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First Grade Spelling list

Sportsboy now has spelling tests every Friday (just like I did and millions of other parents too).

Aug. 24-28 words: come, down, away, no, will Which by the way Sportsboy had an Excellent and a sticker on his test! Yay!

Aug. 31-Sept. 4 words: all, are, find, make, play


Will let you know how he does.

What I did it with First Grade Supplies

Sportsboy started first grade yesterday for about 2 1/2 hours. In our area, schools always start with a couple of hours on the first day.

Here is the First Grade Supply List:

1 box 8 crayola markers (classic marker, NO THIN LINE)
1 dry eras board eraser
1 box of supplies (cigar box size)
1 pair of FISKAR scissors
1 book bag
lace gym shoes (TO BE KEPT AT SCHOOL)
2 large pink erasers (includes Art)

DO NOT LABEL THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES:
3 black dry erase markers
24-#2 plain pencils, sharpened
6 PLAIN pocket folders (with no pictures)
3 boxes crayons (24 pk) (includes Art)
2 large boxes Kleenex
1 Elmer's glue, 4 oz size (NO GEL) (includes Art)
6 glue sticks
1 container of baby wipes
Boys--disinfectant wipes, 1 box of gallon size freezer ziplock bags
Girls--disinfectant hand gel, 1 box of quart size freezer ziplock bags

How I saved money (unfortunately, I didn't save the receipts to total up, so I will tell you the items I didn't purchase).

• My sister bought Sportsboy the markers and one box of crayons for fun, or I like to say by accident (not intentionally for school). However, since Sportsboy has tons of that stuff, I hid the new packages until school started.
• Erase board eraser: I used the same one from when Sportsboy was in Kindergarten.
• Book bag: Another sister and I had bought Sportsboy book bags last year. Sportsboy used my sister's bag in Kindergarten and this year he is using the one I bought.
• #2 plain pencils: I had bought a nice supplies of pencils really cheap a few years ago. I manually sharpened them.
• Boxes of Kleenex: I used a $0.50 coupon for a package of three.

These are the items I saved. I always tend to look at my supply at home before I will go out and purchase.

I will be sure to keep you updated throughout the year.

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Sportsboy Loses Second Tooth

Sportsboy lost his tooth yesterday, but I am posting about it today.

It all started with Sportsboy waking me up first thing in the morning. He says, "Mommy, I lost my second tooth."

I am now wide awake looking at the tooth. He explained to me that he was wiggling the tooth and then pulled it out. In my mind, I am thinking, wow what a brave kid pulling his own teeth--I used to shiver with fear at thought of pain--even if it is a little.

He proudly tells his grandmother that mommy is going to buy him a toy. She asked me about it, I said, I never said that. Sportsboy knows that he will get money under his pillow from the "Tooth Fairy."

Sportsboy smiles sheepishly at me.

Topics that Have Nothing to Do With Each Other

Advance Guided Reading:
Yesterday, Sportsboy proudly tells me that he is now in the "group that leaves with Mrs. Nice Lady and Bossy, Know It All, and Happy for Guided Reading". I knew what he was talking about. He was talking about the Advanced reading group in Kindergarten. It is good that students don't they are divided by levels of reading ability.

What's the secret? Sportsboy and I read almost every day. I also have him read books to me that are a little challenging for Kindergartners.

Halloween Night in April:
Thanks a lot Disney channel. What's the deal with showing Halloween movies for the past few days at night during April (it is more than 6 months away)? Sportsboy couldn't sleep last night. I woke up this morning with him sleeping nearly on top of my head. I asked him how come he was sleeping in my bed. He responded, "I was scared from watching Halloweentown last night." Um...7 p.m. is a time when some kids watch television to wind down. And Sportsboy is only 5.

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Quick Updates on Sportsboy's Activities

I know my co-mommy bloggers and myself haven't been keeping this blog up-to-date. And we should. However, sometimes life gets in the way, such as parenting for example.

So, I have decided to give a quick update on Sportsboy.

• March 24: Sportsboy lost his first tooth! He was very calm about it. The tooth slid to his lip after he finished brushing his teeth. He called for me, and I took it off his lip. I even took a photo of him smiling with his missing tooth.
  

• April 2: Great School had their Open House along with Scholastic Book Fair (with no refreshments). I know I have never gone to an Open House with no refreshments. Apparently other schools did it the same way as well. Sportsboy bought several books and a pointer. The pointer was the cool thing to have. Practically every student had one of those. Those things are not cheap either. It cost $4.00 to have one of those. I mean I can't let my kid be the only one not to have one. Sportsboy bought several books: A Day The World of Cars: At the Races/Night Vision (2 Books in 1); National Geographic Kids: Volcanoes!; Prehistoric Park Creatures and Beasts; Scooby-Doo!: The Movie Star Mystery; and Quite Enough Hot Dogs. We then bought two books for my niece, Baby Princess. They are: Time for School, Mouse! and Bedtime for Button. To test out those books, Sportsboy read Time for School, Mouse! to me, and I read Bedtime for Button to him when it was his bedtime.

• Great news! Sportsboy's teacher told me that he was on a roll when she tested him in "Guided Reading." He was reading hard words, and he would sound some of the words without giving up. I told her that we practiced reading just about every day. She told me, "It shows!"

• Now, Sportsboy has Friday and Monday off this week. One thing that I am baffled about the public school system (are they really dumbing the students?), is that they either have no school once per month or early dismissal or even two days of both per month! What the he**?? When I was in public school, we barely had days off of school, let alone early dismissals.
  

Until we meet again, dear readers.

The World is Complicated

This morning, I dutifully took Sportsboy to school, when he saw one of his classmates walking with his brother. We will call the classmate and his brother, classmate: Lil' brother and the older boy: Big brother.

Sportsboy yelled, "HI "Lil' brother"."

Lil' brother: HI "Sportsboy"!

As Sportsboy was getting into our vehicle, Lil' brother yells: "Sportsboy" can we get a ride? Thankfully, Sportsboy didn't hear, and I didn't have to look like the bad guy.

It broke my heart to refuse them rides, but I had to for several reasons.

Reasons:

• I don't know Lil' and Big brothers' parents. In fact, I never saw their parents at Great School activities and events. As a classroom volunteer, I have worked with Lil' brother and it is so obvious that his parents don't work with him at home.
• I don't want that family to get used to getting "free" services without building a quality relationship.
• It is also a responsiblity and safety issue on my part. What if I get into a car accident, or the boys hurt themselves in my vehicle?

As the boys waited, I drove right by, pretending I didn't see them. I felt bad, but at the same time I am mad at their parents for not being proactive in raising their children.

One thing for sure, I am glad that Sportsboy didn't witness me having to turn down giving rides to his classmate and sibling.

The world is complicated as is...

Planning for Spring Break

I am grateful that I have a flexible job that allows me to take time off when Sportsboy has time off from school--like next week's Spring Break.

Now that Sportsboy is five and becoming more aware of the world, he will not be content just hanging out at home. I am sure if he had a sibling, it would be a bit different. (One day...one day).

Getting advice from veteran mothers, yesterday I called the Park District to have Sportsboy go to Science day camp during Spring Break. What do you know, it has been canceled because not many people signed up for it. I was like, well, um...those parents could be like me, who could call in the next day or two. I groaned in my mind (on the plus side, I did sign Sportsboy up for swimming next month), now I have to stretch my brains out. It wouldn't be as difficult if Hardworking Hubby was off that week too, we could take a small road trip. Oh well, there's next year.

There will be a days when Sportsboy and I will go to the Grandparents, as well as go to the park to meet our friends. If you have ideas, do let me know. Would appreciate it.

What A Week!

I know my co-mommy bloggers and I have been missing in action for a while. Hopefully, we will get back on routine with our blog.

Let me start with my week.

Monday: Sportsboy's school has seen a lot of cases of strep throat and flu going around. So, when I received a call Monday morning to pick up Sportsboy because he had a fever--wasn't really a surprise to me. On my way to pick him up, I called his doctor and made an appointment to see him that morning. I thought I would just double check that there is nothing wrong. We went to the doctor. The doctor checks him out and says "looks like allergies" (by that time Sportsboy had a low grade temperature, instead of a high one--isn't always like that when you go to the doctor's?). I told Sportsboy's doctor to see if his throat was ok. He asked me is he wanted me to do a throat culture to see if Sportsboy had strep throat. I said yes. He then told me, "Chances are 99.6% Sportsboy is fine." At that time I was thinking in my mind, hmmm...99.6, huh? After 20 minutes of waiting for the results, it turns out that Sportsboy had strep throat. The doctor was surprised. He said it was "mild strep throat"--I had caught it early. We went to get his medicine. After making sure Sportsboy was resting, by night fall, I felt very ache. My muscles were sore. I thought it was because I was working out harder. I told Hardworking Hubby watch me get sick tomorrow. (Wait for it...)

Tuesday: I had a fever off and on through out the day and ached all over. I was living off of Tylenol and fluids. Hardworking Hubby was aching as well. On the other hand, Sportsbody was getting better, but had to stay home 24 hours once he was medicated for it to effectively work.

Wednesday: Sportsboy went off to school. I wasn't aching as much as yesterday, however, I felt my energy drained. I went home and took a nap. I felt a little better, but had a stuffy nose and sinus. Hardworking Hubby said that he felt much better, but he was a little stuffy. When I picked up Sportsboy from school, his teacher told me that he went to the nurse's office saying he didn't feel good and wanted to go home. I thought it was kind of funny, but I didn't let Sportsboy know it. I explained to him that it doesn't work like that, and that he cannot go home whenever he felt like it.

Thursday: This is day is perhaps the worst day for me this week. I woke up to my alarm at 7:10 a.m., but I was having the chills and fever. It was like they were both alternating. I couldn't get up right away. When I did, I felt light headed. I woke up Hardworking Hubby to tell him to take Sportsboy to school. He got up (normally, it is my job to take Sportsboy to school because Hardworking Hubby works second shift). Hardworking Hubby made sure I drank fluids until he went off to work. He even asked if he should call in. I told him that I would be alright. I laid on the couch until it was time to pick up Sportsboy. I focused on the presence because when I thought of things I had to do, I became tired. I picked up Sportsboy from school. When we got home, I told him that I was going to rest. He did well. He kept himself occupied by watching television, working in his journal, playing toys, and talking to me occasionally.

Friday: I feel a lot better than I did in the past few days. Hardworking Hubby volunteered to take Sportsboy again to school. I asked him to by some sinus medicine on his way back. He came home for a bit, when Sportsboy's school called and said that he just threw up a little, but doesn't have a fever. We needed to pick him up. My hubby and I groaned. Sportsboy wanted to go home already! Hardworking Hubby picked him up. Sportsboy was so excited to be home. He told us it was a little spit up. He admitted to us that he wanted to go home and hang out with his dad. After taking some sinus medication, Hardworking Hubby and I rested while Sportsboy was PLAYING. (You hear that Great School? He was playing all day.) I am feeling better now, another day or two and I shall be back to normal health wise. Sportsboy wasn't allowed to watch television all day long. He also did some homework that I put together. I kept reminding him that going to the Nurse's office is NOT COOL.

Why I have been MIA

Ok here is my big excuse why I have been MIA for awhile. I am currently 16 weeks pregnant and in the beginning I didn't feel like doing anything that required extra effort. I was not too sick but really tired and just surviving with my 2 year old. So now that we have successfully moved on to the second trimester I am on the road to recovery (for now at least) and plan on trying to get things done including working on the blogs.

The holidays are over and things have settled down. The weather has been a real bummer this year so cold and snowy. I just hate having to dress and undress both me and my dd everywhere you go( what am i going to with two next year). I know I will hibernate like a bear, I am sure my children will love that.

I have been kind of bummed lately I think because of the weather, being pregnant with a toddler and just the mundane things involved with being a stay at home mom. So I figure some of the best ways to fix this is do some of the things that I love to do including this blog, cooking, reading and just playing. So that is what we are doing. Well that is all for now more updates and info on number 2 later.

Now that the holidays are over...

I am so ready to get into the swing of things now that the holidays are over. I know that my co-bloggers and I have kind of neglected this blog, but my goal (and hopefully the others as well) will continue to pick up blogging again.

Before I go on, I want to say to the Gaza people that you are in within our prayers as you face attacks, massacres and shortages of supplies. This IS a humanitarian crisis.

I have so much to say now since I have been away from Learning Moments of Mom. Sportsboy returns back to school tomorrow after about being two weeks off of school. The snow has melted big time, making the roads clean and less messy (hopefully, I didn't jinx the weather. Please God, say it ain't so).

Here are some blog resolutions for 2009:

1. Blog at least once day on this blog.
2. Post some photos.
3. Provide some insight of parenting.
4. Provide some feedback and reviews on products.

Here is to a better 2009 and many more years to come!