Cub Scouts and a quick update on our soccer season.....

So, first the soccer. We ended up losing on Sunday (both the girls and Jack's team.) But it was a beautiful day and they all played really well - the other team just scored more! :) We had a great season. They all got their trophies - which is everything to them! Especially Macy as this was her first trophy. She is so proud!!

Cub Scouts. Tonight was Jack's pack meeting. I messed up and forgot about it until this morning - after I had promised all three kids that we would be going to their school tonight for "Family Night." This week is the book fair at J and E's school, so tonight they had family night where they served pizza and played the movie Kung Fu Panda in the cafeteria. The kids have really been looking forward to this. Well, this morning I had to break it to Jack that he couldn't attend movie night because he had cub scouts. He was very upset and wanted to skip cub scouts and go to watch the movie with his friends. Don explained that he had a commitment and couldn't just skip it like that. Hard for an 8 year old to understand. I was on the fence - I knew that cub scouts was his commitment but I also understood how badly he wanted to go to movie night. It was a tough call. In the end, I agreed with Don and he took Jack to the cub scouts, while I took the girls to the movie. And actually Don and Jack came early and got to spend a few minutes at the book fair and enjoy some pizza before their meeting. Then they came back after the meeting and got to see the last few minutes of the movie. So it wasn't so bad after all and he learned a good lesson about commitments and responsibilities. It was a good night!

So - at the cub scout meeting......well, in the last few weeks Jack sold over $570 worth of popcorn - going door to door on his own (well, Don went with him but he just stood back and let Jack talk.) Don came home beaming with pride for Jackson - he said he did so well talking with everyone and showing them the products. Even a few people who were hesitant, Jack sold them. Don said one lady said "no thanks, I'm on a diet" and Jack said "we have low fat popcorn" and she bought some from him. He didn't ever hear "no." I didn't sell anything for Jack - Jack called my mom and was pitching her. I just listened. He did an awesome job! Don said he was so glad that they went to the meeting because Jack came in second place (our of over 40 boys in our HUGE pack!) and was awarded and given a prize. Jack was beaming, Don said.

The girls and I loved watching the movie - especially Elle since so many of her friends were there.

And I spent a fortune at the book fair - I'm a huge sucker for books!!!

It was a good day!

Soccer, Soccer and more Soccer!!!!

We had our soccer tournaments today and depending on how well we did today would determine if we play again tomorrow - well, both teams (Jack's team and Elle and Macy's team) will be playing again tomorrow. What does that mean? Well, it means that we had an AWESOME day of games today!! First was Elle and Macy's game. Elle scored a goal - she was SO proud! Macy did great on defense and kicked the ball out of the goal and kept the other team from scoring! Unfortunately I didn't get to see either of those great plays because I was with Jack watching his game. Such is life with three kids! :)) But I'm very thankful that the girls played on the same team so at least each of us could be there to watch their games - I don't know how it will work when they all play on different teams! So, back to our games. Elle and Macy won 4-1 and have a shot at coming in at second place for the season!

Jack is also very good at defense and although he sometimes gets bored defending the goal (he would like to be in the "action" more!) his coach reminds him that he was their best defense player on the team and they need him there. He got some good plays today and kept the other team from scoring at all! His team won 3-0! It was definitely our best game of the season as we've had a hard season and are in second to last place. Most of our games have been really close and the kids have played really well, but we have lost most of our games. So to go out in the tournaments with a win like today - well, it's a good feeling!

Both of our teams play again tomorrow because of our wins today. I'm praying for another nice day (although a little warmer and a lot less wind would be nice!) and that the kids get to go out on a good note, although I know that whatever happens that the kids have all had a great time this season and while we love soccer - we are all looking forward to free Saturdays again! That is at least until Baseball season starts up! And I think the girls will be playing baseball this Spring for the first time - wish us luck!! :))

Can I vent about the No Child Left Behind Act???

We got called in to meet with Jack's teacher today. Can I just say first that Jack is doing SO well in school this year! I know part of it is because he has a fabulous teacher who understands "8 year old boys" and is very good at positive reinforcement. Oh and did I tell y'all that Jack isn't on any meds this year! Yep, I decided to try him off of them at the beginning of the year and he hasn't needed them at all!

Anyway, back to our conference today. Jack is in an accelerated Math program at his school called PACE. A little background - he was in PACE in first grade, did well. At the end of the year he was tested and didn't perform too well on the test. His first grade teacher said that he didn't qualify for PACE for second grade on his test scores but since he did so well in PACE all year she was going to recommend that he be put in PACE anyway for 2nd grade. Fast forward to this year - at the beginning of this year, his second grade teacher sends us a note home saying that Jack didn't qualify for PACE on his test scores and would be put into regular (I hate that word but can't think of another way to put it) math. I emailed her and explained what his 1st grade teacher told us and that while I'm not pushing for him to be in PACE and I will go with whatever she decided, I wanted her to know that his first grade teacher thought he did well enough to be put into PACE in 2nd. She thanked me for the info, spoke with his 1st grade teacher and his 1st grade PACE math teacher and it was decided that he be put into PACE. His 1st grade teacher felt that it provided enough of a challenge for Jack whereas regular math would be too easy and he would get bored. So we all agreed to move ahead with PACE and if it ever got too hard or he got frustrated we would reevaluate our decision.

So - his 1st report card came out last week. He made the A/B honor roll - he was so proud! This was his first "number" report card - very cool to actually be able to understand his report card! He got an 85 in PACE math - so I felt good about our decision to push him into it - obviously it was challenging him enough that he's not making a 100 but he's not struggling and failing either. By the way - he has never complained about being in PACE or that it's too hard. So again, I felt we made the right decision.

So - onto why we got called in today. His 9 week assessment test scores are low - especially in PACE. And this is where my No Child Left Behind gripe comes in - here he has an 85 average in PACE math but with the "teaching to the test" that schools are having to do now, he may be held back one year. Not this year and we're not talking about that happening now but if he can't get his test scores up, it could be a problem in the future. Now, granted this is the first time he's had to do a multiple choice test and everything but still, it's enough of a concern that our teacher felt she needed to have a conference with us. I don't know if he freezes on tests or just doesn't understand it or and this may very well be the main thing - he is trying to be the first to turn his test in. He is competitive and doesn't want anyone to "beat him" or think that he can't do it. His teacher said that she tested him a few weeks ago with a timed math test and they had 5 minutes and he only answered 2 of the questions. 2 in 5 minutes! And it was simple subtraction - it wasn't like he couldn't do it. Then after school that day she saw Jackson crying in the hall - apparently someone made fun of him for only answering 2 questions and it hurt his feelings. She said he was sobbing. That broke my heart! And he never even told me about it! She told us this a few weeks ago and I started questioning whether PACE was too hard for him but when I got his report card, I thought he was doing great and felt it was good for some challenge for him.

Jack is very bright but every teacher he has had since he was 2 years old has said the same thing to me, that he is very lucky to be so smart and that things come naturally to him but the first time he has a problem learning something it's going to hit him VERY hard because he doesn't want to take the time to "learn" it. KWIM?

So - I know I'm all over the place in this post and I don't know if I'm asking for advice here or not. Like I said - I'm not a parent who insists or pushes my child into advanced classes but I want them to get the best of their education. Jack's teacher said again that she feels that if he were put into regular math he would be terribly bored. It's not the work he has a problem with - it's the tests. But after all - with NCLB it's all about the tests! So - how do you help someone become a better test taker?

Also - would his medication help him with this? I have been very happy not to have him on his meds this year but I'm not opposed to it either. Jack was never really on it for school work (but he was younger and didn't really have school work) he never had a problem focusing on something it was mainly for impulse control (which I'm happy to report that I feel like we have finally gotten under control - for the most part!) But maybe he needs it now for school work? I don't know - part of me says NO, he does well in school - he made the A/B honor roll for pete's sake! Ugh - it's never easy, is it?

But like I told Don today - I would much rather be called to the school for this rather than because he tackled some kid or pulled a girls skirt up or something equally as bad! I'm glad his behavior is on track this year and I'm so proud of him for how far he has come!

If you read this entirely too long book - thank you! Any thoughts are welcome!

Election Day.....

So, tomorrow is election day. Is everyone's kids as into this election as mine are? Macy can tell you who is running and who is "helping" them - helping them means the VP. :)) And she's only 4!! They were all discussing it at the dinner table tonight and Elle said - "I know who is helping John McCain, Sarah Patient." LOL! Macy quickly corrected her and said - "no, it's Sarah Palin!" Macy is very interested in this election - she has asked me some very good questions, such as "what does the President do?" I'm impressed that she thinks about this so much and that she even cares enough to learn this. She told her teacher today who was running and their running mates and her teacher was amazed!

Jack had to do a report on the election. He had to poll everyone on who they were voting for and then make a prediction on who he thought would win. It was a great project. He called every family member he could think of - even though I could have probably told him who each person was voting for. He loved it and everyone loved hearing from him. But just about everyone (especially all of my Republican family members) asked him who he was voting for. He told everyone Barack Obama and when asked why he said "because he did a funny dance on Nickelodeon." Like my aunt Mari told him - "that's why we don't let kids vote!" :))

But I'm very glad that they know what's going on and are taking an interest in this election. When I was their age I had no idea about the election or presidents or anything like that. I think it's so cool that they not only know what's going on, that they are making decisions for themselves on who their candidates are and they even have discussions among themselves about the candidates. Voting is such a priviledge and honor and I want them to realize that and to never take it for granted.

Whomever you are voting for - just get out there and vote! And may the best man win!

Our Halloween was great!!!

We had a great day yesterday! Elle had her party at school. It was a very cute party - they had face painting, crafts, cookies, games - the kids had a blast!! Here's a pic of me and my Elle at her party. She was getting her hand painted. I can't believe how big she is getting!!



After school we got ready for Trick or Treating! We went to my friend Terese's house and had such a great time! The kids played, then trick or treated, then played again and ate candy all night! They were in Heaven!! Here is my scary and beautiful trio!
It was a great Halloween! Thank you James, Terese, Quinten and Chloe for inviting us over!