Decisions, decisions

Caitlyn has been in Little Gym (LG) since the beginning of the summer. It was a rocky start. I would say the root of her LG issues are social. However, I have perservered. I have taken her week after week even when I knew it would be a battle.

She has improved. Dramatically. Yet, I am wondering whether we have come to the end of the LG road.

I feel like I (she/we) stick out like a sore thumb. The teachers say it is all normal. That her behavior is normal! First of all, no three year behavior is normal! Right?

In short, she has trouble going into the classroom, even though she loves the teacher(s). She wants to watch from the door for many, long minutes. She chooses when she wants to listen, participate and stay with the group. I on the other hand require my classes to stay on task at ALL times, and they do. So my blood pressure goes through the roof during this hour. It drives me nuts to watch her naughty behavior. And it doesn't seem to bother the teachers at all.

So, I hope I have given enough information to get some feedback. What do I do? Do I stick with it? Does she need it? Have I left her out of the game too long and now she is socially behind? I'm afraid that she needs more structure, like ballet or some form of dance. But would that be too rigid? How do you know? BTW, she is in an at home daycare environment that we love.

I would love to hear your words of advice, encouragement, etc. Every Monday night this seems like a huge problem!

BTW, something good to know is that my dear daughter is stubborn, just like me. Maybe that is why we butt heads often?

Weekend Update

Grades are in - well mostly! That means that the bag I have been dragging back and forth for 2 weeks now has been graded! Well mostly. I have to print out a rubric tomorrow. I am ready to be caught up on grades, like I normally am.

I have been glued to the TV and in awe of the destruction in the Galveston area.

Brent is taking steps and is so cute walking. I have birthday pictures to upload soon.

Caitlyn got the cutest haircut that is super manageable. We love it!

Hope you've had a great weekend!

Take 'Em

Huff and I. Huff is one of our dear friends who runs the Hunting Lodge in Coleman.

Check out all my dove. See my 3 in there, amongst all the 200 that belong to the other hunters. BTW, there was another hunter who only got 3 and 2 others who killed none!!!!!

Take 'Em is one of the first hunting videos I ever watched with Jeff. Every time these two guys would get ready to shoot a duck they'd yell "Take 'Em". So that is one of my favorite phrases when we are bird hunting.

This weekend Jeff and I got to go bird hunting alone. It was a great get away and we had a blast. I did really well, killing 5 dove, which is great since I haven't been hunting for 2 years. This was actually my third hunt.

Friday, I left school early so we could get in the field by 3:00 and bake in the sun. Ironically, Saturday morning was chilly and I would have loved a jacket. Saturday afternoon we went into Coleman (where we got married) and saw all of our friends. We went hunting with them in the afternoon. It was so much fun hanging out with Huff and Charlie and the rest of the crew. Coleman is so relaxing! I wish we could get down there more often.

Big Steps

Brent took his first steps tonight. While I wasn't looking he took 3 steps with Jeff. A few steps later he stood up, concentrated for about 5-7 seconds with a beautiful, big grin on his face and then took 5 steps to his daddy. It was the most beautiful thing! I am so proud! And nervous of things to come!

On a side note, I was reading a post from my friend that she got a compliment from a parent today. She is also a teacher and it reminded me that as I was planning at my desk (late) today after school, I heard a child walk by, obviously telling an adult that they love Mrs. Rickert's class because she makes the class so fun. As they walked down the hall I couldn't hear it all but I could figure out the child was explaining a game we did today about subjects and predicates. It sure does make it worth it, all the long hours we put into it.

Chelsea, I'm glad you got your email too. Your such a great teacher!

So Much To Say - So I'll Make a List

1. I am finally starting to feel like I am getting up to speed on things in my classroom after staying most nights until 6, bringing things home with me and going up to the school on the weekends too.

2. Brent turns 1 in a week! I keep choking up!

3. Caitlyn desperately wants her hair cut like her friend, Carson, which is to her shoulders. We are fine with that - especially given the awful tangles we deal with. But the time to get it done???

4. I need to get Brent's 1 yr old pictures done but I detest the price you must pay for really nice pictures. Any suggestions in our area?

5. I have super, cute curtains for my bedroom that are still in the package because I need another curtain rod.

6. Jeff gave Brent a cute new dew last night. He shaved his hair. A little shorter than I expected but it is so cute and Brent enjoyed getting his hair cut all too. He was all smiles.

7. Our desktop computer is undergoing major repairs. I don't even know how to begin telling the woes of it all, but it has taken on a life. I finally figured out tonight how to get on the internet again. Thank goodness!

8. Back to grading and planning!