Volunteer

Yesterday was my first day helping in Miya's classroom and I had to laugh when I got home about how much movement there was during the short hour I was there. Kids where all over the place. They were working on their science journal and kids were EVERYWHERE. They had to get a different crayon from a different basket, they had to go to the board to look at the sentences, they had to talk to their teacher, they had to... It was 1:00 in the afternoon and by the time the assembly started somehow all but two of the kids had finished. Thank Heavens for 1st grade teachers. I don't know how they do it, continually bringing the kids back to the task at hand.
I am excited to spend more time in there this year.

Problem Solver

I picked Cannon up from school and his teacher said, "So today..." I tuned her out a little for a second to think, "shoot what did Cannon do today?" she went on, "Cannon helped solve a problem in the bathroom. Cannon, you will have to tell your mom all about it."

Cannon was beaming at this point and couldn't wait to get to the car to tell me all about his problem solving skills. His story went like this:

Cannon: I went in the bathroom and you know the place that you go pee, not the regular toilet?Me: yes. (I really can't imagine what is going to come next, but I can't imagine the bathroom being very clean with urinals for little boys.)

Cannon: Well, a big kid was sticking a little boys head in there and flushing so his head got all wet. He asked (I am not sure he was really asking) me to do it to, but I said no and that he shouldn't be doing it to the other little kids.

Miya: mom we have a sign that says Be a Buddy not a Bully.

Me: Then what happened Cannon?

Cannon: I went to the bathroom and then went out for recess and told Mrs. _____ about it and showed her what boy it was that did it.

Me: Cannon how did you know that what was happening in the bathroom was wrong? Was the little boy crying?

Cannon: He wasn't crying, but he just kept sniffing his nose. It didn't seem like something that should be happening and so I stopped it.

Me: Cannon I am so glad that you didn't just join in on the bullying and that you helped the other little boy. I hope you know how great I think you are. I love you.

Cannon: Thanks mom. Mrs. ______thought I was pretty good too.

I love this little boy. I am a little worried about bullying at school, but I am glad to see how Cannon handled things.

September Weekends

Well the kids are excited to be back in school, but we have had great weekend weather the past few weeks. We have enjoyed some wake boarding, tubing, hiking, cookouts and a trip to the local gardens on kid's day. We have this little family hike up to a small waterfall out past Eatonville near our old cabin. The kids love it and it is easy enough everyone has a good time.

Phil took all the kids over and around to the cave under the waterfall.

Wishing we had a backpack big enough to put Lyla in for the trip back. She did okay and walked all the way there. We did carry her all the way back.

We love the weather in September, cool and crisp yet the sunshine is almost always out.

Kids day at the gardens. They had this swimming pool and it was all to tempting for the kids.

Miya and Cannon loved climbing in the fire truck and Lyla just screamed and covered her ears in case they started the truck and the sirens.

Part of the gardens.

The policeman let the kids get in the back of the car with the hard seats and a place for the hands in handcuffs. They thought it was great and they looked at the big guns he had in the front seat.

Notice no Lyla in the picture.

What a nice smiling policeman. Phil was teasing him about this being our family picture for the Christmas cards.

Miya E. Combs 1st Grader Toothless Wonder

So Miya lost her first tooth yesterday. We have been reading the Junie B. Jones books this past year and did the Toothless Wonder book for mother/daughter book club. Miya loves the books and has been dying to loose a tooth. This morning I let her know that she is now part of the Junie toothless wonder club and she was so proud. She wanted to take the tooth to school today, but luckily the tooth fairy already came last night and took the tooth. Miya thinks she is cleaning it to recycle the tooth in Lyla's mouth (who is currently working on getting her two year molars).
Here we head into the years of crazy teeth. Giant teeth coming in one tooth at a time.

First Day of School 2009

So the kids have been in school for the past 3 days. Cannon was so brave and didn't need me to even walk him in to class. I asked him at the end of the day what he learned and he said, "we learned about the letter A and the color red. All the stuff I already know." He loves his teacher and loves lunch. He has been eating a ton and falls asleep within minutes of being put to bed at night.

Miya loves her teacher too and has been enjoying school, but can't wait until she gets back into reading next week in class. It will be a good year for her and she is loving being back and seeing all of her friends from last year.

I have a new companion around all the time now that Lyla has no other people at home during the day. She is a pretty fun little buddy and loves helping with the dishes in the sink.