The last day of 3rd and 7th grade

 Today is bittersweet for me.  Today is the last day of 3rd grade for Nick and 7th grade for Jay and what a year it has been for both of them.  I could not have asked for better years for either of them, especially Nick.  Nick is down right sad that today is the last day of 3rd grade.  He loved every second of it.  He left this morning with two roses for his teacher.  He loved Mrs. Westerfield and she is a teacher Nick will remember and talk about for years to come.  The picture above is of the boys on the first day of school and the picture below is the last day, taken this morning.  Ready or not, let the summer begin!

"That" child

I had dinner recently with a friend who was telling me about her 3 year old grandson.  He came to stay with her for three weeks and my friend was exhausted by the time he left.  Now I get it's normal for grandparents to be exhausted by their grandkids, no matter if they are strong willed or complaint.  Even at my stage of life, I get exhausted if I even think about going back to chasing around a toddler again.  I'm just not use to it so I get why grandparents love their grandkids but yet are exhausted by them at the same time, however, in this case as my friend was describing her grandson all I could think about was Jay.  Jay was "that" child for me.  Is he still, you ask?  No, not entirely.  Now some would argue that since he is no more then maybe he never was but I assure you, he was.  I was also "that" child to my mom but by high school I was no more.  I turned a corner, a big one.  Perhaps Jay turned his corner earlier than his mother did.  Jay was the baby that cried until he could walk.  Once he walked, he ran.  Once he ran, I could not catch him (kid you not).  Once he understood directions and I would draw a line, he would cross it every time.  Jay was the child that received more spankings than Nick and Jay was the one who developed a close relationship with soap (in the mouth).  Jay was the child who I would take to a birthday party and never be able to have a conversation with another parent because my eyes were constantly on Jay, wondering what mischief he'd get into and time and time again, I'd have to address some "situation" with him.  It took him longer to figure out that his dad and I meant business.  But as 7th grade draws to a close I am seeing a young man who takes his school seriously, works hard, has appropriate texts with his girlfriend, is developing a funny sense of humor and a boy who is starting to come into his own without driving his mother insane while doing it.  I am proud.  In all honesty Jay has been a dream in middle school.  Now watch, I probably just jinxed myself but really there is truth in that with hard work, things often work themselves out.  Not that Jay needed work, he didn't, he is exactly who God made him to be.  I just thought that as I watched him through all my exhaustion when he was small that every battle with Jay would be uphill & that has not been the case at all.  I delight in him and all his middle school ways and I can't wait to see what 8th grade has in store for my boy.. 

My baking judge

Here's the great thing (one of many) about Jay, he loves my baking or least 90% of the time he loves it and if he doesn't love it then I know it was a bust.  I enjoy baking way more than cooking.  I am 41 years old and still can't figure out how make moist chicken but baking, like wine, I get better with age.  I don't do it for Mike or Nick, I do it for Jay.  Mike has a sweet tooth but he's so picky it's ridiculous and Nick did not get the Siebert sweet tooth.  Nick is happy with a bowl of ice cream and some red velvet cake (his request for his birthday almost every year).  Jay is my sweet lover and will try and like almost anything I bake (God bless him).  This weekend I made an Italian cream cake (for the first time) and it was a success at least for Jay and I.  Nick decided he didn't like it and Mike doesn't like anything with cream cheese (see what I mean, he's ridiculous) but Jay, well Jay thought it was divine! 

Middle School & more

I went to the middle school this afternoon to serve 6th, 7th and 8th graders snow cones.  Personally, I enjoy middle schoolers and I get why my mom choose to teach this age group.  I did not get the teaching gene but if I had to teach I would pick middle school.  My sister, however, not so much.  She likes the little ones.  Anyway, I made a few observations today as I observed these sweaty, oily faced kids as they got their snow cones.  First, the 6th graders are the honey mooners.  They are small in physical standing (compared to the 8th graders), they are a bit obnoxious but overall likeable.  They used their pleases and thank yous.  The 7th graders were all about how much "juice" was in their snow cones and who got the most ice.  The girls stuck together like glue and the boys (like my son) are on the cusp of puberty.  The 8th graders were like giants to me.  Boys who I remember last year in 7th grade grew to heights I didn't know were possible in a year.  They look like men!  On the way home tonight Jay commented that 7th grade girls were such drama queens.  I laughed and agreed.  I was the queen of drama in 7th grade (yes mom I can hear you snickering and saying, "Gee, Amy, do ya think?") and I am so low maintenance and no drama grown adult so I assured Jay that there was hope!  Ha.

Newspaper clippings and mom

 Today is Mother's Day.  It is also my 41st birthday but this post is not about my birthday, it's about my mom.  When I was thinking about something I could write about my mom on this mother's day my first thought centered around newspaper clippings.  My mom and I share a love of reading together so she knows I appreciate a good read.  For years she has cut out newspaper articles she thinks would interest me and she's always right.  She'll often have certain words or sentences underlined within the article.  Her favorite articles these days tend to be about parenting and as she passes off the articles to me she'll often say, "You do most all of these suggestions but I thought you'd find it interesting," and I do!  I get a kick out of the articles about boys!  She'll cut out hot topics such as common core, ADHD, issues relating to public schools, etc....  I don't read a newspaper anymore from print so I enjoy having the articles presented to me from my one and only mom! 

My mom is funny, real, kind and generous.  She is the first one I can't wait to call to relay something new or exciting that has happened to me.  She is my biggest cheerleader and loves her grands, as she affectionately calls them.  Whether she's picking Luke up from speech and playing a mouse game with him in the car or taking Lauren to some girlie event like a tea or play or watching Price is Right with Nick or taking Jay on Krispie Kreme run or cheering him on at a basketball game, no one can argue she is actively involved with her grands.  So Happy Mother's Day, mom!!!  I love you bunches, newspaper clippings and all!

Nick's 3rd grade planet play

 This is the picture I was referring to in my previous post.  This is my Mother's Day picture from Nick.  It has nothing to do with Nick's play but I wanted to post it.  It's classic. 

 Nick had his 3rd grade play yesterday - A Vacation to Mars.  Nick was so excited about this play.  He even memorized other kids parts, just in case they were sick on the day of the play.  Those kids didn't know it but Nick was their under-study.  Ha.  I felt like I knew the play yesterday even though it was the first time I saw it.  Nick rehearsed his lines constantly at home and sang the songs religiously for weeks leading up to the play.  The picture above and below is Nick with his friend, C.  Nick played the role of Mercury.  Mercury orbits the sun at a very fast pace (Nick could tell you how fast) so Nick wore a track uniform, ran very fast and spoke his lines very fast but not too fast.  For weeks he would talk so fast no one could understand him.  Yesterday he spoke fast but not so fast you couldn't understand him.  Good job, Nick!

 Jay asked if he could take the afternoon off school to see Nick's play and I agreed.  I think it meant a lot to Nick to have his big brother see his play. Four years ago Jay had his 3rd grade play, an animal play.  I remember attending his play and being weeks away from starting my new job. How time flies.

 Another exciting event in 3rd grade this week: baby chicks hatched.  Nine baby chicks!  Nick said the class named the chicks Fuzzy Buns, Dark Sugar and John, just to name a few.  I got such enjoyment hearing about these chicks all week.  The picture above is Nick and his friend, A.

                       This is Nick and his friend, J.  J. has been such a blessing to Nick this year. 

 Leslie and Nana came for the play and bless Leslie, she brought Nick Mercury (sugar) cookies and a mind game.  She knows him so well.  Thank you, Leslie.  You are like a 2nd grandma to Nick.  My mom used her Ipad and recorded Nick's play!  Way to go, mom.

This play was the perfect ending to a dynamite year for Nick.  I've watched Nick's confidence grow this year.  I've watched him socially evolve and most importantly his passion for learning was ignited!  You can't ask for much more than that. 

My early Mother's Day

Here's the truth, folks, lately I've been sort of down in the dumps over my family.  About a week ago Mike told me that if I didn't want a gun, knife or fishing pole for Mother's Day then I'd simply have to pick out my gift on my own.  I was ticked!  I know I live with boys but seriously, all I do for them and they can't come up with one single freaking idea!  I begrudgingly headed out and bought myself some jammies.  As I was buying them (oh yeah, I bought them too) I complained to the store clerk, who was an older lady who had raised 4 boys.  She felt my pain.  Anyway, I brought my gift home  and watched Jay wrap my new spring, purple jammies in Christmas wrapping paper; seriously, he couldn't have taken the time to wrap them in fun spring paper (ugh)!  However, since that time things have turned around. Yesterday Nick brought home a picture he drew for me.  The picture said, "Happy Mother's Day."  It had a picture of a boy in a tree with a BB gun and a squirrel shack.  I had to laugh, after all, nothing says Happy Mother's Day like a boy in a tree with a BB gun and a squirrel shack!  That's my Nick.  Then I got an email from Jay's speech teacher.  She told me what a great kid is he, that he works hard at everything he does and recently he had delivered an excellent informative speech on dyslexia (I knew nothing about this speech).  When Jay got home I asked him about the speech and he shared it with me.  It was well written and thought out.  Well done, Jay!  Jay had a basketball game last night and insisted that we stop at the store so he could buy me flowers.  Suddenly staring at my gift I bought myself wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper on my counter wasn't so annoying.  Jay played his bball game and had a really good game.  The boys even won and I got to see my grandparents!  As we were headed home I received a text from another mom, complimenting Nick.  She said Nick had hugged her son at school and thanked him for the birthday money he got him for his birthday because with that money he was able to get exactly what he wanted, a new air soft gun (I know, "shocking").  She ended the text with, "That boy has a heart of gold."  And so once again the Lord has a way of reminding me that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, doing exactly what I'm doing.  My life may be filled with guns, knives, mud and fishing poles but most days my boys have me in gales of laughter!  And God gave me my mother, my sister and some rocking girlfriends who fill my life with pedicures, wine and good conversation that doesn't revolve around which store has ammo on sale this week or how best to fillet a fish! 
Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

Spartan of the week

Every week a 6th, 7th and 8th grader is nominated by their teachers as a Spartan of the week.  They have to demonstrate good classroom behavior, kindness to others and good grades, just to name a few.  Guess which 7th grader got the award this week?  Yep, our one and only.  As you can see from the picture above he was less than thrilled to get his picture taken.  He said he didn't know what the big deal was but his momma thought it was a big deal.  This is the second time Jay has gotten this award and as he wraps up his 7th grade year, I'm exceptionally proud of him.  He has maintained excellent grades all year.  He's been a stones throw away from honor roll (but hasn't quite made it).  He's managed running cross country and playing basketball all year, all the while keeping on top of his grades.  Any opportunity he had to go in early for extra help, he jumped on it. Seventh grade was somewhat of an awakening for Jay.  I wouldn't go so far as to say he's accepted that he learns differently but I would say he understands he learns differently and he's starting to get a handle on the best ways for him to learn because we all learn differently.  And although he isn't necessarily comfortable with the extra help he gets, he knows it's part of the reason he's done so well this year.  I always tell Jay, no successful person got where they are without help.  There is no shame in receiving help.  The rest is up to you and the sky is the limit!

Bittersweet moment

Last night as I was tucking Nick into bed, he seemed antsy (yes, more antsy than usual), like he was just itching to talk to me about something.  However, he didn't say much so I tucked him into bed and off I went.  About an hour later he reappeared and told me he needed to talk to me.  I was annoyed.  I was ready for bed myself and I had already spent time putting this boy to bed.  What did he want now?  I followed him to his room where he broke down in tears.  I was shocked.  He cried that he didn't want third grade to end, that he wished these last three weeks of school would slow down so he could enjoy the last of what his favorite grade had to offer.  He asked me over and over through his tears how fourth grade was going to be.  I asked him if he knew what the word bittersweet meant?  He didn't.  I explained to him that in life, all things, good things too, must come to an end and that's the way it should be which often times can make us sad and happy.  I told Nick that my life as I know it will be different one day.  I won't have my boys living under the same roof with me forever because that's not the way it's supposed to be.  They are supposed to get older, grow up and make lives of their own and moving up a grade level is all part of that process.  I pointed out all the positives that happened this year for Nick (and there are many) and that I have no doubt he'll do just fine in fourth grade.  He smiled, hugged Cole a little tighter and seemed content to rest in the knowledge that the conclusion of third grade is just a bittersweet moment, not only for him but for his momma too.