Kayda's 8th birthday! And Thanksgiving.

Thursday was both Thanksgiving and Kayda's birthday.  It happens every now and again but she certainly doesn't seem to mind.  She wanted pumpkin pie, cupcakes and she wanted to MAKE an apple pie.  We had thought about going to have Thanksgiving with Uncle Justin, Aunt Ayana and Grandma and Papa G but Mommy's surgery recovery would not allow it.  So we decided to join in the big Thanksgiving dinner with Grandma and Papa H.  There ended up being quite a crew there (over 30 people) and Kayda was very excited to see one of her other "girl cousins" (Kimber).  

 We started out the day frosting her cupcakes.  Dillon and Kayda frosted all but one of them (there was an odd number) and put the sprinkles on.  They had a great time!

 Then it was time to make the pie.  They each got to take a turn cutting in the shortening and rolling the dough.

 We took a break before we did the filling.  Daddy had gotten home from football so we let Kayda unwrap her presents.

 This lovely contraption is why she wanted to MAKE an apple pie.  It peels, slices and cores the apples.  The kids were fascinated.

 Of course we had to bring fruit salad.  Daddy is very particular and after one year with a different style fruit salad someone else provided we are forever committed to bringing it.  Carson and Kayda both helped slice up the fruit.  Carson especially enjoyed slicing bananas.

 Go Daddy!

 At Grandma and Papa H's house we sang her happy birthday.   By the way the dress that Kayda is wearing was made by Grandma H out of one of her old formal dresses.  Kayda loves it. 

Happy birthday my sweet beautiful girl!  She is SO excited for her baptism on Saturday!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  Today was a fun day!  Dillon and Kayda both had parties in their classes, Carson and I made orange and green cupcakes.  We carved more pumpkins (from the field trip) and did some little crafts.  Carson is a soldier, Dillon is a cowboy (he was a ninja earlier in the day), Kayda is Elsa as expected.  

 We both went as cowboys, quick and easy!

Carving Pumpkins!!!

The kids have been home sick with me the last two days but it seems like they're starting to feel better so off to school tomorrow.  We have yet to make time for pumpkin carving so we finally got it done tonight!  This, of course, is always a favorite activity for the kids.  Kayda's first halloween she was almost one and she LOVED the gooey mess.  She dug right in and splattered it all over our kitchen. She turned her white onesie orange with all her enthusiasm.  The two boys... they have never enjoyed the guts and still don't.  Dillon was willing to try scooping out the pumpkin guts this year but quickly asked me to take over.  Carson didn't even want to try reaching into the pumpkin.  He just happily held his spoon.

For Carson I followed the same routine I used to for Kayda and Dillon.  I drew different eyes, noses and mouths from which Carson chose his pumpkin.  Then I did everything else for him.  Though he did get a hold of a little knife and enjoyed stabbing the side of his pumpkin after it was all carved.  

Kayda worked VERY hard to do everything herself for the first time.  She drew on the face she wanted, cut the top, made a valiant effort to get the goo out (I had to help some in the end) and then carved it all herself!

Dillon was able to do more than last year!  He cut the top, made me deal with the guts, then carved the eyes before getting frustrated and asking me to finish the mouth and nose.  He did got back after watching Daddy do his pumpkin to add some "finishing details".

 Carson's pumpkin!\

 Dillon's pumpkin! (It was spying on Kayda's pumpkin)

 Kayda's pumpkin! (Her pumpkin is sneaking up on Daddy's pumpkin)

I chose to have three little pumpkins instead of one big one this year.  The three little ones running from Peter Pumpkin, pumpkin eater are mine (the little white one actually has bites chomped out of it already).  Peter Pumpkin is Daddy's.  Every now and again we have fun coordinating our carvings.  It was a great time, creating a great mess and we look forward to doing it again next year!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Today we got to participate in one of our favorite events: Parent-teacher conferences.

KAYDA

Grade: 2

Teacher: Mrs. R

As always Kayda's teacher had nothing but good things to say about her.  Kayda is an amazing student!  She is doing outstanding in math, she is constantly getting 100% on her tests.  In reading she is off the charts!  In her dibels oral reading fluency she read 142 words with 3 errors making her score 139.  Her teacher told us that most students score around 80 at this time of year.  She is doing so well that most of her goals are related to listening to other students, reading to them and talking about the books.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  On one hand, that isn't learning specifically related to her advancement, on the other I know for a face that teaching is the best way to REALLY learn and understand.  Kayda has exceptional writing skills, many students are still learning to write answers in complete sentences;  Kayda has NO issue with that.  Her teacher told us that she has excellent penmanship and voice in her writing!  During prompted writing times Kayda frequently laughs to herself as she writes her stories.  

   Kayda worked with Dillon's teacher some last year for advanced reading and Dillon's teacher also wanted to tell us how gifted Kayda is.  Kayda is currently participating in a program to help stop bullying and is also a reading mentor for some kindergartners.

DILLON

Grade: 1

Teacher: Mrs. S

Dillon's teacher is very impressed with him!  He is reading and writing well.  He is right where he should be.  She is encouraging us to have him read more non-fiction because she thinks it would take him to a whole other level of reading.  He does a great job writing and is working hard at sounding out words.  In his math testing he is in the 84 percentile, meaning 84% of students received lower scores, 16% received higher.  She is encouraging him to share his thoughts about how to work problems more.  He is very good at writing a short story and drawing an appropriate illustration for it.  She is impressed with his ability to work independently and is excited to watch his continued growth.  He knows 45 sight words, the normal fall result is 25.  The goal for the end of the year will be 75 words.  She provided us with a second grade list of sight words expressing confidence that he will master the first grade list quickly.  

Mrs. S has had frequent interactions with both of our children that are in school.  She specifically told us that we have WONDERFUL children and shared how much she has enjoyed BOTH of them.  

As always we LOVE to hear about our children.  Being the math nerd that I am I would love to have more facts and figures, also knowing where they are compared to other children in their grades.  Neither teacher had any concerns regarding their abilities and simply told us to keep doing whatever it is that we're doing.  I'm happy to have proof that I didn't do any damage to my children's education by attempting home schooling for the end of last year!!!

  

CARSON

Grade: Pre-k

Teacher: N/A

We recently took Carson in for the child find event at school.  This is where they do general testing for children 3 years to kindergarten.  I had concerns about Carson's speech just like I had concerns for Kayda and Dillon.  They've decided to do further evaluation for his speech.  If he gets speech services there is also the possibility that he will get into the preschool.  Since he may be going off to preschool anytime after evaluation we've decided it's time for potty training!  Let me outline our past experiences:  Kayda- would potty train for a week, do really well and then get bored with it.  We did that twice over a few months.  It took Grandma G telling her she couldn't spend the night unless Kayda was wearing underwear for her to decide to do it.  This was when she was 3 years and 4 months old.  Dillon- We HAD to potty train him by a certain time due to an expected baby and preschool starting.  It was over a month of accidents and cleaning, forcing him to be in underwear until he finally decided he would do it full time.  Now Carson.  This little man is amazing me!  The first day was accidents galore.  The second day I had dum dums and smarties to give him if he went in the toilet (brother and sister get candy if they are in helping him) he had two accidents.  Today (day 3) he has had no accidents.  Even with us having volunteering in Kayda's class and parent-teacher conferences.  He has had NO problem today.  This is the best potty training experience EVER! Anyways on to more about what he knows.  Carson knows the colors blue, green, red, yellow, orange, black, and white.  He still gets mixed up between pink and purple.  He know circles, squares and triangles and can sort them by shape, size and color.  He can count to 9 before he starts jumping up into the teens.  He can easily follow multi-step directions and understands EVERYTHING you tell him.  He is my first "why" child and is constantly asking it.  He can cut out a dinosaur and along lines.  He can copy basic shapes by drawing them.  He can throw a ball accurately, stand on one foot, pedal a bike and stack blocks to copy what someone else makes.  (Many of the above are things they tested at the child find). 

WE HAVE AMAZING CHILDREN!

Pumpkin Fest!

Our lovely little city has a Pumpkin Fest every year.  We made the shirts that we wore to the pumpkin patch specifically for the Fest!  It didn't escape my notice that we have five people in our family and after hearing the "Five Little Pumpkins" poem for the last three years we decided to do a snapshot poem.

 Five little pumpkins sitting on the gate.

 The first one said "Oh my it's getting late!"

 The second one said "There is frost in the air."

 The third one said "But we don't care!"

 The fourth one said "Lets run and run and run."

 The fifth on said "I really need some fun."

 Oooo went the wind. 

 Out went the light.

 Then the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

 At Pumpkin Fest!!!

 These "scarecrows" were all around.  They would sit as still as they could in random places.

 Ready for the parade!  

Kayda won a prize for her age group.  Dillon didn't.  He was really upset so I was carrying him to the car.  The pirates came and cheered him up by giving him some "treasure".  The kids had a great time!  Next year I think I want us all to be scarecrows because that just looks like fun!