TAKS-Schmacks

Cara got her TAKS test (state mandated tests supposedly to help No Child be Left Behind... don't get me started...) results on Friday and did very well. In fourth grade there are three tests - Writing, Math, & Reading. She scored 'commended' on all three!

At her school last year, they gave medals to the students who earned commended on their tests. At her new school, this year, they don't do that... So, I did. Two months ago. I knew she'd do well and I wanted her to feel like her hard work didn't go unnoticed.

We had a little family award ceremony and Bryan, Jordyn & I each put a medal around her neck. Cara beamed from ear to ear. I secretly felt kind of dorky about it until she said, "Mom, if you ordered these for me that long ago that means you really believed in me!"

Of course I do, silly, but nothing's better than believing in yourself. You go girl!

Eureka!

This was one of those "Why didn't I think of this ten years ago?" moments...

Cleaning out garbage cans is disgusting and gross. Who likes doing that? Who wants to do that? Not me. We try to put grocery sack liners in the garbage cans but it doesn't always happen and then you have who-knows-what in there... gag.

So after I emptied out the dishwasher, I had a flash of brilliance and loaded in the garbage cans. Two of them were too tall to slide under the top rack but I was not to be defeated. I removed the top rack swiftly and let out a triumphant cry! I will win this one! (But who knew that top rack could be so heavy??)

Totally worked. Yes.

Shots Stink - Big Time

So I finally took Jordyn to her four-year-old check-up. Things get crazy around her birthday in November and then I've been dealing with my own health issues that I sort of forgot to get her well-child exam until yesterday. Yikes!

She probably would have been okay with missing it after one finger prick to see if she was anemic (she's not), a TB test in her forearm (gotta call them back tomorrow with results), 2 shots in her left leg and 3 more in her right leg. That's seven ouchies in case you were counting. It was not fun at all.

I'm starting to see the logic in getting them all over with in one visit but, man, that's a lot of trauma for a visit to the doctor when 20 seconds ago you were feeling just fine, thank you very much. You know? They asked me to hold her arms still while they did the injections so, of course, Jordyn is staring into my face with such betrayal in her eyes. It was a sad, sad moment.

(You can see where three of her shots ended up along with nice bruise...)

Sometimes growing up sure stinks. Jordyn didn't cry long at all and she left the office laughing, actually, because they gave her six stickers as a reward for being such a big girl. :)

Take Me Out to the Ballpark

I got to go with Cara's 4th grade class on a field trip to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington where the MLB Texas Rangers play. We've been fortunate enough to attend our fair share of games at the Ballpark but this was a visit providing quite an inside look for the kids.

Our tour guide, Darwin, admitted to us after the tour that he'd only been working there for 5 weeks but you would never had known it. He was full of baseball trivia and information. He worked very well with the kids and answered any questions thrown at him like a pro.

This is the press box. It had three levels of desks and computer ports for the media. The kids got to see where all the announcing and reporting of the games happens.
This is the locker room. Tourguide Darwin is on the left. The kids thought it was cool that the major league players relaxed in there by playing video games and cards. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised...
The team is away for a few games so their lockers were not very full. Michael Young's cubby is the corner there with the orange boxes of shoes.

The kids loved being in the dugout. Darwin explained to them all about the bull pen telephones and showed them where the manager, Ron Washington, sits.

They didn't get to go on the field, (it was being aerated anyway...) but they stood at the edge of the dugout looking out and tried to imagine what it would feel like with the stadium full of cheering fans.
They also got to go to the Legends of the Game Museum at the Ballpark. The whole upper level is a discovery kids zone. Cara was trying to find the "sweet spot" on a bat by tapping on it with a wooden hammer in the above photo.
Cara, the catcher, and her friend, Johnny, posing in a fun cut-out scene. In the lower two levels of the museum are many, many displays with some really cool baseball memorabilia. "Legends of the Game features the largest collection of baseball-related artifacts outside of Cooperstown! With over 100 items from the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the story of baseball's greatest legends is told through their jerseys, bats, gloves, words of wisdom, and more. Imagine coming face to face with items that were once in the hands of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, and many others."

This is one of Babe Ruth's actual jerseys, bats, & shoes. Very cool. Tourguide Darwin told the kids about Babe playing baseball with a lettuce leaf under his ball cap.

After the museum, the kids had lunch on Home Run Porch and got to ask any other questions they could come up with. It was a great day for a field trip and was lots of fun!

Field Day Fun

After being rained-out yesterday, Cara's field day was this morning. She competed in three events:

• Tennis-Ups (stand inside a hula hoop and bounce a tennis ball on a racket as many times as you can.) - 1st place Blue Ribbon!
• Hula Hoop - good effort!
• Class Tug-of-War - 1st place Blue Ribbon!

Each class made their own t-shirts with team names. Cara's teacher is Ms. Gant so they were Gant's Gators. I thought that was a pretty cute idea.

It was a beautiful day for a nice tug-of-war...

And of course, Jordyn had to be right up in the action and watched all of the competition going on with a front row seat by Cara.

Good job, Munchie!!

Jordyn's Latest

Last night as I was getting Jordy ready for bed she had me laughing so hard...


Jordyn: Mom, I have one big boobie and one little boobie.

Me: Really? Hmm... You do?

Jordyn: (Very seriously) Yes.

Me: Oh. (pause) Which one is your big boobie?

Jordyn: (Pointing at her chest) This one.

Me: Okay. Which one is your little boobie?

Jordyn: (Chin on her chest, looking down) Hey! Where did that other one go??

Smooth Criminal Walrus

I hate it when animals can dance better than me... This walrus has skills!