End of the year wrap up

This year has been CAH-RAZY!! We have been super busy...and now it is over.

Summer break has begun. Here is a look back at what the 2013-14 school year brought.

One of the last days of school

1st day of school

 

Harmony:
band, new friends, old friends,  14 years old, band comps, seminary, Rio Mesa zero period classes, AP, freshman, band concerts, band practices, "lettering" in band...everything band!

1st day of school
 

Ethan: 7th grade, Monte Vista, band, writing, baritone, Deacons Quorum president, turned 13, band concerts, bike rides, Scouts, bike crash, broken tooth, swimming, taller than Mom!

One of the last days of school

 

1st day

Connor: 6th grade, middle school, Monte Vista, band, getting glasses, new friends, new schedules, turned 12, swimming, scouts, in mutual, broken toe, good grades

one of the last days

Ivan: 3rd grade, Las Posas, hates writing, loves math, turned 9, broken wrist, red cast, learned to ride his bike, instructional aid, IEP's, highs & lows, new best friend, chess, computer time.

Mason: preschool, United Methodist preschool (UMCDC), 5 days a week, singing songs, playing games, best friends, 4 years old, counting, saying the alphabet, lots of dental work, new bike, big boy!

For me, the school year meant...driving, driving and more driving. Waking up early, making lunches, car pools, helping with homework, meetings, and driving, driving, driving.


Thank heaven for summer...or for the first couple of weeks until all the "I'm boreds" start!

End of the year cuteness

**If  you notice two changes of clothing, it is because Mason is in the M,W,F class and the T, Th class. Which are "technically" two different classes. So he got two parties.**

Of all my children, not one of them has gone to a preschool (or kindergarten for that matter) that has a full blown graduation.

And while I have to admit that little kids in caps and gowns are pretty cute...I am so glad that we haven't had to deal with that!

Mason with his best friend Lyna

I am happy with our preschool's end of the year sing a long and ice cream party.

They wear whatever they want, sing some of their favorite songs from the year, eat a sugar filled snack and go home.

Easy. Simple. And yet...still full of absolute cuteness!

Giggling instead of singing. Forgetting the words. Sweet smiles. Cute songs. Friends spending a few more precious moments together.

United Methodist Child Development Center is an amazing preschool and we have felt blessed to be there. Great teachers. Great values. Great place.

Today is the day we say goodbye to preschool...and get ready to say hello to  kindergarten!

Third graders

Due to a huge lack of funding, (I will not go into details on the CA school system), there were no field trips, at Las Posas this year. It is sad.

I have fond memories of going to the Bonneville Dam and the Fish Hatchery. As well as the Portland Zoo and Omsi. Rides on the bus, having a packed lunch and just getting out of the class room for the day.

A walking field trip to a nearby park doesn't seem very exotic but I don't think these kids cared!

Nancy Bush park is 2 blocks away from the school, and so the 3rd grade classes hoofed it in a long procession that I am sure drivers were thrilled about.

This cute non-third grader got to tag a long :)

The kids ran around and played on the equipment, colored with sidewalk chalk, had a water balloon toss, ate their packed lunches, played some more and ended their day with popsicles.

While all of this was fun, it could get a little overwhelming for Ivan. So he chose to throw a Frisbee with his friend, play many, many games of chess, hang out on a blanket with Mom and blow bubbles.

He did participate in water balloons but once it popped and he was soaked...he was done with that.

Third graders have a lot of energy. Energy that an overweight thirty something Mom just doesn't have.

My field trip day ended with a nap. That is much more my speed. Is school out yet?

who is this?

(my little spring flower)

(is that not a cute little tail?)
(uhm yeah, just ignore my fatness and focus on the cuteness that is Ivan!!)

(Ivan and his friend Fallina)

What a difference a year makes!

Last year, Ivan had a Mothers Day program in his class. He stood in the back and hid. Then laid on the floor and screamed and cried. Eventually, we took him out of the situation. It broke my heart in a million pieces.

This year, he did a Spring Concert. And he was a rock STAR! One of the loudest singers. He sang, he danced, he shook his "tail". He was not happy with the spotlight in his eyes, but other than that...it went so well.

I am so glad that he is getting over some of his "issues". That boy makes me so proud with all he has accomplished!! Go Ivan!!

Harmony and the Bee

One day Harmony came home from school and very casually said, "Mom I am the finalist in my class for the spelling bee."

She was very excited. I asked her when it was so I could be there. Once again she was very casual and just shrugged.

A couple of days later, while dropping Ivan off, one of the other Mom's mentioned attending the spelling bee. I asked her what time and made sure I was there. Ben was also able to come for a little while.

I swear I have never been more nervous for her! She made it through 3 rounds and then was one of the 12 finalists. They had to continue on to get the top 10. Harmony got out the very next round.

She started walking over to me and just burst into tears. She was so upset. She kept insisting that she spelled it right. Unfortunatley, she didn't.

I am really proud of her. The 5th grade in their school is huge. There are over 100 students. So to come in 12th was really good.

I can't wait to see if she competes next year!

Let the Haunting begin...

( his class all lined up)

(with his teachers)

(Holding a "bubble" in his mouth. The teachers do this when they want the class to be quiet. Ivan held his bubble the ENTIRE time!)

(walking in the parade)

I have quite a few friends who are big Halloween fans. Me...not so much. But the kids, of course, love it. How can we not share in their enthusiasm right? So far, the Halloween costumes have been sitting on top of the freezer just calling to them. But I haven't let them play with them. We paid a pretty penny for a couple of them and I do not want them getting ruined!!

The older kids have been having Red Ribbon week. They have enjoyed wearing their clothes inside out, wearing ties and today they are sporting their pj's. I swear they have never been ready for school so fast! I wish every day was pj day!

Ivan however got to have a character parade. My original idea was for him to dress up as a pirate and be from the book, "Pirates Don't Change Diapers". Mason is going to be a pirate this year so I thought it would be cute. Ivan said, "no pirrrrrrrrrrrrates!" to that idea. So he wore Ethan's Harry Potter costume.

With Ivan, change is never easy. Even if it is something fun. Our morning went like this...
" Why do I have to wear a costume?"
"What is a parade? Where do I walk to it?"
"Why does Harry have a scar?
"Why is it shaped like that?"
"Do you have to wear your rain coat on a costume?" (He just got his new rain coat on Saturday and has been wearing it every day since then)
"Ms. Adams said there is no snack in the parade."
"How come we are doing this?"
"Can you wash this scar off? I don't like this."

On and on it went. By the time we got to school, his frustration level had risen. He wasn't happy. He hid his scar, hid behind me. No eye contact. Finally after a little convincing he put his costume on and was a happy little wizard. I love the pictures, he looks so cute.

Honestly, if he didn't want to wear it, I wouldn't have pushed him. But I am glad that he decided to just go with the flow! Fun times. He is now eating a ghost shaped sandwich. (:

Tomorrow he has snack so we are making fun Halloween snack bags. We also have our trunk or treat tomorrow. I will be busy baking and decorating but looking forward to it!

Pre-K

( Right after I took this picture, the kids came to a drinking fountain. There was a stool in the way so all the kids walked around. Except for Ivan...he went right over and jumped off!


When Ivan's teacher, Ms. Allison moved last May, we had no idea what would be in store for Ivan. And once we moved him up to Anderson Elementary...we really had no idea! His IEP (Individualized Education Plan) called for at least 2 days in a regular pre-k and 2 days in his PSCD class. Also any therapies that he might need.

We talked to the principal & teachers and found out that Anderson does a full inclusion for their PSCD kids. What does that mean for Ivan? Morning pre-k (7:45-10:15) Monday thru Friday. He is in a regular ed class and his the pscd teacher comes into his class, to suppport the teachers and help them. So technically he has two teachers and one aide.

School starts early here and because we no longer live just up the hill...it means for an early wake up! I had to pull Ivan out of bed this first day, and his breakfast was a bag of cereal and cup of milk in the car!

He was so excited to be just like the big kids. No "special" class, and being able to go at the same time as the older kids.

I think that when your child is "special" the little things mean so much more. I got misty eyed as I watched him walk off with the other kids. My big man.

After I dropped him off, I headed to the commissary. IT WAS THE MOST QUIET TRIP I HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME!! Mason slept the whole time. The store itself was very empty. I got everything done really fast. But as I was walking down and aisle I noticed that 2 birds were sitting on a shelf. Ivan loves to see the birds in the store. I started to say, "Ivan look" but realized that my little buddy wasn't there.

He's growing up. I will miss my little sidekick this year. My new sidekick is still all quiet and snuggly. Harmony thinks that she is closer to Ben because they are both the oldest.Ivan and I are both the 2nd to last children in families with 5 kids. Maybe that is why he just holds a special little place in my heart. Or maybe it is because through all the trials and struggles, we are still hanging in there. I don't know, but boy I love this kid!

Back to School

(We are currently having a gnat infestation all over Guam. They were swarming at the bus stop!!)

(5th grade already? Sigh)

( big 3rd grader)

(big 2nd grader)


(It was so humid outside I had to keep wiping all the mist off of my camera lens!)
Mason woke up at 3:30.
Ethan woke up at 4:30.
Ivan woke up at 5:00.
Harmony woke up at 5:45.
I forced Connor awake at 6:15.
Bus came a little late but is usually here at 6:50.
Backpacks loaded.
Haircuts.
New shoes.
Lunch bags packed with a love note from Mom.
Bus passes tied to backpacks.
The house is quiet.
Pure bliss.

Newness

(This picture has nothing to do with anything on this post. I just didn't want to leave it picture-less!)

The only thing we can count on is change right? Or is it death and taxes?

So where should I begin?

This summer, with hospital visits, Mason's birth, Ben being out of town... our church attendance has been less than stellar. And when you miss one week (or 2 or 3...)you miss out on a lot! We found out on Sunday that our branch is splitting. We will now be members of a brand new branch! Part of the new Dededo branch. So that means a new building, a new primary, a new sunbeam teacher for Ivan to get used too (so not looking forward to that) new people...This next Sunday will mark our last Sunday in the Barrigada branch.

I took the kids to new student orientation. A new school. Their school is kind of like a college campus. I am guaranteed to get lost a couple of hundred times. So we have a new school,new routines, new teachers, new bus routes, new school supplies.

We weren't exactly sure what Ivan would be doing this year. We are not sure if he is still labeled as "mild autistic" or just developmentally delayed. But because of his age, he is able to attend pre-k full time! Not just a couple of days like last year!He will still be getting services as needed. He will have an aid who is in his class full time. We are excited that he will be attending school 5 days a week! Ivan does not do well with change but I know he is going to love being at school more.

Ben is almost done with turn over and will finally be up closer to us! He spent last week down on the Navy base. This week he is back and forth. I can't wait for his commute time to go from 45 minutes to 5!

As I put the kids into their new school, it really hit me. We only have 9 months left on Guam!! (The kids and I are leaving earlier than Ben). And then we will be on to more new-ness.

Looking forward to all the changes and what life will bring us next!

saying goodbye...

Today is it! The last day of school (for our kids anyway). We are leaving school around 1:00 ish. So join me as I say goodbye too...

**waking kids up at the crack of dawn
**making sure we always have clean uniforms
**looking for lost bus passes
**nightly homework
**projects that get sprung on you last minute
**huge messes at breakfast because everyone is rushing off to the bus and can't possibly clean it up
** saying, " do you have your lunch" 15 times only to have it left on the kitchen counter
**buying last minute lunchables
**signing behavior folders, homework sheets
**notes sent home, lost in the bottom of backpacks
**kids asking for $$ for the spirit store, bake sales, book fairs etc

Getting ready to say hello to....
**sleeping in
**not as rushed mornings
**not having to worry about lunches until lunch time
**kids home to take Astro out so I don't have too
**later nights for going on walks, family movie nights etc
**reading books into the night
** more down time
**popsicles by the dozen
**playing at the park
**time for crafts

Even though on Guam,the weather never changes...we are excited to welcome SUMMER

Life at 100 mph

Literally that is how it feels! Our family continues on at a break-neck pace. Will it ever end? I doubt it! Here is what we have been up too for those who may have missed us!

**Basketball, basketball and more basketball. We signed the kids up for the season and than it was changed to a clinic. And I am pretty darn happy about that! As is, we are at the gym M,W,F from 5-7. The boys are in one age bracket and Harm in the other. Sometimes Ben stays and sometimes I do. Sometimes we all do. It has not been easy for Ivan! The kids love it though. They were very scared to try it but once they got in their they had a great time. Oh and might I just add that the gym is my least favorite place to take pictures!

**Cubscouts is back in full swing. Except go me, I didn't realize that my den is almost completely done. It has been nice to be able to relax a little on that! Although we have a big camping trip next week.The boys are verrrry excited. Me, hmmm it's still like 88 degrees at night, with mosquitos, the bathrooms are pretty far away...well it will be worth it to have the boys happy, right? Right?

** Appointments. Last Friday I went in and was able to get my first ultrasound. This one was just to check the baby's size, how many there were (phew only 1) and to make sure everything was ok. And it was! I have the first picture of our baby. We showed it to the kids but they were very unsure about what it was. I pointed the arms, legs and head out to them but they still weren't sure it was a baby in there!

**School. Back to school has been both good and bad. The kids seemed to forget about getting their uniform ready the night before, packing lunches, going to bed early, being responsible about bringing your homework home etc. It has been pure joy, let me tell you. Ivan has had the hardest time going back. Lots of tantrums,screaming, and aggression. We are going to have him meet with his pediatrician and the developmental pediatrician ( the one who diagnosed him) to see what all we can do for him. We are worried about our little man and hope to get a few answers.

Well that is all I am going to bore you with for now.