Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Ewwwww

On Sunday I got a juicer. I've read lots of great things so thought I would try it. Amazingly enough, I (usually) like it! I really never thought I would drink a green drink... Kale and spinach with my apples? No thank you. But, turns out it's not so bad. And the funny part is I have to share with the kids, especially Max! He and Ava both like to drink what I have to the point where I'm fighting over breakfast. Carrots, spinach, ginger, apples, who knew Max would like it so much? But their favorite thing is to make their own. Max had one called Guinea Food because it literally looked like what we fed the guinea pigs. And then there was this one, with plums and grapes and blueberries.



He called it liquid poop. And still drank it. Ugh.

But then there's Ava, who made this concoction:



It's root beer, shredded cheddar and Parmesan cheese and crushed up Doritos. And someone dared her to take a drink and so she did! Ick. I thought we were all going to die when she brought the cup down and she had a piece of cheese hanging out. I shutter at the thought even now!

I guess I'll be happy they're good eaters. But seriously. Ewwwww!

Monday, September 9, 2013

Appropos of nothing

I do love that the school communicates quite well. And even when I ignore it and completely miss things, I still appreciate that I got it and they tried. But sometimes I have to scratch my head at the random things. The email below, for example, came on the third day of school. I'm not exactly sure what to do with it. Do I need to buy those books? Talk to Abby about them? Read them myself? Or, is it just for my information to stay a little more tuned in? Who knows. But, it does make me want to go back to 6th grad Language Arts just so I can sit and read all day!

This email is regarding: ABIGAIL GAWRYCH.
Class: LANGUAGE ARTS 6 ADV Prd: 3 Teacher: J SCHOENBECK
-----------------------------------------------
Here is a list of books that Advanced students will read in LA this year.
A Long Way from Chicago
Gulliver’s Travels
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Out of the Dust
Ulysses (The Odyssey)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Inside Out and Back Again

This is not a complete list because some units allow student choice.

Mr. Schoenbeck


Monday, September 2, 2013

Hello? Anyone there?

Well, hello there. How are you? It's been awhile! A long, long while, as some (you know who you are!) like to remind me on a regular basis. But I'm going to try to be good, I promise. First it was just too crazy busy. Then I just really didn't want to pick up the computer at all. Then once you go so long, it's just easy not to do. But we'll see... maybe a new leaf will be turned this month. Tonight is the eve of a new school year. This summer just went flying by, and I could personally use another month. Well, another month, as long as I could get the kids to bed at a decent hour. I just don't like the morning schedule that school brings. And poor Abby, starting middle school this year, has to leave for the bus at 7. I don't think she actually got out of bed that early the entire summer. Should be interesting! I also messed up last week in a transition she had to middle school called "Mini Night." Mini Night is basically the entire day rolled into two hours. So, you go and walk your class schedule (the building is on three floors), you meet your teachers, you find out what you need for that class, etc. On Wednesday I texted one of Abby's friends and mentioned it on Thursday night. At that point, she texted me back and said, "ummm, mini night was last night." WHAT??? I looked at the calendar and sure enough, it was on Tuesday, NOT Thursday. UGH! and Double UGH!! I told Abby, and she immediately cried. Which made me cry and feel awful. We had walked her classes at registration the week before, but this was just such a big deal. And we weren't doing anything. I even had it on the calendar the right day, but didn't look because I was so sure it was Thursday. However, we had the following text exchange later that morning:
Me: I am so sorry. Abby: It's fine! :) Me: :( I feel so bad. You'll be fine I know, and you'll be a fantastic middle schooler. But I still really messed this one up. Abby: I'm fine.. It's not that hard to find my way around the schoo, I can do it@ And holly will give me her information... It's all good! Me: I love you!! Abby: Love you too! Me: Hey, now you'll have a funny story to tell your friends on the first day about your crazy mom! Abby: She sure is cray-cray! Me: Ha ha! You made me laugh!! Abby: I always do! Me: Yup, you do. I love that about you. Kinda like your dad that way. Abby: Yes. I am!
While we missed one opportunity, I really hope we had another. Abby learned I'm certainly not perfect, and that likely everyone will disappoint at some point in time. That she will be okay, that she has the power to forgive, and we can laugh at it together. I guess the proof will be if she gets lost all day tomorrow or not! As for the others... tonight Nolan declared that he believes 4th grade will be his best year yet. That was a pretty dramatic statement for Nolan! His class has all of his friends in it except Elijah, and they see each other all the time, so I think he's ok with it. This will also be Nolan's last year at the elementary school. Next year he will go to 5th grade at the school being converted to 5th/6th grade. Max is also excited for 1st grade. I think he's happy to not be the littlest in school anymore, and I'm pretty excited for 1st grade too. I think (hope!) he'll come into his own for his reading. I think something will just click. And then there's Ava. How strange that last week was Alina's last week as our Nanny. Instead, Ava will be heading to her house for Nature School with Ms. Alina! It's good changes, but after nearly two years, it'll be a little bit of a shift. Today I realized I didn't have any Diet Coke, and I asked Dave how I would get it anymore? Alina always got my Diet Coke for me! But, I think they all went out with a bang, with plenty of activities this summer. I want to stay home for the summer with Alina! I guess that's it. It's nearly 11:00 on a school night. I guess I better get to bed. See?? This is why I don't post. It's very tiring!