Monday marked the kids' first day of school this year. In true school fashion, we woke up to fog. Awww, I can already feel Fall approaching...yippie! NOT!
This year is a bit different for the kids. The elementary school in which their pre-school was based out of, was shut down. Therefore, the kids are at a new school. And, Jasper is in a separate class. I'm still adjusting to that one. And I still don't know if I made the right decision. Sometimes I let people guide me too much in their opinion (the principal). Jasper doesn't seem to mind & his teacher says he is doing great. His mama, however, is sad & concerned.
Jonah & Iz have the teacher they had last year. The love her! And they have the same assistant who is equally great! Jasper's teacher seems great as well. I haven't got a chance to get to know her like I have the other teacher. But on the plus side, she is my mom's next door neighbor.
Last night was "back to school" night. Before I go on, let me start by saying their new school has a bad rap. Even when I was in school, it had a bad rap. It was known for having hoodlums. I also heard the teacher's were fantastic, but the students were not. We're talking kids in like 5th grade with tattoos & smoking. I hope the stories I've heard over the years are false & that people are wrong. And I'm hoping this school can prove people wrong & show the community that this isn't the case. I know it isn't these kiddos fault. It is the way their parents raise them. And I also know that every school has their fair share of parents with poor parenting.
The night started off with a convo from the new principal. She actually was the principal at the kids' old school. I've heard she's a hard a#@, which I guess, may be beneficial to this school. The gym felt like it was 112 degrees. I instantly started sweating. It was packed. I looked at Nate & said, "It smells like tenderloins & smoke in here." He agreed.
After the big speech from the principal, she got ready to dismiss the kids to their classes. Of course, a lady in the front row yells, "I have a question!" It went something like this..."Me & lots of other people have read on facebook where you have special "time out" rooms. Is that true? Cause it is all over facebook. ALL OVER." (Here's my thing...I'm on facebook, everybody seems to be on facebook, but I wouldn't say, "On facebook, it says this". How old are we? She could have said, "I've heard you have these rooms"). As the principal walked back to her mic, I saw her scowl. Nate & I looked at each other like, "Here we go!"...
and on the next Jerry Springer episode.... The principal addressed the question. Yes, they do have two time-out rooms but they are for "Special Needs" children who get out of control. Which to be honest, I'm not so sure about that.
We finally got to Jonah & Isabel's room. It went okay. We headed to Jasper's room. There were a few parents in there. One couple really stuck out. The dad talked like he was completely stoned out of his mind. And then, as I was standing next to the teacher, the mom started talking to her about their son. And this is how the conversation went. Keep in mind, I had to walk off because I was embarrassed & then I started laughing because I thought, "What in the world is the teacher thinking, about now.?"
Woman: He really loves being in your class. His bubby misses him. He wont tell us much about school when he gets home. I'm sure he will sometime. He's a very scheduled kid on his own. Teacher: Oh yea?Woman: For instance, he does this thing. He will take his diaper off at night & smear feces everywhere. I mean everywhere. It is all over the walls & he likes to paint his brother with it. He also paints his belly with it. I think it's comforting to him. You know?Teacher: *Cricket, cricket*Woman: I usually wake up & go see him. There is usually a pile of it next to his face & he will be sleeping right there with it. I really think it comforts him. But we're kind of thinking maybe this needs to change. I don't want him gettin' sick.Teacher: Yea, yea. Hmmm? That is unusual.How bout' this woman! Find something else that comforts that kid. Sheesh! Of course it isn't sanitary for his face to be sleeping in a pile of crap every night! I guess I should be relieved that Jonah is obsessed with fans instead of poop.
So now that you've heard all about the first couple of days at school, here are pics of my beauties on those couple of days. I'm sure you will be hearing more stories as the days go on.
As JoAnna & I & our kids were leaving my dad's swimming pool Friday, we noticed one of the cats was trying to catch something in the wooded area across from the house. I said, "What is that cat looking at?" JoAnna says, "There's a big a&# rattlesnake!" I say, "A rattlesnake? Here?" She says, "No, it isn't. But it is a big a#@ snake!" I put the van in park & went up to the house. I said, "Dad, there is a snake out here, right across the driveway." Rhonda, his wife, wasn't thrilled. She encountered a snake all coiled up in their kitchen a couple of months ago. I'm pretty sure that image still haunts her. I tell dad to go get a shovel. He decides he had something better & pulls out one of his golf clubs. In complete golf form, he pulls back & swings at the snake. Hmmm? If it were me, that club would have come up between my legs & I would have bludgeoned that snake to death. After dad teed off & hit the snake, it slivered off in to the woods. I looked at him & said, "Now you're the one who is going to have to tell her it is still alive."
Seriously, check out this monster! Mom & Duane got it a few years back. I think I was one of the firsts to try it out. I almost died that day. Mom stood at the bottom while I saw Nate looking on from the upstairs kitchen window. Mom says, "Be careful, Shannon. It goes really fast." She wasn't kidding. I flew down that thing like a greased pig. As I approached the bottom, I flew about 5 feet & did a somersault. It hurt. After I got up, I started laughing & so did mom. I could see Nate in the window shaking his head like, "I could have told you that was going to happen."
Nephew, Nick with Ozzy the dog
Jonah
Will & Jonah
Dad & Iz
Trevor & Ash
Trevor
What a face!
Isabel & her Pa 
Aaron's faces are priceless!
Go Jonah!
Will
Jasper 
Jonah! It is blurry because of the humidity after I took my lens cap off.
