My big girls

My daughters have grown so much this year. Gillian is about to finish her first year of school. It's amazing to me how much more mature she is and how much she has learned. She can read, do basic addition, and she has become a bit of a problem solver. She is so much more independent and I don't even know how this happened. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to speak up when she doesn't get. She is constantly making me laugh, if fact so does Alyssa. She is a character! She will always be my baby but there is no denying that she is a big girl too. I am planning her 3rd birthday with a Dora theme. This will be the second Dora themed birthday that I've thrown but I think this time around I might even have some better ideas. As for me, I just can't wait...school is almost over and I get to spend the summer with my girls. I have a feeling this will be the best one yet.

Scary Trip to Work

You have probably heard about the NYC bomb scare but if not check out the link. Well I had a little scare on my way to work a few days ago. I was surprisingly (well not so surprising) running late. I was on the main road and so close to work. I realize we are not really moving. I try to see what the heck is going on only to notice their are several helicopters flying about me. They were not so much flying more hovering in the area. Then I see a news van for every station in the state, local police, their mobile unit, and SWAT vans. I teach in the inner city and I'm usually not scared going into work but this day I was. Apparently the man in question lives in the area and they were all heading to his home. Needless to say I made it to work but I was nowhere near on time.

Kidney Walk

Today was the Kidney Walk and it is sure to become an annual event. Everyone had a great time and it was a beautiful day. As I watched my daughter and nieces walk I felt proud of them and a little of myself for teaching them the lesson of how important it is to give to others and to try to make a difference.

There's our Team and it makes me smile that nobody is looking at the camera and in case you're wondering that red thing is a very healthy kidney. I'm sure my mom was watching over us on this special day and happy that we were walking.

Loosing Teeth, Hiking and Hanging Out

Exciting news and it really makes me realize what a big girl she is! Gillian lost her first tooth. It had been hanging on for a while but finally came out. I love kid smiles with missing teeth. Especially this one. We also have been getting out and enjoying this beautiful weather. Gillian has starting to really like hiking. At first it was a lot of complaining about being tired and it's too far but she's beginning to enjoy the adventure.

Alyssa is not so much of a hiker and will walk a little but then wants to be carried the rest of the way. Sadly that's not as much fun for the person who has to carry her, but her smile is hard to resist too.

Crying in Kindergarten

Gillian's teacher has been out since Christmas vacation and I thought things were going okay with the substitutes but all of a sudden I'm getting reports from school about uncontrollable crying. She's being really hard on herself if her work is not perfect. Her teacher is saying not just crying but temper tantrum fits and it's become a complete disruption of the class. I really don't know what to do. As a teacher myself I'm horrified and I've talked to her about it. She can't give me a good reason why. I know she's having a hard time because her teacher is out. They've had several different subs and she is not knowing what to expect when she walks in the door to school. It's not anyone persons fault but I feel bad and now we have to start taking away privileges. She can't continue like this and I've got to break this habit. She can't go to first grade throwing fits. They'll send her to the office I feel like she's been robbed of her kindergarten experience! She was so excited to go to school and now when I walk into school to get her I'm always worried about what I'm going to hear about how her day went. This final sub is here until the end of the year and the other teacher next door has been keeping an eye on her and has been in contact with me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this year ends well. But even with all this going on she leaves everyday with a smile on her face and a positive attitude. This photo was this morning :) This turned into more of a vent but I know she can do it! Now she just has to believe in herself.

Everything is new

This one of the things I love about spring is getting outside and that our swing set is new again. We don't have anything fancy in fact, it's pretty much identical to the one I had as a kid. I loved it as a child and so do my girls. After being cooped up for the winter they are having a blast and I am loving being able to be outside.

I'm also getting pretty excited to see those first buds sprouting. Yay spring!

My principal shaved her head

That's right! This is the amazing woman that I work for. She shaved her head this morning in front of her 600+ students to support one of the students at our school. He was diagnosed with cancer and had a tumor removed. He is going through radiation and will loose his hair. This entire year has been a struggle for him and his family...so tickets were sold and money was raised. I still haven't heard the total yet but it was over $500 the last time I heard.

I feel inspired to work for such a giving woman. I would have liked to be up on that stage with her but I just am not willing to shave my head. She really is willing to do anything for her students.