SuperStar

I was standing at the corner today waiting for Emma to get off the bus and cross over to me. I saw an older boy (maybe 4th grade?) come down the stairs of the bus and just as he was beginning to cross the street he slung his bag up on his shoulder and somehow dumped all of the contents out.
One by one, each child behind him carefully made their way around him, ignoring his clear struggle to get everything at least back in his arms.
Emma stepped off the bus and started to come straight across to me when she saw the boy out of the corner of her eye. She immediately stopped in her tracks and went over to help him! AND when she realized that he still couldn't get situated with all of his folders and spirals in his hands she very simply told him she would carry them across the street. They both finally made it over to the curb and then he was able to get everything back in his bag. He thanked her and she said, "you're welcome", and we were on our way.
I told her how proud I was of her and that most kids wouldn't (and didn't) have stopped to help. I love that there never was an option for her. She is SUCH a sweet kid.
I love her. :)

My Girl

This girl most definitely didn't fall far from my tree... :)

She had some reading testing in school today. They had to read several passages and then the teacher would count how many words they read in a certain amount of time. Testing for fluency, I think.

Emma said after the first passage, her teacher told her she was only "supposed to" read 44 words. I guess that is the "right" number for the early 2nd grade level. Emma read 125. :o)
Then she tells me, "and everytime I would finish a story, my teacher would say, 'Holy Smokes, girl!'"

LOL!

#8

Another one bites the dust...





Toothfairy thought it was worth $5! :)

Technically,

summer is not over.

At least not in my book.

I don't know how many times I thought about this list over the break, but never posted it. We made pretty good headway last year, considering how late it was when I put this together, and we covered quite a bit of ground this year without even trying.
I will put the things we did in bold. And we'll keep plugging at the rest. :)

The Keas Kid's Summer To Do List!

1. Build a sand castle
2. Have a picnic
3. Run in the sprinklers
4. Body paint (kind of like finger paint gone wild!)
5. Plant flowers
6. Hike to the dinosaur tracks
7. Lay in the grass and find shapes in the clouds
8. Make smores by campfire
9. Make a nature box
10. Make an ice treasure
11. Make homemade ice cream
12. and homemade Popsicles!
13. Go to the Zoo
14. Blow BIG bubbles!
15. Play hide and seek at night with flashlights
16. Make a treasure map and hunt for treasure
17. Play hopscotch
18. Go to an amusement/water park
19. Go camping!
20. Paint the fence
21. Have a snow day
22. Jump on the tramp w/sprinkler under!
23. Visit the Children's Art Park
24. Attend free movies!
25. Make a fort and sleep in it!
26. Make our own stepping stone
27. Go to the Botanical Gardens
28. Ride the Zilker Zephyr
29. See a play or musical
30. Fly a kite
31. Take a listening walk

Emma's First Week

This week has been relatively smooth. Besides the dragging of the bodies out of the bed.... (and I'm NOT talking about Emma-she has been SO good with the early mornings!) we have had a pretty good week.

Emma seems to like 2nd grade. The first day she said she likes Second grade because she gets to do "projects", and then showed me a colored, cut and pasted watermelon. ;) Hopefully next week they will get into the curriculum and she will stay interested.
Emma did get a "color change" one day b/c she did not listen when the teacher told the class there would be no more bathroom breaks. Emma left for a bathroom break and had to change her color when she got back. Her teacher told me that she worked very hard and was able to move up before the end of the day. Emma said as we were walking to the car that she was very worried that she would not be able to move back up. I am so glad she cares, and she tries really hard to please.

By day 4 she told me that she was having trouble w/some boys at recess that wouldn't let her play with them. Some of that story is in another post.
From what I gather, I think it may be a situation of "we would let you play with us but you're a giiirrll..." kind of thing. I am glad she doesn't care about that but hope she doesn't get hurt by the kids that do. She handled it VERY well and came home happy the next day.

So far, so good, I guess. I just hate her being gone for so long for so many days. There are so many minutes, shaping her little life, that I cannot witness! I saw a piece of a special on "helicopter moms". Is that me? I really don't think so.
But I do desperately want to watch my children grow! I want to be a part of a lot of things, but I think I really do give room when room is needed. I very much want to have a hand in their education and benchmark experiences. I want to show them that there may be more than one door that leads to the same place, and that sometimes it's ok (more than ok, it's often more exciting!) to take the door that's down the hall and around the corner, instead of the one right in front of you. I want to see them make messes and mistakes on the way.
Sigh, it's just the same old sob story, I'm afraid. I just can't come to terms with this.

Okay-snapping out of it. I hope we have an awesome year and that Emma has the opportunity to make discoveries, learn life lessons, and build many memories.

All on her own. :)

Our Big Girl!

I won't make a habit of this...

...but I HAVE to share my deals from today!

CVS
1 Revlon mascara - $8.99
1 Revlon lipstick - $7.99
4 Kraft Mac&Cheese - 4/$4
1 Xtra laundry det. - $1.99
1 Energizer 8 pk. AA - $8.49
1 Energizer 8 pk. AAA - $8.49
2 Reese's PB cup - $.50 ea.

Total OOP after coupons and ECBs: Under $4.00!

What??

Table Talk

**I almost left the dinner table to record this next piece while it was fresh in my mind.**


Emma was telling us something about her day (ok - (this is not a part of my blog story, but I feel bad skipping it and only recording the humor part...to follow) Emma was telling me that she took my advice and told the 2 boys (who were in her class and QUEST group last year but are in a different class this year) from recess who kept telling her that she could not play with them, that she likes to play what they are playing, and that it might be more fun with more people - and it worked! I told her I was VERY proud of her, gave her a high five, and she continued w/more details...) and while she was talking she accidentally let out a pretty big belch.

You should have seen the look on her face-pure horror! Here is exactly (as best as I can) what she said:

"Pardon Me! I am SO sorry! I did NOT mean to do that! I had no idea I was going to do THAT! I can't tell you HOW sorry I am! Excuse me, that was an ACCIDENT! My Goodness!"

...aaaannd she may have gone on, but I interrupted, told her it was ok, and thanked her for apologizing.


Next comes about a 2 second pause, then.....












a big ole belly laugh from a certain not-so-poised (and apparently impressed) 4 yr. old, then............















says Ally, "I wish I could do THAT!"



A quick pic from after dinner-Ally was holding a chip she had eaten into the shape of a castle, but I cut it off. Sorry Ally!