First Day/Last Day

Just for comparison, look at Faith on her first vs last day of kindergarten!  If you click on a picture, it'll take you to a page where you can move back/forth between the two; I can not believe how much she's grown since August!  Look at her shoulders and the rail behind her. . . look at how her baby face is not so baby any longer! 

(You'll notice she's wearing the same outfit - thanks for the great idea, Mackenzie!)

Good News!

Dear Parents,

On April 30th information was sent home regarding the Danville Community School Corporation’s move toward customizing learning for our students. Parents were given the opportunity to apply for a spot in our pilot classrooms for the 2012-13 school year. This letter is to verify that your child has been selected to participate. Although exact placement has yet to be determined, your child will have a grade level homeroom teacher from one of the following teams:

Mrs. Pam Martin (K), Mrs. Krissy Strack (1) and Miss Sarah Crider (2) or Mrs. Elizabeth Whitaker (K), Mrs. Melissa Moline (1) and Mrs. Jordan Wheeler (2).

You will receive final information about which homeroom teacher your child has in early August along with all other back to school information.

All of our teachers are excited about this step toward changing the way we foster learning. We appreciate your interest and enthusiasm, as well as look forward to working closely with you and your child in the upcoming school year.

Sincerely,

Karen Perkins

Faith: Kindergarten Year

If you'll remember, I've been taking pictures of Faith every morning before school.  Faith has absolutely no idea why we are doing this, just that we have never missed a day (once or twice I have forgotten, and she reminds me!)  I'm planning on keeping on with this little tradition we've started for all three kids: first day of kindergarten through high school.  The last picture will be cap and gown, off to graduation.  Year K, kid one, done.

We are actually not quite done with kindergarten yet (two more days!) but Mrs. Harvey has chosen today to celebrate the summer birthdays.  Because it's Faith's "birthday" party at school today, Mrs. Harvey and I decided we'd show Faith's video to the class.  Today she'll learn why we've been taking all these pictures. 

Two days short, here it is:  Kindergarten year. 

UPDATED!  Faith didn't like the "Let Them Be Little" song so I changed that and added the last two pictures.  Enjoy!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Look Who's Swimmimg!!

Hey Grandma!

Last night DJ was in full furor over getting things arranged for the Memorial Day party.  Now, please understand that I HATE HATE HATE this weekend!  OK, that may be too strong of a term.  I DISLIKE DISLIKE DISLIKE this weekend, or more accurately, the week leading up to this weekend.  The party itself is OK.  The week before is too stressful and I have a tendency to drag my feet this week. 

Anyway, DJ was barking orders, do this, get that done, don't make messes. . . one of the orders directed at me was "Plant those flowers."  I was snuggling kids on the pool deck. 

Me:  In a moment.  I'm snuggling Eva. 
DJ:  You snuggle those kids all the time!  Get the flowers planted!
Me:  Yeah, but they know they are loved!  Eva?  Who loves you?
Eva: Mommy and Daddy.
Me:  Yeah. . . . but who loves you the best? 
Eva:  Grandma. 

HAHAHA!!!  Kids!!! 

Later, Faith and Cawood decided they wanted to wear the bags Grandma made them for quiet time before bed.  After a few minutes, Eva thought it'd be a good idea too (Faith and Cawood LOVE the bags, Eva's a little iffy with hers.)  Regardless, I thought I'd get a photo for Grandma to see: 

The Gardens

I need to edit some pictures back into this post to show you how the gardens are coming, but for now I'll just tell you. 

We've been growing plants in the kitchen window for the past 2 months, and I've put many of them in the ground.  All three kids have watched the whole process, and understand that little seeds turn into bigger plants.  They haven't yet seen the very large plants that we'll have by the end of summer but they know that the little 1/4 cm tomato seed is now 2 feet tall. 

I found some little Miracle Gro Greenhouses in the garage that I had bought on clearance last fall and each child was assigned one of them.  Cawood was given eggplant ("YUM!  I love eggs!"  . . . I'll talk with him more about that later.)  Regardless, all three Miracle Gro Greenhouses grew nothing except mold.  Three dollars wasted. 

A couple nights ago Cawood was walking through the gardens asking what was growing where.  I pointed out the strawberries, the carrots, radishes, tomatoes, okra, lettuce, peppers. . . eggplant.

"You put my eggplant in the garden?!?  THANK YOU!!!"  I love eggs!" 

And then yesterday I went out to another part of the yard and started digging the first  of our modified Three Sisters Gardens.  It took me more than three hours to go from the beginnings of sod-lifting to placing the last corn seed in the enriched soil, but Cawood was by my side the whole time.  He's a good helper, that one.  It'll be Cawood's corn. 

We have five 4x4 foot gardens, four, 2 foot round gardens for tomato bushes, and one 4x8 three sisters patch.  We are about 1/3 of the way there, or less, but it'll take me all summer to dig them all out.  That Cawood boy loves helping his momma in the dirt.

Mass Customized Learning

I haven't blogged about this yet, because we don't know if it's going to happen for Faith for first grade or not, but it's something I've been doing a lot of thinking about so I'm just going to blog it.  Then, when we hear word in the next week or two, you'll know what I'm talking about. 

We (the parents of Danville community school children) were told at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year that our kids would be transitioned into a "Mass Customized Learning" program based upon the book:  Inevitable: Mass Customized Learning and we were advised to find a copy of the book and read it.  I ordered from amazon and skimmed it over a few days.  I'm not a teacher, so quite a lot of the jargon didn't mean a whole lot to me, but I got the gist of the book.  We were told this would be happening over "the coming few years."

Eventually, Danville will be transitioning all children to the MCL method of education.  This means that all kids will be evaluated every week or two, in every subject, to determine if they have mastered the skill set they happen to be working on.  The kids who have mastered a subject are moved on to the next, the kids who have not are kept in place until they do so.  Some kids will be shuffled between schools even - second graders at North Elementary who read at a fourth grade level will have to go to South Elementary, and seventh graders ready for Geometry 2 will go to the High School for that class.  Education in Danville will soon have absolutely nothing to do with your age, and everything to do with your abilities. 

Mrs. Harvey pulled me aside on zoo day and said that Faith is now reading at an end-of-first-grade level, or beyond.  She was very kind, and let me know the decision is 100% completely mine and DJ's, but Mrs. Harvey worries about Faith being in a first grade class next year because she's not at a first grade level.   She thinks Faith will be bored and we don't want her to lose interest in school.

I asked her what I needed to do, and she suggested we enroll Faith in the MCL Pilot program.  I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.  Mrs. Harvey explained that each grade will have one Pilot class next year, so that the school system can obtain feedback from parents, kids and teachers before implementing the program district wide the following year.  She told me I should have received an email about it the week prior.  Nope, no email.  I initially thought that I had missed the email because that was the week we were in Jamaica, but several other kindergarten mom's from several teacher's classes said they did not get the email either.  It was not sent to kindergarten parents.

I ran down to the office and filled out the application for Faith immediately (This was May 7.)  Trouble was, the application stated very clearly that it was due by April 30 and no late applications will be considered.  (I found out later that the email was sent on April 30 and applications were due that same day!!)  The receptionists said there was a HUGE response.  Many, many parents have submitted applications for their kids and those turned in first will be given priority.  We probably missed it for Faith. 

If the kindergarten parents didn't get the email, we should be fine, right?  Nobody should have known about the application, right? Nope.  Plenty of kindergartners have older siblings so their parents did know about the program and enrolled them on the 30th.

We should know by the end of this school year if Faith will be in that class.  Mrs. Harvey told me she will try to have Faith placed in that class, she's an ideal student for the program, but who knows what will come of it.  It all depends on how much the principal listens to the teachers.  We'll see, and I'll keep you posted.

Here's an article written about the changes being made:  Danville schools to use new curriculum

Happy Mother's Day . . . To Me!

YAY!  Mother's day is my absolute most favorite day for me (OK, so that means between Mother's day and my birthday, I prefer Mother's day.)

Mother's day is the one day of the year that I get to sleep in (YAY!!) except yesterday Eva woke at six and asked for snuggles. . . Seriously!  How was I supposed to say no to that?!?!  I took her to the couch and started my Mother's day with a three-year-old sweet pea at my side.  While we were snuggling in that dark room, Eva remembered it was my day.  She said, "Happy Birthday Mommy."  Close enough, she's three and she remembered. 

I slept until it was time to go to Church, and then I went alone.  DJ usually stays home with the twins and Faith had a project to work on for me, so I went alone.  I came home to handprints!  Can you see Faith's?  It's kind of a crummy photo but she turned her handprint into an elephant, because I loved the handprint animals at the zoo so much.  How thoughtful! 

(and just so you know what she was trying to do. . . the elephant handprints from the zoo.) 

DJ and the kids spent the entire day at the pool, and I was happy as a clam 20 yards away digging in my gardens.  It's funny/strange how the gardens were so hard on Saturday that I couldn't get hardly anything accomplished, but on Sunday they were spectacular (AND IT DID NOT RAIN!)  I don't know how/why, but I was able to get everything done that I had hoped to accomplish on Saturday when the kids were in Kentucky. 

My first harvest: a handfull of radishes. 

At the end of the day I took a run (and by the way, explain this to me:  I run with GPS.  Every night I run out until my workout tells me I'm half done - It's usually a mile and a half out.  I turn around and run home and GPS tells me I've run 1.75-2 miles. HOW!?!?  That is so frustrating, to see I've gone 2 miles in 25-30 minutes.) 

After the run, I put the twins to bed (Faith was already sleeping) and I went next door to acupuncture a dog.  I came home and DJ said, "Go upstairs and look at your boy."  Not knowing what to expect, I grabbed my camera and went up.  The child had tried to escape from bedtime, but he made it no further than his bedroom door before collapsing. (Why yes, his room is a spectacular mess.)

Silly boy! 

Kids In Kentucky

DJ told me he hasn't been to Kentucky since Christmas and poor guy was starting to feel bad about that.  He thought it would be a good idea to bring the kids down for Mother's Day weekend to see his mom (true.)  I had patients on Saturday and then I was hoping to dig gardens so I chose to stay home while the four of them visited Shelbyville.  He came home Saturday night with a camera full of photos.  Here are some of the best:

Momma Joyce pushing the kids:

Eva, Faith and Cawood: 

Momma Joyce teaching the kids croquet: 

I had my family back home by 11 pm.  We tucked them all in bed and waited for Sunday.

Random Photos And The Zoo

I have three digital cameras now (don't ask) and each of them has random photos from random moments since the week before Jamaica.  Just now, I uploaded all three and am caught up as far as pictures go.  Here's a sampling of what I found.

A photo Nana took of Cawood:

Again, by Nana:

Faith and a few of her softball teammates:

Faith's team:

Monday, I chaperoned Faith's field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo.  Just by lucky chance, I was assigned to Faith and Lily!  I love Lily!  She's a cute kid.

Faith and Lily:

Lily is pointing out the flamingos behind her.

Faith, Lily and McKenna

Half of Faith's class: McKenna, Faith, Lily, Ryan, Isaac, Ian and Andrew

Grandma bought Faith this dress off the clearance rack at Target before Christmas.  Faith said immediately, "I want to wear that to the zoo."  She put it in her closet and hasn't touched it since.

I had forgotten all about it.  Sunday night I asked her what she wanted to wear the following day.  She said, "The pink dress Grandma gave me!" 

McKenna, Faith and Lily

McKenna's Grandma was also a chaperone, but she hadn't been to the zoo for years so she asked if we could all hang out together.  Of course!  The more the merrier.  The girls had fun. 

Homecoming

Saturday morning, as I snuggled Cawood I asked him about the previous week. 

I asked him, "Did you like it when Nana took you to the park?  Or when you ate lunch at Faith's school?  Or when Grandma and Grandpa took you to the softball game?  What was your favorite part of your week with Nana and Papaw, Grandma and Grandpa?"

Cawood answered, "My favorite part was when you came home." 

Indianapolis Mode

OK, three little monkeys!  It's 9:45am (which is 10:45 your time) and I'm typing out my last Jamacian blog.  I'll be home in 12 hours.  12 hours, and we'll be together again. 

This is it!  My full and undivided attention is on returning to central Indiana. 

Jamaica: Day 5

Guess what kiddos?!?!  This time tomorrow we'll all be snuggled up in bed tomorrow and I CAN'T WAIT!!!  I've missed you so. 

Mrs. Rediske, Mrs. Dobrovodsky and I spend the morning at the spa, which was spectacular.  I did not take any pictures, because it wasn't really a picture taking type of place, but I'll tell you they had a pool with 58 degree water that was heaven on my sunburn.  It was SO SO SO cold! But it pulled that burn away. 

This gigantic fish lives outside the dining hall.  He's beautiful, but he's also huge!

The boys went golfing while the girls were at the spa.

Hey Faith!  I went out searching for shells today.  Here's one I won't be bringing home, a little hermit crab was living inside. 

Today was the day Jessy helped us Skype with you.  Eva was curious, but would not talk to us, except to comment that she could see her daddy:

Sweet, sleping Faith.  I missed you.  Soon, sweet thing. 

and Cawood cried when he saw his mommy on screen.  SAD!  I'll be home soon, buddy.  I miss you too.  

Mr. and Mrs. Dobrovodsky

Me and Daddy:

Daddy by the sea:

Mr. and Mrs. Dobrovodsky watch the sun set:

It's been a great trip, but we miss you fierce and are ready to come home to you.  Be good one last day for Grandma and Grandpa, and know we'll be home just after bedtime tomorrow.  Love and hugs!

Jamaica: Day 4

Oh Sweet Children of mine!   I know I'm late to blog tonight.  I'm so sorry, but I do have a few pictures to show you from the past day.  Not many today, but a few. 

Faith, do you remember seeing that video at Christmas of Nana and Papaw climbing the waterfall?  That's what Daddy and I did today, and it was super fun!  Because I was in the water, I couldn't keep my camera with me (I *KNEW*) I should have bought a waterproof camera.  Sigh.  We did buy a video, but it's 30 minutes long so you'll have to wait until we get home to watch it. 

Here we six are on a replica of Christopher Columbus's boat. 

 I was pretending to pick a papaya.

Daddy and me:

 Again, us two. 

I'm starting to count the hours until I return home.  Remember our deal:  Faith and Cawood, go to bed together on Friday night, and I'll join you when I get home.  (Eva, I love you.  I'll sneak a kiss on my way to Cawood's bed.  You can stay in your own room and we'll have special snuggles in the morning.)

I must rush off to dinner.  Be good for Grandma! Kisses! 

Jamaica: Day 3

While we've been away, Nana and Papaw have been watching the homestead in Danville and keeping the kids in line.  Here's a photo she posted on Facebook of Papaw, Cawood and Faith snuggling up during a rainstorm.

Meanwhile, in Jamaica. . .

We had dinner at the Sugar Mill last night.  The story goes: there once was a bad white witch.  She had many slaves and those slaves were forced to beat sugar cane by hand to express its juices.  This was not fast enough, so the white witch made those slaves build a waterwheel to speed the process.  Slavery was then outlawed and the plantation no longer grows sugar cane, but 300 years later the water wheel is still operational.  That old sugar plantation is now the second best restaurant in the Caribbean (don't ask which is the first - they were unable or unwilling to answer that question)

I've had so much fish down here that I decided I'd go for some beef.  YUM! 

Guess what the trouble was?  I couldn't really enjoy it.  This Jamacian sun is different than US sun.  I'm sure its similar to St. Kitt's sun, but I've long since forgotten about St. Kitts sun.  Anyway, I was a little pink after my hour or two at the pool yesterday and by dinnertime I was RED!!  Sun poisoning. I've never been sunburned on my backside before but it's a whole lot worse than the front side.  You don't sit on your frontside.   Bummer.  I was miserable during dinner and I'm afraid I wasn't much of a companion.  I just sat quietly and let everyone else do the talking.  The meal was great, but I wasn't able to finish - I just felt ill. 

 The six of us:

Mrs. Rediske loves these water pillows.  I haven't yet lounged on one (truthfully, it creeps me out a little . . . all those hundreds of people before me sweating.  YUCK!)  

This afternoon five of us went shopping.  Daddy decided to stay at the hotel and take a nap.  I tried Sweet Eva, but I wasn't able to find a purple dress that will fit you.  I will keep looking, I promise!!!

This mango ice cream was so spectacularly wonderful that after I took one lick (off the backside) I had to take a picture to remind me.  I wish I could bring ice cream home for you three because this is truly amazing! 

OK three children of mine!  Nana and Papaw have to go home tomorrow so Grandma will be coming to visit.  Please listen to her and be good!  I love you all.  Kisses!  

Jamaica: Day 2

Hello sweet children of mine!  I have more pictures to show you, from dinner last night until the rains came early this afternoon.

This little guy prowled around us as we ate our late lunch/early dinner.  I had forgotten what it was like to eat in the Caribbean, but was quickly reminded: little scavengers are about.  I always liked them in St. Kitts, regardless of weather they were monkeys, cats, or various birds. 

After eating, we all took a walk on the beach.  Here's a picture of Mrs. Dobrovodsky and Mrs. Rediske:  

 Mrs. and Mr. Rediske.  We loved the sign that read
"Rocky Area"  Isn't that funny?  Like Daddy said, we could have figured that much out for ourselves.

 Daddy and me. 

This is a picture of the hotel where we are staying.  Isn't it beautiful?!?

This morning, Daddy at the pool:

On our way to lunch, we ran across this sign and couldn't resist a quick picture: 

I wasn't outside very long, as I was afraid of burning.  Sure enough, even after just an hour or two of interrupted sun time, my back is bright red.  You should see Mrs. Rediske!  She looks like a lobster she's so red - and yes, we all used sunscreen. 

I have one more thing to tell you about from this morning:  I woke up very early (just about the time I would normally get you, Faith, ready for school) and I wanted some coffee.  I could have made it myself, but I decided I'd rather walk downstairs and see what was available in the hotel lobby.  Because I thought I was going downstairs for coffee and then returning right back to the room, I did not bring my camera. 

I found Mr. and Mrs. Rediske in the lobby and we decided to take a long walk on the hotel grounds.  As we were making our way back up to the hotel, I saw a round, brownish greenish cracked object on the ground.  I asked Mr. Rediske if that was a coconut.  He explained that it was.  The outer portion is removed before the coconuts are shipped to the store, so we never see that part; we only see the fuzzy brown part.  He pointed out the coconut was cracked, and told me if I was able to pry it open, I'd see the coconut meat inside. 

Of course, I walked over to the coconut and used my fingers to pry it open along the crack. . . I let out a huge scream!  You'll never guess what was inside that coconut: A FROG!!!  Yes, there was a teeny, tiny frog inside that coconut!  I was so bummed out that I didn't have my camera with me - I would have loved to show you that little black frog inside the coconut. 

Faith and Cawood:  Just so you know, I've walked this Jamaican beach a few times now and I'm not having any luck finding shells for you.  I'll keep looking, but just in case - be prepared for a present that is not a shell.  I'm sorry!  (For those of you reading along, Eva asked for a purple or pink dress from Jamaica, and couldn't care less about the shells.)

I hope all is well at home.  I miss you three and am looking forward to coming home Saturday.  Hugs!