Student Led Conferences: A Proud Mommy Moment

On Monday, Jeremy and I had the opportunity to attend student led conferences with both Brody and Case. This was a whole new experience for us and let me just tell you, it was so awesome. First up was Brody. We go to his class and he proceeds to the teachers chair and tells us to it on the other side of the table. He begins with, "Welcome Mom and Dad to my student led conference." He then thanks us for being there and proceeds to give us the rundown of how he is doing in school. He reads us a story he has written and explains his new goals for the third quarter. He tells us how he has been behaving and explains that he wants to do better at not talking to Kailey Appel who sits right next to him. The conference was so wonderful. I loved hearing about school from his perspective. I loved hearing what he wants to work on and what he feels are his strengths and weaknesses. I watched and listened to him with alligator tears in my eyes. Then I kicked myself that I didn't have my video camera. Next up was Case. We head over to his Kindergarten classroom and begin to follow the directions his teacher has left for us on his desk. He proceeds to show us his work by quickly flipping through the pages. He really was not interested. So we get to his journal and we read the first page, "I like to go to my grandma's cabin." We compliment him on his great writing and turn to the next page. It reads, "I like to go to my grandma's cabin." It is a little easier to read this time so we turn to page three. "I like to go to my grandma's cabin." I grab the journal and proceed to read the next 3 pages which all say the same thing, "I like to go to my grandma's cabin." Jeremy and I are cracking up. We tell Case, "You know you can write about something else." Dumbfounded he looks at us and smirks. What can I say, the kid is no dummy. Let's not reinvent the wheel here, let's just write the same thing over and over and hope no one notices! In all fairness, the sentence did get easier to read and there was a little more spacing between each word instead of it looking like one large word. Oh Case, you are just a goof ball! I absolutely felt so proud when we left the school Monday. Both boys are doing great and are loving school. You boys are awesome! Thanks for showing us what you have been doing in school.

Brody explained all about 2nd grade in great detail.

Case showing us his graph. Is he really the first kid to answer yes to the question, "Have you ever built a snowman?"

Just as I remember

I love love love oranges. Actually, I love all citrus. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, I could eat them all day! There is nothing more delicious then an orange picked right from the tree in the cold morning hours. I grew up eating fresh picked oranges from the trees my grandpa and Dad planted when they were young boys. I come from a generation of farmers. I have many fond memories of spending time with my Dad in the orange trees. I would pick oranges with him at the house on Greenfield often. I knew where the BEST trees were for navels, minneolas and blood oranges.While picking, my Dad would pull out his little pocket knife and peel me an orange to eat. They were so juicy and good. I took for granted the freshness I was eating every December and January. A few years after my Dad died, my Mom made a huge decision and sold all of our farm land. Without my Dad to help, it was just too much for her to do on her own. We cried at the decision but knew it was for the best. The year after the citrus was sold, I found myself at Bashas buying oranges from Florida. They were dry and sour and tasted terrible! I continued doing this year after year. Finally last week, I did something that I hadn't done in nearly 5 years. Last week, I pulled into the farm on Greenfield and picked some oranges. The land is still for sale (for sale by the people who bought it from us). The orange trees are just sitting there, dying because no one can afford to water them or spray them for bugs. The weeds are tall and the old farm house has been torn down. It is different then I remember. I picked a basket of oranges and headed home. When I got home, I quickly pulled out my orange peeler and cut myself (and the little thing hanging on my leg crying) an orange. Can I just say, "YUMMMM!" It tasted just like I had remembered. It was juicy and fresh, it was perfect. I was thrilled. I think I ate about 6 oranges throughout the rest of that day. When Jeremy got home and saw the large basket of oranges he asked me where I got them. When I told him I picked them from Greenfield he quickly responded, "You know that's against the law." I did know it was against the law. I remember many days and nights my Dad would catch people in his trees picking oranges, grapefruit and lemons to either sale or keep for themselves. I could hardly believe people would do such a thing. Basically they were stealing from us, from our lively hood. I wondered how people thought it was OK to go onto someone elses property and take something without asking. But there I was doing the same thing. I don't regret what I did, in fact I've justified the whole situation in my head. My Dad planted many of the citrus trees in Mesa. If not him, his Dad, Grandpa or Great Grandpa. Somehow I feel I'm entitled to those oranges since they are kinda like family. If I don't pick them, someone else will right? All I can say is that I am totally enjoying this big basket of juiciness and I may go back next week for more!

Nerd Day!

Today was "Nerd Day" at school. While Brody was so so excited to dress the part, Case wanted nothing to do with it. This morning we did our best to make Brody a "Nerd" although we have joked with him over and over that he really didn't need to do anything, he' already a nerd! Here is what we came up with. Happy Nerd Day to you all!

We were totally running late for the bus this morning so this is the best we could do. Next year, we are gonna ROCK nerd day!

Brody and his friend Logan. Two cute nerds!

New Year's Party At The Cabin

Sugar sure knows how to throw a party!  For New Years we celebrated with awesome food, great dessert, balloons, poppers, and sparklers in the 3 degree snowy weather!  It was tons of fun for the kids and the best part, they were all in bed by 10:09 because we celebrate New York time! Now it's time to start thinking of all those resolutions for 2011.

The kids.  Case, Brody, Katy, Ledger, Taylor, Miss B. Chase, Ava, Hunter, Maddy, Anna, Aiden and Jaxon.

"Where's the party?"

Way cool Brody!

Ledger had fun with the sparklers.

This is Case mid-air popping a balloon.  Funny!

Happy New Year!

From The Felstead Family!

Brody 7, Case 5, Ledger 3, and Miss B. 15 Months