Science Fair Winners

Both of my babies were science fair winners for their grade level.  It wasn't mandatory in 1st grade so there were less students that did one but Grace was still a top 3 for her grade level and moves on to the district science fair. It was mandatory for Andrew in 3rd grade and he was a top 3 (out of about 120 students) in his grade level as well.  They were each chosen as top 3 for their class and given an honorable mention certificate on stage at science night and then announced as top 3 for their grade.  A proud mommy right here!!!  We worked very hard on our science fair projects.  Grace obviously needed more help with the writing but Andrew was able to do it on his own.  We definitely had some tears and it was tough to get it all done but we made him write his stuff out and I helped him type.

Such a fun night. We were so proud of them.  When they go to district they will each get a medal and then the top 3 will also get a trophy.  Grace was giddy up on stage and I didn't get good pictures because I was off to the side at that time.

Andrew is playing basketball for the winter season.  We are half way through the season and we are staying busy.  I'm teaching in a 4th grade classroom right now at the kids school.  Definitely different than the younger kiddos that I'm used to but we are getting through it.  By the time I get it all figured out, my time will be up!  Other than that, life is good.  Just busy, busy, busy!!!

Soccer and Dance

Well, the regular soccer season has come to an end.  We have been with this team since practice began in July.  It was a very long season with quite a bit of drama.  We were the 2nd place U10 (under 10) team and went to a tournament 2 hours away with other teams from our district.  We knew it would be a tough weekend but our boys did very well.  We won our first game 5-0 and then lost 5-1 and 6-3.  The second team played dirty and called our kids names the whole game and even said stuff about our parents and coach.  The kids got very beat up physically during that game and David almost got a red card because he was so mad about no calls being made when our kids were getting hurt.  7 of 9 kids came off the field at the end of the game crying because they were either hurt or called a name or both.  I am so proud of them for going back out there today and keeping it together to play a really tough team.  Here is the collage I made for Andrew. Each player will get his own collage this week at our team party.  I did this in the spring and everyone loved getting one.

It was a busy weekend as Grace also had her winter dance recital today.  Grace and I left early this morning to drive home and relax and take our time getting ready. She doesn't really like being at the soccer games which makes it not very much fun for me (and the other parents I'm sure) so we skipped today's game and came home.  David and Andrew drove home after the game and went straight to the school to sit and wait to save our seats for the recital. It was a long day for them away from home.  Here is Grace in her tap outfit.  I didn't get a picture of her in her tumbling outfit.  We had plenty of time I just didn't even think of it.  I'm going to see if I can figure out how to get the routines on here so you can watch them.  They all did such a great job and Grace has improved so much!

School is out for Christmas break on Thursday, Grannylou gets here in a couple days, and Andrew starts practice Wednesday for All Stars for soccer. David is going to be the assistant coach for all stars and I am proud of both of them for being chosen.  So we leave one team and join another.....no breaks!  We then go straight into basketball and back to soccer in the spring.

Mismatch, makeup, and paint

Is anyone even still out there?  Time seems to fly by and then I realize it has been 2 weeks again since I updated this.  Of course I don't have a lot to write about from day to day but a lot happens in 2 weeks!!  Let's see, Andrew had his first basketball game last Saturday and so far has made a basket in each game he has played in.  He moved up a level and the goal is now 8 1/2 feet and there are some big kids at this level.  I think it's 7-8 year olds but there are some big 8 year olds these days!  The kids have adjusted well to being back at school and back at Lisa's house in the mornings.  I haven't quite adjusted because there is just so much work to be done.  The first grade team plans together on Wednesdays but there are some big projects over the next couple of weeks and I am also rearranging the classroom that I am in and redecorating it.  I can't say much but I am (along with others as they have time) packing up all the stuff that is in the room that belongs to the other teacher and I am making it my own.  I've only changed one bulletin board and moved 2 tables and it already looks like a first grade classroom.  When I finish it I will add more pictures.  It looks much different than the other school that I was at.  This school was built in the mid 80's so it is very old and in desperate need of updates.  I'm finally used to the orange cabinets but believe me it took a while.  I wasn't sure if I could handle being there at the beginning.  I was really sad that I didn't get the job at Andrew and Grace's school and then here I was in this old school with kids that are really, really low.  Now, I can't imagine leaving!  I adore my kiddos now.  They are tough but it's been a rough year and I'm trying to turn it around.  They are already acting better.  They are smiling more and laughing and a few of them will even hug me.  The first week I was there they didn't smile at me.  I was so sad.

Anyway, moving on!  Many of you see my updates on facebook so you are up to date on everything and this may bore you ;)  well except the next picture!

 Scary?  Yes!  She had about $10 to spend and chose some little girl makeup in the toy section.  We are working on using less makeup although I assure her she looks beautiful! 

These pictures are from mismatch day at school.  Andrew wore 2 shirts that didn't match and then our awesome friend (babysitter) did his hair half mohawk, half combed down.  It was actually Grace's idea!

Here is Grace's mismatch outfit.  Not a single thing matched.....even her hair had one braid and one ponytail.  She looked adorable.  I didn't see her until after school and she changed before I could get a picture so when I finally convinced her to put her outfit back on she messed up her buttons but I guess it works for mismatch day also!

This picture is just because I thought she looked so cute that day with her braids!  We were in line waiting for Andrew to come out.  She comes out about 10-12 minutes before he does.  I will never understand why they come out so much earlier and just sit and wait for their parents to get there.

 This is the master bathroom and it was in desperate need of an update.  The wood cabinets were so dry.  It is hard to keep cabinets in good shape out here.  They dry out so quickly.  I used to oil them twice a year and sometimes more but it didn't matter.  So, over Christmas break I painted the cabinets.  I had painted the walls last summer thinking I would have time to finish when the kids went to school but I ended up getting that long term job so it never happened.  Also, last summer mom and I took the shower doors off and I am so much happier without them in there.  They were so hard to clean and just ugly.  

I painted the medicine cabinet to match the wall.  I really wanted to get rid of it but it didn't happen.  I'm going to frame that giant mirror and change out the light switch cover to white.  I really like the way it looks now.  I;m sure I have a before picture somewhere.  Maybe once it is complete I will add a before picture.  Next, I want to finish painting all the baseboards and doors white.  Everything in our house was a very ugly off white....almost yellow.  It drives me crazy.  

Well, that's enough for one post.  I have a lot of fun Disneyland pictures to put on here.  We went 3 times in the last couple of weeks and have quite a few character pictures.  Hope everyone is having a great new year!  I can't believe January is almost over! 

Princesses and Jedi Training

We went to Disneyland yesterday and had a lot of fun!  It was very busy but we split up (girls and boys) and did what the kids wanted to do.  Andrew isn't a fan of "It's a Small World"  and that's Grace's favorite ride so I took her for the day to do what she wanted.  We rode Small World 2 times (in the morning and then again after dark).  We got in line just before they turned on the lights.  So many Christmas lights on the outside of it!  We also watched the parade all together and rode a couple rides all together.  Grace and I stood in line to see the princesses.  They switched out just before we got there but as we say at school, "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit!"  We also saw Merida from the movie Brave.

 Tiana

Cinderella

 Mulan

We finally went to see the Jedi Training academy (Star Wars) and Andrew really wanted to be chosen.  We were in the back against the wall and I figured they wouldn't see him, especially after a mom stood up in the front row to help her child get picked. He was jumping up and down with his arms in the air and they kept picking kids all around us and then David (wearing a bright red shirt) started pointing at Andrew and the guy called him up.  Made his day!!!!  The poor little boy in front of us didn't get picked and he was devastated.  I felt so bad for him while he sat and cried.  I'm sure Andrew would have been the same way.   Anyway, he got to go in front of everyone and be part of the academy.  He was so excited and kept turning around to smile at us.  He is so reserved about showing his emotion so the little smiles we got were awesome!  I have some video of him and a few pictures but I only took my phone with me so the pictures aren't that great.

 Here is a very blurry video from Andrew's Jedi Training.  It looks much better on my phone!

Overall it was a really great day!  We even stayed for the fireworks and found a great spot to stand and had such a great view.  It was tough getting the kids back to the car after being there for 12 hours but we finally made it and they were asleep in minutes.  Today we are just resting and recovering.  Well, David is at work today.....poor guy!

Here are some pics from the parade.

And finally a (not so great quality) picture of Grace in front of "It's a Small World"

And if you are still here after all those pictures, I can't believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we are just a month away from Christmas.  Time is going way too fast. 

Last day of 1st grade

We are officially done with first grade!  This year flew by (again) and I sure hope they slow down because Andrew has been in school for 2 years and it's all a blur.  Seriously if they all go this fast he'll be graduating before I know it!  He got an award for excellence in all academic areas and this is where I get to brag a little.  The kids were all lumped into a category of getting 90% or higher on all 4 math benchmarks and reading at a level 20 or above.  End of the year grade level for reading is a level 16.  Andrew actually got 100% on ALL 4 math benchmark tests and is reading above a level 28 and knows more that 500 sight words.  They have to know 150 (I think) by the end of 1st grade.  He actually knew all of these at the beginning of the year and we never even tested him again.  I am so proud of him.  He LOVES to read and create and has improved so much in his writing throughout the year.  I'll upload some writing samples to show the beginning of the year and end of the year to show you.  He wasn't recognized individually for his achievements so I have to be THAT mom and do it here for my family and friends.  I refuse to put it on facebook (like most people do) because I hate the thought that someone else may feel bad by my bragging.

 Getting his award from the principal and shaking hands with the teachers.

 with friends

 With his wonderful teacher.  We will miss her dearly but she will be just down the hall next year and hopefully we will see her this summer!

 Just a little sign I painted the morning of the last day (on the back of Christmas wrapping paper)!

 Last day of school pic to compare to the first day of school pic.  I'll find it and put them on the same post later!

 Perfect attendance award for 3rd trimester.  He actually only missed 1 day of school the whole year.  So sad because they get an award and a trophy for Perfect attendance for the whole year.  He has only missed 2 days in 2 years.

 Milk and donut party on the last day.

6th grade helpers whom we adored.

Awards

Last Friday was Andrew's 1st awards assembly at school!  He got an award for being proficient and/or above grade level in all academic areas.  We are so proud of him for doing so well. 

Flag Football

Yesterday was Andrew's last flag football game and also his team party.  It was a great day although cloudy and it sprinkled a little.  We were bundled up and it was wonderful!  Yes, we were on the Raiders.  No, we didn't choose it (or like it)!  Andrew is #3 and is wearing gray pants.

 The trophy/coach gifts/cupcake table.  It was so full of stuff!

Coach David running around the room when introduced!

 Andrew "Prime Time" Noland running around the room full of parents!  The coach always makes it so much fun when he introduces the kids!

Sports are done now until basketball starts again in January.  It was a lot of fun and Andrew loves being on a team!  David and I are both very proud of him !