I am not smarter than a 4th grader

4th graders all over the state of Utah participate in a program after they have successfully learned all about Utah and its 29 counties. I didn't even know that Utah HAD 29 counties. Of course I am not a native Utahn (or however you spell that...). I am an Idahoan. And we do not do this GINORMOUS project as measly 4th graders. I learned about Idaho history and the counties when I was in 7th grade. I remember it distinctly because it was Mr. Losser's class and he did not like me.

Anyway, so Meghan has been learning all these great things all year long. Back in the fall a note came home saying that Meghan had chosen Millard County as the county that she would do her report on. We wished that she had chosen Juab County since that is where grandma and grandpa live, but you can't tell a 4th grader what to do. Or so we have learned anyway...

The crappy thing about this whole undertaking is how much time it involves! (1) There is a written report that the students do at school. (2) There is a brochure that the student needs to make at home. (3) There is a float -once again at home. (4) A county product...at home... (5) And last but not least, a county fair entry type item- Meghan learned how to make Chocolate Zuchini Bread since she didn't finish the cross stitch project that she was also learning. (TOO much learning!!!!)

That's 5 things!! Meghan could have done this for a Personal Progress project since I know it was well over 10 flippin' hours that we spent with her fighting her, cajoling her, threatening her, making her cry, and doing it for her to basically get the stinking thing done! What the heck!!

In the end though, she claims she learned a lot. Great. Mission accomplished. This seriously makes me dread 5th grade though. That's the year they do the State reports!!

*Here are some pictures of her projects and from the cute LONG program that the 4th graders put on for the parents. Meghan had the part of a pioneer. She was too cute. She sang in a little group for one of the songs and was part of the rythymic instruments (or something like that) for another song. We are so proud of her!!


Meghan's float which showcased a popsicle stick Territorial Statehouse.
Meghan's brochure on Millard County and her county product which was supposed to be fossil beds and a trilobite being dug.

Meghan sitting at her desk after the program ready to answer anyone's questions about Millard County. Supposedly she is now an "expert". :]

Randomness

Movie Edward was pretty Hot. I liked the movie. I didn't like how some things were changed and other things were super cheesed up, but I still really liked the movie!

Brooke won on Dancing with the Stars. That's okay, because Lance and Lacey really stunk with their freestyle dance.

My principal has had a "hard couple of weeks". Or at least that is what one of the teachers said last night at the Community Council meeting to explain why he wasn't there. Judging from the response I got this week from the superintendent and the Director of Elementary Schools....I can just BET that he is having a bad week. OH well. Better now than after a child gets molested by a sub.

Sidney pooped in the tub last night as I was walking out the door. I laughed and said "Bye honey. See ya later. Have fun!" :]

Starting school...

Jonathan started preschool yesterday. He was so excited. He said, "Mom, can you do a mohawk in my hair?" What he meant was a faux hawk, so we did it and he was thrilled! (How handsome is he?????) Then he told me that he needed a picture by the door, since it was his first day. What a character!

So far he has accomplished two days at preschool and hasn't gotten in trouble yet. I know you all must roll your eyes because I say that in every post about my kids..."and they haven't got in trouble yet"...
But you've got to understand that around our house, not getting in trouble is a BIG deal and frankly this mom's day revolves around how many times someone has or has not gotten busted for something. Sad, but true.

Also true to form in our house is what we like to call Picture Crowders. And we have yet another one. That's right. Miss Sidney is our latest and greatest. While taking the picture of Jonathan, she totally BUSTED in and started scooting him over so that she could be in the picture. I wish you could have seen it live because it was pretty funny!

First day

Well, the first day of school went off without a hitch. THANK HEAVENS! Mike had to go out of town for business, but he didn't have to leave until mid morning, so he was able to help me get the kids to the school and to their classes on time. We have been kinda lazy the last two months during our summer break, and so getting back into our routine will take some time. (Hopefully by the end of the week we will have it down!)

Jonathan insisted on putting on his backpack and being in the picture even though he is only going to preschool this year and doesn't even start until September. Oh well. He didn't want to be left out!

And the best news is that I didn't get any phone calls from the school! No one got in trouble! Let's just hope that they can keep that up for the rest of the year!

Flashback Friday - First day of school

Every year my mom took our picture on the first day of school. And to keep with tradition, I do the same. My kids will be starting school on Monday. I will have a 4th, 3rd and 1st grader, as well as Jonathan in preschool. My house will be empty! I wonder what my mom did when we all went to school? My little sister wasn't born until I was in first grade. That left my mom a whole year to do stuff without kids hanging around. Mmmhmmm.

This picture is from 1980. I was going into Kindergarten and I believe that Gina, my older sister, was a Junior that year. My mom made all our clothes. Well, except Gina and Scott's, I'm sure. The funny thing that caught my eye was Marni's shirt (she is in the center in the front). I just bought about 3 shirts like that for Meghan from Kohl's. I guess the style has recycled again!

Not again...

I NEED A DAY OFF!!! Seriously...

So, on Friday my 7 year old came home from school and had cut her hair off...in the front...at the bang area...to the scalp. No way to hide that! But we did the whole "who cuts your hair?" talk AGAIN and I thought it was taken care of. Yesterday,my 8 year old calls me from school to tell me that she had cut her hair...to get the gum out of course. ARGH! (that is me screaming)

So, I got to give the "cutting your hair" talk...again. Not too mention the "gum talk".

And then today...I get a call from the school. My 7 year old is hiding under the table and won't come out. So I run up to the school with my other three kids in tow and talk her out from under the table. She didn't have her work done and she got found out by the teacher. Apparently that means we crawl under a table and hide. That'll definately help the work get done. Oh yeah! And then when I got home from that side trip, I get the mail and there is a letter from the school. Fabulous. Oh yeah,more bad news. My daughter failed her hearing screening and needs to have an audiosomethingorother evalutaion done ASAP. Of course.

I swear that my kids are really good kids and this is not normal for them all to be in trouble this many times in a few day period. Really. Maybe if I say it enough times I will also be convinced. The fact that I truly believe the school has my number on speed dial should be a clue to me...but whatever.

Anyway, I need a day off or a vacation or something. Maybe I need a new prescription of Vitamin P. Or some chocolate.

Smarter than who?

I am trying to get smarter. You see, I just dicovered that I am not only NOT smarter than a 5th grader, but also not necessarily smarter than my very own 3rd grader. Have you done 3rd grade math lately? Well, I have (okay, I was really just helping) and it is hard. Or maybe the number of kids in this house multiplied by my lack of patience equals major loss of brain cells. Not to mention the increase in gray hairs. I'm just sayin'.

One thing I am still smarter at is spelling. Go me! 'Course the words are not too difficult. That helps. Last. L-A-S-T. Slope. S-L-O-P-E. Ledge. Who-cares-I-will-just-jump-off-it.

I have noticed that homework takes A LOT OF TIME. When did teachers start giving so much? I don't ever remember having homework when I was in Elementary school. Or maybe I just didn't do it. That is a possibility. I'll have to ask my mom. Maybe she has memories of the hours of homework time after school that I am strangely blocking out.

On to other topics.....(and it really has nothing to do with the rest of this post whatsoever)...BYU won today. My husband is happy. It's good that they won, 'cuz then I won't have to hear about all their mistakes every moment of every day until the next game. He's a fanatic he is.

I hope to have some swanky changes to my blog soon. I got some books from the library on "making your blog sparkle", and HTML and all that. If I have enough brain cells left after we tackle multiplication tonight, I'm gonna try to decipher all the stuff it says. If nothing changes you'll know I was too stupid to figure it out.

Or I just decided to have chocolate instead.