The One Where There Are a Bazillion Pictures Because I Haven’t Posted in Months.

Life is fast and furious!

The last time I posted, I had to sum up the summer.

Now I have to sum up the beginning of the school year.

It’s November for Pete’s sake!!

GAH.

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We’ve been busy in school!

Frack is in first grade and Frick is in second.

I love the reflectors doing their job and doing it well with the flash of my camera.

These boys are at my school with me and I LOVE having them there.

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We’ve been busy taking naps in the car because someone wants to begin giving it up.

Sorry, but Mom ain’t having it, Frog.

However we did give up the beloved paci on October 29.

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We’ve been busy losing teeth!!

Frack is missing two and Frick is missing 4.

We keep the Tooth Fairy in business around here.

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Halloween was bittersweet.

Frick was sick with a 103 degree fever, caused by strep throat.  He unfortunately was not feeling up to trick or treating.

We did get a pose from him as Pajama Man with the rest of the family, as he was coasting on his Motrin high.

And his Mom is a rockstar because she filled his bucket to the brim with candy for her him.

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Frog turned three on November 5th.  Three.

GAH.

Doesn’t it seem like he was just born?!

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We’ve spent some time at Clemson watching our beloved Tigers play.

Each time Frog sees the Tigers on TV or in a book he says,

“Ooooo!!  We went there!  Wet’s go back!!”

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The Posse went with me to vote.

These are their intimidation faces:

Ha.

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And today is Frick’s 8th birthday!

He started off the day on the school’s news program with a Birthday Book we bought for him through the school library.

What  a post!

Hopefully, it won’t be three months before I update again.

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Teacher Gifts

The first day of school is nerve-wracking for everyone, including teachers.

Thanks to Pinterest, I found the cutest “welcome back” gift for Frick and Frack’s teachers, to help ease them into the new school year.  This was the photo I repinned:

Image via lisastorms.typepad.com

Click the photo to see how the  straw flags can be made.  The message on the little flags is more for Teacher Appreciation Week.   I tweaked it to fit the first day of school by writing this on one of our “calling cards” used for gift giving:

Here’s to quenching my thirst for knowledge!

I found the tervis cups at WalMart for $5.

I filled them with Crystal Light packets that were BOGO at Publix.

Here is how my cups turned out:

Back to School

Image from onecharmingparty.com

As I prepare my own children for their first days of school, I prepare myself for the new year as well.

Will I like my class?

How will I get to know each student?

Will I be able to challenge each one?

Will they like me?

But the most important question for myself is this:

Will I be able to instill a love of learning in my students?

You see, preschool is a springboard into the major grades.  If I can’t foster a love of learning, then I haven’t done my job.  Are the ABCs and 123s important?  Of course.  But these little ones are like the seeds planted in the ground.  They must be cultivated and bathed in sunshine.  My sunshine.

That’s why I high five them, tell them they are fabulous, and encourage them to do more.

That’s why I really get into reading aloud to my students.  They need to know how fun reading can be.  Even though these little ones are barely reading themselves, I want them to be excited to hear the stories I read.

Teaching is a challenge, but I was meant to do it.

My prayer is that my love for learning and children shows to my students and their parents.

Related articles

• Matt Damon’s Speech to Teachers’ Rally (oldschoolteach.wordpress.com)
• Man Damon Takes Part In The “Save Our Schools” March (socialitelife.com)
• Damon protests with teachers in Washington (hollywood.com)

Please Pass the Tissues

We’ve been preparing Frick for first grade, which he starts on the 15th.

• Registering
• Purchasing the school Tshirt that had to be worn for two days after picking it up
• Gathering school supplies for weeks now to avoid fighting crowds during the tax free weekend (bleck–not my idea of fun)
• Obtaining a new “first grade” backpack–sans characters.  “You know, I AM in first grade now, Mom.”  

He is ready.

Most parents are also ready for the start of school.

I always thought one day I would be like this dad:

But I’m not.

This morning Frick sweetly said,

“I sure am going to miss you when I’m in first grade, Mom.”

I’ll miss you, too, buddy.

sniff sniff

I do love that Staples commercial, though.

My New Favorites

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My iPhone has several apps I have downloaded and most of them were free.

I found one that has captivated me beyond others.

The BigOven app has recipes and a place to make a shopping list.

But by far, the best feature is called

“Get Ideas to Use Up Leftovers”.

I spent 45 minutes in my pantry the other day just typing in things I had on hand.

I clicked search and poof!  A list of recipes appeared at my fingertips.

Ahhhhhh

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Pinterest.

According to the about page, Pinterest allows you to catalog all the things you love and browse other people’s favorites.  A virtual pinboard, if you will.  I have already found a lot of ideas for teacher gifts (school is just around the corner), decorating, recipes, and so much more.

I’m still learning about pinning something, but don’t be surprised if my pins wind up here.

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I love how technology adds verbs to our language.  Words like Facebook, Google, pin, text, and email have invaded our language.

Just a random thought.

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Frog fell asleep in my lap today.  We were watching the big boys play and he simply fell asleep.

Precious.

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I heart The King’s Speech and Colin Firth.

Mr. Firth is certainly not a new favorite of mine (Love, Actually is where my crush began), but I certainly like him even more now.

Have a great weekend!

Related articles

• Uh Oh. I Found Pinterest. (fisilis.wordpress.com)
• Tinkering With Pinterest (tinkeringbelle.wordpress.com)

Frack’s Favs

Frack completed this at school with the help of his teachers:

I had a good chuckle reading this sheet.  Here’s the 411 on his answers:

1.  He does love playing pirates at school AND at home.  In fact, his ARGHs, screams, and cries of “booty” (not always the treasure kind) make for interesting afternoons.

2.  Frack has been battling scratchy eyes ever since sand landed in them one afternoon at recess.  If he is having a bad day, it’s because he has sand in his eyes.  If he screamed in the house, it’s because he has sand in his eyes.  If he hits his brother…you guessed it…that darn sand.

3.  This boy loves the color gween.  Not a typo…green is gween in the world of Frack.

4.  I can’t go wrong on Mac and cheese night.

5.  Am I suprised his favorite animal is a dragon?

Not so much.

(photo from Oct. 2007)

6.  ”If I had a million dollars I would buy….”

Frack said “custom motors for me and Frick.”

These boys are fascinated with cars (thanks, BP).

Cars the Movie, classic cars, regular cars, Hot Wheels cars, car cars.

What I love the most about this answer is his wanting to share with Frick.  I hope they continue to be friends through the years.

Frack’s First Day

The first days of school continue here at …life’s about a dream.

Frack had his first day of 4K on Monday.

He loved it.

He was so excited to finally get to be “in Frick’s class”.  Technically Frick was in this class last year, but I wasn’t going to burst his bubble.

Frack has much zest for life, often so full of energy.  We are working on channeling that energy.

According to his teachers, he has been calm.

Until school ends.

Then he is quite literally bouncing off the walls much like the little block that bounces around on the Atari game “Super Break Out“.

I just aged myself.

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First Day of School, 2009

First Day of School

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Frick began his first day of 5K today.

sniff.  sniff.

He walked in with such confidence and had a marvelous day.

He said he was so excited about 5K and “can’t wait to go back to really learn more.”

I went through his homework folder and read what was to be completed tonight.

Just before our mandatory rest time (i.e. Mom-needs-to-do-her-lesson-plans-in-peace-time), I asked him if he was ready to do his homework.

He retorts:

“Uh…no, Mom.  It’s not night.  I’m supposed to do it tonight.”

Touche.

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A message to Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy:

Please buy me a new camera.  K?

Thanks.

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5K Open House

Our little preschool’s 5K Open House was tonight.

I simply cannot believe that Frick is a kindergartner.

The only thing that will stop my tears on Monday is the fact that I will have my own classroom to set up.

But even then I think they may flow.

What was it that excited my little student the most?

His own personal bucket provided by the school.

With his things.

The things that are just waiting to be used.

crayons

scissors (that just so happen to be orange!   Go Tigers!)

colored pencils

a writing journal

a workbook

2 big pencils

an eraser

and….

wait for it…

A PENCIL SHARPENER!!

Oh the joy!!

All About Mom

Frack’s teachers included this fill-in-the-blank sheet with his Mother’s Day gift:

My thoughts:

**Ahhh, if only I were still 5.  No worries, no strife….

**hmmmm.  I don’t think I have gray hair.  Being a chemically dependent blonde prevents knowing.

**I have brown eyes.

**Pink is ok, but I prefer red.

**I do like some salad!

**This boy is wise beyond his years!  I hope he knows I love him because I chose to work at his school, taking a HUGE pay cut so I could be with him (and his brothers).  Leaving the public school and going work at this preschool was the best decision I ever made.

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Frick’s teachers had him complete the same paper (he did this last year, too):

My thoughts:

**Close, but no cigar…I will be 34 in June.

**Blonde….check!

**Brown eyes…check!

**Favorite color is red….check!

**Isn’t it interesting the both boys told their teachers that I like salad?  I have been eating a lot of it lately….

**Well DUH!!  I am so glad these boys are in my family.