Character Counts

I am so proud of my family!

Today, Julianna was chosen by her teacher to be the "Character Student" in his class.  Mr. Severt  said so many great things about her.  He said she is always caring of others and she helps them no matter what.  He said she turned out well even though she had four brothers beating on her all those years before she finally got her sister, Bella.  Derek and I got a kick out of that, especially since he was able to name each of our children.

Then Michael had a "sweeps" day.  He came home with awards in nearly every class.  And then not only did he win "Character Student" of his class, he also won for the school!  His teacher, Mr. Howard said to the judges that there was nothing he didn't like about Michael.  He also said to me earlier this year, "Michael is one of the best people I've ever met.  I mean, adult or child."  What an awesome thing to hear.

And I need to mention Tyler's excellent character.  When they were getting ready to announce the "Character Student" of the school, Tyler was saying, "I'm so nervous and excited, I know it's going to be Michael or Charles."  And when Michael won, Tyler was on his feet yelling "Yeah Michael!"  He kept saying over and over to Michael that he was so happy for him.

It was a great day for my little family.  Maybe sometimes, we do something right around here. I just love them all.

Summertime...

I am so ready, bring it on. 
Do you think the teachers notice when the kids wear the same clothes one or two (give or take) days in a row? (And would you believe even the dirty clothes were hard to find!)
Matthew was wearing crusty socks to school.  He only wore them one other time.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
I've been so tired and busy lately, last week I signed myself out of eighth grade instead of my son. 
Then I called Matthew in sick.  So his teacher was lectured by the front office for counting Matthew present.  "Well, I am looking at Matthew right now, could it be one of her other children?"  Of course, it was Michael.
See, I need to be done for a while, and I am excited to hang out with my kids!

Proceed with Caution

Here is a recap of the conversation that my children had yesterday when we went to the pool.

Josh:  Mom, do you want me to take Matthew through the men's bathroom?
Mom:  Yes Josh, that would be great.
Josh:  Matthew, stay close to me and hold my hand, it can be pretty disturbing in there.
Jules:  There are hairy men, huh.
Josh:  Yes, there are and sometimes they are changing.
Josh:  And Matthew, don't wash your hands in the toilet.

I guess this is how boys become men.  That hand washing part, very important information.  It makes me wonder how Joshua learned this important lesson....  (Some things, I guess a mom really doesn't want to know...)

Thumbs Up!

"All I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned In Kindergarten"

Matthew's program included an excerpt from Robert Fulghum's book, "All I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten."  I am going to include it below, it's one of my favorites.

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten.  Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school. 
These are the things I learned.

*Share everything.
*Play fair.
*Don't hit people.
*Put things back where you found them.
*Clean up your own mess.
*Don't take things that aren't yours.
*Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
*Wash your hands before you eat.
*Flush.
*Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
*Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
*Take a nap every afternoon.  (My note, yeah right!)
*When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
*Be aware of wonder.
*Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the styrofoam cup - they all die.  So do we.
*And then remember the Dick-and Jane books and the first work you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK!

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.  The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.  Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.  Take any of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm.  Think what a better world it would be if all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about one o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap.  Or if all governments had a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true.  No matter how old you are - when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Love it!  Love you Matthew!

Kindergarten Graduation, 2010

I am very sentimental writing this post.  It's been a big, fast year for my family. Being injured for a large part of the year seemed to make it go by at light speed. 

This Tuesday, May 18th my original baby, Matthew graduated from Kindergarten.  I can't believe that he is already finished.  Just like all young moms, I thought my house would be filled with babies forever!  Now I am down to just one during the day.  Where does time go!?

Here is my handsome Matthew, complete with cap and gown.  (I don't know when you started wearing cap and gown at a kindergarten graduation, but it sure looks cute.)

Matthew Derek Samuel  May, 2010

Derek and I Totally Get It :)

This was my Mother's Day card from Derek.  So funny to me  :)