Honored

Emily's math teacher suggested she be tested for the schools honor program a few weeks ago. She took the test and passed. She got in!

Ben also tested last week. He passed too!

I'm so proud to say that both of them are in the G.A.T.E. program at school, Gifted and Talented Education.

They don't start honors until at least the third grade, so Noah has a few years to start studying. HA!

Mr. Fix It

On Halloween, we headed out and did our thing. After, I went to fold the clothes in the dryer. What? They were still damp. How can that be? The dryer broke. It would spin, but no heat. Great.

The next day, I had one more load of laundry to do, so I washed it and channeled my inner Palma (that's my Grandma) and hung the clothes out to dry.

David wouldn't consider himself a handy Mr. Fix It type of guy and neither I am. We didn't know what was wrong. We took a look at a few youtube videos and they all talked about wiring.

We made plans to go to Sears the next day and check out new dryers. Not what I wanted to spend $500 on after a big New York vacation and with Christmas around the corner, but it is what it is.

Then, I did what any girl does and called her Daddy, who is Mr. Fix It. He basically told me it's a fuse or the heating element. And, gave us the confidence that a dryer is pretty simple. So, David decided to tackle it. He got back there and quickly located the heating element and thermal fuse. I did the research online to make sure we ordered the right parts. We got both since it was probably one part or the other. $26. That's all both parts cost.

They came tonight and David became Mr. Fix It.

And guess what? He fixed it! It took an $18 part and about 10 minutes. Whew. I'm proud of him.

In other news, it snowing! Not a ton, but this is a super early snowfall for sure. Sometimes we don't see a flake until January or later.

Ben is hoping for a snow day. I think the dryer is as lucky as we are getting for now.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween trick or treating with our friends. Em was a goddess. Ben was spiderman again. Noah was Leonardo again.

Field Trip

I went with Ben's class today on a field trip to the Highland Center. It's like a nature spot in Prescott. I went with Emily's class two years ago. We learn about native plants and animals and I learned as much as the kids today. It was a super fun field trip.

Except the teacher gave me the difficult group since I'm the most familiar volunteer with the kids. Ugh, I knew I'd have the difficult kids. And, I did. I found myself thinking several times that I'm happy my kids are easy. There was the kid who is just like Rainman. No joke, a total genius but socially not there. The kid who obviously had ADHD. The girl who couldn't stop talking. The two kleptomaniacs who wanted to take every berry and acorn home with them. Their pockets were full. Seriously, leave something for the squirrels. Then, there was the kid who raised his hand for every question. We get it. You know everything. Then, I found out what a no contact contract was. Basicaly, when two kids are contractually obligated to not talk, look or breathe in the other kids direction. Really?  They need that in school these days?  Sad.

But what I learned from these kids is they are all pretty great. The savant is awesome in his own way. The hoarders are just doing their thing. Mr. ADHD skipped down the trail; man, I wish I had some of his spunk. And chatty Cathy is always the first kid to say hi to me and never leaves anyone out.  They were all pretty great. But, I am super grateful for my easy peasy no contract kids.

A storm moved in during the afternoon. The day was over and as we were walking to the bus it started raining and then hailing. Perfect timing. I'm so glad I get to have these fun experiences with Ben. 

Oh my gosh, I just went back and looked up Emily's same field trip, just three years ago.  She looks so tiny.  She  needs to stop growing up.  Can I just say how happy I am that I've kept this blog all these years.  It's so neat to look back on things.  We pulled up Halloween this morning and were cracking up at the old pictures.

Noah's First Party

Noah has been to invited to lots of birthday parties from school, but we never go.  Unless it's a kid he plays with and likes, we're not going.  A lot of kids to the obligatory invite of every kid in the class, and we don't do that.

Noah has yet to have a big birthday party.  With such an early August birthday, the kids that were his friends last year are in different classes or he hasn't made new friends yet, etc.  I think we'll do a big one for him next year and just do it a few weeks late, so he has time to decide who he wants there.

But, last weekend, he got invited to his best buds party.  Him and Levi were in class together last year.  This year they have different teachers.  Levi turned 7, so he's almost a year older than Noah.

David took him and said Noah had the best time!

This little girl likes Noah and always asks him to play with her at the pool.  One of the recess aides at school told me she chases Noah around.  :)  Maybe this is their first "date".

When Noah came home, he said he wished the party could start all over again.  I love to see him with such a huge smile on his face.

Overflowing

I'm always so proud of my kiddos, but today my proud parent cup runneth over.

Noah brought home an outstanding report card with almost all Outstanding marks. They don't do assemblies and Student of the Quarter, etc. until third grade.

Ben got all A's, so he got Principal's List, Perfect Attendance, Student of the Quarter and Student of the Quarter for P.E.  When we got home, I said "Wow, P.E. that's pretty great!"  The P.E. coach only picks one student per grade to get it.  He said, "Yeah, I was surprised.  I think I'm only average in the arts of Physical Education."  He makes me laugh.  I told him it's probably because he runs everywhere and shows lots of enthusiasm.  Which he agreed.

He got so many awards.  They were falling out of his hands.

And our beautiful Miss Emily got Student of the Quarter and Principal's List.

I'm always so proud of them, but they really did great.  To get Student of the Quarter in the first quarter means the teacher considers you to be the tops in the class.  Emily and Ben's teacher are both recommending they get tested for honors next week.  It's super hard to get in.  If you miss more than one question, you don't make it.  But, it's just an honor for them to get recommended for testing.

Here are their videos and the sweet things their teachers said about them.

Worst School Pics Ever

I struggle with buying school pictures. We always do a family photo shoot for the holidays, and we get great pics with natural smiles in a beautiful scenery. I usually take about 100 pictures of each kid to get that one good one that I use for our holiday card.

The cheapest class photo package that I can get from school that has an 8x10 cost $26. I get a couple of sheets of pictures and a class photo. I love the class photo. All the kids looking a little dorky and later, you look back on the clothes and smile. I love the individual photo too. The hair slightly out of place, the dorky smile, the collar askew. They are a right of passage, and I want them every year.

But, this year, they didn't take the big group class photo. They are going to a new style. They display each persons individual photo with their name under it. Boo. That's boring. Each kid's photo is the size of a thumbnail and I want the big group class picture. So, that was one reason not to get pictures this year.

But, I got them anyway. And let me say, I wish I hadn't.  These are beyond awful.

Noah seriously looks about 50 pounds overweight. The kid weighs 40 pounds.  And, I know you don't know this, but that's his face he makes when he's pooping. Seriously.  His side swipe of bangs is down and looking all jagged.  I kind of thought it was cute and that I might be able to keep it.  I was trying to let it grow on me.

Then, I opened Ben's envelope.  What the _____.  There are no words.  There is nothing right in this photo.  Not one thing.  The crazy thing is I saw him about 30 minutes before this picture was taken when I went to get Emily because she was sick.  He looked great.  As to how they ended up with a photo like this and didn't think to retake it is beyond me.

Emily didn't get pictures since that was the day she went home early because she was sick.  At this point, I don't know that I could take seeing it.

All I can say is what day is retakes?