I cannot believe I am writing this... my 4 year old can ride his bike without training wheels! Yep, amazing, isn't it? He's been wanting to try it for months now and I kept saying no. There was a bike at my parents' house that had on training wheel broken, so my dad took the other one off. Jackson picked it up and took off!! I was so shocked, and proud, and nervous... but I just did what any other good Momma would do and said, "Great job, buddy, Momma is so proud of you!" Inside, I was thinking please don't wreck, please be careful, please watch out...
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
T-Ball, might as well be the World Series to Jackson
We are so busy having fun this summer! It's hard to believe school starts back in less than a month! Jackson is ready, though - he wants to see his friends and his teachers. We signed him up for t-ball thru the YMCA and he is LOVING it, especially his coach, Coach Damon. Apparently Coach Damon is the bees knees because what he says goes! Here is Jackson - his very first time up to bat. Yep that's Coach Damon -
Here he is after he ran home!
Here's what Parker does while Jackson plays t-ball (and then my Mom usually grabs him out of the stroller because you cannot resist those cheeks! And those kisses!!) *notice Parker has on the team colors? I also have a blue and white shirt - yes, I'm a dork!!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A little bit of Kentucky
We decided to go for a visit to Kentucky - where I'm from. The house I grew up in was in need of some repair and my whole family has been down there all week getting it done. My dad had to remove 3 rooms, he built a new porch, put on a roof - a lot of work. It looks awesome!
On the new porch
Parker loves his Granny!
Jackson at Natural Bridge
Parker and Ben at Natural Bridge
My husband, the rock star, on the way home...
Summer at Our New House
We love our new house. We love our yard. We love our bedrooms. We love the hardwood floors - we love all of it! The boys love playing outside and we love watching them.
Robbins Family Reunion
Ben's family has a reunion every year - we go out to Aunt Donna's farm, fish, eat tons of food and catch up. This year was no different except Jackson is now old enough to know what fishing is, and requires that we do it the whole time!! Luckily, we ran out of worms early, so that worked well for us!
Aren't they the cutest things you ever did see??
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Hug your babies
I try to only put positive things on the blog because I want this to be something fun and cheery. Today, though, I have to just briefly make a comment - Kayleigh Anne Freeman has passed away - she's a baby who was born 11 months ago at just one pound and has been fighting an uphill battle ever since. She lost her battle on May 11. Please keep her family in your thoughts as she has an older brother and sister and many, many people who love her deeply.
Since becoming a parent, hearing stories like these just tug a little harder. Every time I hear a story like this, it reminds me how lucky I am and that I need to hug my babies just one extra time... and then again!
Kayleigh's story will be featured on "The Doctor's" next week, I believe. Here's a link to her family blog if you'd like to check it out.
http://www.kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/
Since becoming a parent, hearing stories like these just tug a little harder. Every time I hear a story like this, it reminds me how lucky I am and that I need to hug my babies just one extra time... and then again!
Kayleigh's story will be featured on "The Doctor's" next week, I believe. Here's a link to her family blog if you'd like to check it out.
http://www.kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Parent Teacher Conferences
Our preschool is amazing. Jackson has flourished there - he has grown by leaps and bounds and enrolling him there was one of the best decisions we've made for him and his developmental needs. The teacher (who, by the way, should be a saint, she's amazing!) holds conferences but doesn't require you to come - if there's a concern, they call you to set one up, otherwise, they tell you to schedule one if you'd like.
They didn't request a conference (yay!!) but we wanted to see where Jackson stands, how he's progressed this year, and what he needs help with to be ready for 4 year old preschool.
They have an assessment sheet and grade with an M, E, N structure - M means mastered, E means it's an emerging skill, and N means it needs improvement. I'm ok with him having areas that need improvement, I'm totally aware that not every kid develops at the same rate. The most frustrating part of the entire conference for me was that things he told her he doesn't know, he does know - he knows it, I know he knows it, and SHE knows he knows it. For example, they count the days on the calendar each day. So, logically I reason he can count to 31, right? When tested, he only counted to 7. WHAT?! She asked him to count as high as he could and he stopped at 7. She said, "Then what?" and he said, "I don't know." She showed him shapes, he named them all except a rectangle. He knows what it is, he told her later that same day! He just didn't want to do it at the time.
The main things he needs to work on was matching sounds that are the same (that was his only N.) Basically, they say, "Today is Wednesday, what else sounds the same as Wednesday?" The correct answer is stuff starting with W - usually they do the names of kids in the class, so Will and Whitney. Jackson knows all his letter sounds, but just decided not to answer... He also needs to work on his grasp with the pencil and his scissor skills. But, on the upside, there is SO much he has mastered. He knows all his colors, can sort items into categories, he can identify his name in print, he knows what letters are in his name, has excellent motor skills - running, hopping, coordination. He follows directions, is easy to understand when he speaks, can sit for stories and participates in group activities. He knows his full name, can separate from his parents (he can - the paper even says so!!), plays well with his peers, asks for help when needed, and takes care of his potty issues himself.
My main concern was that he was not on target with other 3 year olds but it seems he is, if he can just get past the stubbornness. I don't know how much is him being stubborn, how much is his SPD, how much is typical... Apparently, he's doing well, he just needs a little work in a few areas. So, we'll practice things that need practice. She stressed that we shouldn't stress about it and don't stress him out about it. So, I feel better about it, but frustrated at the same time...
They didn't request a conference (yay!!) but we wanted to see where Jackson stands, how he's progressed this year, and what he needs help with to be ready for 4 year old preschool.
They have an assessment sheet and grade with an M, E, N structure - M means mastered, E means it's an emerging skill, and N means it needs improvement. I'm ok with him having areas that need improvement, I'm totally aware that not every kid develops at the same rate. The most frustrating part of the entire conference for me was that things he told her he doesn't know, he does know - he knows it, I know he knows it, and SHE knows he knows it. For example, they count the days on the calendar each day. So, logically I reason he can count to 31, right? When tested, he only counted to 7. WHAT?! She asked him to count as high as he could and he stopped at 7. She said, "Then what?" and he said, "I don't know." She showed him shapes, he named them all except a rectangle. He knows what it is, he told her later that same day! He just didn't want to do it at the time.
The main things he needs to work on was matching sounds that are the same (that was his only N.) Basically, they say, "Today is Wednesday, what else sounds the same as Wednesday?" The correct answer is stuff starting with W - usually they do the names of kids in the class, so Will and Whitney. Jackson knows all his letter sounds, but just decided not to answer... He also needs to work on his grasp with the pencil and his scissor skills. But, on the upside, there is SO much he has mastered. He knows all his colors, can sort items into categories, he can identify his name in print, he knows what letters are in his name, has excellent motor skills - running, hopping, coordination. He follows directions, is easy to understand when he speaks, can sit for stories and participates in group activities. He knows his full name, can separate from his parents (he can - the paper even says so!!), plays well with his peers, asks for help when needed, and takes care of his potty issues himself.
My main concern was that he was not on target with other 3 year olds but it seems he is, if he can just get past the stubbornness. I don't know how much is him being stubborn, how much is his SPD, how much is typical... Apparently, he's doing well, he just needs a little work in a few areas. So, we'll practice things that need practice. She stressed that we shouldn't stress about it and don't stress him out about it. So, I feel better about it, but frustrated at the same time...
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