Sunday Simplicity-My Top 10 for Apirl 25

My Top 10 favorite things!

10. Animal-Bear
9. Color-green or purple
8. Flower-gerber daisies or peach roses
7. Holiday-Christmas
6. Season-Fall (but it has to be a MICHIGAN fall!)
5. Food-Mexican
4. Non-Alcoholic Drink-Diet Coke
3. Alcoholic Drink-Pomegranate Martini (or a shot of tequila...no lime, no salt!)
2. Addicton-CHOCOLATE
1. Thunderstorms (didn't have a category for this)


What are some of your favorite things?

It's a Giveaway!

When we started on the journey to healthier eating, I thought it would be difficult for the kids to follow suit. I'll be honest that I was trying to hide spinach in spaghetti sauce or in ketchup. My kids have always been big veggie fans so that part wasn't hard, but they weren't into spinach or some of the really amazingly great vegetables for you. Of course, they came by it naturally because their mom doesn't care for them.

I came across a site having a giveaway for a Sue Gregg Cookbook. Her books include: Whole Foods Cooking, Whole Grains Baking, Main Dishes, Meals in Minutes, Soups & Muffins, Breakfasts, Desserts & Lunches and Snacks. She really focuses on healthy cooking and making it simple, and fun. If you've been looking to get your family started on healthier eating, but didn't know how to go about it or where to start, this is the cookbook, and giveaway, for you!

http://raisingolives.com/2010/04/sue-gregg-cooking-class-review/#comment-19667

Dreary, Rainy Saturday

...equals kids stuck inside and out of control. And since we cut the cable, that makes it all that much more crazy. All of my plans for the day have been ruined by the rain,but we definitely need the rain to wash away all the pollen. I had planned on sending the kids across the street to our neighborhood park and then it would be nice and quite for studying and house cleaning since I'm overwhelmed by both of these. Instead, I have some fighting over the XBox (the 12 & 5 year olds), some sitting at the table drawing on construction paper and making some beautiful artwork. The 3 year old is running around telling everyone that they aren't his friend. And what am I doing? Nope,not chasing them around and stopping all the fighting....BLOGGING! It's going to be the one thing that keeps me sane, if only for 5 minutes.

What are some of your best rainy day ideas to keep the kids occupied, especially if you have work that needs to be done?

Missing Toof

Micah has had a wiggly toof for a couple ov weeks now. Everyday he asks me when it will vall out, but it nefer seemed to be super wiggly. Yesterday, he got home school and was super excited! While on the bus on the way home from school, he decided to pull it out. He finally lost his first toof!!! The toof fairy in this house is pretty cheap so he only got a dollar (in quarters) for it, but that didn't matter to him. He thinks he's the richest kid in the world!!

Here's my toofless wonder

"When are you due"

Today I got up for school and felt really good. I've really struggled with self esteem lately and have hidden it behind eating. I've gained a few pounds, but nothing too drastic, but I realized this weekend that I'm eating so that I can attempt to hide. In the back of my head, I was telling myself that if I was fat, people wouldn't approach me and I wouldn't have to fake a smile (or hide my smile since it's not good right now). I got dressed, put on some bead bracelets and a big chunky necklace. Black shirt, khaki capris and super cute big black thick heals. I felt GOOD! I looked in the mirror and as I walked out of the bedroom, I felt a pride in my step. You know what I'm talking about. That special outfit that when you put it on screams "DAMN I'M HOT", despite how may feel any other day of the year.

I walk into school in the cafe and sit down. Jacob was with me and so I was getting him situated with a movie on the DVD player so I could study for a test I had coming up in an hour. A lady sits down behind me and comments on how cute he was. She asked how old he was and then proceeded to ask "And when is your next one due?" I didn't know what to say. In that brief 2 second pause, so much went through my head. I thought about saying a date or "3 more months". I really considered lying and pretending I was. Instead, I decided to embarrass her with truth. I told her that I'm not and she fell over in the booth, totally humiliated. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry". I said "Listen, I have five kids. I'm in school fulltime and so is my husband. I don't have time to work out and so I wear my 'baby weight' with pride. It's sort of my 'battle scar" and turned around.

A friend told me I should have responded with "They hid your adam's apple really well. I really can't see it" or "When do you finish your transition surgery?" Truth was, she was a beautiful 5'11", very thin black model looking lady, but maybe something like that would have made her think next time before she talks.

Another friend said I should have responded with it being a very fast growing tumor.

How would you respond? I'd love to hear other witty comments you'd come back with, just in case it happens again!

I'm not Weird....

My daughters came home from school today, just raving about a little girl at their school named Haley. Haley is a first grader with Cerebral Palsy. At the beginning of the year, someone told her she was weird, which really hurt her feelings. She had never considered herself weird before. Well, her mom got the idea to write a children's book so the two of them worked together and the product is now finished. Haley was on the tv announcements at school today talking about her new book. They have a copy of it in the school library for all the kids to read and are having very open discussions about it.

Tonight I decided to see if I could find it and came across the dad's blog. The first entry I saw was a picture of Hailey on her big tricycle, peddling away, and a blog written by her dad. The book is being published and is for sale through their website. I hope that by passing it on, many of you will consider buying Haley's book and not only supporting her, but supporting the physically challenged all across our country.

Check it out.....and buy her book and support her. Teachers...this would be great in your classrooms. Future DCs (or current DCs) grab a copy for your reception area. Parents, get one for your kids!!!

I'M NOT WEIRD

Wordless Wednesday 4~21~10

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love Diet Coke. A friend spent his spring break in Miami and apparently was thinking about me because when he saw some litter bug had thrown a Diet Coke in the sand, he felt the need to take a picture for me. Weird? YES!!!!

Tuesday Tantrums~Kids Birthday Parties

I have so much that I really want to rant and rave about today, but some of it is too fresh and the wounds still too new so I'll have to wait on those. I've settled in on writing about kids birthday parties, since we just went through one.

I'll be the first one to admit that I HATE kids parties. You know that you think it too, but you just don't want to say it out loud. By admitting that you hate going to them, it'll look almost hypocritcal when you send out invitations to your child's next party.

I hate it when parents go overboard and to major extremes, sparing no cost, for their 2 year old, who will never remember it to begin with. All the kid wants is cake, presents and maybe a balloon to bat around the room. Instead, I have a friend who gave her 4 year old a princess party. All the girls dressed up in princess outfits, and I'll admit, they were super cute. I was flipping through her pictures on Facebook and came to one of a 'chariot'. They had taken their simple red, Radio Flyer wagon, covered it with unbelievable amounds of lace and satin, created a canopy for it and brought each of the girls from the front door to the room where the party was being held. The ceiling was decorated with draping satin and lace (not the typical crate paper we all grew up with). The 4 year old was in one of the pictures, dressed in the most fru-fru burgandy dress (that had to cost upwards of a hundred dollars at least), leaning out the side of this magic chariot, waving her best princess wave at all those who were taking pictures. (It's no wonder that this mother later commented about the major meltdown this beautiful little princess had when it was time to cut the princess cake (2 tiers, white icing, beads and like a miniture wedding cake!) I was so thankful I wasn't invited to this one!



I have 5 kids, so it seems that every week there is a birthday party that they are invited to. My 9 year old got upset with me yesterday because I haven't let her go to any of them so far. Remember, I HATE birthday parties! Let's get down to it....I can't stand that parents invite a whole bunch of little kids over to throw gifts at their child. I hate that the child is made to be the 'party girl/boy' and therefore think that the whole world revolves around them. I hate that we spend money on toys or gifts, that will probably be thrown in a toy box or the bottom of the closet after a couple weeks. I hate that parents try to 'out do' each other. Just in the last month, my kids have been invited to a party at Sparkles at Monkey Joes, at bowling alleys, at aice skating rink. One was having a Mario themed party where the kids were asked to play a role and dress up. One was having a princess party at Snip Its where they were getting manicures, makeup and hair done. These were 2nd graders!!!

So yes, I HATE kids parties. We'll just stick with cupcakes and ice cream sandwiches, or maybe get 'fancy' and make a dirt cake, complete with gummy worms and gummy bugs. Nice, quiet, no chaos and still a lot of fun and presents.

Not Me Monday 4~19~10

This weekend, I did NOT throw a fit when my husband decided to go to the mountains for a day with his best friend, after already making plans with me. I'm not the one threw a shoe at the door when he left and I most definitely haven't given him the cold shoulder since Saturday night when he told me his plans.

I also didn't decide that my son didn't have to study for his CRCT test, once I realized he didn't have to pass it in order to pass 6th grade. I also didn't say outloud that for all I care, he could fail it and that it would serve his teacher right. (I don't really like her, can ya tell?)

I did not buy some new flip flops, even though I know that I really don't have the money for them. What can I say, I couldn't pass them up??

I didn't suggest that my husband just shave his head to see what it would look like and I did NOT cringe when I went to kiss him and felt his bald head instead of a head of hair. I also did not say "I don't think anyone will even notice" when he asked me what people would say.

And I most definitely did not turn my alarm off this morning, deciding to sleep an extra 30 minutes and then run around like a chicken with it's head cut off to try to get everything done and still leave on time. It's going to be a long week....

CRCT testing

I hate state standardized testing for our kids! I hated it when I was younger and I hate it now as a parent of kids going through it. This year, I have 3 kids taking it in grades 2, 3 & 5. From what I'm reading, only 3, 5 & 8 must pass. It looks like, from the researching I've done today, that 3rd graders must pass the reading section, 5th must pass the reading and math and 8th must pass all. Fortunately, my 3rd graders will be fine and my other 2 don't really have to pass it at all, but that doesn't take the stress off. The teachers push these kids so hard, creating so much stress on them, because when it comes down to it, it looks good or bad for them based on how their class scores.

There HAS to be a better way than this. How about the obscene amounts of homework they get, the testing they take all year long, the projects and assignment? In the big scheme of things, these grades and assignments are a waste of time. The long nights of studying so my child can pass a test with a good grade, doesn't hold weight if he fails the CRCT. The CRCT website states "The CRCT is designed to measure how well students acquire the skills and knowledge described in the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC)". Truth is, and they can't state this, is not anything to do with our children and how they learn, but how teachers are teaching. If my child is one of the ones who learns more hands on, then something like Social Studies, where it's all book knowledge, he will continue to struggle with. If the testing was truly about HIM, they would see the results, and figure out a way to help him. In this type of testing, there will ALWAYS be kids who are falling behind. Not all kids learn the same, not all test the same. Testing anxiety is a major issue with this type of testing. Kids have such pressure put on them, that they totally freak out when they go in to the test. I know, because I deal with this myself in my classes at school.

I agree that there needs to be testing done, how about we just get back to the days where kids pass or fail based on their performance in their classes. If they meet the requirements with a C in the classes, they pass, if not, they don't. Why is it so complicated and stressful these days to be a kid?

For my 6th grader, I have been on the phone several times a month with her and discussing my sons performance. I try to be an involved parent, but she was giving homework that not only was my son struggling with, but my husband and I were too. My son said that there were several of his friends whose parents were doing the homework FOR them! The teacher and I discussed this and I reminded her that WE, as parents, are NOT the ones in school. Her response was that they are preparing for the CRCT and that this is the mandatory work required.

According to a recent study, "Evidence is mounting that for a growing number of schools, teaching is being redefined as test preparation. Seventy-nine percent of teachers surveyed by Education Week said they spent "a great deal" or "somewhat" of their time instructing students in test-taking skills, and 53 percent said they used state practice tests a great deal or somewhat." This was taken from a great article on why Standardized Testing is FAILING our children! The 7 reasons listed were:
1. At-Risk Students Placed at Greater Risk...this has to do with not having as many resources in their homes. MUCH of my children's preperation for their testing was done online. There was a point where we disconnected our cable and internet for a bit, and the kids really struggled because all their work was done on the internet. How do inner city kids prepare for this? Answer is, the don't. And they continue to struggle and eventually fail.

2. Lower Graduation Rates. "Grade-by-grade testing and graduation tests actually increase school dropouts. A Harvard University study found that students in the bottom 10 percent of achievement were 33 percent more likely to drop out of school in states with graduation tests. "

3. Higher Test Scores Do Not Mean More Learning. THis has to do with the above information about teachers gearing to the testing and not actually teaching. The article states "n one school, for example, students were taught to cheer "Three in a row? No, No, No!" The cheer was a reminder that if students answered "c" three times in a row, probably at least one of those answers is wrong since the test maker is unlikely to construct three questions in a row with the same answer letter.

Although this kind of test preparation may boost scores, it does not necessarily produce real gains in understanding that show up on other tests or performance measures or that students can apply in a nontesting situation".

4. Standardized Testing Shrinks the Curriculum. "Educator Alfie Kohn advises parents to ask an unusual question when a school's test scores increase: "What did you have to sacrifice about my child's education to raise those scores?"

5. When Tests Fail. "Tests themselves are often flawed, and high-stakes errors be-come high-stakes disasters."

6. Teacher Stress. "While teachers support high standards, they object to learning being measured by a single test. Not surprisingly, in a national study, nearly seven in ten teachers reported feeling test-stress, and two out of three believed that preparing for the test took time from teaching important but non-tested topics"

7. What's Worth Knowing? "The fact that history, drama, the arts and a host of subjects are given less attention in the current testing movement raises intriguing curricular questions: What is really important to teach'? What is worth knowing?" Remember that those who don't know history or doomed to repeat it.

It's time we get back to teaching the core subjects and raising our standards IN the classroom. I wish this was an easy fix, but unfortunately it's not. No Child Left Behind was a great concept, but many have been left behind. Standardized Testing was a great idea, but it's not working! It's time to look for a new way and a brighter future for our kids.

Information taken from http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Test_Problems_Seven/?page=2