crazy hair day

Ty wanted blue hair. Ty got blue hair. Need I say more? 

jump into preschool

We had the option of sending Beckham to kindergarten or keeping him home one more year because he has such a late birthday. With his personality and how small he is, we thought it would be great to give him one more year to get a little bigger and to temper his volitile (at times) temperament. He is loving his preschool, and is really eating up the fact that he is the oldest and that he can be a big helper to his teachers. 

We are hoping that this will be a good thing for him in many areas. He will become more of a leader, he will feel more confident as he enters kindergarten, he will be bigger in sports in the later years, will be able to drive and date as a sophomore, etc.  

I was slightly put out thinking that I was giving up my only year to be at home without kids (we are hoping to add more to our family soon, hopefully sometime next year I will be taking care of a baby). I had thought up many grand plans of what I was going to do being kid-less during the day. Fun projects, a clean house, maybe even work a little! However, I am excited to have one more year with my Beckham being home. Often times Ty steals the show because he is older and gets to do things that Bex doesn't get to do yet. Bex often gets told to hold on, to wait. And so I think, I hope, that this will be great for both of us, and we won't kill each other by the end of the school year!  ;)  

Love you Bex! You are pure joy!

first day of second

Traditional first day of school jumping off porch pictures. Ty is getting more sophisticated in his mid-air poses.

Ty was uber excited for school this year. He neatly laid his clothes out the night before, set his alarm before bed, woke up before his alarm went off, and was showered, dressed, had eaten, gelled up his hair, and had his teeth brushed all in a matter of 20 minutes. I was shocked. He has NEVER gotten ready for school so fast. He wanted to go to school so bad that he didn't want to wait for a ride and requested to walk.

Ty's pumped up kicks.

Love my little big boy!

PS. Bex starts preschool next month! Pics to come!

Night at the Museum: Rexy attacks!

Days before school ended, I went with Ty and his classmates on their last field trip of the year. The bus ride was revealing for two reasons. First, I came to know that my son's charming "first grade humor" is not specific to just him. All the other kids were talking like babies as well.  And second, my son stinks way less than most other kids that were on the bus. All good to know, but excruciating to sit through.

Ty's excitement about learning is infectious. He practically ran from exhibit to exhibit, spouting off random facts to me, and took a moment or two to goof off with the dinosaur bones. He had an amazing teacher this year, Mrs. J, she reminds me much of Mrs. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus series. It was fun to see Ty with his friends, and the camaraderie they share. Goodbye 1st grade!

 

Matthias went to eat lunch with Ty. Guests are invited to eat on the stage and the student gets to invite friends to eat with them. Ty invited all the boys in his class to eat with he and his dad. 

reach for the stars

Ty worked really hard on the reading contest at his school, "Reach for the STARS."  Reading 20 hours in 5 weeks was the goal. Ty did it, barely, with no time to spare. He had 3 hours to read the day before the contest was over, so Matthias built a big fort for him to read in, and he pulled it off! I'm so proud of him! Reading is one of his strong suits and I am happy that he enjoys it. Way to go kid!

Ty Vangough

I love kid art - love it. Especially from my own two little guys.  Ty's last school joined a great online art website. It's like facebook for art where art teachers post student's work. You can invite family to be your followers, followers can comment on your art, vote, and order really great products. The school your child belongs to gets a small percentage of what is bought online.  The site is artsonia.com   Here is my favorite work of Ty's. 

Sunflowers by Ty

Ty's new school does not belong to this website, but my new quest is to try to get them to join. 

co-op preschool

While we were in Sheridan, Beckham belonged to a co-op preschool that a few friends and I began. The mom's took a turn every two weeks teaching. Each week had a different theme of our own choosing, and I had a lot of fun with it. Bex loved going to preschool with his little friends: Lincoln, Landon, Hannah, Madeline, and Ezra. One week, I taught a unit on the body. We took a field trip to the local hospital where the kids went on a little tour. The staff was incredibly nice and hooked the kids up with all sorts of goodies. The ER doctor let the kids sit up on a bed and listen to their heart beat.  They loved it. 

two out of two

IN SCHOOL!
A glorious day.

They both came home to their own plate of home baked cookies in honor of their first day. (My tricky little way to get them to tell-all.)

Ty reported that it was THE BEST DAY OF HIS LIFE. In those exact words. I, of course, was thrilled to hear that.

Bex had little to say, I was hoping for more excitement. Later in the day, I overheard him singing a welcome song he learned. (Notice his lunchbox-it was Hoosier Daddy's when he was a boy.)

They both love school and are happy which makes me - HAPPY! Life is good.

no more pencils, no more books...

no more teacher's dirty looks!

Actually, there will be plenty of books, some usage of a pencil, but definitely no more teachers, because Ty is out of school baby!

The whole fam went to the school's end of the year picnic, we bought our summer movie passes, went to a party at the park, grabbed dilly bars, finished up the boys' last swim lesson, and had a water gun fight with the neighborhood. Let it begin. I need a nap!

Peace out.

mystery solved

The Mysterious Case of the Teacher Luncheon continued...

On the phone, the PTO President apologized for the confusion today. I insisted it wasn't a problem. She asked me who was emailing me. I told her it was Emilia. (At this point I still did not no anyone's name in the PTO, except Emilia. I had only been to one meeting so far.) She said she had no idea who that was. So I said, "Wait, you're telling me, that there wasn't a luncheon at the school today?" She said that it was next week, May 11th.

Then it clicked! I quickly explained it to the Pres, and we had a good laugh.

Here is my final email to Emilia:

Wednesday, May 5, 5:28pm

Emilia,

OK, I figured this out!! You must be from Woodland Park in Indiana!! Our family has moved from B-town to another state and my son attends Woodland Park in our new state! Ha! I am laughing so hard about this. I had signed up for their Teacher Appreciation Luncheon which is next week and so when I got this email I was very confused but assumed it was our new school because I have never received an email from WP Elementary in B-town before. And so I followed through after I received your email by going to our new school with the dessert to help set up. Both the principal and secretary were very confused by me and told me it was next week. HA! The PTO president from WP Wyoming just called to apologize about the confusion and we figured it out. Anyways, have a good laugh and a good day!

Best,

HM

I thought it was great that Ty got to go to another Woodland Park Elementary, but after a week of being here, it didn't cross my mind again. And because I hadn't been involved in the PTO in Indiana, I assumed I was corresponding with the new PTO.

Hope you had fun with this little mystery!

yee haw

As you already know, I love small towns, and I just might like this town. Well I better, because I'm here... as in living here. Ty's school invited children's author, Cowgirl Peg, to come out for the day. She read her books to them at school and then came to autograph her books later that evening during the school's Western Spring Fling. I am still giddy from what a fun night it was. It's this type of event that brings the girlishness out in me.

boys with author, Cowgirl Peg

The boys already had boots, but no cowboy hats. It was a must, as all the kids wore their duds, boots, and hats to school that day. I took them over to the Boot Barn and told them I was only buying a hat if they really loved it. Bex's eyes went immediately to the "Woody" style hat and declared, "I love that one!" Ty was more cautious in his choosing. He tried on 3 hats in front of a wall mirror before he found his love and quietly said, "This one."

A local band, the Craft Brothers, played for the evening. The music was fun and there was lots of dancing. The kids had been practicing different western dances in P.E. The walls were lined with chairs where most of the parents sat, but Hoosier Daddy and I couldn't sit for long. We joined the kids, and both grabbed a miniature partner. I had Ty, and HD had Bex. The only thing that was missing from the evening was a heel clicking dance with my handsome husband. Aw shucks.

snapped one of bex playing chase

Ty showing off his cool dance moves

The funniest part of the evening was when a sweet but demanding 8 yr old girl captured Bex. When I saw him dancing, I snuck up to watch how it would all play out. They danced the whole song, Beckham cool as a cat. When the song ended, and the next one began I heard Beckham say, I need to go see my Mom and Dad. And so he left. The girl followed. She insisted he come dance again. Beckham replied "I'm tired." And that was that. After she left, he was off again running around.

the dance

Ty with his buddies, the twins

the Craft Brothers

the mysterious case of the teacher luncheon

Eager to get involved in my new community and Ty's new school, I joined the PTO. At my first PTO meeting I volunteered to help set-up for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon on May 11th. A few days ago I received an email reminding me of the luncheon, and that's where the mystery began.

Monday, May 3, 2:48pm

Good Afternoon!

You indicated that you would be interested in helping with teacher appreciation week at Woodland Park Elementary. It is this week and we could use a little help for our Cinco de Mayo luncheon on Wednesday.

We have been planning on feeding about 40-45 people and we still need volunteers to bring Spanish rice, cornbread or some other side dish that is not nachos (we have those). We could also use some regular soda, lemonade and/or iced tea. We have some cookies coming for dessert but nothing else. If any of you would be able to provide any of these items, we'd like to have them in the teachers' lounge by 11:00am Wednesday. Please let me know so I can plan accordingly.

Thank you,
Emilia B.
Teacher Appreciation Week Coordinator

Seeing that the luncheon was now a Cinco de Mayo luncheon and had also changed to the 5th, I replied to her email to verify that the luncheon was indeed this Wednesday, the 5th, and not next week on the 11th.

Tuesday, May 4, 1:44pm

Hi Emilia,

I must be wrong, but I thought the luncheon was next week on the 11th? Did it change, or did I just write the dates down wrong? I had planned on coming to set up and I am bringing a cake.

Thanks!

Hoosier Mama

In to which she responded:

Tuesday, May 4, 1:47pm

Hi Hoosier Mama!

The luncheon is tomorrow, the 5th, since it is teacher appreciation week this week (and Cinco de Mayo). Will that still work for you to help out? I really appreciate your willingness to help and make a cake.

Emilia

In to which I responded:

Tuesday, May 4, 3:21pm

Sure, no problem. That will work out fine!

Thanks,

HM

And she replied one last time:

Tuesday, May 4, 3:24pm

Wonderful! I look forward to seeing you!

Emilia

And so I followed through with the simple task of baking a coconut cream cake, and took it with me to help set up for the luncheon. When I got to the office, I asked where I needed to go for the luncheon. Linda, the sweetest office secretary you'd ever meet, looked at her calender and then told me she was unaware there was a luncheon today. It was her understanding that the event was next Tuesday, the 11th. I told her that it was supposed to be in the library, so she called the librarian to see if that was the case. The librarian confirmed that it was not today. Just to make sure, Linda asked the principal when the luncheon was. The principal went to ask a teacher if the luncheon was today. Again, the answer was no.

Nice, I thought. Was this initiation into PTO - trying to see if I would really follow through with a task? Was it Hoosier Daddy who had someone email me, trying to give me a good reason to make dessert? Was it a disgruntled PTO member taking revenge on all members of the PTO? Confused as I was, I went home, ate a piece of my cake and typed up a little email to Emilia, trying to hide the annoyance I was feeling.

Wednesday, May 5, 11:17pm

Emilia,

I went to the school to set up, and they told me that the luncheon wasn't until next week? They said it was rescheduled to the 11th. I am confused. I would still be happy to help. If you still need me, please call 9783668.


Thanks,

HM

A little later Emilia responded:

Wednesday, May 5, 3:26pm

I'm not sure who you would have talked to because we just got done cleaning it up. Did you go to Woodland Park Elementary? I will try to call you this evening to see if you would like to help set up tomorrow for chocolate day. I'm sorry for the confusion. I'd be interested in knowing who you may have talked to at the school.

Thanks for your eagerness to help!

Emilia


WHAT was going on? Am I in the twilight zone? What does she mean, Did I go to Woodland Park Elementary? Duh. I know where Ty goes to school. I drop him off every morning.

So I continued on with my day, slightly perturbed by the whole fiasco, still wondering what in the world was going on.

At approximately 3:30pm I recieved a call from the PTO president...

... to be continued.

This little story is true. Can you solve the mystery?

cooties

This is a face of a boy who is tired of cooties. Many things factor into Ty's three day in a row cootie infestation. Mostly it's his mom's fault. Dang it.

1. I may have mentioned that girls have cooties.
2. He is nice boy and very social.
3. He is a handsome boy and very likable.
4. He innocently told Lucy, a girl at school, that girls have cooties.
5. Lucy is faster than him.
6. According to Ty, he "wasn't wearing his Pumas." They make him run faster.

Ty came home from school the first of the three day scourge in tears, that he was cootiefied. I didn't mean to make my sweet little innocent boy the recess kissing target. Lesson learned. When telling your boys that girls have cooties, tell them to NOT tell the girls that. It should have stayed our little secret. Or perhaps, just nix the fib in the first place.

I secretly wrote the teacher a note after the third day requesting her to tell Lucy to keep her lips off my little boy. It worked. He's been cootie free for almost 2 weeks now.

Take and learn.

kickergarten

I was asked a few months ago if I was going to be one of those moms who cry on their Kindergartner's first day of school. No way was my reply. We've been ready for this day for a long time. We went school shopping (at the thrift store) a month ago, as well as school supply shopping, picking out the coolest backpack and super hero folders we could find. We've been practicing and building reading skills and learning to count to 100 all summer. We've been talking about how to choose good friends and how to be a good friend, and practicing how to deal with bullies ("whatever, dude, whatever"). Ty got a new haircut a week ago, and set out his backpack and clothes the night before.

Ty woke at 7:20am and ran around like a chicken with his head cut off. He was so excited and I was so excited for him. We celebrated with a good breakfast and got ready to go. We had family prayer, and all of us headed out the door to walk Ty to his first day of school.

The first day I paced around the house trying to figure out what to do with myself … I figured I was due a long nap, so I napped. Later, I cleaned for a bit and then began repeatedly looking out the window and glancing at the clock. I was like a little puppy with it's paws up on the window, waiting for somebody to come home. Oh how I miss having him home. Once 3:00 rolled around, I all but ran to school, pushing Bex in the Burley while Matthias kept telling me to slow down. As soon as I saw Ty's smiling, dimpled face come out of the doors we ran to each other and had a big long hug. On the way home, Ty filled us in on all the happenings of his first day, from how funny it was when someone threw up in the lunch line, to class mate, Alex S., being sent to the Principal's Office. I had a big plate of warm home-made cookies waiting his arrival and we all sat around the table to hear tales of his first day.

So, although no tears were shed, I was on the verge all day and quite full of feelings of sadness, happiness, and excitement for our new Kindergartner, or "Kickergartner" as Bex likes to say.