The Hall Of Flame

One of the best things about being a stay at home Mom is the opportunity I have to attend field trips with my elementary school kids.  This past Wednesday I was able to attend the Hall Of Flame Firefighters Museum in Tempe.  Since this was Case's first field trip, he was excited and I have to say, so was I!  I love being able to see my kids and how they interact with friends. This was one of the most interesting field trips I have ever attended!  First off, the "tour guide" was one of a kind!!  He was about 80 years old and not the most positive man on Earth!  He would be talking to the kids and they would be listening and paying really close attention.  And in the middle of his "speech" he would yell out, "BOOM" or "BANG" or something like it SUPER loud.  The kids would all scream in fright and then he would carry on. Many times I would look over and see kids with tears in their eyes.  He would ask if anyone had a question and when they didn't ask a question and instead made a comment, he would say, "That's not a question." "I asked if anyone had a question." He was constantly telling the kids, "Noooo"when they didn't answer a question correctly.  It was unlike anything I had ever witnessed.  Halfway through the tour, we moved to a different guide who was equally as "Rough!" So this  guide takes us outside and is showing the Kindergartners how they used to put out fire's in the "old" days.  He has the kids stand in a looooong line and then proceeds to explain that the first firefighter would scoop up the water in a bucket (he is demonstrating by dipping a paint bucket in an enormous trough) and then they would pass the bucket down the line and the last man in line would throw the water on the fire.  So as he is explaining this, he goes up to MY CASE and THROWS the bucket of water in his face!!! Not over his head, not on his feet, right in his face.  He of course didn't see it coming and he is CHOKING on water.  The guide continues talking and proceeds to do the same thing to another boy who immediately starts crying when the unsuspecting water flies into his face.  The guide then says to the crying boy, "Well now don't cry.  Why are you crying?  It was just a joke!" I thought I was gonna die!  I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed!  It was so bizarre!  Case was a good sport about it but man, not his mama who was lucky enough to have witnessed the whole thing! It was quite the field trip!  

This was the little group I was responsible for. They were a great bunch of kids!

Case was one of the only kids who could climb to the top of the pole.  He is so strong and athletic!

Kindergarten Friends.

On the bus!

Firetrucks are so cool...

...but spraying a real fire hose is even better! That's the ding dong tour guide who drenched my unsuspecting son!

Case and Jefferson...too cute!!

A Rough Start

Well, it was a rough first day, I'm not gonna lie.  When I went to pick Case up from school today, he had that blank, glazed over look.  He looked hot, tired, and worn out.  I was so happy to see him!  As he walked through those gates, still expressionless, I asked him, "Case, how was your day?"  His ever so calm response, "I didn't like it, it was too long."  I laughed it off and we went to get Brody.  He was thrilled and happy as can be.  So we get in the car and I start asking questions.  "Who did you sit by at lunch?"  "What did you have for snack?" "What friends are in your class?" "Is your teacher soooo nice?" "Case looks at me and says. "Mom, I don't want to talk." Of course Brody DOES want to talk cause he NEVER stops talking.  He tells me all about his teacher, friends, the easy math they did and the class money they can earn for behaving.  We get home and all you know what breaks loose.  Brody starts screaming that he didn't get a Smartie from his teacher.  Nobody likes him, it's not fair, we like Case more then him.  He is hysterical.  Case is crying on the couch because he is so tired he can't even hold himself up. He is telling me about not getting a snack because a fly was bugging him and landing on his cheese crackers which annoyed him so much that he just threw them away and went to play.  He can't remember anything other then a naughty girl bit another kid on the rug and a naughty boy was grabbing another boys head and moving it all around just to bug him. Then he starts screaming and crying which honestly I'm not even sure why.  I'm not sure he knew why.  Eventually he screams and crys himself to sleep in Berkley's room (on top of her clean and folded laundry no less).  He wakes up 15 minutes later, comes in the kitchen, and grabs on to me for dear life.  Was he having a bad dream? Was he hurt?  I have know idea why he is hugging me like it's the last time we will see each other.  He is crying and mumbling, he won't let go.  It was obvious that he was exhausted, overwhelmed, and ready for the day to be done.  So Jeremy gets home and we are having dinner.  Case won't join us because he is still crying and delirious.  Jeremy makes him come to the table and starts asking him questions about school.  All he can say is that it was way too long.  Then he says, "Dad, when my teacher said we had 20 minutes until lunch time, I just put my head down like this (shows us how he is hiding his face in his arms on top of his desk.) cause I had tears coming out of my eyes. I was soooo hungry. It was so long." Then he starts crying more.  My heart sank as I listened to him tell this story. I thought of what it must be like for a 5 year old to be at school all day, away from his Mom and Dad, brothers and sister.  I thought of what lunch must of felt like as he sat by 2 girls he didn't know and ate.  I thought of how he doesn't know how to tell time and was probably wondering when I would be coming to get him.  I felt bad. It was obvious he missed me.  He missed us.  I know this is a typical thing for kids when they start school.  Case is just so different then Brody.  Brody never did this when he started school.  He just went and did great.  This is going to be a lot harder for Case.  He is just a different kid.  Being inside a classroom and having to stay focused that long is hard for him.  I worry about him.  I worry about what tomorrow morning will be like.  Will he want to go to school, or will it be a fight to get him out the door?  I hope he will be rejuvenated when he wakes up.  I hope he will get to school and know a little more about what a typical day looks like.  I hope his teacher will help him and be compassionate toward him.  I hope tomorrow he comes home happier! 

Although it was a wild and unhappy afternoon around our house, I wanted the boys to know that school is a great place.  That we are happy they started school and they should be too.  My friend Ashley did a cute celebration with her kids that I thought looked fun, so I did the same thing with my kidddos (thanks Ashley).  I baked a cake this afternoon and after dinner, each kid got to make a wish for a happy and fun school year.  They had a ball blowing out their candle and even laughed when I sang, "Happy back to school to you..." It was a great way to end the day.  My wish...for a happier day tomorrow after school.  Stay tuned! 

Brodys wish..."For everyone to have a happy and fun school year."

Case's wish:  "To learn math this year."

Ledger's wish:  "I want to go to preschool."

Stomach Pains

I am having serious stomach pains these days because of this kid!

Case will be starting Kindergarten on Wednesday and I am sick to my stomach...literally!  Do any of you have that one kid in your family that you worry about more then the others? (please say yes!) Well for me it is Case. There are so many reasons I worry about this handsome kid.  First off, he is smart.  He really is.  The problem:  He doesn't like to show how smart he is.  As a matter of fact, he almost acts dumb (don't call me a mean Mom please!) I'm not trying to be mean but it is true.  He purposely asks questions or says things to act like he doesn't know what is going on.  I guess that is called not being able to have a serious conversation with him. The truth is, he does know what is going on.  He can answer questions, carry on a decent conversation, when HE wants (which is not very often).  Case loves to tease and act silly.  I worry that he will end up being the class clown because he does inappropriate things at  inappropriate times. Second, Case has no attention span for school-like activities.  His patience runs out and he shuts down.  He gets bored really easily.  Now give the kid free time outside and he will spend hours playing and making a mess.  Give him a ball and he can throw it like no other.  Throw him in the pool and he will swim his little heart out.  He is athletic!  His gross motor skills are super developed while his fine motor skills are lacking.  It's obvious by the way he cuts and holds the pencil.  Another worry is Case's rough aggressive personality.  While Case can be the most kind hearted, loving, thoughtful kid in the house, he can also be the loudest, toughest, roughest kid.  It is so like Case to take a bite out of your shoulder or leg while playing roughly on the ground, or jump on your back while your resting on the floor. Not good when it comes to the other kids at school who like to get rough and wild on the playground!   Next, I worry about Case and how he doesn't pay attention.  He will listen and follow directions with a teacher who is motivating, fun, structured and consistent. Without these things, Case is a mess! (I can tell you first hand that with the unstructured craziness of our house these past 2 weeks, he has been in more trouble then ever!)  What I love about Case is that he wants to learn.  He wants to do good and make good choices. He is SUPER excited to go to Kindergarten because he want to go to P.E. and the playground.  He wants to learn to read and do math.  He want to be just like Brody.  He is excited to take the bus (eventually) and make new friends. I hope that his new teacher will love him and appreciate his funny little personality like I do.  I hope she will work to bring out the best in him and treat him kindly.  I hope he will love school this year so that each year after he will look forward to going back after the summer break.

Look at this cute kid. Today he got to meet his teacher and see his new classroom.  He was super excited that he got to stay at school for 30 minutes without me to read a story and have a snack with his teacher and new friends.  Of course when we got in the car and I asked him about it, his response was, "I didn't like it!" "We didn't do anything." "Was that Mrs. Hebting?" "I don't know what story we read." "That's all."  I'm telling you...this kid can't be serious to save his life! He drives me crazy!!

Case is waaaay too cool to stand right next to his new teacher.  He was super embarrassed when I asked if I could get a picture of him with her!

Watch out Mrs. Hebting!  They look cute but....!