Still Snowing

Today started off with the residue of yesterday's snow and nice blue skies.

That didn't last long.  We ventured to the library where we went to story time and had a great time.  While we were there teeny tiny flakes began to fall, but nothing worth getting excited about.  Over the next few hours, these itty bitty flakes turned into something much more exciting!  The sky grew darker, the flakes got bigger, and the number of snowflakes tumbling from the skies grew exponentially!  By the time we got home, the ground was quickly changing colors and Eli was more than thrilled to go out and play in the freshly fallen snow.  He, Oliver, and I took a few laps around the block and of course, I got some pictures outside, but this one was my favorite.

He insisted on wearing my hat today. HA HA

Let There Be Snow

It is Mid-Winter Break for my district which means a week at home with Eli!  I will be the first to admit that when we are first handed our year calendar with that week of in February, you will often hear me say, "Eh, we don't need that break, what a waste of days."  Then February rolls around and I am thankful we have this week off.  It is a much needed pick me up where I can work on projects around the house and play with Mr. E.  This week I am FINALLY getting around to those kitchen cabinets again.  Yes, we've had white on the bottom and brown on the hanging cabinets since August.  Yep, you heard (read) correctly.  AUGUST.  But where has the time to do it been?  I haven't had it.  Sooooo....a painting I have done!  And of course, it's break so I get a cold.  Yes, timing is everything.

Yesterday, Eli and I decided to run to the store and get a few things.  As we were leaving it started to hail.  Thankfully, it wasn't very hard, but it was still hail.  It continued for probably the next hour or so before turning to snow.  SNOW!  Eli had a great time watching the snow fall while I continued painting.  We ended up with at least half an inch, possibly more.  So we ventured out and played for a little bit.  Eli made his first snow man - perfect snowman snow.  Although we were trying to use chocolate chips for its mouth but they wouldn't stick....so bits of branches it was. 

Catching flakes on his tongue

Don't you just hate it when it lands in your eye!

We really don't let him run around outside without a coat.  He wanted to step out and try to catch one on his tongue.  He was out less than a minute in just his tshirt!  See, here he is in his coat!

Eli's first snowman!!

What Not to Wear Day

Once a month, we have spirit day at school that is decided by our group of Student Leadership Reps, one student from each class.  Of course you have the typical spirit days that just about every school in the country has: hat day, pajama day, sports day, blah blah blah. Our kids were extra creative this year and decided on What Not to Wear Day.  You should have seen some of the outfits that students and teachers had on.  Hilarious to say the least.  From absolute clashing of colors, styles, cuts, layers, you name it.

Laura, one of the other teachers, and I decided it would be fun to take our What Not to Wear attire to a new level.  Keep in mind, we teach fourth graders.  They are pretty aware of likes and dislikes of colleges and universities.  My students are keenly aware of my passion for the Cougars.  Her's understand her likeness for the Huskies.  So we traded clothing for the day!  Miraculously, I was able to make it through the day without any long-term physical damage.  I was sure I would come away with some pretty major blistering, but alas I am still in one piece.  I did a few "Hail Butch"es throughout the day to counteract the purple stuff I was wearing and to pledge my full support.  I think after a few more days and some choice t-shirts/sweatshirts, I should be able to surpass this....

 Laura and I as close as we can to our own team attire.

Four Year Check-up

Last year we got off on our dates for Eli's well child check-ups, which means for the sake of immunizations we have to continue to be a month late.  Last Monday (yes, I am late on posting again), Eli and I made our venture in to the pediatrician's office for his four year check-up.

We need to back-track a bit, however.  One of Eli's good buddies was born in September.  When he went to his four year appointment, to get him over his fear of shots, his mom told him that shots make you run faster.  Well, we thought this was absolutely brilliant.  Sooooo....being the genius's WE are, we have grasped on to this and every time Eli's appointment had come up in conversation, we would say how his shots will make him run fast and grow big and tall.  (Seriously, how can that be bad parenting?  It is true...well, except for maybe the running fast thing.  But if you think about it, if you're sick, you're not running at all...so in a way you are fast!  And the more you grow, the faster you run!  See, we're right!)

So here it is.  The day of his appointment.  Eli and I are in the car and are headed to the office.  I ask how he's doing and how he's feeling about his appointment.  His response?  "GREAT!  I'm going to be FAAAAST!"  I thought I better let him know that they are still shots and they might sting a little when they give them to him.  Again, his response was something to the effect of, "Eh!  I'm going to be fast!"

The doctor visit was great, Eli is of course growing like a weed (isn't that what I've been saying?).  He's 41 pounds and 41 1/2  inches tall.  He ranks in the 67th percentile in height and in the 83rd percentile for weight. I was a little shocked at the weight part because he is not a big (fat) kid.  He's just built SOLID.  I do remember the doctors quote word for word though.  "Don't change a thing, he's doing great!"  Ahhhh.  The words any mother loves to hear.

Fast-forward to the nurses visit with said shots.  She pulled out the four that he was going to receive (and of course the cool crayon band-aids).  He was to get two in each arm - one of which was his flu shot - and he was ready.  He actually smiled when she came in.  He sat so nicely in my lap and she did her work.  There was one that he flinched on, however she did say that particular one stings a little.  Yep it did.  But let me tell you there were NO tears.  Not one.  His little eyes didn't even well up.  What a little stud!  He got his band-aids, got dressed, chose a sticker and a sucker and we were off.

As we were headed home, I asked how he was doing.  He said "Good."  If you know Eli, everything turns out to be "goooood" in a funny little voice.  What a crack up.  The funniest part was then he said, "Mom, she poked holes in me!"  I about died laughing.  Yes, my dear Eli, she poked holes in you.


The best, and funniest part, was Friday.  He and I were on our way to Mary's house when he piped up with, "Hey Mom, on Tuesday can we go back to the doctor's?"  (First of all, who knows where the Tuesday part came from, but it added to the humor.) Of course I asked why and his reply was simply, "I need more shots to run even FASTER!"

Can I tell you how much we just love our little boy? He has got to be the funniest kid around!  HAHA

These Are the Moments

...the moments I live for my job.

Yesterday at the end of ...something...I can't even remember what it was we were doing exactly, but I asked if anyone had anything they wanted to add to the conversation.  One of my more challenging boys asked if he could say something.  He proceeded to stand up, turn to face the rest of the class and started a little narrative, it went something like this:

"This is for you Mrs. Winkey, but for everyone else in here.  I wanted to say thank you."

We all looked at each other a little awkwardly, wondering what in the world he was talking about.  Maybe he really enjoyed the activity we just did, maybe he had a helpful partner, or maybe he's losing his marbles.  Finally a voice in the back of the room said, "For what exactly?"

It was at this point that he continued in a partially nervous (?) quieter voice.  He said, "For everything.  This has been the best year so far for me.  Last year I was in a lot of trouble.  I got detention a lot and was suspended a lot, too.  I was in a LOT of fights.  I just couldn't avoid them.  But here I am doing better.  I want to do good and I am really trying to do better."

After a round of applause from my class as a whole, completely initiated on their own, one of my more perceptive girls asked him, "Do you think it's because of the charts?" [Referring to our T-Graph for Social Skills]

Without a beat, he said, "I know it is.  I know what I am supposed to do.  I don't have to guess.  But I have you, and Mrs. Winkey, and Mrs. Hansen, and I am getting better."  

With this realization from a TEN YEAR-OLD, I know I am making a difference.  I don't care that I am a month behind in our frameworks.  I don't care what my test scores will "say" about my students or myself as a teacher.  I care that my students can work together.  I care that my students are learning how to work collaboratively and make positive decisions.  I care that they are learning that they have the power to take control. I care that my students and I are having a positive impact on a child who came to us with a not-so-great past. I care that I am helping mold students who could go down the path not desired realize that he has control over his choices.  I know that I am having a positive impact on my students' lives and THAT is what being a teacher is all about.    

(OK, come May I might have another perspective on the whole test scores thing, but as of right now, this is where I stand.)

A Quick Weekend

Wow, what a weekend!  Fun really is what sums it up.  On Saturday, Melissa, Leigh-Ann and I had our first monthly craft day.  We decided that we're going to do a year-long project where we keep a calendar, pictures, and memorabilia throughout  at the end of the year, we'll scrapbook them.  Thankfully, they are both really good at scrapbooking because this is NOT my forte.  After we got our calendars stamped and ready, we each worked on our own projects for a little bit.  I decided that we would decorate our downstairs bathroom based on the coming holiday, so I made blocks to decorate for Valentine's Day.  Thanks to Melissa's stamping expertise, I embossed the letters on paper and mod podged them to the blocks.  I think they turned out pretty cute!  Now for a towel that matches the season (you can't see that it's still a Christmas towel!)....

After crafting, we headed up to Scott and Leigh-Ann's for games.  We played games on the Wii (we wii'ed, hehe) and had a blast!  The boys, Eli and Eric, even got in on the fun and played with us.  Eli's favorite was Hide the Remote, he got to help search for the hidden remotes and really got into the fun.

Sunday morning we went back up to their house to watch the Seahawks play the Colts, what a miserable football game. Jeanne and Ryan were there with their little one Mikaela - she's a cutie.

Eli playing with Eric's GeoTrax.

Mikaela hanging out with me.

Eli found Megan's "leash" and thought it was greatest thing ever.  He played with this for quite a while.  What nut.

Little Miss Megan

After we came home, we played more game.  This time we played Super Hero Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land.  Eli really enjoys playing both of these games.  He gets so excited while he plays, it's very cute.

Daddy and Eli play Chutes and Ladders.  Notice Eli's focus and precision while spinning.

Laughing with Daddy.

It wasn't too much after this that Gordon, Dusti, and Liam came over for what started out as a game night but instead of playing games, we watched the Golden Globes and chatted.  This was well overdue, we haven't spent much time with our wonderful neighbors in such a long time.  I didn't take any pictures though - shocker huh!  I take pictures of EVERYTHING!  And here Eli and I sit watching Phineas and Ferb on our extra day off!

***Nothing to do with this weekend but cute***
Earlier this week, Eli got a new Cougar jersey and hat that we found on an incredible clearance.  He loves them and wouldn't stop goofing around.  Here's our great (silly) little Coug!

Mr. Brown Eyes

Lately I have been completely taken aback by Eli's big, gleaming, brown eyes.  I absolutely adore them, and every ounce of him of course.  Not too long ago I found my flash and have been trying to get it to work *effectively* with the digital camera.  Mind you, this was the flash that I bought with my original Minolta X-700 when I was in 7th or 8th grade.  I bought it used at the time, so I couldn't accurately tell you how old it is, but it still works so I am trying my hardest to make it work how I'd like it to with the digital.  Because of the advancements in technology, I think this is why I continue to struggle with getting the settings just right.  Every once in a while I get a shot "right" but as of yet, they aren't there.  Someday, I'd like to move up and get a new flash, but with the cost of that, for now I am bound and determined to figure this out!

...back to the point of this post....

While I've been playing with this external flash, Eli's amazingly brown eyes have captured my heart.  Not that I hadn't noticed them before, but with how the flash pulls them out and makes them so vibrantly brown, they are absolutely impossible to miss.  If you were to inspect a family picture you might wonder how in the world Eli is ours.  I have a more greenish of hazel eyes, Jess, blue, and Eli with his stunningly brown!  He definitely has his Papa's eyes, and I love it!  I have my Grandma's eyes, he has his Papa's.

I know these are not really "quality" pictures, but there they are!  Those handsome brown eyes!