iEllie

Bob and I recently got iPods as early Christmas presents. Ellie really wanted one but again she's 5. So, she made one herself.

One last time

We've put away the baby carrier for the last time. It's so very bitter sweet and I have such a difficult time that we are leaving the baby stage for one final time.

I'm enjoying watching my kiddos grow and change. However, for me, there is just something about the snuggly baby stage that I adore.

Anyway, here's Ian in his little car seat, one last time.

Applepicking

Another rare picture of me and the kids

I want to be

"Mommy, I want to be a bird, and live in a nest. I flap my wings and I fly aways, Mommy can you please make me a bird"

Sorry Shannon, it would take a power far greater than I.

Face painting

We went to the girls' dance studio's annual "Party in the Parking Lot". The girls got their face painted. Sadly, they don't last forever so I had to take pictures so we could memorialize them forever.

Nature

Lauren had some very simple homework. She had to divide some objects into two categories. They objects included the sun, a flash light, a candle, a firefly, and a street light. She had to decide which source of light was Found In Nature and which was Made by People.

I pointed to the sun and she said it belonged in the Made by People category. I asked her why and she said "Well, God made the sun and Jesus is God and Jesus became people so it is made by People".

Good thought Lauren! She gets it!

Working on the car with Daddy

Just the guys.





I'm just going to be hopeful that it's finally fixed. We are a one and 3/4 car family. We have one van than can transport us all and then a car than can transport 3/4 of us. It can make life a little difficult

Trike riding girl

She's working on pedaling.

Sitting pretty

Nothing nice

I'm sure we've all heard it before. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." I've heard it since I was little and now have said it more times than I can count.

Lauren got her one of her numerous report cards (it's special education, we don't do anything halfway). The report card from her regular 1st grade teacher really, really bothered me.

I can't remember exactly what was said on it but I know that it said that Lauren was "peforming well below grade level" and is "extremely unfocused". The narrative also wished her well this summer and told her to have fun in second grade.

There was not one postivite thing said about her. Her teacher could not come up with anything posistive just some generic remarks. And that bothered me a lot. So much that I'm writing about it over three months later.

I get that Lauren is delayed. I know that she is behind. I know that she can't focused. I go home with her everyday and live with her well beyond the 9-4 school day. I see her 365 days a year. I'm not stupid nor naive. I'm not turning a blind eye to the issues that she has. But when they write about what she is not doing, it doesn't surprise me.

But, there is something great about Lauren. There's a lot of great things about Lauren. I fail to see how after having her in a class for 9 months that you couldn't come up with something. I'm not really picky. "Lauren has a great smile." "Lauren has a great memory." Anything would do! This is especially important because at age 7, it is more about me than her.

I did speak to her principal about it. I know that her teacher didn't mean to hurt me. She didn't set out to make me sad about it but she didn't think. The principal did thank me and said he wants his staff to be aware of issues like this.

My friend, Leslie at www.mymommysplace.com, summed it up the best in her back to school haiku. "she may be the dark spot in your day, but she is the bright spot in mine". And that is my Lauren.

My guys

I love them!

Ian's first bites

At 7 months old, we are just venturing into the world of solids. It's not going so well.

Crying

Lauren is currentlly upstairs in her bed crying that she doesn't want to go to college. She doesn't want to leave her family because we will miss her so much. Goodness kid, you are 7!

I just told her about colleges she could go to and still live at home. She's now excited that she could be a Buckeye.

I also told her that this is her home and she doesn't ever have to leave. There will always be a spot for her in our home and house.

We've decided to live our life and assume Lauren will never be capable of living independently.

But on the other hand we're hoping that she will.

7 month bear picture