Opening Day

Saturday was the kids' opening day for softball and t-ball. It turned out to be a beautiful day. Spencer is on the Giants this year and his dad is coaching his team. We have a really good group of kids and parents. Ali is on the Bulldogs and her coach is Steve. He is a good, but tough coach. Ali was bummed that Tayah wasn't on her team but overall she is happy with her team. Saturday's games were just practice games but both of them won and were excited about that. Spencer more so than Ali. We don't even have winners and losers in t-ball but you can be sure that the kids keep track. Everyone had a great day. Here are a few pictures.

Spencer is so excited!

Ready to make a play

Ali (2nd from the left) and team

Ali running to 3rd

Happy Birthday Brother!!

Last Monday was my "baby" brother's birthday. His 21st birthday. He came over and and we celebrated with his favorite meal....chicken enchiladas. Then we had his favorite cake.....chocolate! Which worked out good for me too since I love chocolate cake. And it was an "off diet" week which made it even better! For his birthday, he got money.....to help pay for his car's registration. Oh, the joys of being an adult!

Happy Birthday, Corey!

Say What?!

On Friday night, we were getting ready to leave and I was on my computer.
Dave: You're stalling.
Spencer: Don't worry mommy, you're not solid. You're squishy like a trampoline.
Me: Thanks, son......

On Saturday night, the kids and I are eating dinner at Marie Callendar's with my mom. The waitress comes up to tell us what kind of pie there is.
Ali to Nana: Please not the poison, please not the poison.
Nana: Confusion......
Ali to me after I ordered peach: Good thing you didn't pick the poison berry.
Me as understanding sets in: It's boysenberry, not poison berry!

Luck of the Irish.....

That's just what Spencer had! In kindergarten, we had to make a leprechaun trap as a family project. We spent half of Sunday on it and even though Spencer was sick, we went to the school and turned it in on Monday. He showed Mrs. Jones how to set it since he wouldn't be there to do it at the end of the day. Then we went to school on St. Patrick's Day to see if his class had caught any tricky little green guys. And they did! In Spencer's trap, even. He was so excited. The sneaky little leprechaun had disguised himself as a cute, furry little bunny rabbit. Spencer couldn't stay at school that day either because the doctor didn't clear him for school until Wed. so he wasn't there when that tricky little fella escaped and headed back to Ireland. This was a little rough on Spencer because he had spent the whole day at home wondering what he was going to name his new little friend. The leprechaun was nice enough to leave a green four-leaf clover coin for each of the students.

Rodeo Days

Last Friday, Spencer went on a field trip with his kindergarten. They went to a horse boarding place in Kernville and had their own rodeo. This field trip was scheduled for last month but was postponed several times due to the weather. He was so looking forward to it. And wouldn't you know it, he woke up with a fever. I, being the good mother I am, gave him some motrin and sent him on his way. I was going to take him home after the rodeo but he said he felt better and wanted to stay at school. A lot of the kids dressed up like cowboys and they did rodeo events. It was a lot of fun. Spencer with his gold that he panned.

Spencer and his good friend Brenna

Spencer riding "the bull"

Spencer and his best bud Trey

They had tons of fun. And my vote for Best Wrangler Tush of the day goes to ............................. Spencer!!! Of course. You didn't think I was going to name some other kid? I wanted to get a picture of his little bum in his wranglers but he wouldn't go for it. And turns out, he was sick all weekend and came home from the doctor on Monday diagnosed with Scarlet Fever. Which, for those of you who don't know, is just strep throat with a rash. Sounds worse than it is. Oops....hope he didn't cough, sneeze, or breathe on any other kids.

Congratulations, Tanessa!

Tanessa has always struggled in school. She started when she was young (my bad) and had been "recommended" to be retained every year up until third grade. In third grade, her teacher said that she knew Tanessa could do the work but just needed more time, and did not recommend retaining her. Yay! Also in third grade, we began exploring reasons for the difficulties in school. After numerous tests (academic and psychological), which came back diagnosing her with a "specific learning disability", which ironically seemed to me very unspecific. We did tons of tutoring but it did not help much. In fourth grade, we went to a specialist who put her through more tests. They diagnosed her with some other stuff and then she got glasses and went through a year of expensive vision therapy. I noticed minor improvements. Very frustrating! Then in fifth grade her teacher (and principal) and I did not see eye to eye so I pulled her out of school and began homeschooling, against everyone's advice. It was a struggle that first year, then got easier for both of us the next two years. She went back to public school this year in eighth grade and...................is doing awesome!! This past trimester, she got honor roll (first time ever!!) and also received the student of the month award from her language arts teacher! Good job, Tanessa! It's been a long, trying road, but you're finally there! We are so proud of you and love you so much. Congratulations!!

Formal

I only call it the formal because it was supposed to be a winter formal back in December. The teacher who puts on the dances was sick so it was postponed till after the Christmas break. It got pushed all the way back to Valentine's Day. Then that one got snowed out. Finally, it was on Feb. 27. By then it was being called a semi-formal and most of Tanessa's friends were not going. The ones that were going had decided not to wear dresses at all. Tanessa was really bummed. We had picked out a really cute dress and shoes and she had been looking forward to this for months now. She had a dilemma. Did she wear the dress anyway and risk being the only one dressed up or did she wear jeans and a shirt like her friends and follow the crowd? I am proud to say that she did what SHE wanted to. She went against the crowd and wore her dress. Honestly, I can say that although I encouraged her to do what she wanted, I wouldn't have made the same decision. I can't stand standing out or having any unnecessary attention on me. Seriously, it brought tears to my eyes. Of course she was nervous, especially when I dropped her off. And none of her nightmares came true. There was one other girl really dressed up and a few more dressed nicely. And no one laughed at her or stared at her. She was even crowned queen for the night. I am so proud of my daughter for the independent, courageous young woman she is becoming. She is truly beautiful inside and out! Maybe I could learn something from her!

Before the dance photos

With her crown afterwards