Potty Time

I wouldn't go so far as to say we're potty training...but we're getting there.

Eli will NOT go at home, no matter how often we go, but he's gone THREE DAYS in a row at school!

Positive peer-pressure, perhaps?  (Say that 10 times fast.)

 Speaking of school, Eli's class has been studying farms and farm animals this week.  Wednesday was dress like a farmer day.  Check out this cute little farmer!

Farmer Eli

Grandparent Love

I'm a little late posting this, but last weekend Eli got to see all four of his grandparents!  A rarity! : )

Eli and Nana ... on her birthday!

Nana and Puddin' flew to Texas to see cousin Maddie and her parents!

Saturday, we saw Ginny and Pops!

We went to "Jam-mama's" (it will always be her party) family party.

Eli had a blast and played 'bassetball' with anyone who would play,

Eli and his great-great grandmother, Sarah Mae!

 and enjoyed several games of chase!

Eli sure loves all four of his grandparents, and we love all the time we get with them!

Dinner Dates

My blogs have been slightly lacking here lately.  There's not a whole lot going on.  Soccer season is in full swing, which means that it's just Eli and I a lot of the time...which means that I don't have time to sit down, much less blog.

I read a blog a few days ago, and it gave me this idea.  It also provided a few good laughs between Wesley and I.  I must admit, I thought I knew him fairly well, but some of his answers surprised me!

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?

(Three separate dinner dates, not one dinner with three other people.)

First, here are Wesley's picks.

Cam Newton

 No shocker here.  He says he'd like to eat with Cam and get down "off the record" to the nitty gritty about what Cam really knew about his father's shenanigans.  After dinner they'd of course go throw around the football.  It's on Wesley's bucket list (HA!) to catch a pass from Cam Newton (or Brett Farve) and to get tackled by Ray Lewis.

Nelson Mandela

He says he doesn't know what he'll ask him.  He just thinks it would be cool to eat with him.

the Queen

Her place though, not ours.  Like Mandela, he doesn't have anything in mind to ask Her Majesty, but would just like to see where the conversation goes! : )

Here are my picks:

George W. Bush

 Love him.  Really.  People now would probably be surprised to know I used to have a life-size cut-out of W. (what I call him) in my bedroom in high school.  I even took it to college with me.

George told me "War Eagle!" back in 2005.  We were in D.C. for his inauguration.  I kid you not.  Don't ask Wesley though, he wasn't paying attention.  True story.

Kate Middleton

 What American doesn't love the royal family?!  And just like Wesley and the Queen, her place, not mine.  I just want to talk to her and hear all about her life.  And possibly go shopping with her!

Friends

My final dinner would be with anyone (or everyone) from the cast of Friends.  My favorite TV show ever.  I've seen every episode countless times.  I want to hear all about what it was like producing the show, etc.  And I really want to eat either at Monica's, or just sit on the couch of the coffee house.

If I ever go to NYC, I'm taking my picture in the fountain in Central Park.

You know....this one.

So, who would you eat with?

Donors Choose project

Hi Friends,
 

I wanted to let you know about something I've organized to get more materials for our classroom.  I've created a classroom project request on a 501(c)3 charity website called DonorsChoose.org.

 This particular project is to gain more information and nonfiction (animals, machines, space, etc.) books for our classroom.  Students love these books and we know that reading nonfiction helps students develop comprehension skills, and in turn, makes them into better readers!

I'm writing to ask for any donations possible for my students - no matter the size, it will help my kids. What's even greater, is that this week only, any donation you make to my project will be doubled! If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your tax-deductible donation will have a direct impact on at least 18 students (and many more in the future), and you'll hear back from our class about your impact on our learning!

To learn more or donate (we're already raised 25% of funds needed):

1.     Visit my Teacher Page, www.donorschoose.org/rtaff
2.     Choose one of my projects, enter the amount of your donation, and click "Give"
3.     During check-out, enter the word INSPIRE where it says "Match or gift code", and your donation will be matched dollar for dollar.

The INSPIRE match code will double your donation for the next 7 days, until January 27, 2013.

Please feel free to send me any questions you may have, and know that my students and I greatly appreciate your support.  Thank you for taking an interest in my classroom and making a commitment to education!

 

You can also keep up with what's going on in my classroom (because I know you are all dying to know what's going on in the realm of third graders!) - www.pcesmrstaff.blogspot.com

My Favorite Sound!

 I do not know what is wrong with the sizing on this.  Sorry!!!

Here is the actual Youtube link - Eli belly laughs!

Our Weekend...Late!

I started this blog post several days ago, but am just now getting around to it!

We had such a fun weekend.  We didn't do anything special, but it was nice just to relax and enjoy time around the house.

Saturday morning Wesley went for a 9 mile run.  I know... He's crazy.  Then we ran some errands, had lunch, and took naps.   After that we went to a park.  I ran while Wesley and Eli played.  Before we even started little man fell down and skinned his knees pretty badly.  I ended up with blood all over my t-shirt.  He's fine now, but he'll be talking about this for months.  Really.  Anytime he gets an 'ouchie' he milks it.  He still talks about one that he got on his toes MONTHS ago, and that is completely healed.  Not even a scar left.

Squirms is at SUCH a funny age.  I can't believe he's almost 2 1/2.  The days are flying by!  Here are some new, recent things Eli is doing:

*Eli is VERY conversational.  He speaks in sentences.  He always has been chatty around the house, but he's a shy boy (like his momma) in big crowds.  He still is, but even his teachers at school have commented on how much more he's talking at school!  Something we're glad to hear!

*Eli sings the blessing for us.  I've tried to get it on video, but he gets camera shy when he sees my phone come out.  I'll keep trying.  It is absolutely precious and melts my heart.

*We are CLOSER to getting potty trained.  He sits on his potty whenever Momma or Daddy go to the bathroom, but he just sits there and laughs.  No success yet!  Also, when he has the toots sometimes we'll ask, "Eli, do you have boo-boo?" and he'll say, "Nope.  Not yet!"  HAHA!  He's typically right too.

*He comes up with answers to questions that are completely unprompted, and all his own.  A few nights ago I said, "Eli, you ready for bed?  Let's go!" And he said, while wagging his finger at me, "No Momma, I don't wanna go night-night!"

*He LOVES to sing.  In addition to all his usuals, and the blessing, he sings his T.V. show theme songs - Curious George, All Aboard the Choo-Choo Train/Thomas/Chugington, Mickey Mouse Club House, Jake, etc.

*A few nights ago we sang songs and said prayers.  We asked Eli who loves you.  He of course said Momma and Daddy (sorry, Nana!).  Then I always ask, who's the only one who loves you more than Momma?  About half the time he says Jesus.  I said yes, Jesus loves you, Eli.  He died for you.  Well, Eli thought I said "diaper" when I said "died for you".  He got so silly and started saying, "Jesus, diaper-Sooooo-wee!! Stinky!"  I'm sure at some point Jesus did have stinky diapers, right?!

Happy Hump Day!  Maybe Just two more days, and then it's a long weekend.  Maybe I'll actually get some blog posting done!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We got together with friends last night for dinner and game night, however we all called it a night just after 10 p.m.  We rang in the New Year with sparkling grape juice and in front of the TV in our pjs.  It was perfect!

Here are my New Years Resolutions:

*Running - to keep it up!  I've set a goal to run 250 miles in 2013.  I ran a little more than 200 miles in 2012.  Last year I set a goal to run a certain number of races, and I'm kind of past that.  Races, although a lot of fun (and I'm sure I'll do several this year), are kind of expensive

*Reading - this is always on my list of things I want to do more of.  So many books, so little time...

*Debt - we want to eliminate some of our long term/monthly debt like student loans, my car, etc.  It won't be anything that will be completely eliminated in 2013, but we did a good job of chipping away at it in 2012.

What's on your list for 2013?