there's a make-up party going on upstairs right now...
the boys r downstairs, playing video games
now curtis is upstairs passing out cookies, crackers & juice 4 a tea party :0)
u'd think adding 2 more kiddos (making the total 5), would b chaos...but they actually entertain each other! maybe i should arrange play dates over here more often! ;0)
yesterday, corinn's preK teacher emailed me...she told me that since corinn already knows all her letters & their sounds, they wanted to start something new with her...sight words!
i've already showed u how much daddy loves practicing sight words & flash cards with his girls (jaden 2, but jaden doesn't sit 4 it long)...gabby has a set of kindergarten sight words that she practices as part of her homework - and daddy always includes corinn on their practice too...and that is what has helped corinn already start learning color words
well, now she gets her own sight words - corinn will turn 5 next month - where did my baby go?! this week, the words are "on" & "the"...and she also brings a practice book home for part of her homework...last night, it was all about the word "the" - a book about a farm...2nite, she whipped out this book & AMAZED me at how well she sailed thru reading it! she uses the pictures 4 reference & doesn't actually "read" every word - but watch her track the words...she's definitely recognizing them! i grabbed my camera & had her read it a 2nd time (she couldn't wait 2 watch herself after i taped it too!)
one proud mama over here!!!
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ok, gotta talk about the other 2 kiddos as well...
my mom & i went 2 the school 2day 2 have lunch with the girls (nana sat with corinn & i sat with gab)...well, i got 2 witness (yet again!) just how popular miss gabby is! there r 2 boys in her class that literally FIGHT over her - i'm serious, like pulling each other's hands off of her, fighting over her! they race to stand/sit next 2 her, they follow her around...i admit, i kind of got annoyed by it...y should she continuously have 2 deal with these boys fawning & fighting over her? but she assured me that it's not always that bad - that kaleb (the more "spirited" one) was showing off for me...she's so smart!
the other boy, phoenix, is deaf - and he signs "gabby" over & over until his translator gets her attention for him...gabby actually really enjoys his company - she's become extremely fascinated with learning sign language this year too! (the teacher has taught them signs throughout the year & i remember some of what i learned when i was younger)...i think it's sweet...she genuinely interracts with him & uses his translator to "talk" to him at lunch...and the translator & teacher also use gabby 2 encourage phoenix 2 eat or stay on task, or whatever
gabby also brought home this "praise note" from her teacher 2day...it says it's for... "ALWAYS doing such a great job on your homework and this week two days early! you are such a special girl!"
that's because every week, the teacher gives them a homework packet - on the front, it lists when they should do what - spreading it out, throughout the whole week...& it has all the needed worksheets stapled 2gether...well, gabby decided this week that she'd like 2 do ALL of her homework in 1 or 2 nights, so that she doesn't have any homework the rest of the week! so darn smart, i tell ya!
one proud mama over here!!!
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and now, for jaden...
2day, he brought home a paper that had his name at the top, & a bunch of sentences down the side...he explained 2 me that it's a list of what everyone in his class had 2 say about him...here's his list...
Jaden: -is nice. -has a good imagination. -is very creative. -is good. -is a good person. -is funny. -is really, really, really nice. he is good. -is good to me. -is a good friend. -i like jaden. -is caring. -is creative. -is very funny. -jaden listens. -is funny & a good boy. -is funny & a great boy. -is funny.
see a theme there? that's my funny & creative dude!
there r 2 forms of art that i'm totally digging right now...one is something i just discovered, & 1 is something i was introduced 2 (by my hubby) years ago - and i've grown 2 really love it!
the newly discovered art is tatting - i stumbled upon this blog & was totally intrigued! her dragon caught my eye at first - i knew jaden would LOVE it!
i asked Marty is she could make him one - and she agreed! what a sweet lady! u should totally check out her blog & some of the others on her blog roll - i'd seen this type of work before, but didn't know the name for it, or just how big of a thing it is! i really suspect it's something i could get into if i gave it a try (like i need more to do!) - love it!
the other, is something i've mentioned here before - it's a form of music that originates from DC (my hubby's hometown)...go-go! at first, i thought most go-go songs sounded alike - the same deep bass beat, conga drums, the same sort of calling/singing...but the more i heard it (& believe me, if u're around my husband - u'll hear it a LOT...he was actually quite the super star, the caller in a go-go band when he was younger), the more i grew 2 love it!
one artist that i LOVE is go-go Mickey....watch this video, & u'll see y (here, he's performing with The What? Band...it's really long, but u'll only need to watch a bit 2 b amazed) - what talent!!!
the wilkins family - i'm guessing 1988-89 (u know u're loving my dress!) curtis & his mom, roxie - i'm guessing 1978-79?
the skates family - 2004
me & my dad - probably 1981-82 my dad, jaden & deandra (my niece) - 2002 my dad (check the missing tooth) me (check it again) my kiddos (and again!) (this year's school photo - Corinn, preK - Gabrielle, K - Jaden, 2nd)
my parents...high school sweethearts... then came me... u can tell, my mom was the only 1 that took pics in her family too - we're always behind the camera! our fam... i honestly cannot believe my parents ever allowed me to tie my shirt like that - i had 2 have snuck that on them! b4 my high school graduation - 1997
ok, so i've learned that jaden's martial arts training is not just jiu-jitsu...it's that, plus 3 other forms of japanese martial arts (karate, taekwondo & one other) - combined 2 create some form that i can't remember the name of! ~lol~ it appears that the sensei overheard me on the phone with my brother, telling him we were at jiu-jitsu...cause, at the end of training, the sensei sits the kiddos down 2 explain 2 them what exactly their martial arts training is...i was listening from the other room & didn't get the full scoop...but let me just say, i stand corrected! ;0)
sooooo, at jaden's martial arts training 2day....i took some new videos....he still hasn't earned his yellow belt, but he's getting there....the holiday break, plus missing a few practices cause of my crazy medical schedule, have hindered him a little - but overall, both the sensei & i r still happy with how well jaden's doing...plus, he enjoys it - and that's really all that matters! :0)
i love the part with the kicks - even tho she's the same age, he's so much taller than her! it's too cute! (in the 1st video, u can hear gabby watching scooby doo on my phone while we wait...and corinn decides to hang on my legs & shake me while i'm taping....in the 2nd video, some of the adult class, that follows jaden's class, r now waiting....& u can hear their chatter in the background)
here's what the girls do while we wait....corinn can't sit still...
i went 2 the cancer center yesterday 2 have my blood levels checked (they'll do this weekly)....luckily, it was only a finger prick & not a full-blown blood draw - yipee!
my white blood cells were just below the range they'd like me 2 b in, but not too low that they need to give me a booster (don't ask me of what med - not sure what exactly they'd do if my levels were too low)....my red blood cells were kinda low too - so i'm to try & get some more iron in my diet (2 prevent anemia)...but overall, i was a-ok to go...and it only took an hour! ~lol~
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now, here's an oldie (but goodie!) email that i got yesterday...it really fits me these days! as u could tell by the video game pic i included in my last post, our house is in some disarray right now...but do i care? not really! i've totally got my priorities in check these days! ;0)
Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
they don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough
doesn't come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what
the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
and get their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child's growth
is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother.
i admit, the kiddos have really been trying my patience lately...with the holiday break giving us a LOT more time 2 fill, & with my energy level not being quite as high as usual...plus, gabby is at this impossible age of questioning every little thing i say! & it's not inquisitive questioning - like the eager young gal is yearning 2 broaden her horizons...but, it's the i-need-u-2-justify-what-u're-saying-because-i'm-not-quite-sure- it's-the-decision-i'd-like-2-hear type questioning...6 year olds, ugh!
but, none the less, i'm enamored by my family!
each & every day, i'm totally taken aback, by the enormous amount of blessings in my life! thank u Lord!
"every good & perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." james 1:7
as i mentioned on friday, we had a chill weekend planned...daddy worked & mama took it easy with the kiddos...enjoying the last little bit of holiday break we had left
plenty of outside time & a chilly picnic on saturday
with lots of board/card games, mixed in with some video games too
& a trip 2 the roller skating rink on sunday!
this place rocked!
it's the same rink that's been there since i was a kid...but i hadn't been there (& up on skates) since like middle school days! when, i might add, i was pretty darn fast on some inlines! ;0)
now on sundays, they're open from 1-4pm...it costs $12/family (up 2 a fam of 5), & skate rental is an additional $1/ea...and it's so not crazy busy & packed!
this was only the 2nd time EVER, that the kiddos had been on skates (here's the 1st)...curtis & i didn't rent skates at first - assuming we'd spend most of our time walking alongside wobbly kiddos...but after just 15 minutes, all 3 were off on their own, not really concerned about us
they all LOVED the music (commenting several times on the old school, cliche roller rink jams that they recognized from 1 of their fav movies - the whole reason they asked Santa 4 skates 4 xmas!)...jaden would jump up from having soda & popcorn, exclaiming "oh no! i'm missing my favorite song!"...or i'd ask him if he needed 2 go 2 the restroom, & he'd reply "no, i'm skating & dancing 2 my favorite song right now." that kid loves music! & he also loves 2 talk! the few times he did stop 2 take a breather, he was either at the skate rental or the arcade prize claim, chatting it up with the employees! ;0)
gabby even joined in several of the games they did throughout the 3 hours (corners, red light/green light, limbo, reverse skate, etc.)...i love that she's starting 2 come out of that shell of her's & try new things! :0)
corinn really seems 2 get the whole concept of skating...she's not scared 2 fall, she's got the pumping action down, & she's fast!
all 3 kiddos were amazed when mama put on skates! i rented some right away, after realizing my wee ones, weren't so wee & could skate all on their own - but i don't think any of my kiddos actually believed i could skate! ~lol~ it was hard going slow enuff 2 stay with them tho (they all wanted me to skate beside them)...and of course if u're close by, they want 2 grab u as they're going down...curtis hasn't actually ever been skating, & he chose not 2 start 2day either (even tho, he was tempted - he told me we should plan the next trip when he doesn't have 2 skip out early 2 head 2 work)...he helped out the kiddos so i could skate, & he had a great time grooving 2 the music with us ;0)
the girls didn't fall much at all - i heard the official count on the car ride home...gabby said she fell 4 times, and corinn said she fell 6 times - & i totally believe them...they did really well! (& their skates have a little resistance 2 them, so they have more control)
jaden fell quite a few more times (his skates r adult size SEVEN speed skates - no resistance!) - he actually was very dramatic about it! if he fell, he made sure he really fell - full belly contact with the floor, falling...or spread eagle, laying down on his back, scaring the boogers out of his mama, that he was gonna trip a few other kiddos in the process, falling! ~lol~
but it was a BLAST! & we plan 2 go back at least once a month...hey, we might as well get Santa's money's worth outta those skates! ;0)
here's a video of how well the kiddos did...sorry, it's a little dark
on the way home, we swung by nana's for some swing time on the flyers, & 4 a pizza dinner...what a perfect ending, 2 a really great day! :0)
corinn conked out in the car on the way home...and after baths & the bedtime routine, all 3 were out like a light, once hitting the bed (skating sure is a workout!)! ;0)
we're all geared up & ready 2 get back in the school/work routine 2moro tho...i've had that song stuck in my head all evening...
please forgive me, as i'm in & out of blogland these days...i'm trying to keep life as simple & easy as possible - as we try 2 figure out how mama will feel each day, and how we all can keep life moving along as normal as possible....and that makes 4 boring blog posts ;0)
thankfully, i started treatment during our holiday break - so there's been no homework every night, no real need 4 strict dinner & bed times, etc....we've just been hanging out, enjoying each other & living day 2 day....that will all end on monday - as school starts back up, as dance classes begin in the next week, as we all get back to "normal" life
so far, the night of my chemo & the day after were rough (didn't even want 2 think about food!)....the 3rd day seemed better, and i was feeling awesome by the 4th day (yesterday - our family actually went out to dinner & to do a little shopping - see pics in this post)....i woke up sick this morning tho, and felt better as i got moving & into work....i'm hoping this coming week will sail by - i'll have my blood checked on monday, then won't return 2 the cancer center until the next monday for my next chemo treatment....then i guess it's back 2 beginning the cycle over again - ugh...
i hope u all have an amazing weekend! we're going 2 b doing some more of that taking it easy stuff...i hope u get to as well! xoxox, sharon
by this time yesterday, i was already pretty queasy & i had only tried 2 eat a lil oatmeal & coffee....curtis got up & made b'fast 2day & i ate 2 eggs & toast with jelly....and so far, no queasiness yet!
i've gotten into the habit of waking up & immediately taking my meds with a few crackers (have to take with food) & a huge glass of water (the med to prevent gout/kidney stones requires i drink 10 glasses a day! & that's not supposed 2 make u nauseaus?!)....then, by the time i'm ready to eat a lil something later in the morn, i think the nausea meds have started working
here's hoping to only 2 days of sickies (or less) each time i have chemo - i can totally deal with that....i'm hearing that 2day or 2moro may b my down day....where the fatigue will really kick in, but we'll see - i can take fatigue over puking any day! i'm home all day with the kiddos 2day too (curtis leaves for work at 2pm, but hoping to slip home just in time 4 the ball 2 drop) & 2moro, the whole fam is home for the day! :0) so i get 2 take it easy
i didn't even think 2 check - the nodes on my neck have just kinda become a part of me - my lil alien head ~lol~ & i 4get about em....but last night, curtis asked me if i noticed a differnce in them - & sure enuff, they're less than half the size they were!!! so i know the chemo is definitely doing it's job (& then some, right?!)!
we wish u all a very happy new year! here's to 2009 - may it b filled with lots of love, fam, blessings, thankfulness & healing!!!
yesterday, corinn's preK teacher emailed me...she told me that since corinn already knows all her letters & their sounds, they wanted to start something new with her...sight words!
curtis & his mom, roxie - i'm guessing 1978-79?
me (check it again)
my kiddos (and again!)
(this year's school photo - Corinn, preK - Gabrielle, K - Jaden, 2nd)
then came me...
u can tell, my mom was the only 1 that took pics in her family too - we're always behind the camera!
i honestly cannot believe my parents ever allowed me to tie my shirt like that - i had 2 have snuck that on them!
b4 my high school graduation - 1997
with gabrielle
& with bryan (my nephew) & corinn
and gabby is content, watching scooby doo...
