Ok, since I keep confusing the heck out of people who know me that read my blog by calling my children names other than their own, I am going to stop calling them Kristin, Grace and Elliott- which are not their real names. Instead, from now on, I will refer to them as my oldest, middle or youngest or #1, #2, #3. Maybe that will be easier.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On another note...
My middle child says to me yesterday; "Mom, you have a good voice for yelling."
:o
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Krunchers Play Blades in Game Opener
Saturday, the Krunchers of Marietta played the Blades of Marietta in soccer in their first game of the season.
While according to officials the game was scoreless at the end, both teams enjoyed running up and down the field and numerous goal attempts.
Krunchers forward, Elliott McCutiepants ran hard and tried her best.
"Getting the ball from the other team was my favorite part." said McCutiepants in an interview late Saturday. "I liked the Gatorade too." she added referring to the team snack after the game.
The Krunchers will play again this Saturday at 10 AM. Preparations are being made for another top notch game.
McCutiepants goes for the ball.
#7, Elliott McCutiepants exhibits good hustle as she rushes the ball.
McCutiepants enjoys a laugh with friend and teammate, Lisa Howyadoing, before the game.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Where Were You?
I grew up hearing people ask folks my parents age questions like, "where were you when Kennedy was shot?" "Where were you when Elvis died?"
Unfortunately, my generation now has a "where were you" question to ask.
Where where you 10 years ago today on September 11th?
On September 11, 2001, I was in my classroom, teaching a language arts lesson to my first grade class. Back then, technology was not what it is today and so information was not quite as readily available as it is now. I don't even think I had a computer in my classroom then, so no Internet. Even cell phone coverage in my classroom was spotty.
Another teacher, Mrs. Lewis, knocked on my classroom door and asked if I had heard what happened. I don't remember a lot about what she said but I do know that I didn't quite understand. For some reason, I thought she meant some sort of fighter jets had crashed. While I thought that was tragic, I didn't really understand why she would coming knocking to tell me.
My cell phone rang. Because of the spotty coverage, I stepped out in the hall to answer it. It was my husband of barely 6 months calling. He did not often call during the day since he knew it was difficult for me to take calls. It wasn't until he explained to me what had happened that I really understood. Something horrible had happened. It was more than just tragic as I had previously thought. This was scary.
Being that I worked in an elementary school full of minds too young to really be able to understand what was going on and why, and us as the teachers and adults, not really prepared to explain it yet, being as most of us didn't really understand it either, there was not a lot of reaction school wide, even though the school was on lock down. They did turn on TVs in the cafeteria and tried to turn them away from the students, so the teachers could watch the news as it unfolded.
We were to continue our day as normal. We were not to tell the students anything that had happened. We were to try to remain calm. It was really difficult to concentrate on anything for the rest of the day. I'm pretty sure my students didn't do a lot of learning that day because I didn't do a lot of teaching.
There were some parents who came to the school to check out their kids early. The phone lines we burned up with other parents calling, wanting to be reassured of the safety of their kids.
There was a heavy feeling of "oh my gosh" in the air. I didn't know anyone in New York or D.C. or on a plane for that matter. I knew all my loved ones were safe. But that didn't take away the eeriness and the heart thrumming anxiousness of the day. And it seemed to get worse and worse. It was a nightmare.
Later that evening, my husband and I gathered at our church along with many others, to pray for our country, for our leaders, for the injured and for the families of those who lost loved ones. It was a very somber event.
It was a day I will never forget.
Where were you?
Unfortunately, my generation now has a "where were you" question to ask.
Where where you 10 years ago today on September 11th?
On September 11, 2001, I was in my classroom, teaching a language arts lesson to my first grade class. Back then, technology was not what it is today and so information was not quite as readily available as it is now. I don't even think I had a computer in my classroom then, so no Internet. Even cell phone coverage in my classroom was spotty.
Another teacher, Mrs. Lewis, knocked on my classroom door and asked if I had heard what happened. I don't remember a lot about what she said but I do know that I didn't quite understand. For some reason, I thought she meant some sort of fighter jets had crashed. While I thought that was tragic, I didn't really understand why she would coming knocking to tell me.
My cell phone rang. Because of the spotty coverage, I stepped out in the hall to answer it. It was my husband of barely 6 months calling. He did not often call during the day since he knew it was difficult for me to take calls. It wasn't until he explained to me what had happened that I really understood. Something horrible had happened. It was more than just tragic as I had previously thought. This was scary.
Being that I worked in an elementary school full of minds too young to really be able to understand what was going on and why, and us as the teachers and adults, not really prepared to explain it yet, being as most of us didn't really understand it either, there was not a lot of reaction school wide, even though the school was on lock down. They did turn on TVs in the cafeteria and tried to turn them away from the students, so the teachers could watch the news as it unfolded.
We were to continue our day as normal. We were not to tell the students anything that had happened. We were to try to remain calm. It was really difficult to concentrate on anything for the rest of the day. I'm pretty sure my students didn't do a lot of learning that day because I didn't do a lot of teaching.
There were some parents who came to the school to check out their kids early. The phone lines we burned up with other parents calling, wanting to be reassured of the safety of their kids.
There was a heavy feeling of "oh my gosh" in the air. I didn't know anyone in New York or D.C. or on a plane for that matter. I knew all my loved ones were safe. But that didn't take away the eeriness and the heart thrumming anxiousness of the day. And it seemed to get worse and worse. It was a nightmare.
Later that evening, my husband and I gathered at our church along with many others, to pray for our country, for our leaders, for the injured and for the families of those who lost loved ones. It was a very somber event.
It was a day I will never forget.
Where were you?
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Proud to be a Fish
It seems that I feel the need to address the title of my blog today. For those of you unclear as to what the heck I am talking about; the title of my blog "Fish Out of Water" refers to our family as Christians (the fish) and our experience in the public school, not private (hence, the "out of water" part).
People in my Christian world have strong opinions on this subject matter. In fact, it's difficult to have a civil conversation with some Christians if you are one of those, like us, who do not send your kids to the Christian school. It can get heated.
To be blunt, our main reason for going public is plain and simple, the money. It's darn expensive to do the private thing! Darn expensive! So darn expensive, that we have friends who are very pro private school but have sadly had to pull their kids out and go to the public school because it was beginning to get to be too much.
I wish I could say our reasons were more noble, like that we send our children to public school so that they can be missionaries for Christ and so that they and we as a family can have a positive impact on the nonbelievers we come across. But no. It's the money.
So, what brought this on you might ask. Well, a friend of mine whose brother, I believe, writes for a Christianpublication in Canada, posted an interesting article on Facebook today. (I think he does book reviews). He was discussing a book called, "Going Public; Your Child Can Thrive in Public School." by David and Kelli Pritchard.
I have not read this book. I have only read the review that my friend's brother wrote. It was interesting. Interesting enough that I may check this book out and interesting enough that I wanted to share it with you.
No matter what our reasons for going public or private are, the fact is that we as parents, have a responsibility to educate our children. I like how the author of the book says that when his kids start (public) school, they are not going alone. It is a "family expedition....that mom and dad are not just involved with the children but with the school and teachers and leaders."
I believe that's how it should be no matter what type of school you go to. GET INVOLVED!! These are your babies we are talking about! You should be there. Get to know the teachers on a personal level. Let them get to know you. Know what's being taught. AND TEACH YOUR KIDS AT HOME!!!
And let me say that I am not in love with the whole public school thing. I am not pro P.S. and anti private or vice versa. I will never argue that P.S. is the way to go for everyone. There are defiantly things that bother me, even make me angry. But this is the path we have chosen for our family for now and we are going to make the best of it. We can and will thrive and survive. AND, possibly come out better for it?? I can't say. And it could be that one day we do give private a try. I do know, from my personal experience, I found it easier to be a Christian when I was in public school than when I attend a Christian college. I know that is not everyones experience, but it was mine. I also know from my current experience that it is SO easy to stay in my little Christian cocoon, yes, even though we are in P.S. I can just ignore all that I see around me that is of this world and surround myself with just God stuff and God people. That's what Jesus did, right? (**note the tone of sarcasm here** ~clears throat~).
So, for now, we will do what we can to prepare and encourage our children to be in the world but not of it, to love our Lord God with all their hearts, to strive to honor Him in all they do, and to
stand up for what they know is right and true, despite what their friends or even teachers may say, as we should no matter what school they attend.
That being said, below is a link to the article/book review. From what I understand, this book is meant to encourage families like us who, for whatever reason, find themselves as Fish Out of Water.
http://challi.he253.vps.webenabled.net/book-reviews/going-public-your-child-can-thrive-in-public-school
People in my Christian world have strong opinions on this subject matter. In fact, it's difficult to have a civil conversation with some Christians if you are one of those, like us, who do not send your kids to the Christian school. It can get heated.
To be blunt, our main reason for going public is plain and simple, the money. It's darn expensive to do the private thing! Darn expensive! So darn expensive, that we have friends who are very pro private school but have sadly had to pull their kids out and go to the public school because it was beginning to get to be too much.
I wish I could say our reasons were more noble, like that we send our children to public school so that they can be missionaries for Christ and so that they and we as a family can have a positive impact on the nonbelievers we come across. But no. It's the money.
So, what brought this on you might ask. Well, a friend of mine whose brother, I believe, writes for a Christianpublication in Canada, posted an interesting article on Facebook today. (I think he does book reviews). He was discussing a book called, "Going Public; Your Child Can Thrive in Public School." by David and Kelli Pritchard.
I have not read this book. I have only read the review that my friend's brother wrote. It was interesting. Interesting enough that I may check this book out and interesting enough that I wanted to share it with you.
No matter what our reasons for going public or private are, the fact is that we as parents, have a responsibility to educate our children. I like how the author of the book says that when his kids start (public) school, they are not going alone. It is a "family expedition....that mom and dad are not just involved with the children but with the school and teachers and leaders."
I believe that's how it should be no matter what type of school you go to. GET INVOLVED!! These are your babies we are talking about! You should be there. Get to know the teachers on a personal level. Let them get to know you. Know what's being taught. AND TEACH YOUR KIDS AT HOME!!!
And let me say that I am not in love with the whole public school thing. I am not pro P.S. and anti private or vice versa. I will never argue that P.S. is the way to go for everyone. There are defiantly things that bother me, even make me angry. But this is the path we have chosen for our family for now and we are going to make the best of it. We can and will thrive and survive. AND, possibly come out better for it?? I can't say. And it could be that one day we do give private a try. I do know, from my personal experience, I found it easier to be a Christian when I was in public school than when I attend a Christian college. I know that is not everyones experience, but it was mine. I also know from my current experience that it is SO easy to stay in my little Christian cocoon, yes, even though we are in P.S. I can just ignore all that I see around me that is of this world and surround myself with just God stuff and God people. That's what Jesus did, right? (**note the tone of sarcasm here** ~clears throat~).
So, for now, we will do what we can to prepare and encourage our children to be in the world but not of it, to love our Lord God with all their hearts, to strive to honor Him in all they do, and to
stand up for what they know is right and true, despite what their friends or even teachers may say, as we should no matter what school they attend.
That being said, below is a link to the article/book review. From what I understand, this book is meant to encourage families like us who, for whatever reason, find themselves as Fish Out of Water.
http://challi.he253.vps.webenabled.net/book-reviews/going-public-your-child-can-thrive-in-public-school
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Wanna See My Big Girl?
She's really my baby, but not my baby anymore. She's 4, practically in kindergarten if you ask her. She's tall for her age so everyone assumes she's at least in kindergarten anyway.
Elliott started her last year of pre-K on Thursday. MY last year of pre-k. This year marks the 6th year I have been at this preschool. It's been a good 5 years. I've made some pretty good friends and met some interesting people. My kids have all enjoyed this preschool, (though now they say/sing things like, "1st/3rd grade rules, pre-k drools.") They too have made some good friends too.
She was SO very excited to start school, mainly though because her sisters had already started and she'd been moping around the house all the week before says, "mom, I don't know what to do."
So now she's started. And I must savor this last year of little kid-dom.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
No Pain, No Gain
Boot camp started this week. And it kicked my butt.
I'm wondering just how effective something like boot camp can actually be when it causes me to be so sore the days after that I am unable to exercise any further.
Zumba resumes tomorrow. I'm hoping the soreness will have subsided enough so I can shake it along with everyone else and maybe make up for not having exercised yesterday or today.
I'm wondering just how effective something like boot camp can actually be when it causes me to be so sore the days after that I am unable to exercise any further.
Zumba resumes tomorrow. I'm hoping the soreness will have subsided enough so I can shake it along with everyone else and maybe make up for not having exercised yesterday or today.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Bird Song
You might need to turn your volume up for this one. I recorded this in our back yard, our own personal bird sanctuary.
Just listen.
Be still and know that I am God.- Ps. 46:10
Are not tow sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground a part from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your heard are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. - Matt. 10:29-31
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