Cayden School Stuff

Cayden has had a few recent school things that I thought were important to share. During reading week they hasty share a poem and he chose this one.  

This was a fun assignment that the kids got to work on during testing week.  This page was most informative!  These are the things that he did and did not want in his room if he could have whatever he  wanted.  He did not want his brother in his room if he could choose! 

This what he has been working on at tutoring and his teacher wanted to share it with me.  All of the green lines are the times tables that he know and the yellow are the ones he still needs a little work on! Notice how there are lots more green than yellow!!!   Woo hoo for Cayden!

Connor Special Olympics

Connor got to go with the SpEd class and participate in the county wide Special Olympics track and field day in Las Vegas on May 3.  A few of the regular Ed  kids participate with the SpEd kids to show cooperation and have fun together every year.   He didn't want us to come see him so we don't have any pictures.  He practiced a few days after school at the track.  He competed in the discus and shot putt and a few races.  He did win one his heats and he was proud of that.  Connor said that there were a bunch of missionaries who were there volunteering.  He of course went and chatted a few up. There was one from North Carolina that he chatted with and told him about his brother going there on a mission.  Connor always finds ways to talk to people.

Prom "Escort"

On Monday April 29, Caleb was at school in theater class.  Jasmine was handing out little trinket things that said vote for her for prom queen.  Caleb's cousin Taylor is in that class too and she asked Jasmine if she was going to prom and if she had a date.  Jasmine told them that she didn't have a date.  Taylor decided that Caleb needed to escort jasmine to the dance because she could not goby herself!  She and Caleb made a sign asking her to go to prom with Caleb  and took it to one of Jasmine's classes.  Unbeknownst to Caleb's parents all of this was going on until Connor called at 10 to tell us that he had seen a sign about Caleb going to prom.  Since we didn't know anything that was going on at the school, when Connor called we assured him that Caleb was not going to prom.  I texted Miss Dalley, the theater teacher to find out what was going on and she said that yes Jasmine was nominated for prom queen, that she was going, that her mom was going to take her and that her mom had her a dress.  So we decided that Caleb was definitely going to prom and that he was going to be Jasmine's escort and not date since he is only 14.  I called Jasmine's mom that afternoon and told her what we wanted to do and if she was ok with it.  She was so surprised that we wanted to do that and was thrilled that we would offer.  We told her that w wanted to take Caleb and Jasmine to dinner before and at we would take them to the dance.  She bought the tickets and got the corsage and boutineer.  We had a week to figure the logistics and get Caleb all decked out.  It worked out really good because he was able to wear his  dad's black suit and we borrowed a silver/gray tie from the missionaries.  We drove down to Overton to her house that evening at 6 and took some pictures and then we drove them to Mesquite for dinner. There was a brand new Italian place that we had not been to and they took a reservation so we could make sure that we had a place to eat and get to the dance on time.  It was a nice place, a little expensive and quite the dining experience.  It took almost an hour and a half to eat!  After dinner we took them to the dance where mom was there waiting.  We chatted with her for a few minutes and watched all the kids arrive in their fancy clothes and then Don and I left.  

The dance was held Mesquite Ford dealership.  They emptied out the show room of the cars so there was room for the dance.  Don and I went to Walmart and then we were going to go home but we found out from a friend that they were going to crown the prom queen just a little later and I really wanted to go see if Jasmine won.  We got over there at 9:30 and they announced the winner a few minutes later.  Jasmine won!  I was so excited!  Her mom got to be there to watch them give her the crown and a big bunch of roses and then to dance the next dance with the prom king.  Don and I left soon after and Caleb stayed to boogie with rest of the night with Jasmine and then her mom brought them home around 11:45.  Caleb was a total gentleman and we were very proud of him for being kind and willing to go with Jasmine.  We had fun taking them.  

Testing Week Prizes

This week was High Stakes Testing Week at Cayden's school. This is the state tests that show if our kids are learning anything.   In an effort to get the kids to work hard and do their best they give out tickets at the end of the testing each day and the kids can win prizes.  Cayden won a frisbee one day and this lovely silly string another day.  He was busting a gut to spray that stuff when he got home and barely made it outside to do!  He thought it would be funny to spray me-I didn't think so and luckily he chose wisely and did not spray me!  I proctored one of the days up at the school.  Basically I sit in a classroom for an hour and half and play on my phone or read a book while the class takes the test.  This is to ensure there is no cheating.  I find it interesting that they give all the kids in all the classes a granola bar and maybe a juice box before the testing begins.  I asked a teacher once why they do that and they said that the granola bar may be the only the child had to eat that day and so they provide it to everyone just in case and because the kids to better with something in their stomachs.  A little sugar rush probably doesn't hurt either.  It is hard to imagine that a child would go to school with out breakfast.  My kids would mutiny!  It is also hard for me to imagine that a child would not have food to eat!  I hope that is never the case with my children!  I'm glad that the school does that even if it is just one kid that needs it.  Public education isn't all bad.

Good Morning to You

Caleb had his guitar out on his bed one morning this week and Don attempted to wake Cayden by up playing the guitar and singing to him.  Don does not know how to play the guitar.  Cayden got up rather quickly.  

Good Grades and A1C's

Connor had a great report card this time.  The kid won't stand still long enough for me to get a picture of him.  He had 6 A's, 1 B and 1 C.  That really is outstanding for him.

Don took Connor and Cayden to the diabetes doctor today.  Connor's A1C was 7.7 and Cayden's was 7.8.  Considering that they ate like crap at the fair all weekend and it was hard to calculate carbs that was actually pretty darn good.

Caleb's Play

On Wednesday, October 26, Caleb played Igor in a school play for Drama Club.  He has been staying after every Wednesday to practice.  He was very funny and did a great job.

Caleb's Baby

The week after Kyle was born Caleb started a flour sack baby project for his Health class.  He printed off a picture of Kyle and taped it to the flour sack.  Then he put some baby clothes on the "baby".  He named the baby Kyle Jr. and called him KJ.  He made a birth certificate and put that the mother was Megan Fox and that the baby was born in the back of an SUV.  There had been a story on the news just the night before of that happening.  He did really well the first 2 days but when he had to haul the baby all around school all day long it got a little old.  He had to take care of the baby for a week and if he could not do it he had to ask someone else to do it.  One of the days he took the baby to school in a backpack carrier.  Luckily he did not get twins like one of the girls in his class did. 

Diabetes in School

Connor and Cayden both started school this past week and it has me a little rattled because of the diabetes.  Connor has been battling this for disease for 5 years now but even though he knows what to do it is still a worry.  The whole week Connor had lots of highs that we were having trouble combatting and Cayden was having lows.  We had multiple calls from both schools from the nurses office where these two spent a lot of time already.  Cayden is not recognizing when he is low and that is a big concern because his classroom is pretty far away from the office.  He was only checking at lunch but both Monday and Tuesday he was quite low so I asked for him to go up at 10:30 and then again around 2:15 just to be safe.  Since the school can't do his shot unless the nurse is there we had a crash course the week before so he could learn to check his blood sugar himself and give himself his own shot with them helping him carb count.  Connor has been waking up incredibly high each morning and it is taking until around 12 to get him back down.  Then he is fine most of the afternoon and evening, going to bed good and then waking up super high again the next day.  I tried to get a hold of his doctor last week to no avail.  So we are just doing what we can.  The nurse from Connor's school always apologizes when she calls but we tell her to please not apologize.  She told Don on Friday at the football game that usually when she had kids over 300 in her office that they would just go home.  But she says that Connor comes in happy and cheerful and always chatty and says that he does not feel bad so he goes back to class.  Last year at the middle school if he was over 300 they would not let him go to class and he would have to stay in the nurses office until he came down.  They must have a little more leeway there at the high school and let the kids make the choice themselves.  Connor is really liking school so far and so he wants to be there.  Hopefully we can get Cayden to start recognizing how he is feeling here soon.  I am glad to have good and competent people at the schools to help take care of my kids when I am not there.

First Day of School 2011

Monday August 29, 2011 was the first day of school. We never really "practiced" getting up early the week before but the boys were excited.  Don gave them all their Father's blessings Sunday night and we had a short FHE on doing hard things and being tough.  Connor and Caleb had to be up by 6:30 and out the door by 7am.  Connor's school starts at 7:15 and Caleb's at 7:30.  I have 3 kids at 3 different schools again this year.  Sort of makes for a pain.  Don took Connor and Caleb to school and not 5 minutes after he left Cayden woke right up all excited and raring to go.  He had over an hour and a half before he could go to school.  Don stopped and bought him some delicious pancakes from McDonald's.  Cayden was completely ready to go by 8am so unlike any other day I let him watch TV for a bit until it was time to go.  I showered and got ready because it is tradition for me to walk my kids up to their lines for the first day of school.  It was sooooo stinkin hot and very humid that morning that I felt like I needed a shower again.  I made cookie dough and got it into the fridge to chill and then took a nap.  After my nap I made the cookies-another first day of school tradition-mac and cheese cups and tortilla roll ups for the kids for after school.  They all had a good day and noone had homework yet other than the bajillion pieces of paperwork that I had to fill out.  Connor's at the high school and has Blue day and Gold day.  It is very surreal to have him in high school.  Connor has 2 math classes and 2 special ed classes.  Hopefully the rotating schedule will be beneficial for him.  He is out by 1pm which is almost too soon because he has the whole rest of the afternoon where we are afraid that he will get bored.  Caleb is in 8th grade and really likes all of his classes-except Health.  He is excited to be in Drama and do plays again and he gets to be part of morning announcements with his first class of the day.  Cayden is in Mr. Dorsey's class out in the portables while the school finishes their renovation.  He likes music and was excited to bring home some cursive handwriting papers.  It was a long exciting day and we were all in bed pretty early waiting for Day 2.  Happy School Year!!!

The Last Day of School

Not sure why but Connor got to wear the Mustang suit.

Connor and our lifesaver nurse's assistant, Pam Waite.

Connor's last day at MLMS.  Caleb will be a big 8th grader next year.

Cayden and his teacher, Ms. Larson.

The last day of school was Thursday, June 9.  Because we were super busy getting ready for Cody's graduation festivities, my mom took over my usual last day of school duties.  I have always picked my kids up from school the last day of school and taken pictures of them and their schools and/or teachers but Don and I had to run to Mesquite to get some things for the festivities later in the evening.  My mom went to the schools and got the kids and some pictures.  Thanks mom!

A Locker Full

 Caleb had to empty his locker the week before school got out.  He called me and asked me to bring him a garbage bag and I told him to got to the office and get some grocery bags.  He needed 2 that he had filled with lunch boxes, sweaters, jackets, shirts, a baseball mitt and his PE clothes.

7th Grade Awards

I did not get pictures of this either because I am just that kind of awesome mom but on Thursday May 26 there was an awards assembly for the 7th graders.  I got an email saying that it was happening but Caleb did not think he was getting anything and the email said that not all students would receive awards.  That was the same day that we had all the medical issues so I did not make it down for the assembly.  Caleb brought home 3 awards: 230 Accelerated Reader points, Best Actor and Best Attendance for 4th quarter.  That last one we found super amusing because there must have been lots of kids with worse attendance than him and he had alot we thought. Way to go Caleb!! 

Cayden Loves Christmas

Friday, December 17 was the last day of school before our 2 week Christmas break.  Cayden's class had their Christmas party that afternoon.  They decorated gingerbread houses, and decorated little foam houses with stickers and ate lots of junk. I made these snowman cupcakes.  They were quite tasty.

Little Shop, Little Shop of Horrors

Moapa Valley High School performed Little Shop of Horrors November 2-4.  Cody played Seymour Krelborn.  This was the first musical Cody has been in but the 5th play.  All the kids worked their behinds off and pulled it all together in 2 months.  I tried to upload some video but it would never work.  We have been singing these songs for weeks now. Grandma Penny was able to come down and see the matinee on Tuesday morning.  Thank you to Aunt Pam and Uncle Dave who drove her down here.  Cody's cousin Taylor was in the play also so many family members from Don's side of the family went to numerous performances.  Cody was AWESOME and AMAZING and GREAT and FABULOUS.  I am not biased either.  He got lots of compliments from all over the place for a long time after the show. The show was even in the paper with a picture of him holding Audrey while she dies. 

Cooking With Connor

Connor is taking Home Ec this year.  He had to plan and prepare a dinner with limited help, just supervision. He made Artichoke Chicken with Capers, baked potatoes, apple pumpkin muffins, jello, and fresh cantaloupe.  He did it on a Sunday afternoon and it was delicious.