What a Week

So we have had a lot going on this week ... two trips to the pediatricians office ... stomach bug .... ear infection ... work meetings ... Kindergarten graduation ... dentist appointments ... birthdays and more ... where to start??

Sunday morning took Chatty to the pediatrician's office (yes they rock and have emergency hours on Sunday) because she was screaming about her ear hurting ... $25 and a bottle of ear drops later we were on our way ... Sunday evening Bia says "I threw up in the bathroom" (at least it was in the bathroom) ...it looked like a blueberry/rasberry smoothie had exploded in there.  She proceeded to puke periodcially throughout the night and by midnight I was puking too ... we both stayed in bed most of Monday and were back to school/work on Tuesday.   Tuesday I get a call from the Tax Director who wants to hire me saying he's in town - do I want to meet him at the Ritz?  I rush over there that afternoon (after going home and changing clothes so I looked a little nicer) and met with him for a few minutes (he was leaving for the airport to head back to NJ) ... he assured me that they want me and will have an offer to me next week - we'll see!  Wednesday afternoon I get a call from Chatty's school nurse saying she looked in Chatty's ear and it looked "BAD" so I call the pediatrician's office and they get us an appointment in an hour ... see the Dr ... $25 later he gives us a script for Amoxocillon and another bottle of ear drops (can't beat the free ear drops).  Thursday morning was  Kindergarten Graduation (they call it culmination) and then brunch in the classroom afterwards.  Miss J made a sweet video/photo montag that she showed during brunch (she also made copies for each child and gave them each a book - so sweet).  Nana and Poppa joined us for the festivities and then took the graduate home with them for the evening ... then it was off to the dentist for a filling (ugh) ... which leads to today ... my mom's birthday!  HAPPY Birthday MOM/Nana - we love you!  Nana and Poppa are bringing Chatty back tonight and we are grilling to celebrate her birthday .. then I have to work on another birthday cake and I am going to try fondant for the first time ... hope you all have a great weekend!  Don't forget to thank your service men and woman for all they have done and continue to do!  Ok now some pics from yesterday ...

On stage - each class had a different color "Kindergarten Rocks" t-shirt

Receiving her certificate from Dr. B

Dr. B -our cute principal (he's a little short though)!

Nana and Poppa!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Proud parents

Chatty and Miss J

Chatty and me with the fabulous Miss J - she rocks!

Fun Day

Chatty had her Kindergarten Fun Day last Friday.  For us old people it was what we used to call Field Day.  Chatty had fun and we had some perfect sunny weather for the festivities.

Future Track Star??  Maybe if she take after her cousin C

While she was running all the boys were chanting "Chatty, Chatty .."

I guess she already has a fan club with the boys!

Parachute Time

Future Running Back or Wide Receiver??

A little tug of war ... the parents even joined in on this one

Obstacle course

Dancing - doesn't every field day include the "Cha-cha Slide"?

Kindergarten buddies

Roller thingies ... not sure what they are but they loved them

The boy in the corner of this last picture asked me to walk him to the bathroom at one point.  Very politely I might add.  Anyway on the way there he says "Chatty likes to chase me on the playground."  I said, "Oh that's nice, she loves to run and play at recess."  Then he says "Chatty likes to give me lots of hugs on the playground too!" Umm really ... wasn't sure what to say at that point!  I asked her about it in the car and at first she denied it and then fessed up .. what are we going to do when she is a teenager??

What I Learned in Kindergarten

Last Friday I was scheduled to volunteer in Chatty's classroom.  As soon as I walked in the room I could tell something wasn't right ... and then I got the news from one of the students ... "We have a visiting teacher today" (I guess they don't call them substitutes anymore).  Needless to say it was chaotic when I walked in ... the boys were all over the place and no one was listening to the "Visiting Teacher".  She had no control over the class and looked so relieved when I walked in.  The sad part was the whole time I was there she kind of looked to me to lead the class.  So being the Type A person I am I did just that.  When they wouldn't listen to the "Visiting Teacher's" instructions, I threatened to escort them to Dr. B's (the principal) office.  One kid said "All of us?" and I responded by saying "If that's what it takes" ... they settled down a little bit after that.  In the course of the 90 minutes I was there, I put two boys in STEP (timeout), one of which was the Mr. X who Chatty is no longer allowed to play with.  The little punk told me I was mean when I put him in STEP for kneeing another boy.  Further confirmation as to why Chatty will NEVER be allowed to play with him.   

Some other observations:

• One little boy went to the bathroom and was in there for quite a while.  When he came out he sighed and said "Man I feel better now" (mimicking his father I am sure).  I felt bad for the little girl who had to go in after him. 
• A couple boys in Chatty's class have longer hair than her. 
• One boy said to me "I get to go to The Turks and Caicos for my birthday" - umm what?  Yep that's right he is going on a nice little Caribbean trip with his family for his 6th birthday (aka family vacation).  Yes I am a little lot jealous.

Dazed and Confused

Dear Chatty:
Yesterday I had a lovely parent teacher conference with your Kindergarten teacher Miss Johnson. She couldn't say enough sweet things about you. Miss Johnson said you are a born leader, transition from one activity to the next in an appropriate manner, willingly participate in all activities, is always happy and greets her with the biggest smile everyday, plays with everyone in the class, helps her peers, intelligent (at or above levels in all subjects/areas), to name a few. According to Miss Johnson you are a pure joy to have in class. Wow - I was so proud!

Fast forward to this morning when you were in major meltdown number 29 (or 59, it has been so many I have lost count) this week. What happens to you when I drop you off? Do you turn into another child? I mean seriously, the Chatty that was at my house this morning could not possibly be the same Chatty who is a prized pupil in Miss Johnson's class everyday. What do you do with her at 3:00pm every weekday, stuff her in your backpack and not let her out until you get back to school? What can I do to make sure she appears at my house during non-school hours? Your Dad and I are willing to try almost anything (within reason) to get prized pupil Chatty to make a regular appearance at our house. Let me know ASAP! Thanks.

I Love You,
Mom

Our Fearless Leader

Last week I had a day off and volunteered in Chatty's classroom. Since I wasn't going to work Chatty was able to ride the bus to school. She was super excited (as was Bia who packed a backpack with her blankies, puppy and monkey to take sissy to the bus stop). So we get to the bus stop and Chatty patiently waits for JR (neighbor across the street) to get there. He gets there and shortly afterwards the bus pulls up. All the kids get in line to get on and the following happens:

The afternoon bus (the only one Chatty had ridden up until last week) is #122, but apparently the morning one is #119. I didn't even look at the numbers, knowing all my neighbors kids who ride the bus everyday (including JR) were getting on and going to the same school as Chatty. A frantic Chatty yells, "JR this isn't our bus, our bus is #119, this is #122, we can't get on" and pulls JR away from the bus. JR looks a little bewildered but says "OK" and follows Chatty's lead. I calmly assured Chatty this was the correct bus and told her and JR to get on. As I am leaving the bus stop I am relaying the story to my neighbor and she says "Oh she will make a great wife - already giving directions and telling the boys what to do." Then another neighbor (a husband) says "Yep and like a good husband JR followed right along!"

Then when I get to school Chatty's (fabulous) Kindergarten teacher tells me how much she enjoys having Chatty in her class and what a natural leader she is. I was thinking to myself, if only you saw her in action at the bus stop this morning! Besides saying great things about my kid, her teacher has the patience of a saint. God bless her, she is amazing with those kids! We are very lucky to have her!

K is for Kindergarten

A is for Art class
B is for Books
C is for Core Curriculum our school uses
D is for Dr. Bales our principal
E is for Energetic as in Chatty's teacher
F is for Full Day Kindergarten
G is for Games with an educational focus
H is for Homework, for the parents that is (forms, etc.)
I is for I will do my best every day (Miss Johnson's motto)
J is for Jumping Jacks in PE class
K is for Kindergarten
L is for Listening ears
M is for Miss Johnson our fabulous teacher
N is for No more naps in Kindergarten
O is for Organization, this teacher gets an A+ in my book!
P is for Pictures, lots of them taken today
Q is for Quiet, hard to come by with 25 Kindergartners
T is for Teachers, what a difficult job! We admire them immensely
U is for Upload in the wrong order - my pictures below
V is for Volunteers in the classroom (I am looking forward to this experience)
W is for Wildfire our school!
X is for eXpectations, do what is eXpected and do it the best you can (another Miss Johnson motto)
Y is for Yellow skirt Chatty Cathy picked out to wear her first day
Z is for Zoo field trip later this year
(Note-I copied a couple of these off of the ABC's of Kindergarten Miss Johnson sent home today)

Family Photo at school

A refreshment after recess

Waiting in line for the bell to ring

Standing in her classroom

Chatty Cathy & Mommy

Chatty Cathy & Daddy

Our Big Kindergartner!