Homework Overload

I'll be the first to say that having a teaching degree makes me the world's worst critic of teachers and schools. Nothing will ever be perfect enough for my children I suppose. We loved their last school for the most part, and that was one thing that was hard to leave behind. Jamie grew up in that school and I completed my student teaching there along with tons of subbing.

Having only heard wonderful, great, stupendous things about the school here, I was hopeful and optimistic that Jamie and I would only have wonderful, great, and stupendous thoughts about it. Not that the school is "bad", but it is not proving itself to be the vision of perfection that it had been built up to be (at least in the upper elementary). Yea, it is one of the most coveted elementary schools here and has very high state test scores (#5 in the state I believe), but at what expense?

It's been one of those weeks that makes me sit and scratch my head. The kids have been in school for 13 days and this week Micah has been in homework overload (2+ hours each night). I knew homework would pick up a bit this year, but this is crazy! I honestly feel terrible for the kid. Bless Micah's little heart, because he never complains. He just comes home and does whatever needs to be done. I guess Jamie and I are the ones that are complaining (not in front of the kids). I actually contacted the school this week (principal and teacher) about the lack of recess and homework overload. I'm sure it won't help, because I'm merely 1 parent in a school with over 600 students. Yea, I guess I'm going to turn into one of "those" parents. So, my mood about 3rd grade at this school is very much frustrated at this point.

So, I'm very much looking forward to this 3 day weekend!!! Tonight is Movie Night in the Hughes house and we are watching Nim's Island. I think I'm anxious to see it as much as the kids. We are going to eat pizza and watch a movie in our PJ's cuddled up on the couches. What more could I need or want?

The kids have been so proud of their school work that they bring home. Hannah has that kindergarten excitement that is so innocent and precious and Abbi is bringing home some very creative work. Micah made 102% on his spelling test last week and I think he was more proud of that than anything he's done so far.

Here are some work samples from this week:

Micah's hot air balloon. I'm not sure you can see it, but it is very creative and artistic!

Abbi's reading homework where she got compliments from the teacher:

Hannah's family:

and since we can't leave Chloe out....this is what she did at Storytime

Are You Listening?

It has been a few days since I have updated. I had minor surgery on my thumb to remove a cyst on Friday. It has really been more of an inconvenience more than painful. Anesthesia doesn't really agree with me either, so I was a bit draggy this weekend. So for the next few days, Jamie gets sweeping, mopping, dish, and bath duty. He doesn't mind though, and has been a great help (as usual). He was just disappointed that I was not more entertaining as I was coming back to life on Friday. I tend to just be sleepy and dizzy rather than happy and dopey like someone else I know (I won't mention any names...you know who you are).

Hannah learned about being a good listener last week at school.

Micah decided that he was going to make himself a hand puppet and of course, the others soon followed. How cute is this? Who needs expensive toys when you have Mr. Potato Head parts and
doll clothes.

Cha-Cha Slide

My kids like to do the Cha-Cha Slide. In case you don't know what in the world I'm talking about, you can check out this YouTube video.



It is something they would do in P.E. class at their old school. So, we listened to it the other night as they danced around the living room. It was funny to watch and it is times like these that I wish I could just keep them little forever! Someday, it will be totally uncool to dance around the living room in pajamas.


Until then, I will enjoy my kids being kids. I will laugh with them, take too many pictures, tuck them in at night, give them a lot of hugs and kisses, call them silly pet names, let them sit in my lap, kiss their boo-boo's, help them with their homework, read to them, comfort them in the middle of the night when they have a bad dream, and just try to enjoy them being around.

Storytime with Chloe!

I had planned to start taking Chloe to Storytime at the Library when school started. School is officially in full swing this week, so we all headed to the library. She had a ball! They sang little songs that got them up and moving, listened to a few stories, did a craft, and then played around the room. She smiled the whole time! She's been feeling a little left out since she is left alone, so this will give her something that is like "school" and to be around other children her age.

She was playing outside the class waiting for it to start:

Singing some songs:

Drawing a picture during craftime:

Making music:

Making her name on the magnet board:


I think we will make this a weekly habit or maybe even more than once a week. She didn't even want to leave. She chose a book to check out, but still grumbled a bit and we had to pull her away from the activities (we were about the last to leave).

The Motorcycle and a Sneaky Child

Micah got this really cool Power Wheels for his 3rd birthday from his great-aunt. It got used a little at the beginning, but we didn't really have a place to store it and over time, it sort of got forgotten. My in-laws had it in their garage, and when I went back to visit last month, it occurred to me that the kids could really enjoy it now that we have a good place to ride and store it. So, they brought it up a couple of weeks ago when they came and got the kids. They are all thrilled! We have to take turns riding it and the neighbor kids come over when they see that we have it out. It think it has been ridden in the past couple of weeks more than all the other times combined. I think that they will be enjoying this for many years to come.


And, for the sneaky child story:
Last night I had fixed dinner and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. We had told them that they had to eat a little bit of dinner before they got a cookie. Micah loved it and even got seconds, Hannah and Chloe ate a good sized portion, but Abbi sat there and refused to eat. We told her that it was her choice whether she ate or not, but she would not get a cookie if she didn't. So, she sat at the table and squawled and bawled as all the other kids had finished their cookie and gotten up from the table.

I sat at the table with her as she sat and pondered whether or not to eat. At one point, she asked for a napkin, and I handed her one. I watched her as she had her fork loaded. She put the fork up to her mouth, then acted like she was going to wipe her mouth at the same time. I wasn't born yesterday and could tell that she was going to put the contents of the fork into the napkin and then act like she had eaten it! I couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Even though it was sneaky and wrong, it was hilarious at the same time! Of course, I had to call her onto what I had witnessed, which then ensued a major meltdown, but we handled it and life goes on.

First Day of School (almost tear-free)!

The kids got up all excited this morning about the first day of school! We all took them and walked them into their classrooms. Micah went into the class and hardly looked back. Knowing him, he is already in trouble for talking, because he doesn't meet many strangers. Abbi walked into the class with her head down. She was excited, but I think she was being a bit shy. Hannah was all smiles as she went to class. She has been ready to start "big" school for years and it was finally her moment.

Even Jamie and I made it through with no tears, although I did feel the lump coming on (Jamie said he did the same thing). It is hard leaving your babies behind at a new place. Even if you know the new place is excellent and they will love it! We all have the unfamiliar this year, not just the kids. The other school was old stomping grounds of Jamie's and the school that I did my student teaching and worked as a sub, so we knew the ropes, many of the teachers, and the "good" and the "bad". Right now we are all in the same boat, and it can be a bit scary.


Before we left home:

My 3rd grader looking all handsome:

My 1st grader in her new blue dress:

My Kindergartener who couldn't wait for today:


And here is the reason that the day was 'almost tear-free'. Poor Chloe didn't understand why she couldn't go to "class" like the rest of them. She was fine until we got outside the door, then she protested. I figured that this year would be harder on her. She is older and Hannah will be gone all day instead of a few hours. I'm sure she and I will have some special time together though.

Finally we appeased her with her own "class"

Denisha and Trevor are Hitched!

We spent the weekend laughing, crying, and celebrating with family and friends. It was truly a joyful weekend. We are exhausted, but it was worth it! The wedding and reception went perfectly and was very beautiful (even the weather was unseasonably cool for August). I know that Nisha and Trevor and those of us that were a part of their day, will look back with fond memories. What a sweet sweet time in their life!!

I was so proud of my kids this weekend. I know they were tired from not being at home, but they were on their best behavior. Chloe was a bit contrary on Saturday, and we had to just go with the flow. She ended up not being an official flower girl(or being in a few pictures), because she fell dead asleep about an hour before the ceremony. Oh well! She's 2 and she was just happy to be a 'princess' for a day.

My kids looked adorable and my husband so handsome! I can't help, but think that I'm a very blessed lady!


The night before the big day! Gotta get that hair looking special!

My handsome little man with his "fake" smile.

My big girls.

My littlest princess.


Jamie and I with Micah being the photographer.

My family.

Chloe right before, during, and after the ceremony. She didn't know what she had missed.

The lovely bride.

My mom dancing with the kids.

And the grand finale........the mother of the bride AKA my sister dancing to an old high school favorite. LOL!

The Pink Hands

This has been a pretty uninteresting week so far. So, I apologize for the lack of photos of my family, but I'm sure it'll be picture overload after the wedding. Chloe ran a fever from Sunday afternoon through Monday. She acted totally fine, so I'm not really sure what the issue was, but her fever got up over 103 at one point, so something was going on with her. Tuesday and Wednesday I made mints for the wedding. I've made 580 mints with only 2 molds! That is all Hobby Lobby had. I also realized that in my hastiness yesterday, that I had left the "mint" out of a couple of batches. Oops! Oh well...white chocolate is still good!

Her wedding color is "watermelon" AKA "hot pink" so I made a few shades of pink mints, with some being "watermelon" in color. Who needs to worry about a manicure when you can just dye your hands the color of the dress!

The results of my labor!

Today, I'll be packing for the big event and tonight is the Back to School Celebration (although mommy isn't "celebrating" too much). Tomorrow, I'm going to be on my sister's doorstep bright and early so that I can help them with anything that needs to be done. Then Saturday is the big day!

On a sidenote: My grandmother used to make mints for weddings and other events (and sometimes just for us to snack on). She made the homemade kind out of cream cheese and I can remember what they looked like and smelled like. When I was pouring the mint extract into my melty chocolate, it took me right back to her. I've thought about her a lot since we moved for a variety of reasons. It is kind of funny the things that will take you back in your mind.

Back to School and Big Family Wedding

This is a busy week for us! Thursday evening is the Back to School celebration. The first day of school is looming in the near future on the 13th. Can I just tell you how much I dread this transition? Not only will Hannah begin Kindergarten, and that is always hard on us mommies, but they will all be in a new school system in a new city. I will feel like all 3 of them are starting kindergarten this year! Thursday evening, we will get to pay dues, buy school supplies (yay for buying them in bundles at the school instead of fighting the Wal-Mart crowd and being confused), meet the teachers and all that important stuff.

As soon as we leave the school, we will grab a bite to eat and head to Murray. My niece is getting married on Saturday. SATURDAY! So, right now, I'm elbow deep in making mints in my kitchen, I'm getting ready to take Micah shopping for some black dress shoes, and realizing how quickly time passes.

So, this week will be busy and hectic. One that is spent with family where we will all sleep too little, laugh too much, and make wonderful memories that we will never forget.

We Are Back (For Now!)

Our kids left town on Wednesday evening with Pawpaw and Nana and we left town on Thursday afternoon for a staff retreat with church. We all got back this afternoon and it was good to be home and it was good to have my kids bouncing around me again. We miss them so much when we are away from each other. It just isn't the same. I think they had a great time back "home" and we had a good weekend of devotions, fellowship, and way too much food!

It was our first experience in a Bed and Breakfast. The owners were Christian people and it was good to hear how the Lord had helped them with their new business adventure. They both still held down full time jobs while running the bed and breakfast. I'm really not sure when they slept or had any time for themselves, but it was something that they had always wanted to do. She could cook out of this world and they were both very hospitable and gracious hosts. We enjoyed our stay in their home.

http://www.thenarrowwaybb.com/Default.aspx

Next Saturday at this time, my oldest niece will be a married woman. That is very hard for me to believe! The time has flown by. Not only since the Valentine's day engagement, but the past 21 years. So, we will be trekking back to the hometown Thursday evening. I told her this afternoon to enjoy the next week, because it will fly by and Saturday she will begin that next chapter of her life. Wow!

Oh, and Abbi and I had a little mother-daughter time this afternoon. She took her $5 to Claire's and bought her some new earrings.