Lo and behold

Matt actually came up with a Christmas gift idea for himself if you are looking (or I guess birthday): http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-113-837-219-AM
He would like two of these VW key blanks.

Praise the cheese

Gabe and Chi are in choir at church. This is just okay for Gabe, but for Chi it is the best thing in the world! It's the only activity he's old enough for, the only thing that the poor thing doesn't have the door shut in face as big brother goes off for the fun on the other side of that dang door. So, Chi sings all the time. Only his pronunciation is slightly off.

See if you can figure out what he's really singing when he sings, "Hi-gouda. Hi-gouda. Hi-gouda. Amen." Ah, bless his heart. People don't often sing the praises of cheese (I mean literally sing the the praises.)

He also switches it up and yells, I mean sings, Beck. "Where it's at! I got two turntables and a microphone!"

I'm just tearing up...I see Grammy's in our future. ;)

Sharpies and whatnot

I still can't believe Thanksgiving is almost here. A couple weeks ago, it felt like a couple weeks was a nice amount of time, but now I'm "what? where'd the time go?" Mostly the only stress that causes is with school, just making sure I get all my assignments done on time.

Today I am bouncing around between projects. I am on a mission to add texture to my home. At first I was just thrilled to paint color on the walls, but after living with that awhile, I realize that it doesn't do much more for me than rental white walls. So, in the long hallway I am drawing pattern on one wall with sharpie markers. Although it kills the sharpie fast, it's still a bit easier than messing with paint or stencils.

I am also working on painting. I am sticking with watercolor right now. I'm a bit surprised with myself, but I don't know. I guess I'm just feeling the medium right now. But I have to take lots of breaks because I have to wait for things to dry. It's not exactly a speedy medium.

Basement update: we have picked carpet and had the measurements done. There isn't enough in stock, so it has to be order so it will be at least another week (plus some because of the holiday) and we will have carpet. I am so excited to be able to use the basement!

Not much

There is really not much to share from the home front. I did discover this week, after all the rhetoric from the various Republican victors that I am not really an American because they know what ALL Americans think. Since what they say is not what I think, I guess I'm not American. Interesting. Explains a lot, I think. Oh, well. It's not the first time I was called out on my lack of American-ness. So, I voted, and the chips did not fall my way, and I do truly believe America is going to have one hell of a hang over from this vote, but I can't change it. So, I'm mostly (not completely) ignoring it all now.

Chi decided all day Friday and Saturday to pee wherever he happened to be standing. Annoying as he never has accidents at daycare. So after throwing lots of clothes in the laundry, I put him back in diapers. Maybe bad parenting choice, but it was a choice for self-preservation. Actually, strike that, it was a choice for child-preservation. I was really getting mad. Then, for no apparent reason all day Sunday he had zero accidents, and ran in and used the toilet all by himself several times. When we did know he was going, he kicked us out so he could do it himself. Hey, I'll take it. Actually, not having to physically take him to the bathroom and remind him all the time is awesome.

The basement remodel is coming along, but it's a big headache. I think (fingers-crossed) all the painting will be done today. This week we will go pick out the carpet. I'd love it to be installed before Thanksgiving, but we'll see. The built-in bookcases, cabinets/entertainment center will not be done before Christmas, but once we get the carpet down, the space will be usable again. Really, that is all I'm going for with my low expectations right now. On the up side, we really like the wall color and the drop ceiling looks ten times better with just the addition of a fresh coat of white. Part of the reason I am impatient is because I know what I want to do with some other projects now, but I am not going to spend any money on other things until I know what the finally tally on the basement is. Some other stuff may have to wait.

Halloween and other happenings

Halloween was fun. Gabe was Han Solo (and I am quite proud of myself for figuring out how to make the boots and the holster out of pleather), and Chi was the Cat in the Hat, but he refused to wear his red bow tie. Oh, well. They did not trick or treat long because they were cold and because my kids felt like 2/3 full buckets were plenty full. I love that they don't feel like they need mounds of candy. We are very socialist with candy and treats around here; they were automatically going to combine it all into the candy/treat jar for everyone, but, partly because they ought to enjoy their own loot, and partly because it wouldn't have fit in the jar, I had them keep their buckets separate for now.

Gabe picked an elaborate Star Wars plan for his pumpkin, so I had to carve his, but for the first year Gabe did carve a pumpkin himself. We bought extra this year for decoration, so he was able to have his Star Wars, and still have one with a simple face he could try. He did alright. Chi just got to choose the shapes for his pumpkins face. Neither of my kids like pumpkin guts so Matt had a lot of scooping to do since I was busy drawing and carving.

I was accepted into a juried art show (juried means a judge decides if you get into the show or not, so it's more prestigious than an open call). It's at an art center here in town. The theme was Crystals and Wonder: the Art and Science of Snow, so I did a watercolor of a single snowflake. It's a microscopic view that is semi-abstract, meaning it looks like a snowflake, but it's simplified down to it's essence. Now, we will see if it sells. Part of me would like it to because I have never sold any art work (I give it away usually), but I don't have great shots of it for my portfolio so part of me hopes it doesn't so I can get better pictures. But that doesn't really matter. I am just proud of myself for get out there with my artwork. It's hard to risk the rejection.

And an update on school for Gabe: we've talked (and talked) with his teacher and principal and I think things are going to get better. They are finally addressing the advanced readers with a separate reading group and Gabe likes that so far. They are also address the math with an advanced group that does do extensions now instead of just working fast and sitting around. I'm still doing spelling and flash cards at home, but Gabe really likes doing it and now it doesn't feel like I have so much extra to do. The important thing is that they are taking it seriously now, and they aren't annoyed with us yet. I do feel like everyone is wanting what is best for Gabe.

Christmas Lists

Okay, for train stuff, see the earlier post on Gabe's Christmas List.

Both or either:

• Toy Story 2 DVD
• Toy Story 3 DVD (set to release Nov. 2)
  
• Princess and the Frog DVD
• Curious George Christmas DVD
  
• Zhu Zhu pets (these are fake hamsters, if one gets one, they both need to get one)
• Pillow pets
• Imaginext aircraft carrier

Chi:

• Buzz Lightyear action figure (it's about 12 inches tall or so, and has all the bells and whistles like the "real" Buzz Lightyear.
• Mobigo games (this is a made by vtech and can be found at any toy store, Walmart, Target, etc. He has the Toy Story game)
• Magneatos or other magnetic building toys
• Geotrax, especially the ramp pack, but any of the track or set add-ons, including the Cars sets
• Imaginext Batman accessories, we already have the Batcave
• underwear 2T/3T size
• Chi wears 3T clothes right now.

Gabe:

• DS games (he only has Lego Star Wars)
• Anything Star Wars: toys, Legos, dress-up...
• Legos, especially the boxes of legos, or wheels, or other pieces of interest rather than the sets
• Easy bake oven mixes
• kid's cookbook (colorful, something to actually make a real meal with help for our budding chef)
• easy bake oven cookbooks - "Baking with Mommy Cookbook: Recipes for Kid-sized Ovens" and "Easy Bake Gourmet" (The first is more practical but it's really just desserts and the second is probably a bit out of Gabe's league, quail eggs?, but I still think he'd get a kick out of it because he loves Iron Chef, Top Chef, etc. Who knows, he might even want to try new things if he made them himself in his little oven. Both available on Amazon)
• Gabe wears Boys size 5 or 6. He's sort of in-between right now. All pants must have elastic either all the way around like sweats or the hidden extend tabs like jeans. The boy is so skinny, they won't fit without it!
• Easy chapter books such Magic Tree House (anything above book #6), Jigsaw Jones, Pee Wee Scouts or Nate the Great or Easy Reader books level 2 or 3
  

Becoming one of "those" parents

Someday Gabe will forgive us. I hope someday he may even thank us. But we are becoming "those" parents. You know, the ones who are forever ostracized because they rock the boat. Who won't just sit down, say "our school is the best ever!" and otherwise shut up, and who give generously. You see Matt and I have this crazy notion that schools should be in the business of educating. Crazy, I know. As much as I strongly believe in arts, foreign language and gym classes for all students, I also want my child to actually learn the basics. While some schools in our nation are fighting for an art class, we have to fight for a math class.

Alright, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. Let's start with math because I brought it up. Math has been ridiculously easy for Gabe so he's bored. He told me math wasn't any fun. So, I talked to his teacher. Now he is in an "advanced group." But all that has amounted to is that they go and do the worksheet faster than the rest of the group and then read a book. Now, they did a lot on patterns. That's fine. Patterns are important, but instead of going to read, why couldn't the teacher extend the learning? Why not look for number patterns, or patterns in the world? Or at least play a math game. So far, this has not improved. We have begun to teach math facts at home. Schools seem to have gone away from memorization and we think it's important, so that's one thing we are now teaching at home.

He was never tested on his reading level and was started significantly lower than his level. We have gone back and forth and all around on this. You see, they read Accelerated Reader books and take comprehension tests. Okay. fine. But the teacher has set a goal of 100 AR books. If a student achieves this goal she takes the student out to lunch and buys them a book. So, if you are reading this, you likely know Gabe. How well do you think he'd take it if I just said, no, you aren't going to reach that goal? It's not that he can't read 100 books, he just can't read 100 chapter books before the end of the school year. That means that he has to read far below his level to reach the goal. Now, the only time in class that they are getting to practice reading on their reading level is with the AR books. Are you seeing the problem? Quantity over quality, apparently. So, now he's being actively held back, but there is nothing I can do about that without taking away the chance of the lunch with his teacher. So, now I have to get him through the easy books and then challenge him with harder books myself. That's okay, but now I'm up to two things I have to do completely at home.

Rather than having spelling and grammar instruction, it will just be modeled for them during reading and writing time. Eventually they will pick it up. New levels of ridiculousness courtesy of our public schools. Three things I have to teach at home.

(Interestingly, Gabe doesn't mind the extra math work at home, but he's mad about the spelling tests. I need to come up with a good reward for those. Any ideas?)
About the only thing that seems to be going well is science.

They also do lots of cheesy projects that don't have much educational value, but I guess I am okay with that too. I don't think that they shouldn't have any fun. I just think the focus should be on fun because they are learning. And learning while being engaged in meaningful work rather than busy work.

So we've tried talking to the teacher, who is now hurt that we don't trust her. To that I was just a bit dumbfounded. She has only given lip service to the issues. She has a bright, inquisitive kid who has a great thirst for knowledge. That should be a blessing to her, but I constantly feel like she treats it as a large burden. We will be talking again. But we are also meeting with the principal next week. I wish I was able to have more faith in this working out, but I don't.

So, in the meantime we become "those" parents. Who will forever more be labeled as difficult, and that label will follow us the rest of the way through this elementary school. Gabe will be unfairly judged by it, but that is what happens. I know it's a fight I won't win, but I guess when it's a fight worth fighting, winning isn't what's important. Not giving in is what's important. So, in the meantime, you can find us over here in Crazyland, where we expect more than just advancement through the grades, but actual education. I know, I know. Still wasting our time with that critical thinking nonsense...