Educational Confusion

Adams?????

Lincoln Heights?????

Moran Prairie?????

Last week a bomb got dropped on me. I was standing at the bus stop with Chad when my neighbor and her three children joined us. My neighbor asked what I thought of the letter. "What letter?" I innocently asked. "This letter about changing the school boundaries." She angrily replied while whipping out an official letter from the school.

My heart stopped and my breathing became heavy. Great, now what is going on I was thinking. She proceeded to tell me that the bus would no longer be available to our neighborhood to take the kids to Lincoln Heights. The bus would now be coming from Adams Elementary to take our kids there.

Apparently this is a Domino affect from the closing of Pratt Elementary. While there is still plenty of room at Lincoln Heights all the busing will be north of us, and they don't want to send a bus down south to our neighborhood. Hum, you would have thought they would have thought about that years ago! For crying out loud, our neighborhood has always been out of the way. There is a bus stop to Moran Prairie just up the street from our house - just the other side of 37th. We thought that if there were going to be any boundary changes that we would be going to Moran Prairie - since all the surrounding neighborhoods go there and the bus would just have to take a small detour up to our neighborhood.

So by the time my neighbor explained the letter I was just as fuming mad as her. I was also mad that this happened after I had already registered Halle early to guarantee morning kindergarten, and after they had just invited her to a Kindergarten Roundup at Lincoln Heights and she had met her new teacher, received a Lincoln Heights T-shirt and thought she was following in the footsteps of her big brother. And then that I was the only family in the neighborhood that did not receive a letter. (I contacted the Principal from Lincoln Heights who send out the letter and I have still not received one!) I feel so cheated from all the time I spent volunteering and all the money I donated to "our" school.

I also feel bad for Chad, for the third year in a row he will be going to a different school. The only school he went to for two years in a row was Ferris Preschool. He will also have a new speech teacher for the third time. Don't they know that kids with communication disfluencies (stuttering) need consistancy and structure. That all these changes are what can set up a bad episode for his talking?!


So for several days I was in a bad mood and my mind could not stop thinking about what to do. Do I drive my kids to Lincoln Heights, so they can stay at the school they thought they would be going to. Do I try to get in at Moran Prairie and then drive 5 different times a day in different directions with preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade? Do I let my kids go to Adams - a school right by the smoking section of Ferris, surrounded by polluting traffic, and in a really old building?


I know everyone out there would think it was a no brainer - that I should go to Moran Prairie. But after talking it out with Chris and praying about it - the only time I feel okay and peaceful is when I think about sending my kids to Adams. It is not what I really want to do, and I still don't like the location - but I feel that this is all for a reason and everything will work out okay. I think about Moran Prairie - a great school, and where my kids would know some of their church friends - but it just doesn't feel right.


My neighbor and I are having a tour of Adams with the Principal there tomorrow. I hope this will help with my attitude and help me come to grips with what I am feeling the answer is.

I know this is not the worse thing in the world - there are plenty of people I know suffering with really serious problems - but I am glad that I can have the spirit to guide me in these difficult decisions and I trust that everything will work out because of the feelings I have had.

Happy Birthday Halle

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It happened again. Another of my children has reached the ripe old age of 5. I don't know which is harder, having the first child go through those big milestones or having your second child. The older they get the older I definitely feel (with many more gray hairs and achy bones to prove it with).

Saturday, May 26th was Halle's official birthday. We had a busy and exciting day.

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After getting up and having breakfast my parents took the kids on a walk. (Wahoo for me - didn't get to sleep in but I got a whole hour of peace and quiet at my house. Just enough time to do dishes, clean up, make jello salad for dinner, etc.) I thought they would just walk the kids to the school, around and back, so they left the house in shorts and flip-flops. They ended up going for a walk in the woods right by our neighborhood. They came home with plenty of scratches on their feet and legs.

The next big activity was to go to Fairmount Cemetery. We (Jeraldine, the kids and I) usually always go on Friday, but this year Sherri and her family came to spend the weekend, Jeff now lives here and Herm would be around on Saturday - so Saturday is when we all went. We did our usual tradition of cleaning off the headstones, putting flowers out, and then Jeraldine brings pictures to show the kids and tells them stories of their G.G. (Olga Walker) and Great Bompa (William Walker). The kids really love it and I am glad they are remembering and learning about their great-grandparents. I am also glad that going to a cemetery is something they look forward to and are not scared or creeped out about.

Cleaning up the gravestones.

Bompa and Grandma telling the grand kids what Memorial Day is all about.


Group photo by the Veteran's Memorial.

After driving all the way north and west it was time to head further north by going to lunch at Chuck E Cheese. This is a treat my parents like to give the kids for their birthdays. It is fun to be able to go to a place where my kids can be kids and no one is giving me that "can't you control your kids?!?" look. My favorite part is that Sean still doesn't care if he has a coin or not he just fiddles with every knob or button he can get his busy little fingers on.

Having a fun time at Chuck E Cheese


Grandpa and Sean drive the firetruck.

Now that our tummies are full and we have dispersed a little energy out of the kids we get back in the van and head out East to Toys R'us. I hardly ever go there with my kids!!!!! So they were so excited to peek their little eyes at all the fabulous stuff they have there. (Except for Sean, who had too much fun and took a nap in the van with Grandpa.)

Chad and Halle (and Sean) each got to pick out a toy and on top of that my parents bought them all a small trampoline. Talk about spoiling your grandkids!!!!! (But I can't wait to do that myself!) As soon as we got home we put the trampoline together and kids had a blast. (P.S. It is always good to get a toy that your husband doesn't want while he is away and when the in-laws purchase it!)

Chad and Halle enjoy jumping with the sprinkler.

Sean and Halle jumping - Sean didn't want the water on.

After spending the afternoon jumping it was time to for Halle to open more presents and then get ready to have BBQ dinner at Grandma and Bompa's house. After dinner - as Caviness tradition - it was time to have games and track events. The kids practiced jumping the hurdles and pole vaulting. Then it was on to shooting rockets and hula-hooping.

Halle opens her presents from Nanny and Grandpa - lots of new clothes and a new Barbie too.

Chad is quick to get the hoop over his body in the relay race.

Halle's turn.


Sean tries to figure out the next game of pass the hula-hoop without letting go.

In the midst of all the activities Chris finally came home from Pasco where the state track meet was held. There was a big celebration for him as his high jumper girl, Kelly McNamee, took first place with a jump of 5'10".

As the sky started to darken and the air turned cooler, we headed home with three very worn out children, two happy grandparents, a tired coach, and a sick mom (had laryngitis all day today - Sunday).

It was a great day to remember. Happy Birthday Halle, hope you remember this day well too.

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What I love about Halle.

1. She always loves me no matter what.
2. She has an "evil" laugh that always makes me laugh.
3. She still loves to give me kisses and cuddles and asks me to play with her.
4. She loves to scratch my back and brush my hair.
5. She loves being a "mommy" to younger children.
6. She draws me loves notes.
7. She is proud to look like me when I was a little girl.
8. She is very determined.
9. She loves music, dancing, gymnastics, and being a princess.
10. She can make me melt with just a certain look from her big eyes.

All the constant crying for the first 18 months was worth it!!!!!
(Who knew I would actually say that one day?!)

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Halle's Princess Party

Welcome to Halle's Castle!

Halle has been dreaming of her 5th birthday party since she turned 4 years old. So the pressure was on to make sure she had the party of her dreams and had lots of fun with all her friends.

Halle dressed as her princess of the day - "Princess Courtney" from the Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Eight beautiful princesses all in a row.

We turned our house into Halle's Castle by adding balloons, princess decorations, and plenty of pink crape paper. Halle and all her guests dressed up as thier favorite princess. We played plenty of princess games: 1) Create Sleeping Beauty's Tiara; 2) Bell's Ballroom Freeze Dance; 3) Pin the crown on the princess; 4) Princess, princess, ogre; 5) Cinderella's Slipper; 6) Snow White's poison apple; 7) Jasmine's magic carpets; and 8) Ariel's wishing well.

Creating fancy tiaras.

Playing the game of "Princess, Princess, Ogre."

Freeze Dance was a big hit.

Every one was excited for opening presents but the girls were most excited by the birthday cake - and upon announcement that eating cake was the next activity the decibel and pitch level abundantly elevated to a deafening roar. The girls then had fun playing with Halle's fun presents, other princess games and anything they found in Halle's room to play with.

Everyone is excited to open presents.

Halle makes her birthday wish and blows out the candles.



Princess Courtney or Princess Fiona? (notice the green teeth)

I usually stress so much over having so many kids over and having parties. But for some reason this year it was just a lot of fun (and it certainly helped to have my mom around!). It was also fun to have 8 little princesses parading around the house - they were all so adorably cute.

Halle and Anna.



Halle and Aria.


Halle and Celeste.


Halle and Kaitlyn.


Halle and Leighton.


Halle and Lily.


Halle and Natalie.

No More Cats

Chris is happy again - there are no more cats hiding out in our backyard. Thanks to the help of Vonnie, she and I were able to flush them out. I have plenty of scratches and bruises to show for it. But I feel so bad. I know the kittens will find homes, but the mother cat will be put down in 15 days if no one adopts her. I really wish I could keep her or do something. So Chris is happy but I am plenty sad.

Planting a Garden

I may have been a biology major - but that did not at all help me gain a green thumb. I am lousy at taking care of vegetative life. Nevertheless, Chris and I have tried growing a garden. Our first attempt was last year. We yielded a few measly cucumbers (that were actually edible), a few strange red colored carrots, and one miniature underdeveloped ear of corn. But it was a fun experience for the kids. They loved the responsibility of watering the plants, watching them grow and then bring in the fruits (or more correctly - vegetables) of their labor to show me what had grown.

We decided to attempt gardening again much to the delight of our children. This year there were fewer murmurings about pulling weeds then last year. They also got totally excited about finding a treasure trove of worms in the soil. Finally they got to plant the seeds. This year we tried cucumbers (again - since that was our best crop last year), onions, peppers, and carrots. Later we will be trying corn again and Halle insists on planting watermelon.

We will see how hardy our little seeds are. The ground in which we planted them has been totally pounded upon by little feet. The little kittens and the kids (chasing the kittens) have been all over the dirt and seeds.

Chad shows off his favorite worm.


Halle proves she is no wimp - if Chad can pick up a worm than so can she.



Sean happily helps daddy plant the cucumber seeds.



Chad carefully follows directions in planting the onion seeds.



Halle gets to plant the pepper seeds.



Because it was time for bed, we combined our FHE treat with bath time.

Feline Fugitives

A couple of weeks ago I tried to talk Chris into letting me get a cat. I love cats. I gave up six cats for Chris when we got married. I have been without cats for almost 10 years now.

This all started with Halle. Her friend Anna got a new cat and now she wants one. How do I know this? Because Andrea told me she heard Halle telling Anna that her mommy (Andrea) should get her (Halle) a cat for her birthday because that is the only thing she doesn't have (true - she is pretty spoiled). My daughter has ill manners at asking for birthday presents from others - not a shy bone in her body.

With Halle wanting a cat I thought this would be the perfect time to spring it on Chris. His loving wife with batting eyes and promises of kisses and a little princess daughter who can wrap daddy around her little finger. Surely with the two of us asking for one little kitten how could he say no. Actually it was quite easy, he said, "NNNNOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" No matter how we pleaded or begged the answer was still no.

A week or so passed and another opportunity presented itself. Our neighbor discovered that a stray cat had delivered kittens and was living under their shed. She was trying to find a home for the kittens and mother. Again my heart ached for a cat but I had to say no. I felt bad for my neighbor that she had to deal with this situation, but at the same time was glad it was not me that it had happened to.

A few days later my neighbor came over to my house to warn me that she thought the mother cat had moved her and her kittens into my backyard. I searched and searched for them in our wood pile and bushes but couldn't find them. Of course it didn't help that my three very loud children and some friends were over and playing in the backyard. I would have been hiding too if I could.

The next day we saw the mother and her kittens in our backyard. They are definitely wild and not people friendly. Any time they see or hear us they scarper as quickly as they can back down under the wood pile that we have stacked against our fence. It is hard to know that they are there as they are able to burrow down to the bottom of the pile. The only way to get them out would be to remove all the wood - which I am hardly in the mood to do now or any time soon.

The kids had such a great day with their new found "pets." They couldn't believe we actually had real pets living at our house. Every five minutes they would run over to check on the cats and try to get them out. They brought food and water out for them and talked to them. So it was a fun day but I dreaded evening time when Chris would get home and find out what had happened. I hoped I wouldn't have to tell him, that maybe he wouldn't even notice for a while since they were so good at hiding. But as soon as daddy came home the cats were all the kids wanted to talk about. (Never tell my kids secrets!)

Chris couldn't believe it! And just gave me a big "how could you do this" kind of stare. And the only thing he said was, "When are you calling the humane society?!"

But now it is two days later and the cats are still in the backyard using the wood pile as their secret and impenetrable lair. I don't know what to do. It is pretty fun seeing little fur balls run around. It is fun to see my kids enjoy having animals around. But they are wild and not people friendly. And when they are old enough they too will breed and produce more wild cats to live in the neighborhood. But I can't quite get my self to take them to an animal shelter yet. Because then they will be caged up and possibly put to sleep. I guess for now we will enjoy them until Chris gets mad enough to do something about them.

Watch Out! A Tomato is Coming!!!

For the last couple of weeks Sean has kept randomly shouting out, "Look mommy! A tomato," in a very news worthy voice. He would point, eyes popping and mouth open, and then repeat again, "A tomato." I had no idea why he was so interested in tomatoes or even why he would be talking about them or why he thought he saw one. Does he even know what one is? We don't eat them at our house.

Then while driving in the car the other day I finally figured out what was going on. Chad was talking up a storm on one of his usual tangents of natural disasters. As soon as he mentioned the word, "tornado" Sean said his usual, "Look mommy! A tomato," in his very serious voice. All of a sudden I realized that Sean hadn't been saying "tomato" but that he had been saying "tornado." I also since realized that Sean wasn't just randomly pointing, but was pointing to the clouds. So any time he saw a wisp of a cloud he would be triggered into saying his "Tomato" phrases.

But I suppose it doesn't matter if it is a tomato or a tornado. Any time you see either of them coming towards you - you had better start running in the other direction as fast as you can.

Tomato or Tornado - what is the difference?

Track Count Down

With the nice weather today, it finally hit me that it really is the month of May. I still keep thinking we are in March. As usual with the quirkiness of time, the last few months have seemed to have passed quickly and slowly at the same time. But looking at the calendar today I noticed that there are just 3 more official weekends of track season. This weekend will be districts, next will be regionals and the next will be state. After that my husband will be home again. I'm getting pretty excited about that thought.

May also means mother's day is around the corner. Halle has already exposed her secret project at preschool. Chris keeps asking what he can get me. That is one of my urks - I like to be surprised not asked. The only thing that I have requested in the past is just a day to myself without the responsibilities of motherhood and I was just laughed at - so probably won't ever see that happen unless I hire a babysitter and go away all by myself. My best rewards are always the little, "I love you, mommy," that I get every once in a while. It is definitely amazing that motherhood is something that you have to experience, and every one's experience is a little different.

The end of May brings Halle's birthday. She has been looking forward to turning 5 practically a few weeks after turning 4. She has talked about her up coming party and birthday constantly for 11 months now. I am glad that she now down to just counting the days and that the big day is almost here (although I am not at all prepared yet or have any idea what I am going to do or when to do it).

I hope the weather tomorrow will be as good as they are predicting on the news. I am looking forward to soaking in the sun and actually being warm for a change.

April Showers Bring May Sprinkles

Springtime seems to have boosted my kids' energy levels! The more I send the kids to play outside the more worn out I seem to get. How does that work? Is it because I am always running outside to stop the fighting or comfort the crying? Is it because I end up staying and playing outside too? Is it because all the inside toys get dragged outside and all the outside toys get dragged inside? Is it because now there is work to do outside the house as well as inside the house? Is it because everyone needs a Popsicle every five minutes and needs me to watch their latest bicycle stunt? I am certainly glad for the warming weather and signs of spring - but when do I get my energy boost? Popping a candy bar into my mouth every time I pass the kitchen just doesn't seem to do it. (But the chocolate does seem to keep me in a better mood!)

Sean especially has been up to his "Sean Shenanigans" (see "view my photoshows" at the top of my blog template). While I was downstairs doing some laundry Sean was upstairs. When I went back upstairs I was greeted by a trail of decorating sprinkles from half way up the stairs, down the hall to the family room, covered all over the entire floor of the family room (forgot to take a picture of that one before I vacuumed it all up), into the kitchen, through the dinning room, and then another big dump of sprinkles on top of the stairs in the entry way. Not only did he redecorate the entire upstairs but he also managed to eat some too - by the pink sticky evidence found all over his face and hands.

Sprinkle covered carpet - yum.

Caught pink faced.

After cleaning up all the mess I sent him outside to be with Chad and Halle. Big mistake! After only a few minutes outside Halle came in crying (followed by all the other kids). She had been playing on the wood pile by the side of our house and came in with a handful of splinters. After cleaning her up and putting band aids all over the splinters (couldn't get any of them out - have to wait for Chris who is the master at getting splinters out). I sent the kids to the piano room so they could all dance. I also had Aria and Gabe over. It was fun to watch them dance to the Wiggle music.

Aria and Halle stop dancing to pose for the camera.

Chad is a dancing machine.

Gabe has happy feet (Halle still sad from the splinters but trying to dance).

While the kids were busy dancing I snuck back downstairs to check on laundry. As I descended down the stairs I found a new trail awaiting me. A trail of muddy footprints starting from the bottom half of the stairs, all the way down the stairs, all through the hall way and into the laundry room. The outside door was still open and the hose outside was still gushing water.

Did Elmo and Lightening McQueen do this?

Sean's most favorite thing to do the last few weeks is to escape outside (either by door or bedroom window) and turn on the water to the hose. And then he squirts everything. He waters the bushes, the grass, the cement, the windows, the fence, any people outside, and especially himself. I end up changing his wet clothes at least three to five times everyday. Today he went outside with his favorite slippers on (one Elmo and one Lightening McQueen). So he had obviously made some mud, walked all over in it with his slippers, and then came back inside where he tracked it all in.

Right now Sean is in my favorite place - asleep in his bed. As soon as Gabe and Aria went home I put him down for a nap. It is kind of a late nap but I need it. It is so nice to have peace and quiet for a few moments and to take out my frustrations in word and not physically on Sean. I do love him - I just wish his "off" and my "on" button worked better.

A rare moment - Sean on the potty.

As you can see, my last photo is of Sean on the potty. This is another huge frustration right now but I will blog about another time. Time has passed quickly and it is already time to wake up the Sean and start thinking about dinner and surviving the rest of the evening.