UltraNormal: Jen's Entries

Awesome is genetic! \0/

Jen — 2010-03-11T08:12:28-05:00

Brian is reading, which makes me heart sing. I've never been so proud. He is adding and telling time. He is also learning to tie his shoes, which is a big deal in these days of velcro. He can open the van door, buckle himself, and close the van door; brush his teeth, even though he doesn't like to; dress himself; put the clean silverware away. He's been doing these for a long while, but it's always great to see what a non-baby he is. He can open the upper cabinets in the kitchen and a couple of times I've mistaken him for Max, because he's grown so tall. He is a real little person, who can do many things, follow instructions, and has opinions. YAY! I probably told you already, but he won the "Flying Hawk" award which is awarded to one kid per class for representing integrity, honesty, and other touchy-feely themes.

Max has been on fire at school. The Media Project he and his 3rd grade class did last year won its division at the international level. Meaning, it went to the regional competition, then state, then US, then Int'l and won them all. This year, as a big 4th grader, each student worked with a partner to create a project, instead of doing one project as a class. He and his partner created a story about a guy who falls into another dimension where he has to fight through various video games to get out. It was funny and fun to watch. :)

Earlier in the year he tried out for the Science Olympiad team. There are only 4 kids from his grade selected, and he was one of them. Twice a week he's been going in early to work with a partner on Simple Machines. At the district competition a couple of weeks ago, he and his partner took first place and his school won first place overall! They get to go to the state competition in Atlanta, for an overnight trip! Kevin is taking the day off, and we are pulling Brian from school so we can all go.

He continues to be active with chorus and the Art and Philosophy Club. I'm still on a high from his participation in the Spelling Bee, where he did well. He's earned straight A's on his last two report cards and he also received the "Flying Hawk" award. What are the odds that both of my kids received it?? Outside of school, he was recently promoted in karate, continues to write for ficly.com, creates comics in his spare time, and he and Kevin gave a joint presentation at the Telfair Museum last month.

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Mini Golf

Jen — 2010-03-07T15:03:12-05:00

Last weekend we took the boys mini-golfing. Even though I got two hole-in-one's, Kevin won. I blame the stupid water hazards that got me every time! He and I will be rematching soon. The kids had fun and did really well too. Here are some pics: Clicky here.

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More random pictures

Jen — 2010-02-18T13:07:58-05:00

This is as close as Kevin ever got to Hawaii. Maybe someday we can rectify that.

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Random picture post

Jen — 2010-02-17T09:03:05-05:00

This is Halloween from several years ago. Brian is a dinosaur and Max is a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (which he hates, btw, ha!)

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People of the Internet, read and obey

Jen — 2010-02-16T15:00:46-05:00

I have a tv recommendation for you: Undercover Boss at CBS.com. It's a reality show about the head of a major corporation doing entry-level work for a week. The episode I saw about Waste Management almost made me cry. It's shmaltzy and uplifting in the best way. I also saw the Hooters episode. It was fine, but I suggest watching the Waste Management episode instead. Run, don't walk, to watch this show!

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Perceptions collide!

Jen — 2010-02-14T21:16:56-05:00

Kevin just tweeted that this "wasn't the most romantic V Day ever..." Huh. And here I was thinking it was nice. He got me presents that I liked, the kids got presents they liked, Kevin got presents (at least one of which he liked, heh). The kids had fun playing with their new Star Wars Lego set and spending extra time with Daddy. Brian and I had extra reading time. We had yummy steak for dinner. What could be better?

I guess this is what happens when you're nice to your spouse everyday. Since there isn't any bad behavior from which to refrain, Val Day seems a lot like every other day!

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Report cards came today!

Jen — 2010-02-03T23:37:20-05:00

Brian is doing well in school. The kindergartners don't get a regular letter grade. Instead, they are evaluated on 100+ skills and knowledge. He's right where he should be for most things, with a few he excels at and a few he's still working on. The one "area of concern" is when the routine is changed. I guess he doesn't handle that well. The last couple of weeks, Brian has been reading to us, which has been a thrill!

Max received all A's in the Core Subjects (Math, English, etc), yay! Better yet, all of his grades improved, except for the subjects he got a 99 in last quarter. His actual scores were: Language Arts- 99; Reading- 99; Social Studies- 99; Health- 98; Science- 97; and Math- 95. Max was like, "No 100s?" Kevin said, "That is just to give you something to work for this quarter." Ha! His grades for the Specials (Art, PE, Music, Spanish) were all "Exceeds Expectations."

I should treat my kids for a job well done. What should it be?

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Brian is cute, and he knows it!

Jen — 2010-01-24T21:42:34-05:00

Brian's school is asking the kids to earn a dollar at home doing chores and then donate the money to the school's Help Haiti fund, which will be given to the American Red Cross. Brian and I discussed what chore he could do for his dollar. It has to be something he doesn't normally do, but something he can do. (Duh.) We settled on wet-swiffering the bathroom. Later he piped up, "Maybe I could get an extra dollar for being so cute?"

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No mo' babies!

Jen — 2010-01-21T20:04:32-05:00

Last week Max said he wanted another baby in our family. I don't want to disappoint my kids, but seriously? Not happening. At least not if I get to be in charge. I love that my kids are no longer babies. I no longer have to worry about:

SIDS
Whether to get the 18 month vaccinations/Autism
Car seats being installed incorrectly

The lack of worry about baby-related deaths and illness has been such a relief. It's like going on vacation, all of the time, in my brain!

My kids can use the bathroom and dress, feed, and entertain themselves. We can go out and have fun as a family and go on vacations together. Right this very minute, Brian is reading a book to Kevin. BRIAN IS READING. \0/

So yea. Just had to share.

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Spelling bee!

Jen — 2010-01-21T12:47:08-05:00

The bad news: Shawn and Gus didn't show up. The good news: no one died.

Max won his class spelling bee, so he got to participate in the school bee. The winner will be sent to the regional bee to compete in the 4th-8th grade group. I went to the school bee today and cheered Max on. It lasted an hour. The coordinator said this was one of the longest bee's they've had. Kids kept getting the answers right! The bee started out with 14 students. Half of the kids were eliminated in the second and third rounds. Max, and everyone else except the winner and the alternate, were eliminated in the 5th round. He misspelled "enormous." He told me he was glad he didn't win. The PTA provided donuts for afterward, so at least the kids got to sugar-up for their effort.

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