Updates

School:

Ashlyn:
 She still LOVES school.  She enjoys riding the bus when daddy is home(I enjoy it too).  PE is her favorite thing in the world.  She learned to hula hoop.  I could never do it and we got a kick out of Brandon trying to this weekend.  I got a cute email on Friday from the media specialist.  They were in the library for a story and checkout.  I can't remember the name of the book they were reading but it had to do with a box.  At the end the media specialist was asking questions and she said that everyone kept answering literal questions.  Then Ashlyn raised her hand and said she thought it was an imaginary box, which apparently it was.  The media specialist said that it usually takes a lot of coaxing to get the kids to realize that.  Ashlyn checked out one of the Biscuit "I Can Read Books" and is excited because she can read it to Chloe.  Chloe, of course, said she would prefer me to read it because I do it faster but it's all good.  While practicing some sight words at home, Ashlyn said that she had a test to see how many she could get.  I asked her how many she got and she said she didn't get any.  Why?  Then she went on to tell me that she was waiting for a hard one and Ms. Williams kept showing her words like an, and, the, and is.  She said she didn't know why she would ask if she knew those words.  I had to tell her that Ms. Williams was asking her those because she wanted to see if she knew them because not everyone does.  Then she said, "So that's why I didn't get a hard one?  Is it because I didn't say the easy ones?"  Yes, why yes it is......

Chloe:
Chloe also LOVES school.  She adores Ms. Beth who is so sweet.  I had to take Chloe to a dr. appt last week and got to go into her classroom for a few minutes in the middle of the day.  The kids were so cute and so well behaved.  Chloe says school is easy.  As a matter of fact, Ms. Beth told me that Chloe will raise her hand and say "uhhhhh I already know how to do this!"  I think that phrase will be coming out of her mouth for awhile.  Beth told me that they were practicing writing their names but some kids were drawing pictures so she told them all to put their pencils down for a minute.  Chloe didn't put hers down and when Beth walked over, she had already written Chloe, Ashlyn, Mom, Dad, Cat, Dog and was trying to write Pemberton.  She even has better handwriting than Ashlyn.  Beth told her to just keep on going.  Their class has a private website where they post pictures, videos, notes, etc.  It's really cute.  So we were looking at pictures and I was asking Chloe what the names of the kids were.  When she came to Nick, she said "There's my Nickey-poo."  It was sooooo funny.  I'll have to tell his mom.  She will get a kick out of it.  She teaches at McConnell Middle.

ME:
I am on day 21 of my 24 day challenge and am down 14 pounds.  I feel great and can see the difference in clothes.  I still have a ways to go but am finally feeling good.  Work is going great.  I love my students.  My third graders are the same kids I had in 2nd so it was easy to jump in with them.  However, in third grade I teach academic subjects so it has been an adjustment for some.  Their parents are very supportive and like that their kids have to work and are being challenged.  I teach the gifted resource model to my 2nd graders so it is always fun.  This week they are doing some research online and learning powerpoint.

Brandon:
He is also nearing the end of our challenge and has dropped 24 pounds.  He is on his last belt loop and his pants are hanging on him.

Losing.....

The only time it's good to be losing is when you are losing weight!

So far I have completed 6 full days and I am down 7 pounds.  I have not had a coffee or soda nor have I craved one.  i didn't believe that would be the case when I started.  I'm basically clean eating too.  No processed, fried, or white flour.  The first 10 days I won't have dairy.  Brandon has lost 11.  Why do guys always lose faster?  It's not fair.

So I've tried some new recipes too.  I had salmon over a bed of spinach cooked in the crockpot which is something new for me.  I liked it but Brandon is not a salmon person.  I had a chicken wrap that was awesome and is now my go to meal.  I just took a boneless skinless chicken breast and tenderized it.  Then I used a blackening seasoning and cooked it.  I sautéed onions and mushrooms and also put fresh tomatoes (from the garden) and lettuce on it using a whole grain wrap.  I also tried a chicken burrito recipe in the crockpot.  Brandon said it was the best thing I ever made.  I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, salsa, sugar free tomato sauce, chili powder, and cumin.  I ate mine over a bed of shredded lettuce with a little guacamole on top.  Brandon ate it in a whole wheat tortilla.

chicken wrap 

Chicken burrito(I'll admit it doesn't look that great but it was!)

a good breakfast--egg white omelet with onions and mushrooms covered in tomatoes

salmon before cooking

Clipping Down

So the whole school has a behavior plan where every child starts on green and there are three colors below and three above.  they have a clothespin on the chart with their name.  They can clip up or down.  It starts over each day.  Ashlyn had to clip down one day this week and this is the conversation that I got.

She runs into my room and abruptly tells me she was on yellow today(and sounds rather proud).

Me:  Why did you clip down?

Ash:  I was talking

Me:  Were you talking to Carter?

Ash:  No I was talking to someone at my table.

Me:  Who were you talking to?

Ash:  I don't know their name.

Me:  What was so important that you were talking about?

Ash:  I was asking their name.  Daddy said that I have to make one new friend a day so that's what I was doing.

Me:  Why don't you try and make a new friend at recess.

Ash:  Ok

Advocare 24 Day Challenge and Kid Update

Soooooo Brandon and I decided to do the Advocare 24 Day Challenge.  I stepped on the scale today to get my starting weight and we'll just say it's not pretty.  As a kid and throughout high school and into college, I was very thin.  My parents didn't have junk food or pop(soda for you southerners) in the house.  We only got that on special occasions like holidays or birthdays.  We were always very active.  I think I played every sport imaginable and my dad coached boys' sports so I was right there playing with boys all of the time(and beating them:).  So where did that person's drive for exercise and health go???  I have no idea!!  I've slowly let myself gain and gain.  When I look in the mirror, I don't like what I see.  I never feel comfortable in clothes.  I have a wardrobe of clothes in my closet that don't fit.  I can no longer blame pregnancy weight---it has been four years!!!  So I'm going to try the 24 day challenge through Advocare.  Brandon is doing it with me.  We are planning our meals.  I'll keep y'all updated......

AND OUR WEEKEND.....

The kids woke up on Saturday wanting to go to school.  I'm glad they love it.  Our favorite Chloe quote from Friday "I played in the kitchen, or dramatic play area.  That's what Ms. Beth likes to call it."  Today  was a nice sleep in day as Ashlyn got up at 9 am and Chloe 11 am.  Yes you heard me right.  So no naps and in bed at 7:30 which has been the bedtime on school nights.  I'm in for another busy week especially tomorrow as I have curriculum night for my gifted second graders and then would like to attend Ashlyn's Kindergarten curriculum night.  Next Monday night, I have curriculum night for my gifted and accelerated third graders.  This would be the only bad thing about teaching two grade levels.  K-2 is usually one night and 3-5 another night for a lot of events.  Oh well!!

Brandon is home this week so Ashlyn is thrilled to be able to ride the bus.  Brandon likes the fact that this is his special time with Ashlyn.  I like it because I can get ready for the day in my classroom without a five year old asking me 500 questions.  Ashlyn says it's her favorite thing about a school.  It's a win-win for all!

All About the First Day....

Some of my friends can't get a word out of their kids.  Ashlyn likes to tell us every detail.  So here goes in Ashlyn's words:

*Mrs. Williams is really funny.  Actually she is hilarious.  She read a book about a cat and a dog and the cat didn't listen.  It was so funny.  Everyone laughed.  The cat talked while the teacher was talking and Mrs. Williams said that is a big no no.

*We sang funny songs.  One was about peanut butter on your head, shirt, socks, shoes, and underwear.  (We youtube-ed it and yes that was it).  Then we sang a song about a monkey that falls to the ground, says chomp chomp and yum yum.  (she showed us)  Then it keeps getting faster and faster.  Mrs. Williams can go really fast.  These songs were all on the radio(I'm assuming CD).

*(At dinner...)  We will, we will, rock you........  That was on the radio too.

*We read "The Kissing Hand" and then I drew this picture(see below).  Chloe chimed in that she read that book too.

*Lunch....I was going to sit by Carter but he had a lunchbox so he got to sit at the table first.  I had to go through the line.  Some kid at my table said the chicken nuggets weren't good so I didn't try them.  I don't like milk.  I ate applesauce.  Can you pack my lunch tomorrow??

*Gym---I had gym today.  Aja was in there but Carter wasn't.  (There are six specials and seven Kindergarten classes so Ashlyn's class splits between the six other teachers).  I did the rock wall today.  I couldn't get very high.  We played with hula hoops.  My teacher didn't tell us his name but he has a blue shirt.  It was fun.  It was raining a little so I got a little wet walking from the gym back to the school.

*I played with Carter in class.  I didn't play with anyone else.  (We asked if she could try and play with a new person tomorrow and her answer was no).  I talked to people at my table though.  One kid's name is Ashlyn but he is a boy.  (It's Ashton)

*Ms. Cheryl is nice too.

*It's cold in my room.  I need a sweater.

*We made rules for the classroom.  I can't remember what they are.

CHLOE"S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:

*"My teacher said the next time I want to tell a story, I need to raise my hand first."

*"Ms. Brittany is a little bit nice, but Ms. Beth is a lot bit nice."

*"I took a nap on a mat with fish on it."

*"I missed my sissy."

I guess this will be our first day of Kindergarten keepsake

The Night Before Kindergarten....

I bought Ashlyn the book "The Night Before Kindergarten."  We read it tonight.  She wanted to know why all of the moms and dads cried.  She thought they should be happy because the kids are in school.

Future First Grade Counseling???

Ashlyn assumes that Carter will do everything with her.  Basically because they have been together so so long. I tried to break it to her over the past week that they probably would not be in the same class.  Lo and Behold, they are in the same class....  Is this good or bad?  Only time will tell:).  I am so excited about their teacher though.  She is fun, upbeat and has a real southern accent.  I think Ashlyn(and Carter) will LOVE her.  Oh, and if she gets out of hand, I'm in the building!!!

Ashlyn and Carter at around 14 months and at 5 years old