It's About Time!

I can't miss the opportunity to post about Zac's latest achievement since the main point of this blog is to document our lives, or as my sister-in-law puts it, a virtual baby book.

Some background- Zac's track record at Condit Elementary hasn't been that great. In Kindergarten he visited the principal a couple of times and then again at the beginning of first grade. I love Condit, but honestly they are extremely strict. I promise that I am not excusing his behavior but let me give you one example. After lunch he took a spork from the cafeteria out recess and was using it as a sling shot with some friends. I know! Totally creative! ;) Then the kicker was that it was "all his idea." I know! He's a leader! Anyway, his report cards were glowing except for the citizenship category and he missed a Popsicle party because he had 2 tickets and only kids with 1 ticket or less got to go. The worst was when he told me that he just wasn't one of those kids who gets awards. UGH! So you can imagine my surprise and utter delight when we received a letter from Condit letting us know that our son was selected to receive the "Soaring Condor Award" that means he has gone above and beyond in both citizenship as well as academics. On top of that his teacher has been raving about his change in behavior and we received a stunning report card. Relief as well as pride are only two of the ways I feel about this! Way to go Zac!

Cheating

I have been in a such a funk since Mark, Susan, Andrew, and Thomas left. We had such a great visit and when reality hit Thursday morning I wasn't quite prepared. I think today the light is beginning to shine again. I'm sure my husband and all near me will be grateful! When we went to my parent's house last night for dinner, Luke walked back to the bedrooms (that are cleaned of all Henderson visit evidence) putting out his hands, palms up, as if to ask, "Where'd they go?"

Yes I am feeling less crummy but, I am still going to cheat and provide a link to the best recap of our time spent together. I will add that I am so touched by the immediate connection my kids have with Andrew and Thomas every time we see them. It broke my heart to see Zac cry upon saying good bye. Claire is just wondering when we are going to move to Kansas and have a house with stairs. Oh and she wants to see the dog that licks a lot! Maybe someday, although Andrew told us we really shouldn't move to Kansas because there is "way more to do in California!"



Griffith Park is still way fun when it's closed!

Can't Wait

I am skipping ahead here but this is too good not to share immediately. Mark, Susan, Andrew, and Thomas are here. The fun has begun!

Free Entertainment

Ours neighbors across the street are adding on to their house. We are on week two of construction with the street lined with trucks and lots of workers milling around, not to mention the Porto potty in the front yard that Zac finds quite amusing. Rather than a nuisance, this has worked in our favor. It has provided my children with hours of free entertainment.


I finally got sick of standing in the doorway with Luke when the front loader was digging and dumping and thought I should just get him a chair. He sat there for at least 30 minutes.




Here they are today before school watching Claire's favorite choice of truck, the mixer.

My only irritation to this is that Luke now periodically goes to the front door with a toy truck in hand crying "Out!" All. Day.

But I do feel this is better than what he has been trying to bring in the house lately.

Funny

For two weeks we are studying penguins in my first grade classroom. On Friday I had a few minutes before the kids went home so I thought it would be great to show them some of the movie The March of the Penguins. (If you haven't seen it, you should. Although admittedly I only made it to the part where the father's are huddled together freezing. Sometimes nature can be a bit too hard for me to handle.) My kids are gathered on the carpet mesmerized. We got to the part where the march begins and you see hundreds of penguins in a line, waddling on the ice. Then of course they have to show you the one penguin in the back, struggling, that isn't going to make it. I begin to see looks of panic and concern on my students' faces.

Me - That penguin isn't going to make it with the rest of the group. He is going to die.

Girl - Why?

Me - Well it's just like people. Some people live to be very old, and some people don't.

Silence.

A different girl - Just like Michael Jackson.

Silence

Boy - Yeah. Because of those pills.