*Ring, Ring*

- Hello?

 -Hello, Mrs. Hoberts? This is Nurse Rachel. 

*Fuck*

I should have known. I was half waiting. Bear had her turn this weekend. 

It was that call. The call that doesn't come out and say, but directly implies, that your Petri dish has been deemed unfit for school and must be immediately removed from the premises. This is also know as the call that ruins your plans on the last day of gorgeous weather for the year. So much for that puppet theater...

HAM was thrilled to be in the school again, and visiting a new section known as the Health Suite. Em however, was white as a ghost and part of me wanted to ask for a mask to spare myself. Nurse Rachel informed me that my sweet, little lady had vomited in class. My little lady informed me it happened during carpet time [not the rug!] and that she kept it in her square. Your friends thank you. 

After a little nap and some crackers she was bopping around again. I did enjoy the germ filled snuggles, it's been a while since I have been so needed. She played the rest of the afternoon without incident and just as I let my guard down it came back. In the car. On the beltway. During rush.

Sigh... Does anyone else have a love affair with Wet.Ones?

The today she was hopping and bopping. So I sent her to school skirting the 24 hour rule and fearful they would bounce her back at the door. It's kindergarten and they're fearful of missing school! Thankfully their were no issues. I was sure to email their teacher both thanking her and asking her to speak with the ladies. We both agree that they are the strictest of rule followers. So much so that despite knowing they have an emergency, they won't interrupt or break rules to help themselves. Emma knew she was going to be sick but "When Mrs. C is talking during carpet time you have to sit quietly and listen." We had the same issue with Claire's accident. Even after talking with them they are still uncomfortable with this so I'm hoping it will go over better coming from their teacher. 

Life is so hard for the little people, they're leaving the land of absolutes and entering the real world. Growing up is hard on everyone. 

Now to explain why we've had summer, fall, and winter this week...

Kindergarten Conferences

Last Friday was Kindergarten conference day. I was lucky enough to schedule my conference a few days before so we could have the entire (very brisk) day to ourselves. An entire day free with my ladies seems like such a luxury now!

I went in not expecting any issues or problems both academically or behaviorally. To say I went for appearances wouldn't be far from the truth, I only wanted to confirm my beliefs. Thankfully there were no surprises and my ladies are doing amazingly well. I confirmed that they are not dependent on each other and are making friends independent of each other. Yay!

***[Disclaimer: I think anyone working with small children is a SAINT and I am not trying to judge or take away from their teacher in any way. I certainly couldn't handle Kindergarten daily!]***

My real take away from this, and what was later confirmed by my classroom visit during AEW and later volunteering, was that they seem to be on the edge of bored. Sitting around waiting for everyone to catch up. Patiently, then impatiently, waiting for everyone to get the right answer and go through the correct motions. They are not challenged and I dread being one of those moms. This is only kindergarten, and I am trying to remain calm, but jeeze! My kids have the alphabet down!! I can say that in the three months they've been in school they haven't brought home many new bits of anything and that disappoints me. I understand, and have seen first hand, that most of the children in their class are learning new information and behaviors in kindergarten. I know that they are ahead of where they need to be, and eventually everyone will level out, but is that any reason to let them sit stagnant now?

Their teacher did give me some first grade materials at our conference. I'm torn though. If I teach them first grade material in kindergarten, will I be doing second grade material in first grade? Will this eventually level off (which I suspect and hope) or just continue on. How long do I wait it out? If it continues on, what's the point of them going to school? From a maturity point I don't think skipping grades is a good idea, even if the school would suggest and agree to it. I don't think they are ready for first grade. I am also troubled watching them do nothing.

I'm sure I am over exaggerating this to myself. I see that they are regularly the first ones finished, and that they sit and read or color while they wait. I wonder if they couldn't be doing something slightly more challenging to begin with. They are grouped with the two other high functioning kids, so I don't think it would be that much of a challenge for their teacher to modify their group work. However, I feel I'd be meddling too much. Maybe asking someone who watches over 22 kids and isn't crazy to do something extra is a bit too much.

I think my biggest fear is letting this blindly continue and realizing much later on that I should have spoken up sooner.

Family Project: Tom Turkey

I am always a little leery of this Family Project the ladies get every month. The amount of help we're suppose to is vague and I assume it depends on your child's ability level. That being said, I'm not sure if these creations are suppose to highlight creativity, skill sets, or just annoy me. I'm banking on the latter. I have enough family projects of my own, mainly laundry and dishes. 

So this month's Family Project was centered around disguising Tom Turkey so he can escape from the farmer. Thankfully I was able to gently persuade the ladies away from pink glittery fantasy, and this is what they came up with.

Emma did decide on a Ni.nja Turtle, thanks to a boy in class, but we were able to scale that back. Claire decided on a scientist, so long as she could be pink. 

While I don't mind helping with the write up, it is tiresome. This is coming from a parent who has children who can read and write. I can't imagine how some of the other parents cope! I'm just going to add these monthly projects to my list of things I'm not loving about school.

How is everyone else coming along with school?

Picture Day

Holy Crapola! 

School pictures are expensive and all the packages are terrible. I have zero use for 4 zillion 2x3 pictures. Ok, maybe a passport photo but that would be it. However I was excited to find that you can order online! 

*happy dance* 

And there was a coupon!!

So I have ordered only the files. I think this is brilliant! Still over priced, but brilliant. I can make as many pictures as I'd like at reasonable sizes. 

This is what they looked like when they left in the morning. I'm hoping they gave decent smiles. I cringe at how grown-up they look. My babies!

I was really on the fence about ordering pictures at all. 

Do you order school pictures?

I'm not a fan of the posed, fake-smile goodness that seeps out of every school photo. I'd much rather take my own photos, I think they're not half bad! The ladies could care less, I'm sure, but I did feel this nagging sense of obligation. I'm thinking of picking up the generic school years photo frame. Although I'm not a fan of the photos themselves, I do love to see the progression. I remember an ex-boyfriend whose mother had the circle frame for all of her sons and I think it's something I'd like to look back on when they're older. Also, easy gift idea for my mother who always feels obligated to buy me something for Christmas. 

School photos seems like such a grandparent thing!

Wordless Wednesday

My friends, the plague is real. 

Six bodies, one bed. 

Election Day

I've reached a point in life that I used to chide my mother for while I was in high school: I don't care about politics.

That's not true. I care, I have strong opinions and beliefs. I just have no faith in either the puppet on the left or the puppet on the right, or in any of the please write me in so I can fix everything candidates. This election season has been horrible to say the least and I am sooo over it. I'm absolutely writing in the neighbor lady's dog for governer; he'll be loyal and honest. Although Em's suggestion of George Washington did make me second guess my choice. 

So in honor of our day off, we went for a walk. 

We did some salamander hunting and found a good deal. I'm still always worried tiny fingers are going to crush their delicate, little bodies.

I think we found 8, and startled countless deer in the process. Hello mating season! 

We're missing one! One lucky lady had a Daddy-Daughter date. 

She unfortunately missed out on some princess taken prisoner who befriends a royal maid pretend play, set on a tree. 

And sunbathing. Because it's November and at 4 you clearly have to work on that tan... Maybe pattern matching. :)

After a while we found ourselves down by the water, just like old times. 

These hands aren't looking so baby anymore. The nail chewing is driving me mad. 

Floating things away, it's like they're 3 all over again. 

I'd like to thank the public school system for the extended time with my children. It's left me feeling very nostalgic and all to aware that we are back to the grind tomorrow. Winter break seems to be taking it's sweet time, but thankfully we have a long weekend next weekend and thanksgiving break heading our way! 

Saturday Snapshots : Texture Edition

I'm joining Marcia for Saturday Snapshots, a day late as usual. The sudden cold snap didn't leave me eager to go out and about so I scanned through Pica.sa and found some gems from days gone by.

Standard Marcia shot.

Lacy Leaf

Angry Sea

Rust

Rough & Smooth

Rough

I love the contrast here.

We've found soooo many mushrooms lately.

 

Finally, some crunch on the way to the car.

Go show Marcia your texture!