Carleigh, Kindergartener

Friday was another important milestone day for our family. My youngest child is now an official Kindergartener! Seriously, I do not want my babies to grow up this fast! She had a great day with her teacher, Mrs. Stehlin and was quite upset that she didn't get to ride the bus home when we "toured" it! She officially goes back on Tuesday and will be riding a regular, large school bus. She is quite an independent little thing and we hope she has an amazing school year! We noticed a familiar face in her class. "K" was a little girl that attended VBS with Carleigh at my sister's church. I am hoping that Carleigh makes a few friends this year and hopefully GIRL friends and not as many BOY friends! LOL!

Cody, First Grader

I had the pleasure of waking up my little first grader on his first day of school. Let me tell you, he was not thrilled! I had to drag him out (not a morning person) and after he was up for like 2 minutes, he went back to his bedroom and climbed into bed!! No doubt it has been such a long day for him!!

Matt calls me after my students had left for the day and says that the school called and said Cody was absent. Ummm.....WHAT?!!! So after having a full fledge PANIC attack, I stopped, and called his school. The secretary was great for calming me down and we tried to reason out what happened. She was going to get down to the problem and call back. So I race home. Matt received a phone call from his special ed. teacher that Cody had a great day. Then, his regular ed. teacher called me to apologize and explain what happened. Apparently, Cody's bus was late and he was not there when attendance was taken. Once it is sent to the office, an automated message gets sent to the parents. I like that they are proactive but that really sends parents in panic mode when they KNOW their child got onto the bus and with so many horror stories of kidnappings and kids falling asleep on a bus....I was totally freaking out!

What a totally stressful day (it's a good thing I have a great class this year) and I have to do it again tomorrow with Miss Princess!!

He's finally home!

So I raced home in my panic mommy mode and wouldn't you know it that the bus was EXTREMELY late? Yep, it did not arrive until 5pm (after several phone calls to the bus transportation and getting busy signals). Cody was on that bus for 1.5 hours. He was either very confused or he had a nap on the bus. The first thing he wanted was juice! (We brought it for that very reason!) While waiting for his bus to arrive, his special ed. teacher called and said he had a great day: did everything that was asked of him and ate some of his lunch. So great day for Cody....a nerve-raking day for Mommy, Daddy, and Mamaw!

The song of the day

I told myself that I would not cry. Well, I did. The next two days are going to be some of the most emotional times of my life. With that said, I am going to leave you with a song that has been playing in my mind for the past couple of days:



"Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney


I turned on the evening news
Saw an old man being interviewed
Turning a hundred and two today

Asked him what's the secret to life?
He looked up from his old pipe
Laughed and said, "All I can say is

Don't blink, just like that you're six years old
And you take a nap
And you wake up and you're twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don't blink, you just might miss
Your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads
Next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years
Goes faster than you think, so don't blink

I was glued to my TV, when it looked
Like he looked at me and said
"Best start putting first things first"

'Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand
You can't flip it over and start again
Take every breathe God gives you for what it's worth

Don't blink, 'cause just like that you're six years old
And you take a nap
And you wake up and you're twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don't blink, you just might miss
Your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads
Next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years
Goes faster than you think, so don't blink

So I've been trying to slow it down
I've been trying to take it in
In this 'here today, gone tomorrow' world we're living in

So don't blink, 'cause just like that you're six years old
And you take a nap
And you wake up and you're twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don't blink, you just might miss
Your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads
Next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years
Goes faster than you think, so don't blink

No, don't blink
Don't blink
Life goes faster than you think
So don't blink

Life goes faster than you think
Don't blink
Don't blink
Life goes faster than you think

'Twas the Night Before First Grade...

'Twas the night before first grade and all through the house, quiet was restored and no child was about. Mommy was busy packing a lunch for the first time, and reminiscing of days gone by. It was like yesterday, when she brought that 5lb miracle home, and she blinked and he was 4 years old. She remembered the first time he sat up, walked, and said his first word. The day he started preschool brought tears to her eyes and now he is a first grader who will wave goodbye. Now, he'll learn to eat lunch with his friends and learn so much more, no turning back where he has been.

Mommy's heart is sad, but she knew this day would come, she is so glad to see who he has become. Happy first day of school, sweet little boy, may others see that you make my heart full of joy!

Back to School Parade

We attended the Back to School Parade that our children's school district has every year. This was the first time we went to the parade. Cody LOVED the marching band and was very fascinated with the instruments and drums. It was so cute when the Kindergarten Center passed by us and both principals recognized Cody and yelled "Hi Cody!" Can you tell EVERYONE knows by boy very well?!!

First Grade Open House

Tonight was Cody's Open House at his new school. Can you say crowded? Matt had to drop Cody and I off because there was no available parking! He had to pull out of the parking lot and park near that Y! (And this was just 1st and 2nd grade parents!!) Cody and I found his classroom upstairs and he has Mrs. Campbell for his regular ed. classroom. He will be there in the morning for Circle time, lunch/recess, specials and for Science/Social Studies at the end of the day. We were very impressed with her and of course Cody gave her a hug!! We also went downstairs and across the building (HUGE school) to find his intervention specialist and along the way we saw his occupational therapist (who worked with him in preschool) and his speech pathologist. Cody will spend the majority of this day with Mrs. Leder who will be his reading/language arts and math teacher. I also like the fact that he will have about 5 or 6 other students in class with him at that time. Cody of course explored her classroom. He was very quiet and was looking around, taking it all in! Cody will be at his school for the next four years so I guess he will have a while to "take it all in."

Eye Patching Yet Again

We are back to eye patches and all that good stuff. This time, it is Carleigh's turn. She visited the eye doctor yesterday and the dr. discovered what I had been suspecting. Her left eye is turning in just like Cody's. So, she has to patch every day for 2 hours (after school luckily!). We are hoping this does the trick and are praying that she doesn't need to have surgery like the Codeman. There's one big difference....she is actually letting us keep the eye patch on for said hours! Wow! This is amazing!

And speaking of the Codeman, we go tonight to meet his 1st grade teacher and intervention specialist! I am in total denial that Cody is a first grader!

More Lighthouse pics

My friend took pictures of my family as well and here are a few for your viewing pleasure!

Gerbil Switcheroo

This gerbil business is really silly! Today, I am taking Molly to my school and trading her in for two girl gerbils, so we will get a NEW Molly and Minnie. Hopefully these girls will not croak and be more gentle for Carleigh or should I say I hope they are brave and can handle a 5 year old girl!

Explaining Death

We came home yesterday from our Lake Erie to discover that Minnie (crooked tail) had died sometime over the weekend. It was so sad for Molly who was snuggled up next to her. The gerbil that died was not very active so I am thinking it was something that she struggled with since birth. So I had to explain death for the first time. Carleigh kept saying "Daddy, she is sleeping!" So we talked about death at a 5 year old level and told her that we may get another one if the teacher has one available. She was very upset at first, but she accepted it and watched Molly (the active one) run on her wheel. May you rest in peace dear Minnie!

Marblehead Lighthouse & Lake Erie Trip

We had a wonderful time visiting Marblehead Lighthouse and Lake Erie. Despite the heat and humidity, it was great visiting and going up the lighthouse. It was so very busy and I could not believe how popular the lighthouse was! We visited the local beach, swam, and had a cookout with our friends Shannon and Niki and Niki's mom Patty.

At the top!

Marblehead Lighthouse wasn't as tall as Little Sable, but it was still a great lighthouse! All four of us made it to the top and came back down with no mishaps! It was such a wonderful view from the top!

Piano Heaven

Our friend's mom had a piano and could just LOVED it! He has the perfect fingers for a pianist: long and slender. We just have to find someone who will teach him how to play!

Lighthouse here we come!

We are heading to Lake Erie to visit Marblehead Lighthouse and to have fun and fellowship with our friends and their family. I will post pics of the weekend as soon as I can!

Adjustments

Well, today was the first day that I have been away from my children since early June. Wow! It was quite an adjustment! I was a bit sad when I dropped them off at their Mamaw's house and of course it didn't help that Carleigh cried after me (something she rarely does!). Of course, she forgot about it quickly as she told her mamaw that she loved her.

I came home and was absolutely EXHAUSTED! Many reasons why I was tired: moved all desks and chairs, climbed through the window to get in & out of my classroom because my wing hallway was being waxed, moved heavy textbooks around the room, and maybe the biggest reason is that I was a couch potato due to the extreme heat all summer. (I wasn't quite the coach potato because I DID exercise but not as much as I wanted!)

I guess it will take a few days to get back into the groove of things...

6 Month Dentist Checkup

Boy was I dreading this appointment, not because of bad teeth, but due to a little boy who does not want ANYONE to get near his teeth! Carleigh did an awesome job, even when they x-rayed her teeth! She had a tooth in Feb. that they were watching closely, and it is a small cavity. The dentist wants to monitor it again and if it is bigger, then she will need a filling. We are hoping that it does not grow!

Cody did a fabulous job at first when he initially was in the process of having his teeth cleaned. Then the lady stopped for a brief moment and that is all that it took for Cody to scramble out of the chair and refuse treatment! I had to hold him tightly while the dentist examined his teeth and put a protective varnish on them. Luckily for Cody that he has great teeth (despite overcrowding) and no cavities!

Taking both of them to the dentist is absolutely EXHAUSTING (to say the least) and I am thankful that my mom (aka babysitter) was there to help! No more dental appointments until February! Yay! Carleigh has one more appointment (eye appt.) this month and she will not have any appointments for at least another 6 months!! And I am VERY glad that I am finished taking them to a multitude of appointments! Yay!