Loves the Attention

Ollie enjoyed having grandma and grandpa visit overnight

Graduation Celebration

When C.J. was little (10 and younger), he talked constantly. He loved the spotlight and did everything he could to be the center of attention wherever he went.  He spent his time singing songs and making up dances so he could be prepared should company ever stop over!  Our home movies from that time period are a combination of C.J. singing, dancing, talking, ect, and C.J. attempting to gain the attention of the person behind the camera who was, at the time, filming somebody/something else.

Since that time, he has gotten progressively quieter and more introverted.  He is now at the point where any kind of attention directed toward him is unwelcome and, most definitely, unwanted.  

So you can imagine how shocked I was when he told me that he was switching his major study to education...a career where you are in front of a crowd daily talking and being an introvert is not an option.  But he has surprised me and has loved his time spent teaching in the classroom.  

Yesterday, we celebrated the culmination of all his hard work as he graduated from the University of Central Florida.  

The graduates starting entering at 8:38 and finally ended at 9:10!   I thought we were in for a long morning.  But, actually, it was very nicely done...the speakers kept it short and to the point and they read through the lists of names pretty quickly so the whole thing only took a couple hours.  

Of course...C.J.'s name went something like this... Christopher Lee (long pause) Ko(long o sound) eck.  

After the ceremony Chris treated everyone to lunch at Seasons 52 in Altamonte Springs for lunch.  

Now C.J embarks on his career teaching 6th grade history at a school in Orlando.  Best wishes, son.  

Parade Pictures

It was a fantastic day - start to finish. 

Even though it started waaayyy earlier than this girl likes (6:00 am), the opportunity to see my son walk across the stage and receive his college diploma was worth it a million times over!  

Since it's late, it's been a long day, and I can barely string together a coherent thought, I'm going to save the graduation post until tomorrow. 

For now...the Macy's Parade at Universal, which is where we went after the graduation festivities were over.

It's Open

Who Let the Dogs Out?

This title appropriately describes the atmosphere of my classroom at present.  

The combination of Christmas coming, winter break starting, and a relaxation of  classroom work in favor of concert practices, making parent gifts, secret santa shopping, and Christmas art projects, have made obeying rules passe; a thing of the past.  

Suddenly, my kids have forgotten how to line up, how to walk down the hall quietly, how to stand on a line,  and most disturbingly, how to be kind to each other.  

I find myself doing more and more deep breathing and LOTS of counting to 10 so that I remain patient with my little lovelies.   

Because they are only 7 and 8...and they are excited...and, trust me, after winter break...I'll have my revenge!!!!  

But seriously, I know things will return to normal --- eventually.  

Sea World Christmas Lights

Last night, on the coldest night of the year so far (I think), C.J. and I walked over to Sea World to see the Christmas lights.  It was cool out but I was comfortable with a spring jacket on.  

The only thing I did besides looking at the lights is the shark encounter.  C.J. went on the new roller coaster, Mako, three times but, no thanks...not for me!  

My kind of snow....

Conversations with 7 Year Olds.

Weird things heard from my little ones lately...

I passed out an assignment and was getting ready to explain directions...

Little Boy: "What?  This is so hard. I'm never going to be able to do this."

Me: "Really?  I hope you can because this is a first grade worksheet and you are in second grade."  

Same Little Boy: "Oh. This is so easy."  


I have a little boy who NEVER has any school supplies.  Whenever scissors, glue, crayons, or markers are necessary he needs to make his way around the room asking classmates to borrow their supplies.  So...last Friday I wrote a note home stating he needed new glue, crayons, and markers.  

This conversation took place on Monday...

Me:  "Did you bring your new school supplies today?"

Little Boy:  "No.  My mom said we can't afford them."  

Me:  "Tell your mom to get them at the Dollar Tree."

Little Boy: "My mom went skydiving this weekend."  

Me:  "Really?  She must be really brave?"  (and kinda to myself but obviously still too loud) "that must have cost a lot of money."

Little Boy:  "Yep...my dad said it cost $120.00."  

Oy


This last little gem was last week on Thursday morning as I was putting up the December calendar... as I placed the "First Day of Winter"  tile on December 21st...

Little Girl:  "What does that mean?"  


Umm....just nowhere to go with that one.  how do you describe the first day of winter other than it's the first day of winter????  

Speechless.  

So It Was My Birthday

The school where I teach offers you a day off on your birthday but I didn't take it (I'm taking it instead on December 16 when C.J. graduates from college!!!!).  I loved spending the day with my kids at school.  They made me 1000 cards, a couple of them gave me a present, they said Happy Birthday about a million times, and most importantly, they whole-heartedly believed me when I said I was 27.  


I actually got quite a good laugh when they would give me one of their homemade cards with the number 27 written all over it.  I bought some cookies to "celebrate" - more for them than me.  Believe me when I say that they were amped up for my birthday!  

I received birthday calls from my boys, my parents, and my best friend in the world.  Other that that, the day itself was pretty boring.  
Last night, my three favorite boys and I celebrated.  We started out at Universal Studios.  Most of our time there was spent waiting for Kong.  It was only supposed to be a 15 minute wait but, of course, was having technical difficulties that shut down the ride for another 15 minutes.  Then we went on Cat and the Hat and decided to leave because a couple of us had not had anything to eat yet.  

We were going to go to Fuddruckers but ended up at Zaxby's.  We ended the evening back at my apartment where we all watched This is the End.  Hilariously funny movie.  

Great evening with my boys.  This is why I moved here.