Round Up!

Today, Matthew and I took Evan to Kindergarten Round Up at Eaton Elementary School. I managed not to cry. Matthew managed not to follow him when they took him away from us to "test" him while I filled out paperwork. But, I did write my name on the first line of the paperwork instead of his, a sure sign that my insides were quivering and I felt slightly sick at my stomach.

It was definitely an experience I think I will always remember. Matthew and I walked Evan over to the elementary school, each of us holding a hand. My heart was pounding. When we walked in a nice lady directed us down to the kindergarten hall. We got in line behind several other mothers and children. I could tell Evan was definitely starting to get nervous. He was clinging to my leg and hiding his face. I kept a smile plastered on my face as I pointed out the artwork the kids had made in the hallway and the writing the kids were doing. He was amazed when I told him that he would be writing like that at the end of the year next year. He waved at friends he saw from his preschool. I noticed many parents looking from kid to kid as if they were "sizing up the competition" and I have to admit my ears kind of perked up as teachers would come out and share the results of the "test" with each parent and give them some things they could work on over the summer with their kids.

"He counted to 105 for me!", a teacher told one parent. I thought to myself, I don't even know for sure how high Evan can count now. I know he used to only be able to go to about 39 unless you told him the next "10". I couldn't remember the last time he had counted for me. I am a horrible mother. What have I been doing with him?

"She just needs to work on writing her name before the fall.", a teacher told another parent. I thought, Whew! At least he can write his name. We've worked hard on that.

Finally, we got up to the front of the line. The assistant principal shook my hand. They began gathering up paperwork for me and at the same time they put a name tag on Evan and led him out in the hallway. His face was red as they led him away. Matthew seemed very nervous. The assistant principal looked at Matthew and said, "Are you ok with this Matt?" He said, "Well, let's see how he does." But, if the truth be told, Matthew and I were both more nervous than Evan. Hence me writing my name instead of his when I sat down to fill the papers out. I felt like I was taking my ACT. Contact numbers and names and addresses... why did the questions have to be so difficult? I finally finished the paperwork and they told me I could wait for Evan in the hallway.

Matthew needed to get back over to the school, so I sat alone. I watched the hallway for my little boy. My baby boy who next year would go to this big school and be in a big kindergarten class. I couldn't believe it. I worried if he was ready. I worried about how he would do. I worried about how he would ever find his way to his class... how would I ever find my way to his class? I still get lost in that school! I silently kicked myself for not doing more to get him ready. I had babied him too much. I was afraid he would be scared and have a terrible first experience at school! Maybe it is a mistake to send him this year. I've been wavering about him starting school big time over the last few weeks. I've been worrying. In fact, I met with his teacher yesterday because I was so worried about it. But in all reality, I'm not so sure that I'm worried about him being ready as I am about me being ready.

I don't feel ready. I feel like I've squandered these five years. I feel like I need more time to prepare him. More time to do all of the things I always thought I'd do to have him so ready for kindergarten. All the things that kind of fell by the wayside in the course of just living our lives. The other day I forgot to have him do his preschool homework. I began panicking about the future. How will I ever stay on top of all of his school stuff? I'm no good at science fair projects and his will need to be good or his teachers will say, "Can you believe Evan Tinker's project? His mom is a teacher you know." I actually thought to myself the other day that I am glad I will be done with my Ed.S. work before fall so I can really try to focus on Evan's school. Isn't that ridiculous? It's kindergarten for goodness sake! But, all of these thoughts were going through my head while I waited.

Suddenly I see him come out of a classroom way down the hall. He looks down the hall at me and waves. I smile really big and wave back at him and he walks very slowly and carefully down the long empty hall to me. I notice he doesn't run even though he normally would at his preschool. When they get to me, the teacher comments on what a conversationalist he is. She says he got a little lost when he said his alphabet which tells me he must have been nervous, too, because he's known his alphabet since he was two. I take his hand and we turn to leave and Evan has a grin that goes from ear to ear!

He begins to talk nonstop.

"I love this school, mommy! I'm going to be a Rocket! The thing I like best is the cafeteria... and the playground. She asked me a few questions and I asked her a few questions. What is the name of this school again? I want to tell Miss Becky all about it!"

When we reached my school, the people in the office all began to ask him about and he confidently grinned from ear to ear and told them all about his new school. Just minutes earlier he had been hiding behind me, embarrassed when they made a fuss about him going to kindergarten round up.

We proudly walked to his dad's office and he told Matthew and our principal all about it. I watched my baby boy grow up right before my eyes and my worries began to wash away. I feel much better about kindergarten. I think he will do just fine.

So, why is there still a rock in the pit of my stomach as I type this?

More Magic Tree House Mystery

So, we've read about 5 more MTH books now and Evan cracks me up because everything is a mystery for him now! He often reads way more into what is happening in the story than the author actually intends for him to, stopping every few minutes to say "Maybe that rock is Morgan! Or I wonder who put that there!" He often impresses me though by picking right up on the foreshadowing that the author does intend for him to get or with his ability to make inferences and connections. Last night Jack and Annie were looking for a library in ancient Greece and they came upon a room of "scrolls", as soon as I read that Evan said, "Those are the books!". Annie in the story immediately discarded the room and kept looking and Evan said, "No! Those are the books!" And he was right!

I wish my sixth grade students were able to do that!

Also when we were reading last night, a little piece of paper fell out of the book that had a ghost colored on it (I'm sure one of my students, possibly even one of my old second graders was using it as a bookmark). Evan was beside himself! What could this mean? It must be a clue for something! He had to get out of bed and hide it so no one would steal it and this morning he took it with him to Grandmother's to try to figure out the mystery.

As we were getting in the car, he said, "Mom do you remember where you got those books?" I said, "Yeah, you can buy them in the bookstore." He said, "But who put them in the bookstore?" I said, I don't know probably someone who works there I guess. He said, "I have to figure out who the mysterious bookstore worker is who puts the books there. That is an important part of my mystery."

We have also been exploring the woods near our house lately looking for magic tree houses, but we haven't found any yet. I hope we don't, because I don't want him to be disappointed when it doesn't work:). I love the fact that he still believes in magic.

More Spring Break Activities

After we returned from South Carolina, we had a wonderful week here at home. the weather was just perfect. We played outside... in the sandbox for the first time this year.
Remembered what it was like to get sand in our shoes...

We practiced our balance by walking on a garden hose....

We played with bubble guns.... that didn't work so well.

We quarreled...

We cooperated...

We whined....

We relaxed...

We played in the box that Evan's bedding came in...

We wore our brother's shoes on the wrong feet...

We got one picture with both kids looking at the camera and smiling. Maybe the first one in their entire lives. I need to make like 100 copies before something happens to it.

We ran around...

shot bad guys...

Went fishing at Grandmother's and Granddaddy's

We ate snack outside...

And we played football inside...

And while we did all of this, Matthew worked and worked and worked on various projects around the house. He redid Evan's room (pictures to come), worked on the yard, planted some new plants, tilled and put out the garden, and various other little things. We had one slightly rainy day (Thursday) and my parents watched the kids while Matthew and I got the car worked on, ate, and shopped without children. All in all it was a wonderful Spring Break! Now the countdown is on:

23 days and counting until the end of school!

Welcome Carson Isabella!

Little Carson Isabella, the first child of my best friend Robin and her husband Dave arrived on Monday April 19, 2010 at around 5:30 p.m. (don't know the exact time). She weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was about 20 inches long (again not sure of the exact length either).

I was so excited to meet her that I completely forgot to take any pictures of her when I visited yesterday and then as I was leaving, realized that I had forgotten to take pictures and so I snapped one really fast with the flash on as Matthew was dragging me out the door. So, I'll have to get more, better ones later.

But still... you can see how beautiful she is anyway. She is beautiful, precious, and perfect.

In honor of her birthday I searched for some "4:19" verses. Many were not significant, but I did find these for her:

"Come follow me", Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

And my God will meet all of your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

And my favorite I found in Proverbs, but the actual verse 19 was not so significant by itself. The entire chapter on the other hand, was great for new parents:

Proverbs Chapter 4

(feel free to substitute "daughter" for son, I didn't want to manipulate the word of God)

Wisdom is Supreme

Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

I give you sound learning
so do not forsake my teaching.

When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender and an only child of my mother,

he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all of your heart;
keep my commands and you will live."

Get wisdom, get understanding.
Do not forget my words or swerve from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have get understanding.

Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor.

Listen my son, accept what I say
and the years of your life will be many.

I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.

When you walk your steps will not be hampered;
when you run you will not stumble.

Hold on to instruction.
Do not let it go. Guard it well, for it is your life.

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.

Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.

For they cannot sleep until they do evil.
They are robbed of slumber until they make someone fall.

They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

The path of the righteous is like the gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them and health to man's whole body.

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

Put away perversity from your mouth,
keep corrupt talk from your lips.

Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.

Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.

Do not swerve to the right or left,
keep your feet from evil.

Welcome Carson! We love you.

I must tell you a story surrounding Carson's arrival. On Monday, I was on my way to Parkwest Hospital after school. She had not yet arrived, but Robin's cousin had told me that she had started pushing. I was on Cedar Bluff Road, which for those of you that don't know is right beside the hospital when Buffy called me back. She said, "Mandy, there has been a shooting at the hospital and they have us on lockdown. I don't know what is going on, but be careful." I immediately pulled into a restaurant parking lot and turned on the radio. When the song ended, they did in fact announce that there had been a shooting and the road to the hospital was closed. I called Buffy back and said that I guessed I would go home because the road was closed and it didn't sound as if it would be reopened soon. She said SWAT teams were traveling down the hallways of the hospital with guns drawn and they were a little afraid. Later, we learned the whole story.

A mentally ill man had recently had his appendix removed and decided that the doctor who had performed the surgery had planted a tracking chip in his body. He had come to the hospital to make the doctor remove the chip or kill him. Either the doctor was not at the hospital or would not see the man, but as the man was leaving he opened fire on a group of hospital employees waiting for the trolley to the parking lot and then killed himself. He wounded two employees and killed one, a social worker.

It was hard to think that Carson entered the world at almost the very instant that another fairly young life (40) was leaving. We do not understand all of the Lord's ways, but we trust Him.

Luckily, Robin and her family were safe inside the hospital and they never even knew anything was happening until after Carson was born safe and sound.

Night of the Ninja

Chloe and Evan are in full Ninja attire. Evan insisted she dress like a ninja so that she can be "Annie" (the little sister from the MTH books, see post below).

She played along, but she also had some other tasks to accomplish like playing with her Little People.

Fixing the T.V.

And hey, even ninja need a little bling here and there.

Some words about ninja....

When Evan hit his funny bone on the counter, I said, "Ohhh, are you ok?" He clicked his heels together and stood tall and said, "Inja boy do not cry."

All day long, everything he did was "like a inja". He kept saying, "I'm learning a lot about how to be an inja aren't I?"

But, my favorite was when he found his medal from his preschool field day which had a cross on it and he said, "This has the cross of Jesus on it. I'm going to wear it. Cause injas always remember God, right Mom?"

Right son. Always remember that.

Hooked

When Evan was in my classroom a few weeks ago, he asked if he could take some books home. "Big kid books". I explained to him that they did not have pictures and they were really long. He didn't care. So, I guided him toward my lowest leveled bookshelf (2nd and 3rd grade level chapter books) and he picked out two: Ghost in Room 11 and Knight Before Dawn. Knight Before Dawn is a Magic Tree House book and I thought he might like it.

The next day he talked my mom into reading Ghost in Room 11 and loved it. That night Matthew started reading Knight Before Dawn to him... and he was hooked! He didn't want to stop and we quickly realized that reading chapter books at bedtime was going to be a little more time consuming than storybooks as he cannot stand to stop in the middle... he must finished the entire thing. Matthew read all but two chapters and then told him they had to stop. But, Evan insisted he read the rest the next morning. He took it (all tattered and taped together as it has been "loved" by my students) for show and tell the next day. And then I had to read the entire book to him again that night. And then Matthew had to read the entire thing again the next morning.

Hooked.

Saturday, Matthew went to the bookstore and bought three more. Mummies in the Morning, Night of the Ninja, and Pirates Past Noon. We read Night of the Ninja twice over the weekend and he took it to show and tell on Monday. We read Mummies in the Morning on Monday and he took it to show and tell today. And we are halfway through Pirates Past Noon.

He loves these books. He pays attention to every word and understands the story and carries the "mystery" from book to book. He drinks in the information in the books about different cultures, countries, and time periods. He acts the books out. He tries to go to the places in the book, but sadly, we don't have a Magic Tree House. But, we do plan to vacation in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania and look for the real Magic Tree House. Evan says he is going to take all of his books to the tree house if we find it.

He carries his books around like a treasure.

And just like that a reader has been born.

He may not be able to read the words on the page yet, or even remember all of the sounds that each letter makes yet, but he is a reader. He is a reader because he has learned that books are the most wonderful thing in world. They take you to other worlds and time periods and let you experience things that you would otherwise never have the chance to. He is a reader because he loves to read (even though he technically can't yet).

And I have to tell you that I have had many, many rewarding moments in motherhood and it would be hard to pick out a most rewarding moment. But, this is close. This realization that suddenly came to me as I was snuggled in bed under the covers with his warm little body all cozy beside mine in the middle of the afternoon reading him a chapter book: my child is a reader. I feel like I have really succeeded at something in raising my son. I have finally done something right. All those hours spent reading board books with two or three words on a page over and over have paid off. My child is a reader.

And now I know that he will be successful in school. He will grow to be a good speller and writer. He will be a good communicator. He will be knowledgeable and have a thirst for knowledge. All because he is a reader (as long as he remains a reader and doesn't fall victim to all the things that turn kids away from reading).

But, I'm not entirely surprised and I can't entirely take all the credit because it is in his genes. You see I am a reader as well. And his obsession with Magic Tree House doesn't begin to match my obsession with The Baby-sitters Club in 2nd grade. I still have all of my Babysitters Club books, all 107 of them. A true reader can't stand to part with books. They are a treasure. They are on the shelves in my classroom. They are not nearly as popular now, at least not with middle school girls. I guess I had outgrown them by then as well. I devoured books as a child. I don't know how my parents were able to afford to keep me in them. I checked as many as I was allowed out from the library and we bought several a month as well and then I reread the ones I had on my shelves when I ran out.

I am so very proud of my reader and I so hope that his love continues. It is so wonderful to see a piece of yourself in your child (the good parts anyway:).

Stay tuned for more posts related to the Magic Tree House books, with pictures later.

Happy Easter!

Checking out what the Easter Bunny brought...

Waiting for everyone to get ready for church. I tried to do a photo shoot with Chloe... great light, pretty setting... very uncooperative little girl.

Too bad she wouldn't actually turn around and look at me with the camera.

And of course, Evan would have no part of the photo shoot... he was too busy doing this:

And my battery in my camera died... bummer! Luckily I had my trusty point and shoot.

Hunting for eggs after church and lunch...

Chloe loved hunting for eggs. She kept saying "I find one! I find eggs, Mommy!"

She did not like the Easter Bunny however. She did not want to get close to him at all. She said, "I don't like it." She did however say, "Shank you for my pesents Easer Bunny" at my prompting. I guess she didn't want to take any chances of appearing ungrateful or offending him.

Evan greeted him like a long lost friend!

Evan also found the prize egg! He won a $25 gift certificate to Build a Bear. I think I am more excited than he is. We hope to go this weekend sometime. We've never been. We try to be practical about things like that... but I'm really excited! :)