Checking In

Anybody still out there? Hummm can't believe I haven't blogged since LAST YEAR! Missing it lately.

Getting the tree up

Declan posing with his Christmas bear from last year.

And a snowman

Being a little goofy with the santa hat

Checking out what my camera can do with close ups

We just finished watching WALL-E.   Cute movie, Declan loved it.  I can't figure out why he loves some animated films and not others (he claims to hate Cars...how is that possible?)

We're waiting to see what the weather is going to do.  Big storm on it's way and I think everyone is hoping for a snow day or two.

This year is shaping up to be even more interesting.  If our state budget doesn't include continued funding for smaller elementary class size (which is looking very possible)  then some significant cutbacks will be happening in our district, along with every district in the state.  Hopefully I'll still have a contracted position this time next year.

Happiness is...

taking your son to a science conference.

We had a blast on Friday at a regional teachers conference. I was planning to take my school's robotics team (well, some of the kids) to present their work at the robotics booth. I realized at the last minute that Declan could tag along also. We had so much fun. Lots of cool science "stuff" and he loves hanging with the big kids.

I became inspired and decided that he should do the Jr. version of the LEG@ robotics club that I do at school. This weekend I registered his team, ordered the kit, and registered the team at our local competition. I think it will be a fun experience for him. It's pretty much all LEG@'s all the time at our house anyway. If the team works out well, I may start a club at his school.

Where did he learn that?

In the car tonight on the way home from school:

D: (proudly) "Bryce and I know each other's middle names."

I seize the opportunity for a little teasing...

Me: "What is your middle name?"

D: "Zachary"

Me: "What? Your name is Johnathan . Declan Johnathan..."

D: "My middle name is Zachary, you're just being facetious"


Me: "What! Where did you learn that word?"

D: "I don't know, but you were being facetious, right?"

Me: (still a little stunned) "Yep."

Trivia: Did you know that facetious is one of only two words in the English language to contain all 5 vowels in alphabetical order?

I'm not even

sure where to start with an update... school is fine..kids are great but there is alot of unrest among the staff this year...my head is spinning from all the meetings.  Declan is enjoying 1st grade.  He continues to amaze me with his mathematics abilities.  He is memorizing the multiplication table and he can divide and work with fractions mentally.  This morning on the way to school  I asked him how much pizza he would have if one day I gave him 1/5 of a pizza and the next day I gave him 6/15 of a pizza.  He answered me correctly (3/5 of a pizza)...only one student in my "low" 6th grade math class could work out that problem!

Tonight I spent way too much money and bought Rock Band...Declan says it is the funnest game EVER!!  The pictures inspired me to post.  So for now I'll end with some recent photos:

The perfect P.J.'s for a mario loving boy!

Zip up hoodie costume.

TOO FRICKIN' CUTE!!!!