Going Batty

I don't know about you, but I don't remember having to write a report in first grade. I don't remember exactly when it was, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't this early on. I asked D and he said the same.

Nevertheless, J had his first report due last Thursday. They are studying bats in his science segment and each kid chose a bat they were interested in and wrote a little bit about it. J chose a bat by the name of The Little Brown Bat. He had to turn in some preliminary findings and then the actual report would be written at school.

His teacher was kind enough to send us the grading scale, and I was really surprised to see how much detail she wanted in addition to the writing elements: Full sentences, neat writing, several facts. It seemed a little advanced for six year olds, and I have to admit I was a little concerned to see what J would come up with.

In addition to the report, the kids were also to turn in a visual of their bat. Again, the grading scale was extensive: distinctive features, several colors, habitat. All with one caveat: she wanted the kids' work -- not the parents.

That's all great and wonderful, except that my kid wasn't really that interested in doing much more than a picture, which would have been fine, but you only got one point for that -- if it was a good hand-drawn picture. A computer picture wasn't acceptable. J is good at many things but art isn't one of them so going that route, even one point was going to be hard to attain.

And, to be honest, I really wanted him to reach for more than the easy way out. A model could yield five points and I knew if I did the legwork I could get him excited about doing a project. I was right.

He glued cutout bats, he water colored the background, cut up some felt, and glued the eyes and fangs on. Anything that required the glue gun I did.

He was really happy with the finished product.

He presented to the class two days ago. I was amazed when I saw his scores. He did so well! In addition to his teacher he was also graded by some of his peers. He got the highest marks in almost every category.

The next day was the "Bat Gallery." Families were invited to come in and see all the wonderful work the kids did. This was the first time we got to take a peek at J's report. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, because it was great. There were full sentences, decent writing, and lots of information.

And not just J's was amazing. As surprised as I was at the expectations for these kids, I was even more surprised at how easily they exceeded them.

He looked so proud of his work,

and I love that he's enjoying learning so much!

hAPPy

About a month ago I got the new iph0ne 4. It is one of the coolest gadgets out there and I have no idea how I navigated this world without it for 44 years. Aside from my wedding ring it is my favorite material thing that I own.

Several weeks before that, Daddy was issued an ipad from work. Another amazing machine from the folks at Apple. This picture doesn't do it justice. It's basically a larger version of the iphone but without the calling capabilities.

By the time J and M are old enough to read this there will be unimaginable things for them to work and play with and they'll laugh at me for being so excited over something that by then is sure to be today's version of an eight-track tape. But for me, this is innovation at its finest. Just a couple of decades ago the thought of literally having so much access at your fingertips was unimaginable to me.

Needless to say, both D and I have been playing around with our little pieces of technological goodness non-stop. He's downloaded a couple of books ~ even finished one which is quite a fete for him. I've downloaded some applications, also known as apps, and some music.

AK was here the other day and we were comparing smartphones. He has one from another company but many of the apps (I feel so cool when I use the correct terminology) are the same. He intoduced me to one of his favorites: An LED light, sort of like a little flashlight in your phone. It was free so I downloaded it if for no other reason to show J who for some reason or another likes flashlights.

It hasn't even been two weeks and I had real use for it last night. Our power went out while we were upstairs. Both the kids were already asleep but we wanted to make sure we were prepared in case they woke up to pitch darkness and were scared. I found my phone, pressed the button, and WA-LA, there was light.

We went to sleep hAPPy campers after that.

Mommy's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my shape to keep
Please no wrinkles; please no bags; and please lift my butt before it sags
Please no age spots; please no gray; and as for my belly, please take it away
Please keep me healthy; please keep me young

And thank you, Dear Lord, for all you've done

It seems like I've been in the copy/past mode lately, but this was perfect for today; albeit, a little late for some of the requests ~ let's try this again: A little late for ALL of them.

We leave to Sacramento in 31 days, one month, and I want to lose 10 pounds before boarding the plane. To some people that is a very doable goal. To me it's not much different than climbing Mt. Everest.

Before I go any further, I want to put in the disclaimer that I know my family and friends love me at this weight or any other. The trip is simply a motivational tool to help ME, because that's who I want to do it for is myself. And although the BMI charts say I'm still at a healthy weight for my height, I'm not comfortable at this size and really want to get back to my pre-M weight.

At the start of 2009, AK and I started a contest to see who could lose the most weight in three months. He smoked me! M wasn't sleeping through the night and the gym wouldn't take her until she was 6 months. A couple of months later, in an effort not to go out and buy new clothes for our very-short summer, I did a two-week diet that promised a loss of 8 to 13 lbs. I lost 6. It was just enough to get the zippers up. And then about a year ago, I embarked on yet another Biggest-Loser style diet with the girls. The pot was big but my motivation wasn't. I lost just enough to get my money back but have since gained it and the previous 6 pounds back.

I don't like to exercise, that's no secret. I love junk food. That's a bad combination. It's been a struggle, but this is the most motivated I've been. I sometimes ~ very seldom, but sometimes ~ look forward to going to the gym. I've devised a two-day on, one-day off plan that seems like a reasonable goal, yet for one reason or another I can't seem to get there.

Between grocery shopping, running errands, BabyGym, M's sleep schedule, and the gym's childcare schedule, it's overwhelming. I think that I'll go early in the morning before D goes to work but that never works. I tell myself I'll work out at home while M naps ~ never happens. Maybe I'll go after dinner, I think. I think NOT when after dinner comes around.

Back in August when we purchased our tickets for Cali, I told myself I was going to lose a pound a week until the day arrived. One pound a week didn't seem like a daunting task but it's really proved otherwise. Shorty thereafter I twisted my ankle; then my mom came to visit; school started, and on and on.

Last week I had to go to Js school to volunteer. I had to be there at 9:45 so I got to the gym at 8:55 to be there right when childcare opened and I could get in 35 minutes before heading out. Well, I forgot my ID because I used it the last time I was there and forgot to put it back in my wallet, and policy states that everybody needs an ID to check kids in and out. So much for that. On a different note, my ID has since been upgraded to Lost status.

Today, I did my grocery shopping first thing, came home and cooked dinner so that this afternoon as soon as J got off the bus we could head there, be the first in line for the 4pm opening of childcare, get an hour in, and be home in time to have that dinner on the table by around 5:30. Well, guess what? Childcare doesn't open until 4:30, which normally would have been okay, but my efficiency came back to bite me in the flabby butt that I possess. The kids were having Salmon and I set my oven to start preheating by 5 to ensure it was nice and toasty when I got home from my supposed workout.

Seriously? Seriously.

So for today, my prayer, or a revised version of it, is all that I have left.

Oh, and my belly, yeah, that's hanging around too ~ kinda literally.

I really need to get to the gym!

My Mom

My mom has made me laugh,

wiped my tears,

hugged me tight,

watched me succeed,

seen me fall,

cheered me on,

kept me going strong,

and DROVE ME CRAZY at times

Moms are a promise from God that you will have a friend forever!

Put this on your status if you love your mom,

whether she's here with you, or in Heaven.

AMEN!

This is something that's going around on Facebook. I not only put it on my status, I wanted to put it somewhere more permanent. I am so grateful for all that my mom has done for me, my brother, and now my kids. I love her with every part of my being and cannot imagine what my life will be like after God calls her home.

I said at my rehearsal dinner speech that if I could be half the mother, wife, and woman she is, the people around me would be very lucky.

I'm still trying ~ She has some really big shoes. And I have no idea how I'm going to fill them.

Tale of the Tape

The other day I was taking down some things off the cork board in the bonus room to make way for other masterpieces that may be coming home from first grade and I came across some questionaires that were part of our Mother and Father's Day gifts from J. They're pretty entertaining.

Here are the standings:

Age: D 38 ~ Me 44 (right on)

Hair Color: D black ~ Me brown

Eye Color: Brown for both

Weight: D 96 lbs ~ Me 120 lbs

(I'm torn between being estatic that he thinks I weigh that little and feeling insulted that he thinks I weigh 24 lbs more than his dad.)

Height: D 96 lbs tall (you read that right) ~ Me 5 feet

Some Other things of Note:

I'm really good at playing on the computer. I bet the tech support departments at many establishments would beg to differ, but I'll take it. Or, maybe I should take it as a hint to get off the computer.

And although it was cut off in the picture, I love him because he helps me cook. Really?

He never helps me cook!

D is apparently as strong as a bear, all 96 pounds of him. His favorite food is steak. J loves him because he likes to draw with him, and he's funny when -- oh, wait.... He's NOT funny.

Now THAT's funny!