Make a Smilebox slideshow

Say Cheese!

Isabella loves to take pictures. I guess this is what I get for always wanting to take her picture.

Snow Days

It snowed like crazy here for a about a week. Here is a picture of our house. You see the step? Under the snow by the step are actually two more steps. Crazy!

The first day we bundled Isabella up and took her out. She wanted NOTHING to do with it. She wouldn't let Skip put her down. We didn't stay out long.

After that she kept asking to go outside. So we

bundled her up again. This time atleast she walked

outside. But she wouldn't leave the porch!

Third time's a charm! Finally she ventured to the snow-but only going to the edge of it. She found her Pooh bike and drove that around for a while. Here a more pictures...

That Kid....

In my last post I talked about how Isabella was having a hard time transitioning to the new day care. Well, let me update you. Isabella is teething and when she does, she seems to get a bunch at a time. So right now, she is getting ALL 4 molars. Ouch! Last week was a mess. She was running a fever, so of course couldn't be at daycare. She was CrAnkY!! (Wouldn't you be with 4 teeth coming in?) Friday at her 18 month check-up (I can't believe she is already 18 months!) the doctor gave us a note for her to go back to daycare. When Skip picked her up there was a little note on the sign out sheet, "Please see office". Isabella got a naughty note! She bit...twice! Skip had to sign a form that acknowledges she bit. Great! Then on Monday, there was another, "See office" note. Yep, she bit again! Twice! So 4 kids have gone home with a "Your child was bit by another child today..."

So, now she is jumping out of the car and waving hello as we walk in. She blows me kisses and is off...biting!

A New Day Care

Isabella started a new day care this school year. This is a good thing. In August we spent a lot of time checking out day cares around us. Home and Centers. Picking a day care is hard. Will these strangers really love and cherish my baby?

The first day of school was also her first day. She screamed. I mean SCREAMED. Top of her lungs screaming and crying - reaching for me as I left. Boy, I felt good!

Day 2 - same as before. Screaming, crying.
Day 3- Ok. I tried something new. We brought her snack bowl of Cheerios. I thought maybe I could keep her occupied. So I signed her in and as I walked down the hallway, she wrapped her legs tightly around my and started crying and clinging to me. Not good. We aren't even to the classroom yet.

So I told Skip, we will give it one more week. I am really hoping that it is just because she isn't used to being away from us that long. Heck, I had just spent the whole summer with her!

So the next week started off just like before. I tried new "tricks". We brought Eeyore. We brought Eeyore and cheerios. I stayed those extra few minutes. I gave 1 last kiss good-bye. Nothing seemed to be working. Then last Thursday - a break through - Ms. Diane kept her occupied so I could sneak out. I watched through the window and she was smiling. It was good.

After the weekend, I thought today was going to be a bear again. Boy was I wrong. We walked in the door. She wanted down. She walked behind the counter, waved and shouted "Hi" to the director. She walked herself down the hall to her classroom and when I opened the classroom door, she yelled "Hi" again. Making her grand entrance. We went in, she found some books I hung up her lunch and went to give her a kiss. And she turned to me, says "BYE!" and waves.

WOW! I almost cried. That hit me more then her screaming and crying. My little girl is growing up, becoming Miss Independent!

Different

I am the new kid. I get that. I am trying really hard to not say, "At my old school we ________." I am REALLY trying not to be that person. It's getting really hard for me to be quiet........

I worked my old district for 7 years. I felt that in that time, progress was (and is still) being made for what is right for students and teachers. Professional development for teachers to learn and collaborate with one another...HUGE! (I know parents don't like all the days off, but the students do benefit) Students working at their individual learning level - GREAT!

The more I learn about my new district, the more I feeling I am being pulled in a time warp....backwards. I know that in this new district, money is not as prevalent as the old one. But they're are still ways to progress.

Some of the luxuries I had I am desperately missing - my continuous planning time, planning time every day, the print shop, & access to teaching materials. Sigh....

First Day of School

I was nervous as hell.

2nd grade? What did I do? Can I really teach 2nd grade?

I got dressed up. Yes, I wore a WHITE skirt (could never do that in kindergarten!) and black top. I figured if I could cover up my nervousness by feeling good about my outfit! Hey, if I bombed at least I looked good!!

Well, it turned out GREAT! Completely different experience but it went well. 2nd graders can do so much more on the first day! I am amazed at how much we accomplished today. Not just, "When's recess? When's lunch? When's PE?" We actually did some reading, writing and math. YEAH!

It will take a lot of getting used to, but it just might be ok.....