February 2, 2012 - Parent teacher interview night!

Today was parent teacher interviews for the Girl and the Boy.  I am pretty nervous going into the interview, because I don't normally know what to expect.  Turns out one kid can't concentrate and is a great reader. but lacks the writing skills (the Boy, 7) and the other kid gets so focused in her work that she forgets to play and is having a little difficulty in reading (the Girl, 5).  It is true the Boy won't spend time on anything unless he wants to.  For example, he can read and play his DS for ever, but get him to write something or colour a picture and he will do everything possible to finish and move on.  Whereas the Girl, can work on the same colouring page for three days until she gets it completely finished.  She likes to use appropriate colours when colouring and sometimes spends a bit of time searching for the right crayon.

I am curious if this is just a Boy-Girl difference.  The Girl's teacher is a little concerned when she is skipping play or being with the other kids at an activity because she is colouring or finishing a worksheet.  She is apparently very quiet and passive at school, but we assured the teacher that this is not the case at home and it is possible that she is a little shy.

Today we gave the Baby cereal again.  This time I had the Husband do the feeding so I could take a couple of photographs. 

February 1, 2012 - How to avoid fights in the morning

I wish everyday didn't have to start and end with a lot of yelling and screaming.  On a normal morning where I feel rested and ready to start my day, it is horrible to have to yell at the kids several times to eat, then to put on their boots to get ready to go to school.  I also need to ask them repeatedly to put on their boots, hats, mittens, and jacket.  I am wondering why they don't think that what I am asking them to do is important.  Sometimes I ask them to get ready 15 minutes before I actually have to go, just so I am not sitting on the stairs pushing a crying baby in his stroller while I wait for them to get ready. 

When I wake them up (nicely with kisses) I hope that they will get out of bed and get dressed and head downstairs for breakfast.  Those are the instructions I provide every morning.  However, normally it involves me waking them up more than once, and then checking on them three times to see if they are getting dressed.  If I don't actually look in their rooms, they won't be dressing, they will be sitting (or lying) on the floor and either playing or sleeping.  Now before you think that they are tired, I send them to bed between eight and nine o'clock, and wake up time is around 7:30am, so I am not expecting them to function on just a little sleep (I save that speciality for me!!).

Also, don't get me started on the eating.  I think this morning alone, I had to say "Eat!" at least 5 times each meal.  I don't want to yell at my kids.  So I am wondering what works for you to get your kids going?  I need some tricks that might work?  Please help!

January 31, 2012 - end of the month already?

I can't believe that January is over and my baby is 4 months old already. He is getting much more interesting every day. I love watching the Boy and the Girl play with him. They too have grown a lot in Baby's first four months.

This weekend he will be baptized. It is an exciting day for him and it means a big family gathering at our house.

I will be spending the rest of the week cleaning and organizing for Sunday.

The Boy got his report card today. It has some good grades, some OK grades and a few not so good. I am glad that he is great at science and math, but I worry about his writing and his artistic side. I don't expect him to be so artistic that he becomes a singer or an actor, I just wish he would try a little harder. Hopefully the second term shows improvement.

I got a haircut today. I have spent my entire adult life never being really happy with my hairstyle. Now I've had lots of haircuts, usually once every. 6 months or so. Rarely have I gone to the same salon twice. My husband says in that regard I am not a normal woman. I guess that's true. Today I like my cut, hopefully I will still like it In three months. If I do perhaps I will go back to the same salon. We'll see in May!

The photo on the top is of the Boy playing his 3DS in the bathroom.  That kid will play his game anywhere!!  The one in the middle is of the Boy and the Baby, this photo was taken by the Girl and she was really proud of herself for taking a photo of the Baby where he was smiling.  He always smiles for his big brother and sister!  The one at the bottom is of my new haircut.  It is short, but I think it will work better with my busy schedule.  Hopefully when things settle down in the next ten years I can grow out my hair again:)