "S" thing, both of which need explaining and understanding if you want to get anything out of looking at the report card.

All subjects, with the exception of writing, are graded on a 4 point rubric. A "3" is the district's standard..."meeting expectations". A "4" is "exceeding expectations". You can kind of figure then what a "2" and a "1" mean. B=Beginning, D=Developing, S=Successful. I think that's it. Oh no wait, there is also the "-", "*" and "+" given to some of the skills listed on the report card under the subject areas. Just getting letter grades are a thing of the past. Now you need a college degree to read the report card.

I tried to link to the report card here but I have it saved as a pdf file and blogspot won't link it. In case I don't figure it out, here are the highlights:

• He's in the "Emergent" reading stage.  (Stages in order are: Pre-reader, Emergent, Beginning, Fledgling)
• Mathematics, rubric grade of "4".  Received a "+" in "number and numerical operations" and "patterns and algebra".  Yes, they actually call it algebra.
• Personal/Social Development...there are a lot of skills assessed here.  He received an "S" in everything except "Listens Attentively", "Contributes to Group Activities", "Stays On-task", and "Performs Fine Motor Skills".  Those areas were all a "D" for developing, which means he still needs support in those areas. 

I'm not sure what the listening attentively thing is about.  I'm not surprised about contributes to group activities...he doesn't put himself out there.  The staying on task is related to his slow work pace.  What can I say, Connor thinks a lot, is methodical and a perfectionist.  Three qualities that I happen to have and like.  He does well with time limits if he has a timer or a person to remind him.  Otherwise, forget it...it will get done when he is done.  I've always said he has no sense of urgency.  And finally, performs fine motor skills is about his handwriting, which is so ironic to me.  The irony is that his handwriting is awesome...I need to take credit because I'm pretty sure he comes by it naturally. ;)  For school purposes however, with the exception of the first letter of a sentence, he needs to write in lower case and form his letters from top to bottom.  This is not his preference at all and he lets me know it all of the time.  He'd rather write in CAPS and form his letters from bottom to top.  Since he's a rule follower he does comply, which has actually made his handwriting less legible, again ironic.  Thus, his fine motor skills are "developing". 

Connor did well.  The best part is that he likes school and looks forward to going.  He's reading and writing and shares so many things about what he is learning.  He shares a lot about his classmates too like, who is " a good one" and who is "not a good listener" and who is "annoying" and who is "funny" and who "talks too much".  He could go on and on and typically does, in detail.  It makes me wonder sometimes what his classmates are saying about him to their parents.

christmas

I feel like it took forever for Christmas day to actually arrive, and when it did it was gone so quickly.  Christmas is really a week-long holiday, at least.  Here's how our family spent it:

December 23rd...early dismissal for Connor and I.  He had his classroom "winter celebration", a.k.a. Christmas party.  Not allowed to call it that anymore...but there's a huge Christmas tree in the foyer of the school and a parent reads "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" over the school intercom system, go figure.  That night, my mom helped me wrap almost all of the gifts and then when Carl got home from his indoor game, we finished up.  I think we were up until like 2 a.m.

Christmas Eve...went to one of Carl's brother's (Steve and Roxanne) for the Heil family gathering.  Since he has seven siblings and there are 19 neices/nephews, we only do a kids polyanna and a "wrap up something from your house that you don't want" gift exchange (the item has to be unused).  I love the kids polyanna because, well...let's face it, it would be insane to buy for 16 kids.  And I love the adult gift exchange because it gives us the oppourtunity to get rid of something that we have never used, and probably don't like or want.  There's a lot of laughing during that...you should see some of the stuff that people get rid of.  This year someone became the proud owner of our frog cookie jar.  We scored because Carl chose a great gift (they are all wrapped when you choose).  He got his sister Diane's gift, which was full of cd's.  She works for Sony and gets one free cd a month...she has to take whatever it is and many of them she doesn't like.  She stuck about 10 in a gift bag...Kenny Chesney, John Mayer, Kings of Leon, Mercy Me, Carrie Underwood, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra...not bad!

Cousin polyanna exchange

Christmas Day...kids got up around 8:15.  They were excited, even about each other's gifts.  Connor could have gotten through his in about five minutes but we were taking turns (because when am I not neat and orderly) and the girls were holding up the process.  They wanted to open and play with every gift.  Well, Em did and Camryn just wanted to play with Em's gifts.  I think we ended up skipping over Cam a few times but they were all done by about 10 a.m. and ready for breakfast.  I was going to make pancakes but didn't realize we were out of mix until it was time to make them.  I looked up the "pancake from scratch" recipe in my cookbook and immediately thought, "yeah...um...no" so knowing the kids wouldn't eat eggs I came up with the only logical 3rd option...french toast!  After breakfast and clean-up, the kids played with their toys, the girls napped, we got ourselves together, and then I started to make dinner.  My dad, stepmom Jane, sister Amy and stepmom's parents were coming over at 3:30.  Carl had to work, which sucked actually...but I knew that he would have four days off in a row Sunday through Wednesday so that made it better.  Dinner turned out great and the kids had fun visiting with Grandpop, Mom Mom, Aunt Amy, Great Pop Pop and Great Mom Mom...and opening more gifts of course.

December 27th...gathering at our house.  My extended family (cousin Danielle, Jeff and the girls; Aunt Pat and Uncle Gary; Granny Wilson) came over.  The kids had fun with Cambelle and Chloe and enjoyed more gifts.  It's always great when we can all get together, which is rare these days with our different obligations and schedules.

December 28th...my sister Dawn flew in from Ohio and brother Ken drove from Pittsburgh so we got to hang for a few hours and have a nice dinner.  I miss them being around so it was a great visit.

The 28th through New Year's Eve, we didn't do much...a lot of hangin' around, playing with the kids and their toys/games.  It was so nice for Carl to have off 4 days in a row.  We even squeezed in a trip to IKEA, which is always fun and productive!  We bought Emily her "big girl bed" and some more shelves for the playroom.  The room is seriously out of control.  I need another week off to go through it and get rid of some stuff.  So, a few more days and then back to reality for me...back to work on Monday the 4th.  January to March always seems to go the slowest at work.  It's not slow in terms of the workload, but there are no major holidays or breaks coming up.  I know, sad story right?  I'll just have to settle for my next day off, January 18th for Martin Luther King day!  Gotta love working in a school district.

I could have posted many, many more pics from our holiday gatherings but so many are just candids of the kids opening gifts.  This one above, of the girls dressed up in the princess dress-up trunk clothes that Emily received from Santa, is one of my favorites.  They have literally been rotating between princess outifts everyday since Christmas.  Their faces say it all...it really was a joyful Christmas.

snow days

This time last week we had two feet of snow and now we have nothing.  The 50 degree temperature today and tons of rain washed it all away.  It was fun while it lasted though (although I'm not too sure Carl would agree since he had to clear the driveway, sidewalk and walkway).  I enjoy the snow and I'm so glad we live somewhere where we get to experience it somewhat, but not all winter like in North Dakota or Minnesota.  I was telling Connor that when I was a kid, I would spend all day out in it when it snowed.  I'd build tunnels and caves at the bottom of my driveway (actually my dad probably did all of the actual work while I watched and critiqued).  He took me sledding all of the time and would pull me around our street on my wooden sled.  I remember sitting in my living room when I was a kid, listening to the guy on KYW read all of the school closing numbers.  I think my school district was 803 or 806 and I can remember the excitement building as the guy reached the high 700's and then all of the sudden it was 800, 801, 802...!  I feel sorry for kids who grow up in Florida...there seriously is nothing like a good snowfall.  Working in a school, I still get to experience snow days...that never gets old.  I'm hoping for one more snowstorm before the winter is over so that we can take the kids sledding for the first time. 

All three of them loved playing in the snow this past week.  Saturday, Sunday and Monday went like this: dress kids for the snow, play in the snow, come in and take off all of the snow clothes, have hot chocolate, repeat.  Here are some pics from the fun we had last weekend...

The entire dressing routine for all three probably took about 20 minutes

Camryn could not get up on her own after she was dressed

Emily throwing snow up into the air and then having it all land back on her face

All Connor wanted to do was throw snowballs at Carl and I, but definitely could not handle the retaliation

Emily wanted to throw a few of her own too

I love the wall of snow here behind Camryn

Connor kept trying to walk through the snow

Emily and Camryn making their way down the sidewalk

Connor kept trying to save his snowballs...he was carrying this one to a big pile of them

Our home...the upstairs window on the right is Connor's room.  By the next day, it was completely covered by a snow drift.  It looked cool from the inside.

Emily wanted to make snow angels the entire time we were out there

This is the only bad thing about playing in the snow

confession

Forgive me blogger, it's been 5 weeks since my last post (the Catholics will get that).  I really can't believe that I haven't blogged in 5 weeks.  I'm going to blame it on (1) the time of year, (2) work and, (3) my attempt at exercising.  I numbered my reasons because making lists always makes me feel better.  So...(1) This time of year is crazy with Thanksgiving, Connor's birthday and then getting ready for Christmas.  (2) Work has been mentally kicking my butt lately so I've been too tired to blog once I get the kids in bed.  (3) I say "my attempt" at exercising because I have been making an attempt for the last month.  I've been doing the treadmill and Wii Fit.  Some nights have been better attempts than others but I am doing something, which is better than the nothing that I was doing.  So there are my excuses for not blogging and here is my attempt to summarize the last 5 weeks...

We spent Thanksgiving at my dad and stepmom's house.  Carl ended up having the night off, which was a welcomed surprise.

Thanksgiving weekend brought the yearly WTHS men's soccer game.  Connor stayed for the whole game while the girls and I only stayed for about the first half.  The odd years (Carl's team) won again...for like the 7th year in a row or something ridiculously longer than that.  The even years are not representing.

We went to get our Christmas tree.

We celebrated Connor's 6th birthday with our gifts to him at home and a bowling party with family and friends.

We had fun decorating our tree.

The last five weeks also brought some milestones for the kids...

Connor was awarded Student of the Month for November.  The letter home said, "this selection is based on demonstrating considerate behavior, respect for others and good manners in an exemplary fashion".  He recieved a certificate and had his picture taken with the principal.  Needless to say, he was very excited and we are so proud of him. 

Emily took on potty training.  We were in Target one day and she saw Disney Princess underwear.  She asked to buy them and said she was going to use the potty.  I said okay and basically went along for the ride.  She made the decision and that was it.  She rotates between Disney princess and Tinkerbell underwear, which she likes to specifically select each day.  She also likes to change up her choices throughout the day, but that's okay...whatever works.  She's still wearing pull-ups at night but she's doing a great job.

Camryn had her 15 month well-visit.  She's now one pound away from Emily, in the 90%tile for weight (26 pounds).  She's 31 inches tall, which is the 75%tile.  Her language is taking off, her sleep continues to be great, she's funny, very affectionate, and just loves life.

free advertising for vitamin water

I recently discovered Vitamin Water and it is so good...so good that I'm blogging about it.  I never thought that I would use the words 'water' and 'so good' in the same sentence.  I am not a fan of water and didn't drink the 10 gallons a day of it that you're supposed to when you're pregnant.  I just don't prefer it.  Truthfully I could live off of iced tea, lattes and coffee.  I know, not so good.

So two weeks ago I was stuck at a workshop for my job and needed a drink, hence the Vitamin Water.  It was yummy and I couldn't believe that it was just flavored water!  And since I'm not typically a healthy drinker and eater, I think this may be just the thing for me. Good tasting water with vitamins, I mean seriously?  Now maybe it's not that good for you, who knows, but by the looks of the ingredients and of course, all of the vitamins listed, it sure does seem as though it's healthy!

Each flavor is called something, like "sync" or "defense" or "power-c" just to name a few.  Here is the coolest part...the labels.  Each label has a funny little blurb about that particular flavor.  And when I say funny, I mean I'm laughing when I read it.  And I read the same one again and again.  I don't even read books for entertainment.  So now I'm getting vitamins and entertained at the same time...by a flavored water drink!  You might be thinking that I either have too much time on my hands or that I've completely lost it but neither is true.  I'm as busy and sane as usual.  Here's a sample of what I'm talking about:

(This is written on the "defense" flavor and is my favorite thus far)...

"If you've had to use sick days because you've actually been sick then you're seriously missing out, my friends.  See, the trick is to stay healthy and use sick days to just um, not go in.  And this combination of zinc and fortifying vitamins can help out with that and keep you healthy as a horse.  So drink up.  Remember, don't overdo it on the coughing and sniffling (big rookie mistake).  Just stick with the ever-elusive "24-hour bug".  The symptoms are vague and people will actually encourage you to stay home."    

Is that funny stuff or what?