She's Off the Charts!

But the wrong way off. As in, not even on the shaded portion of the growth curve chart--in the 2nd percentile. At least she's consistent. Hayley's 9 month dr. visit was last week and she weighed exactly 15 lbs. However, her head circumference puts her in the 89th percentile. Good thing her head is big enough to support such enormous bows.

She is so much fun these days! You can look in her eyes and tell that she is soaking up new information daily. She claps and squeals when excited, and tries to imitate the sounds she hears. Hayley is a great eater even though she usually makes a face at the first bite of something new. She spends more and more time playing contentedly, as long as Jillian and Corinne are close by, and doesn't constantly need to be held. She's almost crawling, and loves to stand and walk with help. She usually sleeps through the night, which is wonderful when it happens, and still takes a couple of good naps each day, as long as we're home during nap time. Corinne is sitting by me and wants me to write that Hayley knows how to say "dada" and "mom", which is true, but at this point those are just experimental sounds--I don't think she knows what she's saying. This little girl gets so much attention from her whole family--we love her!

Give her FIVE!!!

I hope Alyssa isn't embarrassed that I'm posting this. Yesterday in the mail we received the results of her first AP test. She scored a FIVE (the highest possible) on her AP Human Geography test--as a freshman! I always knew she was smarter than me.

I’m failing second grade

The teacher gives too much homework. To me. I’ve been valiantly trying all year long to keep up but my motivation is gone. Each week Jillian has spelling words to practice (hard ones!), vocabulary words to learn, a poem to memorize, two math timed tests to take, reading minutes to record, a math story problem to write and illustrate, a story to read three times (one of those must be aloud to a parent) and then write and answer questions about, as well as extra projects like book reports, dioramas, and other extension activities. Each of these things are due on specific days. (secret word: rant) Her organized teacher sends home planner pages each week with spaces for parents to sign indicating that our child completed each item each day. If ever I forget to sign, the next day I find the blank signature lines circled in red with a question mark next to them. The teacher is very clever. This way I am the bad guy--the homework police--instead of her. Grant had this same teacher three years ago and I thought she was tough then, but she expects even more this time around.

Jillian spends 1-2 hours on homework each night, even on Fridays. (Although it seems like much longer because of the extra time spent complaining about all that she has to do and whining that her friends, and her 5th grade brother, barely have any homework.) A few weeks ago I decided I was tired of having Jillian correct all of her mistakes from every language and math assignment (only two or three per page but those add up in a week!) so I just started throwing them away. I felt a twinge of guilt, but shrugged and thought, “so what’s going to happen? She probably won’t even notice.” A couple of weeks later I read this paragraph in the teacher’s weekly online newsletter. “Some children have not been turning in their corrected papers. Please remember that correcting assignments is part of our weekly homework. Help them understand their mistakes and make sure they fix them accurately.” Arrggghhh! In my defense, let me point out that in order to correct the homework it is necessary to log on to the class website and view the photographs of the white board to see the math and language assignment for that day.

Last week I forgot to write the secret word (from the newsletter posted on the teacher’s website—her way of making sure that parents are checking the site each week) on Jillian’s reading/math log. And I turned in the log a day late! I just finished reading the newsletter from the past two weeks and was reprimanded, “I expect to see the secret word on every reading log!” Without the secret word on their paper, the kids are not eligible for the prize drawing that week. Sorry, Jillian. And I discovered that the teacher still needs more parent volunteers in the next two weeks to help with Water Day, Dinosaur Fair, a field trip, and T-shirt painting. Sign me up. Again.

Two more weeks. Will I make it? Will I pass second grade? At least Jillian will, and that’s all that matters! I, on the other hand, am expected to complete second grade two more times.

PS—Please remember to include the secret word in your blog comments if you wish to be eligible for the weekly prize.

Don’t Judge a Mom by her Book Covers

My current library stack:

Simply Living Smart: Everyday Solutions for a More Organized You

Play Together, Stay Together

The New Strong-Willed Child—Birth Through Adolescence

Walking into a Hug: 52 weeks to a home that’s more embracing

Contentment : inspiring insights for LDS mothers

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

The Fiber35 Diet : Nature's Weight Loss Secret

Worldwide Ward Cookbook : More than 440 recipes from LDS cooks around the globe

Losing it! (that’s weight, not your mind or your patience, though I probably need books about those, too)

The ultimate career : the art of homemaking for today

Phenomenal Family: Treats, Traditions, and Activities

Family Preparedness Plan

The Thirteenth Tale (this month’s bookclub book which I haven’t started because it’s a bit long and I’m not sure I want to commit to attend next week)

Judging by these titles, you might assume:

• That I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and overweight.
• That I love to cook and eat.
• That my house is not as clean and organized as I’d like.
• That I need to have more fun with my kids.
• That we’re not as prepared for emergencies as we should be.
• That I hardly ever indulge in fiction these days.
• That I don’t always know how to handle the parenting challenges that come my way.
• That my nightstand (actually my kitchen counter) is way too cluttered with books I’m trying to skim simultaneously.
• That I’m too cheap to purchase books.
• That I pay more overdue fines than I should.
• That I’m constantly “seeking out of the best (??) books words of wisdom.”

You might assume all of those things. And you’d be right. I guess you can judge me by my book covers. Now if only I could stay awake long enough to read them I might actually learn something!

Why Are They Smiling?

I started writing this post almost two months ago, the day after my little nephew, Dexter, died. I never published it because I had trouble expressing my feelings in words. Today, because it's Memorial Day, I'm trying again.

I've been thinking about a question that Corinne asked recently. She was looking over my shoulder as I read my sister's blog, anxious for news about little Dexter and his progress. Corinne was aware of his medical condition and had been praying for him daily. She saw a picture of Monette and Aaron with their three children. "Mom, why are they smiling?" "What do you mean, Corinne?" "Why are Monette and Aaron smiling when baby Dexter is so sick? It's really sad, but they look happy." I told her, "They are happy because they love Dexter and they're so glad that Heavenly Father sent him to their family. They're happy because they know that Dexter will be their son forever, even if he doesn't get to live on the earth for very long." How thankful I am for the restored gospel that helps us answer hard questions.

After learning that Dexter had died, I had many more opportunities for sweet conversations with my children about the plan of salvation and trust in our Father in Heaven and the eternal nature of families. I will always be grateful that we traveled to Denver for the funeral. I have many poignant memories from that special day.

• I remember the grief that overcame me as I looked inside the little casket at this beautiful baby, and ached for his parents who could no longer hold him.
  
• I remember the tangible peace and comfort that enveloped all of us as Monette and Aaron stood at the pulpit and spoke with conviction and composure of faith, prayer, and hope.

• I remember the words of their bishop who felt inspired to say that one of Dexter's missions on this earth was to remind us of what is truly important in life and to help us recommit to living in a way that will allow us to be reunited with him someday.
  
• I remember the beautiful prayer at the cemetery and watching in awe as the little Dahle family sat serenely beside the casket. I can still hear Elodie's sweet voice: "Goodbye, Dexter. We love you!"

• I remember the tears that poured down our faces as we watched Monette and Aaron cling to each other, crying softly, as Dexter's casket was lowered into the ground.

• I remember the love and the laughter and the hugs and the tears as we spent the day together.
• I remember hugging my children a little tighter and vowing to "teach (them) all that (they) must do to live with Him someday".
• I remember the example of my little sister and her faithful husband who showed us that the Lord will never leave us comfortless and that He will sustain us through the challenges of earthly life as we put our faith and trust in Him. Our Heavenly Father loves us and has a beautiful plan for us. Corinne, that is why we smile.
  

If You Chance to Meet a Frown

Evan, Grant, and Jillian spent the evening creating this little surprise video for Corinne. I love how it turned out. And I'm getting ideas...like putting Evan in charge of digitizing our old home movies and editing them to music. He'll have lots of free time this summer. Is there a Family Movie merit badge he can earn??

I Blame Her

How can I blog (or do much of anything) while holding this little mama's girl? It's a good thing she's cute! She is a little angel as long as I'm carrying her around, but put her down or hand her to someone else and she lets me know she's not happy about it. Lately all I can manage are the basics--meals, laundry, and a partially-clean house, not to mention chauffeuring and helping with homework, so the rest will have to wait for awhile. Except for the 4 dresses I decided to sew for Mitchell's wedding on Thursday. What was I thinking???