School Update

Tonight was back to school night. I do not really have much to report the kids are doing great in school.

Caylea loves school. She loves absoutly everything about school! I am so happy about this. She has an 80% in math right now which is a C here but the rest of her grades are A's and B's. She will pick it up in math she is just not use to the way things are done and she has to learn to follow the directions closer as we go forward. We have been discussing this she seems to just think she has to do part of what the directions say. Thankfully her teacher is so great with her and adjusting to being in the school environment. In fact I guess they are moving around classes because they got a new teacher and working on making class sizes smaller. Caylea's teacher reassured me she would not be moving out. She said that just wouldn't be fair to Caylea going from home school to public and moving teachers so quickly. I am so thankful not only for Caylea as she loves her teacher very much but for me I know that Mrs. Miller understands the food allergies and Caylea is comfortable telling her if she is having problems. I am certain Caylea is as safe as possible.

Carolina is a different story. From what her teachers tell me she does great after I am gone for 5 minutes. She was doing okay walking in the school when I dropped them off until Friday. On Friday a teacher had to peel her out of the van. I was so heartbroken all day. I knew she was fine and happy or Mrs. Green would of called me. I just hate to leave her like that. We talked about it over the weekend. She did better Monday morning when I walked her in. She still held on to me and I had to pull her arms off of me. Today we did the same thing. I spoke with the school counselor when I dropped off Carolina and she called me a little later after she observed her. She feels like it would be best for Carolina if I went in the car line and let her get her out every morning. So that is the plan. She also said she would start a dialog with Caden to get him familiar with her for next year.

Well that was the plan until I went to back to school night tonight and met Carolina's little friend Aubrey's Mom. We talked for while. Then we realized that she lives right down the street from us. Aubrey wanted to ride the bus and so after talking with the girls (they have asked almost everyday to ride the bus) and Anthony I am going to look into getting them on the bus. I just need to talk to the driver about Caylea's allergies and make sure she is comfortable with everything.

I am going to talk with the counselor again tomorrow if I see her. Tomorrow is Wednesday so I am working on stapling and collating. I am then having lunch with Caylea (not Carolina just yet hopefully soon she just needs to be more comfortable with school before I interrupt her day). After lunch I have a meeting with the assistant Principal to get Caylea's 504 plan completed.

Carolina told me today that she cried at PE and Recess. I asked her why and she said it was because she missed me. Those are the times that she is not with Mrs. Green and Mrs. Mann (her student teacher). So I suspect that is the problem with that. Carolina told me Saniyah (our neighbor who is not in Carolina's class but has those two times with her) gave her a hug and told her it would be okay. How sweet is that! Aubrey's mom also told me tonight that when Carolina is sad Aubrey said she rubs her back. I asked Carolina about that tonight (she hadn't told me that) and she said yes she does. Is that not the sweetest thing. My little girl has been blessed with some very sweet friends! Not to mention the great teacher that is very sensitive to Carolina's feelings.

Also with all of this going on with Carolina, Anthony and I have decided to put Caden into a Mothers Day Out hopefully like 2 days a week so he can adjust earlier and only a few days a week instead of m-f. I talked with my Pastor and He knows the Pastor at Airline Baptist so I am going to start there. I haven't called yet so I am not sure if we are going to start soon or wait till Jan. I was thinking one semester would be good. We need to pray more about it.

This And That. . .Details For The Kids To Enjoy Years From Now

Caylea has been in school for 2 1/2 weeks now.  She still absolutely loves it.  I saw something she wrote in a notebook.  Paraphrased it said I like my school, I love my teacher, I like my friends and I like PE.  I thought that was pretty cute.

Tuesday Caden and I went up to the school and had lunch with the girls. Here is Caden walking to the school
 
My beautiful Caylea at lunch. I thought this was pretty cool. In the cafeteria while waiting in line there is a big sink with a water pipe running over it. It has streams of water coming out and of course soap and paper towels are hanging right there. So all the kids wash their hands while in line. I love this! Someone had an awesome idea!


Caylea in line heading back to class.


Caylea's lunch is from 11:00-11:20 and Carolina's is from 11:45 to 12:05. So Caden and I hung out in the commons area until it was time to see Carolina.

Carolina and I at her lunch.



On Wednesday's I have volunteered to be on the stapling and collating team (It had a cute name but I do not remember it) to help the school. Here is Caden playing with the ipad while I work. I sorted for a good two hours. Caden wad definitely ready to go. Next week I will plan better. I plan to have lunch with the girls on Wednesday's since I am already up there. (maybe not Carolina for a few weeks until she is doing better with the separation)


I snuck a peek at Carolina. I was careful for her not to see me!


While Caden and I were waiting on Carolina to have lunch he noticed a display case in the hall way with this in it. How cool is that! Also Caylea's teacher sent home the whole paper. I was so excited to get it. Caylea thought it was really cool also! We do not get the Bossier paper.
Oh yesterday the school nurse called my cell when I saw the number my heart skipped a beat.  First things she says is Hi Mrs. Smith there is no emergency.  Awesome. . .now lets talk ~ LOL She called to make sure I saw Caylea in the paper.   How sweet is she? 

Tuesday night Carolina had homework for the first time she was so very excited. She asked me to take a picture and a video. Here is the picture.


Wednesday afternoon there was a storm. It was nice except for we lost electricity. I was worried because I couldn't open our garage door. I know that you can pull the emergency handle I have just never done that. It worked out we ended up riding up there with our neighbor to get her granddaughter and the girls. They actually let the kids out early. I am not sure why I thought maybe they had no power like us. However Caylea and Carolina said the power only went out for a little while.

Here is a picture of Caden playing in the rain.


Wednesday night my Pastor asked me to start Discovery. The lady that usually does the Wednesday night program has been out of town all summer and won't be back for another month. Usually it is just my kids at church on Wednesday night. We have been having some visitors with two younger children and a few others were there last night. I was so nervous about starting the program having no idea how to work it. Thankfully Brenda had left the teachers book and the kids just picked up where they left off in their workbooks. It was actually quite fun. . .with little organization though.

Here is a picture that Carolina drew at church Wednesday night. It is Carolina and her teacher Mrs. Green.


The girls have wanted twinkle toes for a long time however I have always wanted them to have tennis shoes. Since they have to wear uniforms to school I told them they could pick whatever shoes they wanted. I think it's good for them to express themselves in some way.

These are the one's Caylea chose.


Here are Carolina's


Caylea was so excited this afternoon when she got into the van. She told me that they said her name over the intercom and she had to go to the office and get a goodie bag. I asked her what it was for she said it was because she got her test out without talking. I am not sure if that was really what it was for but whatever it was for I am so proud of how amazing she is doing!


Carolina has been in school for a week and a half. She is still having rough time. The great thing is she loves school and she loves her teacher. She just doesn't want me to leave her. I walked her in earlier this week. Thursday she walked in with Caylea like a big girl. I had spoken with her teacher and she told her she could get a prize out of the treasure chest if she walked in with her sister. She did great got her prize but then today we were back as square one. She was okay until I opened the door for her to get out. She started saying her tummy hurt. I told her if it didn't get better to have Mrs. Green call me. She said no I just want to stay. So I asked the teacher helping out in the car line to help. She peeled Carolina off of me and the van. I felt like the worst mom ever for a while. Came home, sent a few e-mails one to her teacher and one to the counselor checking on her. Also to Caylea's teacher making sure Caylea was doing okay after all of the commotion with her sister. Caylea did great however I had taken her binder out of her bag when I put her scholastic book club order in there and forgotten to put it back in her backpack. Every child has a binder and the binder comes home everyday it has a pouch for different things including money and pockets for notes to teachers, homework, leave at home papers exc. . . So I had Caylea's homework with me ~ Caden and I jumped back into the van to run it up there. When we got to the office to sign in they were fixing to do a fire drill. Caden and I sprinted to the 3rd grade hall to get the binder to Caylea and then out the door to the van. I am so glad we got out before kids started pouring out of the building. I think we would of been stuck there until they went back in.

The kids have been asking to go swimming all week. We weren't able to fit it in. So after school today we came home and got our suit's on and ran to the pool. I was a great time relaxing and chatting with each of my children. When we got out of the pool to dry off Caylea taught Carolina how to play rock, paper scissors. It was so very cute. Caden was trying to play it also! :)



Caden has been so funny lately. He is just doing so great and being so well behaved at home with me. I just totally love it! Yesterday he wanted to play with the play doe so I got it out for him. He played for over an hour. I helped him clean it up. Today I told him to be careful not to drop any on the floor because he is going to clean it up all by himself today. He had a great time playing again. He made me all kinds of yummy food. Including my new favorite veggie ~ Okra and tomatoes YUM! (He loves it also) When it came time to clean up it took him a long time however he did a great job. He later told me that he didn't want to play play doe again unless his sisters were here to help him clean up because it took too long. I thought that was so very funny!

This week Caden has been saying "I use to like that/do that when I was a little boy". I think this is the cutest thing I have ever heard! The first time I said Caden what are you now? He said I am an adult. Such a funny little boy!

One other cute thing from the mouth of my son. While we were swimming today. Caden was holding on to me and then letting go and going down trying to go to the bottom and just staying under. He said to me "Mom I am going to go down under the water just don't let me die" I just laughed at him and said Caden are you worried you can't get back up. He said "no I just don't want to get stuck under there." I said okay I will make sure you get back up.

Caylea in the Bossier Press

Caylea made it in the Bossier City news paper. I didn't know it until Carolina and Caden's sunday school teacher brought me the news paper clipping. How cool is that! :)

http://www.bossierpress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4314:stockwell-place-freckle-juice&catid=4:school-news&Itemid=150

Cell Phone Pictures

Carolina and I at church last Sunday morning. Carolina and Caden's Sunday School teacher was sick so I got to substitute for their class.

My 3 at church last Sunday before church started. I do not know if you can see in the picture but Caden got a pretty nasty rash. I called the pediatrician our best guess is it was from his immunizations. He cleared up after about 5 days. He also fevers during that time in the evening but thankfully he was never itchy or seemed to be feeling really bad.

This is the nap mat I made for Carolina. In Kindergarten they have a quite rest time. She chose it ~ I think it turned out pretty darn cute!

Last Friday before Carolina started school I had an appointment with my eye doctor to check my contacts. After the appointment we went to the car wash. Carolina and Caden had been fighting all morning so I put them to work vacuuming the back of the van.

After swimming with Daddy last weekend he wanted to hit Starbucks these kids love vanilla bean frappuccinos!

I was thinking I really needed some new bows for the girls. . .I think looked at our bows and thought maybe I don't really need them. I still want some though ~ LOL

Here is Caden playing golf with his golf set from Anthony and I. He loves this thing! It was defiantly money well spent!

Well I guess that I am pretty caught up for now :)

I started a new "diet" so to speak but not really. I have been doing the Atkins for the last year. However I don't really loose weight on it. I decided that I needed a change. For 3 days last week I drank only energy shakes, 2 glasses of green tea and a salad with a little chicken for dinner. It was a rough time with no coke! However I got through it (it actually helped get my sleeping schedule on track I think)so now I am eating 4 small meals a day. One being fruit and one being a veggie. I have only lost a few lbs so far but I feel so much better. Only whole grains, no processed sugar and no artificial sweeteners. I am so ready for this! My kids are eating healthier because I am. Anthony has been loosing weight for a few months so he was already on board. :) Great changes for the Smith household!

First Day Freckles

Posting all of these video's I realized I didn't share the one from Caylea's first day of school.

http://youtu.be/LsQfv7kP3Tw

I also love how I all the parents have access to the school loop. I get daily homework assignments from the girls teachers. I can send email's and communicate so easily this way. Also on the website the teachers already have slide shows up from the first few day's of school.

Carolina was so excited to make the coconut tree from chica-chica boom boom

Caylea

This is from the first day of school they read "First Day Freckles" and all of the kids got freckles on their face :)

Carolina's First Day of Kindergarten

My little Ni-Na Bear is getting so big.  She learned so many new things this summer before her Kindergarten year.  A few new things are riding her bike without training wheels and swimming under water and then above water.  It has been such a huge growing time in her little life! 


Here Carolina is walking down the Kindergarten hall to her class room.  What a big girl! 

http://youtu.be/b9iPiPcZIcE

She was so excited about going to school.  Here a link to the video from the first day when I picked her up. 

http://youtu.be/P2rdhM5BiGo

I got several cute pictures of Carolina on the first morning before school.  My big Kindergarten girl!



My beautiful sweet girls heading to school!



One of the bus drivers saw me taking pictures of my girls walking to the school and offered to take this picture for me wasn't that so sweet!


My big girls still look so little when out among all of the other people!


Carolina and her teacher Mrs. Green


Carolina at her desk


I was not the last parent to leave ~ almost but defiantly not the last!


Carolina has done great in school. She has had nothing negative to say about it at all. However last night after a bunch of questions. I figured out my little Carolina is shy. I didn't realize that really. Caylea I expected but she has surprised me with out easily she makes friends. Carolina says she has only talked to one person besides her teacher. I asked her the name of the person she said she didn't know she just talked with her a little during quite time. I pray she will open up and make some great friends as she adjusts to her new environment.

After I made sure Carolina was good to go in her class I walked to the 3rd grade hall to double check that Caylea made it to her class. She was there safe and sound and I had a nice little chat with Caylea's super nice teacher Mrs. Miller.

Swimming Boy

Last Friday on the 12th of August Caden put on his goggles and just started swimming under water. Now he is all over the place in the pool. It is amazing how fast they gain confidence and ability in this area.

Here are a few video's from August 12th





We went to the pool on Saturday with Daddy so Caden should show him his new skills. He was jumping into the pool to me on Friday. However on Saturday Daddy was throwing him way up in the air and Caden would swim to him. He loves it! Today while we were swimming I was throwing him up. I couldn't get him near as high as Daddy but it was still a whole lot of fun!

Last weekend Carolina learned how to turn summer salts under water and that taught her how to swim deep under the water so cool!




Daddy also threw Carolina in but she only allowed it to happen one time!


Caylea is becoming a pretty strong swimmer! She is so comfortable in the water now. She loves to do hand stands under, summer salts, jump in and just swim all over the place. Today for the first time she asked me if she could jump in by the blue line which is much deeper than I can reach. Against what I really wanted to do I told her she could but she had to tell me each time before she jumped in so I could watch and make sure she made it back up and to the side of the pool.




Caden now loves to jump down under the water as deep as he can go and swim back up to the top. We were down watching his sisters jump into the deep end the first few times they did it and he did it there and it freaked me out. . .He did great though but I asked him to just stay on the wall until we went back to the other side of the pool. Crazy boy!

Caylea and Stockwell Place

Caylea's frist day of school was on August 10. She was so very excited to go. In my house bedtime has always been just whenever. I mean the kids got ready for bed and laid down about 9 but they have always been allowed to watch TV pretty much until they feel asleep. They usually feel asleep around midnight. So I knew that going to school would mean getting up earlier. By earlier I mean 6:30 that is very early for me. However I am so happy to say we all adjusted so easily! Even Caden is following this new schedule. The only thing about him is I think maybe we need to add the nap time back in. He was super fussy this evening. Either that or I am just moody. . .today was my second day without any coke! That is a whole other story we can talk about later :)

Caylea's first day of school was a week ago. She loved it then and she loves it now. I am so happy with this decision for our family. That fact shocks me. I miss Caylea when she is gone. I love her so much and I miss spending the whole day with her. It is hard because it is so bitter sweet. I think it is great for her to be at school and to learn a lot of independence that she just couldn't learn here. I think it is great that she gets to learn so many more things there (academically and socially). Things that she just couldn't learn in our home. None of these fun subjects were included in our Abeka curriculum. Also because of food allergies I think it is great because it is teaching her responsibility and how to make good decisions on her own with quite a bit of supervision. I think this will be easier learned now in this environment than later when supervision is less. Anyways home school is a great thing for a lot of people and I think that people that can do it are wonderful. I think mostly I am just too hard on my kids especially Caylea and it is so good for her to get a break of sorts from that (although I think her teacher is a little strict also - which is great). Really mostly I just wasn't a fun teacher. I wanted her to get it the first time thankfully most of the time she did. However when she didn't I didn't have quite as much patience to teach it again.

So here is my princess on her first day of school. All ready to go!

Here she is walking to the school

Here is Caylea and Mrs. Miller

I had many meetings getting things set up. Caylea is allowed to carry her epi-pens in her waist pack. There is zyrtec and another set of epi-pens in the nurses office. I am so happy about how easily setting this all up has been. I mean it was a lot of running around and work and calling the ped. office. However no one had a problem with her caring they all understood and wants to keep Caylea safe.

The second day of school I got a call from the school. Caylea had a swollen lip and some hives on her face. I am so thankful they gave her zyrtec and called me. They handled it perfectly. I was actually a little worried they would either over react or under react. The only thing I would of changed about the day is I should of gone up there. Caylea was sick to her stomach when I picked her up. She was lethargic and just sad every time she would talk you could tell she was on the verge of crying. So I just held her and let her know she was okay and I was there. I later told her that if she had another reaction and wanted to talk to me or for me to come up to the school to tell the nurse. I would of been happy to come make sure she was okay and reassure her. Next time she won't have to ask though I will just go up there. She opened up to me and talked with me about it on Saturday. She was scared she was going to have to go to the hospital. It could of been the zyrtec or the allergy that made her tummy sick but most likely it was just worry and stress.

Caylea has had a lot of home work and actually I am a little surprised however I also think it's great it gives me a chance to go over things with her and make sure she is getting everything. So far so good. I am so proud of her! I already knew she was a smart cookie but she is just so brave and has not shown any fear (besides the allergy issue). She has made so many new friends. I can not wait for "back to school night" at the end of the month. I will get to go see all she is doing and all of her new friends.

In case I haven't stated my thoughts clearly. Caylea loves school. Oh and I love Caylea! I couldn't be more blessed than to have these three precious kiddos loaned to me by my Heavenly Father. Thank you God for the precious gift please show me the right directions for each of these precious babies! I am so thankful!

Summer Break is Over For Caylea

Caylea is so excited to start school tomorrow.  I have spent most of the last two weeks getting everything in order.  Even today up until after 5:00 I was working on getting the last things in order that were missing on getting the medicine checked into the school. 

Caylea will wear her Epi-pen (2 actually) on a belt around her waist.  The school nurse also has a set of epi's in her office along with zyrtec.  I am so thankful for such a sweet school nurse she has been so helpful in making sure I felt comfortable with how everything is going to work.  A sign is posted outside her classroom that says no nuts are allowed in the classroom.  The nurse also typed up a letter to go home with the kids asking them to not send class snacks with nuts in them with a list of things to avoid.  This is more for class parties, birthday parties exc. 

I had a meeting with Caylea's teacher Mrs. Miller today.  The meeting went so well.  I think Caylea is going to have a great year.  She understood all of my concerns.  She is going to keep me in the loop about class parties, field trips, exc.  The teacher and I agree that Caylea does not need to sit at a separate table at lunch.  Most generally kids are not going to bring tree nuts to school in a lunch nor will there be whole peaces in school lunches.  These are more cross contamination issues and do not really effect her unless she eats it.  I will send antibacterial wipes everyday in her lunch box to wipe the table off well before she eats.  As long as no reaction occurs I do not see any reason to separate her.  My only concern is snack and coke day on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month.  The PTO sales snack items and coke's at recess on these days.  The only item that sent up a red flag was trail mix.  I do not think a whole lot of kids eat these. Mrs. Miller suggested I come and help Caylea chose a snack.  I will do that maybe a few times maybe all year.  We will see how it goes. 

I have spoken a few times with Mrs. Durham the Assistant Principal and Mrs. Schnell the Principal.  They are both very sweet ladies who are very helpful. 

I really do not for see any major issues this year.  I know that both of my girls are in the right class and will meet the right group of friends.  I have been praying about this and have total peace that this is true! 

I have told everyone at the school to call me for anything.  I am there to help as much as possible.  I will have Caden this year so that time maybe limited.  I am willing though. 

Tiger Man

I think Misty Mae will miss Caylea and Carolina while they are at school

Lunch is packed, clothes are laid out, kids are asleep. . .now it's my turn 6:30 will come way too soon. . .night my friends :)