The blog where I explain my absence.

Max started Preschool....

Despite the unsure look here, he had is jacket off was busy playing and barely says bye to momma.

I also placed an newspaper ad for my mom's youngest sisters fiftieth birthday. I won't show it to you, I value my life and hope she doesn't find my blog and have written proof I am the one who placed it, even if it was at my mom's instruction.

Sarge had to visit the vet again, to get his stitches looked at, slow healer that dog.

Oh and I helped a friend move, you know with that last little bit that takes forever! I hate that, but boy I was tired. I should do that every day I would be skinny minne, well if we did not eat monster burritos at lunch since we were working so hard you know.

It was also homecoming in our football crazy small town. Ever seen Friday Night Lights?
You have seen us then.

I helped paint this sign for my aunt's class reunion. And one for the other side.

This is my other aunt's float, also having a reunion, with a sign I had nothing to do with. Too bad it is a nice sign.

Zach turned 6. I made him a clone trooper cake.
I find my lack of cake decorating skills disturbing.

He got his clonetrooper helmet. Yeah Nana!

Great Grandma turned 85 and we had a big party for her. She is the one in the bonnet, my aunt (left) and mom will kill me if they think I am suggesting that they are 85.
This week has less going on, but still promises to be insanely busy.

Jane how do I get off this crazy thing....

Hey Look at Me I am a Big KId Too!

Did you know I have two boys? I kid, sometimes I feel bad, Z does get the lions share of the attention lately. He's in school and sports, sometimes little brother feels a bit left out. For the last few weeks he has been desperately wanting to be big and go to kindergarten with brother.

In fact he informed that he was five now and old enough to go. When I asked, You are? He told me that he had a few extra birthdays I didn't know about. After relating that story to a womens group at church I found out a few senior saints have apparently been trying to give their extra birthdays away to the toddlers. Sneaky, aren't they? I knew those white hairs couldn't be trusted.

In reality he will probably be attending Headstart this fall, so he will get to go to school. I don't have his letter yet, but a recent speech difficulty diagnosis most likely will ensure him a spot. I didn't take the diagnosis too hard though because he is as smart as a whip. He was very communicative with the diagnostician, and knew every question she asked, I guess it was the way he said his words, I am just used to deciphering for him.

Right now I am enjoying my extra time with him, it has been fun the last few days. The little chatter box keeps the day lively with his running commentary. Today we looked at butterflies, tarantula hawks and caterpillars. One man, whom we saw in a parking lot after Max had captured a long green larvae dared called it a worm, under his breath Max said, it's not a worm, it's a caterpillar. I think the duh was implied. (That is my little entomologist in training!)

While he had said infamous things like telling my mom what is under my pants, he can be quite profound at times for a three year old. Take Sunday at lunch, as we cracked fortune cookies, I asked him to read mine. Although he cannot actually read, his acting was dead on when he looked at the paper and* stated this, If you do the right things and then do it, you will be happy.

Sounds to me like he has it down, I don't even think the little genius needs school.


*I changed my original wording here, because I unintentionally made it sound like he can read, which he cannot. He is smart but not that smart, he is only three.

Getting back to Reality

All good things must come to an end they say. So did my conference and my trip to Nashville. Today I have been sharing my experiences with friends and family. As I rested this afternoon I watched the GMA's Dove Awards ceremony, which was letting out the other night as we walked by. We hung around as the attendees were leaving trying to soak up their uber talent. Did I mention I saw Sandi Patty and was too starstruck to even speak to her?

As someone who has no early childhood education experience, I was blown away by the things I learned. Dr. Lilian Katz was the keynote speaker and hands down gave the best speech I have ever heard on any subject. She reinforced the notion that playing with my children, speaking to them, encouraging whatever they are interested in is the best way to teach them, instead of worrying if they know their ABC's by sight at 4.

Another class I really enjoyed was presented by Dr. Jo of Geo Fitness. Talk about a fireball of a sixty year old. I swear this lady could out move me at half her age. In fact thinking about how much I need to move to wear off the calories I consumed today at the oil field cookoff, is a bit daunting. I better get moving on that four hour hike, because we brought leftovers home for dinner.

I also wanted to leave you a few more links. I mentioned that Head Start funding was cut last year. Did I mention by $10 million dollars? If you want an easy link to write your politicians about it, please click here. If you want to read more about what Head Start is doing for people around our country, please go read the stories here.

In news from the home front, I have a bunch of cleaning to do, because I left the boys at home for a week without me. My husband though is a smart cookie, though he did get on the roof and get the air conditioning going today so I can at least clean and not break a sweat. ; )

Getting A Headstart

I have to tell you, I am feeling very blessed at this moment. I am sitting in a nice hotel room, in a queen size bed to myself with my laptop on a pillow typing away. In a minute I may even go take a long bubble bath soak without anyone to interrupt me. Did I mention I am in Nashville?

Volunteering has afforded me the opportunity to be taken to a conference with our local Headstart program. I have to admit I was gladly accepted the invitation because the trip was free. However today I was privileged to better understand this wonderful organization. Two particular speakers blew me away. I plan to blog about them a little more later.

I like to people watch and enjoy wondering about the people around me and imagine their lives. It was even more interesting to visit with the people sitting around me. I met a lady who teaches preschoolers in East LA, a mom from Brooklyn and a dad from Puerto Rico. I heard several stories from Headstart moms who after enrolling their children have gotten GED's, started college, became teachers, administrators, directors. The support and programs they provide the children and the parents, is amazing.

I have to admit, when I enrolled my son, I was really just looking for an affordable preschool option for my 5 year old who missed the cut off to start school last fall by a few days. What I found is a program designed to give a hand up to low income parents.

Like a lot of education programs, the requirements for Headstart services are increasing and the funding is going down. Headstart currently only serves 48% of the population it needs to reach. I know of a director who due to budget cuts has cut her salary to be 2/3 of her teachers to keep the doors open. If you are at all familiar with the program, and think it is worthwhile, please talk to your elected officials. It would be a shame to see this valuable community program go away.