Piano lessons

We started Adam in piano lessons a month or two ago? The woman that plays the piano at our church is amazing and we asked her if she would be willing to give Adam lessons. She said that five was a little young but we could give it a shot. He surprised us all and has been doing really really well. He goes for a half hour each Tuesday afternoon and has worked through over half of the book. He seems to have quite an ear for it because he has memorized most of the songs and can even play them on his little toy clarinet that he has. I don't know how to play any musical instruments and it is really important to me that our kids do. Chip can play the piano a little so he sits down and helps them. He learned the F sharp a few weeks back and was SO excited. Mrs. Miller said she has never seen a child so excited about the F sharp. I am very proud of him though, he will often just sit down and start playing like you can see above, that was Anna's little birthday party and he decided to play. I hope he always enjoys it.

Sea World

I decided (totally on a whim) to take a trip to Florida. My mom has never been on a plane before and since we had 5 days off for Memorial Day weekend, I thought, why not go to Florida for a few days? My plan was for my mom and I to take all three kids to Florida and just hang out. I don't want to do Disney yet because I want to wait until all three are a little older and we can enjoy the experience as a family and go for an extended time.

After my mother in law found out we were going, she really wanted to keep Anna home. So I called the car rental and cancelled the baby car seat, and called the hotel and got the crib out of the room. When I realized we were going with just the two boys, I decided to do something fun and that was Sea World. I didn't think it would be enjoyable bringing a baby in the 90 degree weather and sit in a stroller all day so if Anna were going, we wouldn't have went to Sea World. I went to Sea World when I was in fourth grade with my family and loved it.

We went to Sea World for two days and saw every animal, and every show they offered. They started Memorial Day weekend to stay open late and have fire works every night. In the one night shot you can see the show 'Shamu Rocks'. It was rock and roll music and the Shamu did different tricks. I really liked that show.

There was an Elmo show too and the boys got to see the characters and I have pictures. The boys really enjoyed the show.

I highly recommend Sea World. Everything in Orlando seems over the top. I think you could stay in Orlando for a month and not see everything. We just did Sea World and it took us two days. They also have an Aquatica park which is a water park and Discovery Cove where you get personal interaction with the animals or something? It's all part of the Sea World family or something like that. You could get a ticket to all three parks but we're not ready for that yet. I would like to do that some day when the kids are older maybe. But Sea World was clean and everyone was nice. There were lots of places to park strollers and you could get everything you needed such as bathing suits and towels. We found this one spot where the kids area was, that was like the mom's resting area or something. There were bathrooms where the toilet was close to the floor for little kids, and there was a baby high chair and rooms to nurse. There was also a vending machine outside where you could buy pacifiers and wipes. I thought that was cute. But I think that Sea World is part of Busch Gardens and Sesame Place is as well. And you know how much I love Sesame Place.... I just looked online to book the breakfast with Elmo in July.

It was a wonderful trip and I hope to go again sometime with the five of us.

Grahamsville Gallop

Every spring (for the past 38 years Mr. I announced today) they have had the Grahamsville Gallop. It is a race for anyone that can walk basically. Chip and I ran in it when we were younger. I moved to the area when I was in fourth grade. We didn't have the track then. I had to run 800 meters around the parking lot and I took off like a shot (like most kids do) and died probably 200 meters into it and probably got last, I don't remember.

The boys have been 'running' in the race since they were 16 months or so. That race is always a riot. Kids are crying, Adam turned around and went the opposite direction, stopped, waved to my parents and did a dance. It was hilarious. That is usually the 2 and under or 3 and under race. They always separate the races by gender and age, 4 year old girls, 5 year old boys, etc. When you are in the 3 and under race, you run 80 m, 4 year olds run 100 meters, 5 year olds run 200 meters, everyone else runs 400 meters up to 11 year olds run 800 meters.

I don't like to be one to brag about my kids. Of course I think they are just great because they are my kids and of course they are smart and beautiful and everything else every parent thinks of their child. BUT.... Adam is pretty darn fast. He has won every Grahamsville Gallop except the one I mentioned above where he got last. He ran this one mostly in the fourth lane and when I yelled to him to move over, he stopped in the middle of the race and looked at me for a milli-second. He has his father's natural stride and grace when it comes to running, he really does. He also has stamina. When we brought him to the track the other night, he ran a mile, 4 times around, no joke. He has that competitive edge about him too.

Van got fourth in his age group. Van doesn't seem to have the competitive edge that Adam has. He just is very laid back and does his own thing. We were watching the video and when they said go, he just stood there for a while. Van definitely marches to the beat of his own drum and I love that.

Something that is funny (but not really) is that we have camera issues EVERY Grahamsville Gallop. One time I taped it, and I was cheering and whatnot and missed most of the actual people, but got just a bare track and some random people's feet. So I was called off the video detail. Another year we gave the video camera to someone else and the same sort of thing happened. Another year we dropped the actual camera after Van's race so we didn't have a camera for Adam's race. This year, Chip insisted on doing the video taping. Van's race (which was first) was video taped, but no still shots, I think because we just weren't thinking. I was down at Van's race for the start, Chip was at the finish videotaping, and we just didn't hand anyone the camera. For Adam's race, I was with him at the start, we gave Chip's sister the still camera and she took shots but Chip thought he had the video camera on and never pressed record. He is beside himself. Maybe ONE year we will get it right. Next year we'll have three kids running though so that adds another opportunity for something to go awry. :)

Every time before a Grahamsville Gallop, I get nervous. I feel my heart rate increase when we pull in to the track. I know it is ridiculous. I told Chip about it today and he said, "bringing back past memories." I think he is right. At the end of the race they have a mom's and dad's race. You have to run 400 meters and guess what your time will be and the closest person to their time wins. Chip ran the race with the moms and the dads. I felt very proud to see him run. He won of course because he just has a God-given talent. He really does. He ran 67 seconds. 67 seconds just hopping on the track and running a lap!! He thought he would run 70 seconds so he was only off by 3. Someone guessed their time right on the nose! Can you believe that?

It was a fun day though- it brought back a lot of memories, we had a lot of laughs, and my heart just swelled with pride when I watched my boys (and man) work their magic around the track. :)

When the daffodils bloom

For the last few years my mother in law has been buying daffodil bulbs and has planted them all along the hill. She likes to call it daffodil hill. :) They start at the bottom where it is clear, as you can see and pretty much go all the way up to the farm. She has planted some by Chip's stone house you can see above, and along the flagpole, etc. She ordered a bunch more and thinks she has planted over a thousand bulbs. I took this picture for her, and a bunch of others, and would like to put them in a frame. I think she would like that.



Last year Adam kept asking, when is the baby coming, when is the baby coming? And my mother-in-law would say, "When the daffodils bloom." This year I am having a hard time with the daffodils blooming.



Last year the daffodils came and went actually. :) You can see that this picture was taken on April 8, today is the 20th and they are still in bloom. We had that really hot streak last year for a couple of days, right around April 28 if I remember when I was due. And Anna decided to hold out until May 3rd.



I basically think I have been in denial about her birthday. It's just in a week or so, and I have refused to think about it until recently. I just thought about the fact that I am going to order her a cake from my very good friend that makes beautiful cakes. And our family just picked out the date that we are going to celebrate it. (The day before is my grandfather's 92nd and Anna shares the day with my dad so we have a busy few days). I also need to put in some thought of what I want to get her. But I am very reluctant to turn that calendar to May.



Here are some ways I am convincing myself she is still a baby:

-She keeps her hands in fists (I mean not always but you know when you're a baby and your hands are in the rested state and they are in fist form?) She still does that.
-She looks like a baby.
-She talks like a baby.
-She doesn't have many teeth.
-She doesn't have a lot of hair.
- Her legs are still a little bow-legged.
-She can't walk.
-She takes two naps.
-She sleeps in a crib.
-She doesn't wear shoes for the traditional purpose.

So now that I am done convincing myself, I hope I can enjoy the special day with my BABY daughter. I love her to pieces. She melts my heart. I will post some pictures of her big day in a few weeks. :)

What Anna has been up to

Job status

I am happy to report that I still have a job. Unfortunately for a lot of people, they lost their jobs on Friday. If you would like to read an article in a local newspaper, here is the link below:

http://www.sc-democrat.com/news/0003March/26/news.htm


Three administrators are being cut, 35 teachers (with an aditional 11 retiring) and 12 support staff as well as a school is closing. We lost 8 teachers in our building alone I think, about 20 elementary in the district. It has been very stressful for a lot of people at work and it is very sad knowing that great teachers are being lost, and the probability of them finding a job anywhere soon is slim. Next year will be a very interesting year since we will be getting students from another school, and losing students as well. I will keep you posted if anything changes. We still have a buget to pass and that may make even more things change.

A year ago

Isn't the above quote the truth? I just found that and I LOVE it!!!!

For some reason the other day I pulled out the book in which I had made this blog made into. The book went from September '08 until just a few days before Anna was born, so it was about the end of April '09. It was fun to look at. The majority of it was about my pregnancy and I realized a few things. One- I made a lot of grammatical errors so I apologize for that. Two- I am kinda anal. When I was reading over my 'To-Do' list before I had Anna and all the things I wanted to get done and had already done, I was almost annoyed at myself. But anyway, I came across this post which is almost exactly one year ago:

http://farmkids-julie.blogspot.com/2009/03/big-change.html

I decided I wanted to write my thoughts about teaching and the effect it has had on our family and I since I found out that I was getting back into it after being home for four and a half years.

As you have figured out by now by reading my blog or just knowing me for an extended amount of time, I am a planner. I have an idea of how I want my life to go on a larger scale as in years and years. And I also plan what I am going to have for dinner each night and what day I go to the grocery store. I like to be in control of these things and I feel that if I have a plan and make it happen, my life will be less stressful in the long run. Teaching is all about planning. Well, maybe it is for me anyway. People may say that cooking doesn't take any planning either but for me it obviously does. I have to know what I am teaching a week in advance or I feel completely frazzled. I think this is one reason why I like teaching though, I am in control of what I do in my classroom. I call the shots, I plan what we are doing, and it has a constant flow to it. One friend posted on facebook she is never bored when she goes to work, and if that ain't the truth! Teaching is most definitely not boring, and it has sort of a quick pace which I enjoy. Staying home with the kids DEFINITELY does not have a quick pace to it.

I think that as much as I would hate to admit it, I enjoy going to work more than staying home. I also truly believe that God is looking out for me, knows what I can handle and knows what is best for me. I think He knew that having Anna and staying home with all three kids would have put me over the edge. I think He gave me an out before I knew what I was in for. And I think that He knows that I really enjoyed my job and this was a perfect way for me to keep all my family members alive. :)

I do get stressed some days, and I do have bad days at work. I am tired sometimes and I welcome a snow day now and again. But I am genuinely happy at work. There is not another profession I would choose for myself. Sometimes I wish I did things a little differently in my classroom, or my lessons don't go as I had planned but I am striving to do better and I think I will.

My kids don't seem any worse for the wear. They still are here on the farm every day, out in the barn, doing their thing. Chip is home 2-3 days a week. Life is fine. I am a little sad that I can't take Van and Anna to The Little Gym like I did with Adam. And I do sometimes wonder if I 'missing' their baby years. But I work 180 days a year, I am here for half of it.

And with that said, a year after I make the choice of going back to work, I find out, there is a good possibility that I may not have a job next year. I don't know if you have been reading the local papers lately but Monticello Central School District (and I guess other schools in the state as well) are losing A LOT of aid. From the meetings I went to, I guess Monticello is being cut by 4.5 million dollars. We are being told that one of the elementary buildings may be closing. I would like to think that we will know this in about a month or so. Our principal and superintendent said that there will be 30 elementary teachers being cut possibly. Of course this goes by seniority, not buildings so even if another elementary building gets closed in our district, they will let go from the bottom There are about 130 elementary teachers in our district (if I read the seniority list correctly). Someone in our building said that is every fourth grade teacher in our building except for one! I am about 22 up from the bottom. Teachers in our district are in a panic not knowing if they will have a job next year or not. If I don't have a job, I sincerely believe that is God's will. Adam will be in school all day next year, I will be home with my other two kids. Maybe it would be His way of saying, 'Hey, you can handle it now. I'll take care of the rest.' I am not sure. I have a peace about it. I am not going to worry about it until I am really told one way or another. I went to one meeting where there were over 100 people. Residents are upset that a school may be closing and rightfully so. I don't know the answer. Our superintendent also has the reputation for getting everyone in a tizzy, and then miraculously making everything better. So we'll see. What will be will be. And I will be doing another post if anything drastically changes. :)