Monday, June 29, 2009

Mission Impossible

A few days ago, Jaden started climbing in Caitlyn's crib. In the mornings we'd wake up to the sounds of toddler laughter, which was cute for a while. Eventually, though, Caitlyn would get smooshed in some way from Jaden's acrobatics. So we decided to put an end to it.

It took several days of trial and error because we didn't know how she was getting in. I actually had to rig the video camera to catch her in the act, and discovered that she was basically scaling the side of the crib like Spiderman.

I agonized and labored over a Jaden-proof crib repellant. Finally I came up with this. Yes, Craig helped with the execution, but I want everyone to know that I was the mastermind behind this ingenious idea. Oh, and before you go copying my design, you should know that I'm calling the patent office in the morning.

+ =




Monday, June 22, 2009

Artists

Okay. So, the first thing you need to understand about coloring is that you have to keep the swirly part ON the paper, or Mommy takes it all away.



She's not even looking. Let's color our fingers!



Look, she'll be back, so get busy.



Um. That may be a problem.



Well, get a good grip on the sticks.


Like this?



Yeah. Now scribble around and around.....



That's it? This medium is way overrated.



Good job, Honey!



Yours is better. You didn't even go off the paper at all.




I’ve been around, kid. I know some stuff.


Mmmmmm.



Eating crayons is SO last year.


Don't knock it 'til you try it. Which flavor do you want, lemon or orange?


Ewwwww!!!


I can't believe I fell for that.



What do you know? This IS fun.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Merry Maids

Jaden has developed this fascination about cleaning all the surfaces in the house with damp paper towels or baby wipes. I go along with it...every time. I mean, who wouldn't?

Since Caitlyn decided that she wants to do everything Jaden does, she insists on her own wipes now. Then she follows her sister along and cleans whatever Jaden tells her to.

Here they are cleaning our patio door. They went on to wipe down the coffee table, dishwasher, refrigerator door, and fireplace trim. Nice, huh?

I was just saying the other day how I'd LOVE to hire a housecleaning service. So, I'm thinking if I squeeze out a few more kiddos, I could have my very own home-cleaning crew!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Happy 15 Month-Old Day

I don't know if anyone else would consider this a milestone, but I've been thinking about this all day.

I often refer to Caitlyn as my "baby", and she still feels so much like a baby to me...but I know in my heart she's not.
She is growing up, despite my protests. Today I realized that right now Caitlyn is 15 months old... the same age Jaden was when Caitlyn was born.

Even born 15 months apart though, they still share many similar personality traits. What a pair they make!




Jaden at 15 m. Caitlyn at 15 m.

Thanks

If you're reading this because you clicked here from Facebook after my blog invitation....I just wanted to say a quick thank you. I'm not really into the whole blog promotion thing. I just thought it would be fun to have the feeds on my Facebook page, and then I discovered you actually had to have "readers". So...pseudo-reader, quasi-reader, or true reader...I don't care. Thanks for clicking!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Footprints

I'm a people watcher. I notice things. I analyze things. I enjoy the dynamics of watching human beings interact with each other. And I generally LIKE people. However, the downside to noticing things is that sometimes you see the reality of the way they really ARE, rather than the way you wish they were. It's not always pretty.

Living in Arizona this past year has NOT been a pretty little bubble of happiness and good-will. Especially when it comes to the issue of immigration. Many residents have extremely strong, negative feelings on this issue.

This week, Wal-Mart opened a new store in my city...a Supermercado. It caters to the Hispanic population, and this has really incensed some Phoenicians.

Why? Why does anyone really care if a certain population can shop for the foods and goods they enjoy in their culture? We have Jewish delis, German bakeries, Polish butcher shops...I've never heard anyone complain about those.

But I have heard so many bitter comments, and seen some very despicable actions when it comes to hispanic immigrants. And it all makes me sad to live here among some of the citizens of my country...and my planet for that matter.

Okay, fine. You don't have to share my feelings to be entitled to your own. We are all allowed to feel the way we feel, and feelings are something that can never really be up for debate. But... comments and actions are a different story.

You know how, now that we live in the age of green enlightenment, people are always talking about carbon footprints? As in, what mark (undesirable greenhouse gas emissions) will you leave on this Earth?

Why is there not a term coined to describe the HATE footprints that are left on this Earth? All those poisonous little things a person says and does that cause hostility and rancor among the population. Things that negatively affect us as a human race.

Because, if you really think about it, does it even matter how healthy and beautiful the Earth is if those who inhabit it perpetuate ugliness?

Just something to consider as you pass by a smiling family going into the Supermercado to shop for some fresher papayas and avocados.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Copycat

Caitlyn loves, loves, LOVES her sister Jaden! She watches Jaden's every single move. It's fun to watch Catie and see how her eyes just follow her sister around. She notices everything, and tries SO hard to copy whatever Jaden happens to be doing. She will make the same sing-song sounds, clap her hands the same way, even mirror Jaden's facial expressions. It's got to be one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Language Barrier

Jaden has added a very quirky little ending to her sentences. It really is very strange, and came out of nowhere.

Instead of asking, "Can I have a drink?" She'll ask, "Can I have a drink ah-me?" For the past two days this is all I've heard..."Get my crayon ah-me?" "Where's my shoes ah-me?" "That's my shirt ah-me."

I'm not sure what "ah-me" means, but I think she's saying "of me". I think.

Could this be her Irish blood shining through? Alas, this lil' girl ah-me...'tis a pity there not be a window to peek inta her wee noggin.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Adding It Up

This school year has been a very difficult one for me. I tend to reflect a LOT, so this year my head has been spinning...What else could I have done? What can I try? Who knows a better solution? Why did that happen? What can we do? And on, and on, and on. Sometimes I can't stop thinking.

As I end this year, I am thinking a lot about failures. Failures on my part, mostly. Holding on to the feeling of being beaten is not ME, though. So instead of wallowing in things I wish I'd done better, or differently, I think I should focus on some successes.

Here are some student successes I've been proud of this year. Many of them are not academic, and some might seem like very small achievements. But all of them are a result of being in my classroom this year. I was their teacher; academically, socially, emotionally. I'm proud of these little successes.


* Marisa (who had been so abused she could not focus in 1st or 2nd) learned to read at grade level.
* Richard discovered that, despite his learning disability, he can excel in math.
* Lorena learned to think beyond her own life and to have a global view.
* Ray learned to stand up to bullying, even when he had to stand alone.
* Daniel learned to hold his temper in check long enough to listen to mediation.
* Tiffany learned to prioritize coming to school, and woke herself up when she couldn't rely on mom.
* Micaela learned to not allow boys or society to push her down for being a girl.
* Jennifer learned to say no to mean girls, and to develop healthy friendships.
* Alex learned to think his way through a chapter book.
* Lenny learned to use humor to contribute to class, instead of derailing it.
* Jenny learned how to help others help themselves.
* William learned to not rely on his mom to take care of everything.
* Maria began to listen to her conscience, and stopped stealing.
* Jorge learned to give his best effort, and that it could pay off.
* Martin learned to be smart about being smart.
* Cassandra learned that being smart and getting A's doesn't always mean an easy ride.
* Shilah learned that doing homework helps you learn.
* Brandon learned to go through the entire writing process on his own.
* Jasmine learned to trust her instincts and set goals that are not beneath her.
* Adrianna made 2 years of reading growth.
* Ivan learned to make insightful comments that are relevant.
* Patrick learned to take deep breaths to hold his temper (sometimes) and the value of a sincere apology.
* Becca learned that people who struggle with reading are not always laughed at.
* Anibal learned that getting As feels really good.

And me? What did I learn? I learned that I am an extremely good teacher, I have great ideas and instincts, and my students were better for having been in my class.

I need to learn that my value can not be qualified by numbers and percentages and bar graphs. I'm working on it!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Dedicated for at Least Two More Days

I could be taking a bath, reading, watching TV, playing on Facebook, or sleeping right now. But...I'm not. I'm investing hours on the computer to make my students a yearbook of our class. That's dedication, I tell you!

I will rest in 2 more days. After that cocktail, of course. I can almost see the light.

Monday, June 1, 2009

"Meow"

Overheard in the bathtub...

Jay: You have it Honey, you have it?
Catie: Ah. Ah bah da DA da.
Jay: No, no Honey. Mommy help you.
Catie: Dee dah? Dee bah ba-dah!
Jay: 'Scuuuuuuse me...Daden's turn.
Catie: Bwa da dee doo ba nah? Meow.


Meow??? Where the heck did that come from?