Elementary School Black Market

Yesterday was the first day of school in our part of North Texas,
the end of a rough summer,
and I couldn't wait to hear how the day went for my boys.


My younger son had a really rough summer, involving various medical issues and surgery.
And he was very nervous about returning to school and handling his chronic nausea issues.


I gave him medication before he left for school.
We talked about how he'd handle things if he started to feel sick.
I worried about him all day.
Hoped things were going well.


 However, when I picked him up,
one of the first things he said ...


was that he had traded two Hexbugs for a Pokemon game.


Guess the first day was a success.


Did you know that there was an elementary school black market?
Did you ever trade things at school?
What has your child come home with?




  

The End of a Rough Summer

Today is his first day in 10th grade.




Today is his first day in 5th grade.


Today is the End of a Rough Summer and the first day of school in our part of North Texas.
The end of a really, rough summer.

 My 10-year-old starting getting sick in May.
After weeks of pain and nausea ...
and tons of medical tests,
he had surgery in June to remove his gallbladder and appendix. 

Then, after some bumps in the healing process,
we ended up back at the doctor's office
and he ended up with a new diagnosis of Abdominal Migraines. 

 Needless to say, he's had a rough summer.
No summer camps.
Canceled trip to Disney.
Lots of indoor time healing.

The 15-year-old spent the summer healing from his 2nd knee surgery
and learning how to drive.

It has been a stressful summer, to say the least.

 But, I've watched my older son become more confident in his driving
and continue to grow into such a fine young man.

 And I've seen my younger son overcome adversity
and begin drum lessons and return to baseball.

 I have hope as we go into fall ...
hope that this will be a great year.
And thankful we survived the summer.



 

Why do I bother?

This year, as with every year, I bought my son the school planner with his school supplies so that he could keep on task and know what his assignments are and when they are due.

It's my job, no, my RESPONSIBILITY to make sure he is given the tools he needs to be successful in life.  To teach him how to organize and keep up with his stuff.  So that when he's older, he has a better chance at keeping a job and completing projects.  And getting married.

An assignment planner is just the first step in a long line of stepping stones to reach the other side of the river, the lake of success and finding your dreams!!

I've seen it in his binder.

I know he out it there...

However, the other day, he came home with Sharpie written all over his hand.

"Donny, what's all over your hand?" I asked, thinking it just might be a girl's phone number.

"It's my homework," he replies.

"That's not where you're supposed to write your homework!  What if you wash your hands and then can't remember what your assignment is?!"  I'm horrified.

"That's why I use sharpie," he says in his matter-of-fact manner. 

Oh.  

Hunh. 

So much for that fancy planner.

And on that note...

I found this note in my son's backpack:

"Remy, I'm sorry
what I did.
I shouldn't have done that.
Next time I will through away the paper
and at that time at school
I was feeling weird so
I just wrote it for no resin
so I don't know what I whas doing
just fieling not very nice."

Your friend,
So-and-so


Wow, huh?
Remy won't give me the details or tell me what happened.

So, on that note...
I'm left perplexed.

What do you think happened?!

Scientific Excursion of the Little People.

Last week I went on a Scientific Excursion with the Little People, or otherwise known as, a Field Trip with the kindergarten to the Dallas World Aquarium. The things I do for loving this little tyke...

Otherwise known as Remy. His class all wore their orange school shirts. The other kindergarten classes wore their blue, or yellow or green shirts, depending on the teacher.

Our teacher took this obvious labeling of our kids to an even higher level and made up shapes (apples, stars, sailboats, flowers), laminated them, put her cell phone number on them and pinned them to the back of the kids' shirts. Brilliant, I tell you, just brilliant. We have the best teacher. None of the others did this. :o)

So, as a parent volunteer, I was put in charge of four kids (including my own). I had the Apples. And, I had the extremely honored privilege of riding on the school bus, with the children. Oh, the joy...

As I sat on the vinyl bench seat (with NO seat belts!) surrounded by tons of little people yapping away excitedly, I realized that there was no way out... I looked up and saw a tiny little square that claimed to be an emergency exit...like I could reach it or any of the kinders around me.
and there was no way I was going to make it out THIS window...
and there was no air circulating, besides this tiny little fan...
But we made it there safely, despite my hyperventilating. Did you know that Lisa has a new kitty cat? And Billy shared with me every. single. toy. he had, with extreme details about his favorites. Every time we took a turn, the kids yelled like it was a roller coaster ride. Did I mention there were no seat belts?
These were my apples. Aren't they cute Little People? They did a great job of sticking with me and not getting lost, despite my best attempts...
We saw these funky birds and some scary crocs.

weird monkeys and lots of fish.
including sharks
and a huge, massive sea cow (Manatee)...sorry about this picture, the water was super murky as we looked in the tank. It was feeding time. I didn't take as many pictures on this visit (we've been here before many times) because I didn't want to loose any punks, I mean, apples.
Here are my apples again...still haven't lost any...
By the time we got home, I was exhuasted, very appreciative of our kindergarten teacher keeping up with these Little People EVERY DAY, and ready to go home and nap. Whew.