School Blues

Well, it's been another roller coaster K4 beginning with another child! Taylor is finding the adjustment just as difficult as Joshua did, but on a different level. Whereas, he didn't want to go and didn't like school or his teacher initially, Taylor likes school and her teacher, but wants to do her own thing and not adhere to rules. Today, she pushed another child out of line (a first for pushing), talked out of turn (not too concerned with this one...that will come with time) and ignored her teacher (am concerned with this one!). We are having to punish her for the bad behavior at school (no chocolate after school, etc) and it seems to work at times, and sometimes not. She has this independent spirit and is not yet willing to yield to authority. We are all praying for her success in school. Joshua told me today that he prayed for her at school today that she would have the best day yet. I had tears in my eyes as it was exactly what I needed to hear after another rough afternoon of finding out that she got another "unsatisfactory" behavior mark today. Grandma and Grandpa are praying about this and we are too, so Taylor, we are all in this together and praying that you will soon adjust and have a great year at CCS if that is God's plan for your academic early years!!

First Day of School

The First Day of School has arrived and Taylor and Joshua both seem to be excited! Joshua wore his blue shirt and khaki shorts and Taylor wore a yellow shirt and skort (which ended up falling off of her b/c it was too big in the waist!!). She really wanted to wear a belt just like her brother so I let her put on a purple belt over her skort...well the belt came off at recess and so did her skort. Her teacher said that

First week of school over!

We are done with the first week of school, and I must say, it has been an emotional roller coaster for Taylor and I! Taylor has had quite a bit of adjustment to learning the ropes of school etiquette and structure...mainly obedience! She just isn't used to having to be in such a structured routine and has had the run of the house for the past four years. The teachers have had trouble with her listening as she just did what she wanted to do. Mrs Helms was the most supportive and was wondering if her creative mind was just out there in creative world and then she would have to draw Taylor back into the classroom situation to get her to follow along. Taylor had some trouble with helping clean up and sitting still in chapel, staying away from the door when carpool was in progress, etc. It will be a huge learning curve for her, but we are praying for her that she will come through this with flying colors. My biggest concerns are her learning style as she hasn't been able to count to 10 successfully (skips around) and knows about 1/2 to 75% of her letters. I'm not sure if this is just from her not being in a routine school setting or if there might be a learning disability going on. I can't get her to recite her bible memory verse either without much coercion. It may just be a learning curve of adjustment to school for her and then she will fall into the hang of things or there may be an underlying situation that we will have to get her some help for. Time will tell. She does seem to enjoy school overall and got out of the car without tears or refusal to get out (as well dealt with with Joshua the first 6 weeks of school in K4). Big praise for Taylor...NO potty accidents this week at school! Yea! One huge blessing at the end of this week. Joshua came through school this week with flying colors...his teacher is singing huge praises about him and wrote that he is a good, sweet boy:) Makes his mommy proud:) Great job, kiddos! We know that you both will be successful in life with the dependence on your Lord, Jesus Christ and know that you are being prayed for throughout your life journey!

First Day of School

The first day of school has arrived! Joshua and Taylor were both excited to go and decked out in khaki shorts and blue shirt for Joshua and yellow shirt and plaid skort for Taylor! We took pre-school pictures and then took off for school. I walked Joshua to his class first and he settled in immediately. Mrs VanAmeringen has a huge heart and he is in great hands! Next, I walked Taylor to her class with Mrs Helms. Mrs Helms is new to the school this year and has a huge personality and tender heart. She is very welcoming and Doug and I both liked her from the moment we met her. Taylor walked into her classroom and was OK until I began to leave and then the tears came. She did not want me to leave and wanted to go home with me. Of course, I felt horrible, but I knew that she would be OK once she got accustomed to the situation. She did OK, but missed her mommy per conversation from Mrs. Garrett. Taylor wanted to wear a belt to school just like Joshua so she got a purple one and put it around her waist which I ended up liking the idea (even though is was against uniform) so that it would help hold up her skort which was a bit big on her. I don't remember the skort being so big when we tried it on, but it is a size 4 which is as small as they come. She ended up losing the belt on the playground and her skort fell down at school so that had to roll it down on the waist to help keep it up. Poor thing! First day of school and she loses her skort! I guess that she was quite embarrassed so mommy needs to do some surgery on the skort to make it fit better...I found out later that this happened to many K4 kids with either shorts of skorts! When she got home from school I gave her a stuffed animal kitty as a special gift for the first day of school and gave Joshua a stuffed dog. He had a great first day and really likes his teacher! One day down!

Down under the deep blue

Joshua has discovered the world of diving under the water! He took huge strides today in the pool. First diving down to touch the bottom of the pool, then diving down to get his dive sticks, then holding his breath underwater, then swimming face down in the water to me about halfway down the short length of the pool. Way to go, Joshua!!

Taylor is on her way, too. Enjoying swimming with swim wings or a flotation device on her back. She's on her way!!

Melting Mommy's Heart

Taylor and Joshua are trying to sleep in Joshua's room tonight, with the TV from the kitchen and a DVD player. We're hoping that they can make it through the night sleeping b/c they have both been sleeping downstairs lately (Taylor for months and Joshua for the past week). He didn't want to be the only one sleeping upstairs. Doug said a nighttime prayer for them and then right before I closed the door, I said "Love you" and Taylor replied, "I love you, Mommy". This is the FIRST time she has ever said this to me! As I shut the door, I about cried. Doug realized the moment, too. I have wanted to hear those words from her for a long time, and she finally said them tonight!!! I LOVE YOU, TOO, Taylor!! Thank you for your sweet little miracle tonight!

4th of July Weekend in Charlotte

We headed to Angela and Doug's for the 4th weekend to spend some time with them as it's rare that they have a three day weekend away from work. The kids had a blast playing together...Joshua and Daniel were inseparable, Taylor and Lindsay played well together most of the time (with only a few instances where they wanted one or the other's toys), and Ashley is growing up and mainly watched the kids play or she would wander off to do her own thing. She changes each time we see her. Last time she was reserved and quiet, and this visit she was engaging and warm and smiled at the kids funny antics during the weekend. We went to the Reed Gold Mine near Charlotte on Saturday and went through a small museum and then a self guided tour through the old mine. The kids then got to pan for some gold. Joshua and Daniel both found a tiny piece of gold in their pans, but Ashley didn't find any this time. Both boys were very excited to find their tiny treasure. On Sunday, we went to their church and then went to the mall for lunch and shopping/playtime for the kids. I got Taylor and Lindsay matching flower bags with a little flower that snaps on them and they were ready cute strutting through the mall with their bags over their shoulders. Monday was the big day and we spent the earlier part of the day preparing food for the lake party and just having some down time. Doug and Angela's church has a party each year at one of their church member's homes on Lake Norman. This will be the last year, though, because he is trying to sell his home. It was just finishing up raining from a pretty strong storm that had blown through as we arrived. We had a pot luck dinner and then the kids were anxious to get into the water. Once the thunder subsided, the boys took turns using the paddle boat and Taylor and Lindsay got into a double seated inner tube as Doug pulled them around in the water. Doug, Taylor and I took a ride on a pontoon boat as Joshua went with Daniel and Uncle Doug on the speed boat for a ride. We played chicken a couple of times on the water and had a "fake" boat race with the speed boat zooming past us and the kids grinning ear to ear. Angela, Ashley, and Lindsay were on the pontoon boat with us and we had a nice time taking a tour of the lake and having a tour guide telling us about some of the homes, etc on the lake. Taylor LOVED the ride and when we got back, Glen (the home owner) asked us if we wanted a speed boat ride next. Of course, we couldn't not turn down this offer and so we all jumped into the boat and Taylor headed straight for the front of the boat to grab a seat...our little adventure seeker! She, Ashley and I sat in the front and felt the wind rushing past us as we sped around the lake once more. Taylor was having the time of her life in this boat! No fear...During this time, Joshua was busy playing in the water and on the paddle boat with Daniel. When it got dark, we watched a spectacular fireworks show from some of the homeowners near the party. We sat on the peer and watched. We were amazed at the amount of fireworks these people had invested and it was literally as good as any city fireworks production. After awhile, Taylor decided that she wasn't crazy about being out there in the dark and so we went inside until it was time to go at 10pm. Lindsay was already inside as she does not like the loud booming coming from the lake...just like her mom was at her age! The kids managed to stay awake (Daniel rode with us) as they were munching on food for half the ride home and watching a movie. Taylor zonked out first, then Joshua and Daniel stayed awake the entire ride! This was definitely one of my favorite 4th of Julys and wish we could do it again next year!!