Where's Papa?

Both of my children keep asking me every day where you are, Papa...

gotta love middle schoolers

This is why I enjoy teaching this age group sooooo much. :) Today my Honors class participated in a Town Meeting Simulation. We had Samuel Adams, King George III, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, Earl of Effingham, Dicey Langston, Thomas Hutchinson, Samuel Seawall, Crispus Attucks, Logan, and many more in attendance. They were trying to persuade the Neutrals to join the Patriot or Loyalist sides. We have been prepping for this simulation for about a week and a half. The kids were SO excited about it and so was I. I could not stop laughing when they were getting ready. It was so cute. This is one of my most favorite simulations and parts of history to teach. I think they learn so much by acting out and infusing a bit of drama here and there. :) History came to life today. My principal was in today just sitting in watching and I could see him in the back of the room just cracking up. I think he needed a good laugh. I totally said to my kids before we started, "I'm trying to look at you all with a straight face when I say this, but I am finding myself having a hard time doing so." and the kids just rolled on the floor laughing. It was all E's fault for wearing the beard and black wig, appearing to look more like a caveman than a colonial neutral. LOL oh well--they had so much fun and we laughed and learned so much today.

My new favorite children's book

I have a lot of favorite children's books I enjoy reading to my kids. One of my new favorites is called Splat the Cat. These are some of my favorite lines: "Cats are amazing. We're clever, cunning and quick. Cats climb trees, drink milk, and chase mice."....by the end Splat says: "I've got lots of friends...cats don't chase mice...I'm amazing..." It's just a super cute little book.

This is my current list of favorite children's books to read to my own kids:

1. Knuffle Bunny
2. Knuffle Bunny Too
3. Splat the Cat
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
5. Llama Llama Red Pajama
6. Pinkalicious
7. Purpleicious
8. Llama Llama Mad at Mama
9. Llama Llama Misses Mama
10. If you give a Mouse a Cookie
11. If you give a Cat a Cupcake

What are your favorite children's books to read to your kids?

I'm enrolled!

I enrolled in my Master's program today. I have some paperwork to get sent in, but the initial sign up is done. Because I signed up before the 4/5 deadline, I received my first class for free. Pretty sweet. I'm excited but nervous to get started. Hopefully I'll be able to get assignments done in a timely manner and not feel too overwhelmed. I'll be done in 18 months and that will be so sweet. :)

This is how, This is how, This is how I WINK! ;)

So this is super funny b/c Brynn is trying to wink all of the time and trying to hard to do it. She came REALLY close today but prior to this morning, she's been winking like this:



haha

not much...

ETA: the state has pre-approved my school for the grant. amount of $ to be determined SOON. that means we are moving forward w/ transformation...

I wish I had something interesting to post but I don't have much. The latest update on our school's situation is that at our staff meeting on Wednesday, we were told that the state did not expect that 41 of the named 47 schools would apply for the grant money. They figured only half of the schools would apply in the first place...um...HELLO? I can't even believe they'd think that with so many budget cuts the state will experience next year. DUH! Anyway, because so many schools applied, that means that a large amount of them will NOT receive any money. Surprise, surprise! :( Apparently, our school and the other middle school in the district made it to the next round but the state told our district people it needed some "buffing" around the edges. They might know more either yesterday or in 3 weeks. Ridiculous! As usual, we're going to operate last-minute, if we don't find out for another month. It's very frustrating. However, if we DON'T get the money, then that may mean we won't have to replace our principal or go through the transformation process necessarily. Really, it's not surprising. I mean, many of us knew from the beginning that the money was just a little carrot dangling and b/c it was so unclear as to what the amt. would be, many of us knew we would probably never see it, or see very little. I guess we'll have to just wait until we hear back. Maybe I'll be surprised.

She did so well...

Brynn did so well at Bay's birthday party, considering. She was super excited to be a part of it, but it was hard for her to see him opening presents and getting all of the attention. Since then, she's been trying really hard to get lots of attention. We are trying hard to make sure she doesn't feel left out. She did LOVE the pin the wheel on the tractor game--hence the photo.

new bike!

Thanks Papa and Gramma for my new bike! :)

Mister Mister

is talking many sentences these days...all of a sudden--turns two and he gets tornado of the mouth!

The coolest things he's said this week:

Mom, don't talk to me. (this he "borrowed" from his lovely sister)
Mom, I want Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Watch Choo choo express!"
Brynna, no touch my truck!
Why?
Because!
No I do it!
Me do!
Mommy, where zoey?
Mommy, look! Cammy right there...in the window!
Mommy, where my phone?
Want take a bath
I stinky. I fart! haha
lay down. hug me.

he calls books: my book-ie

And he sings: Happy Birthday dear ______ (daddy is his latest fill in the blank) Happy Birthday to youuuhhhh!

We still have to listen closely and translate often, but he's really trying so hard to talk and talk and talk just like his sister.

Nice Weather

Saturday we went to the local Bouncy house and let the kids bounce for an hour or so. They were not happy when we told them it was time to leave. Dj experienced the bouncy house for the first time. I think he had fun with the kids and it was nice to have two of us to go on the slides or different bouncy house obstacles w/ each of the kids. Later in the afternoon before the UW Huskies played, the kids asked to go outside and ride bikes, so we spent some time doing that. It was a beautiful 67 degrees, sunny and warm. They had so much fun. We just rode the bike w/ them in the bike trailer around the block, but soon enough when it's warmer, we'll take them in that on the bike trails, which is always a nice ride. The kids also enjoyed riding their own bikes and Brynn even tried out Baylen's new "big boy" bike. She got frustrated with it b/c she kept trying to move the pedals backwards and they brake. So we'll keep trying until she gets it. Baylen still loves the Beep Beep and tried his bike for a couple minutes but then ran over to Brynn's and pedaled away. He's been able to pedal for quite awhile now, but this was the first time in awhile it's been light enough, dry enough, and warm enough to really ride for more than a few minutes. He pedaled down the block a ways and we had to go and get him and tell him to come back. He thought he was pretty sneaky!

Just measuring...

just chillin'

TV is so mezmorizing...especially when it's Super Why

Watch Me Grow...

Here is Baylen as a newborn, as a one year old, and now as a TWO year old...

Happy St. FITZPatrick's Day! Part II

:) My little Irish Asian children. LOL

Po-Po in the House

We have Policeman Baylen in the house. His badge number is #25 and he's super excited about his costume. We have so many "girl" costumes that it was only fair he get something fun to wear. Of course, Miss Brynnie's eyes were full of excitement when she saw the costume and wanted to try it on immediately. Baylen's birthday was hard for her to fully understand and he did a really nice job of letting her help him open presents. He even did a really nice job of letting her play with some of his new toys like his cool new bike and cool new jungle treehouse. He's a sharing kind of guy when he wants to be.

His cake...

He did much better and was less messy this year. He loved loved loved the frosting! :)

The Birthday Boy

He's trying to tell you he's 2 now. :) He can't quite get his fingers to hold up right just yet...

The Decorations...

Some of the Decorations...When Brynna woke up from her nap, she walked in and her eyes lit up and she asked, "Mom, did you decorate? Who helped you?" I told her Papa helped me. Then she said, "Mommm the party decorations are beautiful!" haha
She was super excited about Bay's party and all week she kept asking me, "Mom, am I invited to Baylen's party too?" and I kept telling her, "Yes, honey you LIVE with us, of course you're invited!" and then she'd get all excited, start jumping up and down and say, "Yippeee!"


Made with my Cricut machine


Ordered from a friend who makes these and sells them on her etsy site...let me know if you want her addy--she's awesome!


The table and other hanging decor I ordered online from Celebrate Express


Pin the Wheel on the Tractor game I traced and blew up w/ an overhead at school, laminated, and then used velcro for the backs of the wheels...in retrospect, I probably should have used scotch tape on the back instead...oh well.


Favors: 3 kids received toy tractors and a tractor sucker inside. Baby T. received a bigger "baby friendly" combine and a sucker inside of his. The 3 bigger kids also received a tractor made out of candy.


Elmo: I added the "2" chain in green b/c we tried putting a John Deere party hat on him and it turned out to look more like a bonnet and he became known as "Amish" Elmo. LOL


The Tractor balloon is from CelebrateExpress.com




A farm theme needs farm themed "foods" and snacks. Looking back, most were not very healthy but I guess that's what birthday parties are for, right?! We used Bay's combine for a fruit snack holder and the J.D. fruit snacks came from Papa Kevin and G'ma Cindy & Uncle Kevin.

The cake...

I found these on Ebay and loved them. I tried to get the same gal who made Brynn's awesome Hello Kitty cake to also make Bay's tractor cake, but she's an accountant full time and well, March is busy for her and she couldn't commit to it this time. So, I opted for cupcakes w/ the John Deere hats.

All day long Baylen was asking to eat a cupcake..."want pancake, eat pancake!" he kept saying. :) Brynn sampled the frosting several times and exclaimed, "YUMMMMM!"

Happy 2nd Birthday, Buddy!

Thanks for coming, Dad!

Thanks so much for coming out to celebrate Baylen's Birthday with us, Dad! We had a great time and the kids loved having their Papa here to play with them and hang out. :) We wish you could stay longer or that we were closer!!

Happy Birthday, Mister Mister!

Feliz Cumpleanos a ti, Mister Mister! You are two years old today and I can't believe it, but here we are. I hope you love your John Deere party today...you've been so excited about it for weeks now.

Brynnisms Part VII

Several Brynnisms occurred this week...


Dj and Brynn are driving in his car and she spots an American Flag.

Brynn: "Look dad, there's the Star Spangled Banner!"

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Baylen is trying to wrestle with Brynn in their room this morning and she just wants to get her dance clothes on and get ready to go. He tries several times to jump on her or wrestle her. Finally she says,

Brynn: "Baylen!! Get out of my GRILL!" hahahaha

***********************************************

Brynn walks over to her kitchen and says to herself,

"Wow, this place is a mess! I better start cleaning up."

Let's Get this Party Started...

John Deere Themed Party 101






Pin the Wheel on the Tractor Game I made...blew an image up by tracing it first on a transparency then used an overhead projector and traced it bigger onto paper. (used stuff at school to do this--benefits of a teacher!) Then I painted the tractor with craft paint most of which I had at school as well. I laminated the big tractor. I then traced and laminated extra wheels and placed velcro on the back and will place velcro on the big tractor's small wheels before we hang it up on the wall tomorrow.


Cupcake toppers: John Deere hats! :)


Pink Tractor suckers for Brynn & I made extras for Bay to take for his friends at daycare.


**I posted more on my craft blog...