Brimming with Pride after conferences

Today I had conferences for Ellie's second grade class at Maxs kindergarten class.

I have been reflecting on these very pleasant conversations with both the teachers all evening. I honestly couldn't be prouder of either of them. They have both achieved different things in their school year. The most fantastic thing is seeing that my kids are the kind of kids that make their teachers happy to be teachers.

Ellie is sailing through school and her academics are fantastic. Her behavior is exemplary. Her teachers love having her as a student and say she is just the perfect role model. I am so proud of how much she loves school and how great she is at accomplishing academics. I have had thought that her grandpa Bob would be very proud of her too for this report. 

I have to admit that I have been a bit worried about how Max is doing in school. But the half hour I spent with his teacher was also amazing. She was on and on about how great maxes at learning and growing from what she teaches him. He is a hard worker, he concentrates, he enjoys learning. I am so proud of him. Socially, although Max can enjoy joking around a bit much with some of the kids in the class, he proves that he listens and learns when the teacher corrects him. He tries and usually succeeds and making improve choices when reminded to do so. This isn't normal at his age, and his teacher says only a few of the kids are able to self correct this way after being talk to. I think, considering how much my Max loves to joke around and laugh, I honestly couldn't ask for anything more out of him at five. I am proud of how hard he is trying, and how much he is learning, and how much he is growing in 

kindergarten. I truly am amazed and proud. 

During the conferences with each teacher there were times when I had tears in my eyes, tears of joy, tears of pride, tears of feeling emotions that I'm not very good at feeling.

The art dilemma

  

Over the past six months max has really taken to what he calls art. By the comment what he calls are, what I'm saying is it's different than what Ellie used to call Art. Max likes to build 3-D objects out of tape and paper usually. The focus he has been doing his art is really awesome. He is creative and comes up with lots of neat ideas. You can see some of his daddy and him the way he turned his art into building with the tools he's allowed to use at his age.

Today they got out of school early, and Ellie went over to a friends house, and Max was left home alone with me and loads of my work. I couldn't take the afternoon off to be with him. So he happily set beside me at the kitchen counter and did his art. He also took the time to write out the lyrics to a favorite Christmas Carol. He was patient, and just didn't joyed sitting beside me and doing his art. He is such a sweet boy and I was so proud of him. He never complained, he never asked for more attention, he didn't even ask for a friend come over, he was just happy being and doing his

 art. 

Below is a picture of the art he built. He was proud of it, he showed it to David, he tested it in the in term making process to see what it was like when he filled it up with water. And now it's it's on the kitchen counter, and I am tempted to trash it. Because my kitchen counter is full of paper and stuff and I can't see my kitchen counter and that drives me 

crazy.  This is where guilty mom comes into play. I can't keep all the kids artwork forever. So I have taken pictures and tried to say for them. One day I'll lament for the days my house was filled with artwork from my young children. 

Max still says he wants to be an artist and a farmer. I love my boys creativity and dreams. 

8 under fall softball

Ellies third season of softball is coming to an end. She's turning into quite the hit her. She does OK in the field, but doesn't enjoy it as much as her mama does. Her favorite position right now to second base. It's been a great season. 

Today during her third it back she reached across the plate to hit something and got hit by the ball on her finger. It was very sad because her mom was bitching to her. I walked in to see how she was doing and she was OK. She had decided she was going to be tough and not cry and stick it out. I was very proud of her.

When I threw her the next pitch, she swing hard and hit it right up the middle back at me. I was never prouder. She didn't let the ball scare her, no, she beat it back! Very proud of my Ellie!

Growing baby girl.

Clear continues to grow very fast. Unlike the other two, as she has hit two she is continuing to grow fast and strong and tall. I am having a hard time fitting anything less then four TVs on her. Tonight I put 40 jammies on her. They happen to be the same size and style that Max is still squeezing into. He would be better off in 5T is if we had them, but we don't so he continues to wear these. I got this picture of the pair of them in their matching 4 t pjs. 

Clair really did not want to stand still for this picture. Max was happy to humor me for a photo.

Raspberries

Clair's  favorite food is raspberries. This is pretty obvious. She loves a good bowl of raspberries like no other food. Recently, she's taken to putting the raspberries on her fingers as she eats them. She needs to cover all five fingers with a good solid raspberry before she will then begin and eat each one off a finger rather quickly.

She's adorable!

Max the artist

Maxes creative side kicked in several months ago. He really enjoys making art work. It was many years before he enjoyed this, so the guilt I have when I have to dispose of it is higher than that of when I have disposed of Ellies. 

On Saturday morning Max sat at the kitchen counter with scissors tape and paper for about an hour as he put together this rocket. Many of his creations include scissors and tape. This is in high contrast Ellie's which are usually flat two-dimensional very detailed and gorgeous drawings.

I'm proud of my kids and I love to watch them express themselves. But I can't collect all of these papers. So I'm attaching a picture here to remember the species of life. Good job kiddos!

Sitting at work having a nice lunch whilst kids are enjoying a day off school.

To my darling kiddos, I would rather be home enjoying a day off with you. Each of you is truly amazing and so much fun for me, each in your own way. I love the moments we steel together when I'm not working or doing chores. I wish there were so many more. Mommy must work. Why, well, our family enjoys the lifestyle that requires two incomes. I'm also pretty good at what I do, but that's not what keeps me here, it's just a little comfort in knowing that hopefully i and contributing to the world in a way God approves of, using my talents to help my colleagues find medicines that will help sick people. I digress though. My point is that you are my everythings!!!

I saw this today and it's so very true. I love you guys and take comfort in you enjoying a day with Grannie. 

Love always, Mom

Ps. I have tears now. :)