Hooray for Washington!

We just found out there are no mosquitos in Bremerton, WA! What a perk!

Sad Day in Tennessee

For a long time we knew this was coming, but today it really happened. We traded off our van. I loved that van and truly felt like it was a part of our family. We purchased it in Massachusetts before Jenna was born. It is the van that brought Jenna and Andrew home from the hospital.

Shortly after we purchased it, there were some engine problems and then about two years later, the cylinoids (sp?) had to be replaced in the transmission. It seemed to run well for a while, but then when we moved out the Tennessee, the transmission started jumping once again. We could not figure out if it was actually the transmission or possibly the electrical system, because it seemed as if once the van was shut off, it would reset itself and run well again. After a while of this, when the van shut off, it stopped resetting itself and the jump was pretty constant. We decided after much thought and consultation to do nothing, but to let it run its course. That was 3 1/2 years ago, and after getting us to Utah and North Carolina and back home safely, we named the van "Old Faithful." The power window was broken, the air conditioning died, the belts squealed, the transmission jumped, and often when turning it off, the whole thing would start to convulse -- and I often wondered if it would explode! After going down a ditch this past fall, I scraped the bottom so badly I thought it may have to retire, but it started up with no problems and kept running like a champ.

With our move coming up shortly, we felt like our van had given all it could give, or should be expected to ever give. It was a trooper ... we will miss Old Faithful. We hope our new (well, new to us) van can someday prove itself worthy of these same feelings in our heart. So what did we purchase, you may ask, another Pontaic Montana ... because I did not want a truck but I love my 8 seats, and I did not want to purchase a new Honda or Toyota simply for the fact that I didn't want the payment. I really want to get a BIG house in Washington -- as in the bigger the better! The kids are getting big and we all are feeling the need (especially me) for much more space!
We'll miss you, girl!

Erin's Atoka Idol

Erin had her Atoka Idol competition today at school, and though she did not win a trophy, we were just proud as punch! I could have watched her over and over again. Yay, Erin! (and if you notice, I did NOT dress her in pink!)

MIGHTY MINDS

The 3rd grade play, Mighty Minds, was last night and it was in fact very cute. The strangest thing, however, is that it seems like every performance I hear at that school (well okay, the two performances I have seen) their music teacher sings solos. She sang two solos at the choir concert and had about 3 last night. I have never seen anything like this before. She does have a pretty voice, but this is elementary school, and I do not wish to hear her. I would like to hear the children sing, and I don't mean my own. I would like to hear any child sing because their is THEIR performance! I can't figure out if she thinks no one else can do it or if she just likes the sound of her own voice!

Things I HATE

I think one of the most disgusting things in the world is throwing up -- it is nasty and it stinks. I hate that gagging sound that you know means it is coming. Erin got sick last night and I guess I am not a very good mom because I just don't like any part of it and honestly, I have no desire to sit next to someone who is regurgitating anything. Jonathan is a much better sick person than I. He will hold their heads and say soothing words ... all I can think about is, this is so disgusting and I am going to have to clean up the remnants! I asked Erin last night if she thought she was going to be sick, to which she replied, no, I am fine. Two second later I heard that dreaded gag and I walked (okay ran) into Erin's room and saw her flopping over the side of her top bunk bed spewing all over the carpet - GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It takes all I can do to hold my cookies when I witness things along that nature.

Continuation

When Lindsey came home from school I asked her about the recess and she said nothing was said about it except that her teacher did pull her aside and told her it was fine that she didn't get a pizza and that she certainly was not the only one. I asked her again if she was sure the teacher had told them about extra recess and she said yes, and that everyone was asking about it to each other (hey, I thought we were getting extra recess), but not to the teacher. So I guess it all kind of slipped away. I would have appreciated it more if the teacher had said, you know what, I did say that and now I realize it isn't right and we won't be doing that -- or even stood her ground if she truly believed it was okay. As I told my kids, we all make mistakes and say and do things that we don't always think through. I think it's strange and rather upsetting that she completely denied the entire thing, however.

Extra Recess for Pizza

Lindsey has a 3rd grade play called "Mighty Minds" on Thursday night right before or after the PTO meeting - I can't really remember how that works as I don't attend PTO meetings. Anyway, they asked all 3rd graders to bring in a 12 pack of drinks so that they can sell pizza and drinks before the play, and if the drinks were donated they would make more money. That was fine, and I understand the school is trying to raise money and I don't know exactly what this money is going for, but I really don't care. I was happy to oblige. Now to truly understand this post, you need to realize this school is brand new and all they do is fundraise. We are asked for money on a daily basis -- they even have to pay to participate in crazy hat day, silly socks, etc. This Friday, they are allowed to bring in games, board games or electronic if they pay $1/each -- it is never ending. On Monday, Lindsey came home with a slip that they were also supposed to buy a pizza for their family at $10/each. Okay, that was fine, too, and I really hadn't thought much about it, if we were going to buy a pizza or not. I hadn't gotten that far and it got put in my pile of papers to look at later. Lindsey got really upset and said her teacher told them that if they bought a pizza and brought their money in by Wednesday (today), they would get 20 minutes of extra recess - but only if they bought a pizza. The reason the teacher cared is because whichever class had the most pizzas purchased would earn a pizza party, and the teacher wanted her class to win. So now I decided it was a matter of principle, and I was not going to buy a pizza because I could not believe they were putting that pressure on children -- especially in today's world ... my goodness, what if we had just lost a job or were supporting other family who was in dire need -- a pizza would be the last thing on our minds! Yet at the same time, I didn't want to get pulled into a therapy session in 20 years and find out all of her life problems stemmed from getting singled out and not allowed to participate in an extra session of recess ... so, I asked her if she would feel badly if she didn't get the recess and she said she didn't care as long as she was not the only one, (understandable) -- so then she said she would use her birthday money that she had been saving to buy it. I was really, really mad ... they can't penalize a child because they don't buy a pizza at PUBLIC SCHOOL! So I asked her if she was sure that is what the teacher said and yes, she was sure. I called my friend Michelle whose son is in Lindsey's class and asked her if that was right, and she did not know but asked her son and he verified what Lindsey had told me. So now, I felt REALLY fired up because I'll be darned if Lindsey was going to sit in a classroom doing work while the rest of her class was at extra recess over a fundraiser pizza. I could not send in a note to the teacher because Lindsey hides notes and never gives them to the appropriate person, so I called the school yesterday afternoon, but her teacher had already gone home. It was the principal who I spoke with. I was very nice, but explained that I was concerned and didn't understand how she could be penalized for not participating in a fund raiser. Her teacher called first thing this morning and denied the entire thing. She said the principal had told her there was a parent complaint and that she could not understand this because she never said such a thing, and that maybe another 3rd grade teacher told them that, but she knew nothing of the sorts and that she absolutely did not say that. I said, oh good, I am so glad because I could not understand how something like this would be allowed. She said, I would NEVER do that to my students. I am trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but Lindsey absolutely does not lie -- she never has. In addition, she is known for relaying information extremely well and does not get confused often. Well, I guess regardless, Lindsey won't be sitting by herself!