Yesterday I had my end of the year parent/teacher conference with Colten's preschool teacher. What a great time it was hearing all about Colten, his strengths and weakensses, and hearing what other people saw in him. He is such a special boy, and his teachers just adore him (I hope that continues throughout his school years).
It was at the end of the conference when the teacher was talking about the end of the year activities that are planned that I started to panic. There is only 2 1/2 weeks left in his school year, that means only 3 left for Jaden. How can that be? Where has the time gone? Don't get me wrong I am very excited for summer vacation. I can't wait to have the days free from homework, and free to plan our own schedules for each day. I'm looking forward to swimming lessons, swimming in the pool, tennis lessons, lazy days in the sun with friends, grilling out dinner, etc. But really, how can Colten be almost done with preschool and ready for kindergarten? How can Jaden be a 3rd grader in just a few more weeks? Where has the time gone? When did they get so old? And don't even get me started on the fact that Ashtyn will start preschool in the fall-I really am not sure that I am ready for that yet even if it is only 2 days a week for a couple hours each time.
I know it's the old cliche about time passing faster as you get older. But I really can't believe that my babies are getting so big. Joshua enjoyed pointing out to me last night that just 10 years from now Jaden will be graduating from high school-while 10 years used to sound like a long time, it doesn't anymore and I know in 10 years I wont be ready to let him go!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Reader. . .
(No not the movie)
I've been excited the past month to see Jaden turn into an avid reader. Yes, he's been reading and enjoying it for several years now. But in the last month he's turned into an avid reader. I have to pry the book out of his hands at bedtime when he wants to read just one more chapter. When I come downstairs in the morning to make sure he's getting his breakfast before school he's huddled over a book and completely forgotten to eat. I love it! I've always hoped that my children would get captured by books like I have always been and it's fun to see that really blossom in Jaden. Now if I can keep finding books that hold his imagination we'll be doing great (currently its Batman, Star Wars, Beast Quest, and Pokemon that really get him reading).
I've been excited the past month to see Jaden turn into an avid reader. Yes, he's been reading and enjoying it for several years now. But in the last month he's turned into an avid reader. I have to pry the book out of his hands at bedtime when he wants to read just one more chapter. When I come downstairs in the morning to make sure he's getting his breakfast before school he's huddled over a book and completely forgotten to eat. I love it! I've always hoped that my children would get captured by books like I have always been and it's fun to see that really blossom in Jaden. Now if I can keep finding books that hold his imagination we'll be doing great (currently its Batman, Star Wars, Beast Quest, and Pokemon that really get him reading).
Sunday, April 19, 2009
ponderings. . .
Ok, so I've been really bad at blogging lately. My moods have seem to be swinging up and down and my thoughts on so many issues are so jumbled that I can't seem to get them out in words, and not sure it's the best time to be philosophical or emotional on so many different topics.
So forgive me if I don't make any sense or just ramble on as I fill you in on the non-earth shattering events of our past week.
1st-I've been reminded once again that I would make a horrible single parent. Joshua left Friday morning for a seminar in Denver and I've been miserable since he walked out the door. I must say a HUGE thank you to the friends that have helped to fill the kids and my time this weekend. We had some good laughs and just relaxing time which was great. It's not so much the demands of single parenting, I can feed, dress, bathe, etc. the kids fine. It's the having some to relate the mundane and sometimes funny moments of my day with. The time once the kids are in bed to snuggle up and discuss and laugh over the day's events. Luckily Joshua only has these seminars 3 times a year, and usually we go along for at least one weekend. I really wouldn't make a good wife to someone who had to travel a lot. The kids have been great for me, and we've been busy filling our weekend.
We had a wonderful Easter weekend as a family last weekend. Doing the traditional things, egg dying, make a cross cake together, egg hunt, church, etc. We were invited to a friend's for the big Easter meal, and I was very happy to give up having to cook a big meal. After eating way too much wonderful food we got outside and took a long walk as a family, enjoying the spring weather. Truly beautiful!
I've really been enjoying sharing the joy of baking with my children lately. They've really become more interested and adept at baking in the last little while, and I'm loving it. There is just something about teaching them something that I love and that we can appreciate all together. Colten and Ashtyn made a superb chocolate angel food cake from scratch the other day (although I still have to crack eggs for them and read the directions), and Ashtyn is actually starting to be able to tie the knots for the swedish rolls I make. They are all able to measure out ingredients now if I give them the correct spoon/cup. They take pleasure at being precise in their work and then showing off the fruits of their labors afterwards.
So forgive me if I don't make any sense or just ramble on as I fill you in on the non-earth shattering events of our past week.
1st-I've been reminded once again that I would make a horrible single parent. Joshua left Friday morning for a seminar in Denver and I've been miserable since he walked out the door. I must say a HUGE thank you to the friends that have helped to fill the kids and my time this weekend. We had some good laughs and just relaxing time which was great. It's not so much the demands of single parenting, I can feed, dress, bathe, etc. the kids fine. It's the having some to relate the mundane and sometimes funny moments of my day with. The time once the kids are in bed to snuggle up and discuss and laugh over the day's events. Luckily Joshua only has these seminars 3 times a year, and usually we go along for at least one weekend. I really wouldn't make a good wife to someone who had to travel a lot. The kids have been great for me, and we've been busy filling our weekend.
We had a wonderful Easter weekend as a family last weekend. Doing the traditional things, egg dying, make a cross cake together, egg hunt, church, etc. We were invited to a friend's for the big Easter meal, and I was very happy to give up having to cook a big meal. After eating way too much wonderful food we got outside and took a long walk as a family, enjoying the spring weather. Truly beautiful!
I've really been enjoying sharing the joy of baking with my children lately. They've really become more interested and adept at baking in the last little while, and I'm loving it. There is just something about teaching them something that I love and that we can appreciate all together. Colten and Ashtyn made a superb chocolate angel food cake from scratch the other day (although I still have to crack eggs for them and read the directions), and Ashtyn is actually starting to be able to tie the knots for the swedish rolls I make. They are all able to measure out ingredients now if I give them the correct spoon/cup. They take pleasure at being precise in their work and then showing off the fruits of their labors afterwards.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Kings
OK, I have become addicted to the new show "Kings" on NBC on Sunday evenings. It's a wonderful drama sort of show. I heard someone describe it: "Kings" is this weird hybrid of the Bible, Shakespeare and soap opera." I've been drawn in by it. It seems to be a loose modernization of the story of Saul and David--with definite liberties taken. So don't go watch it and expect to see what really happened. But there is just enough illusion to it to keep me drawing similarities between the stories.
Anyway, in browsing this morning I saw that they are moving the show from Sunday evenings to Saturday nights for the remaining 8 episodes of the season. This usually spells doom for any show, and I'm very sad about this. So everyone go and watch the show and maybe they'll change their minds. You can watch past episodes on-line so that you can catch up on what is going on.
http://www.nbc.com/Kings/
Or you can watch it on Hulu as well. Help us save the show!
Enjoy!
Anyway, in browsing this morning I saw that they are moving the show from Sunday evenings to Saturday nights for the remaining 8 episodes of the season. This usually spells doom for any show, and I'm very sad about this. So everyone go and watch the show and maybe they'll change their minds. You can watch past episodes on-line so that you can catch up on what is going on.
http://www.nbc.com/Kings/
Or you can watch it on Hulu as well. Help us save the show!
Enjoy!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Movie Day
We took the kids to see Monsters Vs. Aliens yesterday. Now we don't make a habit of going to movies around here, they cost way too much for the whole family to go. We're doing good if we take them to the dollar theater to see the kid's movies when they go there. But the kids have been begging to see this movie since they first saw it advertised during the super bowl. We did still go to a matinee showing of the movie, but I didn't think they'd last until it made it to the dollar theater, and I wasn't sure that the dollar theater would show it in 3D either.
They were so cute wearing these huge 3D glasses for the movie. I was so tempted to take a picture of them watching the movie with their glasses on, it would have been so cute. But then I figured that people would probably yell at me for taking a picture in the movie theater (and I figured that my husband would probably have been the loudest complainer of the bunch). So I resisted the urge-I already regret that decision, but it's too late now.
The kids really enjoyed the movie, and it added to it to have it in 3D. Very cute! Ashtyn even watched it really well and she's still young enough that she usually loses interest part way through movies (another reason why we don't go to movies very often).
They were so cute wearing these huge 3D glasses for the movie. I was so tempted to take a picture of them watching the movie with their glasses on, it would have been so cute. But then I figured that people would probably yell at me for taking a picture in the movie theater (and I figured that my husband would probably have been the loudest complainer of the bunch). So I resisted the urge-I already regret that decision, but it's too late now.
The kids really enjoyed the movie, and it added to it to have it in 3D. Very cute! Ashtyn even watched it really well and she's still young enough that she usually loses interest part way through movies (another reason why we don't go to movies very often).
Friday, April 3, 2009
Pea Soup
I saw a great recipe for fresh pea soup the other day by Ina Garten. I decided to try it out and loved it, so I thought I'd share it with you all. I've actually simplified down her recipe as it was more flavors than were needed in this nice refreshing spring feeling soup. It's amazingly simple and quick to make and tastes so refreshing!
Ingredients:
2 C chopped leeks (white and light green parts-2 leeks)
1 C chopped yellow onion
4 C chicken stock
20 oz frozen peas (or 5 C freshly shelled peas)
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Garlic Croutons (optional)
Optional Ingredients: (these are what I took out and liked it better without, but feel free to try them as it might add something you like)
2/3 C chopped fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
1/2 C sour cream (or creme fraiche if you can find it)
1/2 C freshly chopped chives
Put a couple TBSPs of the chicken stock in the bottom of a large saucepan, add the leeks and onion, and cook over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes, until the onion is tender (original recipe calls for butter instead of the stock, but isn't really needed). Add the rest of the chicken stock and increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Add the peas and cook for 3-5 minutes until the peas are tender (frozen peas only take 3 minutes). Remove from heat.
*if you want the mint leaves add them at this point*
add salt and pepper, then puree the soup (if you have a hand wand for this it's perfect, if not do about 1 C at a time in a blender to puree the soup, adding more soup while blending until the blender is 3/4 full-then put that soup into bowls and repeat until all soup has been pureed).
Serve hot with garlic croutons
*also top with sour cream (or creme fraiche) and chives if you so desire*
Joshua loves this one too. The kids ate it as long as they had tons of croutons, but I have to admit the bright green color I think scared them some.
Ingredients:
2 C chopped leeks (white and light green parts-2 leeks)
1 C chopped yellow onion
4 C chicken stock
20 oz frozen peas (or 5 C freshly shelled peas)
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Garlic Croutons (optional)
Optional Ingredients: (these are what I took out and liked it better without, but feel free to try them as it might add something you like)
2/3 C chopped fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
1/2 C sour cream (or creme fraiche if you can find it)
1/2 C freshly chopped chives
Put a couple TBSPs of the chicken stock in the bottom of a large saucepan, add the leeks and onion, and cook over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes, until the onion is tender (original recipe calls for butter instead of the stock, but isn't really needed). Add the rest of the chicken stock and increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Add the peas and cook for 3-5 minutes until the peas are tender (frozen peas only take 3 minutes). Remove from heat.
*if you want the mint leaves add them at this point*
add salt and pepper, then puree the soup (if you have a hand wand for this it's perfect, if not do about 1 C at a time in a blender to puree the soup, adding more soup while blending until the blender is 3/4 full-then put that soup into bowls and repeat until all soup has been pureed).
Serve hot with garlic croutons
*also top with sour cream (or creme fraiche) and chives if you so desire*
Joshua loves this one too. The kids ate it as long as they had tons of croutons, but I have to admit the bright green color I think scared them some.
Not Perfect. . .
I want to be the first to admit that I am NOT perfect. I often have felt the pressure to put on the show of a life with no problems or mistakes. I've never wanted or been able to actually pull that kind of a facade off. But I feel like this could be a factor in why I am an introvert, quiet in groups, and would rather watch and listen than talk.
I think as a parent we feel that pressure even more. We don't want to be judged by others, or deemed to not be a good enough parent. So in turn we then put this pressure on our kids and ourselves to look perfect and not let others know when we struggle.
I was reminded of this a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned in a group of parents that Jaden's teacher had requested a parent/teacher conference. The immediate response by those there was "oh, really! We weren't asked for that." I could feel the wheels in their minds turning wondering what must be up for such a request, and felt judged as a parent by their questioning stares of what I must be doing wrong to have a child that needed a parent conference.
To be fair I'm sure some of my pressure comes from within as well. What if there is something wrong with me as a parent that has caused issues for my children. But I know when I sit and look at my life as a parent (while I freely admit I'm not perfect and definitely make my share of mistakes) that I love my kids and am doing all that I know how to for them.
I've come to the realization that no matter what we do as parents, our kids aren't any more perfect than we are. They have their strengths and weaknesses, and as parents we love them anyway. I hope that we can show "love" for other parents as well when they struggle instead of judging them.
But I digress. And I'm sure you are all wondering about the previously mentioned parent/teacher conference. So let me now admit, my kids aren't perfect either.
I had the conference yesterday, and after worrying about it for weeks, it actually went really well. I was so encouraged after talking to Jaden's teacher. His writing continues to be a stuggle for him (he still has issues with fine motor skills) and staying on task, paying attention to details, and speed are issues that he stuggles with. But she had great things to say about him as well, that he's a great reader and that she just loves to listen to him read as he uses expression, has nice flow, and just does a great job for his grade level. He's very quiet in class, won't ask questions when confused, and doesn't volunteer answers unless called on. But she commented on how Jaden continually shocks her with how smart he is, just when she doesn't think he understood something or wasn't paying attention she'll ask him something and he'll give great answers that surprise her with how much he knows. Now we just need to figure out how to get that knowledge consistently down on paper. Anyway, although he's testing on grade level we talked about the option of summer school for him, it's 3 hours a day for 3 weeks in July. Jaden thrives on schedule and his teacher thinks that having that structure and extra push in mid-summer will really help him succeed in returning to the classroom in the fall. The summer school is carefully set up to Not be a punishment, a behavior management scenario, or anything like that. Not only is it divided by grade level, but also by their testing scores so Jaden would be with others that are considered on grade level or close to it, and not in a room of students that aren't near his abilities. Anyway, after talking to her we think it could be a good option for Jaden this summer, and are leaning towards doing it (since he is on grade level it isn't required). So don't look at me with pitty or wonder what I did wrong to have a child in summer school. He's an amazing boy, and I couldn't be prouder of him. We're doing all we know how to help him succeed in a traditional classroom, which is his weakness, so that he can show off his strengths in other areas.
I think as a parent we feel that pressure even more. We don't want to be judged by others, or deemed to not be a good enough parent. So in turn we then put this pressure on our kids and ourselves to look perfect and not let others know when we struggle.
I was reminded of this a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned in a group of parents that Jaden's teacher had requested a parent/teacher conference. The immediate response by those there was "oh, really! We weren't asked for that." I could feel the wheels in their minds turning wondering what must be up for such a request, and felt judged as a parent by their questioning stares of what I must be doing wrong to have a child that needed a parent conference.
To be fair I'm sure some of my pressure comes from within as well. What if there is something wrong with me as a parent that has caused issues for my children. But I know when I sit and look at my life as a parent (while I freely admit I'm not perfect and definitely make my share of mistakes) that I love my kids and am doing all that I know how to for them.
I've come to the realization that no matter what we do as parents, our kids aren't any more perfect than we are. They have their strengths and weaknesses, and as parents we love them anyway. I hope that we can show "love" for other parents as well when they struggle instead of judging them.
But I digress. And I'm sure you are all wondering about the previously mentioned parent/teacher conference. So let me now admit, my kids aren't perfect either.
I had the conference yesterday, and after worrying about it for weeks, it actually went really well. I was so encouraged after talking to Jaden's teacher. His writing continues to be a stuggle for him (he still has issues with fine motor skills) and staying on task, paying attention to details, and speed are issues that he stuggles with. But she had great things to say about him as well, that he's a great reader and that she just loves to listen to him read as he uses expression, has nice flow, and just does a great job for his grade level. He's very quiet in class, won't ask questions when confused, and doesn't volunteer answers unless called on. But she commented on how Jaden continually shocks her with how smart he is, just when she doesn't think he understood something or wasn't paying attention she'll ask him something and he'll give great answers that surprise her with how much he knows. Now we just need to figure out how to get that knowledge consistently down on paper. Anyway, although he's testing on grade level we talked about the option of summer school for him, it's 3 hours a day for 3 weeks in July. Jaden thrives on schedule and his teacher thinks that having that structure and extra push in mid-summer will really help him succeed in returning to the classroom in the fall. The summer school is carefully set up to Not be a punishment, a behavior management scenario, or anything like that. Not only is it divided by grade level, but also by their testing scores so Jaden would be with others that are considered on grade level or close to it, and not in a room of students that aren't near his abilities. Anyway, after talking to her we think it could be a good option for Jaden this summer, and are leaning towards doing it (since he is on grade level it isn't required). So don't look at me with pitty or wonder what I did wrong to have a child in summer school. He's an amazing boy, and I couldn't be prouder of him. We're doing all we know how to help him succeed in a traditional classroom, which is his weakness, so that he can show off his strengths in other areas.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Thanks. . .
I've been feeling thankful to God for the little things. . .
-we won some PTA contest that I didn't even know we were entered in and won a free family pizza meal (2 pizza's, cheesy bread, drinks) so we got to have a fun splurge night without having to pay anything
-When we gave in and decided to take the kids to Krispy Kreme for breakfast on Sunday, the lady thought that we had to wait too long for our donuts so gave them to us for free.
-Friends decided to stop by Sunday night for a nice relaxing evening with friends, and they brought dinner with them (what could be better?)
Ok, I'm noticing a lot of these have to do with free food, but really it's the little things that make my day, that and food.
-When Ashtyn decided to sneak and cut things with a pair of scissors, she only cut the living room's chair's arm cover and not the actual chair.
-Getting to see pictures of friends far away, and keeping up with them on Facebook.
-Spending time with my kids, gosh they are fun, and I've been doing better at remembering to slow down and just enjoy them lately.
-Jaden thought ahead and brought home an assignment he didn't have time to finish in class, without anyone telling him to, so that he could get it done for homework.
-Spring break is only a couple days away now, and the sun is shining.
-we won some PTA contest that I didn't even know we were entered in and won a free family pizza meal (2 pizza's, cheesy bread, drinks) so we got to have a fun splurge night without having to pay anything
-When we gave in and decided to take the kids to Krispy Kreme for breakfast on Sunday, the lady thought that we had to wait too long for our donuts so gave them to us for free.
-Friends decided to stop by Sunday night for a nice relaxing evening with friends, and they brought dinner with them (what could be better?)
Ok, I'm noticing a lot of these have to do with free food, but really it's the little things that make my day, that and food.
-When Ashtyn decided to sneak and cut things with a pair of scissors, she only cut the living room's chair's arm cover and not the actual chair.
-Getting to see pictures of friends far away, and keeping up with them on Facebook.
-Spending time with my kids, gosh they are fun, and I've been doing better at remembering to slow down and just enjoy them lately.
-Jaden thought ahead and brought home an assignment he didn't have time to finish in class, without anyone telling him to, so that he could get it done for homework.
-Spring break is only a couple days away now, and the sun is shining.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)