Disney

Well just 65 days till we arrive at Disney. I am so excited and pray this time no one gets sick so we can enjoy it to the fullest. We are driving, which really doesn't bother me, I guess because I have never flown there so I just don't have any other expectation. I have been on the search for discount books, and travel games for the kids and us to play for weeks now. This year is a brand new year for me as I have put a lot more time in thinking things out. I got fun car games such as license plate find, and car bingo. I am opting out of a chip/sweet treat and looking for more healthy selections that won't send the kids into a sugar high. We are going to be having a jump rope contest at each rest stop, so that every one's blood can get flowing again. We are taking the time to eat lunch at rest stops to avoid mess and boredom. Normally when we get to Orlando we check in our hotel, unpack and head to Downtown Disney. This time we are checking in and going to Magic Kingdom, since that day is extended hours we can stay longer. I sent for our own personal maps, and if God willing the twins will be potty trained. Now some things will stay the same, we are still staying at a Disney Resort, we are still only going to the Disney parks. We will go to Downtown Disney but will save it for after we check out on our last day.

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Its amusing to me how people get so upset at the fact that we are spending so much on our trip. One must go to Disney to know why we continue to go back year after year. We never feel like we are wasting money in fact we feel we are building memories that will last a life time. We have gotten alot of " they won't remember". That is silly of coarse the twins won't remember.. they are 3, but they will see pictures and video and Kylie, Zachery and Emily WILL remember. Also who cares.. Kylie was 4 years old the first time we took her, she doesn't remember BUT.. I do we were walking hand and hand through the gates to Main Street in MK and she saw the Castle for the first time, she heard the music over the speakers and she was ear to ear grin. She was so excited and I remember her saying later " mommy these are MY princesses" as if Disney was completely put there "just" for her. That moment is priceless and although I know she doesn't remember it I know it one of the best days of her 4 year old life. Now really if we can offer that kind of moments ... shouldn't we?

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So here we go our 5th adventure to Disney has a family. Sadly Zach's favorite rollercoast " Space Mountain" will be shut down for renovations, but he amped to go on new rollercoasters. Kylie as well is talking about the rollercoasters and Emily is excited to reride them (yep that's right my 5 year old rode rollercoasters last time we went, front row even). The twins keep asking about Buzz Lightyear so I am already anxious to ride the new Buzz ride and have them meet Buzz. As for Ron and myself, as much as we are kids ourselves it's alway a treat to see Disney through our children's eyes.

Catch up Blog

WHAT is going on with us... We are all decorated for Christmas altho some of our outdoor lights have decided not to work, coarse they worked when we tested them.. isn't that how it goes as soon as you hang them in the freezing cold they stop. Our tree went up the day after Thanksgiving, we decided no glass bulbs again this year due to the twins. So far its been pretty good, we have a batch of days after we first put it up that they insisted on touching but now they don't bother. Of coarse Quinn insists that it be turned on all the time, but I indulge him because I love his spirit. We are planning on making cookies, christmas dough ornaments, and fudge. I know I got to get on the ball as time is quickly running out. I have " almost" all my shopping done. The kids give or take a present are all but done. I just have to finish for family and Ron.

CHEERLEADING.. Good golly if I had known that joining my girls up for cheerleading meant I would be basically on the squad .. whew I might of thought twice. I give credit to the girls they work HARD.. between the conditioning, gymnastics, and general practices every day ( sometimes 2x a day) they really are pushed to their limit. Kylie is doing great, she has her first competition this weekend. Of coarse I am having to donate a case of gatorade, and work the concession during Varsity and JV turn. Also have to run and pick up fundraiser stuff, and buy myself a shirt... sigh more money it always seems. Scary thing is this is just junior high, high school they require MORE money and more time from the girls.

GIRL SCOUTS yep.. you heard me right, so get those wallets open for your order of girls scout cookies. $3.50 a box Mmmmm. I am crazy btw .. as if cheerleading, pto didnt keep my busy enough I had to sign my daughter up for brownies. I am not however volunteering as a leader. She has meetings at her own school, so that is nice, one a week.

BASKETBALL?? Not sure yet but Zachery is thinking he might like to try it. At his school once a week with games on Sat. He has shown little excitement for sports so for $15 total fee I figure let him try.

BIRTHDAYS... we are getting close to January so that means Birthdays, birthdays and birthdays. Em's bday is in Dec, and Rons, Kye, Zach and myself are in Jan. Since we are going to Disney in April and the kids bdays are right after Christmas we are having their party Jan1, and asking everyone only get give the kids $5 each. They will be putting the money away to spend in Disney.

DISNEY Soooo excited. The twins are such a good age. They love Disney movies, not meantion they are both Star wars nuts. We are staying in a new hotel at all star music so that is also exciting. I have been watching for sales and buy stuff all year. Small games for car ride.. etc. We occassionally go to disneyworld.com so they can see the parks and the rides. We also have the dvd an the kids enjoy watching it and talking about what rides they want to go on. This will be Kye's 5th time going, Zach's 4th time going, Emily's 3rd time going and the twins 2nd time going. One might say we have a thing for Disneyworld!!!

Grrr teacher conferences

2 kids + 2 teacher conferences, what are the chances they will schedule BOTH my conferences at the same time? Apparently 100%. I have hubby do our son, because honestly this teacher makes me overly angry and since I work there that could be a very bad thing. I tell him all my concerns and let him go at it. In my conference with my daughter it was exactly how I expected, she is doing wonderful and if there was a chance she could do better she would already be doing so. She got the best grade 1's in everything she could possible, they aren't allowed to give 1's for SS and science because they don't test in that yet. School is her thing so no issues there. Now I go to the end of my son's conference to find out he is basically failing Writing, Reading, and Spelling. OK .. what the heck! I am at that school almost 5 days a week, I am always in the halls, heck a lot of the time I am peeking in his classroom. I have personally asked his teacher 3 times that I can remember how he was doing in class, always good, fine no issues. No progress report saying he is doing poorly either. If my son was not the honest boy he is I would not of already known he was doing so poorly in Spelling. He told me.. this should be where you ask why didn't you see the test papers.. the answer would be NO! She still has them. She has been hording his paperwork. I asked her about this a week ago she said it was because they were so busy preparing for Meap.. yeah Meap ended over 3 weeks ago. Then papers that my son saw in his bin (each student has a bin) are now mysteriously missing. Thankfully he already told me the scores. So now what? I ask some of my friends they say switch his teacher, so I ask. Apparently he is not allowed to switch classes now. I ask for an aide so he can catch up on his lost skills and I get told " No, we don't do that here" really what the heck are all the aides doing here then. Again I get told its only for " special ed" Whatever.. I know of a number of students who are NOT special ed getting additional help. Once again it's left to me, I know have to go in every day to make sure I get my son's papers from his teacher, and I may have to sit in class to make sure he comprehends and the teacher is not just passing him over. I laugh at the NO Child left behind, as it not a phrase honored at our school.

Thanksgiving..

Thanksgiving.. a time to remember what we are truely grateful for! I tend to get all wound up in my own self pity and the drama of every day chaos that I do not always remember that I am so fortunate. I am so blessed and have so much to be thankful for!

First I am grateful for an ever loving and forgivening God. Time and time again I fall from his path and yet he never forsakens me. HE is always showering me with his blessings, I await for the day that I can be in his presence.

My husband, never have I experienced a truer friendship than what he shows me. Im not saying our marriage is perfect far from it. His acceptance of my flaws and quirky ways is unmeasureable. He is kind, and caring and loyal. Always a provider, I never feel worrysome about how we will manage.

My children are a great blessing, even though they try my patience, tolerance, acceptance, intelligence.. all the "ences" LOL. I have only ever really had one passion and that was to be a parent, so I am truely blessed 5 times over.

My family and friends.. you are always there, although some of you silently. I know push come to shove you will be at my door with money, food or a shoulder to cry on. I thank you for your constant support.

New PTO Drama

So the PTO staff finds out that some of the teachers are not passing out the notes we make to the students. I don't believe they are doing it to be malicious, I think they just don't place any importance on our group or what we do. So I whip up a note asking them to please make sure notes get to the students and explain what money that we raise goes to them so they see that it's in their best interest...

Here's the note;
Dear Teachers and Staff,
It has been brought to our attention that students may not be getting full access to our notes, or information on our current programs. We do understand that you are are all very busy and have full schedules, however without your help in spreading the world we get fewer responses from our Monroe Families. This is going to be a very trying year on us financially due to the existing economical conditions. Our budget this year is $19,215,00, approximately $4000.00 of that is for teacher/staff resources not counting field trips or teacher luncheon. Getting the information out our fundraisers, raffle tickets, candy grams, and family fun nights is essential in order for us to meet our budget. Please take the time to read our notes so that you may be able to answer questions to students or remind them of deadlines. We appreciate your help. We will be posting an envelope on our PTO board for any questions, requests, or complaints you might have. Our goal this year is to make our school into a community, for too long have the teachers, parents and students been separated, only together can we make this a school we are proud of.

Do you know the teachers went crazy. They are offended. I have even been told they are rallying against me. Not sure what that entails, lol! We have been warned that now all notes must be approved and initialed by the president of the PTO, then approved by the secretary and the principal before they go out! What amazes me is I thought that being a tax payer, and a parent that I paid for the services of the school. So in all truth the principal, secretary and teachers work for ME!!! Isn't it funny how teachers, doctors and others think just because they have a license or a degree in something that you do not they feel they can over power you? Unfortunately for them, I am not one of those people. I educate myself in my rights and stand firm! Tomorrow is our PTO meeting, I'm sure it will be brought up and I have been informed I have the right to speak for myself and defend what I did. So perhaps tomorrow a new blog will be needed :)

My Teenager!

I find myself at a odd place. I remember my teenage years still quite well, and honestly I hate me for them LOL. Now that I am a parent and an adult, I realize I was just a bad kid. If I believed in karma I would say that I am getting my share of what goes around comes around. I pray that all the grief Kylie is giving me is just her trying to find herself..however I fear it's just a complete lack of caring for anyone but herself. First let me says, yes she gets good grades, no she has never gotten suspended or detention at school. She does not talk back disrespectful. But she lies continuous, about everything, good, bad.. all of it. I would go as far to say she is a compulsive liar. She steals, she is constantly obtaining things I know for a fact I didn't buy her. She gets caught taking things at the house too. I want so badly for her to get past this and be able to live a great life, but swear she resists anything good. Example; She was grounded for lying about taking a lunch to school (long story) and then she got ungrounded, 2 days later she gets in trouble for lying about not using soap in the shower (yuck right?) so she gets grounded, she is suppose to get ungrounded the very next day.. but she gets caught stealing candy, and not just any candy but the EXACT type of candy she cannot have due to her braces. So.. she is not getting ungrounded. I feel like such a failure, I have tried talking, counseling, rewarding good behavior, praying, grounded, spanking, grounding... in the end she always does whatever the heck she wants. People think I'm cruel because I'm so hard on her. But what do I do? Give up let her go find herself? Let her eat sticky chewy candy when I am paying $5600 for her braces? No one seems to have any answers except to condemn me for always coming down on her. Seems I lose no matter what, and Kylie's bad behavior continues. I wish my parents were alive to tell me that what I am going through and feeling was similar to what I put them through. Then atleast I would have the security that Kylie would bounce back and be a responsible, caring adult! For now I pray, pray she has God in her life, and that she is saved by his grace.

I voted!

Well I did it, I voted! I always feel so tiny when doing so. I know that it's my duty as a citizen and I do take it seriously. I research what I am voting for and I do not vote for things I do not understand. But I always wonder did my tiny votes really make a difference? I mean Michigan is mostly Democratic and well I am Republican.. does my vote matter as a whole? This is a year of many questions for me as I am not 100% about either candidate. I neither totally dislike or like them. I personally don't want either for president, but alas one will be. I am scared of my future when they take over the presidency. I fear of the years to come and how this will effect my family. Im not sure any political respresentative can really do things for the general people of the U.S.A. because they don't live like the general public. They are usually rich or well to do, they get to do things that the normal people don't. How can these men and women really know what is best for the middle and lower class public, which is the highest percentage of the nation? They do not live where or how we live. Sure you hear how at one time they had great struggle.. but that was before laptops, pdas, internet.. and misc things that now have changed life. Im sorry I doubt there will ever be in my lifetime a new president to bring GREAT change, or help to this nation. However I will continue to pray for great leadership and perhaps when my kids are grown they will have a true leader and be proud to be an American.