Last night Eva, Ivy and I attended the Reflections award evening for our PTA Council. In November Eva placed first in photography and second in 3-D (for creating a 3-D sculpture of a flower out of wire) and Ivy placed first for photography in their respective age brackets. First and second winners at the school level have their work submitted to the council with all the other schools in Tooele. Last night the girls received certificates for participating at this level. Eva won for her 3-D flower sculpture this year and will go to state!! She also got to go to state last year--go Eva!! Last week Eva one first place in her school for her category of science project--I think it was Physical Science. This means that in a couple of weeks she will enter her project into the district science fair. What I think is most amazing about Eva lately is that she is showing an intense interest in molecular biology. She wants to learn all the can about it and is even checking out nonfiction books about it from the adult section of the public library--she's not happy with any of them so I welcome any recommendations...
Ivy got a haircut--she donated close to 12 inches so there is not much left. She has a very flattering A-line cut now and it is perfect for her!! (Eva wanted her hair in the same style but the girl that cut hers butchered it--I took her back to get it fixed and they did a nice job fixing it) Ivy was excited to receive an award for her photography submission last night.
Ethan has become ultra-helpful and a real gentleman. He frequently opens and closes my car door, the front door of the house, etc. He helps pack Ivy's lunch most mornings. Last night when we got back from the award night he and Nathan (Ethan was babysitting) were making cookies and while the cookies baked he cleaned the kitchen. It's exciting to see him grow up and it is SUPER nice to have TWO great babysitters!!
Nathan is learning to read. We have started putting letters/sounds together to make words and he is starting to get it. He and I work together every weekday morning for 60-90 minutes on reading, speech, ... I am encouraged by his progress and expect that if we can continue to work each day through the summer he will have a great school year next year--by that I mean he will have more confidence and be able to interact with other students. School is so difficult for him this year that it's all he can do to stay focused and try to get his work done.
I got a special opportunity to coach the Young Women in basketball this year--it's a lot of fun. It amazes me how teachable Eva is--it really is remarkable. She learns things so fast because she really listens and tries to do what I tell her. These are similar qualities her teachers talk about. They tell me I've taught her to learn well and I have to say that she came that way. I always thought they exaggerated until I saw her work in these little basketball practices. She's an example to me.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
To Blog or Not to Blog
This morning I read the "Miss Ivy" post to Ivy--she loved it. Twenty minutes later she said, "Blog more about me mom!" Which made me laugh! I started thinking about the varying feedback I receive from my children in various situations:
About blogging:
Eva: "I want to read it--all of it!"
Ethan: "Don't blog ANYTHING about me EVER not even the fact that I was complimented by a Primary teacher or that I was clearly proud that Eva placed first in her category for the science fair!!" It is true that Eva placed first and Ethan received a great compliment. Eva's class was outside at recess when the science fair results were announced over the intercom and Ethan and Ivy told her about it when they got home--Ethan was clearly proud and excited for her but I can't blog about it so sshhhhh. I have to "stealth blog" about Ethan.
Nathan: "Read it to me!"
Ivy: "Blog MORE about me mom!"
When Vince and I kiss or other wise show affection:
Eva: Rolls her eyes and kind of smiles and generally leaves the room if she can do it gracefully without looking like she's leaving the room because we just kissed.
Ethan: Gives several noises expressing his overall disgust, shudders, looks away and ultimately says "STOP!" But I didn't blog that.
Ivy: There are several possibilities including (1) A great smile and contented sigh (2) "Do it again! Do it again!" (3) Cheering--as if our favorite team just scored some important points (4) An expression of hope for when she finds someone to love and kiss.... Or possibly all 4, especially if Ethan is expressing extreme disgust.
Nathan: This kind of activity from us clearly makes him very happy. For now.
I received an email this morning that some people have not been able to leave comments on my blog--I'm so sorry! I didn't know about that. My friend told me how I might fix that and I have made an adjustment so hopefully it will work now!
About blogging:
Eva: "I want to read it--all of it!"
Ethan: "Don't blog ANYTHING about me EVER not even the fact that I was complimented by a Primary teacher or that I was clearly proud that Eva placed first in her category for the science fair!!" It is true that Eva placed first and Ethan received a great compliment. Eva's class was outside at recess when the science fair results were announced over the intercom and Ethan and Ivy told her about it when they got home--Ethan was clearly proud and excited for her but I can't blog about it so sshhhhh. I have to "stealth blog" about Ethan.
Nathan: "Read it to me!"
Ivy: "Blog MORE about me mom!"
When Vince and I kiss or other wise show affection:
Eva: Rolls her eyes and kind of smiles and generally leaves the room if she can do it gracefully without looking like she's leaving the room because we just kissed.
Ethan: Gives several noises expressing his overall disgust, shudders, looks away and ultimately says "STOP!" But I didn't blog that.
Ivy: There are several possibilities including (1) A great smile and contented sigh (2) "Do it again! Do it again!" (3) Cheering--as if our favorite team just scored some important points (4) An expression of hope for when she finds someone to love and kiss.... Or possibly all 4, especially if Ethan is expressing extreme disgust.
Nathan: This kind of activity from us clearly makes him very happy. For now.
I received an email this morning that some people have not been able to leave comments on my blog--I'm so sorry! I didn't know about that. My friend told me how I might fix that and I have made an adjustment so hopefully it will work now!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Miss Ivy
I have noticed that every time I say something to Ivy I add something like:
Hurry!
Do it Fast!
RIGHT now!
Sometimes I say all three and more.
This became fairly obvious when we pulled up into the church parking lot on Sunday and I got out of the car and turned to get the kids but didn't have to because Ethan was all over that. Echoes of myself: "Come on! Get out of the car!! NOW! NOW! NOW! GO! GO! GO!" It was military style. Very loud and punctuated. I realized that other moms in the parking lot stopped and stared at us as Ethan marched Ivy and Nathan into the church.
Maybe you wonder why Ivy's middle name is Hurry? I've never known anyone else who spends 40 minutes going number one on the toilet. Don't even ask about number two. She has to take her bath last or the other people won't get a turn....or hot water. I wake her up at 6:30 and by 8:00 she MAY be dressed, will have used the bathroom, and spent the last 15 minutes eating 2 bites of breakfast. Most mornings we forget about combing her hair. She practices the piano almost as much as Eva because after each song she "seat dances" on the bench singing/chanting the lyrics to her songs. Sometimes she gets off the bench to get the full effect. The dentist may not believe it but it takes more than two minutes for her to brush her teeth. It takes 7 days for Ivy to put her laundry away. The first day she puts it somewhere in her room. This takes her 30 minutes, in which time I assume she has put it away. 7 days later when we collect the dirty clothes we find her clean clothes on the floor or under her bed or wrapped up in her blankets or tucked under her pillow or shoved between her bed and the wall... I always wonder what she does in the 30 minutes between the living room and her dresser.
Ivy is fond of saying, "That's not true...I'm not slow...I can do that in a couple of seconds!" Maybe she is closer to the veil than the rest of us and runs on Heavenly Father's time!
Hurry!
Do it Fast!
RIGHT now!
Sometimes I say all three and more.
This became fairly obvious when we pulled up into the church parking lot on Sunday and I got out of the car and turned to get the kids but didn't have to because Ethan was all over that. Echoes of myself: "Come on! Get out of the car!! NOW! NOW! NOW! GO! GO! GO!" It was military style. Very loud and punctuated. I realized that other moms in the parking lot stopped and stared at us as Ethan marched Ivy and Nathan into the church.
Maybe you wonder why Ivy's middle name is Hurry? I've never known anyone else who spends 40 minutes going number one on the toilet. Don't even ask about number two. She has to take her bath last or the other people won't get a turn....or hot water. I wake her up at 6:30 and by 8:00 she MAY be dressed, will have used the bathroom, and spent the last 15 minutes eating 2 bites of breakfast. Most mornings we forget about combing her hair. She practices the piano almost as much as Eva because after each song she "seat dances" on the bench singing/chanting the lyrics to her songs. Sometimes she gets off the bench to get the full effect. The dentist may not believe it but it takes more than two minutes for her to brush her teeth. It takes 7 days for Ivy to put her laundry away. The first day she puts it somewhere in her room. This takes her 30 minutes, in which time I assume she has put it away. 7 days later when we collect the dirty clothes we find her clean clothes on the floor or under her bed or wrapped up in her blankets or tucked under her pillow or shoved between her bed and the wall... I always wonder what she does in the 30 minutes between the living room and her dresser.
Ivy is fond of saying, "That's not true...I'm not slow...I can do that in a couple of seconds!" Maybe she is closer to the veil than the rest of us and runs on Heavenly Father's time!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
I was realizing today that Nathan will most likely be a first grader next year which opens a new chapter in my life--one without carpooling preschoolers, kindergartners, etc. It makes me a little nostalgic that I won't get to witness my kids interacting with their peers on a regular basis but I've also decided I won't miss:
The dawdlers--you know the ones I mean. It takes them 5-10 minutes to get out of the car and walk to the front door of their house. Sometimes they're like Monk: they have to touch everything on the way, move it around, etc. These are often the kids that have to put the garbage cans on the street back to the side of the house before they let mom know they're home.
The talkers--like today when the little boy told me how he was sorry he missed school yesterday but he was sick because he ate tuna fish with mayonnaise and crackers and isn't that soooo gross and it made him sick and miss school and his dad is the real santa clause and christmas was fun because and why do you listen to this music don't you have any backstreet boys to listen to (no way) and..... I couldn't listen anymore because I was speeding and needed all my attention.
The seat belt fumblers--They CANNOT buckle their own seatbelts which means that I have to get out of the car, buckle them in, and get back in my seat. Of course the seat belt fumblers always think it's cool to sit in the very back of the car!
The parking lot dash--This is what I call the rush from the front door of the school to the car because everyone's in a hurry, no one wants to stay together or watch for cars (what's the fun in that?) so it's always a dodgecar scramble to get everyone there safely! Won't miss that!!
The criers--Everything makes them cry: someone said something that they think is mean, they slipped and almost fell on the ground, someone got the seat they wanted to sit in today, ...
The rule keepers--'nuff said.
Of course I know that my kids are absolutely like this! I remember one of the moms I carpooled with would just call me and let me know that mine was home because the kid would NOT come straight in and tell me himself!! And I definitely have the same things going on with my kids every morning when I take them to school. But when it's my kids doing this stuff I feel like I have the option to just turn the radio up and tune them out!
The dawdlers--you know the ones I mean. It takes them 5-10 minutes to get out of the car and walk to the front door of their house. Sometimes they're like Monk: they have to touch everything on the way, move it around, etc. These are often the kids that have to put the garbage cans on the street back to the side of the house before they let mom know they're home.
The talkers--like today when the little boy told me how he was sorry he missed school yesterday but he was sick because he ate tuna fish with mayonnaise and crackers and isn't that soooo gross and it made him sick and miss school and his dad is the real santa clause and christmas was fun because and why do you listen to this music don't you have any backstreet boys to listen to (no way) and..... I couldn't listen anymore because I was speeding and needed all my attention.
The seat belt fumblers--They CANNOT buckle their own seatbelts which means that I have to get out of the car, buckle them in, and get back in my seat. Of course the seat belt fumblers always think it's cool to sit in the very back of the car!
The parking lot dash--This is what I call the rush from the front door of the school to the car because everyone's in a hurry, no one wants to stay together or watch for cars (what's the fun in that?) so it's always a dodgecar scramble to get everyone there safely! Won't miss that!!
The criers--Everything makes them cry: someone said something that they think is mean, they slipped and almost fell on the ground, someone got the seat they wanted to sit in today, ...
The rule keepers--'nuff said.
Of course I know that my kids are absolutely like this! I remember one of the moms I carpooled with would just call me and let me know that mine was home because the kid would NOT come straight in and tell me himself!! And I definitely have the same things going on with my kids every morning when I take them to school. But when it's my kids doing this stuff I feel like I have the option to just turn the radio up and tune them out!
I Know I'm Losing It When...
I decide to make cornbread for dinner and then have to run to the store (my second trip of the day) to get cornmeal...
Then come home to make it and put double the milk I need...
So I add extra of all the other ingredients but when I go to bake it...
I discover the pan I need is very dirty so I go to soak it...
And the oven starts smelling because I forgot that when I made cake the other day I had a spill so I decide to live with the smell...
And wash the pan only it's too bad and the smell is terrible so I put the pan in the dishwasher and the batter in the fridge and decide to clean the oven...
After piano lessons I go to wipe out the cleaned oven and remember that it has to cool down first so I just preheat the oven and bake the cornbread...
The toothpick came out clean but that was just because the middle part was so dense that the toothpick test didn't work. Thankfully it was a big pan and there was plenty of the edges for everyone!
Note to self: Refrigerating cornbread batter for later baking does NOT work!
Then come home to make it and put double the milk I need...
So I add extra of all the other ingredients but when I go to bake it...
I discover the pan I need is very dirty so I go to soak it...
And the oven starts smelling because I forgot that when I made cake the other day I had a spill so I decide to live with the smell...
And wash the pan only it's too bad and the smell is terrible so I put the pan in the dishwasher and the batter in the fridge and decide to clean the oven...
After piano lessons I go to wipe out the cleaned oven and remember that it has to cool down first so I just preheat the oven and bake the cornbread...
The toothpick came out clean but that was just because the middle part was so dense that the toothpick test didn't work. Thankfully it was a big pan and there was plenty of the edges for everyone!
Note to self: Refrigerating cornbread batter for later baking does NOT work!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Last week I made a dinner that two kids weren't thrilled with. Vince and I ended up being away for dinner and so that meant less than half the family had eaten said dinner and so the next night I served it again! Immediately the boys were protesting!! (It was ravioli) I thought I could put some Parmesan on it and pass it off as something they hadn't tasted yet but that made things worse. Nathan in particular was making excessive noise and driving me crazy: "Moooom, Eeeeeew, Why did you put that on it? Yuuuck! Nooooooot leeeeftooooveeeeeeers!" I started to get aggravated and then decided to try using my mommy talent: lying.
I said: "Nathan, don't you know what this white stuff is?"
He said, "NOOOO!" He clearly didn't want to know!
I said: "It's fairy dust."
He immediately stopped whining and crying and said, "What does it do?"
I told him: "Whatever food it touches tastes very yummy."
He said, "OH!" and immediately shut up and ate all his dinner and told me how wonderful it was!
In other miscellaneous news:
Ethan has grown up sooo much these last few months. He opens the door for me, wears his scout shirt to school on scout days, always has his books and things he needs ready, remembers to take his lunch to school, does his homework and practicing without being asked/reminded, ..... His scout leader talked to me last week about how well-behaved he is. Merry Christmas to me!
Ivy is Ivy. Today I went to pay money on her lunch account (she always forgets to make her lunch, runs out of time, etc.) The lunch lady asked what the name of the child was that I was paying money for and I told her Ivy Olcott. I just want to know: What does it mean that the lunch lady said, "I know Ivy! What a fun girl!" and then started giggling! I never know what the appropriate response as a mother is to this situation--this is definitely new territory to me. Do I ask "Why she remembers Ivy? What about Ivy makes her want to giggle?" Do I worry about Ivy doing inappropriate things that I don't know about? Or do I just giggle with the lunch lady and decide to be grateful that Ivy can make people giggle and smile any time of the year when they just remember her? That's actually what I did. Ivy's a good kid, but she does know how to have a good time. Her 1st and 2nd grade teachers describe her as "delightful". I finally asked a teacher what exactly that meant. She said "Fun!" It's true--Ivy knows how to have a good time!
Nathan is doing better--he is enjoying school a little more. Although this morning he went around the house proclaiming he couldn't go to school because he had the hiccups. He didn't have hiccups--he was walking around grunting at various intervals. First time a child of mine has tried to get out of school by faking hiccups!! He has started working with a private speech therapist! I am very excited about this, I think it will really make a difference for him. Hopefully the insurance will pay so we can continue to take him!!
Eva has been busy this holiday season! I scaled back my holiday obligations this year so it has been easier to get Eva to her things. She got paid this holiday season to play her violin with the community choir for a song--this is exciting because it is the first time she has been paid for performing!! She still teaches two piano students. One set of parents was so happy with what she has been able to teach their daughter that they gave her a Christmas bonus!!
But the biggest news this week
Drumroll please
Is that Vince will get paid for 40 hours a week now!!!!! We just found out yesterday and that will be quite a blessing! For the last three months we have had a 25% cut in salary which meant much bread baking, canning, sewing, cooking from scratch, etc. We feel fortunate that a loving Heavenly Father gave us this time with Dad at home because it really helped Nathan at school. We also know that we were watched over and provided for through family, friends, and anonymous benefactors! At one point the phone company called and said that they had discovered a mistake in their billing and that we had overpaid--they said they would extend us a credit and charge us correctly afterwards. The credit ended up being $160--not something that happens every day!!! We have been touched in the last three months by several selfless people who supported us and we are grateful!
I said: "Nathan, don't you know what this white stuff is?"
He said, "NOOOO!" He clearly didn't want to know!
I said: "It's fairy dust."
He immediately stopped whining and crying and said, "What does it do?"
I told him: "Whatever food it touches tastes very yummy."
He said, "OH!" and immediately shut up and ate all his dinner and told me how wonderful it was!
In other miscellaneous news:
Ethan has grown up sooo much these last few months. He opens the door for me, wears his scout shirt to school on scout days, always has his books and things he needs ready, remembers to take his lunch to school, does his homework and practicing without being asked/reminded, ..... His scout leader talked to me last week about how well-behaved he is. Merry Christmas to me!
Ivy is Ivy. Today I went to pay money on her lunch account (she always forgets to make her lunch, runs out of time, etc.) The lunch lady asked what the name of the child was that I was paying money for and I told her Ivy Olcott. I just want to know: What does it mean that the lunch lady said, "I know Ivy! What a fun girl!" and then started giggling! I never know what the appropriate response as a mother is to this situation--this is definitely new territory to me. Do I ask "Why she remembers Ivy? What about Ivy makes her want to giggle?" Do I worry about Ivy doing inappropriate things that I don't know about? Or do I just giggle with the lunch lady and decide to be grateful that Ivy can make people giggle and smile any time of the year when they just remember her? That's actually what I did. Ivy's a good kid, but she does know how to have a good time. Her 1st and 2nd grade teachers describe her as "delightful". I finally asked a teacher what exactly that meant. She said "Fun!" It's true--Ivy knows how to have a good time!
Nathan is doing better--he is enjoying school a little more. Although this morning he went around the house proclaiming he couldn't go to school because he had the hiccups. He didn't have hiccups--he was walking around grunting at various intervals. First time a child of mine has tried to get out of school by faking hiccups!! He has started working with a private speech therapist! I am very excited about this, I think it will really make a difference for him. Hopefully the insurance will pay so we can continue to take him!!
Eva has been busy this holiday season! I scaled back my holiday obligations this year so it has been easier to get Eva to her things. She got paid this holiday season to play her violin with the community choir for a song--this is exciting because it is the first time she has been paid for performing!! She still teaches two piano students. One set of parents was so happy with what she has been able to teach their daughter that they gave her a Christmas bonus!!
But the biggest news this week
Drumroll please
Is that Vince will get paid for 40 hours a week now!!!!! We just found out yesterday and that will be quite a blessing! For the last three months we have had a 25% cut in salary which meant much bread baking, canning, sewing, cooking from scratch, etc. We feel fortunate that a loving Heavenly Father gave us this time with Dad at home because it really helped Nathan at school. We also know that we were watched over and provided for through family, friends, and anonymous benefactors! At one point the phone company called and said that they had discovered a mistake in their billing and that we had overpaid--they said they would extend us a credit and charge us correctly afterwards. The credit ended up being $160--not something that happens every day!!! We have been touched in the last three months by several selfless people who supported us and we are grateful!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Good Report
I received the following email this week:
I need to praise you two for the great boys you are raising! Yesterday I was at the school hoop shoot to watch A. Both Ethan and his friend M were sitting by her waiting their turn. When A was called, they both wished her luck. As she was shooting they were cheering their hearts out for her. Groaning each time she hit the rim, yelling out words of encouragement, telling her she could do it. Then when A came back to sit down, hanging her head because she'd only made one basket. They both were right there to tell her she did great, and they both knew she tried her hardest, and that next year she'd do better, and they'd all practice together at recess the rest of the year so they'd all get better for the next try out.
I want to thank you both for teaching your boys how to be good friends, how to encourage and root for each other, and how to be good sports! It made A's struggle yesterday a lot easier for her to take, especially when she knew a couple of her friends still believed in her. So give your boys some extra praise from me. They sure deserve it!
I need to praise you two for the great boys you are raising! Yesterday I was at the school hoop shoot to watch A. Both Ethan and his friend M were sitting by her waiting their turn. When A was called, they both wished her luck. As she was shooting they were cheering their hearts out for her. Groaning each time she hit the rim, yelling out words of encouragement, telling her she could do it. Then when A came back to sit down, hanging her head because she'd only made one basket. They both were right there to tell her she did great, and they both knew she tried her hardest, and that next year she'd do better, and they'd all practice together at recess the rest of the year so they'd all get better for the next try out.
I want to thank you both for teaching your boys how to be good friends, how to encourage and root for each other, and how to be good sports! It made A's struggle yesterday a lot easier for her to take, especially when she knew a couple of her friends still believed in her. So give your boys some extra praise from me. They sure deserve it!
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