Red Lipstick And Lots Of Glitter Spray!

I seriously cannot believe that Miss B. is going to be in her first dance recital  tonight. I am excited and a bit nervous.  We went to a dress rehearsal on Tuesday and she did great.  She thought the "crying girl" looked silly. Let's hope she remembers "crying girl" tonight when she is on stage.  The dance world is a whole new ballgame for us boy family.  I am amazed at all that goes on in dance.  I must have forgotten.  We received a PACKET of instructions on how her hair, make-up, costume and lips should look.  Red lipstick is the only color allowed and it is VERY highly recommended for pictures, rehearsal and the performance. Luckily I have a great friend and neighbor who has been thorough and is still going through all of this dance craziness and she bought me the perfect red lipstick at Target. The stuff stayed on Miss B.'s lips for an entire 24 hour period.  That included a shower!   It was hilarious.  Did you know that there is glitter hairspray now?  I sure didn't.  All the girls had it in their hair at the rehearsal.  I acted like I knew what the stuff was and that we had run out that morning.  I quickly called my hair girl Chrissy to find out where to find glitter hairspray.  Who knew? Dance is so much more complicated then getting ready for a flag football game or even a baseball game.  I haven't decided how I feel about it all.  I guess we will see after tonight. Jeremy says its not to late to sign her up for softball.  I'm starting to think that's an excellent idea!  Good luck tonight little lady.  

Can't wait to see you "Rock-A-Hula!"

School's Out!

 I cannot believe it is the last day of school.  This year has been the fastest school year by far!  These kids have not only learned a ton this year, but they have made some great friends and had a little bit of fun....as much fun as you can have at FAB.  Ledger has had a great year of learning and progress.  Putting him in kindergarten this year was the best thing ever for him.  This kid needs to be challenged at all times.  His brain never stops, not at night, not at 2:00 in the morning, not ever.  Putting him at a school like FAB has been good for him and his brain.  He has started sleeping better because he is mentally exhausted when he gets home and he is happier because he is learning. His temper tantrums and outbursts have gone down tremendously.  I hope that this decision to start him early will be ok as he gets older.  This boy is just happy and kind.  He has lots of friends and loves to play and be apart of what is going on.  He is a good kid, and oh so smart!

 Brody has done well at his new school.  I'm not gonna lie, it was VERY difficult at the beginning.  The academics were easy for him, but socially he struggled.  He came from a school that was comfortable with friends that had been in his class since kindergarten.  He was comfortable at his old school and Brody is very happy with comfort (just like his mama).  I have to say though, as difficult as the transition was, I would do the same thing again.  This boy excelled at FAB and had a teacher who was fun, loud, and totally ADHD!  It was just what Brody needed.  I realize how weird that sounds but Ms. Karr was exciting EVERY day.  Brody met some really great friends and has really had to learn to jump in on the playground when the other boys were playing sports.  All in all, it has been a great year for Brody! This boy is smart and loves to learn.  He is a great kid.

 This little lady LOVES preschool.  If Miss Jody had preschool every day, all day, this girl would be there.  This year Miss B. has learned to write her name and my name.  She is eager to spell and write.  Miss B. loves her friends at school and has had fun playing "doctor" each week.  On the last day of school, she attended "water day" which she thought was super fun!  I am happy she will be going back to Miss Jody next year.  

 As you may have noticed, there are no pictures of Case on his last day of school.  Poor Case was crying all morning because he couldn't find his, "School's Out" t-shirt like his brothers were wearing.  We searched and searched the house all morning but it was no where to be found.  The poor boy cried his eyes out until it was time for him to get in the car with Pete to go to school.  It was a sad way to end the school year.  Case has had an amazing year of second grade.  His teacher, Mrs. Spencer was the best thing to happen to Case.  She adored him and thought he was the smartest and kindest boy she had ever taught (that's how she made us all feel anyway).  We felt so lucky to get Mrs. Spencer this year.  She was an answer to our prayers.  Case has done extremely well this year.  He has made some really great friends who have been over to play several times this year.  I am so happy for Case and his willingness to jump in on a basketball, kickball or football game with any boy who is playing.  Case had a great year of second grade.

I have been so excited for the end of the school year but a little sad.  This is really the first time I have felt like this.  In the past, I was more then ready to move on and to have my kids back home for the summer. I have always viewed the summer as a time to get them back to the kind, sweet boys I know they are, without the influence of friends or negative teachers.  This year, although I am excited to have them home, I am a little sad that these boys will not have the amazing teachers they had this year again.  It has been bitter sweet thinking about moving on from these teachers.  They have all made a huge impact in my boys lives.  I am grateful!  I worry about next year.  There is a HORRIBLE first grade teacher that I fear Ledger may get.  I have not heard very good things about a particular third and fifth grade teacher either.  I guess when there are 5 teachers per grade, my chances are slim of getting any of these teachers but I still worry.  My hope is that we will get three more amazing teachers again next year.  I am praying!

Did I mention that Brody has become a HUGE tease.  He is making us all crazy with his teasing and goofiness.

 The last day of school is always crazy.  This year was even more crazy then before because school got out at 1:25.  After I dropped Miss B. off at school this morning, I headed over to the school to see if any of the teachers needed help.  I then made a run to Taco Bell for Brody and Case and then to McDonalds for Ledger.  Ledger's class was having a pizza party and he does NOT like pizza.  Luckily he was able to enjoy McDonalds.  While the class was eating lunch, I was able to make popcorn for everyone with the huge movie theatre popper.  The kids loved it and Ledger was thrilled that I was able to be there.

 Next I headed over to Case's classroom to help with his class party and to make popcorn.  I love that this boys is in second grade and he still runs up to me when I walk in the classroom to give me a hug.  He was beyond excited that I was there today.  For his party we played, pin the lips on Mrs. Spencer, find the bubble gum in a bowl of whip cream, and a ring toss game that the other parent helper brought in.  We also bought beach balls for the kids to sign and take home.  They thought that was super fun.  Case has some really great friends in his class.  Hopefully next year he will continue to make friends and do well.  He is a smart, kind boy.

After school today, I didn't plan a water balloon, squirt gun attack on the kids as they got off the bus like I did last year.  This year, the boys each brought a friend home.  Ledger got to go to his friend John's house which was a first.  He was so giddy with excitement he could hardly stand it.  The other boys played and had a ball all afternoon.  It really was a great last day of school.  

Ledger's Spring Sing

 Today I was able to attend Ledger's Kindergarten Spring Sing. It was so fun to see Ledger up on that stage singing, there is an advantage to being the smallest kid in the class! Ledger is a great kid.  He is all business when it comes to concerts and things like this.  

Ledger and his kindergarten friends sang some really cute and sweet songs.

I cannot believe my baby boy will be in first grade next year.  He has loved being in kindergarten and says he can't wait for next year.  Me on the other hand....I wish these boys (and girl) would just stay put for a while!

"It's My Party And I'll Cry If I Want To."

 Last Friday night, Berkley had her first tumbling recital at Red Mountain Ranch Elementary.  To say she was excited about this night would be an understatement. The two of us girls could hardly wait.

The night started out with a slide show of each of the girls.  Love this picture of Miss B.

The girls performed to the song, "It's My Party And I'll Cry If I Want To." There was a little dancing and tumbling in the routine.

Somersaults were the highlight of the night.  As you can see, this little lady had that down!

I can't get over how cute the matching leotards were for the performance. 

(don't laugh, I've waited years for this!)

Love this picture of Miss B. and her teacher, Miss Brenda.  This was just before she was about to do somersaults across the stage. 

"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."  "Cry if I want to." "Cry if I want to," "You would cry to if it happened to you!."

The routine ended with backbends.  Are you cracking up at this?  Hilarious!

Miss Brenda is so awesome.  Not only does she live 5 houses down from us, she is so patient with the girls (and boys).  She is the best tumbling teacher.

After the recital was over, Miss Brenda let the kids come out and show off their favorite tumbling move.  This is Miss B.'s.  

We were so proud of our little tumbler.  We were a little nervous wondering if she would get up on the stage and perform or if she would clam up and not do anything.  She got up there and performed.  She looked dang cute!

Daddy brought the star a dozen pink roses.  Sugar and Jim were there along with her brothers. Her brothers are now all BEGGING to take tumbling like the boys that were in the recital.  Who knew?!?!

Best of all, her BFF Jordan was on stage right next to her in case she needed help.  These girls looked too cute performing tonight.  Can't wait to see what they do next year.  Way to go tumbling girls!

"Hello Mrs. Felstead..."

 ...this is Mrs. Osburn the Vice Principal at FAB Elementary school.  I have Case here in the office with me and he has made a very poor choice today.  I am going to put him on the phone so he can explain what he has done." 

 This was the start of the phone call I received on Friday afternoon. My heart sank.  What on earth would the principal be calling me for?  As I listened to Case on the other end of the phone, I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry?  I think I did both.  I felt bad for Case as he cried explaining what he had done that day.  Then I laughed because I knew the whole things had been taken out of context. After he finished explaining that he had written a note to a boy in his class that insulted his weight, I politely asked him to put the VP back on the phone.  I explained to the VP that I was a little confused since this is a boy that Case is friends with.  A boy he invited to his 8th birthday party. The VP tried to read me the note that Case had written to the boy, it was too crumbled up from the boy who was super upset. The VP then explained that the boys father is extremely upset and was in her office first thing this morning.  I understood.  We too had a situation similar a month or so back.  I apologized to the VP and told her we would handle the situation at home. She then informed me that Case would be missing ALL of his recess on Monday and would be eating lunch in her office that day too.  BUSTED!  After I talked to Case and the VP, I headed over to the school to teach Art Masterpiece in Brody's class and then stopped in to talk to Case's teacher about what had happened.  I love, love, love Case's teacher.  She has raised 7 boys and totally gets them and their silly behavior.  The first thing she asked me was, "Didn't Case just get baptized?" I told her about 3 weeks ago.  She smiled and said, "I knew it." She then told me that all 8 year old boys fall apart after they are baptized.  She told me that each of her 7 boys were absolutely darling until they got baptized.  After that she said they started falling apart and sinning.  I laughed as she tried to make me feel better. She agreed that the whole situation was taken out of content but that at this school, even the smallest things are dealt with. 

 After I picked Case up from school, I took him into my room and we talked about what had happened. He cried and I cried.  It hurts when your kids are hurting.  It's hard to hear what goes on at school when they are away from you. School is a tough place. Long story short, the reason for the note was because this boy likes to lift up his shirt and shake his belly in a funny dancing way.  Case thinks it's funny and took it to a new level when he wrote the kid a note saying, "I like when you shake your obese belly." Other words such as "chubby" and "fat" were in the note and of course I am not OK with anyone being called names no matter what they are. There was also another note that Case passed to the kid after the teacher moved the boy to the desk in front of Case that read, "You stink." Of course anyone who knows Case knows that, "You stink" is a favorite sentence of his.  It does not mean that you stink because you forgot to take a shower.  It means, "You stink" because you are being funny and making him laugh.  

I told Case that he needs to remember  how he feels at this moment so he knows that he never wants to feel this way again. He felt terrible.  I told him there would be consequences at home and that we would be contacting this boys parents to apologize.  Case then sat down and wrote the boy a note.  It was kind and sincere.  I was proud of him. Jeremy came home hours later and again the two of us sat Case down to discuss the situation.  Jeremy then called the boys dad and left him a message. 

Saturday morning came along and we were at Case's baseball game, cheering for our starting pitcher, when this darling lady comes up to me and says, "Excuse me, are you Case's mom?" ( for a split second I wanted to deny it)  I look up from my chair and this lady says, "I'm  J's mom."  Oh nice....what are the chances that the boy my son wrote a mean note to is on the team we are versing today?  I get up from my chair and start apologizing for my sons behavior.  She then explains that she felt the whole thing was taken out of context and that it really wasn't as big of a deal as she feels it became.  She said her son is very self conscious about his weight and has struggled with it for 2 years now.  I explained that Case knows better then to write a note like that or to even talk the way he did.  We laughed and both apologized. We then realized that we all know each other along with our cousins, parents, and grandparents.  It was funny.  She was great and I really felt like after we left that it was going to be OK.  That she could forgive Case and his stupidity! 

This has been a good lesson for Case.  This boy likes to tease.  He teases and teases and drives all of us crazy with his funny name calling. His favorite thing to say to people is, "What are you talking about old woman?" Many times that sentence is, "Fat, old woman."  Of course he is laughing the whole time he is saying it because it is not true and he knows it is going to get him a tickle torture from his mom or Sugar. I have warned him for about 2 years now that he needs to be careful with his words.  I have told him that one day his words would get him into trouble.  That day was Friday. Hopefully this will be the last time the principal has to call me.  Truthfully though, I know this is just the beginning. 

Pitcher

 Case is an amazing athlete.  He loves sports and puts most of his energy and effort into whatever sport he is playing.  He is currently playing baseball.  His coach has put him in as pitcher and short stop. Although he loves playing both of these positions, he is dying to play catcher.  My guess is that he wants as much time with the ball as possible.  When you play pitcher in this league, you have like a 50 pitch max and then you have to play a different position.  This kid wants the ball as much as possible.

 I love this picture Jim caught of Case pitching.  Look at the dirt under his right foot.

 He is pretty good at getting the ball over the plate.

 Case is also pretty good at hitting.  He almost always gets a hit off the other teams pitcher but its almost always right to first base...which means an easy out.

 Case has a fun team with lots of support from the dad's

Playing against the Red Mountain American League has been tough.  They have mostly older boys and they are REALLY good.  It's good practice but it would be good to win some games too.:)

Let's Play Music

  

 This morning (9:00 am) we attended the Let's Play Music Recital for Ledger.  I absolutely love the Let's Play Music program. My other 2 boys have completed this 3 year program and have done so well with transitioning to piano.  

 The recital was at the Red Mountain Multigenerational Center.  It was a combined recital with first, second, and third year kids.  Since Ledger was a first year kid, we only had to stay for the first 12 minutes and then were able to sneak out so we could make Case's 10:00 baseball game.

 Part of the first year program is learning to play the tone bells.  Ledger has done really well with this.  Maybe he is going to be musical like Brody.  

 DO, RE, ME, FA, SOL, LA, TI, DO!!

 We had to switch teachers this year due to Ledger starting kindergarten.  Miss Tamra has been AMAZING!  She is so nice and outgoing.  We have loved learning from her.

Ledger was Mr. Serious during the entire program.  I was trying to get him to smile the entire 12 minutes but it never worked.  He did a great job today.  He is super excited for second year!

Voices 2013

 On Thursday night, we were able to attend the Voices awards ceremony with Case. Voices is a writing contest that the district holds each year for all kids grades k-12.  Such categories as poetry, narrative writing and class books are entered by students throughout the district and then judged by a large group of teachers and administrators. This year, Case won Honorable Mention for a narrative he submitted.  The story was about a catastrophe that occurred when he and a friend were riding bikes on our street.  Mrs. Spencer his second grade teacher submitted the story.  She has been such a blessing for Case this year.  She has raised 7 boys so you can imagine how awesome she is!

 Lucy is in Case's class and she too won an award tonight.

 Case was able to go on the stage tonight and receive a ribbon and book with all the winning stories.

 Jefferson won a first place ribbon tonight for a poem he submitted. These two boys are the best!  After the ceremony, we headed to Matta's for dinner with the Giles.  It was the perfect way to end the night.

Brody's Orchestra Concert

 On Wednesday night, we headed over to the school for the spring orchestra concert.  Brody is still playing the cello and loving it.  This kid is super musical.  I love his enthusiasm for music and hope he will continue to play an instrument or the piano for many years to come.

The orchestra is really big.  Mr. Donolan is a great teacher.  I have no idea how he is able to get this many kids to play at the same time.