First day of school 2013

The day didn’t start out on a perky note for Braska. She did not feel well and just was so pathetic to see. The classic front porch pics were a bit uncomfortable for Kinlee.  But still, a photo must be had. Even if it’s an unhappy one.


Braska went with Daddy to school, 13 minutes east of our house, and I took Kinlee 10 minutes west of the house to her school. And I kept thinking “the juggling has begun….”

While dropping Kinlee off, I was still in her school, Braska’s school called (8:20 am) to tell me she was feeling worse, and asking if I thought I should get her.  We discussed, and they felt that wanted to allow her a bit more down time to adjust, and it turned out she did perk up and did well for the rest of the day.  Belly issues, apparently.

When it was time for Braska to arrive home on the bus, Kinlee and I went out to the porch to wait for her.


She got off that bus, happy as a clam, and marched independently up to the house with her monstrosity of a backpack in tow.  My fave photo of the day…

Thankful for a successful end after a rough start.

The girls are not in the same school this year. Kinlee is in half-day kindergarten at the private school where they both went last year.  She has the same (AWESOME) teacher that B had last year.  Braska is in our public school district, but not in our home school, by our choice.  We chose another one that had a program we liked better, a “cross cat” room that better suited her needs and a much more receptive and flexible staff/administration.  Her team is great, and with the to-be-expected tweaks, she’ll have a successful year, I think.  She really likes her sped teacher and paras and her gen ed teacher as well.  So we’re pleased so far!

Field trip. On a bus!

My class is going on a field trip today. And we get to ride the big bus from the high school!!  I love riding a bus so much!

This is me and two of my friends. Both their names begin with A. I say they are awesome!

For Mrs. E. My memory verse.

On Friday, I had Mrs. S in my class at school because Mrs. E had to go be with her family for the day.  I like Mrs. S. It was memory verse day, which is when we have to say our verse to our teacher so we can show we know it. 

I like to memorize things, because I can usually remember really well.  But I didn’t show Mrs. S that I could do the verse, even though I know it.  Sometimes I just don’t feel like it, and sometimes my memory seems to get a little tired.

So Mrs. E says she will give me another chance to tell her the verse, since she knows I like to tell her my verses best of all. 

But Mommy thought that—just in case I get in a little grouchy mood tomorrow—she would get a little movie of me practicing so Mrs. E could see that I really did know it.

So here you go…  I thought you might want to see it, too.

I can’t believe school only has 3 weeks left! Kindergarten has been GREAT!

Mommy Simulpost: What? A post? Don’t pass out…

I know I’ve been MIA. I know that my readership is basically nil. But I know there are a few of you who may still happen by.

So in this moment, as I sit at McD’s after a very healthy and balanced lunch, I’ll pause to post instead of logging in to work for a few minutes.  Don’t you feel special? 

Wait. Maybe you want to wait til after you see what overly-awesome and super-interesting things I have to share first.  Then you can be the judge of it all.

Why am I at McD’s? Good question. It’s not a place you find me often at all. But it’s close to both of the schools where my girls are this afternoon, and I didn’t have a long period to go do something involved, so lunch and some quick internet time was about what fit.

Both schools? And in the afternoon? Don’t they go to the same school and isn’t it half-day for mornings?  Well, let me back up a bit.  We’ll see if I can get it explained in the few minutes I have left. 

Oops… Happy Valentines Day.  Didn’t want to miss that. I am thankful for all my online valentines.

Now, the backstory. Over Christmas break we started the process of “dual enrollment” for Braska, so she could attend an elementary school in our local district in the afternoon while continuing to go to her half-day kindergarten in the mornings.  The process has been beautifully smooth. We are really blessed, I admit.  The team at C School is wonderful, they basically let me set up her schedule exactly like I wanted, and I’m really pleased.  We’re doing this just to boost her in the areas she’s struggling with. And so we can get some additional therapies as well.  We’ve been on our own with therapies since August, and much of that time she’s had none.  She’s doing GREAT at LWCS, but some concepts are hard for her (math!!), so this is what I thought might give her some help.

She’s just going to be in special ed in the afternoons. There’s 5 boys in there. That’s the whole class. She’ll love that!  She’s a fan of boys, especially since one of her faves is in there, too.  She’ll go to specials (art, music, etc) IF she doesn’t need to have a therapy during that time.  My priorities are academic instruction and therapies.  I don’t worry any about inclusion in that environment because she’s with her gen ed class all morning and she does specials then.  I like that it’s a lot like tutoring in the afternoons, with therapy thrown in. What’s not to like, if you ask me!  She’ll go Tues, Weds, Thurs for the afternoons. We’ve moved her private OT, ST, and PT to Monday afternoons or Friday afternoon.  (Plus, of course, cheer on Sun and Mon evenings, swim on Friday evenings. Cheer competitions on Sat or Sun once or twice a month and Learning Program on Saturday once a month, too. So she’s all booked up.)

So today is Braska’s first day of attending C School in the afternoon, going directly from pick-up at LWCS to C School. 

This morning I took both girls to school at LWCS where they both go 5 half-days each week.  They love it. I love it.  It’s awesome. Period.  Can’t even tell you how much I love that place.  I dropped them off at 8. Should have gone to work for a couple hours, but decided (with my boss’s permission) to forego trying to get out there, set up, work for maybe 45 minutes, then tear down and leave again to get back for the Valentine’s parties in both girls’ rooms.  So I went to WM to get pink icing, my contribution to Braska’s party, per assignment.  I also picked up a precious pot of tulips for B’s teacher and a little mini-rosebush for K’s teacher.  And a super neat bright bouquet for the office staff/principal.

Got back to school in time to deliver each of the florals, then off to set up for B’s party.  Then bounce across to K’s party a couple doors down and around the corner.  And back and forth. Repeat.  Both girls had a great time. We packed everything up and headed out at dismissal. Drove across town to F School and dropped Kinlee.

F School is a local church preschool/parent’s day out program that she went to occasionally last year.  We like the people there a lot.  So nice.  And since Braska “gets to go” to a second school, Kinlee decided she wanted to as well.  She got some money for her birthday last weekend, and this is what she likes to use it for.  Win-win.

So we dropped Kinlee and her lunch box right in time for lunch with her friends.  And in time for the second Valentine’s party of the day.  She’ll be there til I get her on the way home from Braska’s pick-up.

Then it was on to C School. I fed B in the car (lucky for me she loves greek yogurt. woo.) and in she went. Her buddy Jack is in her class at C School, and it was so funny to see him look up and see her walk in. Totally like, “Huh? What are YOU doing here?” She went right to the bead toys and activities and didn’t even look back to see where I was. 

So I came to McDonald’s to spend an hour eating some lunch and waiting til time to return to Braska’s class Valentine’s Day party in a few minutes. 

All fits just perfectly, right?!?

Tonight, I may collapse. But then again, this kind of day is more the norm than a rarity lately.  I drive almost 100 miles a day often, and that’s not even leaving the county.  Most of that is east and west and east and west on 70.  Thankfully, most everything is right off of the interstate, which makes it easy. Just repetitive.

We’re going to get Daddy’s favorite pizza for dinner, watch Beauty and the Beast with the girls (their first time!) and head to bed early.  Sounds like a lovely Valentine’s evening. 

Time to head to the 3rd party of the day… hugs to all your valentines!

31 for 21: Mommy report: B is a start

Braska can't write her name. She is still working on forming any letters. Fine motor is just about her most delayed area, after feeding. But this was on her paper brought home today. It's a B. And the best one yet. The big red heart, star, and note are from her superbly patient and very wonderful teacher Mrs. E.



She always recites her "a line down, a bump and a bump" when she writes them.  The other night she spent an hour writing lower case i and capital H on her magna doodle over and over.  Maybe we'll see "a spurt," as the girls like to say about anything they learn or when they grow.  I am ok with a spurt.