First School Project

Well, its begun T was assigned her first school project for social studies. In honor of hispanic heritage week, all the students were to make a poster of their heritage. Instructions said to include photos or information from where your ancestors are from. Of course, by default this was MY first school project. Luckily, I possess the artistic skill of your average 7 yr old, so I feel we'll get a good mark for this kindergarten project...despite the growing and shrinking letters!

Since T's heritage is mixed: Chinese by birth yet raised in an Irish-American household, we did a mixed board. You can't see it in the photo, but the Irish side (which is much diluted these days to really be non-existent), has a pic of me, Dotty, and my mom when Dot and I were off to Ireland in 2002. We're all holding Irish flags and shamrocks. Also displayed is a map of Ireland, and information from the Ellis Island website, from when my grandmother came through in 1920 at the age of 17.

The chinese side has a pic of me and T from when we were in China, a map of china, and some stickers of lanterns and a boy and girl dressed in traditional chinese dress. Written in the middle in chinese, is "Forever a Family".

Can I say that kids today have it too easy? Remember us? We'd have to go to the library, look through the Encyclopedia Britanica to find a map, then trace it on our notebook paper, and hand-write in the cities. Good lord, we might as well have been medieval monks making copies of manuscripts. Now, a quick google search, a click to print, and voila. Same works for the flags.

So, T will go dressed in a traditional chinese outfit on monday. I'll try and get some pics to share.

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

10/11/10 1st Daisy Meeting

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Daisy meeting

Well, today was the big day. T's first daisy girl scout meeting. She was very excited to wear her uniform to school today. She was less excited when we got to school, and only one girl in the other class had on her uniform.

However, once at the meeting and seeing everyone else dressed the same, she was VERY happy.
Unfortunately, today was another yellow light for taylor. Something about playing when she should have been listening. So, I've upped the ante so to speak. We're now unplugged for 2 nights, for the one violation.

Meanwhile, another flyer came out from her class re lice. T was clean as of a few days ago when she had her last treatment, so I'm busy putting products in her hair, to keep her from getting them again.


Tonight's scout meeting was at 6:15 in the Scout House. The Scout House is an odd, triangular building on the school's campus. Judging by the decor, this thing has been on the campus since the late 60's, at least. What a blast from the past!

However, since it was such a lovely, cool evening, the girls went outside for a portion of the meeting. There are 9 girls so far in the troop. I can't imagine more. You'll note T facing the wrong way. She and Olivia were quite distracted by a flock of birds that were flying around. Clearly, holding the attention of a bunch of 5 and 6 yr olds was a huge feat, and our leader did a great job. This was her first ever scout meeting as a leader, and she did a great job. I'd have killed a few of the kids, who apparently don't know how to listen or behave. Though T wasn't the worst, I put her squarely in that category!

I spent the morning at the mall, and the afternoon lazing around the house. It was a WONDERFUL holiday. This is my fav holiday, as its one of the few where T is in school and I'm off. FAB!

Hope you all had a great day, as well.

Family Picnic

We started the weekend with dinner at the Merrick Park Norstrom, followed by a trip to the bookstore. So many books, so little time.

On Saturday, we basically ran errands. I also bought myself a new TV for my bedroom for 2 reasons: First, my old one was getting harder to see without my glasses on. I figured if I sized up, I could see it more easily while in bed. I was right! I'm now up to a size 32 inch in there. My eyes better not get worse too soon, as I can't imagine a larger one in there. I'm pushing it with this one, as it is.

Second reason was that Icolene, my mom's aid, had asked for a new one, and we want to keep her happy. I had an old analog TV in her room with a converter, and it was getting hardly any channels. I gave her my old one, which is digital. She's getting many more channels, now. Have to keep her happy. Apparently my dad was generally an SOB to her this week. He's turning into a cranky old man, who likes to hear himself complain and bitch about things. Sad, as he never used to be that way. Its his illness. So, I'm hoping that this made her happy.

On Sunday we had Taylor's school picnic. She had a blast. She spent at least 2 hours in the bounce houses that were set up. The rest of the time, she was busy on her scooter, learning to scoot better. She's getting quite good.

At one point, her love Daniel suddenly appeared on his scooter. He stopped, looked right at T, then took off again. T instantly took off after him, like a heat seeking missile. Her friend Nicole took off running after Taylor, and poor me took off after all 3 of them, trying to keep up as they went to the other side of the schoolyard. Oy.

While there, we discovered the face painting, so T and Nicole had to get in line, and Daniel was forgotten. Luckily for me, facepainting still trumps boys in kindergarten.

We hung out there until late afternoon, and are now home. T is asleep after her big day. I suspect she'll be awake later.

Tomorrow is a very important day. T goes to school, and I have the day off due to columbus day! Yippee! Its a mommy play-day. I have big plans to head to the mall. I'll pick T up late from aftercare, as we have our first Daisy girl scout meeting tomorrow night. T will be decked out in her uniform.

That's it for now. Hope you all had a great weekend.

School Picnic

The annual school picnic is today. We'll be headed out to it at 1:00. Should be some fun times, so stay tuned....

Happy Birthday Aunt Dottie

Apparently in honor of Dot's birthday today, T went to the trouble to bring home a yellow light again. Or more accurately, T got in trouble and brought home a yellow light.

2nd time this week.

I've quizzed her repeatedly and the details are fuzzy. Today's trouble revovled around T aiming and flicking some small bear that they were supposed to be making a pattern with, at the blue table across the room. Apparently the bear was small and hard, and just perfect for flinging across the room.

Taylor, Joey, Johnathon and Marcos all sat out recess in the classroom, along with Troy who had nothing to do with the bear, but didn't finish his work in time.

I hope T hasn't figured out that its sometimes more fun to hang out with the bad boys instead of going to recess this early in her scholastic career. It took her mom at least until the 4th or 5th grade to figure that one out!

So, we're all unplugged over here, doing penance.

Only a matter of time...

...before T came home with a "yellow light". The teacher has instituted a system to track each child's behavior, in a way that they can understand and comprehend. If they are good at school, they come home with a green light every day. So far, T has only had green lights.

If they misbehave, they get a yellow light.

If they are really bad, they get a red light.

T's light today was yellow. Her explanation is the Juan jose wouldn't stop playing with her when they were doing work at their desks. This caused me to launch into a little lecture about how Juan Jose is not in charge of her, and can't make her play if she doesn't agree. Only she is in charge of her behavior, and she made a bad decision to play with him at the wrong time.

She further tried to justify her behavior by claiming that Juan Jose doesn't play with her on the playground, only the boys. So, my little girl apparently claimed her 5 minutes of fame with Juan Jose in a big way, and seized the opportunity to play, despite the inappropriate time.

So, there is no computer tonight for T, and we're busy writing a card to her teacher, saying she's sorry.

Such is the drama in the life of a big 5 and a half year old!

Busy Sunday

Well, T and I have had a busy Sunday. We woke up and went off to Joanns Fabrics, in search of a particular shade of thread. Since I was sewing, T wanted to sew. So, I got her a couple little kid craft kits and some felt for her to sew. We return to our van with our purchases, open the door, and find black ants crawling all inside the van around t's seat. Tons of them.

What the hell is it with us and bugs? We were infested with fleas about a year ago despite no pet ever crossing the threashold of this house, T's head became infested with lice last week, and now my car with black ants. Luckily, I had some OFF bug repellant in the van, and that killed the things.

Came home and broke out my sewing machine. I Looked at it. Plugged it in, and promptly realized I don't even know how to thread the damn thing. I'll have to read up on the book that came with it.

I hand-sewed the numbers on T's girlscout vest, and then cleaned out the closets. T is becoming such a big girl and her clothes are getting longer. Had to take a row of baskets out of her closet to make more room. Also getting rid of a bunch of clothes she has outgrown and worn out.

How Did This Happen?

I keep viewing my big girl Daisy scout, and can't help but wonder how the hell she's growing up so fast? ...which got me started looking at her baby pictures. So, for your viewing pleasure, Taylor Jordan: Then and Now

Crazy for Daisies

ATTENNNN-TION!

On my honor...











I will try...













To serve God, my country, and mankind...












and to live by the Girl Scout rules.

Introducing....


Troup 275 Daisy Scout
Taylor Jordan!