Pickin' Feathers Outta My Teeth...

So remember how my son got a teacher that nobody seems to say anything good about? Well yesterday the school called and said that Thomas could finally change teachers. Even  though things had been going well I decided to still take them up on the offer. When Thomas got home I told him and he kinda freaked out. He told me that he really liked his teacher and didn't want to change. I thought about it all night and really just kept going back to the thought that really I just want him to be happy. I also thought about how I can't always rescue him from different personalities in life. In the end I decided that he should just stay where he is if it's really where he wants to be. The hard part though was that now I had to go back to Marilyn (one of the office ladies) and inform her that although I had caused a mini ruckus about him being in that class and called to check on how far he had to go on the waiting list just a few days ago, now I wanted him to stay. So I drove the kids to school today, threw Em in the stroller and marched in to eat a little crow. Marilyn was coming out the front doors when we walked up to the front doors and I explained what had happened and told her that we would be staying with T's teacher after all. She was happy that all was well and told us that she had already told both teachers about the change and his stuff had been moved to the new class. She told me that I would need to go inform his teacher that he would be staying after all so they could get his things back. Oh, I'm sorry, did I just say I would eat a little crow? I meant a GIANT one! Now I had to go face his teacher who now knew that I didn't want him in her class and apologize for thinking badly of her...GULP!

Through the halls we walked with me praying inside for courage to apologize. I HATE confrontation of any kind and I especially hate hurting others' feelings and I felt awful that I had listened to gossip. Really though, for all I know she's still going to turn into a wicked witch after a few months of this and I was just trying to protect my little duckling from having his enthusiasm for school crushed...but, I digress. So, through the halls we went on our way to my feathered snack. When we walked in she greeted us with a smile and I told her that Thomas has loved her so far and would really like to stay in her class. I told her that I had listened to gossip and had worried when I heard that her personality and Thomas' personality together would be well, somewhat explosive and not a good combination. I apologized for judging her without really getting to know her and thanked her for the effort she has put in as a teacher to make her classroom a fun place for kids. She thanked me and told me that she knew about the things people were saying about her (ouch!) and that she has really tried to make the necessary changes to make her classroom a pleasant place and explained that when she had first started teaching 2nd grade three years ago, her family had been going through some significant trials and were also in the process of moving while she was trying to adjust to teaching a new grade. She was under a lot of stress and admits that it was not a good year. She said last year was great and hopes this one will be even better. She's sad that some people still judge her from that first year. Honestly, I don't know what to think but I feel bad that I judged her. I feel bad that I didn't just give her a chance in spite of the gossip. Oh well, I guess the mama bear in me was just trying to protect her cub. It's hard to just chalk it up to experience for him when you know it may not be a good one. I guess if nothing else it was a good opportunity for my kids to see that I can admit when I'm wrong and I can apologize to someone when I have misjudged them.

Well, there you have it. He's staying. I've learned a valuable lesson and maybe, so have my kids. So next time you see me and wonder what those black things are in between my teeth you'll know that they're bits of crow feathers, and although that bird didn't feel good goin' down, I'm still alive and a better person for it. Now, I'm gonna go find me a toothpick...bye!

Updates...

Ok so, school started and everything is good with Thomas' teacher so far. Thomas seems to like her and although she is a little on the quirky side, she doesn't seem to bad. I still worry what she will be like after having kids all day everyday for a few months but I guess we'll just take it as it comes. He is next in line to be moved to the other class but I don't think they will  move him after the first week of school unless there is a concrete problem. To tell you the truth I feel kind of bad for her. She knows she is the least preferred teacher. It can't be fun knowing that you are the one that nobody likes/wants. We went to Back to School Night last night  and she was explaining that she knows that when the other teachers walk by her classroom they think she is yelling at her class and that she isn't very nice but that she has nerve deafness in her ears which makes it hard to know how loud she is talking if there is a lot of other noise going on around her. She said that she has asked the kids to give her a certain signal if she starts shouting. I don't know what to think. Honestly, I figure if Thomas is happy, I am happy. We'll see how it goes...

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For those of you who are interested in the ongoing Maya saga, well, she's gone now. She left us this past Sunday and the family that came and picked her up was really great! They are the kind of people that we would totally be friends with if they lived closer. Since they drove away with her they have let me know that she is doing well and they love her already. I have to say, as much as I don't miss the barking or the other little annoyances that come with a dog, I do miss her very much. I miss her "hugging" my leg and letting we scratch behind her ears when I would come home. I miss seeing her cuddled up on my down comforter at night. I miss walking up the stairs and seeing her lying there with her head on her paws. I miss her cuddling up to me when I would go to bed before Matt, with her furry body stretched against my belly and her eyebrows under my nose. For those of you who really don't love animals this all probably sounds pretty silly and while even I will admit that she isn't on the same level as one of my children she was still one of my babies and I miss her...

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Well, I think that's it! Exciting, I know...

Random Thoughts...

School starts on Monday. We have been school shopping this week to update the kids' wardrobes in an attempt to send them to school and not have Child Services called regarding their Oliver Twist like appearances. I think we've succeeded. We've found some clothes and shoes and they can now walk out of the house with their heads held high and reflecting well on their parents, which let's face it, if we're totally honest that's our goal in buying school wardrobes right? Can I just say, what the heck happened to being able to buy an entire wardrobe for around $100? Seriously, when I was a teenager my parents gave us each $100 and we made it work. Anyone remember Mad Man Magee's? I'm not even going to tell you how much I spent this year on clothes and shoes for my kids, and I found some pretty good deals too! Anyway, we went and got shoes today and Madison's feet are now a Women's size 10! My 10 year old's feet are officially bigger than mine! Are ya kidding me?!

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Speaking of school...Thomas got a teacher this year that I have heard terrible things about. Even the other teachers I have talked to don't like her. I filed a teacher change form back when he first got assigned to her and found out this past week that he didn't get picked in the lottery to change teachers, but his little friend next door did which makes it even worse because he was excited to be in her class. Yesterday I went and talked to the office ladies and to the principal and still couldn't get him changed due to district policies stating that there couldn't be more than a 6 student spread between the lowest and highest class populations in the grade, which there already is. I even asked about changing tracks but ran into the same problem with policies! I know from what I have heard about her that she and Thomas will not be a good match and I am afraid that his love of school will take a big fat nose dive! I am SO FRUSTRATED!!! He has always loved school and always loved his teachers and I don't want that to change. It makes me sad. We've been thinking about putting them on the waiting list for a charter school that we heard about and maybe this is the motivation we needed...but that doesn't help us this year ya know? He's still on the waiting list for the teacher change so hopefully we'll get some good news soon! At least Madison got a GREAT teacher.

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We said goodbye to Nikki today, well until September anyway. It was sad. September isn't that far away but it'll never be the same now. We're used to seeing her at least every other Friday. By the time we left Em was tired, hungry and grumpy and wouldn't hug Nikki goodbye and that made me sad because I know how much Nikki adores her and Emilia adores her right back. Em walks around the house sometimes calling for Nikki or randomly talking about her. We will miss her so much...*sigh*

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We took family pictures last night out on our front porch. We wanted one with Maya before she leaves us and we needed one with Em in it since she's TWO and we don't have a family picture with her yet...embarrassing! So I arranged us on the porch and my sweet sister took the pics for us. It was quite an adventure! Em wasn't exactly cooperative and we had a dog to work with too and at one point it started raining but I think we got a few good ones and really, that's all we need so when I get them edited I'll put them on here. I do have one done of all of us so without further adieu...

Whaddaya think? I wish Em had a real smile on and my eyes are a little squinty but 

otherwise it turned out ok I think... 

Anyway, Madison's bestest friend (that moved to Texas last year) is coming tonight to sleepover and go to Lagoon with us tomorrow so I'll have fun pictures and stories next week to blog about. Have a good weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Dance Fever...

A couple of weeks ago the kids had a chance to show off the dance moves they've been learning at school. Their elementary school has had a dance program for the last 2 years and the kids go once a week to be taught by a cute girl, Miss Chelsey, who is getting a dance degree and teaching for credits. They have LOVED it! This year she taught each grade a full dance and then they all performed their dances for the parents on the school lawn. Thomas's grade danced to Miley Cyrus's "Hoedown Throwdown". They were all supposed to wear western gear but T refused to wear anything but the requested basics of a white t-shirt and blue jeans. That's my boy, always going against the grain!

(Notice the distinct lack of anything "western" on my boy!)

It was so cute watching those first graders get out there and bust a move! Thomas was SO excited for it and would ask everyday leading up to the big performance how many days were left.

He was definitely one of the kids who put their all into the performance and I was so proud of him for getting out there with no fear. He must get it from Matt because I HATE performing publically!

Madison's grade did a native American dance using rings. It was so neat! Madison would come home each day that she had dance and tell me how hard she was practicing and how much she enjoyed using the rings.

She was excited that she was one of the taller kids and therefore got to be a "butterfly" in the back. They used rings to make the shape of a butterfly on their bodies while they danced and it was really cool to see that these 4th graders could do something so intricate.

She was terrified to perform and I was SO proud of her for getting up there and pushing through the fear to pull off a great performance. I love watching my kids do things that they have worked so hard to learn. It makes my heart swell with pride every time. Man I have cool kids!

At the beginning of the school year I signed up at the PTA table to decorate a door for Teacher Appreciation week. Last week I got the phone call informing me it was time. I was assigned the main office door. The problem was I had no idea what to do for it and we hadn't gotten paid yet so I had no money until payday. I have to decorate the door today. We got paid yesterday. That's right, I had one day to figure out what I was doing and get it all assembled and ready to go. So yesterday I spent about 6 hours doing a door decoration that they will leave up for a week and then throw away! Except that I put so much (WAY TOO MUCH) effort into it that I think I will get it back and hang it in my baby's room. Anyway, here's the deal. I feel like a total dork for putting so much into it. Madison says that most people just stick some stuff on there and spell out thank you. I can't ever seem to do things the simple way. I have to come up with some fancy design and go to town and now everyone is going to think I am some kind of over-achiever show-off or something. I like how it turned out but I'm kind of embarrassed to hang it up now. Oh well. Our school secretaries really do deserve a good door though because they are great! They are teachers too, teaching compassion when they are so sweet and always make the kids feel loved, or show concern when they come down to the office sick or hurt and they always smile and ask them how they are doing when they are their for other reasons. Not to mention they are kind to me when I come in and if you have worked with other school's secretaries kindness is not always the case! So, I will hang up my door decoration and I will hold my head high and I will be ok with my own dorkiness because it's all in the name of education!

Forced Humility...

So the other day at Parent Teacher Conference The Pirate brought home his school journal for the last few months. I was looking through it and came across his...

 

Translation: "Santa is coming! I want him to bring me a Bakugan, a scooter, and a better Mom."

Yep. Nothin' like a 7-year old to remind you (most likely after a rushed, grumpy morning or an argument the night before) that you're human. Don't worry though, I asked him if it was alright that he is still stuck with me and he assured me it was.

My little artists...

Warning: For some reason these pics looked SO much better in Photoshop than on this post. Not to mention The Pirate's nose wasn't yellow...grrrr....frustration.

Last week we went to the Elementary School for the annual Art Gallery Walk. Each year the students do artwork for the various bulletin boards in the halls and the parents come on Gallery Walk Night and beam with pride as their kids show off their handiwork. My kids LOVE art projects. They are always SO excited for this night!

 
I have to admit, The Princess was actually supposed to participate in a non-mandatory recorder concert that night with her fellow 4th graders. The usual chaos ensued at home that evening, which this night included a cranky toddler with a cold to make everything that much more enjoyable, and we missed the recorder concert. I can hear the nominations for Mother of the Year now.... Truth be told our princess didn't want to participate anyway. She takes after her mother who HATES public speaking/performing of any kind! So when the Hubster got home that night we headed over to the school where we were so late that we were the only ones left in the school. We had exactly 15 minutes before the place was supposed to be locked down for the night. We strolled through the halls while The Princess and The Pirate proudly showed off their cutting, gluing, shading, bubble-wrap painting skills and The Hubster and I oohed and aahed  at all the appropriate moments.

Isn't it funny how you really do always think that your child's project is the best? The Pea had a great time running around like she owned the place. I watched her and thought of how quickly the time will fly until she will be roaming those halls as an actual student. *sigh* 15 minutes later we rounded our little Picassos up and headed home, one more annual Art Gallery Walk under our belts...