Thanksgiving day is not over yet, and I've already transformed this page and my house for Christmas. Tim has always been one to get our tree up Thanksgiving afternoon. Today I said we weren't going to do that, but as soon as we got home he and Abby were getting it all out. Since we didn't have a tree or decorations last year (went skiing and refused to do much at home), I agreed.
This will be Cooper's first real Christmas at home. That first year he had only been home a week and weighed exactly four pounds. He just kept looking at all the stuff coming out of the boxes today. We are making a real effort to make our children mindful of the true meaning of and reason for Christmas. The materialistic urge to buy too much creeps in, but we keep reminding each other that that isn't what it is about.
I know this is choppy, but wanted to document the decorations going up and Cooper's amazement.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Party Pooped!
I'm posting a picture of Cooper and his birthday cake. He wasn't happy about having to sit there - only wanted to play with his new toys!
Cooper's Big Day
I'm not sure Cooper has any idea that today is his birthday party. We've been talking about it, who's coming, and what all is going to happen, but I still think he's clueless. Abby wanted to show him his cake first thing this morning - well before 8 a.m. He saw the tractors on top and threw a rip roaring fit because he couldn't have them to play right then.
I try not to have big birthday parties until they turn three, so this one's still pretty much family. Still, that turns out to be more than 20 people when it's all said and done.
Cooper's annual visit with Early Childhood Intervention was Thursday. It lasted two and half hours. They had to test several things that I wasn't sure of and then we had to write out a plan to try to catch him up in the areas of Fine Motor Skills and Language Development. He's reached all of the 24-month milestones in the other areas (or at least enough of them not to show a delay), but is only at 22 months in these two areas. I knew he was behind in Language but am hoping that improves when he moves to the two year old room at daycare. We've got a plan for the fine motor stuff and his OT/Social Worker is going to continue to see him twice a month to work on these skills. The told us the next "annual" would be in August (120 days before he's 36 months) to meet with the school district regarding PPCD. Tim and I are reserving decisions on this until that point. We can refuse services at that time, so we'll just have to see how he's progressing.
He's just a happy, active, strong-willed little boy! It's hard to believe that two years ago, we weren't even ready for his arrival - just trying to get through the holiday rush. He's definitely our miracle boy!
I try not to have big birthday parties until they turn three, so this one's still pretty much family. Still, that turns out to be more than 20 people when it's all said and done.
Cooper's annual visit with Early Childhood Intervention was Thursday. It lasted two and half hours. They had to test several things that I wasn't sure of and then we had to write out a plan to try to catch him up in the areas of Fine Motor Skills and Language Development. He's reached all of the 24-month milestones in the other areas (or at least enough of them not to show a delay), but is only at 22 months in these two areas. I knew he was behind in Language but am hoping that improves when he moves to the two year old room at daycare. We've got a plan for the fine motor stuff and his OT/Social Worker is going to continue to see him twice a month to work on these skills. The told us the next "annual" would be in August (120 days before he's 36 months) to meet with the school district regarding PPCD. Tim and I are reserving decisions on this until that point. We can refuse services at that time, so we'll just have to see how he's progressing.
He's just a happy, active, strong-willed little boy! It's hard to believe that two years ago, we weren't even ready for his arrival - just trying to get through the holiday rush. He's definitely our miracle boy!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Last Few Days Until a Break
The kids and I woke up to cooler temperatures and a brisk wind this morning. Although my yard looks bad, covered with leaves, I'm sure glad to see a beautiful fall day.
Tim left well before daybreak to head for the deer lease - just called and said he was quartering a doe. My little freezer is going to be full if he continues bringing home meat. Andy killed a hog a couple of weeks ago and half of it is in breakfast sausage, roast, and tenderloins in MY freezer. I'm depending on my friend Michelle to tell me how to best cook all this stuff.
I was so looking forward to this past week being over, but this week appears to be busier than every. Monday brings the Promethean company and representatives from schools in our region who are interested in purchasing ActivBoards to my classroom to observe. I still haven't finished my lesson, but I'll be ready by Monday one way or another. Abby's last game is Tuesday, church on Wednesday, and Cooper's annual Individual Family Services Plan meeting is Thursday afternoon.
I'm trying to get Cooper's birthday party ready for Saturday afternoon. Of course, I'm last minute here. I fell bad that I seem to have Abby's all together. But, my excuse is that hers is in July. I've had a whole month with no school to plan hers and his hits at the busiest time of the year.
Tim left well before daybreak to head for the deer lease - just called and said he was quartering a doe. My little freezer is going to be full if he continues bringing home meat. Andy killed a hog a couple of weeks ago and half of it is in breakfast sausage, roast, and tenderloins in MY freezer. I'm depending on my friend Michelle to tell me how to best cook all this stuff.
I was so looking forward to this past week being over, but this week appears to be busier than every. Monday brings the Promethean company and representatives from schools in our region who are interested in purchasing ActivBoards to my classroom to observe. I still haven't finished my lesson, but I'll be ready by Monday one way or another. Abby's last game is Tuesday, church on Wednesday, and Cooper's annual Individual Family Services Plan meeting is Thursday afternoon.
I'm trying to get Cooper's birthday party ready for Saturday afternoon. Of course, I'm last minute here. I fell bad that I seem to have Abby's all together. But, my excuse is that hers is in July. I've had a whole month with no school to plan hers and his hits at the busiest time of the year.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Long Week
I can't believe it's only Tuesday. I can tell this is going to be a long two weeks until we get a break for Thanksgiving. I have been feverishly preparing for my presentation that I have to give next Monday. It's not really so much a presentation, just a lesson that people from other schools are going to be watching me teach. I got a good part of it done yesterday and today. I hope to get the rest finished tomorrow and go over it with the company rep on Thursday.
Abby's game was cancelled tonight due to rain. Only one more game to go and then we get a break until spring. It's going to be kind of nice. She's quickly filling her time, though, with homework and reading assignments. She had her first literature circle group meeting today. She was not excited about having to be the word wizard. Thank goodness, she's the star reporter for next Monday's meeting. She also brought home her book that she has to read and prepare for a reader's theater.
I've been trying to plan some family fun for the holidays -- ice skating, Santa's town... I probably should not plan anything and just be. I'm sure we'll find time for just hanging out at home or the farm.
Abby's game was cancelled tonight due to rain. Only one more game to go and then we get a break until spring. It's going to be kind of nice. She's quickly filling her time, though, with homework and reading assignments. She had her first literature circle group meeting today. She was not excited about having to be the word wizard. Thank goodness, she's the star reporter for next Monday's meeting. She also brought home her book that she has to read and prepare for a reader's theater.
I've been trying to plan some family fun for the holidays -- ice skating, Santa's town... I probably should not plan anything and just be. I'm sure we'll find time for just hanging out at home or the farm.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Authority
Titus 3:1-2 says "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." These versus speak volumes to the American people as we face presidential changes that many did not and still do not agree with. I think we can also apply these versus to working situations that we might often times find difficult. God tells us to "be subject to" those in authority of us. It doesn't say we have to agree, but He does instruct us to obey. Verse two continues by telling us not "to speak evil" of anyone. Even when we do not agree or like someone in authority, we are to obey and keep our mouths closed. According to Romans 13:1 "...For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." Our president or bosses have their authority because God has granted it. Who am I to question His decision?
Part of these thoughts (Romans 13) were bright to light in a sermon by Richard this past Sunday. The Titus passage was mentioned by a friend over the weekend. Both were in direct response to our political situation. However, after two days and a lot of thought, and prayer, God has made it clear to me that it goes further than Barack Obama. It permeates through every aspect of our lives and our ability, command, to submit to authority.
Part of these thoughts (Romans 13) were bright to light in a sermon by Richard this past Sunday. The Titus passage was mentioned by a friend over the weekend. Both were in direct response to our political situation. However, after two days and a lot of thought, and prayer, God has made it clear to me that it goes further than Barack Obama. It permeates through every aspect of our lives and our ability, command, to submit to authority.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Abby lost her first tooth today!! Actually, I pulled it. She's so excited.Halloween Fun
We took the kids to Trunk or Treat at church last night. Notice, if you read an earlier post, that I didn't get Abby's robot costume together. Grammy saved the day and found this gold sequined dress so she could be a pop star. You can't really see her hair and her knee high black boots, but it was pretty cute. (She's pictured with her A #1 pal, Taylor.) Cooper had to go to "school" as his favorite storybook character. We chose a train engineer from "Thomas" or "The Little Engine that Could."
It's hard to believe that it's already November. Of course, deer season opened today, so Tim was gone well before daylight. I was thinking October had been especially busy, but November's looking about as bad. Abby's got three more softball games left in this fall season before we take a break for the holidays. Cooper's annual Early Childhood Intervention evaluation is scheduled for the Thursday before Thanksgiving, so his various therapists are trying to squeeze in as many visits as possible.
I'm going to be observed by representatives from 15 schools around our region on the 17th and am already having to spend quite a bit of time getting my activities ready for that day. It's actually a program set up by the Promethean company (I think). Our school has been chosen as a model school to showcase the use of Promethean boards, Activotes, and ActiveSlates in classrooms. Three classrooms were chosen and I'm the one demonstrating the use of the board and it's tools as I actually use it to teach my class.
Pray for the election this week and GO VOTE if you haven't already.
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