One Word Wednesday

 

MESS!!!

A Fall Update

 

These days are FLYING by!  In just a few short days it will be November and man are we ready for some fall(ish) weather!  Today the high is 79 which sounds wonderful, after a high in the 90’s (yes, NINETIES) yesterday.

So what have we been up to?

Shelby’s kindergarten is going ok.  We have had lots of stress and discussions because we are very uneasy and disconnected-feeling.  There has been an adjustment (on our part) in expectations, but I still feel like she’s (and everyone in her class) getting the shaft this year.  She got a teacher who has been there in the same little classroom for 30 years.  Her classroom looks like it.  Can you say HOARDER?!  This year is the teacher’s last year.  You’d hope it wouldn’t happen, but it seems that she IS on autopilot for this final year.  The teacher has already missed 6 or 7 days, presumably using her leave that they will not pay out when she’s gone…it’s hard to blame her for that except that it’s not fair to the kids.  There is no communication to the parents from her about what is going on…what they are learning…what they are DOING all day.  I am on the PTA exec board and am the Room Parent…I feel like I’m giving all the effort I can and still feel completely disconnected.  (I think most/all of the parents in the class are ok being disconnected…there wasn’t even ONE other person to sign up for asst. room parent or try to call for a 1st 6 weeks conference as asked to do.  It makes me sad.)  However, I have spoken with parents in other kindergarten classes, and the other classes are DIFFERENT.  The teachers reach out.  They use volunteers.  They put the curriculum/newsletters on the web.  I KNOW what the kids in other classes are learning and doing because it’s out there.  Shelby says she “plays.”  Ok I have to stop…it upsets me.  I know she will be fine.  She will move on to first grade (and God-willing, get a good teacher!) and will catch up…that is IF she is even behind.  I don’t even think she will be behind.  I just wish she would be allowed to push forward and excel this year.  They did the state TPRI assessment and during a teacher conference we learned that Shelby passed (with almost perfect scores) every single section.  She was one of 8 in her class who are already “developed” in what the teacher is expected to teach.  So there are 14 other kids who have to learn this stuff.  The teacher admits that it’s slow for those already-developed kids (and I think that it shouldn’t be…that’s her job!) and that she is terrible about communicating with the parents.  But she knows we’re disappointed so maybe, just maybe, she will make more of an effort.  Ok, moving on….

Shelby is my little sweetheart.  She is so grown-up.  She introduces new phrases into her vocabulary daily that just crack me up.  Yesterday she told Coleman, “Ok, suit yourself!”  She is so ready to read and it’s exciting.  We found the Junie B. Jones books and have been reading several chapters at night.  (It’s a chapter book with only a few black-and-white illustrations.)  She loves lying there and listening intently.  We went to the library just yesterday to get more of them.

We are of course LOVING this Rangers season and post-season.  Ever since they won the ALCS, Jeff has worn his 1993 Nolan Ryan jersey (several times!) and EVERYONE speaks to him, gives him high 5, etc.  It is such a cool community thing around here!  I made these guys (the other guy is just some guy we saw at the pumpkin patch) pose for a picture together on Sunday :)

I started the Couch to 5K Running program several weeks ago.  I have NEVER been a runner because of my asthma, however I decided to take the plunge and try this after years of hearing people do it and like it.  I really am enjoying it…you know, after I’ve completed a workout :)  I completed week 4 yesterday, and am doing about 2.5 miles in 30 minutes with the walk/run intervals and warm-up and cool-down.  This week, on the 3rd workout, we are supposed to run 20 minutes without stopping…which sounds crazy to me.  But so far I’ve been able to follow the program pretty easily so I know I can do it!  And finally, just maybe, the weight is being helped along by this running.  I lost 3.4 lbs this week by finally kind-of-closely following Weight Watchers and running!  Mom is doing this program with me, and we really are the only 2 in our family who were not already “runners.”  So guess what!  We’re all gonna do the Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving morning together in Fort Worth.  I’m so excited about it!  We need a team name.  Terry, Karon, Megan, Jeff, Millie, Luke, Anna, Tyler, Shelby and Coleman.  Any ideas?! :)

Buddy boy Coleman is just whirling through the days…he loves his class (well, his JACKSON in his class really!) and seems to be doing really well in there.  He frustrates us with his destructive ways and how he doesn’t listen.  He’s a 3 year old boy, through and through.  Last week, he was out in the backyard and picked up a hammer.  Ryan walked out and said, “Hey Coleman, whatcha doin’?” and his response was “Oh just breakin’ stuff.”  He explains to us, “I try to make good choices but sometimes I just want to be bad!”  He is seriously a little turd.  A SWEET little turd.  He and Shelby play VERY well together these days.  They play house and pet shop and wedding (obviously all Shelby’s ideas!)  She is very motherly to him, always sweetly saying to him, “Hey Buddy…” when she talks to him.  When we had a “concert” the other day he sang some song that he made up, and all I got out of it was hot lava, volcanoes, dinosaurs, guns, shooters, and t rex.  BOY!

Jeff and I are both SUPER busy at work, but we love our days/evenings at home with our babies.  We are both very blessed to have well-paying jobs that we can LEAVE at work, and LEAVE on time :)  I feel like a part-timer with this schedule, getting off at 2pm.  I have long afternoons and evenings with my kiddos.  This schedule is so good for us!

Our weekends are packed full of fall activities, school field trips, and BIRTHDAY parties galore.  We hope to get another camping weekend in here soon, but not sure when…

I am so excited about the holidays quickly approaching which means lots of family time and getting to see out-of-town family! 

Rangers to the World Series!!!

Friday night we had the fam over to see the Rangers clench the ALCS and their spot in the World Series for the FIRST TIME ever!
We had claws…and antlers.  Coleman had 8 adults singing “Take me out to the Ballgame” at the top of their lungs...  Several times.  Some of the adults (who will remain unnamed) didn’t know the words are “Root root root for the RANGERS”, not “the home team” so Coleman made us re-do it until everyone got it right. :)

We had mid-game entertainment (an art show.)

And a really cute cheerleader.

...actually LOTS of cheerleaders!  :)  Millie and Luke brought us some celebratory beers to shotgun when they won, haha!  Yes they were 8 ouncers!

We celebrated Poppy’s birthday
  
We were a little behind, and tired…but we didn’t care.

That last batter…A-Rod.  What a way to win it!
 
Way to go Rangers! 
Yep Nolan, it IS TIME!!!!

My new favorite drawing

 

So this is how it went:
”Mommy look I drew a picture of you!”
”That’s great honey…but um, Mommy needs to have a shirt on."

“Ok…”

(comes back later.)  “There!  I added a mouth so now you’re wearing a shirt with a face on it!”

Camping at Ray Roberts State Park- Johnson Branch

I don’t have many pictures from this trip but it was a great one!
Jennifer, Doug, and Matthew camped with us for 2 nights, and Millie/Luke and Nonnie/Poppy stayed one night.  We stayed for 3 nights because Shelby was out of school Friday and Monday.

  

We enjoyed the perfect weather, good food, great bike trails, and even got to swim in the lake.

 

 

 

Our Pumpkin

 

This is our pumpkin.  Look at the stem on that bad boy!

This is buddy.  Could he BE any more perfect?!

 

This is Sissy diggin’ in and getting her hands dirty.

 

  

This is a discussion of which design to do.  Who do you think is protesting and persuading?

(but did you need a picture to guess who?) :)

This is the kids helping Daddy tape the pattern on.

 

This is Daddy carving after bedtime.

 

This is our pumpkin.

Dancing Queen

 

Shelby loved her first dance class.  The class is tap and ballet.

I watched her through the door some.  Seemed like she was following directions and enjoying herself :)

And then she checked out her panties :)

When the class was over she was mad at Mommy because I wouldn’t let her get a snack at the vending machines.  Why must they put those things right outside the door???!!

She wouldn’t look at me.

 

She pouted a little.

Then she got over it.  That’s my girl!!!

She cannot wait till next Tuesday when we go back. 

The Texas State Fair

 

The Peck family experienced their VERY FIRST trip to the state fair last week.  Being the frugals we are, we were depressed the entire rest of the day!  We were there less than 2 hours and spent $100, and had 2 cranky kids who were mad that they couldn’t ride every ride they saw.  It was expensive and stinky, and we obviously didn’t go to the right areas where there was cool free stuff.  So I griped about it, and got over it :)  I think I’m just not a festival-type person.  I really really don’t like crowds of people or overpaying for things.  I’m not sure if we’ll be going back anytime soon!

However, Poppy took the day off when Coleman’s school was off for a teacher conference, so I was glad to hear and see the pictures that Coleman DID get to go to some of the cool kids’ activities, like the rodeo and petting zoo!  And, since I threatened Poppy, we even have PICTURES from their day!  Yay Poppy!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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They did the gondola ride that goes across the park.

 

And then some pictures from our day there…

We picked up Shelby for an “early dismissal”

 

The kiddos had their boots on :)

 

And the first thing they wanted to do was ride the Merry-Go-Round

 

 

Then we went and walked along the path with the pond and the children’s museum/aquarium.

We ended up walking a circle where we saw Big Tex, ate some Fletcher’s corny dogs, and were back at the Midway.  This is how we missed the rodeo/petting zoo areas I guess!

Just look how big buddy is!  So tall and skinny!  (wish I could say the same for his mommy!)

 

We saw the half man.

 

We all wanted to do the Texas Star but the line was long and it was going to cost us like $48 to ride it or something ridiculous like that!  I just couldn’t bear it.

So the kids did some rides

 

And then we went home.  It was a good day, despite all my gripes! :)  Any day with family is a treasure, right???