Hi everyone. I went to the mall with the kids to get their pictures taken and then had lunch with them, then we saw Flushed Away at the movies, then we went and got groceries, then had a big, embarassing rant at the gas station because it was PACKED and everytime I moved to go to a pump that had vacated, someone would swoop in from nowhere right in front of me and then I'd lose the spot I had in the first place. I ended up leaving with my window open yelling at everyone. I think my period is on it's way.
Anyhow...the kids had their parent/teacher conferences and Shelley is doing FANTASTIC! I even had a long talk with her art teacher about Shelley going to college in six years and what we can do now to get her on the right track. She suggested FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) and a few other top-notch schools in NYC and advised me to NOT listen to the High School counselors that, for some reason or other, don't like to send art majors to NYC for school. She said that if Shelley wants to break into the fashion industry, she absolutely HAS to attend college in NYC. She mentioned Pratt Institute, Parsons and Cooper Union. Monet, I'm sure you've heard of the places. She also suggested I let Shelley pick out some patterns at JoAnn and some fabric and start getting used to making some clothes for herself...which I thought was a GREAT idea. And she suggested I have Shelley try to replicate the sketched drawing on the front of the pattern for practice in drawing designs. Another great idea. What a difference a great art teacher makes! She also mentioned the importance fo Shelley having the top-notch grades in her class in order to get into these colleges. I know, she's only 12, but now's the time to start setting standards for her, in my opinion. Oh, and Shelley's GPA this semester was 93.8...putting her in High Honor Roll. I'm so proud.
Then there was Kyle's conference.

Well, first, the teacher said there wasnt' a mark on the kindergarten report card that is high enough to represent Kyle's high reading fluency. So, the remedial reading teacher came in and said that Kyle is reading at late first grade level...which I already knew, but think he's reading at a higher rate than that, in my opinion...but at least they were positive about that. In all academic areas, Kyle is doing great. It was social and emotional development that the teacher made me feel like Kyle is a social reject. I, literally, wanted to cry when I left. HE said that Kyle, basically, acts like a baby in class...not like any other kids at all. He never listens to instructions and doesn't play well with others. I'm totally dumbfounded by this. I, truly, think he's intimidated by his teacher and doesn't know how to act in class around him. His teacher is real cocky and, I guess, used to be a jock in high school and is the girls varsity baskeball coach. Basically, we want to move. Kyle LOVES school, but maybe because I've been a stay at home mom and didn't dump him into daycare, he's just learning how to play with others at this point. Normally, I wouldn't even be uptight over the conference, but the teacher made me feel like there's something wrong with Kyle, so I think after Thanksgiving break, I'm going to talk to the principal about maybe being able to come in and observe his behavior with my own eyes so I can help to correct it at home. I'm also going to be babysitting a boy in Kyle's class, I think (meaning, I've approached the mom, whom I've known since I was a teenager...but she said she has to discuss it with her husband first) and this boy goes to gymnastics with about half of Kyle's class once a week. The mother's been trying to talk me into having Kyle go to gymnastics, I think, so I can take her son there after school as part of the babysitting because she's sheepish of asking me to drag him there for her...but I'm thinking this might be a good thing for Kyle and his getting more socially with-it with the kids in class. And I think babysitting Jeremy will also help with that. I simply think that Kyle just doesn't know how to blend in with the boys and by acting like a baby, maybe he thinks it's funny. But, you know, I think that Kyle is missing out on some academic opportunities at school because of his babyish behavior in school, so I really want to nip this in the bud NOW. But I want to discuss with the principal maybe coming in and reading stories to the class and maybe helpign with some cool experiments that come in Kyle's science books. Just a couple times a month so I can witness what it is they're talking about because we don't see this happening at home at ALL. If it doesn't change soon, we're moving. And I mean that. You know, I've been hearing absolute horror stories about our high school that Shelley's goign to be goign to in two years (I just have to make sure and get Mrs. Menton's phone number for my personal rolodex...the art teacher...we don't want to lose track of her!!). I've heard the teachers are horrible and the office staff is rude and that the drugs are rampant! BUT the next district over, the school is K-12 in one building and everytime I hear words about this school, it's always good news and glowing reports. So, we're considering buying our land in that school district instead. It'd be nice for Shelley and Kyle to ride the bus together, I think. And no stress about having to go to a different building for Junior High and all that. AND, the land for sale in that town is FABULOUS!!
Anyhow...while at the mall yesterday, I popped in the Gap to look at jeans, found a pair I liked and nearly fainted at teh $58 price tag!!!!

So, I promptly put them back. I know, you have to pay for quality, but that's just off the charts. I think paying $30 is hefty. So, I went to Sears and found some boot-cut...just below the waist...in a nice color, but when I put them on...stretch pants. And they didn't cover my underwear and when I squated down, out came my fanny!

Gosh I hate that!! But, I have plans next week to go look for jeans at the mall and maybe sit and read the YOU on a Diet book in Borders while drinking coffee again. Really, I did that a few weeks ago...my first visit to a Border's with no children EVER. I so enjoyed it. Just me, coffee and endless books to browse through.
Okay...I have massive cleaning to get to. Talk to you sugar bustin buddies later on!!