Not Quite/Tomorrow

Thanks to our favorite babysitters CJ has acquired two new phrases to his vocabulary. Uncle Pat was here one night last week and they were doing a puzzle together. If the piece didn't fit Uncle Pat would say, "Not Quite". It didn't take long for CJ to start repeating him. But now CJ is adapted this phrase to fit in other areas of his life. Yesterday we needed to go to Target and pick up a few things. As we were finishing i told him it was time to go, "Not quite" was his response. Thanks Uncle Pat:)

One of our other sitters (Miss K)has helped CJ to understand the work tomorrow. They were playing a game and it was time for Miss K to go home, so she told him they could play again tomorrow. CJ has taken this word and run with it. When asked to do something ,"No not today TOMORROW!" is often his response. Thanks Miss K:)

Dressing oneself

I never realized how difficult it is to learn how to dress and undress yourself. CJ should be doing these jobs already and we are trying very hard to much patience with these tasks. He does have some OT issues so tasks like dressing, using utensils to eat, writing/coloring pose challenges for CJ. He gets frustrated very easily then asks for help repeatedly until someone gives in. Now we stand firm and try and get him to do it alone. We are back to the sticker chart in hopes of making easier for him to want to try. Some days it's worth a sticker to him, other days it's not. We will keep working on it with a smile on our face (most days) :)

Teacher Perks

Today would be one of those days that I enjoy being a teacher. I have the day off:) I also have off next Thursday, and no student of Friday for Staff Development. Although those of you that know and listen to the events of my day - you know I need that day off everyone once in awhile or I wouldn't be the nice, calm teacher that I am most of the time. Days off are about the only teacher perk I have...it certainly isn't the pay and we don't get bonuses. So I will take the random days off here and there anytime.

Happy Birthday

Tiff had a baby girl on Wednesday - Leah Elizabeth. Happy birthday Baby Leah from all of us. I guess we can't call Jack Baby Jack anymore:)

Apple A-P-P-L-E

CJ has been learning about apples at school lately. At Open House the other night we noticed many apple drawings and paintings. Today he sang a song for me that they sing in school. It's sung to the tune of Bingo.

There is a fruit that grows on a tree and apple is it's name -o
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
and apple is it's name - o

Of course now you repeat taking away a letter after each verse and clapping instead.

CJ is not only singing it he is also spelling it. He pretends to take the letters off of the wall one at a time, then after the song is sang he puts the letters back on.

We also went apple picking this past weekend. The last time we had gone to the apple orchard, CJ was 2 months old. It was our first family outing. We had a great time. It was a little too hot for my liking on a fun fall activity. But we did get to ride on a wagon being pulled by a tractor - this was a highlight of the trip. Once we got to the apple trees, CJ picked about 4 apples and said, "Ok, let's go home now!". Oh by the way - we had bought a BIG bag. We convinced him to keep picking and got a nice bag full of apples. I now need to find some recipes using apples. After we came back down the hill, we stopped for some apple cider then headed to the farm. CJ actually did try and feed a sheep - but he didn't really like it so guess who ended up feeding the animals - yep me. I promise some pictures of our day soon!

Open House Night

How weird is it to be on the other side of Open House. I think I remembered everything - I tried really hard not to bring up anything related specifically to CJ. But boy was it hard!! I found myself saying, "Yes, I have questions but I will be seeing you soon at the PPT...but how is his...." Crazy - just like everyone else:)
But according to everyone he is doing well and is quite the funny guy. So...we were happy to hear that he is happy and learning.

All Cried Out

Literally!!! I have been having trouble with my eyes again, and I woke up this morning and couldn't see anything - all blurry. No matter what I was wearing - contacts, new glasses, old glasses. So I called the eye Dr. (for the fourth time in 4 months) and went in. It seems have very few tear ducts left so my eyes are getting too dry thus causing my corneas to become swollen. The Dr. told me that this is an "old people's disease" - ummmm thanks! So at the ripe old age of 35 I have used up almost all my tears:) Really??? Not so sure. I will let you all know when I have a good cry!

Open House

This past week was my the Open House at the school I work in. It was my best Open House yet. I realized that I have been teaching longer than many of these parents had been teachers - and this gave me some confidence that I had never had before. Usually when I give my 20 minutes talk I am nervous and almost giving my speech like I am asking for their permission to be doing certain things. This time, I was confident and telling them it's my classroom - my way. It helps that many of the parents are now my age. When they were all older than me, it was a different vibe.

Here are some tips for all of you who are parents and will attend an Open House soon. Open House is not a time to conference about your child. It is a time to learn about what is going on in the classroom. If you have concerns about your child e-mail the teacher and set up an appointment. When chatting with the teacher on Open House night keep the conversation to how happy your child is. If your child is not happy - you should have already had a phone conversation with the teacher about this. Tell the teacher some of the positive things your child is coming home and saying. And....keep it brief!!! Everyone wants to talk to the teacher and if you "hog" his/her ear for too long than someone else misses out on a quick hi. Anyway - hope that helps:)

CS and I are going to CJ's Open House on Monday. Let's see if I can remember the above advice for myself:)

The Fall Crankies/Crazys

It is that time of year again. The fun of summer has seen its last days in this household. We are back full force to working/school/and hardly any time to spend together as a family let alone visit others. But it always works - once we work out the first few weeks.

We happily have sitters who come and stay with CJ so he doesn't have to do the trip down to me anymore. The downside is that CS and I don't see each other as often, but CJ is so much happier not sitting in traffic!

I am very busy with my class this year - but in a good way!!! I can focus more on academics this year and I am enjoying that side of being a teacher again. I also am mentoring a new teacher so I need to make sure all of my ducks are in a row to set a good example!

CJ is off to an ok start with school. He caught a little cold by the third day of school and had to stay home. Not good, becasue now he thinks that all he has to do is say he's sick and gets to stay home. He know gets "special medicine" (candy) before school to make sure he can make it through the day. I know we won't get parents of the year award with that trick - but hey it works for him. He still has a lot of anxiety about being away from CS for a few hours. CJ is back to getting up in the middle of the nights for 30 - 90 minutes it seems. He never gets me, but I hear him in his room talking to his pal Duckie/listening to music/reading stories. Because of this and the anxiety he is CRANKY some days!! I think it will take until the ed of October before he is finally settled. We'll see.

Tiff is about to have her baby and I miss her like crazy right now. Not being able to be there for her to help out is hard to get over. I am thinking of you Tiff and wish I could be there.

My little brother is off again to Iraq in January. Causing everyone to feel sad, and worried about him. Again, I wish I could be with Sunshine and the kids to help them move and help while he is away. I am with you guys in thought!!!

I know I hadn't blogged in awhile and now you know why. I am trying to have a lease one night a week to myself so I can blog.

First Day of School Again

CJ began his first day of Pre-K today - again. This is very similar to the program he attended this summer. Today it was a new teacher, new friends, and new routines. I think daddy may have been more nervous than CJ today. Luckily I was at work so I missed all the nerves and tears (mine not CJ's). CJ happily talked about school and all the things he did today. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it continues!!!! Thanks J for your thoughts!! We will be thinking of you on your first day too!