It's official, I will be losing my mind this school year

Today was the first day of school for PB and Monster, and tomorrow Bug begins.  What you, dear reader, may not realize right away, is the fact that I will now have a child in all three levels of school.  I have a first grader, sixth grader, and 11th grader.  My supply list runs the gamut from crayons and glue sticks, to binders and dividers, all the way through a drivers permit!

Monster has been so excited about first grade.  Mostly because of his lunch box, which we purchased last year.  This morning, he asked me how long it was until lunch.  When I asked what his favorite part of the day was, his answer was lunch, then recess, then music class.  He definitely has his priorities set.  Tomorrow is Art.  That will blow his mind, I'm sure.  It's amazing to me to see his sense of style evolving as well.

Because my little Monster was so resistant to learning how to read last year, he has been placed in the Literacy First class this year.  I choose to see this as a blessing.  He is smart, and I know that once the right key is turned, reading will become a fun and exciting subject for him.  And this class has the potential to do this for him.  It is a smaller class (only around 16 students) and they focus more attention on reading, writing and such.  However, I am unhappy with how the school year began.  In years past, the day before school you could go and meet your child's teacher during lunch time. This year, state employees (this would be me as well) had our pay cut by 2.5%.  To soften the blow, the Legislator gave us all 5 paid furlough days.  In order to reduce the cost burden, teachers lost in-service days to cover these days.  This means that teachers only had the day before to arrange their rooms and prepare for the first day, unless they wanted to do it on their own time.  That morning was spent in meetings, leaving them only a few hours to set up their rooms.  When we were invited in to find classrooms at 4 pm, most teachers had already gone home.  While I understand why, it's still frustrating.  I don't try to use that time as more than a few minutes of introduction, but a few minutes of understanding what this classroom entails would have been very helpful.  Instead, I will be emailing his teacher tomorrow to ask some questions.  This means she has to find the time to answer me during the school day, instead of having a few minutes the day before.

I'm also upset as I don't feel that he was given the Speech Therapy that he required last year, and this year I will be fighting early for this.  He pronounces his leading L's as Y's, and it's impeding his spelling/reading abilities.

PB began Middle School.  Yesterday we did get our time to travel her schedule and work her locker (a bunch of times.)  She briefly met her teacher, ad her classes are grouped together well.  One of her best friends has all but one class with her, she's getting gym out of the way first semester and it's the last class of the day, and she's excited. Basically, that is pretty much all we can ask.  She asked her sister about her outfit yesterday a bunch of times.  Bug told her that it was a lot of patterns, but she could pull it off.  And I think she did.

Come back tomorrow for an exciting announcement :) (no, I'm not pregnant.)

Random thoughts

I always have so many ideas running around my head for posts, and no time any more for actually writing them. Bummer.

1. I've been shredding regularly for almost 2 weeks now. I managed 4 days last week, and 2 times this week so far. Of course, this means I have to shred tomorrow and Saturday (unless I choose to start my week on Monday...lol). It is kicking my butt. Seriously. Tonight I did notice that I was able to amp up a few moves for a few seconds, which I guess is an improvement. I just feel like I will be on level 1 forever. I hate that. I'm impatient. But I'm working hard to keep my eye on the ultimate goal, which is looking and feeling better.

2. The kids and I are going on a bus trip to New York City. We're being dropped off at Macy's 34th Street entrance. I'm trying to figure out the best way to see some tourist attractions (the Statue of Liberty seems to be high on everyone's list (my MIL and mom are going as well)) from their. I'd ask for suggestions, but since I don't have very many readers, I'm not expecting much response. Hey, maybe I should facebook it!

3. I'm seriously contemplating switching blogging platforms. And the name of my blog. I chose this name at random before I actually understood what a blog was. And it's not catchy, and I've never been fond of it as a blog name...it's okay as my identity though.

4. I've been working on some things that I want to create to put in my Etsy shop. I'm still working through all the things I need to get it up and going. Maybe I need to start a blog that covers that business as well. Hmmm, food for thought.

5. My son was listening to a rcorded book tonight. He was so excited about the whole thing, and he says to me at one point..."mama, don't you just love technology." My heart melted to a puddle on the floor. My son will be a techno geek like his mama. Of course, he'll be a hot rock star techno geek, but still.

6. It is seriously beautiful here this evening. The temp is comfortable, there's just a little breeze, and the rain showers are short and easy. I'm sitting on my front porch geeking out. I really have to do this more often!

That's it for now! Night!

Kids say, edition 2?

My kids crack me up on a daily basis. Here are a few things they've said/done recently that made me chuckle out loud.


PB to Monster - How can you forget Valentine's Day? It's such a pink, lovable holiday.

Whenever my husband finds some disaster the Monster has wrought, he calls him by yelling "BOY!". Last night, we were discussing how Monster wanted to use daddy's tools to make our car be able to change form, like a transformer. I mentioned that if he tried to get near the cars with daddy's tools, he would come over from Iraq to beat his butt. Monster thought on this for a bit, then commented "we couldn't transform when daddy was with us, cause then he would know that I used his tools, and he would say "BOOOOOYYYY!!"

This morning, I got out of the shower to find the boy standing there. "Mama, I set out your clothes for you, including the necklace I made for you when I was just a baby." He had chosen a pair of olive Khakis, a flannel plaid Tigger nightgown, a bra and a pair of underwear. I have to give him credit for remembering everything, and for trying to take care of his mama.

Out of the mouth

Here are some of my recent favorites.

The Monster is asking me about my earrings. How do I get them in ear, how did my ear get the hole in it, how does the earring go through the hole....etc. Finally, he curls up next to me and says "I sure am glad I'm not a lady."

The other night, he gladly announced that he could tell us all about it, in French, in wahhili and, and, and, even in English. (I believe it's meant to be Swahili...it's the joke when they aren't listening that we were speaking in Swahili, not English).

He was having a discussion with his father the other day. Daddy asked him what he was doing, and he told him he was training his dragon. Daddy asks for what. "I'm training him to be Army Strong Daddy!" I'm sure my husband had a tear in his eye for that one.

PB announced today "Monster gave me a wet willy on my arm." I pointed out that wet willies were only in your ear.

Fart and Poop...or I am a 5 year old boy

On the way home tonight, we passed through a very bad smell. I was teasing the Monster, asking if he tooted. He said NO, so I blamed dragon (His imaginary friend). He tells me that Monster FARTS every where...the bedroom, the dining room, the kitchen, outside, in the car...he poops and farts everywhere. Thank goodness he's invisible.
**********
One morning last week, driving to daycare/school/work, Monster is in the back seat just chattering away with the daily 50 questions (mama, what's that bus number, mama, is that the same as the number of seats, mama, where is that bus going, mama, who's driving that van...I get so tired of hearing mama every once in awhile) when I heard the distinctive sound of gas passing loudly from his area. As he was taking a breath, he said "sorry, excuse me, I farted." Of course, I had to chuckle a little quietly. He then proceeds to tell how "that was a big fart...really big...wow. It went up in the air and exploded everywhere....it was like a bomb." PB and I were practically gasping for air from laughing so hard. All I could think was that is father would be so proud.
**********
Sitting on the toilet a few weeks ago, he calls me in. I come in, "yes monster?"
"Mama, I have good news!"
My mind races..."yes baby?"
"My dragon had babies. There are 10 and then 10 more. That makes 20! Now I have 123 dragons!"
"That's great babe, are they living with us, too?"
"Of course, where else would they live?"
***********
Speaking of dragon, he has really become a bad influence. After hollering for monster a couple of times with no response, I sent one of his sisters to get him. (Of course, they had to holler first. Cause my hollering wasn't loud enough.) He finally gets to me, and his excuse for not coming? When he watches TV, dragon takes over his brain and he can't listen anymore. He's sorry, but it isn't his fault...it's that naughty dragons!
************

Little man

The Monster is growing up so fast. We went to the library for a bit this evening while waiting for Bug to finish at play tryouts, and he was so polite and well behaved. I really wanted to ask him who he was and where he came from. This is the child that at 18 months was doing chin ups on the bars that held the hanging bags. For him to sit and quietly play with puzzles, pick out books, and listen to what he was told was a huge step in the right direction.

Every once in a while he does something that makes me realize that I'm raising what will be a good man. This afternoon, as we were leaving his "school", his main teacher was walking back down to his class after delivering snack around. He made a point of stopping her to say goodbye, and he said "Ms. S, I really love your new hair cut, it's so pretty." This wasn't a drastic change in her hair, just simply styled a different way, but he noticed.

He also told me tonight that he wants to go buy me something shiny and pretty, like bow, to show me how very much he loves me. I was the recipient of a great number of hugs and kisses tonight, and we even read a story about animals and love before bed tonight. I really do wish I could keep him this age for a lot longer than it lasts.

Things overheard

Melts my heart
Monster to Daddy "your my bestest buddy, Daddy."

Monster to his sisters "I just wuv you guys sooooo much...group hug!"

Makes me smile
Monster received some large, white and black fake money in the goody bag from a birthday party last weekend. He told me he was going to sell it to get more money. One of his sisters pointed out it's fake. "It's FAKE???!!??" he cries.

Makes me believe in magic
Monster's telling me about his friend, Dragon. "He has lots of cool stuff...like his own radio station, and he let's me go there with him. He's an awesome friend mama."

Are we in Sunday School or Social Studies?
We are talking about Moses in Sunday School. One of the boys was trying to impress us with his knowledge, and told us about Moses and the tablets. Another boy said, "oh yeah, that was the ten Commendments."

Just a Spoonful of Sugar

I had a relative that used to drive me crazy (I know...but bear with me here). She would always tell little ones that she could "just eat you up with a spoon." That grated as much as being called "cute" as a teenager. But since having my son, I understand what she meant. He is just so sweet, and seeing as how you scoop sugar by the spoonful, the saying makes sense.


This morning, I asked PB what she had for breakfast yesterday morning (she chose to eat at the Youth Center instead of finding something at home). She answered toast, and I asked if that was all. Turns out that breakfast was cheese toast yesterday (not a fan of that, that one.) The Monster pipes up..."I had that too. It was so yummy. mmmm good cheese toast. I ate mine all gone. It's just so yummy." all while rubbing his tummy and throwing in a few lip smacks. Silence for about 2 minutes...and then he begins again with his description.


I would say that cheese toast is high on his list of foods, but the problem is, most things are. There are very few foods that the Monster just won't eat. He hates squash, but still takes his "try-me" bite every time we have it, and has even started claiming it isn't too bad. I worry about when he grows a bit more...I see my grocery bill tripling and the runs to the grocery store becoming more frequent.


He's also exploring his career opportunities lately. Apparently, he isn't content with deciding what he wants to be when he grows up. He has jobs already. Somedays, he is the "doorman" at the youth center (complete with a story about his break and who's coming through the door...etc). Other days he's the "rocket ship builder." Yesterday, I came out and watched them play for a bit on the playground at "school" (please do not call it daycare...he will kill you). It's so funny to watch the kids play at this age. He finally spotted me, and came running over, proclaiming " I got a new job today Mama! I'm in charge of the gym. I have to open it in the morning, and close it at night!" I asked where the gym he worked at was located. He pointed to the empty corner of the play area and pronounced "Right there! Isn't it cool!?"


I will really miss this stage when he outgrows it. We have dinosaurs and dragons and tigers and lions and giraffes and snakes and robots and who knows what else living with us. If all of his imaginary friends and animals were real, we wouldn't be able to live in this state let alone this town or house. And every day, he reminds to look for the wonder in the world.