no foolin'

I've determined that the only hope I have of getting back into the routine of writing is to bind myself to a schedule that will force...okay, maybe not force....encourage (yes) me to write more often.

I can see this being a benefit on a few fronts....

One.  I like routines & schedules.  I never thought I'd have to schedule in my hobbies, but that is the phase of life I'm in.

Two.  I might actually start writing in a more concise manner.  I tend to start to write an entry and I get so caught up in that I have to state everything and have it be rather perfect.  Well, that perfection has gotten me a long list of entries that are all dated to the specific day of an event - but I got too caught up in trying to tell everything that I'm really behind in telling something.

Therefore, as it's a new month I want a new goal to write something each day.  Just something.  It can be whatever - and I've thought about making a theme for each day, however I like to be scheduled but not constricted...so I'll have to see on this one.

I realize the irony of this as I make this goal on April Fool's Day - but this is no foolin'....I promise to write something each day.  And, for good measure I'm going to post something for today besides this declaration. How is that for a great start?!

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Friday evening I took the kiddos to a movie as Bryson was flying back into town from a business trip to Mexico.  The kiddos and I love to see movies, but Bryson detests sitting through a movie.  When he is out of town or working late, it's our time to have a little outing to a show.  We have wanted to see Big Miracle (the story of the 3 trapped whales in Alaska and yes it was a fantastic show!), so off we went.  When we came out of the movie, there were 3 ducks waddling by the side of the road where cars quickly come in & out of the complex.  A few people voiced their concerns that the ducks would get run over & after seeing a movie about 3 animals that needed to be saved I thought the timing rather ironic for the ducks to play out this scene.  As we walked to other side of the street, a man ran towards the ducks and it startled them so much that they took flight and started to fly right towards us.  Jacob let out a shriek and did the fastest drop to his tummy that I have every seen!  When the ducks had flown over our heads, he got up looking a little shaken.  I asked him if he was okay and I had the sudden desire to laugh....really hard.  A chuckle leaked out, and he looked at me..."It's not funny Mom!  They were flying right at me & I thought the duck would fly into my head!"

I know that he was saving himself for the possibly duck attack...but it really was funny.  I get a really strong urge to laugh and get  a big smile when I think about that one.  :)

Also I volunteered in Jacob's Kindergarten class that day and the first thing that struck me is that Jacob and 2 of his buddies are like the 3 Stooges - and thankfully one of the boys has a big head of curly hair so I dubbed them Larry, Mo & Curly....Jacob is now Mo :)  They said in a line on the carpet for the opening activity and the boy on the outside would bring his hand up and hit himself on the head, then the next boy would do it and then the last boy...then it would go back to the boy in the middle and on to the end.  They did this a few times before I really caught on and moved Jacob away.  It's not good classroom behavior - but inside I had a laugh at these characters...seriously, where do boys get their energy and ideas to behave in such crazy ways?  I watched the girls that day...completely mellow, serene and on top of the lessons with the answers.  This could be another post on the differences each gender needs in their learning styles - but let's just keep it at I had a laugh at those 3 Little Stooges today...another time I'll go on my soap-box about how boys need a different learning environment :)

There was another incident as well that was really hilarious.  while the class was on the carpet area being led in 'Do As I'm Doing' by the lead student teacher, she paused for a brief moment and looked towards the bathroom then said, "Um, _______ needs a little help in there."

The other student teachers and parent volunteers looked behind us into the open concept restroom they have (Jacob and I aren't fond of this idea but it's what they have for both the Pre-K & Kindergarten classes that share the space), and a student teacher quickly made her way into help the little guy.

We caught sight of his bare bottom as he stood in the middle of the floor surrounded by ribbons of toilet paper stretched all over the room!  I don't think all the toilet paper was exactly clean and he was in the process of trying to wipe and finish his business.  It was the scene that broke the tension of a long Friday afternoon with a bunch of 5 and 6 year old children that were acting like little monkeys that day.

I tried to stifle a laugh, but it was no use.  And all the other adults started to laugh as well. Thankfully our bodies at the back of the circle blocked the view from all of the students....they thought we were laughing about the actions for the song and so they started to laugh, which made us laugh harder...and honestly, it was so fabulous to have a big laugh right then.  I don't know the last time I have laughed that hard or at such an innocent act...but it was great.

My goal this month.....laugh more.  Laugh deeply.  Enjoy the moments in each day to laugh with and about.

Kids are great entertainment!  

walking on sunshine

Today was a beautiful day - the weather was extremely fantastic

and warm for this time of year - high 60's! I came out from helping in Bryson's classroom & just wanted to do a heel kick from excitement...the weather is amazing and we have our children in some really awesome schools!

I've been thinking lately about how blessed we have been with the schools where the children attend right now. As I was walking out from helping out in Bryson's classroom, I was hit not only by the intense warm rays from the sun - but I started to put together why I love the new schools and situation so much. Here are my top reasons why I absolutely adore our school situation right now:

* Madeleine and Bryson's school let parents volunteer. In their OWN child's classroom! This might sound so basic it's ridiculous - however, parents were not welcome to help in our own child's class in the city. We were looked upon as almost the enemy - we couldn't help anywhere at the school without going to get a Learning Leader certificate with the district which was really a pointless certificate stating that you were a parent that should have the common sense to do the things they were teaching in the class :) Even with a Learning Leader Certificate - you were not allowed to help in your own child's class - it would be with another teacher. I love helping in many ways for the good of education - but I want to help where my children are. I want to make an immediate impact for them - and even though I don't help my child the entire time I am in their classroom, I know that they are aware that I care enough about them, their class and their school experience that I have made the time to volunteer. I love seeing their eyes light up when I come in - even Madeleine will give me a genuine smile :) It's incredible for me - and the perk is that I get some really cute hugs from the little girls in his class...it helps me remember how fun it was to teach and have so many hugs from my own students.

* As a parent it's nice to know that I can walk into Madeleine's & Bryson's school and that I can act as a grown-up and sign myself in on a Volunteer sheet and get my own volunteer badge and walk to my child's classroom. There is no security guard and multiple books that I need to sign-in when I get to the school - the hoops we were made to jump through in NYC made me so upset & it only got worse before I left....the Principal wanted to track the PTA's every move and so she upped the amount of times we would have to sign in. It had gotten out of control & ridiculous...and although there are times when I worry that Utah might be a little too trusting and that anyone could walk in (not always with a child's best interest in mind and to help out in their class or for some other event)....in the big picture I have to think that there are hundreds of schools like this that allow parents and volunteers to come & go in the school as needed to help and give benefit to the educational experience.

* I love that on average then there are usually 2-3 parents that help in Bryson's class each day! In Madeleine's class there are about 2-3 parents a week - there aren't as many as the class is older and the teacher's have chosen not to utilize parent volunteers as much...however, parents are still regular helpers. And the very best is Jacob's class - each day he has between 6-8 adults in his class of 14 students! That is one of the best ratios I've ever seen for a class! The reason the adult number is so high is not only because they require parents to be part of a co-op experience (we need to volunteer at least 6 times during the semester and each time is the entire school day) - they also are able to have the students who are part of the Early Childhood Education program at the U of U come in as part of their Internship and Student Teaching. The students don't change day to day either - there is a group that is there Monday - Wednesday and then another group on Thursday & Friday. I love their enthusiasm for teaching and being with this little munchkins day after day - every so often I'm a bit jealous that Ms. Rachel has so many students that help her, but then again she is in charge of a lot of their practicum within the classroom.

I am really so happy that things have settled in a way that has put the children in these schools and with their teachers. I didn't talk about their teachers as much in this post - but I will....Teacher Appreciation Day is coming up in two weeks & I've been able to find many cute ideas on Pinterest to give to the teachers and I'm going to do a post on why we have enjoyed the teachers that the children have in their new schools.

So happy to be walking on sunshine these days in a school....it sure beats walking on the eggshells I & other parents were on at 217!

And in honor of Dr. Seuss and his birthday, here is his quote on having such a great day :)

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." ~ Dr. Seuss

1776

We were up until 10:45pm with Madeleine doing her homework! I can't believe the amount of homework that girl has - then again, she is very detailed and makes sure everything is done to perfection.

Although it was was too late to be up for a 5th grader doing homework - I started to think how much I love the curriculum that she is learning here. From my observations on what she brings home for homework and talking to the teachers, there is a balance to what is being taught...and finally and thankfully Madeleine is receiving real Social Studies lessons. In fact - they get it in double-doses each day. Madeleine sits with Mrs. Moore for the first half of the day with their homeroom class - they are taught Reading/Writing, Spelling/Vocabulary & handwriting (all Language Arts) and Math. In the afternoon the two 5th grade classes switch teachers, and Madeleine's class goes to Ms. Ross who then teaches Social Studies & Science. This is also the time when twice a week the students divide up and attend their extra classes - orchestra and gym.

I can't express how much I love that although her workload is heavy and she has so much to do each evening - Madeleine is really studying the history of this country. The classes have a reader that goes through stories from history - so even in Language Arts their stories are history based (this is cross-curriculum teaching which I assumed every school did....but the NYC schools, or at least ours, was severely lacking in their Social Studies instruction as well as their Language Arts....they wrote stories ALL the time, but there was no focus on spelling and making sure children were understanding rules for grammar. I had no idea how much we were lacking in this area until we moved here!). The class right now is focusing on the beginning of the American Revolution - Madeleine has written persuasive papers on being a Loyalist or a Patriot. She draws and composes bulletins that show sides to both the Americans & the British, and her spelling and vocabulary words each week are full of words from history.

They are within a few weeks of finishing up the Revolution and then starting on how the government was established - which is part of the Declaration of Independence and learning why 1776 was so important.

I love history. It's incredible to then see your children learn and love history. We have lived in some very significant places where history was made in this country. I'm thankful that we've had the opportunity to visit these places as our family - and now I'm so thankful that Madeleine is learning more about the facts and why these places have such an impact on our lives and the story of America.

And, on a different important not about 1776....check out this bounty that I got at the store --- all for $17.76.  No kidding....I laughed when the total came up!

I am not an extreme couponer by any stretch of the imagination....however, I have been working to buy things that are advertised specials & if I can get a coupon to bring down the total that is double fantastic.

This deal above was to buy the Stauffer's Lasagna and then the bread, salad and a liter of Coke product was free (THAT is what is missing...my 2 bottles of Fresca!  How did I forget to put them in the photo?!).  The best part is that I have remembered that you can price match when you shop at Wal-Mart, so instead of running to different stores (unless I am driving by one and can go in) and taking extra time & gas I shopped at Wal-Mart this week and I was excited about the results!  This meal deal then got better - before I left I remembered reading about a coupon that Facebook put out for Stauffers....a few clicks later and I had two $2 off coupons for the lasagna.  Then when I got to the store and reached into the freezer to retrieve the lasagna I noticed that each box had a sticker on for a free package of cookie dough when you purchased a Stauffer product.  Hurray - that would come in handy for our FHE treat that night! :)

This deal is not free, and it's not even below $10 for everything...which I'm sure is against the rules of Extreme Couponing!  However, I was excited for what I found and that I was able to work with a sale and use the coupon...and throw in that cookie dough (yummy!).  The best part is that when I added up all of the items that I got - and even adding up what it would cost if I make the lasagna on my own....I came out ahead with this purchase!  And I love knowing that I have 2 lasagnas sitting in the freezer for a day when life gets too busy, or a time when I need to take dinner to someone...I say that really saves the day!  

back to September

September seems like ages ago, and if I'm not careful it will be another age before I update with pictures and stories.  The days become weeks that go by in a blur - which means October is waiting to be updated so here we go with a little back story-telling.  

I already posted about Governor's Island, but I don't want to forget how much fun we had going out there to enjoy bike riding around the island and having a day together...these 3 made the outing so fun, and someday we all hope we'll be in a place where they can have bikes and ride them to their hearts content!  

One kick-back afternoon back at the apartment one day, the children took advantage that I had moved the kitchen table and chairs to wash the floor to create a fort for their imaginations to run wild!....

Back to School Party!  There are two other families from our ward that live on Roosevelt Island where the kids go to the same school (there are 2 other families with school age children but one family homeschools and the other family goes to private school).  The moms had been saying that some of their children were a little nervous to start school.  I thought it would be fun to do a Back to School Party together with the all the kids so that they could be strengthened together.  On Labor Day/Monday, we got together for a Family Home Evening lesson and cupcakes & to let the kiddos play together before starting school in a few days.  

Madeleine was acting out a story with Kyler and Lexie, who are 2 of 5 children in a family that moved here from Idaho last May.  We have enjoyed getting to know their families - and I love that Lexie's hair styles has created new interest in Madeleine doing her hair in more ways than just headbands! :)

First Day of School!

Jacob started full-day Kindergarten this year!  He was so excited to bump up and be there all day like the older two :)  He has Ms. Kaplan who is an older teacher and experienced....this has benefits, but also has some downfalls.  She can be a bit old-school in some of the ways she works with the children.  The other day Bryson picked up Jacob from school and was told that Jacob had been talked a bit that day.  When Bryson asked Jacob why he hadn't stopped talking, he said, "Dad I tried to stop talking, but my mouth just kept moving!" {he took his hands out and made the actions like a shark with his hands moving up and down}.  This boy always makes us laugh!

Madeleine started 5th Grade ~ she has Ms. Gambino for a teacher, and adores her.  She also had 34 students in her class which was a big problem for the first 5 weeks of school.  We were addressing issues of overcrowding & for a time I had my thought of trying to make a difference in the political arena or thinking that parents really do have a say in the Dept. of Education.  Both aren't the case - and I'm happy to just take the good & bad with the PTA...that has enough politics in it for me for this stage of my life!

Madeleine's class now has 32 students and she is happy - has great friends and even though I still wonder if we should homeschool many days due to the fact that she has figured out that the level of attention she gets this year, compared to last year in a class of 14 students, is really different....we'll stay in for  time.  Or maybe it will be the entire year.  It's week by week on that situation.

Bryson Jr. is in 2nd grade and actually has the same teacher that Madeleine had last year - Ms. Rubenstein.  His class jumped in numbers as well - he is in the G&T program, and the class that used to be 14 in Kindergarten, went to 22 last year and is now around 28 students!  The teacher is wonderful - very warm and caring and really helps the children internalize the love of learning and the desire to do well.  We have been really impressed that he wants to read longer every night for his Independent Reading Log & he wants to finish his homework with an Incentive Chart that Ms. R started for him (after a few weeks where homework was not happening!).  All in all, it is a great experience he is having - he is becoming more confident in his learning and participating in class - and he is once again referred to as 'Bryce' in class. {I'd rather it be Bryson, but as we have two Bryson's...it actually does help a bit to have a nickname every so often....at least just in school}

In other news:

1) Important but not so important - My camera finally got fixed!  My nice camera stopped working while we were in Utah over the summer - actually I think it started in Hawaii.  The lens wasn't producing clear pictures - they were really blurry - so I sent it back to the company to fix.

When it came back, I realized how much I had missed having the camera around and how much I need to start taking pictures again.

2) The city --- this is a picture I snapped when the camera came back, but in other news of this city....well, it's a city that brings surprises.  The kids started school on the 8th & on the 12th of September Bryson came home a little early and we enjoyed having him for FHE and putting the kids to bed.  When they were asleep and we were catching up on the day, I was telling him about my day and when I asked about his - he paused and said....'Well, I got laid off today'.

Wow.  That was a huge surprise.  We had thought that we were in the clear of the latest Bank of American lay-offs that had happened the previous week, of about 30,000.  Bryson went into work on Monday, and his boss was back from a trip out of the country - and when we got called into a meeting, he said he knew something was coming up.  The interesting part, is that Bryson has been giving everything he has had from Day 1 at the bank.  He is a hard worker and although there are times when he has needed to learn with the job - overall, he felt that things were going well.  When he came out from the talk with his boss, the secretary told Bryson that he wasn't the one that was supposed to be laid off...at least from last Friday.  We think that it came down to that it was between Bryson and the Analyst that was hired over the summer - and she is a female and a minority.  Unfortunately he didn't fall into the right categories and he was the more expensive choice as he had more experience.  Sometimes all the political corrective part  of life stinks when it means you are out of a job because you aren't the right gender or ethnicity.

The part that we think might work to our advantage....we were wondering how much longer we could survive in this job.  And I say survive even though I despise that word, and would rather say we thrive because of his work.  However, most often we are on survival mode.  It looks like the choice was made for us that we need to look for other work, and a difference in our life and style.

So, our life since then has been to have Dad home a lot more than anyone can remember in...probably 4+years.  Jacob has been amazed that Dad is around, because when you think about it, all he has known is that Dad is gone hours and hours at a time for work.  That is all his memory holds.  The other day, he was cuddled up next to Bryson on the couch and they were playing Plants vs. Zombies on Bryson's phone - and Jacob looked up and said, "Dad, I like this new job you have!"

If only he could get paid to be Dad and be home!

He is looking into work all over - around this area and out of state.  We think it might be time to leave the city - but we need a job first.  Or at least we hope we get a job first before we pack up and move.  Our lease expires at the end of February, and by then we will be out of the period where the bank pays us for being laid off....we hope to have a job by then, if not we might take up residence in Zucotti Park along with all the other OWS inhabitants that expound how terrible and corrupt those crazy bankers are!

Back on our little island - September brought the start of soccer season:

and needing to use the tickets to Victorian Gardens that is in the middle of Central Park.  Groupon had a great deal last spring and I picked up the tickets and finally used them a day before they expired!  The kiddos went to school Thursday and Friday - and Saturday evening I took the kids in for a celebration of school starting.  We tried to get Bryson to join us, but he was busy with work....and on Sunday he was busy too.  And then Monday he got laid off.  It's times like that - you wish you had the Crystal Ball so he could have said...'hey you are laying me off anyway, figure out this project on your own'.  Oh well - he left on a high note giving his all to that bank.  We are proud of him - although we missed him for this fun play day!

You can see all the buildings in the background - I'd forget that we were in the middle of the city in our magical Central Park, until I'd see the buildings towering in the background.  As always - I'm so grateful for whomever came up with the amazing idea to make sure the city has a park for all of us to enjoy!

I love the faces he makes - there are so many, and they are so fun.  Although my favorite is just a big smile form him!

Flying feet - years from now I'll probably look back and cry and how little these feet are and how much fun we had that day.  As always - it's so easy to be a mom when you are having fun and doing nice things for your kiddos.  Would every moment of parenting be so easy to have!

We were going to leave around 7pm so that we could get home in time for a decent bedtime hour for the kiddos.  However, the park was not crowded and the weather was beautiful - and it was so easy to stay for another 10 minutes - or another ride or two.  It was such a beautiful evening that we left at about 9pm!  Thankfully the kiddos got up in time for church the next day, otherwise it wouldn't have such a happy ending :)

Bryson had a fun surprise in seeing one of his classmates, David, at the park.  They went on a few rides together, and as always I'm amazed that even in this city with millions of people we run into people we know. How great to know it's a small enough world to run into people randomly!

The following week, Bryson went out last minute to Utah for a conference at BYU.  Since he didn't have to report to work, he decided to seize the opportunity of attending the Investment's Conference and jump right back into networking and trying to work with those he knows in securing the next job.  We were set to go down to Virginia for the baptism of the kiddos cousin - so I drove out on Friday afternoon and arrived 6+ hours later down in Virginia.  I tend to not to do well on timing with most road trips - it takes me a long time, with the stops for bathrooms & food stops.  Thankfully we finally arrived!  The next morning Bryson flew into town & we enjoyed a day with family and then the baptism that afternoon.  

Bryson Jr.'s hair is too long & he was making the goofiest faces - it definitely was picture worthy! 

Back at the Thiriot's for some delicious food and more time with the cousins - as Jacob refers to them, "Mom, can I go play with my best friends that have all those boys & live far away?"  He's still getting used to knowing what a cousin is - but he is right, cousins are best friends!

There is more to September....I shall post Part II later.  We are off to a Ward Halloween Party in the SNOW!  I thought this crazy weather only happened in Utah!