School Awards

School finished last week for the summer.  On Thursday afternoon was the elementary school awards.  Alex received an award for excellence in math, good attendance and citizenship award.  The citizenship award comes with a $2 bill.  He and Andy would have had better attendance awards if we hadn't gotten snowed in.
Andy received an award for excellence in art and attendance.
I received a certificate and gift bag for volunteering
When Magie was at the school today, she learned that there was a change in classrooms for next year due to the large number of siblings and cousins who would have been in the 4th/5th grade combo.  So next year we will have K/1, 2/3, 4th grade (Alex) taught by Mr. Frank who Andy had for 4/5 this year and Ms. Hotop will teach 5th grade (Andy)  Andy's pretty happy about it as Ms. Hotop is really into the sciences.

Alex receiving his math award from Ms. Hotop



Andy receiving his art award



Destination Imagination

Alex has spent the last several months working with Destination Imagination (DI for short). He's had a lot of fun. Andy didn't want to do it, so he'd go to Magie's after school.
I asked Alex to describe DI but he was too busy playing Wii with the girls who are visiting.


His group built a structure which was to catch and hold golfballs while maintaining it's integrity with weights being placed on it. It held the weights but didn't work with the golf balls.
They (a group of five boys) also had a play to perform. It involved money, a bank, a bank robber.
The boys didn't place at Regionals on Saturday but they did get medals for the DaVinci award which is for creativity and perseverance.
I was an assessor for the Instant challenge portion of the day. It was a lot of fun.
It was a busy weekend. Friday night we went to the Pediatrics (high schoolers) vs. Geriatrics (adults) basketball game. Just like last year, the Geriatrics won.
Saturday night after a day of DI, we went to the community play "Great Smokies". It was really fun. There was also a talent show. For a small community there are alot of talented people.
Sunday we went to Fargo's Pizza for Andy's birthday dinner.

Mad Scientist in the House

Our school participates in a regional science fair. The kids start out in the 4th grade getting ready for this. In the 6th grade they actually compete. Andy did his project with litmus and that's all I know. Something about how chemicals change the color of the water and back again.



Anyway, Andy took second place in the 4th grade and will be attending the BFL science fair next Friday. Pretty darn proud of the kid.

Friday pictures

It may be antelope season but these two guys would have made a nice trophy for my BIL who walked for three days in the rain and never found one in the mountains. That's because they were out here on the plains. We don't see these to often. I spotted these laying next to a big hay bale but by the time I stopped and got out of the truck with the camera they were on the move.



Alex was the wind in his class play and his best friend Chase was the little ant looking for the strongest thing.



It's Dr. Seuss Day at school and STUCO was selling hats for the occassion. Andy got the green (a school color) and yellow (his fav color) and Alex had the school colors.

What's in a Name?

I've been giving some thought to changing the name of the blog. Something with "family" in it; or maybe something about the view of Pikes Peak. I still need to give this some thought. Although the way the wind has been blowing I was considering "As the Wind Blows".
Other changes we are making around here- selling the rest of the poultry. I just really don't want to take care of the birds this winter. After the birds are gone and two of the llamas go to their new homes, we will be down to three horses, two llamas, one calf, three dogs, one hamster and a fluctuating number of cats. Keiko is missing so not sure how many I have.
Andy has been wanting a tarantula. I priced the horrid things. $149.99. No thank you.
And the wind can just stop blowing.
We are having spirit week. We started with green and white day, followed by PJ or Ninja day, today was neon day and tomorrow is Dr. Seuss Day. Fall homecoming is on Saturday. I'll be working the concession stand again for the booster club.
Tomorrow morning Alex's class is doing a short play. He is the wind. Hopefully I will remember the camera to get some pictures. It starts at 8:30 if some grandparents wanted to come. And then it's off to find some hay (which is in short supply, especially in the small bales) and then pantry.

End of the School year

Last Thursday we had a fun day at school. The kids had field day in the morning and the afternoon was for Elementary awards. My boys did quite well.

Alex, a first grader in the second grade received awards for attendance, good listening, reading, penmanship, spelling, good citizenship in the 2nd grade, and good citizenship in the school. The last award comes with a $2 bill.

Andy, a third grader, received the good citizenship in the school, good attendance, science, geography and history.

Alex also received special recognition for being a student of the quarter (1st quarter) in addition to being a student of the week in the local country newspaper.

I also received a gift for volunteering at the school. I don't know if I'll be volunteering next year, thinking I might go back to work in the fall.

School was out for the summer on Friday, after a community barbeque with our superintendent cooking the meat, the Oklahoma way (his homestate).

Prom 2011

Instead of the average Midnight Fantasy or some such theme, our junior class went with an Oriental theme. Our art teacher did much of the artwork of Chinese words. There were paper plates, napkins and cups with Chinese words. Lots of white Christmas lights. The old gym looks so different when it's dressed up for Prom. The kids had the gym for 10 days to decorate and so the elementary had PE outside.
When we arrived there were pitchers of water on the table. Upon closer examination there were little goldfish swimming around in the pitchers. During Hell Night at sorority initiation, we had to swallow a live goldfish. Not really an experience I care to repeat.
After our meal of beef and broccoli, sushi (my fave of the night), noodles, egg roll and some type of chicken there was cake.
The senior class (of five students) uses this moment in time to deliver their "wills".
There was a number of athletic pass-ons, some clothing and perfume gifts. One student used his time to thank his grandparents for raising him. I thought that one was really sweet.
Peter and I left before the dancing started. The dance is really for the kids anyway. The dinner is by invite only. My date and I went as I'm currently on the school board.
This was probably my favorite prom, even over my own high school experiences.

Happy Anniversary...Not

Yesterday was the wedding anniversary, not really a great one. Peter and I had lunch at On the Border. Then last night I had a conference for the school board with BOCES. Got home and that...was...it. I did find a new dress for prom on Saturday night.
Broke down and had my hair colored professionally for a change with a cut. So I should look presentable for Saturday night.
Of course it is supposed to be cold and wet tomorrow night. We can really use the moisture but I'm seriously thinking sweatpants and sweater for the dinner. The grass in our pasture is about 1/2 inch tall right now. It needs to get in gear and grow. I went to the farm supply store to buy some grass bales for the horses. Came home with 10 chicks. They were only a dollar apiece for straight run.
We are having pot stickers for supper tonight.
I didn't get up to watch the royal wedding. I watched when Diana and Charles got married. I was in Arkansas with my great-aunt visiting my great-grandpa Petrey.

Spring Clean Up

Every year our Senior class at our little country school raises money to go on a Senior Trip and for a Senior Gift. Last year the Seniors went on an Alaskan cruise, stopping in Canadian ports along the way. The kids start earning the money as freshman. The freshman class this year has decided to earn their money by collecting and selling scrap metal. They have been to a number of homes collecting old wire fencing, t-posts, and other metals. They came to our place this last weekend and they worked hard gathering a trailer full of metal things that we don't want or don't need. It looks a little different here without the old lawn tractor, rolls of fencing and so on.
(Now if I can find someone to haul off the junked plywood. It makes good kindling for fires.) BTW, the school itself does not contribute financially to the senior trips, the money is all raised by the students. Once I put up the new pasture fence, I'll have another load of wire for the kids.

It's been a Week

So what has everyone been doing this week? Monday we stayed home, we don't have school on Mondays normally. Tuesday I picked up Melissa after she had a tooth pulled and we went to lunch. She didn't eat much. Tuesday afternoon I was home. Actually those two days I spent going through kitchen cabinets and the laundry room sorting out things to take to the auction tomorrow. Wednesday we went to the Co-op thinking it was chick days but it's actually May 13 for chick days. Then Wednesday afternoon I worked at the school. Spent most of the afternoon tracing circles and cutting them out. This is for the Kindergarten/first grade end of the year caterpillars. Thursday afternoon back to the school and finished the circles. I need to find something that can cut out the circles a lot easier than a pair of scissors. 150 circles makes your hand tired. Friday did some more sorting for the auction. Saturday I spent most of it out in the chicken coop, part of the time just sitting and watching the chickens scratching and the ducks and geese splashing in their pond. There is something relaxing about watching a chicken scratching in the dirt. But maybe I'm just easily entertained. I did run to the feed store to pick up the month's feed order. Saturday night we went to MIL's for early Easter dinner. We went to see the house SIL bought to fix up and sell, that's what they do. Took the 1950's Impala station wagon over to the house, pretty awesome ride. It's a very nice house, nice quiet neighborhood. I wouldn't mind having a house like it. Getting kind of tired of the country life right now. Maybe it is just the lack of rain we've been experiencing. We had a few drops the other evening but that was all. My parents up in NE Colorado had snow. Sunday we went to the new church, quite enjoying it.

Jumprope for Heart

The week before last, our school had the Jumprope for Heart. My Alex, pictured above in the blue shirt, won first place in the 2nd grade for jumproping backwards. Andy didn't do as well, he's not yet found his athleticism. Alex has been running since he was born, it seems like. I don't think he starting walking, he started running. Both boys did very well on their report cards.
And then came Spring Break. We didn't do much, it was so windy and every day there have been reports of fires. The boys go back to school tomorrow. Happy dance.
Went to the auction today. Sold five chickens, bought two muscovy ducks and 10 baby ducks, variety specials. Alex has his picked out. Did I mention that school resumes tomorrow? And my camera is working...

Teachers

So I have added another blog to my list. Coffee Tea Books and Me. I think my mom will like this one. She reads my blog but never comments. She should start a blog. Mom was a first grade teacher for (many) years. She retired a couple of years ago. Maybe because she was starting to teach the children of some of her earlier students. Incidentally, my mom was my Kindergarten teacher when my regular teacher was out on maternity leave.
One of the teachers that I had that I will never forget was Miss Cooke. She was my fourth grade teacher when we lived on the Army base in West Germany. She had previously been a teacher in Bermuda. My grandmother had gotten me interested in collecting stamps and Miss Cooke gave me some from Bermuda. I remember she used to read aloud to the class every day. One story we read, that I still love to this day was "Harriet the Spy." I think it was Miss Cooke who got me hooked on reading.
One of my other favorite teachers was Mrs Sorenson, fifth grade at Park Middle School in McPherson, Kansas. She took me as her guest to a mother-daughter banquet once.
In high school my favorite teacher had to be Jackie Engle, journalism teacher extraordinaire. It was her teaching that enabled me to later be the managing editor of the college newspaper and a professional newspaper reporter.
At Bethany College, Lindsborg Kansas, far and above would be Dr. Joyce Pigge. She was my political science prof and for awhile my advisor. But then I decided to be a probation officer and switched majors. Never did probation but I did spend a lifetime in social work.
So now my boys are in elementary school. Doing quite well. I'm wondering who will be their favorite teachers. In a small school, they will have the same teacher for each grade.

Parent teacher conferences

I don't worry about P/T conferences. Andy and Alex are both doing so well, makes me so happy I could just cry. And yes I take credit for their intelligence, after all, they are my babies. So their father's genetics had a little bit to do with it, but mostly it's mine.
Andy's in the third grade and is doing, according to the tests, the school work of a fifth grader. But I'm not going to move him up. I really don't want him in the upper grades with some of those students. The only suggestion his teacher had was to get Andy to read more fiction. He reads a lot of non-fiction.
Alex is a first grader in a second grade classroom. But he has the academic skills of a third grader. This one, no concerns. Doing well. Makes a mom proud.
On a really sad note, bff Magie's Min-pin, Penny, died today. Magie found her several years ago, half-starved, along the road. Penny was very protective of "her" family and loved the baby kittens, goats, whatever needed mothering, Penny was right there. She will be missed.

Another Snow Day

The superintendent called board members at 5:45 to see if we should close school. Knowing the temp was like one degree and I could hear the north wind battering the house, I readily agreed. So did the other members. No school.
So I spent the day making brownies and revising a Paula Deen casserole, since I didn't have all the ingredients. If it turns out alright I'll post it.
No chicken eggs today but I did find one duck egg. Frozen.
I have been feeding the horses extra rations of hay lately. In addition to their grain ration. This keeps up, they will need a diet in the spring. But they need the hay to generate body heat.
The chihuahuas left yesterday for their new homes. Soon Virginia will have her new house and can take Libby and maybe Lucy, they've been together so long. Which would leave us with three dogs. Danny is on his last days. So that leaves Eliza and Mischka. And...um...a new golden retriever puppy. There was one advertised on Craig's list but I couldn't get a response.

And Spring will be here when...

So the groundhog saw his shadow and we will not have 6 more weeks of winter. I would like the exact day Spring will be here. Granted, we haven't had the snow like a large portion of the country, but the last few days of sub-zero freezing has been enough. The birds are tired of the cold, the horses are tired of it and I'm tired of it. I have friends who have no water because their well froze. Other friends have frozen pipes. We were very lucky this time. We keep the water dripping in both the kitchen and bathroom. And Peter installed a pipe heating tape when we moved in. The one time that the tape fizzled out, our pipes froze. Didn't break that time. There was one time when the tape wasn't plugged in and the pipes froze and burst. He had so much fun crawling in the crawl space in the muck and water fixing it.
Even with a two hour delay, the boys are back in school. I'll be heading that way in a little bit for an afternoon of volunteering.

No school today

At 7:30 am it is negative 10 degrees and that's without the wind chill. They are saying that it is very easy to get frost bite right now very quickly. So we are not having school today. It's nice being on the school board, the superintendent calls the board members personally. There's no need to watch the announcements scrolling on the bottom of the tv or wait for the radio to announce the closure.
In some places in Europe the house and barn are attached or the people live above the barn. Right now, I'm wishing that were the case here. It's going to be a long walk to the barn and chicken coop. It's supposed to be even colder tonight. Libby and Lucy have dog igloos stuffed with hay but tonight they are coming into the laundry room. That should be fun.

Weekend Update

This past weekend I spent Friday and Saturday at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs for the Colorado Association School Board annual meeting. It was fun and informative, but I didn't spend the night at the hotel.
Saturday evening I picked up the grandboys because someone had an appointment on Monday morning that they couldn't go to. Said someone decided not to go to the appointment. Normally I wouldn't have minded but Andy and Alex were in the Awanas Christmas program on Sunday night and I missed the program because the babies wouldn't stop crying.
We did pick up the new couch for the living room on Sunday. I still need to pick up the canary.

A New Year

School started on Tuesday. Andy, who is a third grader, seems to like it. He hasn't complained about homework yet and he's had some both nights. Alex, on the other hand doesn't like the first grade at all. He keeps wanting to be sick. Our school combines Kindergarten and 1st grade, which we did last year. There are 12 in Andy's class and 17 in Andy's class. Our largest class is the combo of 4th and 5th for 19 students.
Had our first board meeting tonight. It went well, not a lot of arguing.
I'm going to start volunteering next week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the school. Just in the afternoon. But if Melissa decides to have the baby I'm out of there.
Speaking of Melissa, she had a OB appointment today. She's dialated to 1 cm. So we are on baby watch.

It's hot out there

Yes, it is Spring. It was 78 degrees according to the school's temperature gauge. I'm on our local school board and as well as being a volunteer at the elementary school. My two boys go to this school so I think that I need to be involved with the school. Today, I got to listen to some of my oldest son, Andy, classmates read. Not to be to prejudiced but I'm so glad that Andy is such a good reader. He also does well in math. His only problem is getting bored in class and then he doesn't pay attention.
The younger boy, Alex, is also doing very well in Kindergarten. I was quite concerned how he would behave in a more structured learning enviroment than preschool but he's only had two days where he got into trouble and both times were for not singing in music.
We are currently searching for a new superintendent. We've had two interviews and two more to go. I really like one of the candidates we've interviewed. Keeps talking about putting the students first.
I took Magie's (she's my bestest friend) three girls home after school. This also means that I got to play with our baby goats, Simon and Sasha. It may be a battle to pry Simon out of the oldest girl's hands.
Sage still isn't getting up.