100th Day of School

Today is the school's 100th day of school.  My oldest son has his first dance today too.  Appropriately called "The 100th Day Dance."   He was kinda nervous, but he hasn't said so.  You can just tell.  He did wear his favorite button up shirt, it's a Orange County Choppers shirt LOL.

I hate to admit this, because I was such a huge butt about them returning to public school.... BUT  I'm actually glad I did.  Things have calmed down.  Both me AND Hubby have become more involved.  Making most all activities and becoming more of a voice for our children.  Instead of immediately taking the defense, we're opening a dialogue with the staff.   It's helped.  We're working on a great relationship with the principle especially. 

I'm very happy now because a lot of the feedback isn't negative about the kids.  We've addressed my sons ADHD and went about making sure his learning isn't compromised because of it.  My youngest is getting the hang of things too.  When at first it was very apparent he wanted to be home schooled, he's loosened up.
All 3 boys are involved with after school activities, so they're not home til 5:30pm.  Much needed break for me, and hugely needed interaction for them.

I'm glad we didn't give in and gave this a serious try.  I can't believe how far the school has come to meet us half way.  And vise versa.  Ultimately the children's education is what encouraged us all to play nicely.

So far so good.

I still really miss them.  It stinks that they come home with all these new ideas and learnings and I'm not the one responsible for it.  But that's my ego I think.   I still have the kids do projects with me.  Printouts and such on the weekends or breaks.  So I still have that little bit in my life.

A Princess without a Gown

Those were the words my daughter told me Monday.  She is a princess but she doesn't have a gown or crown.  It was the way she said it, soo sadly, it melted my heart!  So off we went to get material to make her a gown.  All the ladies at the store loved her.  She told everyone she was there to get her dress.  One of the ladies asked if she had her princess name yet.  She looked very concerned and then quickly smiled and yelled, "Princess Caitlin!"

She decided on these:

 

 Perfect!  I loved her choices.  Very girly.  Almost like a barbie gown.

Half way mark.  She's such a good model :)

She was very much a part of this whole project.  She loves pinning.  She can sit and be so content with it.  I have on occasion let her cut.  

 The finished gown. 
Front

Back

With the wrap.

Just perfect for my little princess! 

I could of bought a princess dress from the store for half what is cost me to make, but I loved the time spent with Caitlin and seeing it afterward I think we did a better job! LOL.

Dancing With The Cuties

Christmas Crafts!

This year we did some crafts at my sisters, so we could leave the mess behind. LOL. I think it's a good trade, I buy everything and organize the kids and she gets the mess!

Just a few things to hang up...  they had such a good time.

Tomorrow starts our baking! Yum!

Here's a Video To Make You Apprieciate Your Own Children

Hee hee hee! I took this video of my sweet princess Caitlin, because I am sooo super tired {and deaf} from her fits. Hoping by seeing it, she'll realize how she acts.



.....After watching it, she was NOT happy with me!

Bitching and Hopping

I had my first "real" one on one with my sons teacher.....ugh!  I'm so damn frustrated.  OK my 1st grader really hated that he had to go back to school.  I didn't know this until lately.  I'm not sure if it's the environment, being away from me, having to be on a set schedule. I don't know.  But lately it's all he's done is complain. 

I've been getting notes sent home to me about his performance.  He can't spell simple words. ..... uh yea he can!  He can put words together to make a sentence...uh yea he can!  His writing is that of a Kindergartner ....uh OK yea it is.  But we're working on it.  All these complaints right.  So, when I get his work I look at it and I'm thinking this has to be from another student I know MY kid can spell that!  So I quiz him on the words.

On his paper it say "ur" {It's suppose to be for}  So I say spell "for"  he replies: F. O. R.

I say spell can, the, is, may... I go thru the whole dang thing asking him to spell them for me.  All but one he gets correct.

OK, so maybe he's not understanding the teacher, or her annunciation of it.  {She wear braces and has a lisp}...

Well, this continues for the next week so she asks me to come in.  Meanwhile, I'm like asking people to ask him random words to spell.  He does fine.  He reads the little books, does great.

So I get into his class and I'm ready to shut this lady up right.  I get him over and have him spell the same words he's been spelling to me...and he's like the dang frog from that cartoon that dances for the guy and then "Ribbit!" for everyone else.

He gets them all wrong!  UGH! So looking like a liar and a bad mom, I sit and listen.  While she brings in another teacher...  They all know they came from being home schooled so I feel like they're attacking the job I did.  Her excuse she kept using, "He's too young for the class.  He's the youngest in the grade, Oh well he's just young." 

I know he can do better and he does, only problem...  it's just with me.  I've had fellow home school moms say he wants me to take him out.  He misses me and he thinks by doing this, I'll school him again.   

So beyond frustrated!!  Ahh!  But I walked away with some nice advice how to help him and maybe hopefully by me being there more often it will help him.  I don't know.  It may hurt him more than help. 

Oh and hi!  if your new here from the hop.  Yes this is me :) I bitch and moan a lot. LOL  Read the "about me" if you'd like to know who what and why i am the way I am.  LOL Leave me a comment and ill be sure to visit you too!
{Psst. sometimes I'm funny too, }

Wordless Wednesday

Halloween Crafts

Well, it's that time again!!  Time for those spooky crafts, and I'm loving every minute of it!

I went to my local "Wally World" and picked up some of the regulars.  

 

As always click on any picture to enlarge.

Bats, puppets, wall hangings, window decorations, and welcome signs.  I have a few more things for them to make throughout the week, and this weekend.   Mostly for the outside.  We're trying our hand at papermache!  Yikes!  I have done that in years!

Also we'll be making calaveras and paper flowers for Dia de los Muertos.