Owen

So sometimes in my school district we have a late delay for extremely cold weather. Some people get VERY upset about this bc it's "just cold" but not dangerous.  I've never understood why they get so mad, but in their defense I don't think they understand one reason I am thankful we delay.... For the sake of privacy... We'll call him.... Owen.  Owen goes to my elementary school. He comes in everyday off the bus and gets breakfast. The sweet ladies in the lunchroom send him to class with a bag of chips bc they know he won't have a snack later. He unpacks his tattered backpack.... But no need to find a jacket hook he didn't wear one. He got up this morning bc his older brother woke him up.  A mommy or daddy didn't snuggle up next to him or turn on cartoons to help him get up. They didn't kiss him until he rose or tell him breakfast was ready on the table. Owen got up alone. He got dressed alone. He stood outside waiting on a bus without a jacket in temperatures in the teens. He didn't have someone to tell him it's too cold to stand out there or to remind him to put on a coat. He and his brother pretty much handle everything themselves.  He put on his short sleeved shirt and jeans and came to school.  My school has a lot of Owens. I hope yours doesn't! That's wonderful! But it doesn't change the fact that mine does. It only happens a few times each winter.... Maybe 3-4 at the most.... It only happens when it's extremely cold. I have never thought we abuse it. I have always understood, but I guess to some people it does just look like teachers want to sleep in and cause all parents to have to go in to work late. But next time you see a late delay I challenge you to think of it a little differently....with a little more compassion... Think of Owen in a short sleeve shirt standing by an iced over mailbox and be glad it was even just a few degrees warmer for him due to the delay. 

7 years

Cole turned 7 in January! How is this even possible!!! Time is flying by!!! My itty bitty baby is not itty bitty anymore! He's growing like a weed!!! He plays flag football, basketball, & baseball. He loves Xbox & his new 3DS. He likes ninja turtles, avengers, and anything sports! He loves playing outside and is a great big brother. He got the highest reading average 1st semester in 1st grade. I was so proud of him. I would have never known life with this boy would be so much fun!!! I am so blessed to be his mommy! 

My little love

My little love turned 2 in December! I cannot believe 2 years have come and gone! I am so blessed to be his mommy! He is my little blessing & mess all at the same time! I love his lil personality!! He and Cole are so good together and I cannot imagine our family without him!! I thank God for the opportunity to love him everyday! 

2 year old info

25 lbs. 

Loves Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald, books, the iPad, his paci:) , milk, muffins, pecan rolls, chips, any kind of ball, trucks, trains, and playing outside. 

School Supplies

Every year around mid July I dread going to Wal-Mart...not because of the crowds or costs...its because of the releasing of the school supplies.  No matter how much I try & avoid those aisles...I as a teacher find myself purchasing supplies I personally need & while I am there I get to hear the ultimate school/teacher/state bashing  of the school supply list.  SO this year I decided to write a blog to "explain" the dreadful list that teachers make in order to make every parent in America hate us. So I will go over my list that I generally send home each year....

• 8 boxes of crayons.... I ask for this many crayons because I love to color & I need them to use in my free time.... ok seriously...why 8 you ask???  I teach 5 year olds. Do you have one...if so...give them a bag with a box of crayons in it. Let them be responsible for that bag of crayons for 30 days. Make them use them for 30 days....... 30 days later.... look at them.....most of them will be missing or broken or peeled or chewed up or even worse covered in horrible germs!! Kids need to get fresh crayons at the beginning of every month. As they get older they will learn to take better care of their supplies, but as a 5 year old...they need new...every month.
•  25 glue sticks.... this sounds like an insane number...I craft a lot in my classroom. Its fun..its what they love to do...we try & glue something everyday! Sometimes your 5 year old will get a little wild and use 1 entire glue stick on one craft.... I try my best to be patient & not get upset & not fuss...because we have more...because you sent them... and there is no use in crying over wasted glue... lots of crafts...lots of glue...lots of fun....  I DO NOT hoard glue sticks in my home....
• 1 bottle of liquid glue- we use it..on occasion...glue sticks don't hold everything.
• 1 pack of pencils( not decorative)  - kids need pencils to write & decorative pencils tear up our pencil sharpeners
• fiscar scissors- kids cut- I specify a brand because they cut well & your child won't cry because everytime they try & cut the cheap scissors get caught & tear the paper
• 2 packs of crayola markers- again..I do not color at home. They need 2 packs because kids NEVER remember to snap their lids & markers dry out quickly!
• 1 nap mat...blue & red-  we rest...they need somewhere to lay... I cannot store the big blue & green ones becaue they are too large & we require plastic to avoid your child getting head lice & they are easy to spray with Lysol to avoid germs
• paper towels...kids spill things..DAILY.... 20 kids spill things DAILY
• kleenex- kids have runny noses and wiggly teeth...tissues solve both of these problems....no kleenex means they use their shirt....
• wet wipes...again I do not take these home to use for my baby....kids are MESSY...they come in from breakfast with syrup! They get paint EVERYWHERE.... they sling their lunchbox & a juicebox burst open & then they drag it all over the classroom before they realize sticky juice has now covered the floor...wet wipes solve all of these problems....
• 1 zipper pouch...these hold crayons in their seat sack
• colored copy paper- used for crafts & memory books
• colored card stock...used for crafts
• white cardstock.... used for crafts & memory books
• backpack- self explanatory
• dry-erase markers.... your child uses thse during whole group interactive lessons & in small groups on white boards. They also use them in literacy stations. And every child ruins about 2 every year until they realize you cannot bear down on the EXPO marker tip... so 2/4 pack are ruined by September!
• white copy paper- the school does not provide copy paper...this is a MUST...
• zip lock bags- these are used to bring home small readers..or pulled teeth...or home-made playdough...or leftover special snack...or and the list goes on & on & on...
• 1 binder- this is used as your child's memory book.  

• headphones- we go to computer lab 2 times a week. the school cannot purchase headphones because we do not receive technology funding.
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• clorox wipes.... 20 children....snotty noses...strep...unwashed hands...etc ...we clorox wipe tables DAILY!!!!! sometimes 2 times a day during flu season....
• 2 plastic folders- paper ones tear up in a week...we use these for different journals
• 1 pack of white t-shirts....we paint precious field trip t-shirts...they are cute & sweet & special
• cap erasers- a pencil can last a week or 2...an eraser lasts usually about 2 days.... without  erasers we would have to purchase more pencils...erasers are cheaper
• page protectors....I use these for your memory book. It holds your childs artwork & pictures that represent their kindergarten year....its priceless... I will cherish Cole's book always!
• liquid soap refills..... the school does not have enough funding to purchase soap for the bathrooms...I for one am more than happy to purchase soap so that children who go to school with my son can wash their hands everytime the use the bathroom!
• white paper plates- these are used for crafts
• hot glue gun sticks- crafts
• shaving cream.....ask your five year old to write on paper over & over again...see how they react...put shaving cream on a table & ask them to write...it will explain everything.... make learning FUN!

I hope this explains some of what we ask for... we aren't monsters... we don't try & make your life miserable every August by making you purchase these things. We don't ask for supplies so we can hoard them in our personal homes...  I hate it too...I wish school was free...its not.  Education is important & the supplies we need to teach your children are important too. The state does not provide them. Our county does not provide them.  And money we receive from the state or your classroom fees goes to purchase a million other things like printer cartridges, ipads, computer software, literacy stations, math manipulatives, furniture, classroom needs....

I have 2 boys. I chose to have them.  In that same choice to have them...I also chose to provide for them...its my responsibility.  I happily went & bought my oldest sons supplies this year & also some extras from his teacher's list. I am so thankful I have 2 healthy children one of whom is already in school & can use all of those supplies that his teacher asked for.  
I know the list is long. I know you can't find the plastic folders and the binders are a million sizes. I know the aisles are so crowded and babies are crying & kids are whining and you cannot focus on the tiny print.... I'm in the trenches with you....  write the governor..write the president...storm the steps in Montgomery... vote for a higher tax .....let your voice be heard... but please just don't let it be heard in the aisles of Walmart...or posted on the new feed of FB.....because a teacher is near & she hears you and her buggy contains her child's supplies plus a lot more that she is purchasing for her classroom because she wants to make your child's school year amazing.... she's not a monster.... just an educator without funding.... one day the crafts will end... the messes will end.... and you can purchase a notebook & a locker & a parking pass &  call it a year.  Try & focus on the fact that all those supplies are things your child will use to build a foundation... a love for learning....

December Birthdays

Elsie turns 2! We celebrated with a lollipop party ! She is such a cutie! 

Shes like a little mini Ashton.... but into more:) 

Darby turns 2! We celebrated at the carousal  at the Galleria! 

Christmas

These are a few pictures to sum up the holidays in our life! Christmas cookies, Happy birthday Jesus Party... elves,,,Christmas Eve...Christmas day...it was all wonderful!!! 

I'll always remember the Cole as the hulk this year on Christmas morning & Rhett crying in his first ride in his car. Sweet memories! 

Happy 1st Birthday Rhett

We celebrated Rhett's birthday the weekend before Christmas. It had to be rescheduled because he got RSV and we had to spend a night at Children's.  The party ended up just as sweet just minus a few friends due to Christmas parties etc. 

I cannot believe an entire year has gone by! When I was pregnant with Rhett, I remember wondering what it would be like to love another baby...to cherish another as much as we did Cole... now that Rhett is here I cannot imagine our lives without him! He completed our family in a way we did not know anything was missing. His laughter is PRECIOUS and his slobbery kisses are priceless and the way he & Cole interact is just amazing. I have loved every minute...even the hard ones.  Having 2 changes everything.... but in my family it has all been for the better!  We love him to pieces and my boys are my whole world. I cannot wait to be their biggest cheerleader in this life! God has blessed us so much and also given us such a big responsibility to raise these sweet boys! 

Happy Birthday baby Rhett...you are cute & wild & sweet & rotten & OURS and we love you more than you'll ever know. You were worth every heartache to get here and I'd do it over a million times again just to see that sweet smile everyday!