Prayers to New Town Connecticut

The school shooting that happened today in Connecticut has shaken me.  I have turned off the radio and TV after watching a bit of the news coming in.  So sad.  So senseless.  So scary that this is the world our kids are growing up in. For my parents and my generation schools were open places, completely unlocked.  A place of innocence and fun and learning and struggle and accomplishment.  During my time teaching K schools became locked.  We practiced lockdowns.  My school was one of the first in our area to lock all our doors; parents had to buzz in and were indignant and said they felt unwelcome.....until we used the system successfully 2 months after putting it in place to stop a noncustodial parent from forcibly taking a child from our school.  Parents then understood that it could happen anywhere.
What saddens me is that I taught kids our lockdown procedure: door locked, hide out of sight of windows and door, lights off, quiet, quiet, quiet. In Kindergarten. Some kids thought it was like hide and seek.  Some said it was in case of bad people.  The ones who were going to bring up guns were stopped midsentence. But they knew.
What saddens me is that lockdown is now a regular school term that all the kids understand.
What saddens me is that they are needed at all.
What saddens me is that the elementary children today will hear about this in one way or another and it will affect their view of school, of school being a carefree place where their only worry is that 'big test' or reading the next line of the story or if their toga will stay on for their presentation.
They know they learn procedures to stay safe, but being safe at school should be a given.
Kids shouldn't have to think about staying safe at school.
Prayers to the families of Sandy Hook Elementary who have been forever touched by this avoidable tragedy.
Prayers to school children and personnel everywhere.
B

Running in Place

I tried to blog yesterday.  Lack of photos or words to write are not an issue, but lack of GB storage for photos on the blogger system is.  Apparently since the beginning of the blog when I was sure I would never fill all the photo storage space provided I took a lot of photos and fill it I did.  So my plan is to print another blog book that will cover the past 3 years of posts and then delete some beginning posts to see if that fixes my storage issue.  Yes, I am too cheap to pay the company to store old photos--- that's what I have Snapfish for.   Anyway.... I may do some written posts, but until I get photo issues worked out I cannot load any. I have considered ditching this blog and restarting elsewhere and maybe this is a sign to take that road.  I'll let you know if I decide to move to another site altogether---- though probably not since I have sentimental attachment to this one and it would confuse me to learn a new blog site.  Thanks for your patience.  Will write soon.

G's Eyes (and his amazing teacher)

Over the summer G's reading fell off.  Odd for him, but I thought it was a summer break, her was tired of reading, couldn't find anything to strike his interest.  I gave him a stern talking to after he took his test to check his grade level reading test for AR (Accelerated Reading): he had dropped a whole grade level !  I lectured on how he had to get back to reading and actually finishing books and had to stop being lazy about his work.  At his conference at the beginning of October his teacher asked me when he last had his eyes checked; she pointed out 6 different things that would point towards G needing new glasses despite his new pair being prescribed six months ago.  His teacher also said that he was trying very hard, but was frustrated often got teary in class.  Well, give me a parenting gold star.  I finally get him scheduled and to an appointment at the end of the month (another gold star).  At the appointment the doctor first checked his prescription and it was fine.  Then he listened to the symptoms G's teacher reported as well as things we noticed at home.  He tried another test: with G holding a  letter on a page 'reading distance' from his eyes the doctor held lenses over his eyes and asked G to say each time the writing came into focus.  Normal eyes can refocus from reading to distance vision 11-15 times in one minute.  G did 8.  He has accomadative insufficiency meaning his eye size has grown but the strength of the muscles to focus at changing distances has not.  We are working on strengthening through reading more with a marker under the words to help him focus.   Gold star and a blue ribbon for my super parenting in blaming a legitimate problem on laziness.
I have already thanked G's teacher multiple times.  Let me tell you a bit about her.  She is an experienced teacher.  The kind that a lot of parents would write off  because they want their kid to have to have the bouncy, just out of college teacher ( not that the bouncy, just minted teachers are bad).  She is a benevolent dictator in her room.  What she says goes and does not waver and cannot be changed by whining parents or kids.  Her students adore her, because she does what she says, she holds them to a high standard, she expects the best out of everyone of them, but she also knows when to give an extra hug and is in tune to when something is off with one of "her kids".  She loves them and that is what makes her push them and they love her which is why they respond and give her their best.  They wouldn't dare turn in an item late or half done because they would disappoint her.  Her years of experience make her the great teacher she is.  The years of experience she has made her able to tell me 6 things about G in the classroom that indicated a sight problem without ever having written any of them down.   G's teacher has years of experience and keeps learning about new resources and technology which is why when I told her how we were working on it for  the next few months she immediately knew what G needed and took me to the library to pick up some "focus strips" that have a transparent colored window so G can keep his eyes focused in the right place.  His reading enthusiasm has gone up 3000%.
So that is your educational post of the day on how to be a gold star example of pitiful parenting,  how important experienced teachers are, and how eyes are important and sometimes eye problems are not just about prescription strength.
love and hugs and is it time to get your eyes checked? B

Fall Photos

Ok, here they are at last.  2012 photos of the boys.  The first was taken in our neighborhood near a pond.  The others are at the Cahaba River near our neighborhood.  Lighting was not perfect, but good enough.  Yes, G is that tall and looks so grown up.  Yes, M is missing a tooth or two.  Yes, E is just biding his time putting up with having his picture taken waiting to go home and play.

   

  

love and hugs, B

The Right Setting

 I have been searching for the past week looking at different places to take the kids pictures for fall.  I totally missed doing pics over the summer-- better late than never.  We found this setting over the weekend and I took the kids back Monday for pics.   It is on the Cahaba River where a bridge used to go across.  Lighting was not perfect, but good enough.  Pics of the setting today and Fall photos of the boys tomorrow.

Pumpkin Time!

 A quick post to show our pumpkin patch visit and our carving for this year.  The pumpkin patch visit happened the weekend before last when M was down with strep. 
We carved pumpkins this weekend with our friend A from next door.

 Removing pumpkin guts and grossing each other out is their favorite part.

 M with a sharp instrument-- your nightmares come true.  That is actually a tomato corer; makes perfect holes if you want a pumpkin with lots of eyes.

 

 

More photos soon from the fall photo shoot with the boys.  love and hugs, B

Landscaping for Backyard

 Long time, no post.  Busy.  Really, crazy busy.  I had drawn a landscape plan for the backyard, but realized with our drainage issues (mostly flat yard with a large drain which handles rainwater from 3 adjacent yards) I knew I needed some  professional help with the installation.  Also, very tired of putting in tiny to small trees and not seeing them mature so we wanted to start with medium to good size trees in this backyard.  I will now give you the before and after photos.
Looking down the driveway view before.....

and  with Chinese elm after.....

from the corner of the driveway looking toward the back corner where the drainage rock sits (under this rock is a 6 foot pit which handles the river that flows through our yard when it rains hard--every time it rains here it rains hard.) before.....



 

and  with cryptomeria after.....

This part is my favorite since it overlooks everything we see from the kitchen, den, and our bedroom and it was desolate.  We also have not had neighbors next door, but they should be moving in within the next month or so.  We needed some privacy for our patio as well as the living areas.  Before of our side yard......

And after.... brilliant if I do say so myself.  The ginko trees with create a distracting screen for the house next door without completely filling the side yard like an evergreen would.   Plus it is a ginko: the fall color is stunning and the shape is artistically beautiful.  The viburnum shrubs will grow to 5 feet wide and 8-10 feet tall.  Good privacy screen without filling the whole side yard. OK, OK, here are the after shots...... 

 So that is one item I have been up to( with a little help from a landscaping company).  I know everyone is anxious to find out about the fall vegetable garden and children, but since living through an asthma attack with a child who has not been diagnosed with asthma (at 2am no less) and taking said child to doctor for yet another strep infection (please take the tonsils out...please take the tonsils out....please take the tonsils out...) I just do not have the energy to summarize the rest of the adventures.  Promise pics of pumpkins (not thrilling as one child was ill) and fall pics of the munchkins soon.  love and hugs, B

Fall Family Adventure

 This weekend we made a quick drive to Chattanooga in the mountains of Tennessee.  Fall color was not in force yet so we may have to go back when things get beautiful.  It was a nice day to try out Chattanooga with the kids.  We rode the Incline Railroad up the side of Lookout Mountain.....

And just imagine that our family would end up at the Civil War battlefield at the top of the mountain.  These kids love a good battlefield.

 I love a good battlefield with a view.

 Pardon me boys... is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?  Yes,  yes it is.

 Lunch in the newly revitalized (OK, new to us we haven't been to Chattanooga in 10 years) Northshore neighborhood.  It used to be scary to get lost in Chattanooga, but now the other side of the river is terrific with cute shops, restaurants and a spectacular public park space that runs along the river.  We walked the pedestrian bridge back towards downtown then went back to the park to ride the carousel.

Our first fall family adventure was a success.  Fun was had by all and it felt good to get "out of town" even if it was just a couple hours away.  Next time we hit Chattanooga we will do the tourist traps like Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Aquarium.  love and hugs, B

Football Photos

 Just a few photos from the last couple of Alabama football games.   Still just not in the mood to write and haven't done anything of note lately.  love and hugs, B

I Will Be Back Soon

I have been a complete slacker on the blog front.  Sorry.  I thought with the munchkins in school I would have so much free time, but it just gets filled.  It is nice to be able to complete my tasks without an audience and without constant interrogation .  I have not taken on so much volunteer duties as D had feared I would.   I teach Sunday school for M's class on Sunday morning before church, work in the elementary library on Thursday mornings,  and have volunteered for a project in each elementary classroom.  Keeping up with 3 different kids' school schedules/teacher names/projects may push me over the edge.  E simply does not communicate what he needs from me.  Luckily, the middle school teachers are good at emailing if it something that will require parents to buy supplies or help make something.  The fees of middle school and the kid asking for money for dance tickets and treats after school and this and that never end.   E is doing well in class; I love the information system the middle school uses so you can see exactly what your students has/hasn't done in class, attendance, daily grades, and test grades.  Information on this made me realize that teachers now not only have this terrific tool for informing parents, but parents have this terrific tool to see into the classroom a bit more.  What I didn't expect as I checked E's grades was PE was totally up to date with grades in place already while one of his core subjects is lacking any material at all (even attendance).   Maybe he isn't going to that class......maybe I should check on that.....
G is doing well adjusting to new teacher and more homework of 3rd grade.  His teacher is fantastic; has been teaching a long time and hasn't abandoned the common sense approach to discipline and expectations altogether for newfangled  touchy feely "we're all going to do great because I will just teach to the lowest common denominator" approach.  She also loves teaching and while she could retire she is called to teach and really doesn't know what she would do without her kids.  She is great and G and I are both going to learn a lot from her this year.
M....where do I begin with M.  He is M, but not as M as I feared and as I warned his Kindergarten teacher.  Third of 3 boys with not a single fear in the world and ready to try anything more than once and with an audience all the better.  M is just being M and his teacher has handled it well so far.  We are on a daily behavior chart to keep him telling the truth and between the ditches.  He loves K.  He loves getting out of the house.  He loves walking home from school with the big kids (mostly his new 'sister' from next door who takes such good care of him).  He hates wearing his glasses for school.  His behavior is just about where it was at the beginning of preschool last year which makes sense because he left preschool and hasn't been around classrooms of kids his age since the end of February.  His offenses this week (which were only on Monday) had to do with him trying to make other kids follow the rules; he was wrong but his heart was in the right place.
I have been to the dentist, gotten my haircut on a weekday,  been to lots of PTO meetings and other school meetings, went with the family to Nashville for Labor day weekend (love girls day with my sister T), carpooled for middle schoolers with large instruments who don't end up bringing their instruments home,  and taken care of the usual things around the house (laundry, meals, cleaning, yard).   The fun things  I have done since school started have been joined our neighborhood book club (and we are actually reading a book, not just getting together to chat),  started walking faithfully nearly every day on my own (plus walks with D some days too so I am working  up double mileage), and signed up for a 5K walk.... in Florida in March.   The 5K trip is more a girls weekend with the new neighborhood friends-- I love my neighborhood!  So fun for the kids and me.
OK so that is a bit of catch-up.  I will try to get some pics on soon, but no promises as my system for picture download and storage is still up in the air.
love and hugs, B

First Days of School

 This was taken one week before school started as soon as we got home from renting the French horn. Look at the shine on that face.  And he can actually make sounds with it--- not everyone can.  I hope he will play until his mouth is tired every day.

The 2 bigger boys began school on Monday.

 Sixth grade-- the big transition to middle school.  Lockers, schedules, more lockers, changing teachers for every class, gym uniforms, lockers.

Third grade-- the leader of my elementary school pack.

 Kindergarteners had their first full day of school on Tuesday.  He loves it.  He is doing great.  He needed school. (remember we have been together full time since March 1).

love and hugs, B