Life in a Snap Shot...
So life has been so busy that I have not been on here in FORRR-EV-ERRRR, so much so that I forgot the password.  So here is my attempt to get back on track.  I have been writing notes here and there as things came up so I apologize if there is no theme or message to my madness in this long and drawn out post.  I had no plans of this sitting in the draft box for as long as it did.  I started it, would have to go back to it to add pictures, add a little more, have to add pictures, and as you will see it got out of control.  So here is a bunch of posts all rolled in to one.  It makes sense to me so hopefully I don't lose you.
February started with a trip to Lego Land with some of my students (I know February, I told you!). They are on a robotics team lead by one of our teachers whose talents boggle my mind. So I figured she doesn't have a grade level team, I would want support if it were me, so we tagged along. It also happened to fall on Jeremy's birthday so I figured we'd make a trip out of it. Not only was I amazed by our Jo Mackey Robotics team and their leader, but I LOVED Lego Land. I'm not a big lego person per se, I don't remember ever having a set as a child, and to be honest they frustrate me to no end. My designs never look like anything.  But I figure it is something that Hudson will at some point enjoy so I better get prepared and on board. I was amazed at what they can create out of Legos.

So strong

Amazed the the marching band marched

Ferndale CA, used to live there and shop on that street

That smile gets me every time

Not only did we have a great time, get a crash course in robotics, and stay at a beautiful hotel, but we had a great family trip.  We went to a beautiful area, stopped by to see our buddy Shamu, and checked out the ocean which is always what I look forward to.

Peek-a-boo Shamu

Dada and Hudson

Love that laugh!!!

We finished the month off with a birthday party where Hudson had his first taste of chocolate cake, and then just some fun at home.  Life was good to us in February.  

 

Cake is good

Now on to March
March was pretty low key probably due to the testing schedule of my beloved CCSD.  All in all it went well.  My students did amazing on their Writing test (the best scores the school has seen, and I've ever had) and as usual Jo Mackey did better than the district average.  However it never seems to be good enough.  I toyed with the idea of changing grade levels as I do every year.  The testing pressure is extraordinary and I've done it far too long and some of the joy of teaching gets lost in it.  However, after LONG talks with my principal I decided to stay put AGAIN and look at the long term benefits (I think that's her strategy).  I am not one for change, and with the current climate of our district and our school staying put worked for me FOR NOW.  My grade level team situation works for me, and I have been told I am not the easiest to work with (no comments necessary).  They accept me and I them and I decided that WHO I work with is more important than WHAT grade level I teach.  Kids are kids.  It also makes sense for my family right now.  I have what I do pretty well figured out and the long nights grading papers are long gone.  It leaves me what little time I do get with Hudson in the evenings stress free.  The pros outweigh the cons.
We did however take a break from stress to enjoy some corned beef and cabbage along with Irish car bomb cupcakes.  Too good to pass up.

















April brought another trip to Cali and Spring Break 2012.


Hudson Dancing

Love Shamu

4/7/2012

You'd think we'd get tired of going to Sea World and the beach...NOPE.  I won't bore everyone with a ton of pictures, only my favorites.  I tried desperately to catch Hudson doing this dance he does on video, but the second he sees the video all dancing stops.  I wish I could describe it and the description would do it justice.  He bounces up and down and then bends his hands at the wrist in almost a hula motion.  He seems to really enjoy music and I hope that continues.


Hudson and "Ninny"

The weather is getting warm enough that we can play in the pool with Hudson's best bud Mean Dean who he affectionately calls "Ninny".  I am sad for the day that "Ninny" gets old enough to teach Hudson a lesson about name calling, luckily he's such a good boy maybe he'll let it slide.
April also brought our 18 month well check for Hudson.  It should have been toward the end of March, but I delayed in making the appointment so we went April 19th.  I don't think that I delayed his appointment intentionally, but I may have done it subconsciously.  I was not looking forward to talking to my pediatrician, who I LOVE by the way and have no reason to want to avoid, about Hudson's language development or lack there of.  At 12 months he was saying nothing more than "tickle his first real word, mama, and dada" but was signing most food items.  At that stage my doctor showed little to no concern and told me to encourage him to talk rather than sign.  By 18 months when he was saying little more than 12 months.  We had added ball, nana, pop-pop, but little more and I knew he would ask me if Hudson was speaking 20 words which is what is expected.  As everything, when Hudson decides to do it he's off and running.  In the 3 weeks that I delayed his appointment we were up to 20 words, and then after that we had a language explosion.  He amazed me with the words he knew and numbers and animals that I hadn't even explicitly taught.  He's my little sponge.  Sits back and absorbs everything until he is fully saturated and then leaks out everything.  What a joy to watch him really change and become independent.  I'm not saying that it doesn't come with struggles, especially when he wants to do it all by himself, but he works so diligently at things, and doesn't give up, traits that I hope continue.

5/11/2012

Dada and Hudson.  I love when they walk hand in hand

Hudson and Dean Friends Forever

By May it was time to head back to Cali for Mother's day and our first baseball game.  It was a night game so of course I was worried about how Hudson would do, and of course he did great.  I saw NONE of the baseball game, I was too busy watching Hudson watch the game, but it was still a great night.  School for me is winding down and I am counting the days and hours until I am home full time.  How I wish I didn't have to work, maybe some day.  We spent most of this month being low key and at home which is nice too.  We enjoyed the eclipse with our neighbors and then had to say goodbye to neighbors that have been stationed at Edwards Airforce Base.  We had a great time visiting, laughing, and watching all our boys play.


Good friends make all the difference

June brings the end of the year, my school lost a lot of great teachers.  Things will be very different next year and I'm not sure what it will bring.  I am still happy with my decision to stay put, now more than ever, but this is the third time I have been through a mass re-staffing and I go into it with mixed feelings. Due to the decision made by the school district we are not replacing some of the staff that is leaving and class sizes will just go up.  Next year should be interesting.  By grade level is stable, but the climate of the school will definitely impact us.  I leave it all behind me for the next three months.  It is out of my control and the district doesn't care how I feel about it, so I am going to enjoy my son and time off:)
Thanks for sticking with me on this one.  I promise June will be shorter

Tara :)