February walks

San Pedro County Park

Look!  Water in California! The rain is paying off.

a very special birthday "card"

Every year I remember my sister's birthday in time to buy her a card, sign it, etc. but then never quite get it into the mail.  I feel terrible about this because she has always been so thoughtful in remembering my birthday.  This year is no different, except for the fact that I am going to try something new and send her a "Happy Birthday!" shout out on this blog.

I've mentioned before how I grew up thinking she was the coolest person on the planet.  I still do in so many ways.  For example, a few years before I started working as an aide to special needs children my sister co-wrote the following text-book:

One website I found described her life's work:

About Lynette Chandler

Lynette Chandler is a Professor and Program Coordinator for Special Education in the Department of Special and Early Education at Northern Illinois University. Lynette has received and coordinated an Early Reading First grant and served as a reviewer for Early Reading First and the Race to the Top, Early Learning Challenge federal grant applications. She is a member and Past-President of the International Division for Early Childhood and the Illinois Division for Early Childhood and she has numerous publications and presentations on a variety of areas including functional assessment and positive behavior support, social skills, transition, early language and literacy, developmentally appropriate practice, intentional planning and teaching, inclusion, scaffolding, leadership and systems change, and Response to Intervention. She also is active at the state level where she serves on many committees and task forces that are related to early childhood and early childhood special education.

In my shorter words, she is an expert when it comes to managing children's challenging behavior through "positive behavior intervention".  I always appreciated this as a parent, and Reggie and I have called her for advice throughout the years.  But recently, when I was sitting in one of our district's training meeting it all of a sudden just "clicked".  I started looking at her book and realizing that she was using the same exact terms, strategies, etc. that they were teaching us in these meetings.  So I am now paying a lot more attention to this book, and honestly, though I am thinking about the kids in my classroom when I read it, I am also thinking about my children and grandchildren.  I am realizing the stuff she has written can be helpful to any child.  Yes, parenting is absolutely about intuition and letting your heart and the Spirit guide you.  But I truly believe that educating yourself even a little bit about a child's mind and what motivates them can make those few precious years we have to raise them go more smoothly.  I think the term "positive" is the key.  We all need motivation in our lives, and training yourself to tell a child "If you do ______then you have ______ to look forward to" is a lot more effective than starting with "if you don't do ______ then your punishment will be _______".  Of course that is just the tip of the iceberg.  The book is full of, as it says, strategies, etc. to use, especially in a classroom setting.

My sister has recently retired and luckily for my kids and all of her nieces and nephews she is still willing to give advice, in laymen terms, whenever she is asked; yet she also has the talent of just being part of the family. You never get the feeling that she is watching or judging your parenting skills.  We are just so lucky to have her.

So in wishing her a "Happy Birthday" this year I want to tell her how much we all love her and appreciate her - for the caring, helpful, pleasant and loving person she is and has always been.

great ideas from American Girl

Having 4 little daughters in the house at one time, plus a lot of nieces, was fun for me for so many reasons - one being that we enjoyed the "American Girl"s books and dolls.
I absolutely love history, themes, etc. and since the United States has always been the great "melting pot" I think it is important to celebrate as many cultures as we can - especially ones that have had a major shaping of the history of this country.  The American Girl's have created stories from many important times in our country's history - the colonial days, the pioneer times, the civil war, the industrial revolution, world war II and many more.  Not only did my girls and I get into reading the story books and playing with the dolls, but the company also provided more in depth books about the eras including craft books, cook books, etc.

 I even enjoyed using the historically based doll patterns to make clothes to fit the era.

I am now thrilled to have a new generation of girls in the family and I can't wait until they are old enough for all of this.  I am also thrilled that the company continues with good ideas as they have just announced a new doll, complete with stories, etc. from the Civil Rights movement.

When it comes to history and themes, I say keep bringing it on!

a movie recommendation

Last night Reggie and I went to see the movie "Race" and we absolutely loved it.  I knew it was going to be about Jesse Owens, which is a nice way to honor Black History Month, but I didn't realize how much it was going to be about the 1936 Summer Olympics which were held in Germany.  This goes to show how un-educated I am, I guess, and I am now fascinated at reading all about it.  Hitler was in power in Germany by then but the invasion of Poland and the beginning of World War II was a couple of years away.  However, the anti-semitism movement in Germany and segregation in America were both, unfortunately, alive and well.

We found the movie very informative and inspirational.  My absolute favorite part is shown in the following picture of the real Jesse Owens and fellow competitor Luz Long.  I won't say anymore about it because I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone who wants to go see it.  so go see it!

Whose birthday is it anyway?

Ha! Ha! Just kidding - Reggie was happy to have help opening his presents, blowing out the candles and eating the cake.

Reggie will be the first to admit that, at times, he is a grumpy old man - what can you expect at age 52 right?  But he also expresses how blessed he feels and how much he loves being surrounded by his loved ones.  After cake and ice cream he skyped with the Hamblins (my niece Natalie and family), Mariah & Ross and the Dobbins.  He and Audrey had an especially significant conversation where they accused each other having a poopy diaper.  Grandpa started it.  Again, what can you expect?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REGGIE!  YOU ARE LOVED!

leaving the light on

Next time you are looking at the beautiful night sky, think about this:  You know how parents will leave the light on (porch, living room, etc.) until everyone is safe at home?  Maybe that is why God made the moon and stars: leaving the light on until everyone comes home safely.

I admit I hadn't thought about this until I heard some lines in a song where, after sitting outside on a summer night, the singer said he wanted to "thank the Man upstairs for leaving the light on".

Quality time with Luke

Tonight Luke practiced setting up our tent in the living room, and then we relaxed on our sleeping bags having a great mother/son conversation.  I reminisced about how amazing I was15 years ago, camping in Yellowstone National Park while 7 months pregnant with him, and how we brought along our bucket named "Chuck" which I used every morning (although Hillary was the one to christen Chuck with her car sickness).  Luke's part of the conversation was "I know, Mom, you've told me this a thousand times".

Then he proceeded to tell me all about the creepy movie "Vertigo" that he and Reggie watched  on Saturday, with the San Francisco Symphony playing the musical score throughout.  I tell you, our family just can't handle movies where Jimmy Stewart is the villain!

Anyway, it's been a nice couple of days with Luke.  Now life must get back to normal as I need to go nag him to stop eating junk food and have a real dinner.

"week off" from work

Luke and I have what is called "President's Week" off from school.  I have been looking forward to this because of all the things I hope to get done/organized around here.  It seems to always go that way - I feel like "well, that's okay, because I can get that done on my week off". Then once the week comes around my to do list is pile high and by the end of it I look around and feel very discouraged at what I didn't get done.   So here is my new plan - first of all, by next Monday, look around and be happy at what did get done, not didn't.  Second, treat this week like I am going to work, at home.  In other words, be on the job/on the clock for the amount of time that I would have been at work, including travel time.  I'll take my 15 minute break and lunch break, but hopefully be on the clock the rest of the time - with a few "coworkers", I hope, for part of the time.  I don't want my kids to regret that I am home, so I won't push that too much, but I of course will be enlisting their help for part of the day.  Then, when I am "home from work" I will hopefully continue doing the regular maintenance jobs around here that I usually do.  And then hopefully end the day in something fun, like scrapbooking, playing games, etc.  So those are my big plans!  If I can get this to happen for even one day I think it will be great.  And the reward for all of this is the knowledge that in a couple of months my Spring Break week will be all about fun.  I guess we'll see!

Now, I better get going or I'm going to be "late for work"!

Valentines Cookies

Though we love homemade cookies around here, sometimes store bought ones are the most fun!  Last December it was Audrey's turn to make us Star Wars/R2D2 cookies, all by herself.

It is adorable to see how much pride a preschooler can have in moving pre-cut cookies from a package to a cookie sheet, and how hard Addy worked at having patience and understanding that it was not her turn. 

 Luckily we all got a turn to eat them.  Then in January it was Addy's turn and she had the biggest "Thanks Grandma!"when I walked in the house with the package.  Today it was Isla's turn, Valentine edition, and her expression speaks for all 3 of them.  

We just can't wait until Hannah is old enough to make us cookies, all by herself.

okay, here is a post about my Valentine

Reggie and I don't really have anything big planned for Valentines day this year.  I think we are putting all our eggs in one basket, so to speak, in planning for our spring break vacation.  Our free moments lately have been researching what camping equipment we need and how to bring it on the airplane.  But today was full of little valentines moments that I want to remember.

For example, I noticed that on Amazon Prime Music they have put together several playlists in time for Valentines day.  I added the "50 great love songs" one to our library and then we layed around the house playing name that tune and singing along.  You know you are having a romantic moment when the kids roll their eyes and leave the room - we made sure we sang loud enough for them to hear us anyway.  And then, to top it off I rubbed Reggie's neck while he sat and watched my favorite scenes from the show "The Paradise".  So, even if that sounds sickening sweet or pathetic, I loved it, and I love Reggie, and it has already been a great valentines weekend.

Now, for our actual Valentines day on Sunday?  We'll be going to church, as usual, but I'll be sneaking in a couple of bags of heart shaped Reeses to discreetly pass to the kids during the meeting. So if you're going, sit by us!

for everyone

Valentines day is on the horizon!  We are having a party in class today which means valentines for the kids and potluck lunch for the adults.  Valentines season also means way too many heart shaped Reeses in my reach!  It is also a day for romance, of course, and making sure you express to your one and only how you feel about them. (Which I will be doing in a post about Reggie later, I'm sure.)  But I've heard that it can be an almost irritating day for those who are not in a relationship.  In thinking about that, a song kept going through my mind, which I am posting below.  I hope that everyone, during Valentines season and at all other times feels loved.   Whether you are a member of a family - big or small, or have a good group of friends or co-workers to hang out with, or are part of a congregation to meet with each week - I wish everyone a happy valentines day this year and hope that you know that you are loved.

more humor from the bathroom wall

I've posted in the past about how someone is taping funny little sayings on the staff bathroom wall at my school.  The following 3, complete with pictures, are definitely worth sharing!

Dear Algebra - please stop asking us to find your "X" - she's never coming back.  And don't ask us "Y".

When I have a headache I take 2 aspirin and keep away from children, just like the bottle says.

I love my pillow - it gives me a different hairstyle every morning.

salty

Well, the new catch phrase among the teenagers I know, for now, is "salty".  "Wow you're salty.  Stop being so salty."  I hear it all the time from Luke, and even more so when it is my turn to do car pool.  Luke and 2 of his friends have so much of the same schedule because of school, church, scouts, etc. that they act very much like brothers, especially the way they talk to each other.  I drive the car and just listen to them and smile and laugh to myself the whole way to school.  They remind me of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in the road movies, or Ernest and Algenon in the Importance of Being Ernest movie,

 because, like these characters, they fight and tease and take advantage of each other but are smiling the whole (or most) of the time, and in the end they actually choose to be together just for the fun of it.  Last Saturday the 3 were hanging out at our house and again, just listening to them cracked me up.  And don't get me wrong, they obviously get along great - especially when they are doing funny voices in describing their teachers or the events of the day.

I still understand and am used to girls, but having teenage boys in my life is rather fun too.