Growing up to fast!

Yesterday was Zachary's first girl/boy party! I can't believe it! The first few days after he got the invitation he said he was NOT going! He did not want to dance with a girl! Well when Saturday rolled around he decided he did want to go. He picked out an outfit and I ironed it. After putting it on he changed his mind and the picking out started all over again! I thought being the mom of boys outfit decisions would be a breeze but I guess I was wrong! Once we got ready and headed out reality set in my baby is NOT a baby anymore!!
Pulling up to the little girls house I saw several girls and a few boys already there and I really just wanted to turn around and head back home! I did want this time to come so fast but it was here no turning back!
The girls came up to the car as Zachary was getting out. I watched as his head did a upper ward nod as to say "what up ladies" and they squealed as the other boys came over to whisk Zachary away! No goodbye mom no nothing! Just my baby heading off on a new adventure!
Chuck picked him up and I was so happy he wanted to tell me about the party! He informed me he did dance but not when they played GIRL SONGS (Hannah Montana) even though he sings to her in the car. He could not let the others know that!! He did not dance with any girls and rolled his eyes when I even suggested it: NO MOTHER he informed me. How dare I ask such a thing! Only if he know how relieved I was that girls are still on the back burner for now! He is not girl crazy yet and the girls seem to be pretty calm when it comes to boys as well.

I remember being in 5th and 6th grade and chasing Toby, Mitch, and Chris around the play ground with the other girls at Shands Elementary. We already had boyfriends and talked on the phone. I am so glad that Zachary and the other kids at his school are still ok just to be friends and the boyfriend/girlfriend drama has not started yet. That will be next year when we start the middle school. Until then I am just holding on a little longer to my sweet baby boy!

Those Boys of Mine!

It is never a dull moment at the Lewis house. Not with 3 boys! So let me start by telling about our shopping trip to Target this weekend! Shopping with 3 boys and a husband is not always fun but this time it was FULL of laughs. One of my best friends Melissa Thompson also has 3 boys and we bumped into them shopping as well. Chuck's eyes got so big when he saw they way they all acted together. Melissa and I are old pros at continuing to shop while the boys are horse playing and trying to pretend we don't know them. Chuck on the other had is not. One of Melissa's boys knocked a bar off the rack and the other was tooting!! It was so funny only because this time it was not MINE!!
But rest assured I had my turn to turn red with embarrassment. Leave it to Garett to do something or saying something! As we walked past the bras Garett in his LOUD voice gladly announces I LOVE BOOBS! What???? NOT MY KID!! Not my son yelling he loves boobs!! I am embarrassed and Chuck is like smiling yep that's my boy!! Bless his little heart, he never sees bras in some many shapes and colors at our house. I think he was a little amazed by all the pretty and lacey bras he was seeing. When youhave a big chest as I do you are limited to the style and color. I guess the assortment over whelmed the poor boy! Some lady looked at me in total disgust. But if that's the only thing they did we were having a good trip!!
On to the older two boys. Yep Zachary and Chase by no mean have been all sweet and innocent. (LOL) This evening after school they were playing in the backyard while I was cooking dinner. As I had the water running in the kitchen I hear the sound of GLASS BREAKING. Turned off the water and thought surely NOT!! I walked outside with Zachary looking like nothing happened and Chase climbing back over the fence. They were kicking the ball OVER the house to each other. However, Chase DID NOT make it over. Instead he broke the window in one of the bed rooms.
Needless to say Chuck was not happy and is just finishing up fixing the window!
I am so thankful I married a man that can fix things!! As you can see life in the Lewis house is never dull. But I would not change it for the world! Things could always be worse and my boys are little angles! (Well most of the time anyways!)

From The Mouth Of A Child!

I just love when its bed time! No not because my house will be quiet with all my boys asleep, but because it's a time with no TV on, no video games being played, and no phone calls. It is a time I get to hear about the boys' day or a last minute story they what to tell before lights off. I am sure it is a way for them to put off going to sleep for just a little longer and though at times it can be annoying, when I am also ready for some much needed sleep, it is also very rewarding and a time I cherish.
I am so glad Zachary and Chase are not to old to want to still snuggle a little with momma and not at the stage where they are embarrassed to still tell me things. I love hearing about what happens at school or something about their friends.
Garett is now getting in on the story telling. Most of the time his stories are a version of a story he heard at school. The latest little story he has been telling is "Little Boy Blue". It is so funny the way he tells it or says the nursery rhyme. Then sometimes he wants to talk about when he was a baby. The other night he said "momma when God made me a baby and you took me home it made my heart happy"!! IS THAT NOT THE SWEETEST THING EVER!!! I told him baby when God let me bring you home it made my heart happy too!! I just could eat him up!! He is the funniest little boy!!
At bed time the boys also do roll call. Goodnight mom love you, Love you to (insert son's name) Goodnight dad love you, Love you too(insert son's name) Goodnight (insert brothers name) love you and so on. Then they all add the dog, goodnight Bella love you!! All 3 boys do this, however Garett still says momma Bella didn't answer me back!! of course Garett also says love you blue skies momma, and I love you pumpkin daddy. Chuck always tells Garett I love you pumpkin and Garett giggles and says momma daddy called me pumpkin. No matter how many nights go by that Chuck says it Garett still giggles like it is the first time he heard it.
These are the things I love, the memories that I cherish, the times I want to hold on to!! Time flies way to fast and I am so thankful my boys are the best of friends.
Before I go I have to brag on the older two! Zachary's teacher came down to my room yesterday after school to tell me how much she is enjoying having him in class. She said she loves listening to Zachary tell a story or explain something he is so dramatic in his story telling. Chase is also doing great! Nothing but good reports so far still trying to get him to slow down and not care about being the first one done. I am proud of them both. I am sure it is hard to have your mom work at the same school you attend. You can't get by with anything!!
Also Chuck brought home some interesting news this week. He has been talking about going to college. Well his boss thinks he would be a great administrator and is going to help him PAY FOR IT!! YEAH!! Now I am done and he will be starting. I could not be more proud of him!! He has talked about it for the last year but with added responsibilities at work he realized that this is what he wants to do and without his degree he has made it as far as he can. I think this next chapter in our lives will be a GREAT one! I am excited about this journey he is about to take. GOD IS GOOD!!
Until Next Time,
Kristi

My Child Is A Funny One!

Well nothing like picking your 4 year old from preschool and the teacher always having story to tell you! Miss. Amy is Garett's teacher and he absolutely loves her. He thinks Miss. Amy is a pretty teacher. He talks about her none stop at home. Miss Amy this and Miss Amy that. I love to hear his stories about school.
Needless to say Miss. Amy also loves Garett and thinks he is such a cutie!! She is always laughing about something he said or did. The last story I got from school was this week. Miss. Amy has been completing prek beginning of the year test and asked Garett to tell her his whole name. Garett's response was Garett "THE BEAR" Lewis. and then he proceed to tell me and his dad that night laying in bed that his name is now Garett "THE BIG BEAR" Lewis because his legs are getting bigger and bigger. He told me he is no longer a little boy but a big boy!! Talk about breaking mommy's heart! No longer a little boy?? Since when is 4 no longer little!!
So my child has changed his name from Garett Lynn Lewis (which I never really liked but had to give into my husband and give Lynn his fathers name) to Garett "THE BIG BEAR" Lewis. The way he says "THE BIG BEAR" is louder and in this little man voice like he is announcing his name as he runs out on the football field or makes a slam dunk at a basketball game. It is the cutest thing.
As he sits in my lap right now as I am typing he leans over to tell me he loves me big blue sky. I have always told the boys I love them more then the big blue sky. However, Garett has always just said momma I love you big blue skies. It is the sweetest!!
Anyways another story from school his week is Miss Amy informed me that Garett has a girl friend, Ella Graham. Ella's mom and I teach together and her big brother and Chase have been friends since birth and Garett and Ella have know he other since birth as well. The interesting part to this story is that Ella tells Garett exactly what to do and when to do it and HE DOES IT!! Miss Amy told me if Ella wants Garett to sit somewhere he does, play something he does, or same something he does!! He calls her My Ella Girl!! Of course he doesn't say to me Ella is my girl friend but he talks about her all the time and say My Ella Girl is my friend or I played with My Ella Girl!! My precious little baby my 4 four year old is growing up!!
Yes I know it is time to cut those apron strings and I am!! Because I have got to teach him to not let a girl boss him around so much. If I don't stop it now I will have one controlling daughter in-law in my future!! And as a momma of 3 boys I just can't let that happen!!

Back To School

The first week of school went well. Zachary and Chase like their teachers and are adjusting to switching classes for the first time. Garett was excited to see Mrs. Amy again and his friends in prek. This is the best picture I could get of the boys on the first day. Garett did not like the flash and I think they all were having a hard time getting up early.
All 22 of my 1st graders showed up ready to learn. I have 11 boys and 11 girls. I am ready for week 2 and getting everyone into a routine. I have already tested my students on their ability to read. I was happy with how well most of them could read. I am also looking to forward to the challenges that lay ahead.
I really enjoyed my summer but realized how much I had missed teaching! It is such a rewarding job. But its more then just a job its my passion to help students reach their FULL potential. I am ready to watch them grow and mature right in front of my eyes!
I was very happy this week to get an email from a second grade teacher at my school thanking us 1st grade teachers for sending a smart group to them. I was glad to know that my students had retained what they had learned over summer break. It reminded me that I can help my students succeed. Its those little things that I find so rewarding!
I have already signed my class up for some online projects at http://jenuinetech.com/. The first project we will be completing is the Oreo stacking project. My classes in the past have loved this. We get a package of oreos and estimate how many they can each stack before it tips over. We use a excel graph to compare and contrast our results. We then track our results against other schools across the US. It helps with our math skills and its fun.
Week 2 here I come! I hope everyone has a great week.
Kristi

Teachingheart give away

One of books on today's give away is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I love to read this story with my kiddos. After reading it we make our own trees. I dia-cut lettes and make leaves for the students. They then have to use the letters to spell their name on the leaves. Then place the leaves on our classroom tree. Its a great beginning of the year activity. Check out the blog at: www.teachingheartmom.blogspot.com and check at the website at: http://www.teachingheart.net/chickaboom.html.
Happy blogging!
Kristi

Teachingheartmom.blogspot.com give away

Well today is a new day of give aways on www.teachingheartmom.blogspot.com
Today is a basket of goodies and you get to pick a cdrom from teachingheart.net. The CDroms are great I have purchased some for my classroom in the past. They have GREAT items. One of the cd's I have is the graphing cd. you can print the items to use with your students a great way to help them graph and have fun at the same time. They are VERY reasonable in prize. Check out the blog and her website.
Thanks,
Kristi