So, today I went and volunteered in Dakota's classroom. It was fun...they made Stone Soup. I must say though that volunteering in Dakota's class has gotten me thinking....
Would Lil D be better off if he was Homeschooled?
What has gotten me thinking is that he seems to really have a lot of play time at his school. He also watches a lot of videos. Now, I am not against having a recess or an educational video here and there...but his seem excessive. Last week when I was there, they watched 2 videos back to back! One was a Leap Frog Letter Factory...which is educational (we actually have it at home) & the other was some Fox & the Hound social learning video. I'm thinking that these are things that they can watch at home....and they do!! The other day that I volunteered last week, they had play time for like an hour! Again, I am not against a short recess...but an hour? He is only there for 3 hours every day! In my opinion, these kids should be learning the whole time! If he were going full day, then I can see having recess & a lunch. But, he has play time, sometimes videos, and a snack time...all in 3 hours time. That doesn't leave very much time for learning, in my opinion.
His teacher is new to teaching Kindergarten. She was a Middle School teacher prior to this. She is a cool person, but can be picky & short with the kids too. She doesn't seem to be a very organized person either. For instance, when the kids have the video hour...her and the other Kindergarten class teacher are planning. Shouldn't they be doing that before or after school?? Maybe if they did, they wouldn't have to throw the video on. It makes me think that maybe they are throwing videos in or having play time so that they can get stuff done. Today, they did a short activity where they were supposed to take letters that they cut out & paste them onto a rectangler piece of construction paper. Easy enough, right? Well, not planned well. The letters didn't fit onto the construction paper...they were too large. So, the kids ended up just writing (in pencil) "Happy Thanksgiving" instead.
Maybe I am being picky...I don't know. But, it's definitely gotten Brian and I thinking. I am going to look into the whole Homeschooling thing & also Virtual School (just heard of that one today!).
I started a new Yahoo Group this week for Christian Adoptive Mom's or Mom's to be! I really wanted some place to be able to share with others that believe the same as I do & also have adoption in common! So far we have 13 ladies...not too shabby, eh? I truly hope that it will be a place to share our adoption experiences, encourage others who are just starting out on the adoption road, pray for one another, talk about our lives & families! If you have or are adopting and are interested in joining, just let me know & I'll be happy to send you an invite! :)
I am looking forward to having a couple of days off with my family. It will be nice to have Brian home for a few days & just enjoy some relaxation. We are having Thanksgiving dinner here at our place. My parents & brother & niece are coming over. Should be a good time. I haven't made a full Thanksgiving dinner in a few years...it will be challenging! LOL On Friday we are putting up the Christmas tree & decorations....CAN'T WAIT! I love seeing the Holiday's through my son's eyes...it really is magical!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
I Love Cake!
Mom is great....gives us the chocolate cake! :) (You have to had seen the old Bill Cosby Himself clip to really appreciate that line!) Yesterday was Family Day! I made the cake that Mr. Man so specifically requested....Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Frosting, White Letters, & our family drawn on top! Dunkin Hines....Yum! Simple, yet Classic! It turned out pretty well, if I should say so myself! Here is a picture.....
Here is Lil D licking the mixing spoon! :)
The Finished Product! YUMMY!
The best part of family day was at the end when we were tucking in Dakota. He wanted to talk....so we did! We talked about several things, but the thing that makes me smile is when he told us why he loves us both.... Mom - "Because she takes care of me when I'm sick" Dad - "wrestles with me!". When I asked him today why we celebrated yesterday, his reply was "Because you got me and you adopted me because you loved me & I want to stay here forever. Now we're a FAMILY!" :0) I love that he truly GETS IT!
Today I am doing laundry & I set my menu for Thanksgiving. We are having my parents & brother & niece over.
Here's the Menu:
Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
Corn
Macaroni & Cheese (the real good kind that you bake in the oven!)
HomeMade Cranberry Sauce
Rolls/Butter
Pumpkin Pie
Apple or some other kind of pie
Veggie Tray
Hopefully everyone will like it! Now I need to make my grocery list!
Ok, I will end today with a totally random picture of my dog Champ. We were watching a movie the other night & Dakota got off of his little couch thing & sat with me. After a few minutes, this is what we saw.....
How cute is he???!!!!
Here is Lil D licking the mixing spoon! :)
The Finished Product! YUMMY!
The best part of family day was at the end when we were tucking in Dakota. He wanted to talk....so we did! We talked about several things, but the thing that makes me smile is when he told us why he loves us both.... Mom - "Because she takes care of me when I'm sick" Dad - "wrestles with me!". When I asked him today why we celebrated yesterday, his reply was "Because you got me and you adopted me because you loved me & I want to stay here forever. Now we're a FAMILY!" :0) I love that he truly GETS IT!
Today I am doing laundry & I set my menu for Thanksgiving. We are having my parents & brother & niece over.
Here's the Menu:
Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
Corn
Macaroni & Cheese (the real good kind that you bake in the oven!)
HomeMade Cranberry Sauce
Rolls/Butter
Pumpkin Pie
Apple or some other kind of pie
Veggie Tray
Hopefully everyone will like it! Now I need to make my grocery list!
Ok, I will end today with a totally random picture of my dog Champ. We were watching a movie the other night & Dakota got off of his little couch thing & sat with me. After a few minutes, this is what we saw.....
How cute is he???!!!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Family Day
November 19, 2007 - Family Day
On Wednesday, one year ago Brian, Dakota & I officially became a family!
In the adoption world, families usually celebrate what a lot of them refer to as 'Gotcha Day' each year, just like you would a child's birthday. Brian is not real keen on the term 'Gotcha Day', so we decided to ask Dakota what he would like to call it. His answer (loudly while throwing his arms up in the air & a HUGE smile on his face) was "FAMILY DAY!" So, 'Family Day' it is! :0)
Brian and I talked tonight & I was saying that I wanted to make a tradition of what we will do every year to celebrate this special day. Well, we decided that we will have Dakota's favorite meal which is also the first dinner that he had with us.....Chicken Tender/Nuggets & french fries :) The only difference is that it won't be at 'McDonald's House' (that's what he used to call it! LOL)...I will make the dinner here at home. I will also make a cake for him too...his favorite...chocolate. He is so cute.... I just asked him (just to double check) what his favorite cake was. His answer was "chocolate cake with chocolate frosting & white letters. One upper case letter & then lower case ones...you know, to spell my name" :0) So...that's it! Guess I will be heading to the store tomorrow for some Dunkin Hines & french fries!
On Wednesday, one year ago Brian, Dakota & I officially became a family!
In the adoption world, families usually celebrate what a lot of them refer to as 'Gotcha Day' each year, just like you would a child's birthday. Brian is not real keen on the term 'Gotcha Day', so we decided to ask Dakota what he would like to call it. His answer (loudly while throwing his arms up in the air & a HUGE smile on his face) was "FAMILY DAY!" So, 'Family Day' it is! :0)
Brian and I talked tonight & I was saying that I wanted to make a tradition of what we will do every year to celebrate this special day. Well, we decided that we will have Dakota's favorite meal which is also the first dinner that he had with us.....Chicken Tender/Nuggets & french fries :) The only difference is that it won't be at 'McDonald's House' (that's what he used to call it! LOL)...I will make the dinner here at home. I will also make a cake for him too...his favorite...chocolate. He is so cute.... I just asked him (just to double check) what his favorite cake was. His answer was "chocolate cake with chocolate frosting & white letters. One upper case letter & then lower case ones...you know, to spell my name" :0) So...that's it! Guess I will be heading to the store tomorrow for some Dunkin Hines & french fries!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Blogging
Ok....I did it. I started a blog. What now? What the heck would anyone be interested in hearing about? Hmmmmm....let's see. Where to begin?
Dakota is 6 years old now. Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday that he was 4, which is the age he was when we met. However, it seems like he has always been here. Strange, but true! Yet, I find that I get sad sometimes wishing that we had him from day one. I get sad that I missed his first smile, first tooth, first crawl. But at the same time, I feel incredibly blessed for the time that we have had him! He is such a light in a sometimes rough & tumble world. He is sunshine to us! He started Kindergarten and seems to like it. Although, he does have some rough days, he is progressing. Do you know that when the teacher tested the kids a couple of weeks ago for Conferences, he acted like he didn't know what came after the number 19? Little stinker can count a lot higher than that!!! I, of course, explained to his teacher that he does know how to count to 25 and past that! He just gets in these moods where he doesn't want to tell you what he knows. When Brian and I questioned him why he didn't count for the teacher, his reply was "I didn't want her to know it". Stinker. He is so cute though! :) Right now, the poor baby is sick with Strep Throat. He came home from school Wednesday and said that his 'brain' hurt. Then the fever started & went to 103 over night. In the morning he had the sore throat. He couldn't even keep soft foods like jello, applesauce, juice, or his meds down yesterday! Today is a new day though! His last fever was at 4am! It is now 6pm and he hasn't had one all day! He is keeping the chicken broth, popsicle, jello & juice down and is doing & looking soooo much better! Best of all, he is wanting to get out of bed & play :) I miss the huge amount of cuddling that was going on yesterday though! ;0) heehee!
Brian is doing well. He still is loving his job as Human Resource Manager at a Utility Company Downtown. It is highly stressful, but he enjoys the work. It can be really difficult on him sometimes though...especially having to terminate someone. Last month he gave us a huge scare when he ended up in the E/R after a root canal. At one point in the hospital, we couldn't wake him!! Talk about scary!!! Turns out he had a bacterial infection that was transmitted during the procedure! I am so very thankful that he got better quickly! I am very thankful for the husband that God chose for me. He is such a good husband & father. He is at the grocery store as I type this picking me up a few things...and of course, a toy for our Lil Man who is sick. ;0)
As for me, I am enjoying being a Stay at Home Mom. I like being here for Dakota when he gets home from school! I have even started to volunteer in his classroom! I absolutely love it! Next year when Dakota starts to go to school all day, I will be going back to work part-time. I hope to find something working at a school, or in medical billing at home. I have a year to find something, so we will see!
We just got a few things done on the house! I am soooo excited to have it all done & not have to deal with the contractors anymore! LOL It looks like a brand new home from the outside! We got new vinyl siding, gutters & doors! Then on the inside, we got new carpet in the living room, wood laminant in the kitchen, a new kitchen table, new bedroom furniture, and a new HD Flat Screen and stand. It really looks nice! I am including before and after pics so that you can see :) Now, I will be working on painting.....the garage doors, fence, & the living room, kitchen, bathroom, & our bedroom. Not sure what colors yet for the inside, but it will be fun choosing!
That's it for now. Until next time....these are.....
Dawn's Days!
Kitchen Floor & Table Before...
Kitchen After :)
Living Room Before....
Living Room After....
Dakota is 6 years old now. Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday that he was 4, which is the age he was when we met. However, it seems like he has always been here. Strange, but true! Yet, I find that I get sad sometimes wishing that we had him from day one. I get sad that I missed his first smile, first tooth, first crawl. But at the same time, I feel incredibly blessed for the time that we have had him! He is such a light in a sometimes rough & tumble world. He is sunshine to us! He started Kindergarten and seems to like it. Although, he does have some rough days, he is progressing. Do you know that when the teacher tested the kids a couple of weeks ago for Conferences, he acted like he didn't know what came after the number 19? Little stinker can count a lot higher than that!!! I, of course, explained to his teacher that he does know how to count to 25 and past that! He just gets in these moods where he doesn't want to tell you what he knows. When Brian and I questioned him why he didn't count for the teacher, his reply was "I didn't want her to know it". Stinker. He is so cute though! :) Right now, the poor baby is sick with Strep Throat. He came home from school Wednesday and said that his 'brain' hurt. Then the fever started & went to 103 over night. In the morning he had the sore throat. He couldn't even keep soft foods like jello, applesauce, juice, or his meds down yesterday! Today is a new day though! His last fever was at 4am! It is now 6pm and he hasn't had one all day! He is keeping the chicken broth, popsicle, jello & juice down and is doing & looking soooo much better! Best of all, he is wanting to get out of bed & play :) I miss the huge amount of cuddling that was going on yesterday though! ;0) heehee!
Brian is doing well. He still is loving his job as Human Resource Manager at a Utility Company Downtown. It is highly stressful, but he enjoys the work. It can be really difficult on him sometimes though...especially having to terminate someone. Last month he gave us a huge scare when he ended up in the E/R after a root canal. At one point in the hospital, we couldn't wake him!! Talk about scary!!! Turns out he had a bacterial infection that was transmitted during the procedure! I am so very thankful that he got better quickly! I am very thankful for the husband that God chose for me. He is such a good husband & father. He is at the grocery store as I type this picking me up a few things...and of course, a toy for our Lil Man who is sick. ;0)
As for me, I am enjoying being a Stay at Home Mom. I like being here for Dakota when he gets home from school! I have even started to volunteer in his classroom! I absolutely love it! Next year when Dakota starts to go to school all day, I will be going back to work part-time. I hope to find something working at a school, or in medical billing at home. I have a year to find something, so we will see!
We just got a few things done on the house! I am soooo excited to have it all done & not have to deal with the contractors anymore! LOL It looks like a brand new home from the outside! We got new vinyl siding, gutters & doors! Then on the inside, we got new carpet in the living room, wood laminant in the kitchen, a new kitchen table, new bedroom furniture, and a new HD Flat Screen and stand. It really looks nice! I am including before and after pics so that you can see :) Now, I will be working on painting.....the garage doors, fence, & the living room, kitchen, bathroom, & our bedroom. Not sure what colors yet for the inside, but it will be fun choosing!
That's it for now. Until next time....these are.....
Dawn's Days!
Kitchen Floor & Table Before...
Kitchen After :)
Living Room Before....
Living Room After....
Old Door Before...
Siding Before....
Siding & Doors After :)
Siding & Doors - Rear of House
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