Tate, Go TO SLEEP

Why is he not tired?????  It is 9:30 and he has a TON of energy.   He has eaten non-stop since he got home from swim at 7:00 and is still going strong.  

Tate's Special Things

Tate had a pile of special things he wanted to have scanned in and put on the blog. He was so excited to have me post them for him.

Piece of artwork by Tate.

ISAT Test answer.  Mrs. Connors said Tate did a great job!

Drawing of Fisher by Tate.

Drawing of Dad by Tate and Fisher.

Tate's Snowman Goals -- My goals for 2013.  To stay in advanced math and to a set a good example for the rest of the class.  Tate D.

Valentine's Day Heart

EB was thrilled that we had some snow and she got busy in the yard.  She called me to come and see my Valentine's Day heart and I thought it was the best heart ever.  She had TF and EH on the outside heart and the inside says I <3 but="" div="" everyone="" he="" helped="" her.="" is="" me="" names="" nbsp="" none="" of="" put="" s="" she="" sweet.="" them="" told="" too="" u.="">

Love you EB!

Think About It

One of our favorite ways to correct the children is to give them a Think About It.  They work like this.  The kid is given a theme, a favorite one is "being respectful" and a number of lines, usually starting at 3 and sometimes going up to 20 for major infractions.  Then they have to find paper and something to write with.

They don't have to do them right away, or at all really.  But they can't watch TV, play video games, use the computer or any other electronic device until they're Think About It is done.  In practice, most Think About It's are finished in about 2-3 minutes after they're doled out.

Think About Its are wonderful corrections.  The kids are quiet, they have to stop what they're doing, pause, reflect and work.  They're a great way to snap Tate out of a crazy spell.  They're also a great way to end Harper's ongoing audition for the next Disney Channel Teen Brat Antagonist.  In fact, they're so good, they can flip Harper into an audition for Disney Channel Teen Angel.  Here's her latest effort:

Think About It

By: Harper

Around lunchtime this afternoon, Mom had prepared a pizza.  It was a Home Run Inn brand pizza, and those are not my favorites.  So, I unnecessarily stomped my foot and demanded a different lunch.  Mom gave me several options, but I refused all of them.  This behavior was inappropriate and disrespectful.  Instead, I should have listened and calmly chose one of the other food choices.  Again, I didn’t do so and chose to argue.  Dad told me to stop and eat, but I yelled and cried again.  All of my decisions were poor and in response to wanting, needing, to be right.  I have a tendency to argue in order to be proclaimed victor.  Being correct should not be important, but respect should.  

A Visit to Sidama Post 2

Round 2 of pictures. Fisher is so so so excited. He is a little sad he did not get pictures of his goat and he said they may have eaten the goat. :) So happy to have such an excited little boy and love seeing the smiling faces of his Ethiopian Family.

Marta, Fisher's mom.

A Visit to Sidama

These are a few pictures we got from our searcher that went to see Fisher's family. He promised more to come but said they were so so excited to see new pictures of Fisher and they were all doing well. I am so excited Fisher is coming home at lunch so he can see these. Thinking I will run to Walgreens and even have them printed for him so he can have them all afternoon at school.

His sister, brothers and niece.

His house.  He keeps telling Tate how he cannot wait to take him there so they can play soccer and  climb  his  coffee tree.  It was so sweet that Tate said how much he loved Fisher's family because they gave him the best brother in the world.  We agree.

Visiting Peter's office

The kids LOVE going to Peter's office and I had a dream of taking loft looking pictures there. So, after a little Ethiopian food, we thought we would stop off for some fun! The kids had fun but my dream was not fulfilled. The kids wanted nothing to do with pictures. They only wanted to drink pop.

Harper striking a pose.

Tate was beyond happy, perhaps he had not had his afternoon dose yet and Fisher was very surly.

Looking so angelic.  

His angry eyes!

Posing with Peter.

This was the look I was going for but not accomplished.  

Another one that is close but not close enough! 

Finally they were done!

The girls posed this picture and they were finally happy!

Fisher with his pop!

On the way home in 10 degree weather I was showing them a fun park and they all wanted to stop.  They made the most of the 8 minutes they could handle the cold!

Harper not too old to play!

Fisher!