Last year was full of wonderful experiences and moments for our family. While you may have noticed how much bigger the kids got last year (Samuel grew 3 inches and gained 3 pounds; Avery grew 4 inches and gained 5 pounds; and Isaac grew 5 inches and gained 5 pounds), you may not have noticed that Hector and I actually got smaller (Hector lost 25 pounds and 2 inches in his waist; and I lost 21 pounds and 18 inches all over!). I could simply tell you here about everything that happened to our family in 2008, but instead I'd much rather show you....
Happy New Year,
The 5 Aces (H,P,S,A&I)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Celebrating Christmas
Yesterday, we let the children open their gifts from us. It's always so amazing when you, as an adult, get to see the true joy and excitement in your children's eyes when they wake up and see presents under the Christmas tree. As a parent, I can't think of too many other moments that are truly so exciting! All of the pinching pennies to save up, and the hustle-n-bustle the few weeks leading up to Christmas, and the scrambling around from store to store to find the specific gifts the kids asked for, well, it's all worth it when you see them rip open the wrapping paper and with huge smiles on their faces scream "Thank you!". Hector and I were talking last night about how wonderful it is to be able to give gifts to our children, and how thankful we are for everything we have. We celebrate Christmas and give gifts to those we love because God set the perfect example by giving us the ultimate gift. Every year, we get to relive the true joy of Christmas, over and over again, with our children. It really is the most wonderful time of the year! Merry Christmas, everyone.
Friday, December 19, 2008
The Twelve Days of Christmas... It Is Better To Give Than To Receive
One day, as I was thumbing through Samuel's Highlights magazine (this is what I do for reading enjoyment these days!), I saw a picture of an arts-n-crafts project that caught my attention. They took 12 empty toilet paper tubes, and made them into Christmas candles. On the flame of each candle, they wrote out the lyrics to The 12 Days of Christmas. Their candles looked like they were made by some Martha Stewart type arts-n-crafts guru. Here's how our candles turned out.
I decided that I wanted to take this one step further, and make this project into a cute way to give small gifts to the children for the first 12 days of December, and at the same time I could use this as a teaching opportunity for them as well. Each day, when the kids would pull out a flame from the candle, I would have a hint written down that would send them on a scavenger hunt throughout the house. Sometimes, the hint would lead them directly to a gift. Other days, they would find 2, 3, or even 4 hints before they would actually find a gift. And when they did find their gift, I would use the moment to teach them a lesson about giving to others. On the 1st day we gave them a nativity scene made out of felt that needed to be assembled. We all made it together, and while we made it I reminded them that baby Jesus was the best gift ever! Another day we gave the kids new slippers and gloves and told them that there are so many people in the world who do not have those things, and that we should be thankful for even the smallest things in our lives like gloves to keep our hands warm and slippers to keep our feet warm. Samuel and Avery's school had been taking up a collection of gloves and socks for people serving in the military, so the next day we "gave back" and placed gloves and socks under the tree at their school. Another day we gave the kids new toothbrushes and some really neat mouthwash that turns their teeth blue and shows them where they need to brush (it's called Inspector Hector mouthwash!!!). Samuel actually likes using it... We also gave them new "big kid" hair brushes, and on that day I reminded them that our health is a gift. And finally, on the 12th day we gave the kids big hugs and kisses, and we told them that the best part about giving gifts to others is how happy it makes everyone feel. And then we gave the kids teddy bears, and I told them a story about one Christmas when I was a little girl, money was very tight and some really nice people from our church gave me a very special teddy bear. I loved it so much that I still have it to this day. And every time I come across that bear in the attic or see this picture, I think about that Christmas and how some really nice people decided to "give back", and how truly happy it made me feel. Truly, it is better to give than to receive! And that is the biggest lesson I wanted my kids to take away from our 12 days of Christmas celebration. I hope that we will continue this new-found family tradition in the years to come, because it was so enjoyable. 
I was in Avery's classroom this morning when her teacher opened the gift, and read the card quietly to herself. She told the class that the gift was from all of them. I saw all of their little faces light up. She opened the gift and showed them the James Avery charm they had given to her. Ooos and Ahhhs abounded from the children! She immediately hung it on her necklace. And then, one of the little boys got up and hugged her, and told her that he was so happy that he was able to give her a present. And as the children were all lining up to go to their Christmas party in the cafeteria, Avery's teacher came up and hugged me. And with tears in her eyes she thanked me for the gift, and she told me how that little boy's family could not afford to give her anything, but that she was so thankful to me and the other 3 parents who did give, because it made all of the kids in her class feel so happy and special. Because a few of us were willing to give, we made it possible for all of those kids to feel the true happiness that can come from giving to others. Truly, it is better to give than to receive!
Here are some pictures from Avery's and Samuel's school Christmas parties.
Avery playing the "Hot Potato Gift Exchange" game.
Decorating her cookie.
Isaac, getting into the Christmas spirit, giving hugs to some of Avery's classmates.
Samuel, making his gingerbread house.
Isaac, eating Samuel's gingerbread house!
Samuel was making sure out of the corner of his eye that Isaac was not eating more of his gingerbread house.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
That's My Decision, and I'm Sticking To It
The past few weeks have been very busy around here. I've been trying to slow down and enjoy the Christmas season, but lately slowing down seems next to impossible. Besides all of the normal routine things that take up a good deal of my time, I've also had the added stress of completing a Science Project with Amanda, planning holiday school parties, extra church choir practices and Christmas performances, school Christmas programs, Girl Scout and Boy Scout holiday activities, and adult Christmas parties to attend as well. In the midst of all of these holiday festivities, things that might normally be no big deal (like the microwave catching on fire, or the fact that the photo shop can't seem to print out our Christmas cards properly), seem to somehow add to my already higher-than-normal levels of stress and frustration. So, the fact that I've been trying to make a decision about where Samuel should go to school next year is not making things around here any easier for me.
A few weeks ago, Samuel and I toured a magnet school for children who are gifted in math and science. The staff members and teachers we met all seemed extremely nice and caring. In fact, the principal told me to call her directly with any further questions I had. The school offered several things that caught my attention. They have a planetarium in the school, as well as a green house. Each classroom has a pet, which the children share the responsibility of taking care of. They take field trips to places like NASA, Inner Space Caverns, The Alamo and our state capital. They also have 6 computers in every classroom at the tables for the children to use whenever they need to do so. Integrating computers into every day lessons is a big part of their curriculum. They also have the children work in groups of 4 children for their in-class assignments, versus having the children work separately. There are no worksheets allowed in the school. Everything is hands-on learning based. And there are 2 teachers in every classroom for 22 children. And even before I knew all of this, I somehow knew from the minute I hit the front doors of the school that I was in for a treat. I was impressed. I was thrilled at what I saw and was so excited at the thought of Samuel being able to attend such a wonderful school.
The magnet school concept is truly unique. Each classroom is comprised of 8 neighborhood students who do not meet the science and math magnet school admission requirements, but who simply live the closest to the school. And then there are an additional 14 students in each classroom who do meet the admission requirements for the math and science program. Needless to say, Samuel loved everything he saw at the school. I could not pull him away from a computer game that another boy had shown him while I was talking to one of the teachers. So, you can imagine my surprise when we got into the car to head for home, and I asked Samuel if he indeed wanted to attend this new school next year, and he said "No!" So, I pushed a little harder and asked some more questions. Despite the fact that I truly talked-up the new school, because I was truly excited about it, Samuel simply does not want to go.
And here is where my true dilemma as a parent lies. I've always said that I would never force my children to do anything like this that they simply do not want to do. My original intention in making that parenting decision was to allow my children to feel as if they have a true say in what happens to them in their own life. It is after all, their life. And while I realize that a child can not have the same reasoning skills as an adult, and they can not have the same level of experience and understanding that an adult can have, I also realize that sometimes it's okay to allow a child to make a decision when it comes to something that concerns them.
Somehow though, this decision seems much more different than any other decision I've had to make. I keep asking myself, at what point does a parent step in and say that even if their child does not want to do something, they're going to do it anyway because the parent knows best? And since I may never know the answer to that question, for now my decision about where Samuel should go to school next year is being based on a few very practical issues.
1) Both the magnet school and the school that Samuel is currently attending start and end their day at the same time. Which means that next year if Samuel went to the new school and Avery was still at the other school, I would somehow need to figure out how to get 2 kids to 2 different schools that are 6 miles apart at the same time in the morning, as well as how to pick them both up in the afternoon at the same time. It's a practical dilemma that I never really could figure out an answer to. At least not an answer that I felt like I could honestly live up to... Middle schools here start 10 minutes later than elementary schools, but all elementary schools start and end at the exact same time.
2) If Samuel started attending the magnet school and just absolutely hated it, we would have no guarantee that he would have an open spot to go back to at the school he's attending now... the school that Avery would still be attending.
3) Samuel has never wanted to change schools. He has no interest in attending the magnet school and seems to not really care whether or not he gets into the gifted and talented program. He's happy where he's at.
4) The "what-ifs" of the future (what if Samuel becomes bored with his current school situation, what if Samuel feels like he missed out on something big by not going to the magnet school, what if he never gets accepted again in the future, what if, what if, what if...) have never outweighed the positive things I know for sure right now about Samuel's current school situation. I may not know all of the answers to all of my "what-ifs" for Samuel's educational future, but this is what I know for sure right now; Samuel loves his current school and he is thriving there.
Which all comes down to this... Samuel is a gifted child. And when and if the time comes in the future that he wants to attend a magnet school, I will support him whole-heartedly. But for now, Samuel will not be attending the magnet school next year. That's my decision, and I'm sticking to it.
A few weeks ago, Samuel and I toured a magnet school for children who are gifted in math and science. The staff members and teachers we met all seemed extremely nice and caring. In fact, the principal told me to call her directly with any further questions I had. The school offered several things that caught my attention. They have a planetarium in the school, as well as a green house. Each classroom has a pet, which the children share the responsibility of taking care of. They take field trips to places like NASA, Inner Space Caverns, The Alamo and our state capital. They also have 6 computers in every classroom at the tables for the children to use whenever they need to do so. Integrating computers into every day lessons is a big part of their curriculum. They also have the children work in groups of 4 children for their in-class assignments, versus having the children work separately. There are no worksheets allowed in the school. Everything is hands-on learning based. And there are 2 teachers in every classroom for 22 children. And even before I knew all of this, I somehow knew from the minute I hit the front doors of the school that I was in for a treat. I was impressed. I was thrilled at what I saw and was so excited at the thought of Samuel being able to attend such a wonderful school.
The magnet school concept is truly unique. Each classroom is comprised of 8 neighborhood students who do not meet the science and math magnet school admission requirements, but who simply live the closest to the school. And then there are an additional 14 students in each classroom who do meet the admission requirements for the math and science program. Needless to say, Samuel loved everything he saw at the school. I could not pull him away from a computer game that another boy had shown him while I was talking to one of the teachers. So, you can imagine my surprise when we got into the car to head for home, and I asked Samuel if he indeed wanted to attend this new school next year, and he said "No!" So, I pushed a little harder and asked some more questions. Despite the fact that I truly talked-up the new school, because I was truly excited about it, Samuel simply does not want to go.
And here is where my true dilemma as a parent lies. I've always said that I would never force my children to do anything like this that they simply do not want to do. My original intention in making that parenting decision was to allow my children to feel as if they have a true say in what happens to them in their own life. It is after all, their life. And while I realize that a child can not have the same reasoning skills as an adult, and they can not have the same level of experience and understanding that an adult can have, I also realize that sometimes it's okay to allow a child to make a decision when it comes to something that concerns them.
Somehow though, this decision seems much more different than any other decision I've had to make. I keep asking myself, at what point does a parent step in and say that even if their child does not want to do something, they're going to do it anyway because the parent knows best? And since I may never know the answer to that question, for now my decision about where Samuel should go to school next year is being based on a few very practical issues.
1) Both the magnet school and the school that Samuel is currently attending start and end their day at the same time. Which means that next year if Samuel went to the new school and Avery was still at the other school, I would somehow need to figure out how to get 2 kids to 2 different schools that are 6 miles apart at the same time in the morning, as well as how to pick them both up in the afternoon at the same time. It's a practical dilemma that I never really could figure out an answer to. At least not an answer that I felt like I could honestly live up to... Middle schools here start 10 minutes later than elementary schools, but all elementary schools start and end at the exact same time.
2) If Samuel started attending the magnet school and just absolutely hated it, we would have no guarantee that he would have an open spot to go back to at the school he's attending now... the school that Avery would still be attending.
3) Samuel has never wanted to change schools. He has no interest in attending the magnet school and seems to not really care whether or not he gets into the gifted and talented program. He's happy where he's at.
4) The "what-ifs" of the future (what if Samuel becomes bored with his current school situation, what if Samuel feels like he missed out on something big by not going to the magnet school, what if he never gets accepted again in the future, what if, what if, what if...) have never outweighed the positive things I know for sure right now about Samuel's current school situation. I may not know all of the answers to all of my "what-ifs" for Samuel's educational future, but this is what I know for sure right now; Samuel loves his current school and he is thriving there.
Which all comes down to this... Samuel is a gifted child. And when and if the time comes in the future that he wants to attend a magnet school, I will support him whole-heartedly. But for now, Samuel will not be attending the magnet school next year. That's my decision, and I'm sticking to it.
Pictures, pictures and more pictures...
Avery's Girl Scout Troop brought baked goodies to a local fire station on Monday night. The girls also got a tour of the fire station, which was really nice, I might add! It's amazing to think about everything these men and women do. Did you know that when a call comes in to the fire station, whatever they are doing (whether it be taking a shower, eating, or sleeping) they have to be on the fire truck ready to go within a minute? I have trouble getting out the door within in an hour, let alone a minute. And that's even if they're asleep. Out the door, within a minute.... Wow! Their gear weighs over 50 pounds. And that's just their normal gear. That doesn't include anything else they may need to carry onto a scene, like an axe or a fire hose. Pretty amazing stuff! They were so grateful to have visitors and thanked us over and over again for coming to see them. They also told us that we could come back anytime. Overall, it was a nice way to give back just a little at the holidays, to the men and women who give so much to us all year long.
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