The First 22 Days of 2009!!!

The first little bit of 2009 has not been the most joyous! I know blogs are about sharing the good things, but I am going to share some crazy things!

To start of the year, on Jan.5th, the day school started back up, I took the day off because Alecia had two ear infections and bronchitis, yes a visit to the ER was necessary! That night, I went to Wal-mart and it had snowed earlier in the day, so the roads were very slick and icy, (little did I know.) So I was on my way home and slid off the new Cross Hollow Road on the highest part and ended up in a ravine. There was no valid reason that Katelin and I didn't flip over or roll, the only reason I know of is that someone was watching out for us. So, we were very lucky!

Then, over Martin Luther King, we had our nieces, Aspen and Cambria, both near Katelin and Alecia's age. So we got them Friday night for 3 nights, 3 days. Well on Saturday, Nathaniel with all good intentions of entertaining the older girls, took them sledding. The first injury happened when Nathaniel's sled hit a pointy rock and broke his Butt! He still has trouble walking! Then, the second injury happened when the two girls were coming down the hill on the following sled:

The sled took a wrong turn and the tree came out of know where. Both girls put their right legs out to stop, and that is when it happened!

That's right, Aspen broke her ankle. She has green stick fractures in both of the leg bones where it connects to the ankle! Just lovely! Poor thing- but she was a very brave 3 year old!! Katelin got away with a pulled ligament or something, but we made two separate ER visits to have the girls checked out!

As for the two 1 1/2 year olds, lets say that Alecia really did want to be Cambria's friend, see:

But I think she just ended up torturing the poor girl most of the time!!

This is what the night's were like as we put the girls to bed, then Alecia wanted to play Tea-Party and jumped in bed with Cambria!!

Needless to say, life has not been normal- Here's to the next 22 days of 2009 not being as hectic!

"They way to get into a crib"- by Alecia Pugh!

Over this Martin Luther King weekend, Emily and Dale asked us to watch their kids while they went to Minnesota. We were getting ready for two extra girls and needed to put the pack and play up in Alecia's room for Cambria. It didn't take Alecia long to perfect the entry into the crib! (Mind you, Alecia has been in her "big girl bed" for almost a month because she kept climbing out of her crib!)

You've got to watch this movie- it is great!

Movie Time with Grandpa Pugh!!

After everyone else left on Sunday, Grandpa gave in and watched Toy Story with the Girls! What a softy!!!

Ballet Entertainment

Funny thing- this very day my Mom was telling me what a graceful dancer she thinks Katelin is and that we should look into some sort of ballet class. Well low and behold, Katelin and Emma come home and change into their dance clothes and start dancing. It must make them feel so beautiful!! (And it should, cause they are!)

Watch how "impromtu" Katelin is!

School Talk

Okay, so I have had something tearing at my heart a little and I just feel better getting it out!. Before the Christmas Break, we had a celebration of "Stellar Students" at school. This means that all the teachers were able to choose 1 outstanding student from their class to have lunch with the Principal. They also each get to eat a kid meal from McDonald's. It has really turned into a fun reward for students. Well, one of the Kindergarten students was able to stay for this reward and when it was over they left the school alone. It was really quite a scary situation. The student ended up walking home alone across 200 N. which is a busy street. So although this wasn't my student, it was a Kindergartner, and I love the family of this student. Looking through a Parent's eyes, all of the most devastating things race through your mind when you show up at school and your child is no where to be found. I have seen this happen several times. Most of the time the child ends up going to a friends house or something- and every single time that I know of here in Cedar- it has always turned out for the best.

I get a pit in my stomach every time something like this happens. As an educator and someone who has worked in the school, I know that especially at North Elem., where I work, every single person that works there- is there to be an advocate for kids. The work that goes on behind the scenes is unmeasurable, especially by those who are not familiar with the "insides" (so to speak.) When accidents happen, it always falls to the educator, school, and school district. This is sad because most of the times Parents or Guardians jump and act hastily toward those who were honestly innocent to the accident that occurred. I know this, because I have been jumped on before as a Teacher. It feels like a slap in the face to all the reward programs, hard work we do to help students succeed. Then you know people will talk and say things like, "What was the school thinking?" When really, what we were thinking was, 'lets celebrate the hard working students at our school!'

If I could say anything to parents, I would say, " Remember that we are all here to help your child succeed, and remember we are people and we have feelings. When something frustrates, concerns, or upsets you, lets talk about it because it will take all of us working together to help your child succeed."

Accidents happen in life, it is what can make us stronger, I myself, as a Parent, Teacher, Aunt, Wife, Sister, Daughter, and Friend, will make mistakes- it will sting for a while, but as I long I learn from it, and improve, I will grow. As all of the above mentioned roles that I play in my life, I hope that I will remember this when people make mistakes. Remember the golden rule, "Treat others as you would want to be treated." Mistakes happen- forgive, forget, and let it go- I hope I remember this in the future for myself!

Discovering Bubbles!!

Here's Alecia figuring out how to blow bubbles in her cereal bowl. She thinks it is great-

but mostly she likes putting on a show for people.