Thanksgiving

This was a paper that Andrew did at school. I absolutely love it! :)

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for...

Having family.

Air conditioning to keep me cool.

New friends.

Ketchup on my fries.

Stuffing to eat.

God to pray to.

Ink to write with.

Vicki Crabtree, my teacher.

Intelligent people.

Native Americans to learn about.

Grapes that are juicy.

The Teen Commandments

I read this today and thought it had some really great advice. Even if your children are still young, it won't hurt to read and store this info away for later. Those teen years will be upon you sooner than you think, trust me!

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/momentsofmotherhood/user-post-the-teen-commandments-2408665/;_ylt=AhdBiHh5HSO1tRme6dIO7O8wh6U5

Halloween 2010

Pumpkin Carving Time!

Devynn had so much fun carving her pumpkin!

Andrew and Rylee

Pumpkin Carving Pro!

Digging in!

Grandma Janet helping Devynn

Jessie

"I'm very serious about my pumpkin carving!"

"Here's a cheesy smile. Will you leave me alone now?"

Beautiful butterfly #1

Devynn and Jessie

Minnie Mouse (missing her sweater over her tank top)

Harry Potter

Beautiful butterfly #2

My monkeys!

My niece Kamryn as the cutest little elephant EVER!

Not Fair!!

My kids absolutely LOVE when they are sick and get a prescription for antibiotics, amoxicillin to be specific. Unfortunately for them, they aren't sick very often so they rarely get to take it. So last week when Devynn ended up with a raging ear infection and was given a prescription for "the bubble gum medicine," as my kids call it, I knew that the other kids would be jealous. Boy, was I right.

"She gets to have the bubble gum medicine?! LUCKY!" said Rylee.

"That's not fair! She gets the bubble gum medicine and we don't!" cried Andrew.

I tried explaining to them that she had to suffer through being sick and having a painful ear infection in order to get the amoxicillin, so it wasn't very "lucky" of her. They didn't seem to care. They looked on with jealousy twice a day for the past week while Devynn got to drink down 10ml of their favorite pink stuff and they didn't. Life is just so unfair. ;)

Spokesmodel?

Devynn:

"Mom, tonight for dinner can we have Subway eat fresh?"

I guess their slogan/marketing is really working. :)

Quote of the Day

This one comes, once again, courtesy of Devynn.

"Mom, you need to have another baby because I want 3 brothers and 2
sisters."

Two problems with that: 1) her math is a bit off because I would have to have 2 more babies to give her those "3 brothers" she's wishing for, and 2) I'm NOT having anymore babies! Sorry to disappoint my baby monkey, but she is stuck being the youngest...FOREVER!! :)

Obsession?

Recently Devynn has become a bit obsessed with pregnant women. It started out with her asking "Is she having a baby?" every time she would see an expectant lady. Now she gets very excited when we're out somewhere and she sees a woman with a big, round baby bump. She loves to point them out to me. "Mom! She's having a baby!" or "Mom! She has a baby in her belly!" I'm just hoping that she doesn't say that in front of a woman who's belly isn't caused by a baby being in there. :)

Love Letters

Last night, my sweet Miss Rylee Belle wrote Ryan and I each a little note.

For Ryan:

"I love you Dad

To Dad from Rylee

I like my Dad. He goes on the swings with me. Hes nice too me. He plays fun things with me. Hes cool."

For Me:

"I love you Mom.

To Mom from Rylee

My Mom is the nicest Mom in the world. Shes the smartest girl in the world. Shes cute. She wears cute clothes. Shes very nice."

Jessie's Homecoming

This past Saturday Jessie went to her first Homecoming dance at school. She looked beautiful and had a blast with all her friends. I can't believe my baby girl is growing up so quickly.

Devynn's First Day of Preschool

My littlest baby monkey started preschool on Monday. Wow, what an emotional day for both of us! I knew that it would be really tough for Devynn but I was caught completely off guard that it was so hard for me.

Devynn seemed excited as I got her ready that morning. Everything was going well until I asked to take her picture.

"Devynn, can I take your picture for your first day of school?"
"Fine!"

I should've known then how the morning would play out!

As we were leaving to go, Devynn seemed happy and excited but I could feel that she was getting nervous. As we were walking into the school, her nerves became even more apparent. She didn't cry or want to be held (which would be her usual reaction) but she got really quiet and held my hand tightly.

Things really started to go downhill when we walked into her class. She started crying and got the death grip on my legs. I tried to reassure her that I wasn't leaving right away but she was still getting pretty worked up. I stayed with her through story time and she calmed down a little, although she still wouldn't leave my side. Next it was time for the kids to go to the playground. I thought that Devynn would be excited about that and it would be easier for me to leave, but I was wrong. As we walked outside, Devynn really started to meltdown. She was crying and wanting to be picked up. Her teacher, Ms. Debbie, tried to take her hand, but she really started freaking out and started grabbing my legs really tightly. As soon as Ms. Debbie was able to get her little hands pried off me, I walked out of the play area. I could hear her screaming and it took every ounce of strength in me not to run back, scoop her up and take her home with me. My eyes were filled with tears as I walked back into the office. Boy, did I feel silly talking to the director while on the verge of crying. She was probably thinking "No wonder her daughter is having such a rough time out there!"

I cried the entire drive home. :( I called the school a little later to check on my little monkey. The director told me that she had only cried for about 5 minutes (less time than me!) and was doing ok. That was a bit of a relief.

At 12:30 pm I went to pick up my baby girl. I peeked through the windows before I walked in and could see that Devynn was happily eating lunch at the table with her classmates. When I walked in, I was expecting her to run over to me and either tell me how mean I was or be giddy with happiness. Instead, she smiled wide and exuded a sense of relief when she saw me but stayed at the table to finish her lunch. She didn't seem like she was in any kind of rush to leave. Ms. Debbie told me that she hadn't shed any more tears after those first 5 minutes, which surprised her based on Devynn's total meltdown when I left. She said that Devynn hadn't felt comfortable enough to play with any of the other kids yet (not really a surprise there!) but she had played by herself and didn't just pout in a corner. All in all, the day went pretty well for her.

She was little Miss Chatty on the drove home as she told me about the other kids and what they had done, although she couldn't remember most of their names. She only seems to remember one little girl's name, Kylie, and told us that she is "cute." She has been singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and told me "my teacher and my friends taught me it." She seems to have had fun on her first day so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that her second day starts a bit smoother.

I'm pretty sure that Monday morning was actually harder for me than it was for her. She is my last baby but I just didn't expect it to be that hard for me to let her go. I know that this is going to be a great experience for her, and she will have lots of friends and be a little social butterfly before I know it. :)

Future's so bright...

Apparently Devynn has still been thinking about her future. This is what she told me this morning:

"I want to pick up the dead animals on first, then I want to be a trash man on second, and then I want to be a teacher on last."

Careers

Driving the kids to school the other day, we passed a dead coyote on the side of the road. The kids were very fascinated. We are used to seeing rabbits and squirrels on the road, but this was the first time the kids had seen a coyote out there. The poor creature was still there when I went to pick them up that afternoon, as well as on the way to school the next morning. But on that second return trip, the coyote was gone. The kids were curious as to where he had gone. I started explaining to them what happens to the dead animals on the road. Devynn seemed especially interested, and her response was not exactly what I expected.

Me: "There are people who come pick up the dead animals from the
road. That's what their job is and they do it everyday."

Devynn: "I want that job! I'm gonna do that job when I get
big!"

I am now quite certain that Devynn is going to become a blue collar worker. In addition to "road kill picker-upper", the other jobs she has told me she wants to do when she grows up are as follows: utility pole worker, trash man and concrete truck driver.

Such a silly little monkey! :)

******************************************************************************

As I told this story to my mom tonight, Devynn reaffirmed that she wants to clean up road kill. She then excitedly added "And I want to work at the pumpkin patch!!"

:)

Quote of the Day

...comes courtesy of Devynn

"I wish I was a cloud."

Following....

in Jess and Andrew's footsteps is little Miss Rylee Belle!

High Flyer!!
All smiles!

If she looks a little stunned, you'll find out why below!

She got the "High Flyer" of the week award this morning at the Friday Flag Assembly! :) Her teacher informed her yesterday that she would be receiving it, and sent home a note to us explaining the drill (she obviously doesn't realize that we're THE SMITHS and already know the drill...been doing it since the first year French Valley opened its doors!) Rylee was so excited to tell us yesterday, and was even more excited this morning while getting ready for school.

So, this morning at the school, the assembly began as usual. Flag salute. Song. Announcements. "Minute to Win it" game. And finally the whole reason we were there...the awards. They began with the 5th graders. You could see Rylee's excitement building as she was sitting there. :) 4th grade. 3rd grade. Man, this was taking forever (well, not really, but to a 6 year old waiting to hear her name, a minute feels like an eternity!) 2nd grade. And finally, 1st grade!

Announcer: "And from Ms. Sumner's class..."

I could see Rylee starting to stand up.

"Angel Blahblahblah!"

WHAT?!

The look of sadness and disappointment on Rylee's face will forever be etched in my brain. It actually brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it now. My poor little baby sat back down while looking at me with such a lost look on her pretty face.

The announcer continued through all the kindergartners, and then handed the microphone over to another teacher to perform the French Valley cheer, which marks the end of the assembly every week.

This was my chance. I walked up there (I'm sure Andrew was embarrassed to see his mom storming the stage area, but I didn't care. That look on Rylee's face was enough motivation for me to take out whoever I needed to in order to get this straightened out! ) The announcer, Mrs. Gradstein (who actually knows me since Andrew was in her class for first grade) was a little surprised to turn around and see me there, but seemed very happy nonetheless.

Mrs. Gradstein: "Hi! How are you?"

Me: "I'm good, thanks." (This isn't what I was thinking but I didn't want to be completely rude.) "Can you please check the list again because my daughter was supposed to be High Flyer and you called someone else's name?"

Mrs. Gradstein: "Of course. Who's her teacher?"

Me: "Ms. Sumner."

Mrs. Gradstein: "Oh my gosh. I skipped her! How did I do that?! (I don't know and I don't really care at this minute, I just want it fixed!) I called out the teacher's name and then read the name of the student from the class below. I am so sorry!"

Me: "That's ok, but can you please call her name out now?"

Mrs. Gradstein: "Of course, of course!"

Me: "Thank you!" (Again, not what I was thinking but still trying to be polite.)

I turned to walk back and made eye contact with Rylee. I was hoping to convey through my look to her that everything was ok, so I gave her a big smile and a thumbs up. I don't think she was buying it, though. Poor thing was thinking she had just been robbed by some student that wasn't even in her class!

By this time, the cheer was ending and all of the students were standing up and getting ready to leave. Mrs. Gradstein grabbed the microphone and said "Everyone hold it right there! Please turn back around. I made a mistake! I left one of our High Fliers out. No one deserves to be left out (Especially not MY Rylee Belle!) so I need everyone's attention up here. Please give a big round of applause to our High Flyer from Ms. Sumner's class...RYLEE SMITH!!!"

With that, my little sweetie got to go up there in front of everyone with the ENTIRE school applauding JUST for HER, like she deserved! :)

***On a side note, Rylee's teacher, Ms. Sumner, happened to be out today. If she had been there, I'm sure she would've fixed everything quickly, but there was a substitute who had no idea that there was any mistake made. It's ok, though, because my monkeys got to witness Mommy zip into action and get things corrected. No one messes with my monkeys! (even if it was just an honest mistake.)