We have Another Reader!

Oh how sweet those first few months are when kids learn to read!

Jaden takes his reading homework quite seriously, pulling out his reading folder before we even get home. He enjoys reading his story to everyone.

Tis the Season

Shortly after Thanksgiving we headed up to Forest Hill to Snowy Peaks Christmas Tree Farm to cut down our tree. With many beautiful trees to choose from, it was a challenge to choose the best one.

Our new house has a much lower ceiling in the living room, and of course we forgot to measure it before we headed up to the tree farm. We finally decided on this tree, and it is a perfect fit just inches below the ceiling.

The boys are always eager to help Tom with cutting the tree down. But just like with decorating the tree, after a few minutes helping Daddy, they are off in search of something more fun like searching for frost crystals or looking for logs to jump off of.

Thankful for Good Health

I'm thankful everyday for Jacob's good health.

Monday we had an appointment with Jacob's neurosurgeon and all looks good.

Thankful: November 16

Some people come into our lives for a purpose. Jaden is one of those individuals. He often comes across as an easy going kid, yet he has an intense side which comes out on the soccer field, or when he is determined to do something his own way. Jaden operates on his own time schedule, and not much can be done to rush him through life. I've learned to let go , slow down (just a little), and let Jaden be Jaden.

Jaden has always been my independent one; wandering off one his own at the park time and time again. He has a confidence that not many kids his age have. I remember one time when Jaden was 3 he started yelling at an older kid who was across the playground. To Jaden this older child was climbing on Jaden's dinosaur. To this day Jaden has the confidence to walk up to almost any individual and start a conversation.

Having an opportunity to have a second year in kindergarten has been wonderful for all of us. Every evening Jaden pulls out a book to read to us before he heads off to bed. We rarely need to ask him to read. He's well on his way to being able to decode almost any 3-4 letter word and knows almost all of the sight words he is required to know by the end of the year. I enjoy watching him grow and become more aware of the world around him with each passing day.

Thankful: November 11

Today starts a series of posts to celebrate those things I am most thankful for in my life.

Jacob is one of those kids who has a personality larger than life; sometimes too large for my comfort level. :-)

I find that I enjoy him most when he an I can sneak away and spend some special time together, just the two of us. We usually try to catch a bite to eat and spend some time at one of our favorite places to shop like the Lego store or the book store.

I love that even at age 8, Jacob still wants to give me a hug and a kiss good bye on the playground every morning. He is always excited to see me on campus, especially when our two classes get together for buddy activities.

He has this creative side that every once in awhile reveals itself. Who knew that Storm Troopers love tortilla chips as much as Darth Vader.

Lost in Life but Still Here

It's been a long two months since my last post as I've adjusted to life working full time, teaching a new grade, and balancing it all with being a mom. Life could not be better....well, maybe some free time would be nice. It's been a lot easier to relax around here since the boys are able to play outside with out me hovering over them every minute. We're still loving our new neighborhood.

Kindergarten has been an awesome change. Even after the most frustrating of days, the kids come bouncing back in with smiles on their faces the next morning. Not a day goes by where I don't see growth and learning taking place....not as easily seen with the 6th graders. My grade level team of teachers is wonderful. Our lessons and activities are almost identical in all 6 classroom, yet there is lots of room for me to add my own ideas. My highest students are all well on their way to reading this month. Those that entered kindergarten knowing only a handful of letter sounds know sounds for almost all 26 letters. Today as we walked to lunch they were chanting the words to one of our sight word songs, "I like you, you like me, I spell like L I K E...."


Photos are on their way with the next post. :-)

Why Burney?

So here is they reason we head to Burney Falls each summer. Leslie & I started teaching together 8 or so years ago. Besides being my job share partner for many years, she has grown to become one of my best friends. She has all of those qualities I admire in a teacher and a friend; she's organized, hard working, conscientious, creative, honest, trustworthy...the list goes on and on. She's always there to lean on when the going gets tough, or when I'm feeling blue.

It's fun to spend time away from school with her, and to see her silly side come out: jumping into the lake after sundown, singing her campfire song, laughing just a little too loudly after "quiet hours" have started.

I have lost track of the number of years that Leslie has camped at Burney, but her husband, Bryan, is on year 30 I believe. Brayden has camped there every summer since he was born, so 6 years so far. We'll never catch up to with them, but plan to join them for many more summers to come.